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Driving business growth through strategic transformation

First of two parts

IN BRIEF:

• The Philippine economic outlook for 2025 remains promising despite global uncertainties.

• Philippine CEOs are cautiously optimistic on the local business outlook but have expressed higher confidence in their own sector, recognizing that local challenges tend to have more direct and immediate impact on their businesses compared to global issues.

• With balanced optimism, Philippine CEOs are prioritizing strategic initiatives in two key areas: investing in new opportunities through M&A and partnerships and accelerating technology adoption.

As global uncertainties persist in 2025, corporate leaders are faced with the challenge of navigating the growing complexity of the business environment. It is essential for them to lead their companies through strategic actions toward a well-defined vision for the future, which is why EY-Parthenon conducted the EY CEO Outlook Pulse survey, which gathered insights from 1,200 CEOs globally, including Philippine respondents.

The survey explores the ongoing transformations within organizations, driven by executive leadership. In the Philippine edition of the survey, SGV zooms in on the unique perspective provided by CEOs on their expectations for future growth and long-term value creation in light of the uncertainties and the country’s current economic conditions.

PHILIPPINE ECONOMIC GROWTH
In 2024, the Philippine economy experienced growth of 5.6%, up from 5.5% the previous year, making it the second fastest-growing economy in Southeast Asia, following Vietnam at 7.1%. The strength of the economy was characterized by robust domestic consumption, which recorded full-year growth of 4.8%, despite some moderation observed in the fourth quarter. Economic expansion was primarily driven by growth in the industry and services sectors, which offset the decline in agricultural output due to adverse weather conditions.

Several factors contributed to economic growth in 2024, including a more favorable domestic environment and supportive government policies. Throughout the year, strong household spending was maintained, benefiting from lower inflation. The deceleration in prices resulted from a combination of government measures, such as the reduction of rice tariffs, and a general easing of price pressures following a spike in the previous period. Government spending also increased, with a larger infrastructure budget allocated to expedite the Build Better More (BBM) program of the current administration. Additionally, a more supportive financial environment emerged as the central bank adopted a less restrictive monetary policy, encouraging greater private investment.

The economy demonstrated resilience in the face of global economic headwinds in 2024, including slower global growth, geopolitical tensions, and uncertainty stemming from elections in various major countries. A key factor in this stability was sustained domestic consumption, which helped insulate the country from the full impact of external shocks compared to other regional economies.

The growth outlook for the country in 2025 remains promising, with international organizations and financial institutions projecting an economic expansion of approximately 6.1%. This trajectory positions the nation to potentially achieve upper-middle-income status by the end of the year. To realize the Philippine economic growth forecasts, a delicate balance must be maintained between sustaining strong consumer spending and implementing policy reforms that enhance investor confidence.

With a favorable demographic profile, stable inflation, and steady remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), household consumption is poised for further growth. This is bolstered by an expanding workforce and rising disposable incomes. Additionally, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)’s ongoing policy of low interest rates and reduced reserve requirements for banks is expected to facilitate economic growth by increasing credit availability. Inflation in 2025 is anticipated to stabilize at 3%, following a peak of 6% in 2023 and interest rate cuts that began in August 2024.

Despite potential shocks from the global market, the country is expected to maintain a conducive environment for economic activity. While the overall outlook for the Philippines remains positive, the strong interconnection between the global economy and the domestic economy presents both opportunities and threats, as external events could impact local businesses across various sectors. Rising tensions in oil-exporting countries and policy shifts in major economies like the US could lead to increased import and commodity costs, raising operational expenses for local businesses. These global disruptions also underscore the fragility of supply chains, which may result in higher production costs. Moreover, shifts in the global economy could create new trade barriers, affecting the export competitiveness of Southeast Asian countries.

In addition to global risks, local conditions such as political uncertainty and infrastructure deficiencies pose significant challenges to the Philippine economy, contributing to a less predictable business environment. Consequently, domestic economic growth will depend on the country’s ability to seize opportunities while protecting itself from emerging threats both within and beyond its borders.

BALANCING CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM AND STRATEGY
Philippine CEOs must strike a balance between optimism and strategy when making decisions. The confidence of CEOs significantly influences their annual agendas, highlighting the importance of assessing the outlook of Philippine CEOs for the upcoming year. The survey indicates that 62% of Philippine CEOs maintain a slightly optimistic view of the business environment, while expressing higher confidence from a global (46%) and sector-specific (48%) perspective.

