BY ALEX ALAGON
BY APRIL MARGRETTE ALNAS/UM Intern
COUNCILOR Bonz Andrei Militar revealed the plan to submit a proposal to digitize the DCplinado program by shifting its module online for easier access by schools in Davao City.
“The youth are being guided from an early age to become disciplined, showing how the people of Davao practice discipline,” he said during the Pulong Pulong sa Dabawenyo on Tuesday, April 21.
The Dabawenyo DCplinado program has already started rolling out printed DCplinado modules in December 2025.
The DCiplino module has already been integrated into the curriculum of the Department of Education-Davao City Division, particularly covered by the Araling Panlipunan and values education subjects.
The program seeks to teach students about respecting laws, civic responsibility, gender equality, cultural sensitivity, and care for the environment.
The program was created through City Ordinance 0552, passed in 2024.
MAYA has been named Neobank of the Year and recognized for Best Digital Fraud Protection Experience at The Asset Triple A Digital Awards 2026, reflecting how its digital banking services are built around trust and everyday use.
Maya is among three recipients of the Neobank of the Year award, alongside Hong Kong-based ZA Bank and Mox Bank. Organized by The Asset, the awards recognize financial institutions across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East that are advancing digital finance through innovation and customer experience.
“These recognitions reflect how we design our services – built for everyday use, with security embedded from the start,” said Shailesh Baidwan, Maya Group president and Maya Bank co-founder. “As adoption grows, the focus is on strengthening trust while improving how customers experience payments, savings and credit.”
The Asset’s Triple A Digital Awards are selected by its editorial board based on how well institutions create and provide digital financial services to many people. The Asset is a leading financial publication in Asia, with its Triple A Awards recognized for their rigorous editorial process and coverage of banking, finance, and capital markets across the region.
The recognition for fraud protection reflects how security is integrated into Maya’s core services, including real-time monitoring and in-app controls that allow customers to manage account access and transactions directly.
These are supported by Maya’s broader security framework and infrastructure, including
ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27701 certifications, alongside PCI DSS compliance and continuous investments in fraud detection, monitoring, and risk controls across its platform.
As digital financial services scale across the region, security has become central to sustaining customer trust and enabling broader adoption.
Maya integrates digital banking within a broader financial ecosystem that includes payments, savings and credit, enabling customers and businesses to access financial services through a single platform.
MAKATI CITY — Security Bank Corporation has closed a PHP2.7-billion 15-year green project finance facility for Astra Solar Energy Corp., supporting an 80.6MW solar plant in Currimao, Ilocos Norte, and strengthening its role in financing large-scale renewable infrastructure in the Philippines.
The bank acted as sole lender, green loan coordinator, and Hedging Bank for the transaction, while Security Bank Capital Investment Corporation served as mandated lead arranger and bookrunner.
“This transaction reflects our continued focus on financing infrastructure that supports long-term economic growth and energy transition,” said John Cary Ong, EVP and wholesale banking segment head.
The project forms part of a growing renewable energy cluster in Currimao, alongside Mirae Asia Energy Corp.’s 20MW solar facility and Nuevo Solar Energy Corp.’s 83MW plant, both owned and operated by Vena Energy. Security Bank is the sole lender across all three adjacent projects.
This strengthens the Bank’s position as a primary financial partner of Vena Energy in the Philippines.
“We’re pleased to continue our partnership with Security Bank, who have now financed over 800MW of clean energy capacity with us in the Philippines,” said Simone Grasso, chief investment officer at Vena Group. “This reflects the strong confidence local financial institutions have in the country’s renewable energy sector and in Vena Group’s ability to deliver reliable, clean energy to Filipino communities.”
To date, Security Bank has supported the financing of 25 renewable energy projects across the Philippines.
MANILA, Philippines — SpeakClinic, a digital health platform designed to connect families with licensed clinicians, is expanding access to teletherapy services for children with autism after receiving support from the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD).
The support comes through DOST-PCHRD’s Startup Research Grant Program, which funds continued development of the platform. The grant provides a one-year research and development roadmap that includes an integrated therapy appointment and reservation system, as well as machine learning capabilities to support more efficient pediatric intervention and evidence-based care.
