CEBU, Philippines — As the ACC marks its 21st year, it continues to go beyond connectivity—bringing hope, opportunity, and transformation to communities. In partnership with the PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF), PLDT Global Corporation (PLDT Global), and Samsung Philippines, ACC 2025 reaffirms its commitment to uplift lives in its host province Cebu through meaningful initiatives. Guided by the theme “Shaping the Future. Beyond Connectivity”, ACC 2025’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) program focuses on two pillars of community empowerment: education and livelihood. In Lapu-Lapu City, Lo-ok National High School received a smart TV and tablets from Samsung Philippines, tools that will open doors to digital learning and enrich the educational journey of Oponganon students. These resources are more than just devices; they are bridges to knowledge, creativity, and a brighter future. Meanwhile, cacao farmers from the Cebu Diversified Advocacy Cooperative (CEDACO) took part in a specialized training program supported by PSF. They also received a PLDT and Smart FarmTech training kit, equipping them with digital tools and practical knowledge to help elevate their livelihood and strengthen their role in the cacao industry. “These two efforts—learning assistance for our students and livelihood training for our farmers—are like twin pillars of progress. One secures the future; the other sustains the present. Together, they embody our Foundation’s principle to Equip, Train, and Connect—equipping our youth with knowledge, training our farmers with the right skills, and connecting both with opportunities for growth,” said PSF President and CEO Esther O. Santos. Through these initiatives, ACC 2025 continues to demonstrate that connectivity is not just about technology; it’s about people. It’s about creating pathways for learning, growth, and resilience. Held annually, ACC is a premier telco and ICT event that brings together global telco operators and tech providers drive innovation, forge strategic partnerships, and shape the future of connectivity.  

CATARMAN, Northern Samar, Philippines — Reservists now have a committed space for small-group trainings, conferences or related activities with the Provincial Government completing the construction of the reservist building in Barangay Dalakit, Catarman. The project attests to the continuing effort of the Provincial Government to promote humanitarian assistance, peace and security in Northern Samar. Reservists are composed of civilians who maintain their civilian work while being available for military service when needed, and frequently engage in community programs. They undergo training and are deployed to support humanitarian missions or emergencies, providing additional manpower to the active-duty military and enables the country to maintain a valuable force during crises, natural disasters, and national emergencies.

MINDANAO, Philippines — Sa nalalabing 27 araw bago ang Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections 2025, binigyang-diin ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ang matatag na paninindigan ng pamahalaan na tiyakin ang mapayapa, maayos, at kapanipaniwalang halalan sa darating na Oktubre 13, 2025, sa kabila ng mga kasalukuyang isyung legal. Bilang tugon, pinaigting ng Philippine National Police (PNP) ang mga hakbang para mapanatili ang katahimikan at protektahan ang karapatan ng bawat botante. “Malinaw ang aming tungkulin—siguraduhin na ang mga mamamayan ng BARMM ay makakaboto nang malaya at walang takot,” ani PNP Chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. “Mananatiling mahigpit ang aming pagiging neutral at propesyonal anuman ang tensyon sa pulitika, at ipatutupad namin ang batas nang walang kinikilingan.” Mula Agosto 14 hanggang Setyembre 16, nakapagtala ang PNP ng 14,828 Comelec checkpoint, na nagresulta sa 22 na naaresto at 32 na nakumpiskang baril kaugnay ng umiiral na gun ban. Tuloy-tuloy din ang mga operasyon laban sa mga pribadong armadong grupo at masusing pagbabantay sa paggalaw ng mga loose firearm. Nakahanda at operational na rin ang ating Regional Joint Security Control Center upang magbigay-daan sa agarang koordinasyon ng PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), at Commission on Elections (Comelec) para sa mabilis na pagtugon sa anumang insidente. “Aktibo naming kinakausap ang mga lokal na pamahalaan, mga lider-komunidad, at iba pang pangunahing sektor upang maiwasan ang anumang posibleng tensyon,” pahayag ni PNP Spokesperson at Public Information Office Chief, Police Brigadier General Randulf T. Tuaño. “Prayoridad namin ang kaligtasan ng mga botante at ang kredibilidad ng halalan, at hindi kami papayag na may sumira sa prosesong ito.” Tiniyak ng PNP na patuloy ang mahigpit na pagpapatrolya, pagpapatupad ng gun ban, at pagsasagawa ng inter-agency drills habang papalapit ang araw ng halalan.

