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Senate chief wants Palace to have ‘standby’ authority to lower petrol duties

FUEL PUMPS are seen at a gasoline station in Paco, Manila, Feb. 22, 2025. — PHILIPPINE STAR/NOEL B. PABALATE

SENATE PRESIDENT Francis G. Escudero on Wednesday said he is looking at filing a measure that would provide the Executive the authority to cut down value-added tax and excise duties on petroleum products in the next Congress.

The President or the Finance department should be empowered to suspend oil duties to respond to surging fuel prices, he said at a media briefing, adding he wants to revise the global price reference and trigger level for invoking his proposed “standby” powers.

“It is still being finalized,” he said in Filipino. “Because of the ongoing unrest in the Middle East, one of the measures we’ll file is the standby authority we want to grant… to lower the value-added tax or fix the excise tax rates [on oil].”

“What’s being debated now is the threshold amount,” he added.

The Philippines is a net importer of oil and is highly sensitive to sharp fluctuations in global oil prices. Several local petrol companies implemented a price hike of P1.75 per liter of gasoline, P2.40 per liter of kerosene, and P2.60 liter of diesel on Tuesday. A second round of price hikes are set for Thursday or Friday.

“What will trigger the President’s authority? Is it $80 per barrel, or should we base it on a certain percentage of the projected crude oil price range?” Mr. Escudero said. “Should we still use Dubai crude as the basis, or should it be the Means of Platts Singapore?”

A 2017 law previously allowed the government to suspend the collection of excise tax on petroleum products when world oil prices reach $80 per barrel for three months, but the provision lapsed five years ago.

“The President has no authority to suspend taxes,” said Mr. Escudero, adding that he will ask the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council to identify the measure as priority legislation.

Lawmakers of the 19th Congress adjourned for the final time in mid-June. The chambers will convene for the first congressional session of the 20th Congress on July 28.

“What can possibly be done while Congress is in recess is to review if there are tariffs or duties being paid on oil products,” Mr. Escudero said.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives will focus on prioritizing measures that would help usher in price stability, including soaring oil prices, to ease the burden of ordinary Filipinos, spokeswoman Priscilla Marie T. Abante said in a separate media briefing.

“This is among the issues we want to focus on — how we can help the public cope with rising prices of goods, including fuel prices,” she said in Filipino. “That is among the priorities for discussion in the upcoming 20th Congress.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

More Filipinos gained access to water, sanitation facilities in 2024

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By Pierce Oel A. Montalvo, Researcher

MORE FAMILIES gained adequate access to basic drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities last year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (APIS).

The preliminary 2024 APIS results show that 97.5% of 28.01 million families had access to at least basic drinking water services, up from 96.3% in 2022. The share of families with limited and unimproved access to water also declined to 0.9% (from 1.3%) and to 1.4% (from 2.3%), respectively.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort linked the improvement to the increase in infrastructure spending in recent years, particularly in further expanding water supply sources and improving security for Metro Manila and other urban areas.

This is due to lessons “from some interruption in water supply in 2019, as well as prioritized further during the COVID-19 pandemic when it comes to ensuring continuous water supply and sanitation.” he said in an e-mail.

Reinielle Matt M. Erece, economist at Oikonomia Advisory and Research, Inc. welcomed the improvement but noted the difference between those with “limited” and “unimproved” access is concerning.

This “may show that despite good progress with providing access to clean drinking water, water infrastructure still needs progress,” she said in a separate e-mail.

“In particular, water treatment facilities and pipelines are still needed to reach rural areas that are in dire need of clean drinking water.”

Of the 17 regions, the National Capital Region had the highest access to at least basic drinking water services, at 99.6%, rising from 99.3% in 2022. Central Luzon and Calabarzon followed, with 99.4 (from 99.3%) and 98.6% (from 98.7%), respectively.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao had the lowest access to drinking water at 88.2% (from 87.8%). Mimaropa and the Cordillera Administrative region followed, at 93.1% (from 92.1%) and 94%, respectively.