Philippine CEOs are confident, but not excessively so, in their near-term outlook. They are cautiously optimistic about domestic growth, recognizing that local challenges tend to have a more direct and immediate impact on their businesses compared to global issues. This perspective reflects a conservative view that global headwinds may pose greater risks to local enterprises than to their counterparts in more mature economies, particularly given the Philippine economy’s reliance on imported key commodities and revenue streams linked to external markets, such as the BPO sector and remittances from OFWs.

Unsurprisingly, Philippine CEOs express the most confidence in growth within their own sectors. This confidence is largely attributed to their expertise, characterized by deep insights into industry trends, competition, and market opportunities. Industry-level confidence is further bolstered by continuous growth in the digital economy, which expanded by 11% in 2023 compared to 2021. This growth has particularly benefited the technology and digital services industries, which are experiencing a sustained upward trend due to increased demand for digital services and improvements in the country’s digital infrastructure. Similarly, the financial services sector has gained from the expansion of digital infrastructure, rising demand for diverse financial products, and higher digital adoption, resulting in a 36.3% growth rate in the total assets of the Philippine banking system in 2024.

Given their balanced optimism, Philippine CEOs recognize the need for proactive measures, driving strategic initiatives in two key areas: investing in new opportunities — such as joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) — and accelerating technology adoption. A notable 86% of respondents prioritized investments aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and growth through joint ventures or M&A, while 82% are focused on maximizing their companies’ existing technology stacks through further investment.

The 2025 outlook of Philippine business leaders underscores a technology-forward approach, with 80% of CEOs emphasizing the importance of investing in emerging technologies. This focus is evident in recent strategic moves, such as a major fintech company’s partnership with a leading Japanese financial group to strengthen its digital payments platform, and a global business services provider’s acquisition of a customer experience firm to enhance artificial intelligence (AI) and automation capabilities. Overall, this trend reflects a growing recognition of the value of collaboration and innovation through acquisitions to drive growth and improve service delivery.

Survey results indicate a more cautious outlook on costs, with a net optimism score of 62% regarding input costs and just 40% concerning the ability to pass cost increases onto customers. While CEOs expect inflation to align with forecasts, they acknowledge potential risks that could disrupt this trajectory. Consequently, a key concern is the ability to transfer costs to customers if input prices rise more than anticipated. To mitigate these risks, Philippine CEOs are planning to adopt strategies that enhance their operational capabilities through strategic initiatives like M&A and joint ventures to unlock efficiencies and potential cost synergies.

In the second part of this article, we discuss transforming operations to accelerate business advancement and using mergers and acquisitions as a catalyst for growth and transformation.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional advice where the facts and circumstances warrant. The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of SGV & Co.

 

Noel P. Rabaja is the strategy and transactions leader of SGV & Co.

Marcos-backed alliance told to fill spot left by Imee with opposition bet

IMELDA “IMEE” R. MARCOS — SENATE PRIB

GOVERNMENT-BACKED senatorial candidates could benefit by filling the spot left by re-electionist Senator Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos with an independent or opposition bet, boosting the coalition’s image as a unity ticket, political analysts said.

This could let administration candidates tap into a wider voter base, improving their chances of securing Senate seats, they added.

“The narrative of offering a spot to the opposition can actually benefit them,” Hansley A. Juliano, who teaches political science at the Ateneo de Manila University, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.  “It helps project the image of magnanimity consistent with their unity narrative.”

Ms. Marcos, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s sister, withdrew from the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas (Alliance for a New Philippines) ticket last week, saying she could no longer stand on the same platform as her former peers.

Her withdrawal came weeks after the arrest of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte on the strength of an International Criminal Court warrant for alleged crimes against humanity in connection with his deadly war on drugs.

There were speculations last month that the administration alliance was in talks with some independent candidates, a rumor swiftly dismissed by both camps.

“This is not new,” Mr. Juliano said. “Traditional politics and liberal politics have co-existed for decades.”

“They can synthesize the unity narrative with civil opposition,” Anthony Lawrence A. Borja, an associate political science professor at De La Salle University in Manila, said in via Messenger chat.

