Disasters Done, Economy Down

By: Alexa Angela L. Cantes

A single rock 22, 2024, eight national Based on the

thrown can break down road sections in records of the DA, with
an entire glass window. Cagayan Valley Region, over P400 million worth
What more if there are Central Luzon, and of damage, rice was still
three? Cordillera Administrative the largest sector
Region (CAR) remained affected, followed by
These rocks impassable due to high-value crops with
represent the three nonstop flooding, loose almost P 130 million,
typhoons that hit the slopes, and damaged corn with over P90
Philippines, namely, bridges. million, and cassava
tropical storms Nika, with more than P 50
Ofel, and Pepito. With the million.
environmental barriers
These typhoons stopping the flow of With the huge
have brought heavy transportation, amount of loss that the
rains and howling winds, operations and three disasters brought
leaving the country's businesses came to a to various sectors in the
people and economy at stop, damaging the Philippines, it left the
stake. economy as a result. country's people
helpless and its
The Department The damage to economy down, leaving
of Public Works and agriculture adds another everyone hopeless and
Highways (DPWH) layer to the devastating vulnerable.
recorded a public effects of the disasters.
infrastructure damage
that reached over P800 The Department
million, a huge loss to a of Agriculture (DA)
developing country. stated that a total of
more than P780 million
Based on the worth of damage
report of the agency's resulted from the direct
Bureau of Maintenance hits and landfalls of the
(BOM), the total damage past three storms.
brought by the storms
amounted to up to P900 Nika, Ofel, and
million, more than P500 Pepito, according to the
million to flood control DA, resulted in a volume
infrastructure, almost loss of up to 30,000
P370 million to roads, metric tons in the
and over P14 million to agricultural industry,
bridges. leaving over 34,000 A total of 3,966,867 persons or
1,067,656 families were affected
farmers and fisherfolk by the impact of tropical cyclones
According to helpless. Nika, Ofel, and Pepito, the
National Disaster Risk Reduction
BOM, as of November
and Management Council (NDRRMC)
the DOST-FPRDI last use to ease their stress
Howe February 22, brought on by disasters.
2024.
Other than its
By binding use, Silyang Pinoy also
together, the particles, offers a better
strips, fibers, or slats of alternative to wood and
bamboo with the right plastic-based furniture at
adhesive, the DOST- school.
FPRDI engineered a
bamboo and referred to Bamboo products
it as the latest are stronger, less prone
innovation in wood and to warping, and more
non-wood forest budget-friendly
technologies. compared to products
made from solid woods.
One of the
Engineered to Serve objectives in the Based on a
Prepared by Alexa creation of the Silyang report, the Department
Angela L. Cantes Pinoy is to offer a multi- of Education (DepEd)
functional product that spends more than
Science and can be used as chairs P100,000 on 1-table-1-
technology are creating and tables and can be chair sets for only more
innovations to further easily converted into than 40 students.
improve the lives of other furniture.
many. This problem can
This is in line with be solved by the
One of their their initiative to utilization of cheaper e-
products is the "Silyang transform something of bamboo, giving DepEd a
Pinoy," an less value into another chance to use parts of
environmentally friendly product that will be of its budget to provide
piece of furniture made help to people. other necessities for
from bamboo and other students.
raw materials. The Silyang
Pinoy is primarily used With its unique
The Silyang in school settings. As properties and cheaper
Pinoy was presented by schools in the country cost, the Silyang Pinoy
the Department of are usually opened to saves a significant
Science and house people in times of amount of money from
Technology-Forest calamities, the being spent by various
Products Research and innovation will be of sectors and offers a
Development Institute great value to those who better alternative to solid
(DOST-FPRDI) during seek proper and wood-based products,
the visit of the House of comfortable furniture proving that such
Representatives' where they can lie and innovation is engineered
members to the office of to serve.
 The director of efficiency but also
DOST's Philippine serves as a safeguard
Council for Industry, against complete engine
Energy, and Emerging failure during voyages.
Technology Research
From Dirty to Earth- and Development The hybrid
Friendly (PCIEERD), Enrico trimaran is expected to
Prepared by Alexa Paringit, stated, "This significantly reduce
Angela L. Cantes hybrid fast craft carbon dioxide
addresses the growing emissions associated
Considered as concern of increased with cargo transport
unclean, transforms to a CO₂ emissions through across the Pacific,
vessel that supports the use of hydraulic making it a more
green. pumps that harvest environmentally friendly
The shipping energy from the ocean alternative to traditional
industry is one of the waves." ships.
largest contributors to
global carbon The vessel is It promises to be
emissions, accounting designed to harness more cost-effective by
