With the theme “2 Million Hours Strong: Safety at the Heart of Our Power,” the celebration highlighted MORE Power’s dedication to fostering a strong safety culture. The week-long observance, coinciding with MORE Power’s 5th Anniversary, featured various safety-focused activities, including the First Aid Olympics, Safety and Health Quiz Bee, Theme-Making Contest, and the prestigious Safety Champion Award.

Engineer Roberto Onde, DOLE-6 Senior Labor Employment Officer, delivered a message on behalf of Regional Director Atty. Sixto Popoy Rodriguez Jr., commending the company’s achievement. “It is a privilege to celebrate this remarkable milestone with you. Our visits are often due to workplace incidents, so being here to witness your success is truly commendable. We encourage you to sustain this momentum and continue prioritizing employee safety, as they are your greatest asset. We eagerly anticipate our next visit, where we will recognize your 3 million safe man-hours milestone. Congratulations and keep up the excellent work.” Accompanying him were Kenneth Andrew Diva, PME, LEO II, Gian Elbert G. Improgo, LEO III, and Michael Gison, chief LEO of the Capiz Field Office.

One of the highlights of the event was the recognition of lineman Erol June M. Anzures as the Safety Champion. Expressing his gratitude, he emphasized the importance of adhering to safety protocols and wearing complete personal protective equipment (PPE). Always wear the proper PPE while working. It’s very important because safety should always come first on the job. If you’re not safe, many things can happen to you.,” he shared, reinforcing the daily precautions necessary to ensure a safe work environment.

Aside from prayers, they are fully equipped with guidance, training, and reminders from their supervisors.

MORE Power has consistently prioritized safety through continuous education, skills training, and strict adherence to safety protocols while managing high-voltage electricity 24/7. The company commends every lineman and contractor for their discipline and dedication to safety, ensuring that every worker returns home unharmed at the end of the day.

Reflecting on this milestone, Engr. Bailey R. Del Castillo, VP for Network Development and Operations Group, highlighted its significance: “Safety is everyone’s priority. Let’s continue the next 5 years with the same mindset. Our target is 3 million. We will look forward to the next 3 million in 5 years. Okay lang kung pabalik-balik, kasi yan ang reason to remind us. But that is what really helped us, those reminders. Let’s celebrate, thank you, MORE Power team,”

Looking ahead, MORE Power aims to reach 3 million safe man-hours in the coming years. With safety as a cornerstone of its operations, MORE Power remains dedicated to powering progress with care and responsibility, ensuring a secure working environment for all.PR

The post MORE Power achieves 2 million safe man-hours milestone first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

Speaking to 70 barangay captains in Lipa, Tolentino gave details about Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2815, which sets barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials’ terms, and SBN 2838 or the the Magna Carta for Barangay Health Workers (BHWs). The Senate approved both before its recent break.

SBN 2815 moves the barangay elections from December to September 2027, giving incumbents more time for development programs. On one hand, SBN 2838 guarantees BHWs monthly honoraria from the Department of Health.

“I strongly supported these bills because I know the realities on the ground as a former local chief executive myself,” the former mayor of Tagaytay, Cavite said.

When asked if the Senate could push for SSS and PhilHealth coverage for barangay tanods, Tolentino committed to expanding benefits, including for barangay nutrition scholars and daycare workers.

“Perhaps not just barangay tanods, but also for barangay nutrition scholars and daycare workers. I have long worked with community frontliners, I have seen their dedication and I’m aware of their concerns,” he stated.IMT

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Let us put it in perspective. About 24,916 of the 45,199 public schools lack principals. This means over half of our public schools are virtually captainless. Those who think, “Oh, maybe there’s a temporary solution in place,” are partially right. Many of these schools are managed by “teachers-in-charge” who are capable but lack a principal’s formal training, leadership support, and financial remuneration.

