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Air passenger volume up 10.9% in 1st quarter

NINOY Aquino International Airport (NAIA) check-in counters. — BW FILE PHOTO

AIR PASSENGER volume rose 10.9% to 15.98 million in the first quarter, driven by a surge in domestic traffic, the Civil Aeronautics Board reported.

In the three months to March, domestic passenger traffic rose 14.38% year on year to 8.51 million.

Budget carrier Cebu Pacific and its Cebgo unit accounted for the largest share of domestic traffic with a combined 4.70 million.

This was followed by Philippine Airlines (PAL) and unit PAL Express at a combined 2.42 million.

Domestic passenger traffic for AirAsia Philippines  was 1.18 million.

AirSwift Transport, Inc., which was recently acquired by Cebu Pacific, logged 142,381 passengers for the first quarter, while boutique airline Sunlight Air carried 51,077 and Royal Air Charter Service, Inc. 14,586.

International passenger volume grew 7.17% to 7.47 million during the period, with foreign carriers accounting for 3.90 million and domestic carriers 3.57 million.

The operator of the country’s main gateway, New NAIA Infra Corp. is projecting passenger traffic at Ninoy Aquino International Airport to surpass 50 million this year.

The International Air Transport Association, an airline trade association, said it is expecting air passenger volume in the Asia-Pacific to grow 7% in 2025. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

MAP backs more funding for programs that impact nutrition

PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) law needs to be supported by more funding for programs that affect nutrition, the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) said.

“These include food security, access to nutritious food at cheaper prices, access to health and social services, as well as nutrition-specific interventions that deal with micronutrient deficiency and other immediate causes of maternal and child malnutrition,” it said in a statement.

“We hope that this law will enable future budgets to be allocated to initiatives and resources that can be made available to nutrition-sensitive programs that will holistically address key underlying determinants of proper nutrition,” MAP said.

On May 8, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed Republic Act No. 12199, also known as the ECCD System Act, with the aim of closing long-standing gaps in care, nutrition, and education for children from birth to five years old.

According to MAP, the law should be anchored on strategies that optimize service delivery for children below five years.

It added that the law should also focus on educating and training parent figures on responsible caregiving and encouraging active involvement in ECCD programs.

“The MAP will welcome the opportunity to participate in the crafting of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the ECCD Law,” it said.

Citing a World Bank study, the MAP said severe malnutrition has been a major issue for about 30 years, with one in every three children below five years old suffering from stunting.

The Philippines has the fifth-worst child stunting rate in East Asia and the Pacific, it said.

“Failure to address this national problem in an urgent and decisive manner will place our country’s future in the hands of stunted children becoming adults whose capacity to be productive, competitive, and creative is limited. That will imperil national development and progress,” it added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

PHL targets 90% seed self-sufficiency by 2028

IRRI.ORG

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it hopes to achieve at least 90% self-sufficiency in seed across all crops by 2028 to insulate farming from supply-chain shocks.

Agriculture Undersecretary Roger V. Navarro said the DA is strengthening plant breeding and seed production programs with a focus on making critical crops such as corn, onion, and garlic affordable for farmers in disadvantaged areas.

Every province has been set a goal of 90% self-sufficiency in seed for all crops produced in the area, he said at a Bureau of Plant and Industry (BPI) event.

Seed self-sufficiency has the potential to lower production and shipping costs, according to Mr. Navarro.

He touted domestically produced seed as well-adapted to local conditions.

Timely access to seed also ensures optimal planting for farmers.

Philippine Seed Industry Association Vice-President Julius Barcelona said the private sector, which includes private growers and breeders, remains the main driver of seed innovation, with most seed companies “plowing back” 30%-40% of what they make into developing new seed varieties.

He also noted that domestic seed companies are active in extension and capacity-building programs for smallholder farmers.

Mr. Barcelona noted, however, that seed companies remain reluctant to invest in varieties that are not profitable or in low demand.

In the Asia-Pacific, the demand for seed is in vegetables and rice. Legumes are generally “underrepresented” in companies’ portfolios across the region.

He said many seed companies limit their activities to sales and are not engaged in extension services.

Mr. Navarro said the DA is putting up cold storage facilities not just for harvest crops but also for seed.

It is planning to put up a central gene bank and regional gene banks that will be managed by the BPI, he added.

He said the government also wants state universities and colleges to boost course offerings around plant breeding, plant varietal improvement, and seed health. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

PHL urged to emulate Vietnam trade stance in tariff talks with US

REUTERS

THE GOVERNMENT needs to keep pace with the trade concessions offered to the US by regional competitors like Vietnam, according to Alfredo S. Panlilio, president of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP).