NORTHERN The upcoming 36th Kauswagan Caravan is set to serve 954 families from the scenic town of Mapanas, Northern Samar. The caravan of services, which is spearheaded by the Provincial Government, targets to deliver essential and basic services to the residents of Mapanas’ 4 barangays: Siljagon, Naparasan, Quezon, and Magsaysay. To coordinate the activity, a stakeholders’ meeting was held on September 12, 2025, at the Sumuroy Hall where participating agencies and partners pledged to provide a wide range of services. These include free medical consultation, distribution of food packs and school supplies, legal and career counseling, civil and government registrations, and first aid training, among others. A brainchild of former Governor Edwin Ongchuan, the Provincial Government under Governor Harris Ongchuan’s leadership continues the Kauswagan Caravan to bridge gaps, empower communities, and create positive change among communities in the province. The 36th Kauswagan Caravan is set on September 19, 2025, in Siljagon, Mapanas, Northern Samar.

EASTERN SAMAR, Philippines — The San Gabriel Eco-Tourism Association (SGETA) is making waves in community-based tourism with its Kaputian Falls Eco-Tourism Park Amenities and Souvenirs Project being recognized as the Eastern Samar Provincial Winner and 1st Runner-Up in the Group Category of the prestigious 2025 DOLE Regional Kabuhayan Awards. The awarding ceremony was held at Summit Hotels, Tacloban City, last August 29, highlighting the best livelihood initiatives across Eastern Visayas supported under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office 8. SGETA’s eco-tourism initiative, based in Barangay San Gabriel, Borongan City, stood out among regional entries for its sustainable approach to livelihood generation, environmental conservation, and community empowerment. The award, which includes a plaque of recognition and a corresponding cash prize of Php 30,000 for the First Runner-Up, was received by Charisse May Loquine, a representative of both Lois Bianca Limbauan-Agda, Head of the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Borongan, and Borongan City Mayor Dayan Agda.

DAVAO, Philippines — Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) won gold and silver in the Governance and Social categories, respectively, of the first INQ ESG Edge Impact Awards 2025 organized by the Inquirer Group of Companies. AboitizPower was named the gold winner for “Governance, Reporting and Transparency” in recognition of its effective systems for corporate governance, sustainability performance tracking and audit, and transparency. It was also acknowledged as the silver winner for “Relations with local communities”, owing to its sitio electrification efforts in Davao City through its distribution utility Davao Light and Power Company.      

CEBU, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros welcomed the arrest of Thomas Scheuer, an American fugitive and alleged child sex offender, who had been hiding in the Philippines for more than two decades without documentation. Scheuer, reportedly wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States for possession of child sexual abuse materials (CSAEM), was found living in Talisay, Cebu, where he is believed to have continued his exploitative activities since 2000. “25 years na siya sa Pilipinas at mukhang 25 years naring nang-abuso ng mga babae at bata. A concerned citizen contacted my office sharing  credible information on Scheuer’s alleged activities and whereabouts. Bilang global hotspot ng online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) ang ating bansa, talagang minabuti namin na i-report siya agad sa awtoridad,” the senator said. “I would also like to thank the Bureau of Immigration for their swift response. Their actions prevented further harm and helped bring an alleged long-time predator to justice,” she added. Hontiveros also revealed that, based on allegations, as well as research done by her office, Scheuer may have also been involved in the abuse of his own daughter. “Nakakagalit at nakakadiri na may ganitong tao sa bansa natin. It’s horrifying to imagine that someone capable of such acts has been freely walking among us for over two decades. If these allegations are proven true, he must be held fully accountable under the law,” the senator said. Hontiveros also raised alarm over how emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, are making it easier to create and spread exploitative content. “AI is now speeding up the production and distribution of abusive materials. Criminals like Scheuer could be taking advantage of these technologies to further expand their illicit activities. Umaasa ako na mahuli din ang mga katulad niya na baka nandito pa sa Pilipinas. We should never be a destination or refuge for sex offenders,” Hontiveros concluded.

