Street Journal, Author at Street Journal Multimedia Services

During the latest installment of The Blueprint by Globe, Globe AT HOME unveiled its latest breakthrough in home connectivity: the Home AI with Built‑in Broadband initiative. This innovation integrates fiber ports directly into new property developments, ensuring that homeowners have seamless, high‑speed internet the moment they move in, no waiting, no post-build drilling, just instant internet access to live, work, and play. Globe AT HOME’s vision goes beyond speed, focusing on consistency, reliability, and easy access. With GFiber Plans delivering market‑leading speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps, the latest Wi‑Fi 7 modem, and 5G Wi‑Fi for an always‑on experience, these power homes with Home AI and IoT technologies that dynamically manage bandwidth for flawless connectivity. Whether streaming 8K videos, gaming in high definition, or running smart devices, Globe ensures every household enjoys “Digital Peace of Mind.” To reinforce this promise, Globe AT HOME introduced its Gold Standard Service, anchored on the 24‑Hour Rule. Customers can expect installations, modem-upgrades, or repairs to be completed within 24 hours, supported by proactive care programs that send real‑time alerts through the GlobeOne app. Globe’s dedicated CARE Squad further enhances the experience by optimizing intelligent home ecosystems, while the CARE‑AVan brings on‑the‑spot installations, upgrades, and gadget demos directly to communities. “Globe understands that your time is priceless, which is why our service is built on a simple 24‑Hour Rule. Whether it’s a new line, a modem-upgrade, or a repair, we guarantee resolution within 24 hours. Ultimately, your home deserves a connection as seamless as the life you are building there, and with our experience‑driven products, tech‑led innovations, and robust service guarantee programs, we are delivering more than just fiber, we are delivering an elevated and worry-free digital home experience,” said Abigail Cardino, Vice President and Brand Head of Globe Broadband Business. By eliminating technical friction through innovations like Auto Band Steering and creating a seamless thread between home and mobile data, Globe AT HOME is redefining what connectivity means for Filipino families. The launch at The Blueprint by Globe underscores Globe’s commitment to building a future where connectivity is not just about speed, but about reliability, inclusivity, and empowering households to live dynamically with connectivity you can count on.

Students begin free TESDA-certified training by the Tarlac PLGU in New Clark City

Region 3

Region 3 / Street Journal

NEW CLARK CITY, Philippines — Students will now undergo free industry-driven skills training in New Clark City, as the Provincial Government of Tarlac and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) inaugurated the Off-Campus Training Center for the Tarlac Center for Learning and Skills Success (TCLASS) program. Equipped with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-accredited training programs, the facility aims to address the increasing demand for skilled workers brought about by the rapid expansion of New Clark City and the growing hospitality sector in the province. By delivering industry-relevant Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs closer to host communities, the project seeks to produce globally competitive workers who are job-ready and equipped for employment. This project is aligned with the Marcos administration’s long-term goal of generating high-quality jobs and strengthening the country’s workforce, as laid out in the 10-year Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan 2025-2034. “This TESDA-accredited Off-Campus Training Center is key in strengthening our workforce in Tarlac. We are investing directly in people by giving them access to high-quality, and industry-driven training that leads to employment opportunities,” Provincial Government of Tarlac Governor Christian Tell Yap said. The training center utilizes designated facilities at the Athletes’ Village Building B including meeting rooms, mock-up guest rooms, and the front desk to ensure hands-on and simulation-based instruction. The facility will prioritize programs aligned with New Clark City’s key employment-generating industries. It will strictly comply with the Unified TVET Program Registration and Accreditation System (UTPRAS), ensuring that all courses meet national standards for quality and relevance. “As infrastructure and investments continue to expand in New Clark City, the demand for skilled labor will also grow. Providing a dedicated training venue here ensures that local communities are prepared to participate in and contribute to this development. Our partnership with the Provincial Government of Tarlac demonstrates how public sector collaboration can create meaningful impact,” BCDA President and CEO Engr Joshua M. Bingcang said. Through subsidized training programs, the Provincial Government of Tarlac aims to empower local communities and enhance workforce readiness. The first batch of 25 trainees will begin their 20-day training this month. TCLASS targets to train 10 batches of students within one year. The municipality of Capas, through the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) will sponsor the TESDA assessment fees of graduates to enable them to secure their National Certificates. This certification will strengthen their employment advantage within New Clark City and its surrounding areas. Interested applicants are to register and submit their requirements to the PESO Office in Capas or PESO Tarlac Province Office. For more information, email pgt.tclass@gmail.com or contact TCLASS at 091177066718 or PESO CAPAS at 09123095761.