“The government has a role to play in terms of sitting down with the US, and I think Vietnam has done the same. The US imposed a high tariff, but they sat down — and I think now it’s down to zero,” Mr. Panlilio told BusinessWorld during the BusinessWorld Economic Forum last week.

The government should also see its role as “ensuring that businesses are less impacted by these tariffs,” he said.

Last month, US President Donald J. Trump imposed reciprocal tariffs on most trading partners, with the Philippines assigned a 17% rate, second lowest in Southeast Asia.

Most other Southeast Asian economies were initially charged 24% to 49%, pending negotiations. Only Singapore was assigned the “baseline” tariff of 10%, typically reserved for economies deemed to be pursuing the most open trade policy with the US.

The reciprocal tariffs were later paused until July, but a baseline 10% tariff remains in effect on most trading partners pending the outcome of negotiations with Washington.

Ruben J. Pascual, secretary general of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry  said the 17% reciprocal tariff imposed on the Philippines should be an advantage, but the government is not leveraging it enough.

“Those reciprocal tariffs… put us in an advantageous position against our neighbors, who are our competitors in many industries,” Mr. Pascual told BusinessWorld during the same event.“We’re shooting ourselves in the foot by not taking advantage of this.”

Mr. Pascual said that the government must look ‘very carefully’ at its trade policy and closely monitor the central bank’s interest rate settings.

He noted that with the peso strengthening, the government can guide the exchange rate to favorable levels for exporters.

“These are the things we are closely watching to ensure that all these policies work in tandem and that there is a cohesive strategy — both economic and monetary policy — as well as a focus on domestic growth alongside global integration,” he said.

Earlier this month, the Philippine delegates, led by Secretary Frederick D. Go, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs, flew to Washington for tariff talks.

Mr. Go said in a statement after returning that the talks “went very well,” with the interests of both sides put forward. — Edg Adrian A. Eva

Wearables industry sees possible double-digit growth if US grants favorable concessions on trade

Image via IndustriALL Global Union/Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

By Justine Irish D. Tabile, Reporter

THE Confederation of Wearables Exporters of the Philippines (CONWEP) said that the industry can post double-digit growth this year if the Philippines is granted favorable trade terms by the US.

“Even just a simple announcement from the US Trade Representative that they are willing to negotiate a sectoral agreement with the Philippines (will mean) we will achieve double-digit growth,” CONWEP Executive Director Maritess Jocson-Agoncillo told reporters on Monday.

“Things will move fast because (trade will shift) from Cambodia and Vietnam (if) the Philippines is singled out favorably,” she added. 

She said that without a preferential deal, the industry could still post 4-6% growth in exports this year.

She said confidence in the 4-6% growth forecast is underpinned by US strategic interest in the Philippines. Philippine imports from the US typically outweigh its exports going the other way.

“We are still geopolitically sensitive and important to the US,” she added.

CONWEP is among the industry groups whose input was solicited by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs before the Philippine delegation traveled to the US to negotiate a tariff deal.

“There will be specific industries that need to be carved out. We are still looking at three to four years of this Trump administration,” she added.

The US announced higher reciprocal tariffs in early April, with Philippine goods assigned a 17% tariff. These rates have since been suspended, with a 10% “baseline” rate imposed on most trading partners.

Ms. Jocson-Agoncillo said US President Donald J. Trump’s recent pronouncements concerning the wearables and textiles are a positive development, signaling that much of the industry could stay in Asia.

Mr. Trump said over the weekend that he aims to promote domestic manufacturing of defense and technology products, rather than commodities like socks and T-shirts.

“That only means that he is not interested in bringing it back to the US … (The industry is likely to) stay in Southeast Asia,” she said.

PHL job-seeking activity drops as professionals turn cautious

BW FILE PHOTO

ACTIVE job seekers have declined with employees now more likely to negotiate salary increases instead of switching jobs, recruitment agency Michael Page Philippines said.

In its 2025 Talent Trend report, Michael Page Philippines found that workers who said they are actively looking for jobs in 2025 accounted for 53% of the 49,396 survey sample, against 74% a year earlier, with professionals preferring to seek improved compensation from their current employers.

It also found that workers in salary negotiations accounted for 42% of the sample, up from 27% previously.

“While fewer professionals are actively seeking new roles, more employees than ever are confidently negotiating their salaries and exploring growth within their current organizations,” Michael Page Philippines Director Rhiannon Guilford said.

