New Classroom Building Eases Overcrowding at Iloilo City’s Largest Public High School

Iloilo City, Philippines — A new two-storey, 10-classroom building has ended shifting classes for Grade 9 students at Iloilo City National High School (ICNHS), the city's largest public high school with around 6,500 students. Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI) turned over the building in September.

For Grade 9 students, the impact was immediate. “The classrooms are specifically useful for the Grade 9 learners so we no longer have to do shifting classes,” ICNHS principal Alpha Java said.

Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Maria Lourdes S. Treñas-Chu said the project could serve as a model for faster local school construction. “I called our engineers and asked, ‘Pwede ba ang structure natin kagaya ng Security Bank? Maganda na, ang bilis pa.’ Our city needs more classrooms, and we hope we can deliver them as fast as Security Bank. We want to apply the same technology to our school projects,” she said.

The project also shows how public- and private-sector organizations can work together to address classroom shortages. Under its Build a School, Build a Nation program, SBFI funded and managed construction; A.C. Steel Industries supplied steel materials; Signify Philippines donated lights, switches, and outlets; and LBC Express, through the LBC Hari ng Padala Foundation, subsidized delivery of SBFI-provided materials. The Iloilo City government provided backfill and support for electrical loads and lines, while the Department of Education supplied classroom furniture.

SBFI Chairman Rafael Simpao, Jr. said partnerships are essential to expanding access to quality education and encouraged more organizations to support similar initiatives.

“But perseverance alone is not enough. We have learned that lasting change requires partnerships. That is why our journey has been holistic and multisectoral, because education is not the work of one institution alone, but of an entire community working together,” Simpao said.

The Iloilo project is the first of eight school buildings SBFI plans to donate in 2026. By year-end, the Foundation expects its total contribution since it began building classrooms in 2011 to reach 961 classrooms in 159 schools across 95 municipalities and cities nationwide. In Iloilo, that impact is already helping students spend more time learning and less time waiting for classroom space to become available.

For more information, visit www.securitybank.com/foundation.

SM City Valenzuela receives VALENZUELA CITY Go Green Award

VALENZUELA CITY, Philippines — SM City Valenzuela received a Go Green Award from the City Government of Valenzuela during the 2nd Valenzuela International Progress Summit (VIPS), recognizing the mall’s contribution to the city’s economic development and sustainability efforts.

Mall Manager Engr. Christian Bryan Umali accepted the award on behalf of SM City Valenzuela from Mayor Wes Gatchalian during the ceremony at the ALERT Multi-Purpose Hall.

The award was presented as the City Government of Valenzuela brought together business and industry stakeholders for discussions on sustainable growth, investment, innovation, and economic resilience. This year’s summit carried the theme, “Sustainable Cities, Inclusive Economies: Driving Innovation, Investment, and Resilience for Future-Ready Economies.”

The Go Green Award is part of the city government’s recognition of business and industry partners contributing to Valenzuela’s growth, development, and sustainability initiatives.

For SM City Valenzuela, the recognition highlights its participation in the city’s broader sustainability efforts and underscores the role of public-private partnerships in building a greener and more resilient urban community.

Taiwan Travel Fair 2026 Opens in Manila, Bringing the Best of Taiwan Closer to Filipino Travelers

Makati City, Philippines — June 12, 2026 — The Taiwan Tourism Administration (TTA) officially opened the Taiwan Travel Fair 2026 today at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City, marking another milestone in strengthening tourism exchanges between Taiwan and the Philippines.

Carrying the tourism brand campaign “Taiwan – Waves of Wonder,” the three-day fair showcases Taiwan’s diverse travel experiences, vibrant culture, culinary treasures, natural attractions, and world-class tourism offerings to Filipino travelers seeking their next international destination.

The formal opening ceremony was led by Ms. Cindy Chen, Director of the Taiwan Tourism Information Center in Manila and Bangkok under the Taiwan Tourism Administration, who welcomed tourism partners, government representatives, media guests, travel industry stakeholders, and visitors.

Joining the ceremony was Minister Dustin Yang, Deputy Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines (TECO), who highlighted the growing people-to-people connections and tourism cooperation between Taiwan and the Philippines.

“The Philippines continues to be one of Taiwan’s most important tourism markets in Southeast Asia. Through the Taiwan Travel Fair, we hope to inspire more Filipino travelers to discover Taiwan’s unique blend of culture, nature, food, innovation, and hospitality,” said Chen during her opening remarks.

The event opened with cultural performances featuring the dynamic Diabolo Walker act and an energetic Zumba presentation, reflecting Taiwan’s vibrant and welcoming spirit.

