Young Budget Watchdogs to Government: “Babantayan Namin” the 2026 Education Budget

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Quezon City, Philippines — In a political climate where billions can be lost in the shuffle of bureaucracy, a group of determined young Filipinos is sending a loud, unflinching message to the government: “Babantayan namin.”

Today, Multiply-Ed Philippines, through its Amplify-Ed Coalition and Bantay Budget Network, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow civil society organizations (CSOs) as the House of Representatives turned over the 2026 Proposed National Budget documents. For the group, this symbolic handover is more than ceremony—it is a battleground for public participation, transparency, and accountability.

A Bigger Budget, But Still Not Enough

The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to receive a sizable boost—from ₱734 billion in 2025 to ₱928.5 billion in 2026. Yet, Multiply-Ed is quick to remind lawmakers that while the increase is welcome, it’s still far from the internationally recommended 6% of GDP for education spending. By their calculations, that benchmark should translate to around ₱1.71 trillion—nearly double the proposed allocation.

Grounded in its grassroots monitoring of 90 public senior high schools nationwide, Multiply-Ed estimates that filling all the gaps in basic education inputs for public senior high schools alone would cost ₱437.43 billion. If this estimate is scaled across all public schools in the country, the figure reaches a staggering ₱1.702 trillion—almost exactly what global standards demand.

From dilapidated classrooms to the chronic shortage of textbooks, teachers, laptops, and essential learner support programs, the group paints a sobering picture. In schools under Multiply-Ed’s Extended Education (X-Ed) program alone, urgent needs require an immediate ₱1.6 billion.

Demanding Open Books and Open Doors

“The ceremonial turnover is a step in the right direction,” the group said, “but it must be matched with real, ongoing public access. The national budget is public money—it should be open to scrutiny and participation at every stage.”

Multiply-Ed is calling for the full and immediate release of the 2026 budget documents in a format accessible to ordinary citizens, not just policymakers and technical experts. Transparency, they argue, is not an optional courtesy—it’s a democratic right.

Their demands also extend to the most guarded part of the budget process: the bicameral conference committee (BiCam) deliberations. Traditionally conducted behind closed doors, these meetings determine the final shape of the budget before it is signed into law. Multiply-Ed insists it is time to “Open the BiCam” to public view, dismantling the culture of secrecy that allows last-minute insertions and questionable reallocations to slip by unnoticed.

Funding the Margins for True Inclusion

For Multiply-Ed, an “inclusive education system” means one that doesn’t leave behind the most marginalized learners. As part of its 2026 Inclusive Education Budget Agenda, the coalition is pushing for higher allocations to chronically underfunded programs:

Indigenous Peoples’ Education (IPEd)

Madrasah Education Program

Special Education (SPED)

Gender and Development (GAD) initiatives

“These programs serve the students who are most at risk of being left behind. If we want a truly inclusive education system, we must fix the gaps and fund the margins,” they stressed.

From Ceremony to Citizen Power

The turnover of budget documents might have looked like a formal handshake between legislators and CSOs, but Multiply-Ed sees it as a call to arms—a reminder that citizen vigilance must be constant, not seasonal.

Their commitment is crystal clear: they will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the education budget and actively engage throughout the legislative process to make sure public money serves the public good.

“Babantayan namin,” they vowed—three words that carry the weight of both a promise and a warning. For those in power, it’s a reminder that the nation’s youth are not just students of politics—they are watchdogs of democracy.

8 Years After Minamata: The Hidden Poison Still Lurking in Skin Lightening Creams

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

On August 16, the world marks the eighth anniversary of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a landmark global treaty that promised to protect humanity and the environment from the toxic legacy of mercury. Yet, even as this date passes, dangerous products continue to slip through digital marketplaces and cosmetic shelves — silently poisoning those who seek nothing more than smoother, lighter skin.

In Quezon City, the EcoWaste Coalition has sounded the alarm once again. The watchdog group released a damning report listing 48 skin lightening products — imported from China, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Thailand — each adulterated with mercury, a chemical so dangerous that even minuscule exposure can lead to irreversible harm.

The Treaty and the Broken Promise

The Minamata Convention, adopted on October 10, 2013, and enforced starting August 16, 2017, was meant to phase out mercury-added products such as skin lightening cosmetics. The original target was 2020; the revised goal is now 2025. At COP5 (the Fifth Conference of the Parties), global leaders went further — eliminating even the one part per million (ppm) threshold to make it absolutely illegal to manufacture, import, or export mercury-laced skin lightening products.

But the treaty’s intent is being undermined by the sheer scale of illicit production and online trade. Despite a clear ban, these hazardous creams remain just a click away for consumers — their availability fueled by the lingering belief that fairer skin equals beauty, success, and social acceptance.