Opposition candidates might face criticism from their supporters for joining the administration slate, but they could justify it by underscoring the need to advance their agenda, he added.

“It might contribute to both the disillusionment of the liberal-progressive opposition towards their traditional heads,” Mr. Borja said. “Nonetheless… they could simply excuse it as ‘playing the game’ and being practical.”

A potential alliance between the administration and opposition could prompt the Duterte camp to claim that it’s being “ganged up” against, Arjan P. Aguirre, who teaches political science at the Ateneo, said in a Messenger chat.

“The end goal here is again to make it appear that the Dutertes are being persecuted by the administration and being ganged up by all its enemies,” he said.

There has been a deepening political feud between the Marcoses and Dutertes, two of the country’s most influential families. Their alliance started crumbling last year after the House of Representatives stripped Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio of hundreds of millions of pesos worth of intelligence and confidential funds for 2025.

The rift culminated in Mr. Duterte’s arrest by Philippine police last month. Weeks earlier, congressmen impeached Ms. Duterte, the ex-President’s daughter, for alleged corruption.

The Duterte camp may use such a political pairing to strengthen their narrative that they’re the “true opposition” against the Marcos government, Mr. Aguirre said.

More than 69 million Filipinos will pick a new set of congressmen, 12  of the 24-member Senate and thousands of local officials on May 12.

Nine of the 12 senatorial candidates endorsed by Mr. Marcos made it to the top 13 of the midterm election race, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) poll conducted just days after the arrest of Mr. Duterte.

Re-electionist Senator Christopher Lawrence T. Go, who is not part of the administration slate, and Party-list Rep. Erwin T. Tulfo, who is part of the government ticket, were tied at the top.

Only 12 senators will win in the May 12 elections, but three candidates were tied for No. 11, 12 and 13. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

BI warns against trafficking for online scam hubs

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has warned Filipinos about the use of Telegram and Facebook by international trafficking syndicates to recruit workers for online scam hubs in Southeast Asia.

Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado, in a statement on Sunday, said the agency intercepted 125 trafficking victims in 2024, underscoring the growing prevalence of so-called “catphishing” schemes — fake job offers through social media.

“The Philippine government has been resolute in its anti-human trafficking efforts for nine years, and we are more determined than ever to bring traffickers to justice,” he said.

The announcement comes as the Philippines marks its ninth straight year as a Tier 1 country in the US State Department’s 2024 Trafficking in Persons report.

The report assesses global efforts to combat human trafficking and assigns countries to one of three tiers based on their compliance with the minimum standards outlined in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

A Tier 1 ranking indicates that a country’s government fully meets these minimum standards. However, it does not imply the absence of human trafficking.

In the latest incident, the Immigration bureau said four people — three men and one woman — were prevented from boarding a flight to Malaysia on March 28 after being misled by unscrupulous recruiters.

The victims were deceived by fraudulent social media ads offering high-paying jobs and were later coerced into creating fake online personas, often used in love scam operations.

In March, 206 Filipinos were repatriated after being trafficked to Myawaddy, Myanmar, where they were forced to work in cyber-fraud operations.

Majority of victims were between the ages of 20 and 44, largely college-educated, and hail from Metro Manila and neighboring regions, according to bureau data.

Traffickers often disguise the scam as employment in local business process outsourcing (BPO) firms, and once recruited, victims are sent to hubs in Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, or Myanmar, all of which have emerged as hotspots for digital fraud networks.

Social media platforms, primarily Facebook and the messaging platform Telegram, are key tools used by syndicates to reach targets.

The bureau said it is working closely with the Department of Justice’s Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking to monitor online recruitment and intercept potential trafficking victims at exit points nationwide. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

PHL team in Myanmar treats 268 patients after quake

Health personnel from the Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent treat patients in Naypyidaw, Myanmar. — OFFICE OF CIVIL DEFENSE

A PHILIPPINE humanitarian team sent to Myanmar last week has treated at least 268 patients after a deadly 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit the Southeast Asian nation on March 28, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

In a statement on Sunday, the OCD said the patients were treated for cases involving general medicine, surgery, pediatric and orthopedic care, and those requiring an obstetrician-gynecologist.

“The Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent  remains committed to delivering essential humanitarian assistance and support amidst ongoing challenges, ensuring the well-being of those affected by the crisis,” the agency said.

