OPINION

Muling kinabahan ang publiko sa pagdami ng kaso ng pamamaril sa bansa matapos ang sunod-sunod na insidente ng karahasan, kabilang ang pagpaslang sa isang alkalde, isang jeepney driver, at isang negosyante—na may kinalaman umano sa eleksyon at kriminalidad.

Isang jeepney driver ang walang habas na binaril ng isang lalaki sa loob ng isang eskinita sa Barangay Sta. Cruz nitong Miyerkules ng umaga. Kitang-kita sa CCTV ang panlalapit ng suspek bago niya pinaputukan ang biktima.

Samantala, nitong Miyerkules ng gabi, binawian ng buhay si Mayor Joel Ruma ng bayan ng Rizal, Cagayan matapos siyang pagbabarilin sa isang campaign rally. Tatlo pang indibidwal ang nasugatan. Pinaniniwalaang may kaugnayan ito sa eleksyon.

Sa isa pang kaso, isang Chinese national na si David Tan Liao—na itinuturong utak sa pagdukot at pagpatay sa negosyanteng si Anson Que at drayber nito—ang nadiskubreng may valid gun license at may pitong armas. Nakuha umano nito ang lisensya sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng iba’t ibang pangalan.

Ibinunyag din na may mga sundalo at pulis na nagbebenta ng baril sa mga sibilyan at dayuhan, kabilang ang mga POGO bosses, na sinasabing may koneksyon sa ilang opisyal at VIP.

Dahil dito, nanawagan ang publiko sa Philippine National Police at iba pang ahensya ng gobyerno na higpitan ang pagproseso ng lisensya sa baril, imbestigahan ang Firearms and Explosives Office, at wakasan ang ilegal na pag-aari ng baril ng mga dayuhan.

REFERENCE: 

https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2025/04/25/2438124/editorial-more-gun-violence

The Philippines aims for a secure and sustainable power supply by shifting to cleaner energy sources while balancing demand, accessibility, reliability, environmental impact, and cost through diverse, fit for purpose technologies.

Sustainability in electricity supply means using energy sources that have the least harm on the environment in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and other impacts.

The shift to cleaner energy should be seen as an effort toward providing energy security for the Philippines, where supply meets the growing demand while balancing sustainability, accessibility, reliability, and affordability.

To achieve this, the Philippines, must apply efforts to promote decentralized energy generation  improving demand efficiency, encouraging energy conservation, and above all, applying a mix of generation technologies that are fit for purpose.

On a large scale, solar power is not very efficient even though it's clean and uses free sunlight. It requires a lot of space about 1 hectare per megawatt and only produces power about 20% to 25% of the time. Solar equipment also has a limited lifespan, generally about 25 years and create waste that's hard to recycle.

However, solar PV is well-suited to smaller, localized power systems, particularly when used in line with battery storage systems that can provide electricity at stable frequencies, including at night when solar power is unavailable.

Wind energy is also clean and free, but it faces the same issue of being inconsistent. However, with the right turbines, wind is a bit more manageable than solar. The Philippines has big potential for offshore wind, and if paired with storage, it can be a steady energy source.

Because of its volcanic terrain, the country has rich geothermal energy resources, totalling about 4.6 GW, with 1.9 GW already in use. Geothermal is better for baseload power since it's always available. The main downside is that it's expensive to develop.

Biomass and waste-to-energy are often debated. While they can produce pollution if not designed properly, they can also serve as alternatives to coal or gas by burning waste materials. Their biggest challenge is the fuel supply. Agricultural waste might only be available during certain seasons, and growing crops just for fuel can threaten food security. Waste-to-energy also needs a steady supply, which may conflict with recycling efforts. Still, in places with consistent fuel, they can support the grid.

Battery storage is widely used and reliable, though it only works for short periods. Lithium-ion batteries are common, but concerns about raw materials and their limited lifespan are growing. Batteries do help manage the ups and downs of solar and wind energy, especially for smaller systems.

Other clean energy technologies that may be considered in the future, perhaps in the next 10 to 20 years, including nuclear energy, particularly small modular reactors (SMRs); and tidal power, which could be installed in a few locations throughout the Philippines; and hydrogen fuel cells, which are most applicable to vehicles, but could also be used as small-scale energy storage systems. 

REFERENCE LINK: 

https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/opinion-renewable-technology-energy-transition/