DepEd bolsters support for Middle East-based Philippine schools

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 





MAKATI CITY, 7 April 2026—The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday reached out to Filipino educators and more than 23,000 learners across 27 Philippine Schools Overseas (PSOs) in the Middle East to ensure their welfare amid the ongoing regional conflict.



In a virtual dialogue dubbed “Online Kumustahan,” DepEd officials reassured school administrators, teachers and learners of the government’s commitment for their safety and learning continuity.



“Alinsunod sa direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., narito kami upang magbigay ng suporta at malinaw na gabay para masiguro ang pag-aaral at seguridad ng ating mga OFW at kanilang mga pamilya sa gitna ng hamong ito,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said in his message read during the session.



The real-time dialogue allowed DepEd officials to answer concerns from PSO heads regarding operational hurdles, including crisis communication protocols and academic flexibility under the regulations of their respective host countries.



DepEd Assistant Secretary for Operations Jocelyn Andaya and Private Education Office Director Runvi Manguerra facilitated discussions on the shift to online learning delivery, which all 27 Middle East-based PSOs have adopted since March to ensure student safety.



School officials led by Association of Philippine Schools Overseas (APSO) president, Dr. Noemi Formaran expressed their gratitude to DepEd for the dialogue, noting the session provided a meaningful platform for mutual understanding.



“Thank you for holding this session. It was a truly enlightening discussion,” Formaran said.



To maintain the close coordination, DepEd announced these “Online Kumustahan” sessions will be held regularly to provide consistent support and updates.



PSOs are duly-registered institutions implementing the DepEd basic education curriculum abroad. They are designed to facilitate the eventual reintegration of Filipino learners overseas into the Philippine school system while serving as cultural hubs for the Filipino youth overseas.



Currently, PSOs operate in ten countries mostly in the Middle East, serving a total population of more than 25,000 learners.



DepEd said the dialogue also aimed to identify the specific needs of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families and reassure them of the government’s steadfast protection.

The Online Kamustahan follows DepEd’s intensified support for educators displaced by the conflict, particularly through the “Sa Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am at Sir” (SPIMS) program. The initiative provides permanent teaching positions to returning OFWs who are licensed teachers.

Since 2014, the SPIMS program has successfully integrated over 11,000 licensed teachers into the public school workforce, helping address the country’s teacher shortage while tapping into the global expertise of returning professionals.

EcoWaste Coalition Pushes for Frugal Fiestas this Summer amid Soaring Oil and Gas Prices

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

(Group calls for a simpler, kinder, and waste-free celebration of community fiestas)

8 April 2026, Quezon City. The EcoWaste Coalition appealed to church and local government leaders to embrace frugal fiesta celebrations this summer and beyond amid soaring global oil and gas prices because of the Middle East conflict.

As the strife disrupts global supplies and pushes up oil and gas prices, causing economic difficulties in many countries, including the Philippines, the EcoWaste Coalition, an advocate for a zero waste and toxics-free society, encouraged communities to celebrate upcoming fiestas frugally to conserve funds and other resources and reduce trash and pollution.

“Amid the spiraling fuel prices, we implore our church and local government leaders, including our barangay officials, to work with their constituents in planning for simpler celebrations to ensure that scarce resources are not wasted and are spent to meet the essential needs of vulnerable families,” said Ochie Tolentino, Zero Waste Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition.

“The funds saved can then be used to assist individuals and households who suffer the brunt of nonstop oil price increases, causing dwindling incomes and declining capacity to pay for food and other essentials,” she said.

“Keeping community celebrations simple will help in cutting the volume and toxicity of fiesta garbage, which is vital given the ongoing pollution crisis,” she pointed out.