Filipino doctors also provided medical consultation for hypertension, type II diabetes, arthrosis, muscle disorders, wrist and hand injuries, among others illnesses.

The team operated from a tent hospital near the Bomingaung Temple in Began, Myanmar, the OCD said.

A 7.7-magnitude quake struck Myanmar and parts of Thailand on March 28, crippling major infrastructure like airports, bridges and highways and killing more than 3,000 people. The recent quake is considered to be one of the biggest in the last century.

On April 1, the Philippines sent a 91-member humanitarian aid team, composed of  army and air force soldiers and people from the OCD,  Bureau of Fire Protection to help earthquake victims in Myanmar.

Also part of the contingent were staff from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Health and Environment departments, and private mining and energy companies.

Almost 3,400 people have died in the earthquake, with 4,850 people hurt and 220 more missing,  Reuters reported on April 5, citing Myanmar state media.

Myanmar descended into turmoil after its military overthrew the civilian government in 2021, plunging the Southeast Asian nation into a civil war. State forces, pro-democracy and ethnic armed groups have engaged in hostilities that have driven more than 3 million Burmese people out of their homes, according to United Nations data.

“The Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent has been actively engaged in critical search, rescue, retrieval and medical operations in Myanmar since their deployment on April 1 and 2, 2025,” the OCD said.

“The team is dedicated to addressing the urgent needs of those affected by the ongoing crisis,” it added. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Israel looks to open more industries for OFWs

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are seen at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. — PHILIPPINE STAR/WALTER BOLLOZOS

By Adrian H. Halili, Reporter

THE ISRAEL government is looking to cooperate with the Philippine departments of Foreign Affairs and Migrant Workers to employ more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and explore new industries for their deployment, its Ambassador to Manila said.

“We have a need. We would like to employ more. For this we need to have arrangements, and we need to have a meeting with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW),” Ambassador Ilan Fluss told BusinessWorld in a recent interview.

“We want to open new sectors for (Filipinos) in Israel…Currently it’s only caregivers and hotel workers,” he added, noting the Embassy is looking at signing protocols or agreements with the DMW.

Mr. Fluss said Israel is in need of foreign labor in different sectors, an opportunity taken by some countries.

“Some countries are really benefiting from this opportunity and are sending labor to Israel which we did not have before,” he said.

About 30,000 Filipinos currently reside and work in Israel, mainly employed in the hotel sector and as caregivers.

Mr. Fluss said while Israel is interested in bringing in more workers from the Philippines, it is hindered by restrictions on new OFW deployment as the country has been placed under Alert Level 2.

“The Philippine government is not allowing new OFWs to go to Israel, which is a pity because we need a lot of foreign labor,” he added.

“We are interested to bring labor from the Philippines however as long as this Alert level 2 (is in effect)… new workers are not coming to Israel from the Philippines,” he said.

The DFA first placed Israel under an Alert Level 2 in October 2023, following the onset of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, restricting the deployment of Filipinos in Israel. The Philippines has kept Israel under Alert Level 2, according to a travel advisory issued in May 2024.

The alert is typically issued when there are real threats to life, security, and property of Filipinos arising from internal disturbance or external threats, following increasing tension in the region.

It covers non-essential travels, such as tourism visits, pilgrimages, temporary stays with relatives and friends, volunteer work, sports events and similar activities. There is also no new OFW deployment allowed while the said alert level is in place.

Last month, Israel resumed strikes in Gaza after parties in the Israel-Hamas conflict failed to agree on extending the Jan. 19 ceasefire.

In a statement, the DFA urged the parties to continue their negotiations and avoid escalating the conflict further.

Mr. Fluss said that countries like Japan, Thailand, and Korea have already lowered their travel advisories for certain parts of Israel.

“We’re waiting for the Philippine government to make their decisions. It’s up to (them),” he added.

He said that the country has designated “safe areas” where foreign work is permitted.

Meanwhile, Mr. Fluss said that the lowering of the Philippines’ travel advisory will also allow Filipinos tourist to travel to Israel.

The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv has advised Filipinos to suspend nonessential travel to Israel due to the ongoing conflict with Iran and the war in Gaza.

“It’s important to mention on the tourism side. So of course, there is the travel advisory, but Israel is open for tourism,” he added.