The shortage of principals is not just a number—it is a real issue affecting the foundation of a child’s education. Without a full-time principal, staff often struggle to set a clear vision, meet academic goals, or guide teachers effectively. As a former principal, I can attest to strong leadership’s vital role in a school’s success.

The situation raises difficult questions: How can a school create a solid vision without a strong leader? How can teaching thrive without consistent oversight and no one to set the tone for collaboration and innovation?

This systemic problem affects classroom quality. The low passing rate of the National Qualifying Examination for School Heads (NQESH) for aspiring principals contributes to this shortage. Only 36% of 2021 exam takers passed, a dismal number for thousands of schools needing leaders. Remember that 2018’s passing rate was 0.64%. Teachers and parents must be frustrated when the path to becoming a school principal is full of obstacles.

The outdated hiring policy that limits the number of schools eligible for principals is another issue besides the passing rate. DepEd staffing standards limit schools with fewer than nine teachers to “teachers-in-charge” rather than principals. This 1997 policy no longer fits modern education. Many of our smaller public schools, especially in remote areas, must now operate with temporary leaders who may not have the formal leadership training they need.

This issue also involves the lack of a succession plan for school leaders. No clear path exists for developing and promoting future principals, leaving the education system in limbo. In addition to a shortage, we are failing the next generation of educators by not preparing their leaders. Structured mentorship programs are needed to prepare aspiring school heads for these critical roles.

Imagine a local school without a leader to guide it through modern education. How can students succeed without someone with authority and vision to hold teachers and students accountable? It is like sailing a boat without a captain, hoping the wind will take you there. It does not work that way, especially when trying to help kids succeed.

Note that this issue goes beyond academic performance. The lack of a qualified school leader has serious consequences. Effective principals affect teacher retention and satisfaction. According to research, strong leadership helps schools retain top teachers, improving student learning. Leadership shapes the learning environment, from teacher morale to student behavior. According to the Wallace Foundation, effective school leaders improve student achievement, teacher retention, and school climate. All these factors are at risk without qualified principals.

The lack of a consistent leadership model has also contributed to a nationwide rise in bullying. Bullying has many causes, but research shows that strong school leadership can significantly reduce it. Principals set school culture and ensure student safety and support. Lack of leadership makes it harder to solve the problem in a school.

Principals are crucial. A good principal manages the school’s daily operations, creates a safe and productive learning environment, advocates for resources, and makes tough decisions. In many ways, they bind the school. When qualified principals are scarce, the glue is missing, and system cracks appear.

There is a clear urgency for this issue. Pasig City Representative Roman Romulo of EDCOM 2 asked, “Are you not panicking?” The call to action is more than a warning—it demands immediate school leadership reform. School leadership policies and principal preparation must be overhauled.

Thanks to the new DepEd management, the shortage is now being addressed. To implement EDCOM 2’s recommendation of a principal for every school, DepEd is revising its policies. These changes require significant investment and careful planning. We must train, support, and equip principals to lead, not just increase their numbers.

The situation is critical now. However, we must hold our government accountable for ensuring every school has a qualified principal. This is about giving our children the leaders they need to succeed in a complex world, not just filling a position.

Our students deserve better than a directionless system. How can we give our children a better future when half of our schools have no leader? We can help the next generation succeed by investing in our school leaders today and giving them the support and resources they need.

Doc H fondly describes himself as a ‘student of and for life’ who, like many others, aspires to a life-giving and why-driven world grounded in social justice and the pursuit of happiness. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the institutions he is employed or connected with.

The post The Principal shortage crisis first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

MUCH has been written about “Karma,” a universal law considered as immutable, a law of cause and effect constantly referred to by Oriental faithful and by both Luke and Matthew in the Bible.

In Dr. Deepak Chopra’s speaking engagement we attended at the St. Elizabeth Theater in Vancouver, Canada 15 years years ago, the author of the Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, stressed that “karma is used philosophically to indicate conditions in the present stemming from thoughts and actions in the past.”

Could the past thoughts and actions of the late former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte became indications of the country’s current political, cultural, and economic conditions?

