Capstone-Intel calls for flood resilient PH; highlights need for creating agency focusing on flood management
The Philippines confronts an average of 20 typhoons annually, with some becoming super typhoons, killing thousands of lives, and leaving billions worth in agriculture and infrastructure damages. Simply put, Capstone-Intel believes that by improving the country’s flood resilience through actionable solutions that bring awareness and protection to the Filipinos, the nation can achieve a promising future not only for the environment but also for its continuous economic progression. “Boosting a community’s capacity to withstand floods also involves enhancing its social, human, natural, and financial quality of life, in addition to its physical capabilities to perform well in the industries it supports,” said Atty. Nic Conti, Capstone-Intel Corporation’s Chief of Public Affairs. Conti pointed out that the Philippines has been tolerant of how floods and typhoons wreak havoc in the nation due to its lack of awareness of the severity of the long-term damage these may have caused to their day-to-day living. “It has become a custom that we are always unprepared whenever there are strong typhoons every year. That’s why we have a number of casualties. Although the rainy season has been truly a part of our climate, our people deserve better ways to face it. The number of lives lost, and casualties are no longer acceptable because they may be prevented if we have enough initiatives to offer,” he noted. “In these times and opportunities, we should strengthen our flood response such as by strengthening information dissemination in far-flung areas that are often hit by disasters and scaling up waste management awareness among citizens and large corporations to ensure floodways flow smoothly,” he added. According to Conti, the national government should also establish a separate entity attached to National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) that mainly focuses on mitigating floods in order to control their impacts on the country, adding that its economic implications will soon burden the lives of Filipinos. “The Philippine government should form an agency attached to the NDRRMC that gives emphasis to solving the long-standing problem of flooding in the country. This includes gathering all industry experts to formulate actionable solutions that trigger the eradication of severe risks of flooding not only in the lives of Filipinos but also in the economic sector,” Conti emphasized. “Floods are too rampant in cities that drive investments, and flooding extremely affects agriculture, which is the backbone of the Philippine economy. If we don’t take this seriously, our industries will suffer rigorously. It’s a domino effect,” he added.
Capstone-Intel calls DepEd to act on ‘education crisis’; adds need to provide ‘better initiatives, platforms’ to uplift teachers and students
Capstone-Intel Corporation is calling on the Department of Education (DepEd) to step up and act on the befalling education system of the country following its recent social listening report on World Teachers’ Day that reveals “education crisis” as the most widely-engaging topic across all social media and non-social media platforms ahead of the month-long celebration. Capstone-Intel is a high-impact research company that uses innovative research technologies, tools, and methods to convert data and information into breakthrough insights and actionable intelligence outputs. It is committed to helping its clients solve problems, find solutions, grow markets and constituencies, build reputations, navigate risks, manage crises, and be the country’s leading private research and intelligence agency. A recent social listening report from Capstone-Intel Corp. revealed that the topic “education crisis” reported an interaction share of 77.6 percent across all social and non-social media platforms, which indicates that audiences are primarily talking and interacting on the topic. “This data illustrates the perception on the state of the education crisis in the country which was related to educational crisis. This would mean that the government should give its full attention to provide accessible and quality education for all,” said Atty. Nick Conti, Capstone-Intel Corporation’s Chief of Public Affairs. The social listening report was conducted from August 1 to September 8, 2023, which covers key events in the education sector particularly Brigada Eskwela, the opening of classes, and the launch of the annual World Teachers’ Month celebration. The report did not specify the primary issues of education in the country but recent data from DepEd shows Philippine classroom shortage has risen to 159,000. Conti drew attention to a critical issue, and it is reassuring to observe that the government has recognized the urgency of the matter. According to DepEd, the projected shortfall of classrooms for the upcoming year can be addressed by allocating close to P400 billion, which is nearly 7 percent of the proposed P5.768-trillion National Expenditure Program for the year 2024. This significant amount is necessary to ensure that sufficient classrooms and facilities are provided to accommodate the needs of students and educators. “We understand that the lack of classrooms can lead to overcrowding, making it difficult for students to focus and learn effectively. The education system is complex, and there are many factors that need to be considered to ensure that it is effective,” Conti added. The public affairs chief also believes that the development of an education system involves more than just having enough funds. “Aside from funding, students should receive high-quality education, which is the most critical of all. As new technologies such as AI continue to emerge and the education landscape evolves, it is crucial that teachers have equal and inclusive opportunities for training, professional development, and access to technology,” Conti noted. “A well-developed education system is an essential component of a successful economy. Education is the key to unlocking the potential of the population, and a highly educated workforce can lead to increased productivity, innovation, and economic growth. Education is not only necessary for individuals to acquire the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the workforce, but it also contributes to the development of a robust, dynamic economy,” he added.
