BY ALEX ALAGON
BY RHENA JEAN H. BATOBALANI/CMU INTERN
THE DEPARTMENT of Labor and Employment (DOLE) XI launched the Trabaho Agad Job Fair at the Annex Event Center, SM City Davao, as part of the 128th Philippine Independence Day celebration.
The event brought together 30 local and two overseas employers, offering 2,300 job vacancies across various industries.
Many jobseekers participated in on-site interviews and recruitment activities. Several applicants were reportedly hired on the spot, while hundreds of job seekers registered for various employment opportunities
DOLE XI regional director Atty. Randolf C. Pensoy delivered his welcome remarks right after the program began at 9:40 a.m.
Meanwhile, Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Francis N. Tolentino delivered a message through a multimedia presentation, expressing his support for job seekers participating in the nationwide Trabaho Agad Job Fair.
“Nawa’y matulungan natin ang ating mga kababayan na magkaroon ng trabaho at umuwi na may magandang balita para sa kanilang mga pamilya,” Tolentino said.
DOLE also encouraged job seekers to continue taking advantage of government-led employment programs and services designed to improve their access to quality job opportunities.
BY ACE CYRELLE PAGLINAWAN, KHADIJAH SALACOP, MARINA VILLEGAS | CMU INTERNS
THE OFFICE of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) is expanding employment, training, and educational opportunities for the elderly through partnerships with government agencies and the private sector.
OSCA head Lorenzo Borja said they continue to implement programs aimed at providing opportunities for senior citizens beyond financial assistance, including employment initiatives, skills training, scholarship programs, and computer literacy activities.
Among the employment-related programs was a proposed measure that would provide incentives to establishments hiring senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs). Borja said the ordinance may be approved this year.
He also cited opportunities being offered through the Commission on Higher Education, which has allotted 100 slots for senior citizens under one-year contractual work arrangements. The placement would depend on an applicant’s skills
Apart from employment opportunities, OSCA continues to offer scholarship assistance amounting to P15,000 per beneficiary. He said the program is open not only to senior citizens but also to their children and grandchildren.
Skills training remains among the office’s priority programs, such as a massage therapy training for senior citizens, with over 25 participants marking the second batch of graduates last year.
The office also maintains partnerships with the National Commission on Senior Citizens, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Science and Technology, Social Security System, and other agencies for programs benefiting senior citizens.
Borja quoted that senior citizens may also receive computer literacy training through OSCA facilities, including its satellite office in Toril Poblacion. The office also conducts activities under its Senior Citizens Care program, where participants can engage in exercise, karaoke, sports, and other activities that promote their welfare and well-being.
Cebu Pacific has partnered with De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) to provide internship opportunities for Deaf students, reinforcing its commitment to building an inclusive workplace.
Under a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the college’s School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS), the pioneering institution in Deaf education in the Philippines, CEB will offer internship placements that provide Deaf students with hands-on experience and practical exposure to a professional work environment.
The partnership’s pilot run began on June 8 with the placement of three SDEAS student interns under CEB’s FLY Internship Program. The program provides college undergraduates with hands-on learning opportunities across the airline’s operations.
“We’re excited to welcome our students from DLS-CSB to Cebu Pacific and learn alongside them. Internships are often a person’s first step into the workforce, and we want that experience to be meaningful, supportive, and empowering. We hope this partnership helps open more doors for Deaf professionals and encourages more organizations to recognize the value that diverse talent brings to the workplace,” said Felix Lopez, CEB Chief Human Resources Officer.
The SDEAS interns have been assigned to CEB’s Customer Service Operations – Cabin Operations team, where they will support day-to-day functions while gaining insights into the aviation industry. They will complete 360 hours of on-the-job training until August 14, 2026.
Prior to the start of the internship, CEB employees participated in a Deaf Awareness Session facilitated by SDEAS. The session introduced participants to Deaf culture, inclusive communication practices, and ways to foster greater accessibility in the workplace. The initiative forms part of CEB’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts and reflects its commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for Deaf professionals and other persons with disabilities. Through partnerships such as this, CEB continues to foster a workplace where diverse talent can thrive and contribute to the organization’s long-term success.