Karma’s Sanskrit meaning encompasses both action and reaction –or consequences. Its Hindu meaning encompasses work, or the labor of the soul seeking to attain union with God, according to Sanskrit believers.

If we believe Sanskrit’s explanation of karma, many of us will lend credence to a possibility the present political storms that threaten to tragically dismantle the quarreling President Marcos Jr. and embattled Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio are already the ramifications or by-products of their fathers’ past thoughts and actions.

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In the book, Edgar Cayce’s Story of Karma, author Mary Ann Woodward arranged and selected the “sleeping prophet’s” revelation of man’s destiny.

During his lifetime, Cayce–the world-renowned prophet and psychic–gave a series of clairvoyant trance reading devoted to metaphysics and revolving around the central theme of reincarnation. The shock waves from his revelations still reverberate in scientific and religious circles.

Although Cayce was a practicing Christian, his trance readings frequently embraced concepts of Oriental religions, according to Woodward.

From these discourses comes Edgar Cayce’s Story of Karma–his explanation of the powerful life forces generated by personal actions which can bless or plague us through many lifetimes.

Woodward wrote that Cayce told many seekers, in their physical readings, that their physical defect or disease was a karmic condition.

These readings emphasized the fact that our physical condition is directly dependent upon our mental and spiritual ideals, with their concomitant emotions, from one life to another.

“We do take it with us,” wrote Woodward. “Moreover, our daily stresses and strains, our emotional upsets, affect us physically.”

Many were reportedly told they would not be well, nor would their physical condition improve, until both their mental and spiritual attitudes changed.

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“They would have to give up such negative things as fears, hates, and resentments and become more in attunement with Creative Forces,” she added.

Here’s what we learned more about the subject matter in the book: (4021-1) To be sure the attitudes oft influence the physical conditions of the body. No one can hate his neighbor and not have stomach or liver trouble. One cannot be jealous and allow anger of same and not have upset digestion or heart disorder.

(1523-9) This dependency was explained thus: For their have arisen the acute conditions not only from physical reactions but mental conditions that have been as resentments, which have been built into mental forces of the body. These are indicated in the reacting with the physical effects upon organ centers…now finding reflexes in various portions of the body.

(5283-1) This body is meeting its own self. For it is meeting its own shortcomings, when judged from some moral standards. The body, then, must first in its mental and spiritual attitude make amends, not merely promises to others but to self and the sources of health and of life itself. These should be the beginnings and the body not merely being dependent upon the applications which must be, or may be, made by others; for there are within self the conditions here taken which now bring undesirable results in the ability of the body to function in the manner either physically or mentally as is most desirable. But there would be first a change in mental and spiritual attitude.

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“Of course, physical applications help healing and do alleviate the condition, but true healing comes from the mental and spiritual self,” added Woodward.

(1593-1) And there must be taken into consideration all phases of this entity’s experience in the present if the conditions would be wholly understood. For mind is the builder, and if there will be kept a balance–the physical mind and the spiritual mind should cooperate, coordinate.

There are those forces which the entity, then (not merely the body but the entity–body, mind, soul, is meeting in itself, called–by itself oft–karmic reactions. But karma–Well, these are the conditions as we find them in the body: The body, the mind, the soul are one within the physical forces; for the body is indeed the temple of the living God. In each entity there is that portion which is a part of the Universal Force, and is that which lives on. All must coordinate and cooperate.

The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed

The post Our destiny’s revelations first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

Local entrepreneurs have long mastered the art of connecting with their community. They intuitively grasp the subtle shifts in consumer behavior and the cultural underpinnings that come from our storied past. This deep-rooted understanding often gives homegrown businesses a competitive edge, while national and international brands frequently struggle to adapt to the specificities of the Ilonggo context.

(As a gentle reminder to national brands, remember that Ilonggo culture is distinct from Cebuano and other VisMin cultures. It is jarring to hear Cebuano ads on the radio in Iloilo—a clear sign that some have not taken the time to understand our unique market.)