The PSA defines a basic drinking water source as drinking water from an improved source where collection time does not exceed 30 minutes for a round trip, including queuing.

Access to basic sanitation facilities also increased to 84.7% of families in 2024, from 84% in 2022.

However, those with unimproved or no sanitation facilities stayed at 2.7% and 2.6%, respectively.

Central Luzon had the highest access to basic sanitation facilities at 94.3%, from 92.5%. This was followed by Cordillera Administrative Region at 90.7% (from 87.4%), and Caraga at 88.3% (from 89.3%).

Handwashing access rose significantly to 94% among the 27.07 million families who permitted inspection of their facilities, up from 93.2%.

Cordillera Administrative Region had the most access to basic handwashing facilities at 98.4%, from 91.4%. Following were Central Luzon at 97.8% (from 96.1%), and by Western Visayas at 97.6% (from 97.7%).

Mr. Ricafort said that public-private partnerships and other large infrastructure projects are needed to further improve drinking water supply and sanitation services, to ensure improved coverage of water utility services to more areas, especially in the rural and other underserved areas.

The PSA said the survey related to WASH was primarily undertaken to monitor compliance to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG No. 6, which aims to “ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.”

PHL ship back at Manila port after Japan drills

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THE PHILIPPINE Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday reported the arrival of the BRP Teresa Magbanua and the 123-member delegation in a Manila port after its second joint trilateral maritime exercise in Kagoshima, Japan.

The exercise, conducted with the Japan Coast Guard and US Coast Guard, highlighted the significance of maritime cooperation, bolstering ties between the nations as tensions persist in the contested South China Sea.

“The trilateral exercise not only enhanced interoperability among the participating Coast Guards, but also strengthened their collective capability to respond to maritime emergencies and natural disasters,” the PCG said in a statement.

“It also served as a vital platform to exchange best practices, improve operational synergy, and reaffirm the shared commitment to uphold safety, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”

The exercise included Communication Exercise, Search and Rescue Exercise, Fire Fighting Exercise, Photo Exercise, and Exercise on Transfer of Personnel.

The Philippines has sought to expand its security ties beyond its traditional ally, the US, engaging with other western countries and regional allies as it faces an increasingly assertive China over disputed features in the South China Sea.

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea via a U-shaped, 1940s nine-dash line map that overlaps with the exclusive waters of the Philippines, resulting in clashes at disputed maritime features, as both the countries uphold their claims in the marine-rich water.

KASANGGA EXERCISE
Also on Wednesday, the Philippines and Australia have concluded their first joint military exercises in southern Philippines on Tuesday, Manila’s army said,

The Philippine Army and Australian Defense Force ended Exercise Kasangga — Filipino for ally — in Cagayan de Oro City in the major island of Mindanao, ending a month-long training between their soldiers that involved jungle and urban warfare drills. 

“Let us nurture this alliance, institutionalize our gains, and work tirelessly to contribute to upholding the peace and stability of our region,” Philippine Lieutenant General Rex Luis D. Bergante, chief of the Philippine military’s southern command, said in a statement.

Australia has been one of Manila’s closest allies in the region, and in 2007, the two countries forged a visiting forces agreement allowing their troops to hold joint exercises in each other’s territories. The pact came into force in 2012.

More than 140 troops of Philippines combat engineers and infantry divisions alongside 90 Australian Army soldiers participated in drills that saw their forces practice combat casualty care, reconnaissance operations and breaching exercises, the Philippine Army said.

The top brass of Manila’s army said the drills helped advance both the countries’ commitment to deepening security ties and in keeping the stability of the Indo-Pacific region.

“The bilateral training… marks a significant advancement in both countries’ defense cooperation and shared commitment as strategic partners,” it said. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

PHL welcomes Israel-Iran ceasefire

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THE PHILIPPINES on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, which could potentially end a 12-day war that left hundreds dead in the conflict between the longtime, bitter enemies.

In a statement, Manila’s Foreign Affairs department called the ceasefire between Israel and Iran a “crucial step” towards lasting peace in the Middle East, calling both Jerusalem and Tehran to continue diplomatic engagements to sustain the truce.

