Nation

MANILA (June 26)—Officials of the country’s 42,046 barangays will undergo capacity-building training under the incoming administration of President-elect Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., to ensure optimal utilization of the additional funds to be injected by the Mandanas-Garcia ruling. Lawyer Vic Rodriguez, incoming Executive Secretary, pointed out that barangay governance would further improve with the additional funds that the implementation of the ruling would provide. “When I was still a barangay kagawad, seryoso na kami noon, our budget was only four-million…And those were the difficult times that I think now, wala nang problema doon sa mga barangays na nagta-tap ng ilaw sa poste ng mga Meralco dahil hindi mabayaran ang kanilang monthly kuryente,” Rodriguez said. He was ...

MANILA (June 25)—President-elect Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos on Thursday expressed confidence that the country can survive and recover from severe economic devastation caused by the still lingering pandemic, with the help and full support of the people. “Malakas po ang loob ko sa ating kinabukasan, kahit po marami po tayong nakikita na hahadlang sa ninanais nating pagandahin ang Pilipinas. Malakas po ang loob ko na magsabi na meron pa rin tayong maliwanag at magandang kinabukasan at nasasabi ko po yun dahil nasa likod ko ang lahat Pilipino,” Marcos said in his speech during the 10th Cityhood Anniversary of Bacoor. He explained that his optimism stems from the full support he is receiving from majority of Filipinos who voted him overwhelmingly into office. “Nasa likod ko an...

To further enhance students' competencies, the Batac City-based Mariano Marcos State University has tied up with the Northwestern University in Laoag City and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office in Ilocos Norte province for the Bachelor of Science in Biology internship program from 2022 to 2023. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO ILOCOS NORTE (June 23)—The Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Ilocos Norte has forged an agreement with Laoag City-based Northwestern University (NWU) and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) for the Bachelor of Science in Biology internship program this year. According to Danie Tapaoan Jr., MMSU information officer, the tie with NWU and PENRO to further enhance students' competencies was made po...

Japanese professors Kyoko Watanabe and Koji Ishikawa from Tamagawa University and Chiharu Nakashima from Mie University (seated, extreme left, second from left and third from left, respectively) sign a notice of appointment with Central Luzon State University to teach specialized courses to graduate students for the Academic Year 2022-2023. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO NUEVA ECIJA (June 23)—Three faculty-researchers from Japanese universities have signed a notice of appointment (NoA) with Nueva Ecija-based Central Luzon State University (CLSU) to internationalize academic and research activities. According to CLSU, Dr. Kyoko Watanabe and Dr. Koji Ishikawa from Tamagawa University, and Dr. Chiharu Nakashima from Mie University signed the NoA on June 14 to serve as adjun...

The United States Peace Corps and Department of Education’s new assessment tools for learners with disabilities. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS MANILA (June 16)—The Department of Education (DepEd) has partnered with the United States (US) Peace Corps to develop and test new assessment tools for learners with disabilities in Albay province. The partnership involves 40 teachers and 200 students from Albay which is part of a series of activities that aim to ensure schools and their curricula are as inclusive as possible. US Peace Corps Philippines Country Director Jenner Edelman said the initiative is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAid). “Inclusive education is a priority for DepEd and the US Peace Corps, and our shared aim is to ensure that all learners,...

MANILA (June 16)—The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has expressed support for the Department of Education's (DepEd) introduction of the "Basic Education Development Plan 2030" (BEDP 2030) which will serve as a framework for improving the delivery and quality of basic education in the Philippines for the next decade. The DepEd said the BEDP 2030 aims to alleviate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, address access gaps, and build resilience. In a statement, lawyer Jacqueline Ann de Guia, CHR executive director, said the commission recognizes this effort of DepEd to enhance access, equity, quality and resiliency of the Philippine education system through structured goals and long-term plans. De Guia said CHR appreciates the agency's responsiveness to the existing and emerging iss...