In December last year, the Philippines’ Department of Tourism and the Israel Ministry of Tourism signed a joint declaration of intent to cooperate on driving tourism growth and strengthen economic ties.

Cabinet to attend Duterte probe

IMEE R. MARCOS — FACEBOOK.COM/SENATEPH

SENATE PRESIDENT Francis G. Escudero on Sunday said that officials and cabinet members will now attend the third Senate hearing on the arrest of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, scheduled this week.

“I took it upon myself to bridge the gap between the executive department and the Senate. The hearing will be moved to April 10 and the invited officials will now attend,” Mr. Escudero said in a radio interview.

The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, chaired by Senator and presidential sister Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos, on March 20 launched an inquiry into the arrest of Mr. Duterte, citing questions on the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the Philippines.

Cabinet members and officials were not present during Ms. Marcos’ second committee hearing last week, after Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin invoked executive privilege for invited officials.

Mr. Bersamin also cited a possible violation of the sub judice rule, which could unduly influence the ongoing proceedings in the Supreme Court.

Mr. Escudero said that the Senate will no longer issue subpoenas for the absent officials, as it is not needed.

Last week, the Senate Chief said that he consulted with the Senate legal counsel if issuing subpoenas to absent government officials would cause a constitutional crisis, following the invocation of executive privilege by the Presidential palace. — Adrian H. Halili

Risk-based regulatory approach could help gov’t ensure ethical AI use: IBM

RAWPIXEL-FREEPIK

The International Business Machines (IBM) Corp. said a risk-based regulatory approach could help the Philippine government ensure the ethical and safe use of artificial intelligence (AI).

“There should also be compliance with regards to what data is allowed to be trained with the AI,” Gerando Louis Bonganay, artificial intelligence architect at IBM Philippines, told reporters on the sidelines of the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines and San Miguel Corp.’s annual business journalism seminar on April 5.

The European Artificial Intelligence Board was established in 2024 under the EU AI Act, the first-ever legal framework on AI use.

The AI Board serves as the region’s key advisory body that assists and offers advice on how institutions can comply with the AI Act, according to the EU’s website.

Mr. Bonganay also cited the region’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which provides guidelines for the collection and processing of personal information from individuals living within and outside the EU.

“Net of it all, data is still the starting point of AI,” Mr. Bonganay said. “Whatever you input [to train] the AI tool is still your data.”

Meanwhile, companies using open-source AI must establish a compliance group that ensures only the appropriate data is being used in their AI tools, he said.

“If they want to protect their data, they should start first with cleaning up what they have in-house,” Mr. Bonganay said in mixed English and Filipino.

“So, if they see information that should not be included in AI, there should be a compliance group that does all the audits.”

DeepSeek AI, a Chinese startup developing open-source large language models, has been banned in countries like Taiwan, Australia, and South Korea due to data privacy and national security concerns.

Around 61% of information technology (IT) decision-makers globally use open-source ecosystems to source their AI tools, according to a 2024 study commissioned by IBM. It also noted a similar increase in Asia-Pacific countries like Indonesia (73%) and South Korea (73%).

Mr. Bonganay also called on the need for workers to upskill so they can intervene with their AI tools.

The Philippines’ AI industry is projected to have a market size of $3.5 billion by 2030, according to German data and business intelligence platform Statista. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Alleged fake CIF recipients may prove VP’s corruption

VICE-PRESIDENT Sara Duterte at the deliberations on the proposed 2025 budget for the Office of the Vice President at the House of Representatives in Quezon City. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

ALLEGATIONS of fictitious names listed as beneficiaries of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) under Vice-President Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio’s agencies could serve as “direct evidence” of potential misconduct by the Philippines’ second-highest official, a congressman said on Sunday.

Ms. Duterte’s inability to provide evidence verifying the alleged dubious recipients of her agencies’ secret funds could strengthen the case for her removal from office, said House Deputy Majority Leader and La Union Rep. Francisco Paolo P. Ortega V.

“Vice-President Sara can no longer simply remain silent on this matter,” he said in a statement.

The Office of the Vice-President did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

Mr. Ortega on Sunday revealed a slew of secret fund recipients with names resembling actors, adding to the list of beneficiaries with unusual names under Ms. Duterte’s secret fund. Previous disclosures included names linked to food products and fruits.