“We urge all parties concerned to continue engaging in dialogue and negotiations toward a permanent solution to this issue,” it said in a statement published on X.

US President Donald J. Trump brokered a ceasefire between the two countries on Tuesday, two days after Washington joined in on the conflict by dropping bunker-busting missiles on Iran’s secured nuclear facilities. 

Israel launched a surprise air campaign against Iran on June 13, reigniting tensions in the Middle East as it targeted nuclear and ballistic missile facilities as well as top commanders, in what Jerusalem described as an effort to cripple Tehran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons.

The truce, which appeared to be holding, prompted the Department of Foreign Affairs to place Israel and Iran on alert level 3, urging the voluntary repatriation of Filipinos.

There were more than 300 OFWs applying for repatriation from Israel as of June 24, according to the Philippine Embassy in Israel.

In its latest bulletin, it noted 8 Filipinos were wounded, including one critically injured. The other seven have been discharged.

More than 30,000 Filipinos live in Israel, while there are more than 1,000 in Iran. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Counterfeit banknotes up last year

BSP/BW FILE PHOTO

THE NUMBER of counterfeit banknotes detected by banks’ cash handlers rose by 18.4% in the past year, amid improved detection and consistent correction of previously misclassified notes, the central bank said.

In its 2024 Annual Report, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said this reflected cash handlers are “increasingly becoming adept in counterfeit detection, with a sustained increase in correctly classified submissions to the BSP and a decline in misclassified counterfeits.”

“This is equivalent to 13.2 parts per million, an increase from 12.2 parts per million in 2023,” it said.

The BSP said paper banknotes accounted for the bulk of counterfeits, with the 1000-piso banknote being the most counterfeited at 59.9% followed by 500-piso paper banknote (19.3%).

The 1000-piso polymer banknote has only three low-quality counterfeits recorded in 2024.

“In contrast, counterfeit coins declined by 87.8% and remained below one part per million of genuine coins in circulation,” it said.

In terms of techniques, the predominantly used were inkjet printing (79.7%) of cases, followed by laser printing (12.6%) and altered security threads (7.6%).

The reported counterfeit currencies were highest in the National Capital Region at 52.2%. Region IV-A or CALABARZON, ranked second at 12.2%.

“Counterfeits were frequently recovered in areas with high foot traffic, such as shopping malls (27.2%), supermarkets (25.9%), and wet markets (20.9%),” the central bank said. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

P9.48-B drugs incinerated

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency incinerated P9.48 billion worth of confiscated drugs

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., on Wednesday led the incineration of P9.48 billion worth of dangerous drugs in Capas, Tarlac, underscoring his administration’s push for transparency and “bloodless” in the Philippines’ anti-narcotics campaign.

“We need to make sure that these seized drugs are truly destroyed, beyond recovery, beyond resale,” he told reporters in Filipino, according to a transcript from his office.

“That is why I am here today—to see how the system works so that our process is very solid, from the capture of illegal drugs all the way to their destruction,” he added.

The “bloodless” anti-narcotics campaign of the administration marks a clear shift from the previous administration of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, whose war on drugs resulted in the deaths of over 6,000 suspects through police operations and alleged summary executions.

Among the illegal drugs destroyed were 1,304.604 kilograms of methamphetamine, or shabu, recovered in floating packs with an estimated street value of P8.87 billion.

The contraband was retrieved by local fishermen from the coastal waters of Zambales, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Cagayan before being turned over to authorities. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

PSEi back above 6,300 mark as cease-fire holds

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PHILIPPINE SHARES closed higher for a second straight day on Wednesday, with the index returning above the 6,300 mark, on optimism over a long-term cease-fire between Iran and Israel.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rose by 0.52% or 32.89 points to end at 6,325.64, while the broader all shares index went up by 0.4% or 15.23 points to 3,754.43.