    NORTHERN SAMAR, Philippines — The Provincial Government of Northern Samar is taking steps toward enhancing its waste management strategies with a Waste Analysis and Characterization Study (WACS) Training held for the staff of the 24 Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Offices and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO). The initiative, spearheaded by the PGENRO in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) Region 8, aims to equip local government units (LGUs) with essential knowledge and skills for conducting effective WACS. Governor Harris Ongchuan emphasized the importance of the training in strengthening policies and daily practices related to waste management across barangays and households. “This is not only the work of the government; this is everyone’s responsibility,” Governor Ongchuan stated in his message, highlighting the collective effort required to achieve cleaner, healthier communities. 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 The two-day event featured a series of discussions led by experts from DENR-EMB Region 8 and DENR-EM NS8 – Ms. Mary Joy A. Tapac and Mr. Ritzel I. Basiloy. The training program included key topics: Solid Waste Sources, Components, and Characterization; Generator Based WACS; Sample Size Determination; Waste Generator Stratification; WACS for Non-Household settings; WACS End-of-Pipe strategies; WACS Plan for LGUs; Data Analysis for WACS Results; and Health and Safety Guidelines. Mr. Jesus Acebuche, LENRO President highlighted the essence of WACS while Ms. Rowena Pabia, EMB Supervising Head, shared the new WACS guidelines and the status of LGU implementation of their 10-year Solid Waste Management Plans. She reminded LGUs which are still lagging in implementation, with approximately 50% of planned activities yet to be realized, emphasizing that their 10-year plans are evaluated not only by DENR-EMB but also by the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). She encouraged participants to report all environmental issues and concerns, not just those related to solid waste. The training emphasized that the new WACS guidelines are the only accepted methods for updating the 10-year plans and determining waste diversion strategies. 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 The WACS training is expected to significantly enhance the capacity of Northern Samar’s LGUs to develop and implement effective solid waste management plans. The data gathered from WACS will be crucial for integrating waste management strategies into Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs) and other critical planning initiatives. Through the activity, Northern Samar is making significant strides in ecological waste management to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment for future generations. This is a reaffirmation of Governor Ongchuan and the Provincial Government’s commitment to “Serbisyong HCO” – Health, Capacity Building, and Climate Resilience – showing the interconnectedness of these priorities in achieving a resilient, progressive, and happy Northern Samar.

TOLEDO CITY, Cebu, Philippines — Therma Visayas, Inc. (TVI), a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corporation, was recognized by Toledo City for its environmental initiatives and disaster preparedness efforts during the commemoration of National Disaster Resilience Month. The awarding was done during the culminating ceremony, which honored individuals, organizations, and partners, including barangays, schools, and those from the private sector, who have demonstrated outstanding contributions to disaster preparedness, environmental protection, and community resilience. This year’s theme was “KUMIKILOS para sa Kahandaan, Kaligtasan, at Katatagan” (MOVING for Preparedness, Safety, and Stability). The Toledo City government cited TVI initiatives, namely its ‘Scubasurero’ program, which organizes regular coastal and underwater clean-up drives near the TVI facility with TVI employees, volunteers, marine biologists, and government representatives; the Basura Mo, Bigas Ko waste-to-rice program; and the training of fisherfolk in fiberglass boat-making. “At TVI, we implement programs that promote environmental protection and preservation with community collaboration. We will continue to work closely with the Toledo City LGU to advance programs that benefit the community,” shared TVI Environment Supervisor Emalyn Sevilla, who was also honored as an “Outstanding Pollution Control Officer” in the Big Business Category under the city’s CROWN (Consistent Ridge to Ocean Winner for Nature) Award. Likewise, TVI was acknowledged for its support in Toledo’s disaster preparedness programs. The company actively participates in quarterly earthquake drills and other emergency readiness activities organized by the Toledo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. In the Emergency Rescue Amazing Race 2025, a city-wide competition that tested emergency response skills such as knot tying, rappelling, mass casualty triage, CPR, water rescue, and firefighting, the South Coast Cluster team, led by TVI, placed second runner-up. TVI owns and operates the 300-megawatt (net) circulating fluidized bed (CFB) coal-fired power plant in Toledo City, Cebu, which uses technology that enables more efficient coal combustion with lower emissions than conventional methods. In addition to power generation, the company carries out social, environmental, and community programs in partnership with its neighboring communities.