The study found that 36% of those surveyed were reluctant to switch jobs because of their success in salary talks.

The success rate for such negotiations rose to 23% from 8% previously.

“This signals a maturing workforce that values stability but isn’t afraid to advocate for fair compensation and career progression, even in uncertain times,” she added.

The study also found that 54% of the survey sample preferred to preserve their work-life balance by declining promotions.

“This underscores the increasing importance of opportunities that allow for career growth without compromising personal well-being,” Michael Page Philippines said.

It added that workers are seeking more salary transparency and gender equity, with 41% of respondents believing that their organization’s salary structure is not transparent.

“A quarter of women now report pay disparities, compared to 16% of men,” it said.

Workers have also reported that age discrimination remains a significant concern, with workers aged 50 and above the most affected. — Adrian H. Halili

Cost-cutting, tech upgrades deemed proper response to trade uncertainty

THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said businesses need to focus on things within their control, like costs and technology adoption, in the face of global trade uncertainty arising from the new US tariffs.

“Attend to your respective businesses. (Focus on) what can be controlled, like costs (and) using technology. I think this is going to be the mindset of the private sector,” PCCI Secretary General Ruben J. Pascual said on the sidelines of a BusinessWorld Economic Forum on May 22.

Philippine companies remain upbeat, he said, as there will be “so many opportunities” in the coming months.

“But whether (US President Donald J.) Trump changes his mind about us, we should not even talk about it,” he said, adding that the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio is not worth worrying about.

Mr. Pascual said the removal of value-added tax (VAT) on electricity, as some have proposed, would be a relief.

“Less VAT is better for business, right? Because that’s a cost. That is a policy question. Government has to decide whether it views energy as (a source of competitive advantage) or a source of income,” he said.

He said businesses could manage their power costs by locating in export processing zones, “But the government has to make up its mind about energy.” — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Marcos seeks closer ties between ASEAN, Gulf states in digital trade

PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. (far right) on the second day of the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur — MARK BALMORES/PPA POOL

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter

PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., on Tuesday urged closer cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in digital trade, halal market integration, and climate finance, as the two regions seek to deepen ties amid mounting global instability and economic uncertainty.

Speaking as ASEAN-GCC country coordinator on the second day of the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Mr. Marcos underscored the need to move beyond traditional trade, proposing new linkages in areas such as the digital economy, e-commerce and sustainable development.

He cited the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement as a platform for deepening collaboration with Gulf states on interoperable standards, financial and emerging technologies.

Mr. Marcos said there is a pressing need to diversify trade ties, which he said remained overly concentrated in certain sectors.

“Our current trade patterns remain limited in scope,” he said. “To unlock the full promise of our partnership, we must go beyond traditional trade and leverage our complementary strengths.”

He said the two regions should use ASEAN’s booming digital economy and young, tech-savvy population while capitalizing on the GCC’s investment capital, energy assets and logistics infrastructure.

He also sought the creation of a mutually recognized halal certification regime to build a trusted halal value chain between ASEAN and the GCC.

“This will reduce regulatory friction and create a powerful export platform for our MSMEs and agri-food producers,” he said.

Mr. Marcos used the forum to push greater contributions to the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), which the Philippines now hosts, describing it as a crucial financing mechanism for vulnerable nations facing rising sea levels, desertification and biodiversity loss.

“The Philippines’ hosting of the FRLD will accelerate the unhindered access of developing nations to climate finance,” he said.

Labor mobility remains a major pillar of ASEAN-GCC ties, Mr. Marcos said, citing more than 2.7 million ASEAN citizens, over 2 million of whom are Filipino, working across Gulf countries. He cited the need for continued upskilling and labor protection measures, noting their contributions to both host and home economies.

As the Philippines prepares to head ASEAN in 2026, Mr. Marcos pledged to strengthen global partnerships, including with the GCC.

He reaffirmed the country’s bid for a nonpermanent seat at the United Nations Security Council for the 2027-2028 term, citing peace-building successes in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as a model that could help international peace efforts.

BIMP-EAGA TIES
Meanwhile, in a separate speech to the 16th Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Summit Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), Mr. Marcos called for deeper economic integration and innovation-driven collaboration among Southeast Asian subregional partners, highlighting progress made under the bloc’s Vision 2025 roadmap.

He emphasized business gains since 2017, crediting the regional pact’s strategic initiatives in trade facilitation, cross-border infrastructure and green development to improve economic outcomes in less developed areas of the region.