TESDA–CSITE Upskills 50 Baguio Child Development Workers to Strengthen Early Childhood Education

CAR

CAR / Street Journal

Fifty child development workers (CDWs) in Baguio City have completed the advanced Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Services NC III training, reinforcing the foundation of early childhood education in local communities. The graduation ceremony was held at the Baguio City Hall Multipurpose Hall on February 25, 2026, in coordination with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), led by Ms. Liza D. Bulayungan. The training, conducted at the Cordillera State Institute of Technical Education (CSITE)—Main Campus, supports national efforts to professionalize the early childhood workforce under Republic Act No. 12199, also known as the ECCD System Act. The law mandates enhanced training, higher qualifications, and continuous professional development for child development workers and teachers, ensuring they are equipped to provide quality early education. CSITE Executive Director Daisy C. Bungallon confirmed the graduates, joined by officials from the City Government of Baguio. Mr. Benjie Macadangdang delivered the keynote message on behalf of Mayor Benjamin Magalong, highlighting the strong partnership between national and local government institutions in building a qualified and competent early childhood workforce. TESDA-CAR Acting Regional Director Engr. Glenn N. Murphy emphasized the significance of the training: “More than a certification, it is a testimony that you are now equipped with the skills to guide the foundation of any person’s life, their early childhood. These are crucial stages where young ones learn how to speak, think, feel, and trust,” Murphy said. Baguio City Councilor and Chairperson of the Committee on Social Services, Women, and Urban Poor, Betty Lourdes “Lulu” F. Tabanda highlighted the indispensable role of child development workers: “You aren’t just teaching children; you are shaping the foundation of our future doctors, engineers, farmers, and leaders. The guidance and care you provide today will help them stand tall tomorrow,” Tabanda said. In her closing remarks, CSITE Main Campus Administrator Melita D. Pinic highlighted that the graduates’ achievements are an investment in themselves, their families, and Baguio’s children, and a step toward becoming advocates for child welfare. This recognition marked the second batch of ECCD NC III training completers under TESDA-CSITE, underscoring Baguio City’s commitment to developing a highly skilled and professional early childhood workforce. By equipping CDWs with advanced competencies, the city continues to ensure that its children receive quality early education, setting them on a path to lifelong learning and success.

Two civilians every month: NTF-ELCAC demands justice for spy-tagging victim in Negros

Vis-Min

Vis-Min / Street Journal

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines — The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), through Executive Director Usec. Ernesto C. Torres Jr., has joined the growing call for justice for civilians killed in Negros Island, following reports from the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) that 28 individuals has been slain since March 2025, an average of two civilians murdered every month. “This pattern of killings is deeply alarming and morally indefensible. When two civilians are being murdered every month on one island alone, we are no longer speaking of isolated incidents, we are confronting a sustained campaign of terror,” Torres said. According to the 3ID report, the most recent victim was an elderly woman shot outside her home in Barangay Tapi, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental. She was allegedly accused by the New People’s Army (NPA) of being linked to a previous encounter between government troops and communist rebels. Torres stressed that branding civilians as informants or “spies” without due process effectively paints a target on their backs. “This is the deadly consequence of so-called ‘spy-tagging.’ Once labeled by the communist terrorist group as a traitor or government asset, a civilian becomes a marked individual — condemned without trial, without evidence, without humanity,” Torres emphasized. He recalled the earlier killing of Lola Leonor Aguit, an elderly civilian mercilessly slained after being publicly accused by communist elements. Her death, he said, reflects a ruthless pattern of executions carried out against defenseless individuals. “The killing of Lola Leonor Aguit shocked the conscience of the nation. An elderly woman — publicly vilified, then brutally silenced. That is not armed struggle. That is terrorism inflicted on one’s own people,” Torres said. Torres warned that the steady average of two fatalities per month signals a disturbing normalization of violence in communities already burdened by poverty and insecurity. “Two civilians every month is not a statistic — it is a family shattered, a community traumatized, and a future stolen. Violence has no place in communities that are striving for peace and development,” he stressed. He echoed the call of the 3ID urging the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to conduct a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into the killings. “We respectfully urge the CHR to look squarely into these crimes. Human rights must apply equally to all. The rights of farmers, elderly women, laborers, and ordinary community members in Negros deserve the same vigilance and protection as any other Filipino,” he said. Torres underscored that the country must reject any narrative that justifies violence against civilians under the guise of ideology. “This is not revolutionary justice. This is vigilante execution masquerading as ideology. It is a gross violation of the most fundamental right, the right to life.” “Justice must never be selective. Silence in the face of these killings only emboldens further bloodshed. We stand with the families of the victims and demand accountability. The blood of civilians must never be trivialized as collateral to ideology,” Torres concluded. The NTF-ELCAC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting vulnerable communities and exposing practices that endanger innocent lives under the cloak of insurgent propaganda. (PR)