SpeakClinic enables families to access teletherapy services by connecting them with licensed clinicians for scheduling and e-consultations. It operates alongside Mylo Speech Buddy, a speech therapy support app, which helps with both clinical consultations and daily language development. The platform was created to address persistent gaps in access to speech and developmental therapy in the Philippines, where many families continue to face challenges related to distance, cost, and limited availability of specialists.
Many Filipino families of children who need developmental support continue to face challenges in accessing timely and consistent therapy due to a shortage of specialized professionals. These constraints have made it difficult for many families, particularly those outside major urban centers, to access timely intervention. SpeakClinic seeks to address this gap by functioning as both a directory of verified specialists and a platform where families can directly book appointments and access teletherapy services.
The initiative comes as April marks World Autism Awareness Month, a global observance that highlights the importance of inclusive support systems and early intervention for individuals on the autism spectrum. Throughout April, Mylo Speech Buddy is distributing vouchers for 30-day free access to its speech development platform, while SpeakClinic currently does not charge membership fees for users accessing its services.
DOST-PCHRD’s backing is also expected to support the platform’s development into a more integrated digital ecosystem that combines clinical research, data-driven tools, and collaborative care among clinicians, therapists, and families. This public-sector support strengthens its potential to scale while ensuring that interventions remain grounded in validated healthcare practices.
Vincent Rocha, founder and chief executive officer of Mylo Incorporated, shared that the support from DOST-PCHRD marks a significant milestone for the platform’s growth and credibility.
“The support from DOST-PCHRD is a turning point for Mylo. What started as a personal journey to help children access speech therapy has grown into a research-backed digital healthcare solution. This partnership allows us to ensure that our tools are grounded in clinical evidence while reaching more Filipino families who need consistent support,” said Rocha.
Beyond its clinical innovation, Mylo Speech Buddy continues to champion autism advocacy through the third edition of “Ausome Stories,” a digital storytelling series that has generated over 20 million organic views since its launch.
The latest season, launched on April 14, 2026, and hosted by Tuesday Vargas, features families alongside insights from therapists and medical professionals, underscoring the importance of early intervention, sustained support, and holistic care across all stages of life.
Finding the right therapist can be challenging for many families—download the SpeakClinic app at www.speakclinic.com to connect with licensed professionals more easily.
MANILA, 21 April 2026 – Atome Philippines has announced a strategic partnership with Bayad, the Philippines’ largest bill payment aggregator, that will allow Filipino users to seamlessly pay bills — including water, electricity, internet, and government contributions – and other essential payments directly within the Atome Philippines app.
Through this partnership, Atome customers gain access to Bayad’s extensive network of billers and service providers, streamlining bill payment management and budgeting within a single platform. The integration addresses customers’ real pain point of managing multiple bill payment platforms and consolidating them for better budgeting and financial health, while also earning Atome rewards points on every utility bill payment.
“Bayad is committed to democratizing bill payment access across the Philippines,” said Lawrence Ferrer, president and CEO of Bayad. “Our partnership with Atome represents a significant opportunity to reach millions of Filipinos and make bill payment faster, safer, and more rewarding. This deep collaboration exemplifies how fintech innovation can really drive financial inclusion at scale.”
“This partnership is a natural evolution of Atome’s mission to make financial services more accessible and convenient for everyday Filipinos,” said Christian Quiros, president and general manager of Atome Philippines.
“Bill payments represent a significant portion of household budgets, and now our users can make essential payments alongside their other daily needs, such as groceries, food, pharmacy, and telco bills, without having to switch apps. This partnership with Bayad makes financial inclusion and budgeting real for millions of unbanked and underbanked Filipinos.”
Manila, Philippines — The HUAWEI Mate Series makes its highly anticipated return and sets new industry benchmarks with the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro. Designed to outlast, outshoot, and outperform, the newest HUAWEI smartphone is loaded with an arsenal of advanced, industry-leading technologies to push the limits of what a mobile can achieve.
The HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro is available for pre-order at PHP 69,999, and for a limited time, you can get it at a special promo price of PHP 64,999
Outshine with Timeless Design Inspired by Infinite Exploration
True elegance is timeless, and the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro stands as proof by evolving its iconic design heritage into a striking new frontier. The Iconic Dual Space Rings design, a hallmark of the HUAWEI Mate Series, has been brilliantly reimagined into the innovative Dual Ring design. Together, the rings form the infinity symbol, which stands for the spirit of “infinite exploration.” The reimagined design speaks to a mindset that pushes beyond limits, embracing progress without end and giving the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro an instantly recognizable look yet still refreshingly new.
The HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro is beautifully encased in premium, ultra-durable vegan fiber design, a meticulously chosen material that provides a supremely comfortable and secure grip. Available in two elegant finishes — Gold and Black — the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro’s design strikes a perfect balance between sophistication and resilience.
Outshoot the Ordinary with a Pocket-Sized Professional Studio
The HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro transforms everyday photography into a powerful experience defined by precision and intelligence. Built with a quad-camera system, the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro features a True-to-Colour Camera — which delivers exceptional color accuracy across all lighting conditions to ensure that users capture exactly what they remember. Even in nighttime or low-light scenes, the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro flawlessly reproduces accurate, detailed images through its 50MP Ultra Lighting Main Camera. This utilizes a massive 1/1.28-inch sensor to capture nuanced light and shadow with exceptional, professional-grade fidelity.
Taking mobile photography even further, the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro also comes with a dedicated 48MP Ultra Lighting Telephoto Macro Camera. It offers up to 4x optical zoom, which enables users to capture sharp, distant shots, while its macro capabilities allow users to focus on subjects as close as 5cm away to reveal intricate, hidden details with stunning clarity. The 40MP Ultra-Wide Angle Camera allows users to capture expansive landscapes or huge group shots with absolute ease.
Guaranteeing that every shot is a masterpiece, the revolutionary AI Composition feature essentially turns users into instant professional photographers. The intuitive system analyzes the environment in real-time, assessing subjects, leading lines, lighting conditions, and overall visual balance to intelligently guide users’ framing process. It automatically suggests the perfect crop or zoom level and overlays subtle, easy-to-follow composition hints directly within the viewfinder. This eliminates the need to memorize complex photography rules or make endless manual adjustments. Users can simply frame their shot, follow the smart on-screen recommendations, and immediately capture stunning, magazine-quality photos every single time.
Outlast Obstacles with Unbreakable Resilience
Durability is a defining feature of the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro. Each layer of the device is engineered to withstand the unpredictability of daily life, creating a smartphone that users can rely on in virtually any situation. Armed with 2nd Generation Kunlun Glass, the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro’s display is intricately embedded with high-strength nanocrystals that provide strong, reliable protection. It delivers a 20x drop resistance that is massively stronger compared to conventional glass panels, significantly reducing the risk of screen damage from daily drops, bumps, and shocks.
This ruggedness extends to the backplate of the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro, which is expertly crafted from vegan fiber. While its silky, smooth texture feels exceptionally refined in the hand, its most important quality is the 5x enhanced impact resistance it provides. This resilient material allows the phone to withstand scrapes and accidents, while retaining its pristine, premium appearance over the years.
Furthermore, the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro is built to conquer the harshest elements with its IP68 and IP69-rated water and dust resistance. Using an advanced multi-layer sealing technology that creates a full-coverage shield against intrusion, the smartphone effortlessly survives submersion in up to 6 meters of water. It can withstand high water temperatures of up to 80ºC, high-pressure water jets, and remains unfazed in freezing conditions as low as -20ºC. The HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro gives users the confidence to go through their day without worrying about damaging their premium device.
Outperform Expectations with Relentless Power
Delivering 21% higher overall performance than the last generation and equipped with 16GB of RAM, the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro flawlessly executes intensive tasks, from seamless multitasking to demanding apps and entertainment. This is supported by the industry’s first SuperCool Dual Phase Change Heat Dissipation System, which helps regulate temperature for a consistently smooth and stable experience even under heavy use.