A special recognition ceremony was also held to honor tourism and event partners whose support has contributed to promoting Taiwan as a preferred destination among Filipino travelers.

Visitors to the fair can explore interactive destination exhibits, tourism information booths, airline and travel agency offers, cultural showcases, and exclusive travel promotions available throughout the three-day event

Taiwan remains one of the most accessible and attractive destinations for Filipinos, offering an extensive transportation network, breathtaking natural landscapes, vibrant night markets, rich cultural heritage, world-renowned cuisine, and year-round travel experiences suitable for families, young professionals, and adventure seekers alike.

The Taiwan Travel Fair also serves as a platform for strengthening tourism partnerships between Taiwanese tourism stakeholders and Philippine travel trade professionals, paving the way for increased visitor arrivals and tourism collaboration in the years ahead.

Following the opening ceremony, guests participated in a media interview session and VIP tour of the exhibition area, where they experienced firsthand the diverse attractions and travel opportunities Taiwan has to offer.

The Taiwan Travel Fair 2026 runs from June 12 to 14, 2026 at the Glorietta Activity Center, Makati City, and is open to the public.

Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines Supports General Santos City Waste Workers Through Project E-REDUCE

General Santos City, Philippines– Since 2018, Project E-REDUCE has worked alongside communities in General Santos City to support a more structured and inclusive approach to managing household waste. The program is supported by the Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines Inc. (CCFPI) in partnership with Sarangani Province Empowerment and Community Transformation Forum Inc. (SPECTRUM), and implemented with local government units, civil society groups, and grassroots organizations. 

The initiative focuses on strengthening local waste systems while improving working conditions for informal waste workers who play a critical role in daily waste collection and recovery.

Supporting waste workers within local systems

A core component of Project E-REDUCE is support for waste workers through training on waste segregation, classification, and basic record-keeping. Partner waste workers are also provided with protective equipment to help improve safety on the job.

To support more organized operations, participating waste workers receive identification cards, designated collection routes, and padyak units to assist with daily collection activities. These measures help integrate waste workers into barangay-level collection systems coordinated with local authorities.

Project E-REDUCE has also supported the establishment and strengthening of Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) across the city, working in coordination with the LGU to improve sorting and diversion of collected materials.

“Project E-REDUCE reflects the importance of working with local partners and communities who are closest to the challenge,” said Cecile Alcantara, President of CCFPI. “Our role is to support practical, community-led approaches that help waste workers operate more safely and with greater stability over time.”

From community action to city alignment

Project E-REDUCE, initially known as Project REDUCE, began with clean-up activities and post-collection efforts in coastal communities, working with local partners and schools to address plastic waste. Early activities focused on waste recovery systems, MRF establishment, and basic disposal practices, anchored in community participation.

As the program evolved, waste management systems were piloted in schools, riverbank areas, and selected barangays, alongside information campaigns and hands-on training to encourage consistent waste segregation at the household level.

Over time, collaboration with LGUs and barangays has deepened. Informal waste workers were integrated into more structured collection networks, and barangay-level plans were developed in alignment with General Santos City’s Ecological Solid Waste Management Plan. Today, the initiative supports activities across 26 barangays, contributing to local implementation efforts already underway.

“When communities are involved, people take ownership and accountability. That’s what makes systems sustainable,” said Kim Bogador of SPECTRUM Inc.

A more stable path for waste workers

For Elmer Rodrigo, a padyak partner working in various barangays, Project E-REDUCE brought more structure and stability to a job that was once uncertain.

Before joining the program, Elmer worked without clear routes, with unreliable equipment, and with limited protective equipment.

Through Project E-REDUCE, he received training, protective gear, and a new padyak, allowing him to operate within a defined collection system.

“Dati, mababa ang tingin sa amin. May mga pagkakataon pa na ninanakaw ang padyak ko,” Elmershared. “Ngayon, dahil mas maayos na ang sistema at may pagkilala na sa amin, mas nirerespeto na kami. Mas kampante na ako sa araw-araw na trabaho, at mas ramdam ko na ang dignidad ng aming hanapbuhay.” (People looked down on us before. There was even a time that someone stole my padyak. Now, because there is a system in place and people recognize what we do and our work, people now treat us better and with more respect. I feel more secure with my work and I feel there’s dignity in what I am doing.) 

With clearer routes and improved safety, Elmer now earns more consistently and takes pride in his role. Households in his area have also become more proactive, increasingly setting aside recyclables for collection.