Modernized Burnham Lake expected to be completed in May

Baguio City

Baguio City / Street Journal

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) General Manager Mark Lapid, along with Mayor Benjamin Magalong, personally inspected the ongoing rehabilitation of Burnham Park in Baguio City, on the afternoon of February 26. The P400 million fund for the rehabilitation of Burnham Park is a testament to TIEZA’s commitment to Baguio City to modernize the main public park in the Summer Capital, which is expected to be completed by May 2026. Lapid, along with agency officials, inspected the ongoing dredging operation and rehabilitation of the lake as Phase 1 of the project with a P100 million budget, which is a priority work. Contractor Dungan Constructors & Trading Corp. explained and Moment Diagram Builders Joint Venture informed Lapid and Magalong that the excavation works are about 40 percent complete, while the slope protection measures—considered the most technically challenging—have reached about 70 percent complete. Lapid and Magalong expressed confidence and joy at seeing the smooth progress of the rehabilitation in relation to the right path in its implementation. Lapid said the agency remains committed to providing continued funding support to ensure the completion of the rehabilitation, which aims to preserve the park’s historical value while improving its facilities for residents and tourists. According to Magalong, “It is really time for us to have a modern park, especially Burnham, which is a center for tourism, once the lake is completed, the skating rink, Children’s Park and other parts of the park will follow, along with upgrading pedestrian pathways, restoring landscaped areas, improving drainage systems, and improving recreational facilities such as boating areas, promenades, and public facilities. “This could have been done long ago because there was already a P400 million fund allocated, but during the pandemic, we withdrew it because our government needed funds to purchase medicine. So now that we have recovered and have the funds, I told the Mayor to start the rehabilitation, even if it is by phase by phase,” Lapid explained. Magalong thanked TIEZA for fulfilling its promise to continue the rehabilitation of Burnham Park, to address the effects of aging infrastructure, environmental degradation, and increasing tourist activity. (By Rose Frejane A.Cruz)

Magalong thanks PBBM for P56-M LGSF Assistance for Baguio

Baguio City

Baguio City / Street Journal

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The City Government of Baguio has been approved as a beneficiary of the 2026 Local Government Support Fund-Financial Assistance (LGSF-FA) under the Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program, with a total allocation of P56 million. Mayor Benjamin Magalong announced the development after receiving a letter from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. dated February 23, 2026 affirming the grant of the assistance intended to provide rice subsidies to qualified families. The P56 million allocation for the city is part of the almost P58-billion LGSF allocation for 2026 which aims to provide direct support to families and communities nationwide and will be downloaded straight to the local government unit in a direct and digitized manner to ensure faster implementation. President Marcos expressed confidence in the city’s leadership, emphasizing that the funds must be utilized transparently and in accordance with existing government budgeting, accounting, and auditing laws. “As a former Local Chief Executive myself, I entrust to you and to all our local governments the efficient, equitable, and effective delivery of social services and economic development programs so that this much-needed support is delivered and felt by every ordinary Filipino,” the President said. In response, the mayor thanked the President for the assistance and assured that the distribution of the assistance in the City will not be influenced by political interests. “Rest assured that there will be no ‘epal’ in the distribution to beneficiaries. The assistance will go directly to the people who truly need it,” the mayor said. “With the direct release of funds to LGUs, he said implementation will now be more transparent, efficient and equitable,” he added. Magalong noted that in the past, similar programs were reportedly controlled by influential members of Congress. He expressed appreciation that the program is “no longer politicized.” He also assured residents that proper guidelines will be followed to ensure fair identification of beneficiaries and accountable use of the funds. Further details on the implementation and distribution schedule are expected to be announced soon. According to the President, the Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program LGSF-FA aims to provide 60 kilos of rice annually to over five million Filipino families nationwide. Under the program, each qualified family will receive 10 kilos of rice for six months every year. He said the P58-billion LGSF will also support other priority projects, including health facility upgrades, disaster preparedness initiatives, farm-to-market roads, electrification and water supply systems.(By Aileen P. Refuerzo)

Ortega to ensure efficient rollout of PBBM’s “Sa Bagong Pilipinas,Bawat Bayan Makikinabang”

Region 1

Region 1 / Street Journal

LA UNION, Philippines — Gov. Mario Eduardo C. Ortega sets his eyes on the efficient eventual implementation of the initiative of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. called “Sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Bayan Makikinabang,” launched in Malacañang on February 23, 2026. Gov. Mario is one of the local chief executives who attended the gathering, where the President gave his directives on strengthened implementation of services in local communities. The program aims to elevate the national government’s support for all local government units (LGUs) by making local projects “felt immediately and equitably across every community.” In his message to the Governors and Mayors, President Marcos said, “our local government must be empowered to respond to the needs of the people.” As such, PBBM ordered the increase in the allocation for the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF), the national government’s funding assistance to LGUs for a wide range of local projects. “We thank the President for this very meaningful initiative. He was once a Governor himself, that’s why he knows very well what the needs of the LGUs are,” Gov. Mario said. “I have full confidence that the Provincial Government of La Union will efficiently localize this new program. Our systems are in place to ensure that this help from the national government will directly respond to the needs of our local communities,” the Governor said. The LGSF serves as a bridge between the national government and local communities, funding numerous projects that have improved the lives of constituents.