“The local market extended its rise on the back of hopes that the Israel-Iran cease-fire would hold,” Philstocks Financial Inc. Research Manager Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said in a Viber message. “Investors also cheered the effect of the said cease-fire on other relevant markets, including the decline in global oil prices and the rebound of the Philippine peso against the US dollar.”

“Philippine shares rose and oil prices sank Tuesday as markets welcomed a fragile cease-fire between Israel and Iran, despite mutual accusations of violations. US President Donald J. Trump confirmed the truce remains in effect, though he voiced frustration with both sides,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a Viber message.

The cease-fire brokered by Mr. Trump between Iran and Israel appeared to be holding on Wednesday a day after both countries signaled that their air war had ended, at least for now, Reuters reported.

Each side claimed victory on Tuesday after 12 days of war, which the US joined with airstrikes in support of Israel to take out Iran’s uranium-enrichment facilities.

Mr. Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, said late on Tuesday that talks between the United States and Iran were “promising” and that Washington was hopeful for a long-term peace deal.

On Wednesday, Brent crude rose 2% to $68.43 per barrel, bouncing a bit following a plunge of as much as $14.58 over the previous two sessions. US West Texas Intermediate crude was up as much to trade at $65.60 per barrel.

At home, the peso returned to the P56 level on Wednesday as risk appetite improved, closing at P56.711 per dollar, jumping from Tuesday’s finish of P57.16.

The conflict in the Middle East had caused the peso to slide to the P57 level last week after starting June at the P55 level on concerns that rising oil prices would stoke inflation anew. The Philippines is a net importer of oil.

Majority of sectoral indices closed in the green on Wednesday. Property climbed by 1.93% or 42.81 points to 2,251.04; mining and oil increased by 1.49% or 145.21 points to 9,893.96; holding firms went up by 0.76% or 40.89 points to 5,399.45; and services rose by 0.65% or 14.21 points to 2,185.63.

Meanwhile, financials dropped by 0.24% or 5.65 points to 2,318.29 and industrials slipped by 0.02% or 1.86 points to 9,064.84.

Value turnover dropped to P4.67 billion on Wednesday with 616.14 million shares traded from the P5.81 billion with 1.13 billion issues exchanged on Tuesday.

Advancers outnumbered decliners, 97 versus 83, while 60 names were unchanged.

Net foreign selling increased to P331.5 million on Wednesday from P286.36 million on Tuesday. — R.M.D. Ochave with Reuters

7,200 scams detected from March

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ANTI-SCAM application Whoscall said it has received 20,829 reports in its Content Checker from March to mid-June, with over 7,200 of these labeled as scams, according to its developer Gogolook Philippines.

“From March to the middle of June, the reports we received were a mix of deepfakes, malicious links, and suspicious OCR (Optical Character Recognition) images,” Gogolook Country Manager Mel Migriño said in a news forum on Wednesday.

Out of the total, 70% or 14,627 reports during the period were assessed by the Whoscall Content Checker.

Of the assessed reports, 7,200 were labeled as outright scams, and around 2,891 were potential scams, Ms. Migriño said.

Meanwhile, around 4,400 assessed reports showed “no risk for now,” she also noted.

Whoscall in March introduced its Content Checker function, designed to help users detect suspicious messages and posts containing misinformation.

It can identify phishing attempts, fake promos, and misleading news links.

Also on Wednesday, anti-scam group Scam Watch Pilipinas launched Scam Vault PH in a platform where users can report scam content links and fake accounts.

The platform was built in collaboration with Whoscall Philippines and the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG).

Users can report suspicious links on Scam Vault PH’s Facebook page, which will be analyzed by Whoscall’s AI (artificial intelligence)‑driven tools.

The confirmed scam posts will be sent to the PNP‑ACG to coordinate the necessary takedowns and investigations.

Scam Watch Pilipinas Co-founder Jocel De Guzman called on the need to crack down fake accounts that spread scams, deepfakes and other suspicious posts.

“We will compile all of these [reports,] and then hopefully, we’ll be able to monitor how fast these [posts or accounts] are taken down [in these online platforms],” Mr. De Guzman said in mixed English and Filipino.

