Voices

(A Commentary Inspired by VP Sara Duterte’s Statement) The Philippines has long struggled with slow and outdated governance. Red tape remains one of the biggest obstacles to progress. A 2024 World Bank survey found that Filipino citizens spend an average of 33 hours completing basic government transactions that should take less than half a day. In 2023, the country ranked 116th out of 190 nations in ease of doing business. These numbers reflect the everyday frustration of a p

When others profit from the land, she plants to heal it — one million trees, one million acts of hope.