WORLDBEX SUMMIT 2025: Master the Future of Construction and Design

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The highly anticipated WORLDBEX Summit 2025 is set to redefine the landscape of the construction and design industry, offering a forward-thinking platform for sustainability, innovation, and development. More than just an exposition, WORLDBEX 2025 serves as an immersive experience, engaging professionals, thought leaders, and industry pioneers in meaningful discussions that will shape the future of design and construction.

Beyond Sustainnovation: A Vision for the Future

In collaboration with the Eastern Regional Organization for Planning and Human Settlements (EAROPH), the WORLDBEX Summit 2025 aligns with its 28th-year theme, "Beyond Sustainnovation." This initiative highlights the interconnection of sustainability and innovation, pushing the industry beyond traditional boundaries toward more sustainable and cutting-edge solutions.

The summit will be expertly moderated by Ar. Cathy S. Saldaña, President of Projects Design Plus, alongside co-moderator Ar. Carlo Fundador B. Marudo, an Environmental Planner, Project Management Professional, and Founder & Principal of CIX Cigma Design, Planning, and Project Management. Together, they will guide industry leaders, innovators, and attendees through a series of insightful discussions and workshops.

A Powerhouse Lineup of Speakers and Events

Spanning three dynamic days from March 14-16, 2025, the summit features an impressive roster of distinguished speakers, interactive workshops, and Developers' Forums designed to equip attendees with practical knowledge and strategic insights.

Day 1: March 14, 2025

Key Speakers:

TPR. MDM. Mazrina Abdul Khalid

Ar. Rowena C. Ramos

LArch. Frederick I. Yambao

Ar. Liza Morales, FUAP, LEED AP, ASEAN

Mr. Luisito Ocampo Gutierrez

Key Highlights:

Workshop by LArch. Frederick I. Yambao

Developers’ Forum, where top real estate developers discuss industry challenges and opportunities

Day 2: March 15, 2025

Key Speakers:

Ar. Nicolas Medrano

Ar. John Pauline

Ar. Charlie Frederick Hearn

IDr. Isabelle Marie Miaja

Ar. Christopher Chua

Key Highlights:

Workshop led by Ar. Charlie Frederick Hearn

Developers’ Forum featuring industry leaders sharing expertise on future-proofing projects

Day 3: March 16, 2025

Key Speakers:

Mr. Edmund Dimalanta

Engr. Edgardo P. Kasilag II, MTM

Engr. Felipe P. Agustin (MEPF LEED)

Mr. Demetrio L. Rosadas

Key Highlights:

Workshop led by Mr. Demetrio L. Rosadas

Final Developers' Forum, wrapping up with key industry insights and takeaways

How to Participate in WORLDBEX SUMMIT 2025

WORLDBEX 2025 offers flexible participation options, allowing attendees to join either online or on-site at the SMX Convention Center Manila. To ensure broad accessibility, the summit provides special discounted rates for students.

Registration Details:

Online Registration Fee: PHP 5,500

On-Ground Registration Fee: PHP 6,500

Student Rates Available

Secure your spot now: Register Here

Join the Movement Towards a Sustainable and Innovative Future

The WORLDBEX Summit 2025 is more than just an event—it is a movement toward a future where sustainability and innovation drive the evolution of construction and design. With an unparalleled lineup of experts, interactive workshops, and thought-provoking forums, this must-attend event will leave attendees inspired, informed, and ready to master the future of their industries.

Don't miss out—register today and be part of this transformative experience!

Palarong Pambansa 2025: A New Era for Philippine Sports with Weightlifting, Pole Vault, and More

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a historic move to elevate grassroots sports development in the Philippines, the Department of Education (DepEd) has announced a groundbreaking expansion of events for the 65th Palarong Pambansa, set to take place from May 24 to 31, 2025, in Ilocos Norte. This year’s competition will feature weightlifting, pole vaulting for secondary girls, and pencak silat as regular sports, while kickboxing will make its debut as an exhibition event.

This initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of fostering young athletic talent across the nation, providing Filipino student-athletes with greater opportunities to compete, excel, and represent the country on a global stage.

Weightlifting Makes Its Historic Palaro Debut

One of the most anticipated additions to the 2025 Palarong Pambansa is weightlifting, which will be introduced as a demonstration sport. This milestone follows years of advocacy from none other than Hidilyn Diaz, the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist.