Mr. De Guzman also cited the need to limit the number of registered subscriber identity modules (SIMs) per person to avoid the proliferation of online scams. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

SM joins retail aggregation program

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SM Prime Holdings, Inc. is bringing its two schools to the government’s retail aggregation program (RAP) in a bid to take control over their electricity supply at a competitive cost, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said.

The ERC said that SM Prime, National University (NU), and Asia Pacific College (APC) have entered into a retail electricity supply contract with AdventPower, Inc., the retail electricity supply company of Aboitiz Power Corp.

Under the deal, SM Prime will consolidate a total electricity demand of 967.13 kilowatts (kW), covering the facilities of APC and three NU buildings in Manila, through AdventPower’s services. The NU will also eventually expand to other sites across the country.

ERC Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Monalisa C. Dimalanta said that “the objective of RAP goes beyond lowering costs of power use in their facilities. It is also about reinvesting those savings in things that truly matter: better classrooms, smarter technology, improved facilities, and potentially, even more affordable tuition.”

RAP is the ERC’s latest customer choice program, which allows loads from multiple end-users within the same franchise area to be aggregated to meet the minimum energy demand requirements.

The Philippine Cultural College pioneered the RAP switch in academia in March by aggregating the power demand of its five facilities, which have a total capacity of 740 kW.

“Let us remember that electricity is more than just a utility we pay for – it is a good or a service (in more ways than one) we are empowered to choose,” Ms. Dimalanta said.

“What good would you like your choice today to contribute? What service does your choice make in our nation’s evolving energy journey? In that power of choice lies the promise of a future where learning thrives, innovation gains momentum, and opportunities multiply – for our students, our communities, and our entire nation.” — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

Two of five miners survive Nueva Vizcaya tunnel, police says

BAGUIO CITY — Two of the five miners, initially reported dead due to suffocation inside a tunnel in Barangay Runruno, Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya on Tuesday morning, were rescued alive, the latest Nueva Vizcaya police report said.

Alfred Dulnuan Bilibli was first rescued past 2 p.m. while his colleague Joval Bantiyan was located past 7 p.m., also on Tuesday.

Rescue operations are ongoing for the three other miners: Daniel Segundo Paggana, 47; Lipihon Bumulyad Ayudan, 56; and Florencio Napudo Indopia, 63, all from Barangay Runruno.

Police initially presumed all the five miners were dead based on the first information that reached them.

Russel Tumapang, 29, also from Barangay Runruno, discovered the victims after getting into the tunnel in Sitio Compound at around 1 a.m. and reported it to authorities.

Police had indicated that the two rescued miners were found about 300 meters deep into the tunnel, but the other three are believed to be located in a deeper section.

Relatives, residents, and rescue personnel are hopeful that the three remaining miners are still alive. — Artemio A. Dumlao

35 groups call for signing of Konektadong Pinoy bill

STOCK PHOTO | Image by Yasmina H from Unsplash

THIRTY-FIVE organizations on Wednesday called on President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to approve the Open Access in Data Transmission measure, also known as Konektadong Pinoy bill in the face of aggressive lobbying for a Presidential veto, noting that the issues raised against the bill are “unfounded.”

“In light of the call by certain groups to veto the bill, we would like to reiterate our request to the President to approve Konektadong Pinoy and why the Philippines needs this law,” the organizations said in a joint statement.

“We, the undersigned organizations, express our full support and call for the immediate enactment of the Konektadong Pinoy bill. We believe this landmark legislation will democratize internet access, which could potentially be this administration’s greatest legacy,” they added.

The groups dismissed claims that Konektadong Pinoy will endanger national security, as the bill asks network providers to comply with cybersecurity measures based on internationally organized standards.

“It mandates a cybersecurity performance audit and makes this a requirement for continuing operation and license renewal. Konektadong Pinoy also disallows foreign government-controlled and state-owned enterprises from operating data transmission networks,” they said.

“Finally, the bill requires that national security be taken into consideration in interconnection and access to infrastructure,” they added.

