Catarman N. Samar– The Department of Public Works and Highways Northern Samar 1st District Engineering Office (DPWH- NSFDEO) turned over the newly completed one-storey, three-classroom school building to Dancalan Integrated School, Bobon, Northern Samar on April 14, 2025.

The turn-over ceremony was attended by DPWH-NSFDEO Assistant District Engineer Vivian G. Biaco, Project Engineer Kristin Rochelle C. Cahanap, and other DPWH-NSFDEO personnel. Also present were the teachers and staff of Dancalan Integrated School with the school Head Ms. Jhona C. Gremio, other Northern Samar DepEd Officials, Local Government of Bobon led by Mayor Reny A. Celespara, along with 1st District Board Member Christian Emmanuel W. Uy.

In her message, DPWH- NSFDEO Assistant District Engineer Vivian G. Biaco emphasized the importance of the project as a “symbol of hope and opportunity.”

“Today marks not just a ceremonial turnover. But a celebration of progress, partnership and a fulfilled promise to the youth of Dancalan Integrated School. This 1 -storey, 3-classroom school building is a testament to our commitment in providing quality learning environments.

for the students. This structure is more than just concrete and steel – it is a symbol of hope and opportunity. As we hand over this building today, may it serve as a space where young minds are nurtured, dreams are formed, and futures are shaped.”

Assistant District Engineer Biaco further assured that the construction of this project was completed in conformance with DPWH standards and specifications.

School Head Ms. Jhona Gremio expressed her gratitude and formally accepted the building on behalf of the school community.

“This will be occupied by three classes of grades 9-10 and we expect to provide our students a conducive space for them to learn. We will maintain the usability of this project. In behalf of Dancalan Integrated School we are proudly accepting this 1 storey with 3 classroom school building, together with the responsibility of maintaining its structure for its longer existence.” said Ms. Gremio

The turnover ceremony included a ribbon-cutting and handing of the symbolic key of responsibility.

The newly completed project is a convergence effort between DPWH and the Department of Education (DepEd). (PR)

From having over one million unvaccinated or “zero-dose children” in the Philippines from 2020 to 2021, the number dropped to 163,000 in 2023 following the intensified efforts of vaccination nationwide.

As of February 2025, the Department of Health (DOH) still reached a stride in reducing the number of at-risk children and has fully immunized a total of 1,542,282 out of the 2,392,392 aged 0-12 months in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, the coverage for the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) remains at 66% among eligible indigent senior citizens, while the influenza vaccine has reached 65.57% of the eligible population—including seniors, healthcare workers, and individuals with comorbidities.

Sustained and intensified efforts—both on the local and national level, remain crucial to ensure every Filipino receives life-saving vaccines. Despite the significant improvement in battling hesitancy, persistent challenges within the immunization program are still to be addressed. Interconnected strategies on strengthening the supply chain to guarantee consistent vaccine availability will pave the way for higher vaccination coverage and a healthier future for Filipinos of all ages.

Unicef Philippines warned that despite the improvements, decades of hard-won progress in immunization would be lost without sustained action and funding. To prevent outbreaks, vaccine coverage must reach at least 95% of the eligible population for all vaccines.

“Routine immunization has saved many lives in the Philippines by eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus, containing measles outbreaks, and ending polio transmission in 2021.

The government’s continued investment in the national immunization programme will build resilient, sustainable systems, especially in the last mile. Our children’s future, where they are healthy, protected, surviving, and thriving, is the dose of good news we need in unpredictable times,” said Behzad Noubary, Unicef Philippines Acting Representative.

To increase vaccination coverage across life stages, the DOH, together with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Unicef, continues to strengthen vaccination in communities. As part of its efforts, the DOH will be joining countries across the globe in celebrating the World Immunization Week (WIW) on April 24-30, 2025, aimed at converting vaccines into vaccinations through stronger national and local immunization programs.

“WHO commends the National Immunization Program Acceleration Plan and the growing efforts to engage local governments, civil society, and partners. Yet, persistent inequities remain a significant challenge—many unvaccinated children live in underserved communities. Leaders across all sectors must champion immunization and promote equity to reach every child, because every child vaccinated is a step toward a safer, healthier future — and a reminder of what is humanly possible,” said Dr Rui Paulo de Jesus, WHO Representative to the Philippines.