Diaz, who achieved her historic victory at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, has long championed the inclusion of weightlifting in national youth competitions. Upon hearing the announcement, she expressed her elation, saying:

"It started as a dream, and finally, WEIGHTLIFTING is included as a demonstration sport in the PALARONG PAMBANSA."

Her involvement in this year’s event as a resource person adds another layer of prestige and inspiration for aspiring weightlifters. This move paves the way for the next generation of Filipino athletes to follow in Diaz’s footsteps and bring further glory to the country.

Pole Vault for Secondary Girls: A Step Towards Gender Inclusivity

Another significant addition to the Palarong Pambansa lineup is the inclusion of pole vaulting for secondary girls as a regular event. This progressive step gives young female athletes a platform to showcase their talent in a discipline that has gained international recognition, thanks to the remarkable achievements of EJ Obiena.

Obiena, currently ranked among the world’s best pole vaulters, has been instrumental in popularizing the sport in the Philippines. Last year, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara met with both Diaz and Obiena to explore the possibility of including their respective sports in the Palaro. Months later, that vision is now a reality, expanding opportunities for young athletes nationwide.

Pencak Silat Becomes a Regular Sport

The traditional Southeast Asian martial art of pencak silat, which has been a demonstration sport in previous editions of the Palarong Pambansa, will now be a permanent fixture in the competition. This decision reflects the sport's growing popularity among Filipino athletes and its potential to become a powerhouse event for the country in international competitions.

As the sport continues to gain traction, its inclusion in Palarong Pambansa ensures that more student-athletes will have access to professional training, structured competitions, and opportunities for international representation.

Kickboxing Joins as an Exhibition Sport

Adding to the excitement, kickboxing will be introduced as an exhibition sport, marking its first appearance in Palarong Pambansa history. While not yet a full-fledged competition event, this move aims to gauge interest and participation levels among young athletes, potentially setting the stage for its official inclusion in future editions.

Kickboxing's entry into Palarong Pambansa comes at a time when combat sports are experiencing a surge in popularity in the Philippines, thanks to the rise of local and international Filipino martial arts champions.

A Collaborative Effort for Youth Sports Development

The expansion of the Palarong Pambansa sports lineup is the result of collaborative efforts between the Department of Education, elite Filipino athletes, and sports organizations.

During the opening ceremony of the 2025 Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) Sports Meet, Education Secretary Sonny Angara highlighted the significance of these additions, emphasizing their role in fostering athletic talent and expanding sports opportunities for Filipino youth.

"Maswerte po ang ating mga learner-athletes. It is your chance to try out these sports," Angara stated, encouraging students to embrace the new challenges and opportunities ahead.

The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, under the leadership of Governor Matthew Manotoc, will host this year’s competition in collaboration with DepEd-Region I and the Schools Division Office of Ilocos Norte. Around 15,000 participants from 18 delegations, including student-athletes from the National Academy of Sports, are expected to take part in this prestigious event.

Preserving Filipino Heritage Through Traditional Games

Beyond the competitive events, the 2025 Palarong Pambansa will also celebrate the country's rich cultural heritage by featuring "Palaro ng Lahi" or "Larong Pinoy", a segment dedicated to traditional Filipino games.

This initiative aims to:

✅ Preserve indigenous Filipino sports and games

✅ Promote national pride and cultural appreciation among the youth

✅ Encourage fun, interactive, and educational activities outside of competitive sports

By integrating modern and traditional sports, Palarong Pambansa 2025 solidifies its commitment to holistic youth development—blending athletic excellence, cultural appreciation, and national pride into one grand sporting event.

Looking Ahead to Palarong Pambansa 2025

With the inclusion of weightlifting, pole vault for secondary girls, pencak silat, and kickboxing, the 65th Palarong Pambansa is shaping up to be a monumental event in Philippine sports history.

This expansion not only broadens opportunities for young Filipino athletes but also strengthens the foundation of grassroots sports development, ensuring that the next generation of champions can rise to the international stage.

As the countdown to Palarong Pambansa 2025 begins, all eyes are on Ilocos Norte, where the nation’s most promising young athletes will compete, make history, and inspire the future of Philippine sports.

NFA Urges LGUs to Fast-Track Rice Distribution: A Race Against Time to Stabilize Prices and Support Farmers

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The National Food Authority (NFA) is making an urgent appeal to local government units (LGUs) to accelerate the pullout of rice stocks to prevent warehouse congestion and enable the agency to purchase more palay from local farmers at fair prices. With rice prices still high and farmers struggling with low buying prices, this move is critical to maintaining food security and ensuring fair trade.