Communities taking the lead

Project E-REDUCE has also supported grassroots organizations in coastal communities, including the Zone Six Small Fishermen Association (ZSSFA) in Barangay Bula, led by ZSSFA President Cheryl Galo.

With training and organization support, the association formalized its leadership structures and strengthened its capacity to lead clean-up activities and environmental education in the community.

The group also manages a community-built boardwalk that serves as both a tourist site and a source of supplementary income while reinforcing conservation and community stewardship.

“After the training sessions, mas naging organisado at mas napalakas ang aming samahan,” Cheryl said. “Mas kaya na naming mag-train ng iba at mas dumalas ang coastal clean-ups. Nakikita rin namin na mas aware na ang komunidad at mas nakikilahok na sila sa pag-aalaga ng kalikasan.” (After the training sessions, we are now more organized, and our sense of community has been strengthened. We can now train other people and our coastal clean-ups are now more frequent. We also notice how our community is more aware and has been more active in helping take care of our environment.)

The association now holds regular clean-ups and manages a mangrove nursery that supplies seedlings to neighboring communities.

Continuing through partnerships

Through Project E-REDUCE, the Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines Inc. continues to support waste workers and communities by working with local partners on training, systems development, and community engagement. The initiative reflects how livelihood support and waste system improvements can reinforce each other when led locally and carried out in partnership.

Project E-REDUCE contributes to Coca-Cola Philippines’ ongoing work to strengthen packaging collection and recycling systems, alongside broader efforts to support the use of recycled materials such as rPET where recycling infrastructure and partnerships are in place, in collaboration with government, industry, and community partners.

To know more about the sustainability initiatives of Coca-Cola Philippines, visit https://www.coca-cola.com/ph/en/brands/coca-cola/sustainability.

SM Malls in Grand Central, Sangandaan, and Valenzuela Help PREP Public Schools FOR SY 2026–2027

With only days before the opening of School Year 2026–2027, thousands of students in Caloocan and Valenzuela are returning to cleaner, safer, and more welcoming school environments following coordinated volunteer efforts led by SM City Grand Central, SM Center Sangandaan, and SM City Valenzuela under the Department of Education’s Brigada Eskwela 2026.

Held on June 4 and 5, the two-day initiative mobilized employee-volunteers from the three SM malls to assist selected public schools in both cities, aligning with the DepEd’s theme, “Bayanihan sa Paaralan: Nagkakaisa para sa Kaayusan at Kaalaman,” which underscores shared responsibility in preparing learning environments for the new academic year.

More than a routine clean-up activity, the effort highlighted a continuing public-private partnership aimed at improving school readiness and ensuring that classrooms remain safe, functional, and conducive to learning.

In Caloocan City, volunteers from SM City Grand Central were deployed to Bagong Barrio Elementary School, where they repainted walls, cleaned school grounds, and helped restore common areas that had weathered months of daily use. The mall also turned over hygiene kits, school supplies, cleaning materials, and gardening tools to support the school’s sanitation and greening programs.

At Libis Talisay Elementary School, employee-volunteers from SM Center Sangandaan conducted repainting activities, performed minor facility repairs, and reinforced sanitation efforts. The team likewise provided maintenance supplies such as paint, brushes, disinfectants, and learning materials to help sustain school upkeep beyond the Brigada Eskwela period.

SM City Valenzuela led parallel efforts at Caruhatan East Elementary School where volunteers repainted classroom interiors, cleaned and sanitized comfort rooms, repaired jalousie windows, and restored desks and chairs, helping transform learning spaces to more functional and welcoming conditions.

Despite intermittent rains, volunteer teams pressed on with scheduled activities, underscoring strong participation and commitment to completing school readiness work on time.

The simultaneous initiatives across the three malls were spearheaded by SM Supermalls’ Human Resources Department in partnership with SM Cares, reinforcing the company’s long-standing advocacy for education and community development.

As students prepare to return to school, the refreshed classrooms and improved facilities serve as a reminder that quality education is a shared responsibility, strengthened through collective action.

Vena Energy Marks World Environment Day with Major Tree-Planting Initiative in Antipolo, Rizal, Philippines

[MANILA, PHILIPPINES – 5 June 2026] – Vena Energy, a leading green energy solutions provider in the Asia-Pacific region, marked World Environment Day with a large-scale ceremonial tree-planting initiative in Sitio Kilingan, Barangay San Jose, Antipolo City, Rizal. The activity brought together 19 employee volunteers from across the organization and 100 members of the local People’s Organization, a community conservation group, to support the national goal of planting at least five million trees nationwide by 2028. 

