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Research at DLSU •

Centers Chat: Let's Talk Funding Hacks Photo Album

DLSU's Research Communication and Data Analytics Office, together with the Research and Grants Management Office and the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, held the first iteration of "Centers Chat" last October 9 at the Henry Sy Sr. Hall Roof Deck. Aimed to cultivate a greater sense of community and even more effective undertakings for all Lasallian researchers, this series of fireside chats will discuss different foci per session.
Commoner •

How an oil spill emphasizes the need for a good grasp of science (for everybody)

An oil spill typically takes weeks, depending on the length of cleanup time and severity of destruction. As of writing, it has since been two weeks since July 25—and the spill was discovered almost immediately.

While the country awaits updates on its resolution, what needs to be shed light on is how long its damages will last—and what would be affected.

Despite being first and foremost a threat to marine ecosystems, an oil spill’s damages go beyond environmental aspects. Others that would also be affected include livelihood, food, the economy, and health.
Commoner •

Backtracking on the what's and when's of the Bataan oil spill

Weeks back, torrential rains and winds from Super Typhoon Carina brought about strong waves, capsizing MT Terra Nova—a tanker carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel. This caused it to sink 34 meters underwater in the area of Limay, Bataan.

This incident eventually led to an even more dangerous environmental disaster: an oil spill stretching roughly to 14.4 square kilometers in Manila Bay. For reference, Boracay Island's area is only 10.32 square kilometers in total.

In just a matter of days, it spread across nearby provinces, and even almost reached Metro Manila coastlines.

As of August 9, the oil spill that started in Bataan is still there. So, what exactly is happening now?
Commoner •

What's fair for a Grab fare? Fast-rising Grab fares and an ailing public transport system have brought Pinoys to a standstill

Commuters in Metro Manila can attest to the worsening situation of finding transport options to get from point to point. There are transport network vehicle services (TNVS) like Grab that have long been options since their dominance of the ride-hailing services in the Philippines. But with their fares now ballooning, are rides that offer more convenience, comfort, and safety simply for those who can afford them? On top of that, is the country maybe more focused on improving the TNVS market rather than studying and investing more in improving public transportation? More demand for services like that of Grab takes advantage of the already car-populated metro by utilizing a good number of these vehicles for ride-hailing services, but does this somehow reduce the need for more vehicles to be bought and occupy the traffic-laden roads? Without proper measures, Filipino commuters will remain disadvantaged.
Commoner •

Convenience at an Inconvenient Cost: The High Price of Grab Rides

With all commodities’ costs skyrocketing, it is completely reasonable for commuters to want to know where and how they spend their every buck.

According to the transport network vehicle service (TNVS) company Grab, these surges in pricing simply follow an algorithm. But is that simply the answer to the complex and ambiguous calculations for our rides? Are commuters, drivers, and riders simply hostage to the algorithm? That’s a hard pill to swallow for many to whom ride-hailing apps have become a lifeline. If a remedy for these surge fees cannot be immediate, real transparency on the algorithms that calculate surge charges should be a given. It is time TNVS become the customer-oriented businesses that they make themselves out to be.
Commoner •

The Science Behind Being Transgender, Explained

Worldwide, June is celebrated as Pride Month—an opportunity to highlight the struggles and plight of the LGBTQ+ community, alongside the milestones of progressive development in society. While more people recognize that gender is a spectrum that goes beyond the binary understanding of it, society as a whole still has a lot to learn.

Of course, while there is enough science-based evidence and research to affirm being transgender as a valid experience, this confirmation is not necessary. It should be understood that while science can be used to rebut those who question transgenders, this cannot solely be the verifying factor—and neither is transmedicalism. Rather, it should be the proper understanding and respect for each individual’s gender identity.
Commoner •

In Eradicating Illegal Drug Use in the PH, Rehabilitation Works Better Than Tokhang

A former drug addict shares his firsthand account from his fall to addiction to his road to recovery. The question remains: Will the administration give others struggling with drug dependency this same fighting chance? “Tokhang” has been a haunting word for many — first in Duterte’s bulwark, Davao City, then in the whole Philippines, since the campaign was rolled out in his election last 2016.
Commoner •

Why the COVID-19 Vaccine Race in the PH Still Has a Long Way to Go

From FDA approvals to the “cold chain,” how far are we in the last mile to recovery?The vaccine race is far from over.When the world started spiraling out of control due to the novel coronavirus last year, big pharmaceuticals made it an undertaking to come up with a vaccine that would counter the spread across 219 countries around the world. A number of these vaccines have already crossed the hurdle of clinical trials and approvals, and are being readied for mass rollout.