“Since 2017, our cooperation has deepened, and our partnerships have delivered tangible benefits for our peoples,” he said. “We have laid down stronger foundations for inclusive, sustainable and innovation-driven growth.”

The BIMP-EAGA, established in 1994, is a subregional cooperation initiative targeting underdeveloped yet resource-rich areas across the four participating nations. The bloc seeks to close economic gaps through infrastructure investments, cross-border trade and ecotourism promotion.

He noted the successful joint initiatives that have advanced the region’s development goals, particularly in logistics, energy interconnectivity and green infrastructure.

Investments in connectivity, including port and airport upgrades, digital infrastructure and power interconnections have helped facilitate greater movement of goods and people.

Mr. Marcos cited significant strides in food and energy security, ecotourism and green investments, areas seen as key to positioning BIMP-EAGA as a resilient growth corridor amid global uncertainties.

ASEAN’s collective gross domestic product (GDP) stood at $3.8 trillion in 2023, according to the ASEAN annual report. The region ranks as the third-largest trading bloc globally, with total trade reaching $3.5 trillion.

On the sidelines of the 46th ASEAN Summit, the Philippines and Thailand reaffirmed their commitment to deepen economic ties, focusing on strategic sectors such as agriculture, electronics, artificial intelligence and precious metals.

Mr. Marcos also met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on the sidelines of the summit, where they reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering bilateral relations.

Mr. Marcos cited an uptick in trade between the two nations since 2023, citing increased Philippine automobile exports to Cambodia as a key growth driver. “I hope that we can move forward with those discussions in terms of trade, defense and potential defense cooperation.”

Hun Manet, who made an official visit to Manila in February, urged ASEAN economies to capitalize on complementarities in supply chains and diversify in the face of global trade disruptions. “There are thousands of products where we can find complementarities,” he added.

Mr. Marcos met with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on the first day of the summit on Monday, with both leaders committing to harnessing innovation and economic complementarity to drive inclusive and sustainable regional growth.

The President welcomed the interest of a leading Thai agricultural company to invest in the Philippines, citing the vital role of public-private partnerships in accelerating national development.

He noted the “great potential” for collaboration in electronics, artificial intelligence, copper, vehicle wiring and precious metals, noting that a stronger trade relationship would help balance the trade ledger with Thailand, which was the Philippines’ sixth-largest trading partner last year.

“I really see that there is great potential in all of these areas,” Mr. Marcos said as the Philippines targets to increase its exports to Thailand for a more balanced trade.

Ms. Shinawatra, for her part, welcomed the opportunity to expand agricultural cooperation, highlighting Thailand’s strong investments in research and development.

Philippine military ready to help civilian mission to Thitu Island in SCS

THE Atin Ito (This is Ours) coalition on Monday started its sail to Philippine-occupied Thitu Island (Pag-asa Island), where it plans to hold a concert. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MICHAEL VARCAS

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said it is prepared to respond and help a civilian-led sail in the South China Sea (SCS) after Chinese Coast Guard vessels shadowed and challenged the mission 100 kilometers off the coast of El Nido, Palawan.

“There are appropriate contingencies in place in the event that the AFP’s response is needed,” Philippine Navy spokesman Rear Admiral Roy Vincent T. Trinidad told a news briefing in mixed English and Filipino.

The Atin Ito (This is Ours) coalition on Monday started its sail to Philippine-occupied Thitu Island (Pag-asa Island), where it plans to hold a concert.

While aboard the 115-meter M/V Kapitan Felix Oca, the coalition said two Chinese Coast Guard vessels started shadowing and challenging the ship via radio on Tuesday morning.

The Chinese ships were spotted tailing the Philippine vessel as close as 7.4km, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said in a separate statement.

“In response to the unauthorized patrol by the China Coast Guard (CCG), the PCG vessels have initiated radio communications to challenge CCG 3306’s claim of operating under the jurisdiction of the People’s Republic of China,” it added., referring to one of the Chinese ships that followed the Philippine vessel.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately reply to a Viber message seeking comment.

Mr. Trinidad said the military had not received any request for support from the civilian ship, but maintained that they are in “close coordination” should the need arise.

China would likely deploy numerous vessels near Thitu in the Spratly Islands during the civilian sail, he added, noting its closeness to heavily militarized and Chinese-occupied Subi Reef.

The reef has a runway, hangars, radar domes and served as a port for Chinese ships deployed in the region.

