Bacoor City Gets New Schools: PBBM Signs Laws for Senior High, Elementary Schools

June 18, 2024 - President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act Nos. 12007 and 12008 into law on June 13, 2024, bringing good news to Bacoor City, Cavite. These new laws establish a senior high school and an elementary school in the city.

The law creates the "Progressive Senior High School" in Progressive Village 3, Brgy. Bayanan (RA No. 12007), while RA No. 12008 establishes the "Progressive Elementary School" in Brgy. Molino 2. Both schools will be under the supervision of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Taking Action: DepEd Secretary Duterte Faces Deadlines

The law mandates Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte to take swift action. The DepEd must:

• Include the operationalization of these schools in its program immediately.
• Formulate the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) within 90 days of the law's approval.

The IRR will detail the schools' organization, administration, operations, and management, adhering to existing education laws like the Governance of Basic Education Act and the Enhanced Basic Education Act.

The laws will officially take effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or a major newspaper.

This move signifies a positive step towards expanding educational opportunities in Bacoor City.

Philippine Senator JV Ejercito Condemns China’s Maritime Incursions

Senator JV Ejercito has issued a strong statement condemning China’s repeated and unauthorized entry into the Philippines’ territorial waters in the West Philippine Sea. He described these actions as dangerous and reckless, particularly highlighting incidents where Chinese maritime forces rammed and towed Philippine vessels.

Ejercito emphasized that such aggressive actions not only destabilize the region but also jeopardize the safety of Filipino citizens and infringe upon the nation’s sovereign rights. He accused China of acting like a bully, blatantly ignoring international maritime laws, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and showing no regard for the Philippines’ victory in the 2016 Arbitral Award.

The senator criticized China’s approach to international relations in the region, stating that instead of engaging in fair and lawful conduct, it resorts to aggressive tactics that escalate tensions and pose a direct threat to regional stability and international maritime norms.

Calling for accountability, Ejercito urged the Philippine government to use all available means to protect its people and territory. He stressed the urgency of speeding up military modernization to strengthen the country’s defense posture against such threats.

“The Philippines will not be intimidated,” Ejercito declared. “The West Philippine Sea is rightfully ours, and we will continue to defend it with all our might.”

Philippine Tourism Booms in 2023, Contributing Record 8.6% to GDP

The Philippine tourism industry experienced a banner year in 2023, according to data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The sector's contribution to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached a record high of 8.6%, driven by significant growth in both domestic and international tourism spending.

Tourism Direct Gross Value Added (TDGVA), which measures the value added by tourism industries directly serving visitors, surged by 47.9% to PHP 2.09 trillion in 2023 compared to PHP 1.41 trillion in 2022. This marks the strongest growth in tourism since the PSA began collecting this data in 2000.

The growth was fueled by a surge in tourism expenditures across all categories. Inbound tourism spending, referring to foreign visitors' spending in the Philippines, skyrocketed by a whopping 87.7% to PHP 697.46 billion. Domestic tourism expenditure, representing Filipinos' travel within the country, also saw a substantial increase of 72.3%, reaching PHP 2.67 trillion in 2023. Meanwhile, outbound tourism spending by Filipinos traveling abroad grew at a more modest rate of 10%, reaching PHP 208.25 billion.

The positive impact of tourism extended beyond economic indicators. Employment in tourism-related industries also rose by 6.4% to an estimated 6.21 million in 2023, highlighting the sector's role in job creation. This translates to tourism jobs accounting for 12.9% of the Philippines' total employment in 2023.

The Philippine Tourism Satellite Account, compiled annually by the PSA, captures data on various tourism-related activities, including accommodation, food and beverage, transportation, travel agencies, entertainment, shopping, and miscellaneous services. This comprehensive data provides valuable insights into the health and growth of the Philippine tourism industry.

DSWD Strengthens ERPAT Program to Empower Filipino Fathers

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to champion active fatherhood through the Empowerment and Reaffirmation of Paternal Abilities (ERPAT) program. This initiative recognizes the crucial role fathers play in child rearing and development.

ERPAT is a DSWD service that emphasizes the importance of fathers' roles and responsibilities within the family. Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, DSWD spokesperson, highlighted the program's focus on fathers' involvement "in all aspects of child rearing and development including the care and behavior management of adolescent children."

The DSWD is committed to strengthening ERPAT through capability building activities. This includes training for program implementers, ERPAT members, and local government units (LGUs).

A recent example of this commitment was the 1st ERPAT Regional Summit held by DSWD Field Office-7 in Western Visayas last May. This summit, which coincided with the International Day of Families celebration, featured discussions by family advocates and experts aimed at enhancing the knowledge and skills of ERPAT members.

Fostering Stronger Families

Assistant Secretary Dumlao explained that ERPAT has a three-pronged goal:

• Enhance and strengthen the parenting capabilities of Filipino fathers.
• Help fathers achieve an active and equal role with their spouses or partners in raising their children.
• Encourage fathers to take active leadership in promoting positive family life within their communities.

Reaching Out to Families in Need

The ERPAT program prioritizes fathers from families facing challenges. This includes biological fathers (solo dads, returning overseas workers, released prisoners, or those with disabilities), adoptive fathers, and male caregivers.

The program also targets families experiencing various difficulties, including:

• Mild or severe abuse
• Family members with health or nutritional concerns
• Presence of out-of-school youth
• Inappropriate behavior patterns within the family
• Families headed by solo fathers

Inclusivity for a Better Future

"We in the DSWD want our programs and services to be inclusive so that no sector will be left behind," said Assistant Secretary Dumlao. The DSWD's commitment to enhancing ERPAT reflects their dedication to improving the lives of Filipino families.

PRC CPD Online System Back Up and Running

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced today, June 18, 2024, that the Continuing Professional Development Accreditation System (CPDAS) online portal is now back up and accessible to the public. Professionals can access the system through the official website at https://cpdas.prc.gov.ph/.

This comes after a period of downtime that may have caused inconvenience to licensed professionals seeking to comply with the mandatory CPD requirements. The PRC apologizes for any disruption this may have caused and assures the public that the CPDAS is now fully functional.

The CPDAS is an online platform designed to streamline the process of CPD accreditation for Filipino professionals. It allows professionals to submit their CPD activities for review and approval by the PRC. Once approved, these activities will count towards fulfilling the CPD units required for license renewal.

The return of the CPDAS online system is a welcome development for many professionals who rely on it to maintain their licenses. With the system back up and running, professionals can now conveniently submit their CPD activities and ensure they are compliant with PRC regulations.

Here are some additional details that may be of interest to readers:

• The CPD requirement is mandatory for all licensed professionals in the Philippines. The specific number of CPD units required for license renewal varies depending on the profession.
• The PRC encourages professionals to regularly check the CPDAS website for updates on accredited CPD providers and activities.
• Professionals who have any questions about the CPD process can contact the PRC through their official website or social media channels.

By making the CPDAS online system more accessible, the PRC is helping to ensure that Filipino professionals are able to maintain their competency and continue to provide high-quality services to the public.