To simplify fiesta celebrations and minimize waste and pollution, the group urged churches and communities to consider the following suggestions:

1.  Avoid hanging disposable banderitas in the church patio and across the streets.

2.  Shun politicos’ “happy fiesta” plastic tarpaulins.

3.  Reduce the use of unnecessary non-solar lights in churches and plazas.

4.  Steer clear of firecrackers and fireworks.

5.  Plan menu wisely and safely manage leftovers to avoid food waste.

6.  Serve food and beverages in reusable containers; avoid single-use plastics.

7.  Set up community pantries to assist families in need.

8.  Cut down on the consumption of alcoholic drinks.

9.  Avoid wasting edible items such as eggs, fruits, and vegetables in street games.

10. Opt for enjoyable and interactive games that waste no resources, like “Pinoy Henyo,” newspaper dance, “bring me,” etc.

11.  Have fun with traditional games using minimal materials or equipment such as agawan base (capture the base), jakempoy (rock, paper, scissors), patintero (tagging game), piko (hopscotch), sipa (game of kicking), tumbang preso (tin can hit), etc.

12.  Make use of local talents to entertain constituents and visitors.

According to the EcoWaste Coalition, the resources saved by opting for frugal fiesta celebrations may be shared with neighbors in need, especially those belonging to the transportation, fishing, farming, and other sectors affected by the global oil crisis

The Reckoning: From Oil Crises to the Shadow of a Super El Niño

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

The Philippines is a nation forged in the fires of resilience, but the horizon is beginning to glow with a heat we haven’t felt in a decade. Just as we begin to catch our breath from the suffocating grip of the global oil crisis, a new, more primal threat is emerging from the depths of the Pacific. It is quiet, invisible, and moving with the inevitability of the tides. Meteorologists call it the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), but for the millions living in the shadow of the Sierra Madre or the coastal reaches of Western Luzon, it is simply "the monster in the water."

The Shadow Lengthens

We are currently under an El Niño Watch. The data coming out of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts is no longer a whisper; it is a siren. Nearly every predictive model now points to a moderate El Niño emerging as early as June 2026.

But the forecast doesn't stop at "moderate." By the final quarter of the year, projections suggest sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific could surge past a +2.5°C anomaly. This is the red line—the threshold of the "Super El Niño." The last time the world crossed this line was during the 2015–2016 event, a period that scarred our agricultural heartlands and pushed our infrastructure to the brink.

The Habagat Paradox: Flood Before Fire

In a cruel twist of meteorological fate, the coming heat will first arrive dressed as a storm. PAGASA has issued a stark warning: the early stages of this El Niño may paradoxically intensify the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).

For residents of Metro Manila and Western Luzon, this means the immediate threat isn't drought—it’s a deluge.

Intensified Rainfall: The shifting winds can funnel massive amounts of moisture toward the archipelago.

Cascading Hazards: Expect a heightened risk of flash floods and landslides in areas already vulnerable from previous seasons.

The Trap: As we fight the rising waters of the Habagat, the seeds of a massive dry spell are simultaneously being sown.

2027: The Year of the Great Dry

Once the rains of the Habagat retreat, the true face of El Niño will reveal itself. Scientists are bracing for record-breaking temperatures that could peak during the 2027 hot season. This isn't just about discomfort; it is a systemic threat to the pillars of our daily life:

Water Scarcity: Our reservoirs, the lifeblood of our cities and farms, will face unprecedented evaporation and diminished inflow.

Power Instability: As the heat drives demand for cooling to the redline, our power grids—already strained—will face the specter of rotational brownouts.

Food Security: With the ground baking under a relentless sun, our farmers face the impossible task of sustaining crops in a "rainless" reality.

The Question That Remains

The data is clear. The models are aligned. The transition from the cooling La Niña to the searing El Niño is no longer a matter of if, but a matter of how much.

The question is no longer whether El Niño will come, but how prepared we are to meet it.

Preparation isn't just a government mandate; it’s a community imperative. From water conservation in our homes to reinforcing our disaster response protocols, the window to act is closing. We are standing in the calm before the shift—a transition from the reeling impacts of economic crisis to the physical trial of a changing climate.

The heat is coming. Are you ready?