The Philippines keeps a military outpost on Thitu island — the second-largest island in the disputed Spratly Islands, a region that lies at the center of long-standing maritime tensions in the South China Sea involving China, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan.

Competing claims in the South China Sea have led to frequent confrontations between Philippine and Chinese forces, and both nations have tried to assert their sovereignty through their naval presence and infrastructure build-up.

Tensions between Manila and Beijing flared again last week after a Chinese coast guard ship used a water cannon on a Philippine civilian ship and bumped against it at Sandy Cay, which is near Thitu Island.

Mr. Trinidad urged other civil society groups to organize similar activities in the South China Sea to help shore up support for the Philippine government’s claim over the waterway.

“We would also like to encourage other civic society groups to show their support to the government’s stand in the West Philippine Sea by conducting similar activities that would send such message,” he said.

China claims nearly all of the potentially mineral- and oil-rich South China Sea based on a 1940s nine-dash line map that overlaps with the exclusive waters of the Philippines and neighbors like Vietnam and Malaysia.

A United Nations-backed tribunal in 2016 voided China’s sweeping claims for being illegal, a ruling that Beijing does not recognize. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

More CCTVs eyed for no-contact apprehension policy

PHILIPPINE STAR/JESSE BUSTOS

By Adrian H. Halili and Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporters

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday said it would install more surveillance cameras to properly enforce its no-contact apprehension program (NCAP).

“We are in the process of putting up more CCTVs (closed-circuit television systems) with artificial intelligence capabilities to expand the range, because there are still some areas without CCTVs,” MMDA Traffic Enforcement Director Victor Maria D. Nuñez told a Senate committee hearing. “That’s where we will augment our traffic enforcers.”

The NCAP is among the government’s traffic enforcement solutions as it plans to rehabilitate the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), the capital’s major highway, by mid-June.

“We believe that the NCAP will help greatly in reducing (traffic) on the road during the EDSA rehab,” he said.

The agency started enforcing the policy again on Monday after the Supreme Court partially lifted its 2022 order that stopped its implementation.

Mr. Nuñez said they logged more than 1,000 violations on Monday. This was lower than the more than 3,000 violations last week.

“Even though we have a temporary restraining order, we still monitor the violators on our CCTVs,” he said.

At the hearing, Senator Rafael “Raffy” T. Tulfo urged the MMDA to improve stoplights and road signs along Manila’s major roads.

“Also, fix the potholes because they are still one of the causes of traffic, and some of the road signs are confusing so they should also be fixed,” he said.

Mr. Nuñez said the MMDA would coordinate with the Department of Public Works and Highways on these issues.

The NCAP covers EDSA, C5, Buendia, Roxas Boulevard, Marcos Highway, Katipunan, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon Avenue and West Avenue.

It monitors and penalizes traffic violations with surveillance cameras and other digital monitoring systems to encourage driver discipline, reduce traffic congestion and minimize corruption.

Meanwhile, Senator Francis N. Tolentino is pushing a phased rehabilitation of EDSA and a night-only construction from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

“I strongly recommend phased implementation and night-only construction to avoid severe disruption to motorists, businesses and the economy,” Mr. Tolentino, a former MMDA head, said in a statement.

He added that road works for the EDSA rehabilitation should be divided into five sections — EDSA Pasay, EDSA Makati-Guadalupe, EDSA Ortigas, EDSA Cubao and EDSA Caloocan.

The government is set to conduct its P8.1-billion rehabilitation project of the highway, where 437,000 vehicles pass by daily, starting June 13. It is expected to run for two years and will be the road’s first major revamp since the 1980s.

“EDSA is an important part of our daily lives,” Mr. Tolentino said. “It needs to be fixed. However, it must be done with careful planning and sensitive consideration of the flow of traffic and its effect on people.”

Among other traffic enforcement measures the MMDA will implement is the odd-even scheme for private cars.

The MMDA said it would conduct a dry run of its enforcement for a month starting on June 16, during which violators will only be given warnings and sent notices.

“This is part of an information drive to give motorists time to learn and get used to the new policy for the EDSA Rebuild project,” the agency said in a Facebook post.

Cars with license plates ending in odd numbers are barred from the highway on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while those with even-numbered plate numbers cannot use EDSA on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Electric and hybrid cars, emergency vehicles, motorcycles and nonmotorized vehicles, public utility vehicles, ride-hailing vehicles and authorized, marked government vehicles will be exempted from the ban.