A Call for Immediate Action

NFA Administrator Larry Lacson stressed the importance of swift action, urging LGUs to move fast in withdrawing rice reserves:

“We appeal to LGUs to fast-track the pullout of rice reserves. This will open up space in our warehouses, allowing us to procure more palay and ensure that farmers aren’t at the mercy of traders pushing down prices.”

San Juan City has already started pulling out NFA rice stocks, while Navotas, Cotabato, and Camarines Sur are preparing to follow suit, with pending orders totaling over 120,000 sacks of rice. The Department of Agriculture’s Food Terminals Inc. (FTI) has also stepped in to facilitate the process, offering easier payment terms for LGUs to encourage swift transactions.

The Unresolved Crisis: Why Rice Prices Are Still High

Despite government interventions, rice prices remain stubbornly high, affecting millions of Filipinos. The crisis started in July 2023 when India banned non-basmati rice exports, triggering a global supply shock. This issue was further compounded by El Niño’s impact on local harvests in early 2024.

Even though India lifted its export ban in August 2024 and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. lowered rice import tariffs from 35% to 15%, prices have not returned to normal levels. This led the government to declare a food security emergency, allowing the NFA to release stocks to LGUs in an attempt to bring down prices.

Government Intervention: Lower Prices Coming?

To provide relief to consumers, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has announced a reduction in the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for imported rice.

🔹 New MSRP for imported rice: P49 per kilo (from P52 per kilo)

🔹 Effective Date: March 1, 2025

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the national average retail price of well-milled rice is currently P54.18 per kilo, which remains unaffordable for many households. The DA’s price cap aims to ease the burden on consumers while maintaining fair profit margins for rice traders.

Farmers Suffering as Traders Manipulate Palay Prices

While consumers deal with high rice prices, farmers face a different problem—low buying prices for their palay.

Reports show that some traders are purchasing palay for as low as P15 per kilo, a drastic undercut compared to the NFA’s official procurement price of P23 to P24 per kilo for clean and dry palay.

For a typical 4.1-ton-per-hectare rice farm, even a P1 per kilo drop translates to a P4,100 loss per hectare for farmers—causing severe financial distress.

Unfortunately, NFA’s ability to purchase more palay is limited due to fully stocked warehouses. For instance, in Mindoro, palay procurement has been hindered by lack of storage space. The NFA plans to build a new warehouse in Mindoro, but this will not be operational until next year—making it imperative for LGUs to speed up rice distribution now.

New Buffer Stock Requirements: Is the NFA Prepared?

The Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) requires the NFA to maintain a 15-day buffer stock to ensure food security in times of crisis. However, with storage space nearly full, the agency is struggling to meet even its 9-day buffer stock target.

Rice Buffer Stock Targets for 2025:

✔ Required for 15-day buffer: 880,000 metric tons of palay

✔ Current procurement target: 545,000 metric tons (only 9 days’ worth)

With the summer harvest approaching, it’s a race against time to clear warehouses and secure enough palay for the country's buffer stock.

Philippine Rice Imports Delayed: What Does This Mean for Consumers?

Adding to the supply concerns, recent reports indicate that Philippine rice buyers have delayed the importation of 350,000 tons of Vietnamese rice due to:

🔹 Currency fluctuations

🔹 Tighter global supply chains

🔹 Uncertainty in pricing negotiations

These import delays could further impact local rice prices, making it even more critical for the NFA to continue its local palay procurement efforts to stabilize the market. (Reuters)

Meanwhile, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is closely monitoring inflation, hinting at a "measured approach" to monetary policy adjustments to prevent further spikes in food prices. (Reuters)

The Way Forward: A Collective Effort Needed

With storage facilities nearly full, rice prices still high, and farmers struggling to sell their harvests at fair prices, the role of LGUs has never been more critical.

The government has already taken several key steps:

✅ Lowering rice import tariffs

✅ Reducing the MSRP for imported rice

✅ Encouraging LGUs to expedite rice pullouts

✅ Planning new storage facilities for long-term solutions

Now, LGUs must step up to:

📌 Accelerate the distribution of NFA rice stocks

📌 Ensure affordable rice reaches the people who need it most

📌 Help NFA free up storage space to buy more palay at fair prices

With the summer harvest season fast approaching, the time to act is NOW.

Will the LGUs respond to this urgent call? The fate of millions of farmers and consumers depends on it.