TACLOBAN CITY — The Tingog party-list is urging Congress to fast-track the proposed Philippine Open Finance Act, saying the measure could significantly expand financial access for millions of Filipinos, especially those in the education sector.

In a press statement, the party-list group expressed strong backing for the bill being advanced in coordination with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and financial technology stakeholders. The proposed law seeks to make financial services more accessible, transparent, and responsive to the needs of students, educators, and school personnel nationwide.

Tingog emphasized that open finance is not merely a banking reform but a structural initiative aimed at addressing long-standing inequities that affect educational mobility and institutional resilience.

Rep. Jude Acidre, chairperson of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, said improved access to financial tools directly supports academic and professional advancement.

“Financial inclusion is educational inclusion. When students, teachers, and university personnel gain fair access to credit, savings, insurance, and digital financial platforms, we remove structural barriers that limit their ability to pursue education, research, innovation, and professional advancement,” he said.

The proposed measure would establish a secure and interoperable framework allowing consent-based sharing of financial data through standardized application programming interfaces (APIs). The system aims to foster competition among financial service providers while ensuring data privacy and consumer protection.

The BSP has underscored that open finance can promote customer-centric services and innovation, while fintech leaders have called for a clear statutory framework to enable responsible data sharing and the development of tailored financial products.

According to Tingog, the higher education community stands to benefit significantly from the reform. Students may gain access to education loans, digital wallets, micro-savings, and insurance products even without traditional banking history. Faculty and researchers could secure fair credit and financial tools to support academic work, while non-teaching personnel may build credit profiles and obtain affordable services. State universities and colleges could also implement more efficient systems for scholarships, stipends, and payroll distribution.

The group said the proposal includes safeguards aligned with constitutional protections and existing data privacy regulations, ensuring that consumer consent and control remain central to its implementation.

Describing the measure as “a law of opportunity and equality,” Acidre noted that many members of the academic community remain unbanked not due to lack of capability but because of limited access to the formal financial system.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) reported the voluntary surrender of three alleged drug personalities in Eastern and Northern Samar on February 23, 2026, as part of its intensified anti-illegal drug campaign.

Under the leadership of Regional Director B/Gen. Jason Capoy, PRO-8 said sustained community engagement and focused police operations contributed to the surrender of the individuals.

Personnel of the Borongan City Police Station conducted a house-to-house campaign aimed at encouraging listed drug personalities to stop their involvement in illegal drugs and avail themselves of government intervention programs.

The initiative led to the surrender of alias “Lim,” 40, a traffic enforcer classified as a high-value individual (HVI) from Borongan City.

In Balangiga, operatives of the Balangiga Municipal Police Station, through its Municipal Drug Enforcement Unit, intensified anti-drug advocacy efforts through community visits and dialogues.

This resulted in the surrender of alias “Xander,” 28, a construction worker identified as a street-level individual (SLI). He presented himself at the Balangiga police station for documentation and proper disposition in accordance with established procedures.

Meanwhile, in Northern Samar, alias “Nard,” 28, an SLI and resident of San Antonio town, voluntarily appeared at the San Antonio Municipal Police Station and admitted involvement in illegal drug use. Police conducted initial intervention measures, including counseling and reiteration of the harmful effects and legal consequences of prohibited drugs.

Capoy commended the operating units for their sustained and strategic efforts, emphasizing that the accomplishment underscores PRO-8’s commitment to clearing communities of illegal drugs through a balanced approach of enforcement and rehabilitation.

“The voluntary surrender of these individuals manifests the growing trust and cooperation between the community and the police. We will continue to intensify our campaign against illegal drugs in support of the thrust of Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. to strengthen law enforcement initiatives while providing opportunities for reform and reintegration,” Capoy said.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY — In a bid to strengthen safety standards across tourism sites in Leyte, the regional office of the Department of Tourism (DOT-8) has distributed emergency safety kits to trained tourism frontliners, reinforcing efforts to make destinations in Eastern Visayas more prepared for medical emergencies.