BY: RHENA JEAN H. BATOBALANI, DEANNE MAE C. URBIZTONDO & FRANCINE ALYXIA C. PALMES/CMU Interns
THE CITY Health Office recorded 644 dengue cases from January to May 2026, reflecting a 61.5% decrease compared to the 1,674 cases reported during the same period in 2025.
Dengue-related deaths also dropped from 17 in 2025 to seven this year, marking a 58.82% reduction.
The CHO also revealed that two of the seven deaths associated with dengue died due to leptospirosis. Moreover, most of the patients were males, and the most affected age group was between 5 and 9 years old.
Melodina Babante, CHO Tropical Diseases Prevention and Control Unit program manager, attributed the decrease to the strict implementation of City Ordinance No. 0401-20, also known as the Davao City Mosquito-Borne Diseases Prevention and Control Program.
The ordinance strengthens dengue prevention efforts through community participation, environmental sanitation, and mosquito control measures across the city.
Babante also urged the remaining 102 barangays of Davao City to have their own Mosquito-Borne Disease Task Force to help the community having less to zero cases of dengue.
“Ipadayon ang pagtinabangay gikan sa community sa atong barangay, diri sa atong mga ahensya sa government: ang City Health, ang Cenro, aron mapadayon nato ang pagbaba sa kaso sa dengue sa Davao City hangtod-hangtod nani siya,” Babante said.
Despite the encouraging figures, health officials urged all barangays and residents not to be complacent. The public is reminded to maintain cleanliness, eliminate mosquito breeding sites, and observe proper safety and preventive measures to help sustain the continued decrease in dengue cases.
THE DEPARTMENT of Labor and Employment will issue a subpoena to Ateneo de Manila University Men’s Basketball head coach Tab Baldwin after the Aurora drowning incident of athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili during a team-building activity.
Baldwin is summoned to personally appear before Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino on Monday, June 15.
Tolentino said Baldwin must present documents proving his authority to work in the country, being a foreign national.
“No foreign national working in this country is above the law regardless of their status, reputation, or the institution they represent,” the labor chief said in a press release on Thursday.
Baldwin was directed to present his valid and current Alien Employment Permit (AEP) issued by DOLE authorizing him to serve as head coach of the university’s men’s basketball team.
An AEP is a requirement for a valid working visa for alien workers in the Philippines.
He must also submit proof that the AEP covers the full scope of his coaching and supervisory activities, including off-campus training exercises such as the team-building activity held in Dipaculao, Aurora, where the incident occurred on June 8, 2026.
The secretary likewise ordered Baldwin to submit documents demonstrating compliance with DOLE reporting requirements under Department Order No. 248, Series of 2025, including notifications of any changes in position, workplace, or scope of work.
A written explanation of the circumstances surrounding the activity, including its nature, supervision arrangements, and safety protocols observed, was also requested from Baldwin.
Tolentino cited Article 40 and Article 128 of the Labor Code, Department Order No. 248, Series of 2025, and DOLE Administrative Order No. 199, Series of 2026, as legal bases for the department’s action.
Failure to comply with the subpoena, or any finding of unauthorized employment, could result in the cancellation or suspension of Baldwin’s AEP.
The secretary warned that Baldwin may be referred to the Bureau of Immigration for possible deportation proceedings, administrative penalties against Ateneo de Manila University, and the filing of charges under the Labor Code for illegal employment of a foreign national.
Tolentino extended condolences to the families of both victims.
“The family of Rene and Divine deserves answers, and they deserve accountability,” Tolentino added.
Baterbonia’s post-mortem examination confirmed that he died from asphyxia by drowning.
His remains will be flown to Davao on Friday for a one day wake at Ateneo de Davao University-Senior High School.
Meanwhile, Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin and team manager Epok Quimpo are on indefinite leave, according to the university.
THE MILITARY has placed its tri-service forces on heightened readiness across Southern Mindanao as Joint Task Force (JTF) Agila scrambles to deliver aid, airlift supplies to isolated villages, and conduct critical search and rescue operations following a destructive earthquake in the region.
As of Friday, the Army, Air Force, and Navy components of JTF Agila have sustained continuous humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations to stabilize heavily hit communities in Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, and General Santos City.