The House of Representatives impeached the Vice-President on Feb. 5, alleging secret fund misuse, unexplained wealth, acts of destabilization and plotting the assassination of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and his family. Ms. Duterte has denied any wrongdoing.

The impeachment complaint was filed and signed by more than 200 congressmen, more than the one-third legal requirement before it could be sent to the Senate.

Meanwhile, a lawmaker warned that Ms. Duterte’s failure to attend her impeachment trial could suggest that she may be looking to skirt accountability.

“That’s a big deal if you don’t show up, especially in an impeachment trial. It means you’re either avoiding something or hiding something,” Iloilo Rep. Lorenz R. Defensor, a member of the House of Representatives prosecution panel, told a Super Radyo dzBB interview in Filipino, according to a separate statement. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Romualdez backs use of locally made jeeps for transport modernization

CONGRESS.GOV.PH

BUYING locally made jeepneys as part of the government’s transport modernization plan would be more economically sustainable and cheaper, House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said on Sunday.

The government could support local jeepney makers by allowing tax-free importation of parts and equipment and removing value-added taxes on locally bought materials, he added.

“Supporting local businesses is key to building a strong economy. When we invest in Filipino-made products, we invest in our people,” Mr. Romualdez said in a statement.

“I will urge my fellow congressmen to support locally made modern jeepneys and electric-powered utility vehicles,” he added.

Jeepney modernization began in 2017 to enhance public safety and curb air pollution by replacing it with newer and environmentally friendly alternatives.

But jeepney operators have criticized the modernization program, citing expensive modern units worth more than P2 million.

About 250,000 units of new modern jeepneys would be needed to replace the aging fleet of the country’s main transport, Francisco Motors owner Elmer Francisco said, according to the statement. Filipino jeepneys were originally repurposed from surplus US military vehicles after World War II. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Senate bets to push for higher public school funding

Students walk inside the campus of a high school in Quezon City, April 18, 2024. — REUTERS

SENATORIAL CANDIDATES on Sunday vowed to support the country’s education system by boosting funding to government schools and teachers.

In separate statements, former Senators Panfilo M. Lacson, Sr. and Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV said that increasing the educational budget would help address the country’s school system woes.

The Philippine education system faces a deepening crisis as nine in ten children struggle to read and comprehend age-appropriate texts by the age of 10, according to a World Bank report.

“[I] will move to augment the appropriations for programs like school nutrition as well as teachers’ allowances in the national budget,” Mr. Lacson said.

“Infrastructure challenges, such as classrooms and internet access, must also be addressed, along with the implementation of a curriculum suited to modern times and current needs,” said Mr. Aquino.

“Above all, adequate support for teachers is essential, including higher salaries and additional benefits,” he added. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

PHL-US combat drills in Maguindanao del Norte in full swing

COTABATO CITY — Military and police snipers practiced long-range nighttime target shooting at an Army training school in Datu Odin Sinsuat town on Friday, as part of the joint Marine Exercise 2025.

The Marine Exercise 2025 was launched last week in Camp Iranun in Barira, Maguindanao del Norte by representatives from the United States Marine Corps and officials of the Philippine Navy’s 1st Marine Brigade, which is based in the area.

Officials of the 1st Marine Brigade and the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (ID) told reporters on Sunday that Filipino marines, army, and police personnel and members of the Philippine Coast Guard participated in the live-fire marksmanship training on Friday at 6th ID’s training school in Barangay Semba in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte.

Local executives in Maguindanao del Norte’s Parang, Barira, Buldon, Datu Odin Sinsuat, and Datu Blah Sinsuat towns are supporting the Marine Exercise 2025.

The local government unit in the seaside Datu Blah Sinsuat is now preparing to host the April 9 Philippine-US Marine joint amphibious assault exercise in its municipal capital, Barangay Pura.

“Our municipality will benefit much from this exercise economy-wise. There are other towns in our province that have coastal areas but this will be held in Datu Blah Sinsuat. It will boost the image of our municipality as a good investment destination,” said Mayor Marshal I. Sinsuat, chairperson of their multi-sector Municipal Peace and Order Council.