The 35 organizations said that the bill, which was ratified by the Congress on June 9, will “free Filipinos from the shackles of poor internet.”

“The Philippines has been lagging behind on internet connectivity not only in Asia but in the whole world. Latest data shows that 19,000 barangays (or 45.5% of all barangays nationwide) still lack internet access,” the statement read.

Citing the World Bank, the groups said that inequality in internet access makes Filipinos unequipped for digital jobs.

“The growing digital divide makes e-commerce, e-government, online learning, and artificial intelligence virtually inaccessible to millions of Filipinos and disadvantaged sectors,” the groups added.

The groups also see the landmark bill to reduce internet cost as it will enable smaller providers to build infrastructure and offer internet services in their communities.

In 2022, the Philippines was cited as the “most internet poor” in Southeast Asia, as over 50 million potential users could not afford basic internet packages; the Philippines has since surpassed Laos and Timor-Leste.

The bill is also seen as a “decisive step toward dismantling barriers in the data transmission industry.”

“Outdated and restrictive laws have made it cumbersome and costly for small players, such as cable operators and community internet service providers, as well as new and emerging players, to build and expand broadband networks,” the organizations said.

“Konektadong Pinoy will change the status quo by promoting competition and stimulating the market and encouraging investment even in the rural barangays,” they added.

The groups said that the bill should be approved as it has been “thoroughly vetted by Congress and the Executive.”

“The bill has undergone rigorous scrutiny, almost 10 years of deliberations, and various improvements through three Congresses,” they said.

“The strong backing from key stakeholders, including established and reputable organizations from major sectors, is proof that the bill is truly responsive to the urgent digital needs of the country,” they added.

The signatories to the joint statement include industry groups such as the Analytics & AI Association of the Philippines, Alliance of Tech Innovators for the Nation, Employers Confederation of the Philippines, Fintech Alliance.PH, Internet and Technology Association of the Philippines, Inc., Maharlika Internet Exchange, National Confederation of the Philippines, and Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc.

Foreign chambers such as American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc., Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc., European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, Inc., and Korean Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc. also signed the statement.

The Chief Information Officers Forum, Inc., CIO Forum Foundation, Inc., National ICT Confederation of the Philippines, Philippine Councilors League, and Provincial Health Officers Association of the Philippines, Inc. are also signatories to the statement.

Tech organizations such as Asia Open RAN Academy, Cebu Python Users Group, League of Goal Oriented Information and Communications Technology Officers, Inc., MozillaPH, Philippine Institute of Cyber Security Professionals, Unconnected.org, the University of the Philippines Computer Science Guild, User Experience Philippines, and Wiki Society of the Philippines also added their signatures.

Rounding out the 35 signatories are the Association for Progressive Communications, Better Internet PH, Democracy.net.PH, Foundation for Media Alternatives, Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia, Internet Society, Internet Society – Philippines Chapter, and the Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Pamilya ng Pantawid. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

PHL seeks $250M in funding from WB to improve TVET instruction

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THE PHILIPPINES is seeking a $250-million package from the World Bank (WB) to upgrade Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

The project, to be implemented by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), aims to improve access, completion rates, and labor market relevance of TVET programs in targeted sectors and regions, according to a document uploaded on World Bank’s website.

The project is expected to be approved by March 23, 2026.

Other objectives of the project are imposing system-level reforms to strengthen the overall TVET framework, and targeted support in regions and sectors with growth potential and high need, such as those with high jobless rates, youth not in education, employment, or training, and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program graduates.

“It will enhance trainee learning experiences and generate labor market-relevant skills, aligned with the project’s Theory of Change,” it said.

It also noted that TESDA only got about 0.32% of the P6.352-trillion government budget in 2025, with 60% going to scholarships for disadvantaged groups.

“Persistent underinvestment in skills training and constraints on employment opportunities limit the country’s potential and weaken its demographic advantage,” according to the document.

TVET is overseen primarily by TESDA, which was established under Republic Act. No. 7796 or Technical Education and Skills Development Act of 1994. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

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