for approximately 18 energy from ocean requiring less fuel and
percent of the world's waves, converting maintenance over its
total, making it one of mechanical energy into operational lifespan.
the dirtiest industries. electricity through
hydraulic pumps located With its
In response to in its outriggers. innovative design and
this environmental sustainable technology,
challenge, an initiative in As the vessel the hybrid trimaran can
the Philippines aims to sails through rough set a new standard for
revolutionize maritime waters, these pumps eco-friendly shipping in
transport with a vessel absorb wave energy, the Philippines, proving
called the hybrid generating additional that even the dirtiest
trimaran. power to support the forms of transportation
ship's operations. can change for the
Built by Metallica better.
Shipyard and funded by The outriggers
the Department of can produce up to 300
Science and Technology kilowatts of electricity,
(DOST) at a cost of but the primary
more than P170 million, propulsion will still rely
this innovative ship on a multi-engine
represents the country's system with a total
first major step towards output of 3,000
greener shipping horsepower.
practices.
This design not
only enhances energy
 However, the The alarming
integration of AI in misuse of AI has also
immigration also raises manifested in gendered
significant concerns disinformation
regarding privacy, bias, campaigns, further
Advance with Balance and the potential for undermining women's
Prepared by Alexa discriminatory practices. safety and progress.
Angela L. Cantes
Former Libyan Based on a
Advancements Foreign Minister Najla report, Moldova's
often come with Mohammed El president, Maia Sandu.
drawbacks and, when Mangoush has has been targeted with
improperly used, may highlighted the urgent AI-generated deepfakes
lead to harm. need to address to weaken public trust in
systemic gender bias as her abilities to lead and
Such AI continues to evolve. affect her campaigning.
unprecedented
advancements require a In Britain, recent To combat such
lot of work to exercise revelations from the issues, the public must
equality. One of which is Home Office and the advocate for greater
artificial intelligence (AI), campaign group Privacy representation of
a driving force in various International showed women in the
sectors, including that AI algorithms technology sector,
immigration, that uses influence critical ensuring their voices
human intelligence to immigration decisions, shape AI's development.
perform work. often based on sensitive
data that can The support from
Its applications disproportionately affect the government, NGOs,
range from automating vulnerable populations. and other huge sectors
routine tasks to would be of great help to
enhancing decision- For support equality and the
making processes. unaccompanied women proper use of AI.
significantly and those traveling with
transforming how children, the risks AI is of big help to
immigration systems associated with people, and its value will
operate. algorithm-driven heighten if proper
decisions can lead to utilization is done,
AI technologies exploitation and showing its great
can analyze vast violence. potential as an
amounts of data to advanced and balanced
streamline application These issues tool.
processing and improve show that AI's rise can
accuracy, benefiting deepen existing
both applicants and inequalities, particularly
immigration authorities. for women.
 Green Movement DOST Secretary E-trikes are
Prepared by Alexa Renato V. Solidum Jr. lightweight vehicles that
Angela L. Cantes emphasized that can maneuver through
science and technology traffic easily, but this can
are essential for also result in accidents
Filipinos love to unlocking the region's due to their speed and
travel and frequently run potential. design.
errands, making
transportation a The event To address these
significant sector in the showcased various issues, a Technology
Philippines. innovations, including Licensing Agreement
the introduction of was signed by Sec.
However, the electric tricycles, or e- Solidum and industry
vehicles they rely on trikes, developed by experts at CSU's Carig
often lack sustainability, Cagayan State campus.
raising concerns about University (CSU).
the environmental This agreement
impact of their travel These e-trikes aims to enhance safety
habits. aim to provide a cost- standards and promote
effective and eco- responsible use of e-
In a significant friendly alternative to trike technology.
move towards traditional gasoline-
sustainable powered tricycles. Support from
transportation, the 2024 local government and
Regional Science, However, the rise organizations is
Technology, and of e-trikes has not been important for
Innovation Week without challenges, as implementing
(RSTW) kicked off in customization often regulations that ensure
Cagayan Valley last leads to safety concerns road safety for all users.
September 25, 2024. on the roads.
The president of
the Electric Vehicle
Association of the
Philippines (EVAP),
Edmund Araga, voiced
his support for licensing
e-trike operators to
improve safety
measures.

As Cagayan
Valley embraces this
innovative transportation
solution, it paves the
way for a greener and
safer future where
Filipinos can move
freely without harming
the environment.