Search and rescue in GenSan
On Thursday, June 11, specialized Army search, rescue, and retrieval teams braved hazardous conditions at the severely damaged CEPAVI Warehouse in Barangay Calumpang, General Santos City.
Concurrently, military personnel deployed water assets to provide free potable water to hundreds of internally displaced persons (IDPs) currently taking shelter at a crowded evacuation site in Barangay Bawing.
Isolated villages air-dropped aid
The logistical challenge peaked in the island and mountainous terrains of Davao Occidental, where some areas are cut off. JTF Agila units partnered with local government units (LGUs) to facilitate emergency airlifts.
Military aircraft dropped essential relief supplies to completely isolated communities and executed critical medical evacuations for severely injured residents from the remote Sarangani Municipality.
Further boosting the regional response, the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental deployed a massive logistical convoy consisting of food packs, potable water, fuel, and medical supplies to augment JTF Agila’s forward operating sites.
‘Fully committed’
Major General Alvin Luzon, commander of JTF Agila, emphasized that the military will not pull back until the communities are stabilized.
“Our personnel will continue working alongside partner agencies and local government units to ensure that help reaches those who need it most,” Maj. Gen. Luzon said in a statement. “We remain ready and dependable in responding to disasters and assisting our communities during this challenging time.”
With aftershocks still threatening the region, JTF Agila’s leadership confirmed that all search, rescue, and relief assets remain on high alert as recovery operations transition into the weekend.
VICE PRESIDENT Sara Duterte on Friday firmly rejected calls from disgruntled retired military officers to lead an extra-constitutional “People Power” movement to oust President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., but launched her most scathing personal tirade against the Chief Executive yet.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 128th Independence Day celebrations at Rizal Park, Duterte said she couldn’t support a revolt because of her oath of office and Constitutional boundaries.
“I am the Constitutional successor; I am the next in line according to our Constitution. I took an oath when I assumed the office of the Vice President that I will preserve and defend the Constitution,” Duterte said. “So, executing extra-constitutional means to overthrow the current administration is not in my hands.”
However, the Vice President quickly made it clear that her refusal to back a coup was not born out of loyalty to her former “UniTeam” running mate.
“I don’t want that either. I don’t want to usurp the position of Bongbong Marcos,” Duterte said in Filipino. “I want the Filipino people to see until the very end just how shameless BBM is.”
When asked about her message to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) amid the alleged destabilization plot, Duterte doubled down on the theme of her main speech, directly accusing the sitting president of high-level corruption.
“Our freedom and sovereignty are not only lost to foreign invaders… It is also lost when the high officials of our government, including the President, act like syndicates in stealing the people’s money,” she said. “Every peso that is stolen is a loss of dignity for every person.”
‘Corruption steals freedom’
Duterte broke down the ground-level impacts of systemic corruption, linking stolen public funds to failing public infrastructure and social services.
“Every peso stolen from the people’s treasury steals a child’s freedom from hunger. It steals a student’s freedom from illiteracy. Every ghost project is a classroom never built. Every corrupt contract is a road that was never built for farmers,” she said. “Corruption is not just the theft of money. It steals opportunity, it steals dignity, and it steals hope. And ultimately, it steals freedom itself.”
Evoking the memory of revolutionary heroes like Rizal, Bonifacio, and Luna, Duterte warned that freedom is “never permanent unless it is defended.”
She then urged Filipinos to voice discontent rather than accept political defeat.
“Hope survives when citizens refuse to accept bad governance as their destiny,” Duterte said. “On this Independence Day, let us resolutely stand up again for truth, for accountability, for freedom, and for sovereignty. Let us choose to fight over submission, dignity over subjugation.”
VICE PRESIDENT Sara Duterte on Friday detailed the rapid mobilization of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to spearhead relief and rescue operations in Soccsksargen following a destructive earthquake that battered General Santos City and Sarangani Province.
According to Duterte, the OVP immediately dispatched its Kalusugan Truck to forward operating zones to serve hot meals to emergency first responders and survivors rescued from collapsed structures.
The initial deployment was quickly reinforced by logistical and relief distributions managed by the OVP Southern Mindanao Satellite Office.
The Vice President noted that she personally traveled to the hard-hit areas to inspect the damage, visit injured patients in hospitals, and extend direct financial assistance to the families of the casualties.
