Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), the Philippines’ leading carrier, has renewed its partnership with UNICEF for its new Country Program for Children 2024-2028, reaffirming its commitment to empowering Filipino youth and supporting local communities. Since 2016, CEB has actively participated in UNICEF’s Change for Good campaign, a global initiative that aims to convert spare change of passengers into life-saving supplies and services for children in need. Over the past eight years, the program has successfully raised more than 91 million pesos for UNICEF’s lifesaving programs for children in health and nutrition, education, protection, social policy, and emergency relief. “Our flights have always contributed to nation and community building, but our partnership with UNICEF through the Change for Good program takes this to a different level. Thanks to our dedicated cabin crew, our flights become vessels of hope and change for vulnerable Filipino children,” said Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer. CEB is the first and only airline partner of UNICEF in Southeast Asia for the Change for Good campaign. It is also the only local carrier that actively raises funds to support children in its home country. “Cebu Pacific has been a longstanding partner of UNICEF in creating a better world for children. The airline’s support has been instrumental in driving change and ensuring that the most vulnerable children have access to their basic rights and opportunities they need to thrive. We are grateful for their steadfast commitment and the generosity of their passengers,” said Behzad Noubary, UNICEF Philippines Deputy Representative.

Manila, July 5, 2024 — The United States Peace Corps, in collaboration with the U.S. Agency for International Development, conducted a four-day training workshop in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, on enhancing marine protected area (MPA) management, on June 18 to 21. MPAs are established to conserve and protect diminishing coastal resources.  To address this challenge, the workshop gathered 60 participants, including 20 Peace Corps volunteers, 20 local government representatives from Luzon and Visayas, and 20 fisherfolk leaders, to build their capacity in environmental conservation and protection. During the workshop, national and local frameworks for MPAs were discussed to enhance the participants’ understanding of the legal foundations of MPAs.  Participants explored the ecosystem approach to fisheries management as a holistic method for managing MPAs. They were also introduced to biodiversity assessment tools such as underwater photogrammetry.  The workshop also highlighted “citizen science,” where local communities share valuable, scientific information in biodiversity conservation. Participants explored various funding strategies for MPA management, including the establishment of livelihoods in and around MPAs, and other financing activities such as local government funding and impact loans.  To cap the program, the Peace Corps volunteers collaborated with their local government partners to draft work plans for effective MPA management. “The main thing is bringing this out of the training room and into the communities, to the spaces where all our participants could share their stories, share their strengths, and ultimately work on our main goal as Peace Corps which is partnering together and walking alongside communities as they identify, magnify, connect, and mobilize their strengths for positive change,” Peace Corps Philippines Director for Programming and Training Matthew Tully said. For a more practical approach, participants visited marine and mangrove conservation areas, enhancing their knowledge and appreciation of habitats and communities working within MPAs. The province of Oriental Mindoro and municipality of Puerto Galera also shared best practices from years of experience in establishing and managing MPAs. “I am amazed at how the environment is preserved in Oriental Mindoro. I also learned that the local government has the capacity to include environmental education in their local school curriculum, and I will pursue this back in my municipality,” said Ricky Dela Cruz, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council Municipal Representative of Carles, Iloilo. Peace Corps volunteers assigned to the Coastal Resource Management sector work with local governments to implement integrated coastal resource management plans and assist coastal communities. Over 9,300 Peace Corps Volunteers have worked alongside Filipinos since 1961.

Senate Accounts Committee chair Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday,July 5,  reaffirmed the rigorous and independent nature of the ongoing review of the New Senate Building (NSB), in response to concerns raised by former Senator Panfilo Lacson about its negative public perception. “The conduct of the NSB review is factual and independent. Hindi pwede ang suspicion, speculation, assumption, akala,” the Accounts chair said. Cayetano gave this assurance after Lacson released a statement expressing dismay that the NSB project is now seen as a potential symbol of government misuse of funds. Lacson’s remarks followed a recent heated exchange between Cayetano and Senator Nancy Binay, Lacson’s immediate successor as Accounts Committee chair, during a public hearing on the NSB last Wednesday, July 3. In the hearing, Binay disputed Cayetano regarding the project’s total cost which had ballooned to P23.3 billion, a figure that Cayetano said came from Binay’s own team involved in overseeing the project. In his statement, Lacson acknowledged the cost increase from an initial P8.9 billion to P23.3 billion, which prompted Senate President Francis Escudero to call for a thorough review. The former senator also disclosed that he helped facilitate discussions between Cayetano and Binay to ensure a smooth transition in overseeing the project details. During Wednesday’s public hearing, Cayetano reiterated the committee’s commitment to conducting a review aimed at ensuring the highest standards of construction at a reasonable cost. “The goal is to have the best functional and iconic Senate building that will be a symbol of our democratic process of the will of the Filipino people, at the best quality at the right cost,”  Cayetano said.

TONDO, Manila — Higit sa isandaang mga residente sa Tondo, Manila na nasalanta ng sunog kamakailan ang nakatanggap ng tulong mula sa magkapatid na Senador Alan Peter at Pia Cayetano at sa Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), noong Hulyo 3. Nakipagtulungan sa DSWD ang Emergency Response Department (ERD) team ng dalawang Cayetano para maghatid ng tulong sa 127 biktima ng sunog sa Barangay 186 sa ilalim ng Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program ng ahensya. Mahigit 15 pamilya ang nawalan ng tahanan matapos ang sunog na naganap noong March 19. Dumalo sina dating SK Chairperson Louise Loleng, Barangay Kagawad Dennise Esteban, at Barangay Treasurer Mark Sylvestre sa aktibidad na ginanap sa covered court ng Barangay 185. Kabilang sa mga nakatanggap ay si Ricky Nelson Pregonero. Aniya, sariwa pa ang pinansyal at emosyonal na pinsalang natamo ng kanyang pamilya at mga kapitbahay dahil sa sunog. “Ang hirap po ng dinanas namin. Talagang back to zero po kaming mga biktima,” aniya. “Salamat nga po at walang nasawi sa pamilya namin sa laki ng sunog na ‘yon – halos 24 hours po. Ngayon nga po medyo may phobia pa po ako sa sunog na ‘yan eh,” dagdag niya. Pinasalamatan niya ang mga Cayetano at ang mga lokal na opisyal ng kanilang lungsod sa “tuloy-tuloy” na suporta na kanilang natatanggap mula nang mangyari ang sakuna. “Maraming salamat po sa matatanggap namin, malaking tulong po iyan sa aming mga biktima ng sunog,” aniya Ang aktibidad ay bahagi ng inisyatibang ‘Bayanihan Caravan’ ng magkapatid na senador, na naglalakbay sa buong bansa upang maghandog ng tulong sa mga Pilipinong nangangailangan at tulungang palakasin ang pinakamahinang sektor ng bansa.