For the national launch of World Immunization Week in Calbayog City, Samar, more than 31,000 individuals will be vaccinated. Children aged 0–12 months will receive vaccines for Tuberculosis, Polio, Pneumonia, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and the pentavalent vaccine. Senior citizens will get flu and pneumonia shots, girls aged 9-14 will receive the HPV vaccine, and pregnant women will be given the Tetanus-Diphtheria vaccine. The week-long initiative emphasizes the importance of collective action to ensure more Filipinos—especially children—are protected against VPDs.

“Vaccination is a cornerstone of the DOH’s 8-Point Action Agenda. Towards Universal Health Care, we continue to engage local leaders, parents, health workers, and partners to build a strong and resilient immunization system, where the promise of improved vaccination coverage rates is realized, and more lives across life stages are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases,” said DOH Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa. (PR)

Improving the plight of Filipino workers will be a top priority of senatorial aspirants from the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas as they plan to increase the take-home pay of public and private employees nationwide.

Former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said now is time to improve the salary and incentives of contract-of-service (COS) and job order (JO) workers in government, the country’s top employer with close to two million employees as of 2024 based on figures from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Abalos lamented that COS and JO workers do not receive standard employment benefits unlike regular state employees holding permanent, casual, temporary, and co-terminus positions, per a circular of the Commission on Audit and DBM.

“Huwag kayo mag-alala … Basta nandiyan na po tayo, gagawa tayo ng batas na maski incentive pay, gratuity pay, meron po kayo niyan. You deserve it,” said Abalos, who also served as mayor of Mandaluyong City for five terms.

Citing 2023 data from the DBM, Abalos noted that COS and JO workers make up 29.68 percent of the government workforce.

Abalos likewise vowed to remove taxes imposed on fuel being used for power generation to lower electricity rates and unburden employees from the rising cost of living, as well as attract more manufacturing companies to stir job generation.

Former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson would also fight to improve workers’ salaries by pushing for an inflation-based wage adjustment per region.

According to Lacson, an inflation-based wage adjustment would be more beneficial to workers since prices of commodities vary across regions.

He also said that the Regional Wage Board should have the flexibility to decide on the minimum wage rates.

“Halimbawa pumunta ka sa Zapote, sa Bacoor parang Metro Manila na ang presyo. Pumunta ka naman sa Maragondon, Bailen, medyo napapalayo baka iba rin ang presyo,” Lacson noted. “Bigyan natin ng konting flexibility ‘yong wage board na kung saan sila ‘yong makakapag-aral ano ba ‘yong existing inflation rate doon sa iba’t ibang lugar.”

Currently, the average minimum wage in provincial areas is P316-P560 per day as opposed to Metro Manila’s daily minimum wage of P645.

For former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, it is about time that the government provides additional financial relief to Filipino workers.

He vowed to continue fighting for a legislated 14th month pay for workers which shall be released in June to help Filipino families cover expected expenses around that time such as school tuition and other related fees.

Sotto, however, gave assurance that his proposed measure would consider safeguards for employers who could not afford to provide the 14th month pay.

In 2019, Sotto filed Senate Bill No. 10 requiring employers to provide 14th month pay to Filipino workers. According to the lawmaker, there is a need to give extra earnings in the middle of the year since the prevailing 13th month pay is gobbled up by Christmas expenses.

“The needs of the ordinary Filipino must be assisted by our government,” he noted. “The 13th month pay was mandated by Presidential Decree 851 in 1975. We need to push for a 14th month pay now to provide our kababayan additional financial relief.”

If Sotto’s 14th month pay proposal is approved, Makati Mayor Abby Binay, said she would move to exempt the 14th month pay, 13th month pay, and overtime pay from taxes.
“Relieving the tax burden on workers will enable Filipino families, especially those in the low to middle-income sectors, to avoid falling deeper into poverty in the face of rising inflation,” Binay said.

“May domino effect ‘yan. Tataas ang consumer spending, sisigla ang mga negosyo, tataas ang revenue collection ng gobyerno. Na-offset whatever revenue is lost,” Binay also explained. (PR)