DOE eyes better standards, policy on shutdown of coal plants
‘Voluntary retirement and repurposing (of coal plants) is part of our energy transition,’ DOE Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara says

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/doe-eyes-better-standards-coal-plants-policy-shutdown/

[ANALYSIS] Why coal will remain the Philippines’ main energy driver
Without doubt, clean power is the future. But as demand for power goes up faster than renewables can supply, the country has no alternative but to resort to the time-tested source of energy — coal.

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/analysis-why-coal-will-remain-philippines-main-energy-driver/

How to improve road safety in PH? Better education, law enforcement, says UN envoy
'You have a great action plan which has been published by the Secretary of Transport, but that is your first step,' Jean Todt, UN Special Envoy for Road Safety says. 'What is very important is implementation.'

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/jean-todt-improve-road-safety-philippines/

I’m frustrated with the article and how it’s framed pa rin to highlight individual “bad behavior” and “need for discipline”. We know that we need to move past that, because road danger (transport scholars now use this term as opposes to ‘road safety’) is only symptomatic of the real causes of collisions, injuries, and deaths.

As shared by Robie Siy Jr multiple times, the cause of these are motor vehicles moving at unsafe speeds on dangerous roads.

Our government officials need to see the bigger picture.

The Safe Systems approach, already highlighted in the PRSAP, emphasizes not just education — but behavior change through design and policy, i.e. traffic calming infrastructure, decreasing need for car travel by providing more active (walking, cycling) and public transport options.

Thanks @cristina ! I agree that government isn't doing enough to improve the design and policy aspect of road safety. The task force should make good on the promise of one of its members, Transpo Sec Jaime Bautista, to improve pedestrian infra. I know there are good people in government who think beyond car-centricity but it seems their voices don't get to the top.

Meralco exec: We have caught 600,000 jumpers from 2005 to 2024
The company's stock rooms are already full of confiscated illegal wires — colloquially referred to as 'jumpers'

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/business/meralco-report-caught-jumpers-service-violators-2005-2024/

SLEX slated to open 2 new lanes this December
San Miguel Corporation says motorists can access the new lanes from Susana Heights in Muntinlupa up to Calamba, Laguna starting the third week of December

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/business/south-luzon-expressway-new-lanes-december-2024/

Powered by pedals: Thousands of bikers unite at SM for a greener future
In line with this annual observance, SM Cares created Pedal Forward with the goal of bringing together cyclists from all walks of life

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/brandrap/sm-celebration-national-bike-day-2024/

LTFRB reviews bumping taxi flag-down rate to P60
The demand for a higher flag-down rate persists as prices of petroleum continue to rise

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/ltfrb-reviews-taxi-flag-down-rate-november-2024/

Can the Pasig River Ferry Service ease transport woes?
As commuters suffer heavy road traffic and a problematic public transport, the Pasig River Ferry Service, if improved, can offer a greener alternative to fill a gap in urban mobility

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/environment/can-pasig-river-ferry-service-ease-transport-woes/

More books for children who are blind are now available in the Quezon City Public Library. @here Experts and officials agree that much more needs to be done to make reading and libraries more inclusive. But this is a good step in the right direction. Have you heard of other similar initiatives? Please share!

Island-wide blackout hits Siargao in Surigao del Norte
The Siargao Electric Cooperative says line fault in the submarine cable supplying electricity to island is the reason for the blackout

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/mindanao/island-wide-blackout-hits-siargao-surigao-del-norte-december-1-2024/

@here In Maginhawa Street, there's a new experiment to see how community-painted bike lanes, crosswalks, and parklets can encourage walking and biking, and lessen the amount of space that cars take up in the neighborhood. The project also hopes to lessen air pollution and carbon emissions from vehicles. Do you think it will work? Which parts of your city should adopt the same initiative?

Better that all cities in the Philippines must adapt European urban planning where the people is people-centric oriented infrastracture where there is rich in railways, BRTs, bike lanes, trams, and sidewalks. Then, the urban planning is mixed development. No more center for residence, business, industrial and more.

2 more Mindanao wetlands now on Ramsar global conservation list
The inclusion of the Zamboanga Sibugay and Siargao wetlands increases the number of Ramsar sites in Mindanao to 3 and the national total to 10

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/mindanao/zamboanga-sibugay-siargao-wetlands-ramsar-global-conservation-list/

In Case You Missed It: Did you know that the Cagayan de Oro City Council expressed frustration with the Local Water Utilities Administration's extended control over the Cagayan de Oro Water District, highlighting that no tangible improvements have been made since the takeover in May?

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/mindanao/cagayan-de-oro-council-protests-extended-lwua-takeover-water-district/

Ride-hailing app inDrive launches in Cebu, offers zero commission rates for drivers
Transport group Laban TNVS president Jun de Leon welcomed ride-hailing app inDrive’s efforts to help drivers gain more access over their earnings on rides

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/ride-hailing-app-indrive-launch-cebu-december-2024/

Infrastructure boom positions Cagayan de Oro as emerging metropolis in Mindanao
While some view the convergence of major projects as a stroke of luck, those familiar with the strategies of local taipans understand that this is no coincidence. It is the product of a coordinated vision that looks far beyond.

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/mindanao/infrastructure-boom-cagayan-de-oro-emerging-metropolis-mindanao/

[Rappler Investigates] 2024, a turbulent year
The journey ahead will be no less tumultuous.... A source of comfort for us is that the search for stability while keeping the democratic space wide open is not our sole concern, but a shared one.

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/voices/newsletters/investigates-turbulent-year-2024/

Ex-Pampanga mayor to sue YouTubers who killed Philippine wild ducks for content
The Philippine duck is classified as vulnerable in the IUCN Red List

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/ex-pampanga-mayor-pelayo-sue-youtube-vloggers-killed-wild-ducks-content/

FACT CHECK: Post falsely claims PNR trip from Calamba to Lucena takes only one hour
Traveling between Calamba, Laguna and Lucena, Quezon via the Philippine National Railways takes over two hours

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/travel-time-calamba-laguna-lucena-quezon-pnr-not-one-hour/