The Power of Strategic Hyperlocalization

Success in Iloilo today requires more than replicating a national or global strategy—it demands strategic hyperlocalization. This means walking the ground, immersing oneself in the daily rhythms of Ilonggo life, and truly listening to the people. It is about embracing the local context while also integrating modern business practices using digital technology and Artificial Intelligence. When a business strategy is tailored to the unique characteristics of Iloilo, it resonates more deeply with the community and stands out in a crowded market.

The true key to thriving in this environment is to combine local insights with a global perspective. Working with someone who not only understands the market inside out but also brings global experience can bridge the gap between world-class practices and the distinctive needs of our locale. Such partnerships can infuse innovation into traditional approaches, enhancing local business acumen without losing the cultural essence that defines us.

Building a Future on a Unique Foundation

Strategic hyperlocalization is more than a tactic—it is a philosophy. It calls on businesses to celebrate what makes Iloilo unique while adapting to modern economic demands. By aligning strategies with the unique character of our region, local enterprises can create a resilient, dynamic market that reflects both our heritage and our future ambitions.

For those looking to succeed in Iloilo, the message is clear: immerse yourself in the culture, partner with local experts who offer a global perspective, and blend traditional wisdom with innovative strategies. This is how we build a business environment that honors our past while confidently moving forward.

In embracing this approach, we not only set a standard of excellence that is distinctly Ilonggo but also ensure that our market continues to evolve in a globalized world.

Ken Lerona is a marketing and branding leader with over 20 years of experience. He conducts talks and workshops for private and government organizations and consults on innovation and reputational risk management. Connect with him on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/kenlerona.

The post Strategic Hyperlocalization: The Key to Winning the Iloilo Market first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

On Wednesday, Feb. 26, Nava filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition to nullify the executive clemency signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin by the authority of the President Bongbong Marcos.

In his 13-page petition, Nava claimed that the clemency was unconstitutional and void ab initio or invalid from the outset.

The pardon, according to Nava, encroached on the independent mandate of the Office of the Ombudsman.

He noted that the Ombudsman is a constitutionally independent, quasi-judicial body beyond presidential supervision or control.

Nava said the Ombudsman’s Oct. 2017 ruling, which dismissed Mabilog from service and imposed a perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cannot be overturned as it is not appealable to the Office of the President.

The former city official also accused Bersamin of committing grave abuse of discretion due to an alleged “lack or excess of jurisdiction” in granting the clemency.

Mabilog’s clemency, granted last January, includes “reprieve, absolute pardon, conditional pardon with or without parole conditions, and commutation of sentence.”

“Given former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog’s longstanding commitment to good governance, coupled with awards and recognition received by Iloilo City under his leadership, the President granted Mabilog’s petition for executive clemency in connection with his administrative case, thereby removing the penalties or disabilities resulting from such case,” Bersamin said in a statement.IMT

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“Sa Bagong Pilipinas, hangad natin na mabuhay nang may ginhawa at dignidad ang ating mga matatanda,” Marcos Jr. said during the Inaugural Cash Gift Distribution to the Qualified Beneficiaries of the Expanded Centenarians Act of 2024 in Malacañang.

He distributed cash gifts to select seniors identified by the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC). Simultaneous distributions benefited 1,079 seniors nationwide, with a goal of reaching 7,759 by the end of this month.

On February 26, the President signed Republic Act No. 11982, the Expanded Centenarians Act of 2024. The law grants P10,000 to seniors at ages 80, 85, 90, and 95, while centenarians receive P100,000.

Seniors also receive five to 20 percent discounts on products and services, including a five-percent discount on water (up to 30 cubic meters) and electricity (up to 100 kWh). They are entitled to 20-percent discounts on transportation, medical services, and leisure activities, along with free medical care in government facilities.

