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Saturday, October 25, 2025 Vol. 21 No. 17
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DepEd sets aside ₧1.35B for learning packets in disaster-induced disruptions
RESIDENTS walk on a damaged road caused by a recent strong earthquake in Bogo City, Cebu, on Thursday, October 2, 2025. AP/AARON FAVILA
HIGHLAND HARMONY In a dazzling display of culture and color, the Cordillera’s version of the Aliwan Festival marked its fourth year with street dancers from Baguio City, Benguet, Ifugao, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Abra, and Tabuk filling Session Road with rhythmic steps and vibrant tableaux. Performing before Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco and regional officials, the contingents showcased the rich tapestry of Cordilleran traditions—turning Baguio’s main thoroughfare into a mountain stage of unity and pride. Dubbed the “Festival of Festivals,” the event serves as the regional selection pageant for this year’s Aliwan Festival, where the best among the Cordilleran celebrations will represent the region on the national stage. MAURICIO VICTA
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ESPITE the increase in cash releases, state agencies utilized P3.619 trillion, recording a utilization rate of 97.3 percent. The utilization rate was also lower compared to the 99 percent posted during the same period a year ago. A higher NCA utilization rate indicates stronger fund absorption and timely program implementation among agencies. Of the total NCAs released, line departments obtained 73.88 percent or equivalent to P2.748 trillion. These agencies disbursed P2.654 trillion or 96.6 percent, posting a 96.6-percent utilization rate, slower than last year’s 98 percent. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Education (DepEd) remained the top recipients of NCAs, with P684.86 billion and P542.24 billion, respectively. Both, however, reported slightly lower utilization rates—95.6 percent for DPWH and 97.7 percent for DepEd—compared with 100 percent and 98 percent a year earlier. Meanwhile, the Office of the Vice President, the Judiciary and the Office of the Ombudsman recorded a 100-percent NCA utilization rate among line departments. At the other end, the Department of Energy posted the lowest utilization rate at 68.3 percent, followed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology at 71.6 percent. Furthermore, the government-owned and -controlled corporations received P92.504 billion in budgetary support, of See “Govt,” A2
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was part of the “learning from the lessons from past crisis periods, as foreign loans could lead to foreign-exchange losses for those borrowers that are not hedged.” The peso traded near nine-month highs against the US dollar and close to the record P59 level that was sustained for more than three years already, Ricafort added. “Thus, lower amount of approved foreign loans reflected that cautiousness vs. potential forex losses that entail US dollar and other foreign loans,” Ricafort said. Ricafort also noted that since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022, the US dollar has appreciated by around 15 percent, making foreign borrowings more expensive not only in terms of interest costs but also potential forex losses. See “MB,” A2
See “DepEd,” A2
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
OREIGN borrowings greenlit by the Monetary Board plunged by over 70 percent in the third quarter, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). On Friday, the BSP said the Monetary Board approved $1.10 billion worth of proposed public-sector foreign borrowings in the third quarter of the year. This represents a 71.13-percent decrease from the $3.81 billion in approved foreign debt in the same period a year ago. The Central Bank said the loans, which have medium- to long-term maturities, were intended for social protection projects. According to Michael L. Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, the drop in foreign borrowings shows the government’s strategy to rely less on external financing. This year, the government’s financing mix is set at 81:19, in favor of domestic sources. This means P2.106 trillion will be borrowed from the local debt market, while P494 billion will come from foreign financiers. Moreover, Ricafort said the lower external borrowings also reflect cautiousness amid heightened foreign-exchange risks. Ricafort told the BusinessMirror that it
Year-on-Year Drop in BSP-Approved Foreign Borrowings
“It was part of the learning from the lessons from past crisis periods, as foreign loans could lead to foreignexchange losses for those borrowers that are not hedged.”— Michael L. Ricafort, Chief Economist, RCBC
$3.81B
71.13% $1.10B Q3 2024
Q3 2025
Government Financing Mix 2025
Government relies more on domestic financing this year
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HE Department of Education (DepEd) has earmarked P1.35 billion for the printing, delivery, and training related to Learning Packets and Dynamic Learning Program (DLP) materials, to ensure schools are prepared to mitigate learning disruptions caused by natural disasters. “These funds are about preparedness and continuity,” said Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, stressing that the initiative is aligned with the commitment of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., aiming to equip teachers and students with tools that allow classes to continue safely, even when schools are temporarily closed. “During hard times, children need more hope and direction. That’s why, even if there’s limited electricity, internet signals or access to schools, there must be a way for learning to continue,” Angara added, partly in Filipino. The funding, including the fund from the Regional Offices, covers the printing and distribution of Learning Packets for Grades 1 to 12 amounting to P950 million and Dynamic Learning Program materials of P499 million for Junior High School learners. Public schools are instructed to provide one set of Learning Packets per grade level to students from Grade 1 to Grade 12. Each Learning Packet will contain 25 to 50 self-paced activities per grade level, designed to strengthen literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills. Some materials also include enrichment activities for advance learning or life skills development. The DLP, meanwhile, provides structured, activity-based lessons that students can work on independently. Learners can copy and answer the DLP sheets using paper or notebooks, making it possible to continue learning even without electricity, gadgets, or internet connection. “These materials are part of our continuing push for learning resilience.
MB-APPROVED FOREIGN LOANS DOWN 71% IN Q3
BM Graphics: Ed Davad/Source: BSP
Govt agencies’ cash utilization rate slows to 97.3%
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
PBBM’s focus in KL: Push for optimum use of Asean’s FTAs By Samuel P. Medenilla
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MID the growing geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will push for maximizing free-trade agreements (FTAs) of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) with its biggest trade partners, including China, at the regional bloc’s upcoming summit in Malaysia during the weekend, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Two major economic trade-related documents—the Second Protocol to amend the Asean Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and the Asean-China Free Trade Area (FTA) 3.0 upgrade—are expected to be signed at the 47th Asean Summit, to be held from October 26 to 28.
Both agreements are part of the country’s “economic-related” priorities among the 80 outcome documents from the Summit. Another important document which is also expected to be finalized during the Summit is the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste into Asean as its 11th member. In a press briefing in Malacañang on Friday, DFA spokesperson Angelica C. Escalona said Marcos will be attending the signing ceremonies of the three documents. “In all these engagements, the President will advance Philippine interests in Asean by strengthening security and stability, enhancing economic cooperation, See “PBBM,” A2
SWEDE ARRIVAL: IKEA UNFOLDS A NEW HOME IN QUEZON CITY IKEA Philippines officially opened its new “Plan, Order, Shop” store on Thursday at Ayala TriNoma in Quezon City, drawing an estimated 5,000 visitors as of 4 p.m., according to a source. The 500-square-meter outlet may eventually expand, given Quezon City’s size and market potential, although “Manila remains the main outlet” for now, the source added. STELLA ARNALDO
PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 58.6080 n JAPAN 0.3842 n UK 78.1303 n HK 7.5413 n CHINA 8.2274 n SINGAPORE 45.1456 n AUSTRALIA 38.1538 n EU 68.0849 n KOREA 0.0408 n SAUDI ARABIA 15.6279 Source: BSP (October 24, 2025)