“Our Disaster Operations Center has opened a warehouse and is currently sorting out rice boxes and food bags,” Duterte said. “We will be distributing these to areas that remain isolated due to the earthquake.”
The OVP’s relief assets and disaster teams remain on the ground to sustain recovery efforts as regional authorities assess the full extent of the infrastructure damage.
Why the next generation of Filipino freedom starts with digital responsibility
The digital world is no longer just an alternate reality for Filipinos. It is an extension of everyday life. From family group chats and online classrooms to digital wallets and small businesses, the internet shapes how we connect, learn, work, and participate in society.
But as our reliance on digital spaces grows, so do the risks. Misinformation, phishing scams, identity theft, and online fraud continue to threaten users—especially the most vulnerable to deception.
This Independence Day, as the nation honors the courage and sacrifices that shaped our nation, it is time to reflect on what freedom means in today’s connected world. In the digital age, true freedom is not just about access to platforms and opportunities. It is about having the confidence and security to go online without fear of being deceived, exploited, or harmed.
Today, protecting our fellow Filipinos is no longer limited to traditional symbols or historical remembrance. It happens on our screens—in how we verify information, safeguard our data, treat others online, and help build safer digital communities.
The Rise of Digital Bayanihan
At the heart of Filipino culture is bayanihan—the communal spirit of unity, cooperation, and helping one another in times of need. In today’s connected era, this timeless value is taking on a crucial new form: Digital Bayanihan.
Digital bayanihan is the collective commitment to building a safer, kinder, and more accountable internet. It shifts the idea of online safety from a personal responsibility to a shared community effort. In today’s digital landscape, one person’s online behavior ripples outward. A single unverified post can spread panic, while a single phishing link can lead to financial ruin for an unsuspecting netizen.
Building a resilient, digitally secure Philippines starts with simple, conscious daily habits:
- Verify before sharing: Always check the credibility of sources before hitting “share” or “retweet.”
- Protect personal data: Keep accounts secure with strong passwords and two-factor authentication, and never share OTPs.
- Look out for vulnerable users: Guide elderly family members and first-time internet users to spot suspicious links, fake promotions, and impersonation scams.
- Report, don’t just scroll past: Flagging fake accounts, misleading posts, and harmful content helps clean up the digital ecosystem for everyone.
A truly free digital space is not one where people can say anything without consequence, but one where every Filipino can participate safely, responsibly, and meaningfully.
The Youth as Champions of a Safer Internet
While every online citizen has a role to play, young Filipinos are uniquely positioned to lead this movement. As digital natives, students and Gen Z internet users have the tech-savviness, adaptability, and social influence to shape healthier online cultures.
They are not merely passive users of technology; they are the ultimate advocates of digital bayanihan.
Recognizing this immense potential, Online AlerTour—an educational initiative by PLDT Home’s Online Alerto, in partnership with the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG)—delivers vital online safety education directly to university campuses. The tour equips students with practical knowledge to identify cyber threats, combat disinformation, and champion responsible digital behavior.
The initiative has already energized student communities across major campuses, including Far Eastern University, Universidad de Manila, and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
Through these campus caravans, students are empowered to become vigilant digital citizens and active protectors of their communities, demonstrating that the youth remain the fair hope of our digital motherland.
Freedom in the Digital Age
As the Philippines celebrates Independence Day, the definition of freedom continues to evolve. A truly free nation is one in which citizens can connect, learn, work, and express themselves online without fear of exploitation or abuse.
This is the long-term vision that drives Online Alerto, PLDT Home’s online safety advocacy platform. Launched in 2022, it has grown into a thriving Facebook community of more than 77,000 members dedicated to promoting digital awareness, responsibility, and safety.
Through ongoing education, strategic partnerships, and grassroots community-building, PLDT Home remains committed to fostering a secure digital environment for Filipinos nationwide.
True patriotism is not only about remembering the freedoms won in the past. It is about actively protecting the freedoms Filipinos enjoy today—including the right to live, learn, and thrive safely in the digital world.
This Independence Day, let us commit to practicing digital bayanihan because a safer, more responsible digital Philippines is a stronger, freer, and more united nation.
To learn more about online safety and responsible digital citizenship, join the Online Alerto Facebook Community and be part of the movement toward a safer internet.