The turnover ceremony was held on February 23, 2026, benefiting 25 graduates who completed the Standard First Aid and Basic Life Support–Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) with Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training conducted in December 2025. The recipients represented various tourism establishments across Leyte province.
They were joined by business owners and establishment representatives, bringing total attendance during the activity to 45 participants.

According to DOT-8, the safety kits are intended to help trained personnel immediately apply their life-saving skills within their workplaces, ensuring faster response during accidents or health-related incidents involving guests and staff.

The initiative highlights the growing emphasis on safety and resilience in the tourism sector, especially as visitor arrivals continue to rebound and destinations aim to meet higher standards of preparedness.

The activity was led by DOT-8 Regional Director Karina Tiopes, in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross, represented by Chapter Service Representative Byron Apostol, a volunteer instructor, and the chapter’s focal person for Fund Generation Services.

Aside from distributing safety kits, the Red Cross team also introduced the Safe Card accidental insurance program, encouraging tourism stakeholders to invest in additional risk protection mechanisms.

For Donna Fe Abogado Batan of Viaje Holidays, one of the beneficiaries, the training and equipment provided a sense of empowerment.

“Through this training, I gained confidence, courage, and readiness to act when lives depend on it,” Abogado said.

DOT-8 emphasized that the initiative forms part of its continuing capacity-building program aimed at professionalizing the tourism workforce in Eastern Visayas.

By equipping frontliners with practical skills and essential tools, the agency hopes to enhance visitor safety, protect businesses from potential liabilities, and promote the region as a secure and responsible travel destination.

Officials said strengthening emergency preparedness at the establishment level is a crucial step toward building resilient tourism communities capable of responding effectively to unforeseen incidents.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

‘Himurasak’

TACLOBAN CITY — Creativity and culture took the spotlight as local artists opened this year’s National Arts Month celebration with “Himurasak,” an arts festival that organizers say reflects both abundance and the city’s thriving creative spirit.

Now on its eighth year, the annual celebration kicked off Thursday, Feb. 26, at the activity area of Robinsons Place Tacloban in Abucay, drawing painters, musicians, performers, cultural advocates, and students from across the city.

Supported by the Tacloban city government under Mayor Alfred Romualdez, the festival is spearheaded by Councilor Dandee Grafil, chair of the city council’s committee on culture and the arts.

The program also featured spoken poetry presentations from students of ABE Tacloban, along with energetic dance performances by the STEFTI Dance Company and ACLC Dance Academy.

“This event, which carries the theme ‘Himurasak’ this year, is now on its eighth year. It started small, but over time it has gained strong support—not only from the art community but from the city government itself,” Grafil said in an interview.

“Himurasak,” a local term meaning abundance, was chosen to symbolize both the growth of the festival and the flourishing arts scene in Tacloban.

According to Grafil, the city is home to a diverse pool of talent spanning visual arts, music, and performance, many of whom are now being given broader platforms to showcase their work.

“We have so many artists here in Tacloban—both in music and in the visual arts. They need spaces where their creativity can be seen and appreciated,” he said.

This year’s staging at Robinsons marks the first time the celebration has been held inside a major commercial venue, signaling wider institutional backing and stronger public engagement. Previous editions were held at Rizal Park, which is currently undergoing renovation.

Grafil also revealed that the city council, through his initiative, passed a resolution endorsing cultural mapping efforts in coordination with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Cultural mapping is a process that documents local heritage, creative assets, traditions, and artistic resources—an important step toward long-term cultural planning and preservation.

He added that arts and culture are now recognized components under the Seal of Good Local Governance program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, further institutionalizing support for creative initiatives at the local level.

For Tacloban’s artists, the festival is more than a celebration—it is a statement that the city’s creative industry is alive, expanding, and increasingly woven into its development agenda.

As “Himurasak” unfolds, organizers hope the annual gathering will continue to grow, nurturing not only artistic talent but also civic pride rooted in culture and shared expression.

(JOEY A. GABIETA/ROEL T. AMAZONA)