Globe Business and Call Center Studio introduce GO Cloud Contact Center to bring AI-powered customer support to Philippine SMEs

Business

Business / Street Journal

Globe Business Leadership Team together with Call Center Studio Team L-R: Omar Osman, Jonti Cristobal, Erkan Turkkan, Marc Kerveillant, Angie Po, Cenk Soyak, KD Dizon, Mustafa Dogan, Marissa Cahigan, Dennis Wong, Amir Seyf, Bertug Demir The introduction of GOCCC specifically addresses the evolving needs of Philippine organizations, ranging from burgeoning small and medium businesses to established leaders in the IT-BPM, financial services, healthcare, and retail sectors. While many enterprises rely on outdated on-premise systems that are often expensive to maintain and difficult to scale, GOCCC offers an agile alternative. By removing barriers posed by heavy infrastructure, the platform allows hybrid and remote teams to deploy a sophisticated contact center environment that scales with the business. “In a service-driven economy like the Philippines, the quality of customer engagement is a critical differentiator for any growing enterprise,” said KD Dizon, Vice President and Head of Globe Business. “With the launch of GO Cloud Contact Center, we are moving beyond basic connectivity to provide a platform where AI and omnichannel capabilities are no longer luxury features, but standard tools for local businesses. By modernizing the contact center, we are enabling our partners to meet their customers on any channel they prefer, ensuring that the Filipino brand of service remains competitive, responsive, and future-ready.” A key differentiator is accessibility. By operating on a subscription-based model, GOCCC democratizes access to high-tier technology, enabling organizations to scale their operations precisely alongside their actual requirements and resources. This flexible approach, combined with deployment cycles completed in days rather than weeks, ensures that sophisticated customer experience tools are within reach for enterprises at any stage of their journey. “Cloud technology should not be reserved for large-scale global players alone,” said Cenk Soyak, CEO and Co-Founder of Call Center Studio. “Our partnership with Globe Business brings global expertise and local reliability together, making an AI-driven customer experience achievable for Philippine businesses of all sizes.” Customers also benefit from Globe’s enterprise-grade service-level agreements (SLAs), robust infrastructure, and dedicated support. This partnership provides a secure and reliable foundation for businesses as they scale their operations from legacy setups to more agile, cloud-based operations.

Nueva Vizcaya to receive nearly P370 million from DILG Local Government Support Fund

Region 2

Region 2 / Street Journal

By Rachel Magday NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — The Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya and its 15 municipal local government units (LGUs) will receive nearly P370 million from the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government(DILG). This was conveyed by President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. to Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito during the launch of the “Sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” program held at the Heroes Hall in Malacañan Palace on February 23, 2026. The program is designed to strengthen the national government’s support for all local government units (LGUs) and ensure that the benefits of national progress are felt “immediately and equitably” across communities nationwide. It also aims to close the “opportunity gap” by translating national economic stability into improved household security, with progress measured through the well-being of Filipino families. “The message is clear: empower our local leaders. P58 billion from the Local Government Support Fund is now moving directly to our local government leaders—faster, clearer and more transparent,” Marcos said. “Our local leaders know their communities best. They see the problems first. They hear the people first. Now they have the resources to act.” Under the LGSF, the Nueva Vizcaya provincial government is expected to receive P160 million in Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (FALGU). Of that amount, P80 million will be used to fund the national government’s Rice Support for Families program, which will provide rice subsidies to poor and vulnerable families in the province. The remaining P80 million will be allocated for infrastructure and development projects, including roads, hospitals, rural health stations and medical equipment, water systems, renewable energy use in buildings, solar lighting, multipurpose halls, and a sports stadium. Gov. Gambito underscored the significance of the President’s decision to directly release funds to LGUs, describing it as a transformative step toward empowered local governance. “On behalf of Nueva Vizcaya, I thank President Marcos for this decisive action. Giving our LGUs direct access to resources is a clear commitment to inclusive growth and development across the countryside,” he said. He added that the measure will speed up the rollout of priority programs and serve as a concrete investment in the long‑term progress of Nueva Vizcaya residents. Meanwhile, 15 municipal LGUs in Nueva Vizcaya are set to receive P10 million each. Exceptions are Ambaguio, which already received P49.5 million; Villaverde, P30 million; and Bagabag, P10 million—allocations that are already being implemented in those municipalities.

Author name: Street Journal

Globe AT HOME Launches Home AI with Built‑in Broadband, Guarantees Gold Standard Service