Marcos Jr. also announced the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens, which provides eligible seniors with a P1,000 monthly pension. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) operates care facilities for abandoned seniors.

“Nawa’y sa pamamagitan ng mga programa at serbisyong ito ng gobyerno, makapaglaan sila ng mas marami pang panahon para sa kanilang mga minamahal sa buhay,” the Chief Executive said.IMT

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“We are enraged by the barbaric act done against the dog named Tiktok from Negros Occidental. Such cruelty to an innocent creature has no place in our civilized society. What will stop the perpetrators from shooting humans next time?” Poe said in a statement Wednesday, Feb. 26.

She called for strict punishment under the law and urged Congress to pass the revised Animal Welfare Act. 

The measure would strengthen enforcement and empower barangays to respond to animal cruelty and neglect.

“There is still time to pass this when Congress returns to session and we hope our colleagues will not let pass this chance to do a compassionate act,” she added.IMT

The post Poe on dog shot with arrows: Barbaric! first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

A few years ago, there was an Israeli company called Solar8 that sold what they presented as purely solar vehicles, including a line of buses and motorbikes. As far as I know, they were doing well, and as a matter of fact, they were able to sell a few units to MERALCO.

Just to prove that they had a good product, many of their buses are still running up to now. Looking back, I now realize that what they were really selling was a line of battery powered vehicles, recharged by both the sun and the power grid.

That said, could those units be called electric vehicles (EVs)?

According to Microsoft Copilot, “a solar vehicle is a type of electric vehicle that is powered primarily by solar energy. It utilizes photovoltaic cells, usually integrated into the vehicle’s exterior (like the roof or hood), to convert sunlight into electricity. This electricity is then used to charge the vehicle’s battery, which powers the electric motor.”

It is therefore very clear that a solar vehicle is not an EV, because unlike an EV, it is primarily powered by sunlight. But could it be that we are just dealing with a play of words here?

As of now, what is generally known as EVs are powered exclusively by electric power from the grid, by way of recharging, hence the use of charging stations. It is, however, possible that the charging stations could be powered by solar panels, but that does not make the car itself a solar vehicle.

Except for a few prototype models like De La Salle University’s “Sinag” car, there are no purely solar vehicles in the market. That said, I think we can still decide this early which direction we should take.

I think that all things considered, we should go towards the direction of where Solar8 stopped. What do I mean by that?

I think Solar8 was an EV that was powered by both the sun and a charging station. Yes, it had batteries, but don’t all EVs have batteries also? But if we adopt the design of Solar8, what should we call the vehicle?

To avoid any confusion, I think that we should just call it an EV, because it uses a charging station powered by the grid to recharge its batteries. Yes, it could still be called an EV, even if its batteries could also be charged by the sun, by using solar panels.

My dear countrymen, I really believe that as a country, we now have an opportunity to revive our car manufacturing industry, but this time with electric motors, and no longer with gasoline or diesel engines.

Again, it might just be a play of words, but an EV is just any car that is run by an electric motor. In the past, we failed to make our own cars because we were not able to gather the political will to build our own engines. That challenge is behind now, because I believe that we could now build our own electric motors.

So, shall we, do it? Shall be build our own solar powered EVs?

The post Solar powered electric vehicles first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

Sunset Boulevard North (SBN) directly connects Megaworld Boulevard in Mandurriao district, Iloilo City to the northern section of the four lane, five-kilometer Iloilo Sunset Boulevard.

The new access road is made up two routes. These are Sunset Boulevard West Link and Sunset Boulevard East Link.

SBN is seen “enhance mobility for residents, employees, and visitors traveling to and from IBP, ” the city’s central business district, as well as nearby communities.

It is also expected to “further ease traffic in Mandurriao and provide direct access and a scenic alternative route going to Molo district, nearby commercial hubs, and the Iloilo International Airport.”

Iloilo Sunset Boulevard was fully opened to the public last January. It features an esplanade, dedicated bike lanes, pedestrian walkways and viewing decks.IMT

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