Also on Tuesday, Party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo L. Gutierrez filed a resolution urging the House of Representatives to investigate the implementation of the no-contact apprehension policy, citing complaints from motorists over what they described as unclear guidelines.

The House transportation panel should launch an inquiry over the “reimplementation of NCAP without addressing unresolved issues that could result in public confusion,” according to House Resolution No. 2293.

“Our concerns are more on the unclear lane markings, conflicting road signs and the delays in the transmission of violation notices,” he told reporters in Filipino after filing the resolution.

The government should delay the implementation by at least six months to give authorities the leeway to address long-standing concerns, Mr. Gutierrez said.

DepEd, HOPE tap big brands to address Philippines’ 165,000 classroom backlog

THE Department of Education partnered with Hope to launch Generation Hope on Monday to address classroom shortages in the country. — EDG ADRIAN A. EVA

THE Department of Education (DepEd), in partnership with HOPE and leading local brands, launched Generation Hope on Monday to help address classroom shortages of more than 165,000 in the country. The public-private partnership aims to build more public-school classrooms throughout the country by channeling a portion of profits and donations from consumers of the country’s leading brands. This includes companies like BDO, Carmen’s Best, Grab, Penshoppe, The Aivee Clinic, SM Supermalls, and Sunnies.

DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara welcomed the partnership, especially as the agency works with a budget insufficient to address an increasing classroom backlog.

“The budget really is insufficient every year. The deficit has been growing. Twelve years ago, maybe the deficit was 55,000 classrooms — now it’s 165,000,” Mr. Angara said during the launch.   

“There’s a million of us, but sometimes it feels lonely — especially when our budget was cut by 12 million.”   

HOPE founder Nanette Gwen Medved said the initiative marks an expansion of the organization’s efforts, which began in 2012. While they have already built 144 classrooms since then, she said that this is still a “drop in the bucket” compared to the overall classroom shortage. 

“If we want to inspire the nation to nation-build through education, we have to do it with the big brands. It’s not going to happen with small brands,” Ms. Medved said.

HOPE classrooms cost only between P1.2 million and P1.4 million to build, compared to their DepEd counterparts, which average P2.5 million. 

Funding for these classrooms will come from a portion of the profits or rewards generated by consumers of partnered brands.

BDO has pledged to donate P5 for every P1,000 spent using the “HOPE in Every Spend” credit card. Cardholders also have the option to convert their reward points into donations. A portion of the annual membership fee will also be allocated to the initiative.

Meanwhile, ride-hailing app Grab will allow its users to convert their rewards points into donations to support the construction of HOPE classrooms.

SM Supermalls will also contribute a portion of proceeds from SM-branded water bottles sold through partner food merchants. 

Other brands, such as Penshoppe, Carmen’s Best, Aivee Clinic, and Sunnies, will be launching exclusive product lines dedicated to supporting HOPE classrooms.

The exact number of classrooms planned for construction under the Generation HOPE program has yet to be announced. More classrooms are expected to be built due to expanded support from the private sector and consumers. — Edg Adrian A. Eva

4.6-magnitude quake hits Quezon

EARTHQUAKE.PHIVOLCS.DOST.GOV.PH

A MAGNITUDE 4.6 earthquake had hit Quezon province on Tuesday, rocking Metro Manila and parts of Luzon, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

In an earthquake bulletin, the local seismology agency said that a tectonic tremor had struck 24 kilometers (km) northwest of General Nakar, Quezon at 12:17 p.m.

The quake was at a depth of 10km.

Phivolcs reported that intensity IV, or the strength perceived by people, was logged in the cities of Makati, Manila, Marikina, San Pedro in Laguna, and Tanay in Rizal.

Intensity III, on the other hand, was reported in Navotas, Quezon City, Pasay, San Juan, Taguig, Guiguinto and Malolos in Bulacan, Palayan in Nieva Ecija, Mabalacan and Angeles City in Pampanga, and Biñan in Laguna.

The cities of Caloocan, Mandaluyong, Parañaque, Valenzuela, Obando in Bulacan, and Cabiao in Nueza Ecija felt Intensity II.

The agency warned of potential damage and aftershocks following the earthquake.

The Light Rail Transit lines 1 and 2 and the Metro Rail Transit line 3 had temporarily ceased operations to inspect possible damages following the quake. It resumed service moments later, according to the Department of Transportation.

“All train lines have successfully conducted safety checks to ensure safety of passengers,” the agency added.

The Philippines lies in the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, a belt of volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean where most of the world’s earthquakes strike. — Adrian H. Halili

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