The April 9 amphibious combat drill in Datu Blah Sinsuat shall mark the culmination of the Marine Exercise 2025. — John Felix M. Unson

Anti-Trump protesters gather in Washington, other US cities

A DEMONSTRATOR holds a sign during a ‘Hands Off!’ protest against US President Donald Trump and his adviser Elon Musk on the Washington Monument grounds in Washington, DC, US, April 5, 2025. — REUTERS

THOUSANDS of protesters gathered in Washington, DC, and across the US on Saturday, part of some 1,200 demonstrations that were expected to form the largest single day of protest against President Donald Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk since they launched a rapid-fire effort to overhaul government and expand presidential authority.

People streamed onto the expanse of grass surrounding the Washington Monument under gloomy skies and light rain. Organizers told Reuters that more than 20,000 people were expected to attend a rally at the National Mall. 

Some 150 activist groups had signed up to participate, according to the event’s website. Protests were planned in all 50 states plus Canada and Mexico.

Terry Klein, a retired biomedical scientist from Princeton, New Jersey, was among those who gathered by the stage beneath the Washington Monument.

She said she drove down to attend the rally to protest Mr. Trump’s policies on “everything from immigration to the DOGE stuff to the tariffs this week, to education. I mean, our whole country is under attack, all of our institutions, all the things that make America what it is.”

The crowd around the memorial continued to build throughout the day. Some carried Ukrainian flags and others wore Palestinian keffiyeh scarves and carried “Free Palestine” signs, while Democrats from the US House of Representatives blasted Mr. Trump’s policies on stage. 

Wayne Hoffman, 73, a retired money manager from West Cape May, New Jersey, said he was concerned about Mr. Trump’s economic policies, including his widespread use of tariffs.

“It’s going to cost the farmers in the red states. It’s going to cost people their jobs — certainly their 401Ks. People have lost tens of thousands of dollars,” Mr. Hoffman said.

Kyle, a 20-year-old intern from Ohio, was a lone Trump supporter, sporting a “Make America Great Again” hat and walking the fringe of the Washington, DC, rally while engaging protesters in debate.

“Most people aren’t too hostile. A few people cuss,” said Kyle, who declined to give his last name.

Mr. Trump, who shook financial markets and upset nations around the world with a raft of trade tariffs this week, spent the day in Florida, playing a round of golf at his club in Jupiter before returning to his Mar-a-Lago compound in the afternoon.

Some four miles (6 km) from Mar-a-Lago in West Palm Beach, more than 400 demonstrators gathered on a sunny day in protest. Drivers honked their horns in support of the pastel-and khaki-clad demonstrators as they passed by. 

“Markets tank, Trump golfs,” read one sign.

DOGE UNDER FIRE
With Mr. Trump’s blessing, Mr. Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency team has scythed through the US government, eliminating more than 200,000 jobs from the 2.3 million federal workforce. At times, the effort has been haphazard and forced the recall of needed specialists. 

On Friday, the Internal Revenue Service began laying off more than 20,000 workers, as much as 25% of its ranks.

Several hundred people gathered outside the headquarters of the Social Security Administration, a top DOGE target, near Baltimore to protest against cuts to the agency which delivers benefits to the elderly and disabled.

Linda Falcao, who turns 65 in two months, told the crowd she had been paying into the Social Security fund since the age of 16.

“I’m terrified, I’m angry, I’m pissed, I’m bewildered this could happen to the United States,” she said. “I do love America and I’m heartbroken. I need my money. I want my money. I want my benefits!” The crowd chanted, “It’s our money!”

White House assistant press secretary Liz Huston disputed the protesters’ charge that Mr. Trump aimed to cut Social Security and Medicaid.

“President Trump’s position is clear: he will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the Democrats’ stance is giving Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits to illegal aliens, which will bankrupt these programs and crush American seniors,” Ms. Huston said in an e-mail.

Much of Mr. Trump’s agenda has been restrained by lawsuits contending he has overstepped his authority with attempts to fire civil servants, deport immigrants and reverse transgender rights.

Mr. Trump returned to office on Jan. 20 with a stream of executive orders and other measures critics say are aligned with an agenda outlined by Project 2025, a deeply conservative political initiative to reshape government and consolidate presidential authority. His supporters have applauded Mr. Trump’s audacity as necessary to disrupt entrenched liberal interests.

Hours before the protests were due to kick off in the United States, hundreds of anti-Trump Americans living in Europe gathered in Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris and London to voice opposition to Mr. Trump’s sweeping makeover of US foreign and domestic policies. — Reuters

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