Context Dispatch

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday addressed widespread misinterpretations of newly released national literacy figures, stating that claims suggesting 18.9 million Filipino high school graduates are functionally illiterate are “inaccurate and misleading.” DepEd cited the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), which recorded a 70.8% functional literacy rate among Filipinos aged 10 to 64. This figure includes all individuals in that age range—not solely students or recent graduates.

Senatorial candidate and Makati Mayor Abby Binay has renewed her commitment to advocating for the tax exemption of overtime pay and bonuses like the 13th month pay to promote financial security among government and private sector workers and their families.

Japan Coast Guard (JCG) Commandant Seguchi Yoshio and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Ronnie Gil Gavan recently held their first in-person meeting, marking a significant step in bolstering maritime cooperation between the two nations amid growing regional security challenges. In a statement following the meeting, JCG Commandant Seguchi emphasized the strategic importance of bilateral cooperation in advancing a "free and open Indo-Pacific," a vision both Tokyo and Manila share in response to increasing tensions in regional waters. He described the face-to-face dialogue as a “valuable opportunity” for candid discussions, highlighting the depth of mutual commitment to maritime security and operational collaboration.

Mayor Abby Binay proudly announced that Makati City was ranked fourth in the latest Numbeo Health Care Index for Q1 2025, a global healthcare list. With an impressive score of 85.0 out of 100, Makati stands as the only Philippine city to make the prestigious list, outperforming numerous cities from Europe and North America.

In a major blow to international drug smuggling, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced Wednesday that it had intercepted an estimated ₱101 million worth of marijuana concealed in balikbayan boxes from Thailand at the Manila International Container Port (MICP). The seizure was the result of a targeted operation by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS), which acted on reports indicating the shipment could contain illegal drugs and misdeclared items.