The phone’s remarkable performance is driven by a massive 5750mAh battery, keeping users powered throughout the day. It supports up to 30 hours of video playback on a single charge. When it’s time to recharge, the 100W Wired HUAWEI SuperCharge and the 80W Wireless HUAWEI SuperCharge get the battery up to 51% in as quick as 15 minutes. Security and accessibility are equally upgraded on the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro with its 3D ToF face recognition system. This significantly enhances face detection accuracy, providing a fast and accurate unlocking system while maintaining a high level of protection.
Beyond exceptional hardware, the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro offers a truly seamless and comprehensive digital ecosystem through the HUAWEI AppGallery. Staying connected is easy through YouTube and Facebook, while professional workflow remains uninterrupted with essential Google Workspace apps, including Gmail, Drive, Meet, Docs, Slides, and Sheets. Users can also easily download their daily essentials such as Angkas, BDO, BPI, or GCash. Enhancing this experience further is AI Smart Control, which allows you to instantly launch for favourite AI Assistant, such as Google Gemini, DeepSeak, ChatGPT, or Dola, with a simple double-tap of the lock button, making it easier to generate captions, manage tasks, and get things done on the go.
Unlock the Ulti-Mate Experience with the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro
Reimagine your mobile experience with the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro, available for pre-order for PHP 69,999, and for a limited time, you can get it at a special promo price of PHP 64,499 on Shopee, Lazada, TikTok Shop, HUAWEI Online Store, and at HUAWEI Experience Stores nationwide.
Enjoy a PHP 3,500 exclusive early bird voucher when you pre-order starting April 17, 12PM until April 23 via the HUAWEI Online Store. Plus limited vouchers worth PHP 1,500 are available on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok so be sure to secure yours while it lasts.
Get yours today and bring home a freebie bundle, which includes a HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 (worth PHP 12,999) and a premium care service (worth PHP 9,999). Plus, save up to PHP 5,000 when you pay using cards from selected banks.
THE ROYAL Norwegian Embassy in Manila hosted a three-day official visit delegation for the Norwegian National Police Directorate, headed by Deputy Commissioner Lars Erik Alfheim, to further strengthen the police cooperation between Norway and the Philippines.
During the visit, Deputy Commissioner Alfheim, together with H.E. Ambassador Christian Halaas Lyster, and Nordic Liaison Officer Per Nicolai Langås, paid a courtesy call to Chief General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. of the Philippine National Police (PNP) at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
“We have seen the professional work they (PNP) do – especially on fighting online sexual abuse of children. We continue to work with PNP – both nations help each other in combatting these deeply disturbing crimes,” said Alfheim.
The meeting focused on the continuous mutual law enforcement cooperation and future international partnerships between the Politiet (Norwegian Police) and the PNP. The meetings also touched on topics on public safety and Norway’s continued support to the Philippines, through the Nordic Liaison Office, in its efforts to combat Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC), as well as topics on cybercrime and other forms of criminality.
“The Philippines is a hotspot for online sexual abuse and exploitation of children. Norway, through the Nordic Police Liaison Office, works closely with Philippine law enforcement agencies to combat OSAEC,” H.E. Ambassador Christian Halaas Lyster said.
“Strengthening international police cooperation is crucial, but not enough. We must all work together to create awareness of this challenging problem and prevent victims from being abused and keep our children safe,” he added.
The meeting discussed the ongoing process of finalizing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Norwegian Police and the Philippine National Police. The MoU aims to further enhance bilateral cooperation and strengthen collaborative efforts in information sharing between Norway and the Philippines and reinforce the collaborative efforts in information sharing between the two countries.
This will strengthen preventive mechanisms to investigate OSAEC cases through information exchange. As the threat of OSAEC has expanded in terms of quantity and severity, the Norwegian police have spent considerable resources investigating perpetrators who order live-streamed abuses, videos, and images from the Philippines and assisted Philippine law enforcement authorities in apprehending local facilitators.
“The Philippine National Police sincerely appreciates the continued cooperation of the Norwegian Police, through the Royal Norwegian Embassy, in advancing our collective fight against Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children,” said Nartatez.
The members of the Norwegian Police Service also met with Barbara Mae Pagdilao-Flores, Executive Director of the National Coordination Center Against Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM), and Department of Justice Assistant Secretary Michelle Anne S. Lapuz, to discuss the Philippines’ legal framework and whole-of-nation approach in combating Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC).
The NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM serves as the national secretariat responsible for implementing the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children Act and the Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act in the Philippines.
Ambassador Lyster and Deputy Commissioner Alfheim also met with the command group and the cadets of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) last April 11, 2026, led by its Director, Police Major General Andre P. Dizon, at Camp General Mariano N. Castaneda in Silang, Cavite.
The delegation was concluded with a dinner with the cadets, wherein a leadership talk from Deputy Police Commissioner Alfheim on the importance of public trust and evolving curriculum to cope with today’s technology as part of the training of future police officers in Norway. This was then followed by an inspirational message from Ambassador Lyster on ethical leadership and trust as cornerstones of effective governance and international cooperation.
DESPITE the deregulation of the oil industry, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) retain sufficient authority to investigate and act against unreasonable increases in petroleum prices, House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan said on Sunday.
“Under the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Law of 1998, a DOE–DOJ Task Force was established with specific investigative and enforcement powers to address excessive and unjustified increases in petroleum product prices,” Libanan said.
“Through this task force, the two departments must take decisive and forceful action to safeguard consumers against potential pricing abuses, considering that we are now under a state of national energy emergency,” he added.
Libanan stressed that protecting consumers should remain a top priority amid highly volatile global oil markets.
“Consumer protection must be paramount. Filipino families should not be made to bear the burden of unjustified fuel price increases, especially when global oil prices are already easing,” Libanan said.
The ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, which began in late February, triggered a sharp surge in global oil prices, although recent ceasefire signals have introduced significant volatility.
After peaking at nearly $120 per barrel in March following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices have since declined to around $90 per barrel as of April 17.
Meanwhile, local oil industry players have faced mounting criticism over alleged overpricing, profiteering, and possible collusion to keep prices elevated.
Libanan, a lawyer by profession, pointed out that under Republic Act No. 8479, the DOE-DOJ Task Force functions as an investigative and quasi-enforcement body that:
· Conducts investigations into potential overpricing on its own initiative
· Receives and evaluates complaints on oil pricing and possible collusion
· Recommends or initiates legal action
· Supports enforcement
Section 14 (d) of the law reads as follows: “Any report from any person of an unreasonable rise in the prices of petroleum products shall be immediately acted upon. For this purpose, the creation of the DOE-DOJ Task Force is hereby mandated to determine within 30 days the merits of the report and initiate the necessary actions warranted under the circumstance; provided, that nothing herein shall prevent the said task force from investigating and/or filing the necessary complaint with the proper court or agency motu proprio.”
THE PROBLEM facing state universities and colleges (SUCs) is not a lack of funding, but how government resources are prioritized and used, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said on Thursday.
Speaking during the Cebu Technological University (CTU) Student Government’s Miting de Avance and Dialogue on April 16, 2026, Cayetano responded to a student’s question on infrastructure gaps, particularly in digital systems and classroom expansion.
The senator stressed that the government has sufficient funds, but inefficiencies arise from how these are allocated.
“6.8 trillion is not a small budget,” he said, referring to the 2026 national budget. “The question is, are we using it wisely?”
Cayetano explained that public discourse often focuses on cutting budgets when controversies arise, such as in flood control spending, instead of addressing deeper issues.
“The problem is not the funds, the problem is corruption… When I was a young congressman, the budget of DPWH was P50 billion. Last year, the budget of DPWH was P1.1 trillion,” he said.
He also emphasized the importance of public awareness, particularly among the youth, in understanding how government budgets are used, saying this could help ensure better accountability.
To illustrate, Cayetano cited the experience of his home city of Taguig, where spending priorities were shifted toward education, particularly scholarships. This, he said, contributed to the city’s fiscal growth and expanded social programs.
The senator emphasized that improving outcomes in education and other sectors would depend not only on increasing budgets but on setting the right priorities, curbing corruption, and empowering citizens to be more informed.
“How do we change? Well, one, the way we changed in Taguig, we informed everyone. Tamang priorities, pagtutulungan ng mga tao, tanggalin ang corruption, but empowered pa rin y’ung mga tao,” he said.