Held under the theme "Plant a Tree, Make a Change Today!", the initiative supports the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' (DENR) Forests for Life (FFL) programme. Employee volunteers made an early start, arriving at the site equipped with the necessary tools and planting 200 seedlings (50 molave, 100 white lauan, 50 soursop), demonstrating the company's commitment to environmental stewardship.

"As a company dedicated to accelerating the energy transition, we ensure that our responsibility to the environment extends beyond our renewable energy projects," said Samrinder Nehria, Head of Vena Energy in the Philippines. "This ceremonial tree planting is our first step in honouring the commitment we have made to adopt and plant on an initial 50 hectares of forest land, with the aim of adopting more areas in the country that need our support and where tangible, hands-on actions are called for to ensure the promise of sustainable development is kept."

The tree-planting activity follows the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed between Vena Energy and the DENR on 11 February 2026, formalizing the company's support for the FFL programme. The FFL aims to establish at least 5 million indigenous forest tree species nationwide, from 2025 to 2028, to address forest conservation, biodiversity restoration and climate change mitigation, while enhancing community livelihoods and private-sector engagement.

A second MOA was also signed at this week’s event between Vena Energy and the People’s Organization, Samahan ng Magsasaka sa Kilingan-Panusugin, Inc. (SMKPI), committing the company to plant 28,000 trees across 50 hectares of land in Rizal. The agreement is the SMKPI’s first with a private sector partner, and SMKPI will oversee the establishment and maintenance of the 50-hectare plantation.

Bryan Ulic-Ulic, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Rizal Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) Provincial Coordinator1, said: “This is the very first signing of an agreement with a People’s Organization. Let us not waste this opportunity. The importance of trees includes both tangible and intangible benefits. For example, better climatic conditions - we cannot pay for that. The motto of the CBFM is ‘People first and sustainability will follow,’ and this initiative will be one of our solutions for our sustainable environment.” 

The Antipolo site was carefully selected for its ecological significance to the Greater Metro Manila area. As the host province for several of the company's key renewable energy projects and ongoing community programmes, Rizal remains a primary focus of Vena Energy's environmental stewardship efforts.

The initiative reflects Vena Energy's broader sustainability strategy and strong culture of corporate social responsibility. By encouraging employees to actively engage in environmental conservation efforts, the company continues to foster a workplace culture that values sustainability, community partnership, and collective action.

1PENRO is the primary provincial-level implementing arm of the DENR, which manages land dispositions, environmental permits, protected areas, and local forestry projects. The CBFM develops strategies to manage, protect, and rehabilitate forestlands.

Eastern Communications Champions Sustainability with Globe and InfiniVAN at PDSCN Mangrove Tree Planting Activity

BACOLOD CITY - Eastern Communications, alongside the Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network (PDSCN) consortium, participated in a mangrove tree-planting activity in Purok Calubay on May 22. Conducted as part of the consortium’s post-Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) commitments, this initiative marks a significant milestone in the organization’s continuous support towards sustainable development and climate action. 

Organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) in partnership with Bago City LGU, CENRO Bago, and other stakeholders, the initiative highlighted the importance of safeguarding coastal communities.

The activity opened with an orientation led by Bago City Environment and Management Office (CEMO) Representative Rex Magbanua, who emphasized the critical role mangroves play in protecting coastal communities from storm surges and coastal erosion. He cited the impact of Super Typhoon Odette in 2021, which heavily affected Bacolod and the rest of Negros Occidental, as a reminder of the importance of strengthening climate resilience initiatives.    

  

Mangrove tree planting is a community-driven initiative that helps protect coastlines, support marine biodiversity, and strengthen climate resilience. Through initiatives like these, organizations contribute to environmental protection efforts while supporting vulnerable coastal communities and advancing meaningful Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs. 

For communities such as Purok Calubay, mangroves serve as nature-based solutions that help mitigate flooding and soil erosion while supporting local livelihoods, including fisheries and other coastal resources. 

"This initiative reflects our belief that creating meaningful impact goes beyond providing reliable and responsive connectivity," said Jed Estanislao, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer of Eastern Communications. "By supporting sustainability-driven partnerships and community-centered programs, we aim to help strengthen environmental resilience, empower local communities, and contribute to long-term sustainable development."

Through initiatives like the mangrove tree-planting activity, Eastern Communications continues to support programs that create positive social and environmental impact. As the company expands its presence across the Philippines, it remains committed to combining future-ready connectivity solutions with efforts that create lasting value for both people and the planet.

To learn more about Eastern Communications and their upcoming partnerships, contact 5300-7000 or visit www.eastern.com.ph.