THE Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the Manila and Tokyo is scheduled to take effect on Sept. 11 this year, as both countries conducted a ceremonial exchange of notes on Tuesday.

“30 days from now, the RAA will enter into force. Not only will this be an important step in our concerted efforts to enhance our 69 years of bilateral relations,” Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa P. Lazaro said during the livestreamed ceremony.

“It will also signify Japan’s commitment to the Philippines efforts to advance our defense capabilities in support of the Philippines’ firm assertion of its sovereign rights,” Ms. Lazaro added.

The RAA, signed by Manila and Tokyo in July last year, allows for the entry of equipment and troops for military drills and disaster responses on each other’s soil.

It was ratified by the Philippine Senate in December 2024, while Japan’s National Diet ratified it in early June.

“This swift and decisive progress speaks to the urgency and strategic value both nations attach to our security and defense cooperation,” Japanese envoy Endo Kazuya said.

In a separate media briefing earlier in the day, Philippine military spokeswoman Col. Francel Margareth Padilla-Taborlupa said that the agreement will enhance bilateral operations and military operations of both countries.

“And we have been showing this as something that is really very important to enhance our capabilities in the Armed Forces of the Philippines as well,” she added.

The Philippines has been increasing efforts to counter China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, by bolstering defense partnerships with countries like the US, Japan, and Canada.

The Philippines and China have repeatedly clashed over disputed South China Sea features, fueling tensions as both uphold their claims in the vital trade route.

For his part, Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. said that the RAA could provide deterrence to “actors who may not see things the way we do and may not share our values.”

He added that the partnership would improve resilience in defense industrial partnerships, connectivity, infrastructure, technology, and knowledge.

“I look forward to the conclusion, speedy conclusion, and I urge both sides to speedily conclude the component agreements that we need into making the RAA fully implementable,” Mr. Teodoro said. — Adrian H. Halili

A PHILIPPINE Senator on Tuesday said Filipinos have not yet felt the full benefits promised under the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act of 2019, amid budgetary concerns over its zero-balance billing mandate.

“Going into the sixth year of implementation, every Filipino should now feel this. Our intention is to give access to good quality healthcare for all Filipinos without the financial burden,” Senator Joseph Victor “JV” G. Ejercito told a news briefing.

During a privileged speech on Monday night, Mr. Ejercito called on Congress to create a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee to conduct a review on the implementation of the UHC.

Republic Act No. 11223, the UHC Act, seeks to provide Filipinos access to quality and affordable healthcare services, by mandating automatic enrollment of citizens in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

Mr. Ejercito had also urged the passage of Senate Bill No. 1 which proposes a P74.4-billion supplemental budget for PhilHealth to sustain the UHC’s zero-balance billing program.

Under the proposed measure, P53.1 billion will be allocated for indigent families, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and financially incapable patients, while P21.1 billion will be earmarked for the benefit packages like expanded dialysis, mental health care, nutrition support, and outpatient services.

About P127.6 million will be provided for the coverage for Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) beneficiaries in conflict-affected areas.

“Hopefully the (supplemental budget) will be supported by our colleagues,” he added. “The P74.4 billion is the original amount that was in the National Expenditure program in 2025, that was removed.” — Adrian H. Halili

THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT must prioritize the backlogs in Kindergarten to Grade 3 classrooms, according to the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2).

EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark R. Yee said the shift of early education students to modular learning could pose adverse consequences to literacy, amid the backlog of classrooms.

“If we have to prioritize, I hope we prioritize kindergarten to Grade 3 (classrooms). Because children, non-independent learners, cannot study at home,” Mr. Yee told a Senate education panel on Tuesday.

Mr. Yee also noted that some parents cannot fully support early education learners during modular learning.

“Data shows about 40% of parents are not home or they need to migrate, so no one can teach (the students) because we know the realities that not all parents are able to do that for their children,” he added.

Mr. Yee had called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to map out the condemnation lifetime of existing buildings and create multiple designs for school buildings that could address climate change.

He added that there is a need to diversify solutions to bridge the classroom gap by exploring collaborations with local government units (LGU), non-government organizations and public and private partnerships for construction.

The DepEd had earlier said that it would take 55 years to bridge the backlog of about 165,000 classrooms if the present pace of construction continues.

He said that there is also a need to expand the government’s voucher program by tapping private schools to take on excess students from public schools.

“Private schools can accommodate up to 23% of the overflow of students in public schools. It is a short-term but immediate relief that can be explored,” Mr. Yee said.

During the hearing, Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV also questioned disparity of classroom construction costs.

According to the DepEd and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), it would cost them about P2.5 million to P3.8 million in constructing classrooms. While partnerships between LGUs and the private sector costs about P1.5 million to P2 million.

“We want to know. Where is the difference really? During the technical working group (TWG), we will require the different groups to submit all the way to cost of materials, cost of labor. We will know so we can compare. Maybe your cement is half the price of their cement,” Mr. Aquino said.

“Hopefully we can move forward and really provide the best value for our students. If we can do this at P1.5 million to P2 million, it would be like doubling the classroom capacity we can build. I think this is something we can all get behind,” he added.

The Senator also said that LGUs and private sector partnerships can complete classrooms in less than a year, while government agencies take longer completing similar projects. — Adrian H. Halili