Let me start with some clarity: Yes, I believe the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) does have a role over pollution, because part of its mandate is “prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution.” And if pollution is on the table, then surely urban noise must count too, in my view. After all, noise is a kind of environmental pollutant—one that doesn’t dirty rivers or skies but invades our ears, our well-being, even our sleep. But who in Metro Manila is worrying about noise pollution ? The usual complaints tend to be about traffic congestion, floods, or waste management—not decibel levels. That raises a serious question: is the MMDA even paying attention to noise as part of its environmental-management function? If the answer is no, maybe it should. Here’s what got me thinking: Germany is experimenting with what some call soundproof trees . This is not science fiction. Engineers there are developing trees with denser foliage and thicker bark ...
How difficult can this technology be? That was my first question when I read that Japan has launched its first osmotic power plant in Fukuoka . If this is now operational in a highly industrialized country, what is stopping us from trying it here—especially when we already have the two basic ingredients: freshwater and saltwater. In a country made up of more than 7,600 islands, these two resources meet almost everywhere. This brings us to the classic dilemma: to make or to buy? But if Japan, through JICA , is willing to transfer the technology, then we neither make nor buy—we simply cooperate. And why compete with Japan anyway if they are willing to share their expertise? The real question is: Who in our government is actually in charge of technology transfer ? Is it the DOST ? Is it the DFA ? Or is it, as often happens, nobody in particular—which means nothing happens at all? Japan’s new osmotic power plant is an example of innovation grounded in simple natural processes. The ...