TACLOBAN CITY — Citing education as a key pathway out of poverty, Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre has called on the Senate to fast-track the passage of a House-approved measure that would allow more students from poor and middle-income families to enroll in private schools through government support.
Acidre urged senators to prioritize House Bill (HB) No. 4744, principally authored by former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, which seeks to expand access to quality basic education via a government-funded private education voucher program.
“I appeal to our counterparts in the Senate to give priority to this measure so that more deserving children from financially distressed families can enroll in private schools,” Acidre said. He stressed that education empowers families to break the cycle of poverty and contribute positively to their communities.
HB 4744 was approved by the House of Representatives on third and final reading in October and was subsequently transmitted to the Senate.
The measure is among the priority bills of the Marcos administration under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).
The bill amends Republic Act No. 6728, or the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act, by expanding financial aid coverage from kindergarten to senior high school. It proposes a voucher system for students from middle-income families and below, as identified by the Philippine Statistics Authority, particularly those coming from congested public schools or areas without nearby public schools.
Under the proposal, students from the most vulnerable and underprivileged sectors may receive higher assistance, with definitions and guidelines to be set by the Department of Education (DepEd). Participating private schools will be selected by DepEd, while parents and students may choose from an approved list, subject to slot availability.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
A tightrope balancing for green energy and life in Biliran
If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
Or the mountains should crumble to the sea
Ben E. King, Stand by Me
Would the proposed drilling of yet another Geothermal Plant in Biliran be a bane or boon for Biliranon?
Just recently, the Provincial Governor and one Mayor in Biliran Province had issued full and firm denial of any permit given to Geothermal Driller in the Island Province. These are welcome move from leaders who understands the risk of having yet another Geothermal Drilling.
But delving deep, we see major hazards unfolding if in the near future the project will continue.
In August 21, 2024, Think Geoenergy website had the vivid banner story A consortium of four companies seeks to contribute to the growth of the Philippine geothermal sector starting with the Biliran site in Eastern Visayas. The story penned by Carlo Cariaga announced the good news.
A new consortium consisting of AG&P Industrial, Cresphil Inc., Energy Stream Power Corp., and Royal Eijkelkamp has taken over the development and management of geothermal resources in the Biliran II geothermal site in the Philippines. The site is expected to have a capacity of 50 to 70 MW.
Fast forward to 2026, the Biliran Island Province is all agog fearful about the possibility of yet another drilling and yes, the result would be Green Energy and livelihood to the people, yet it can also mean slow yet sure destruction of the Flora and Fauna of Biliran, metamorphically having the mountains crumble to the sea.
For the consortia and the energy consuming public it is a Manna of energy source, green and clean, not as polluting as fossil fuels, for the organisms’ plant animals, fungi and even humans it means a threat of their existence. For Biliran Island it is a slow yet sure destruction of the biodiversity.
Here are the Key Hazards of Drilling for Geothermal Energy on Islands from various Internet and AI Sources:
Habitat disruption: Drilling sites often require clearing vegetation, which fragments habitats and threatens endemic species that are common on islands.
Noise and vibration: Exploration and drilling create noise pollution that can disturb sensitive wildlife, especially birds and marine species.
Water contamination: Geothermal fluids may contain heavy metals (arsenic, mercury) and gases (hydrogen sulfide) that can leak into groundwater or coastal waters.
Seismic activity: Drilling and fluid reinjection can trigger small earthquakes, which are particularly risky in island environments prone to tectonic instability.
Thermal pollution: Discharge of hot water into rivers or coastal zones can alter aquatic ecosystems, stressing native fish and plants.
Negative effects to Plants and Animals
• Flora ( Plants):
o Loss of native vegetation due to land clearing.
o Soil degradation from drilling infrastructure.
o Introduction of invasive species through construction activity.
• Fauna (Animals):
o Disturbance of nesting and breeding grounds for birds.
o Toxic exposure from geothermal gases affecting amphibians and reptiles.
o Marine life impacted if geothermal fluids reach coastal waters.
It may be a tightrope balance, but the balance is sadly against the interests of life and the people on the Island.
Geothermal energy offers clean power, but on islands it carries serious ecological risks. Careful planning, environmental safeguards, and community involvement are essential to balance energy needs with biodiversity protection.