“We call for and support strengthened global and local action to fight the illegal production and trade of mercury cosmetics and address colorism and other socio-cultural issues driving the demand for products to lighten the skin color,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator of EcoWaste Coalition. “We need to put an end to the racist notion that equates beauty, cleanliness, and success with being white.”

A Catalogue of Contamination

Among the banned creams is the notorious Goree Beauty with Lycopene, prohibited by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 2017. But EcoWaste’s investigation uncovered far more — 29 brands, ranging from Feique’s herbal creams to Temulawak night products, from Pakistan’s Faiza Beauty Cream to Thailand’s Dr. Yanhee series.

The mercury content found in these creams is staggering — up to 44,450 ppm in one Thai product, Lady Gold Seaweed/Gluta Super Gluta Brightening. That’s over 44,000 times the allowed limit, which now stands at zero.

These products were purchased mostly from third-party online sellers and tested using an X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzer before being reported to regulators. But the fact they are still openly sold highlights a dangerous gap between policy and enforcement.

Invisible Danger in Every Touch

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that mercury exposure from these creams can lead to:

Kidney damage

Skin rashes, discoloration, and scarring

Reduced resistance to infections

Anxiety, depression, and psychosis

Peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage)

Women — the primary targets of these cosmetics — face even higher stakes, particularly those of childbearing age, as mercury can harm unborn children.

And the danger doesn’t stop at the user’s skin. Mercury vapor can fill the air in poorly ventilated homes, contaminating shared towels, bedding, and surfaces. Infants and children are at risk simply by breathing or touching items tainted by these creams.

A Call for Urgency

The continued availability of mercury cosmetics is not just a public health scandal — it’s a betrayal of a global promise. The Minamata Convention was born from the tragic history of Minamata disease in Japan, where mercury poisoning devastated an entire community. Allowing mercury creams to circulate today risks repeating history in slow motion, with victims spread across millions of homes.

For the Minamata Convention’s eighth anniversary to mean more than words on paper, stronger enforcement, stricter penalties, and proactive monitoring — especially on e-commerce platforms — must be prioritized.

The battle against mercury cosmetics is more than a fight against toxins in jars. It’s a struggle against the deep-seated prejudice of colorism, the exploitation of beauty ideals, and the corporate greed that trades human health for profit.

Until the last jar of mercury cream is pulled from circulation, the promise of Minamata remains unfulfilled — and every application of these creams is another quiet act of self-harm.

Le destinazioni più popolari per voli in aereo private

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

 

Negli ultimi anni, il noleggio di aerei privati è diventato sempre più popolare tra i viaggiatori di lusso e i professionisti in cerca di efficienza. Aeroaffaires, leader nel settore del noleggio di jet ed elicotteri privati, offre una vasta gamma di opzioni per soddisfare le esigenze di ogni cliente. In questo articolo, esploreremo alcune delle destinazioni più ambite per voli in aereo privato, evidenziando i vantaggi di scegliere Aeroaffaires per il tuo prossimo viaggio.

 

1. New York, Stati Uniti

New York è una delle città più iconiche del mondo e una meta privilegiata per i viaggiatori d'affari e di piacere. Con i suoi grattacieli, musei e teatri, la Grande Mela attira visitatori da ogni angolo del pianeta. Noleggiare un jet privato con Aeroaffaires ti consente di atterrare direttamente all'aeroporto di Teterboro, a pochi minuti dal centro di Manhattan, evitando le lunghe attese e le code degli aeroporti commerciali.

2. Ibiza, Spagna

Ibiza è famosa per le sue feste, le spiagge mozzafiato e la vita notturna vibrante. Durante l'estate, l'isola spagnola diventa una meta ambita per i turisti di tutto il mondo. Con Aeroaffaires, puoi noleggiare un aereo privato per raggiungere Ibiza in modo rapido e confortevole, permettendoti di godere appieno della tua vacanza senza stress.

3. Dubai, Emirati Arabi Uniti

Dubai è sinonimo di lusso e opulenza. Con i suoi grattacieli futuristici, centri commerciali di alta classe e ristoranti stellati, è una destinazione ideale per chi cerca un'esperienza esclusiva. Noleggiare un jet privato con Aeroaffaires ti offre la possibilità di atterrare in uno degli aeroporti più moderni del mondo, garantendo un arrivo senza problemi e un accesso immediato alle meraviglie di questa città.

4. Londra, Regno Unito

Londra è un centro finanziario globale e una meta popolare per viaggi d'affari. Con Aeroaffaires, puoi noleggiare un aereo privato per atterrare in uno dei numerosi aeroporti della città, come London City Airport, che offre un accesso diretto al cuore della capitale britannica. Questo ti consente di ottimizzare il tuo tempo e di dedicarti agli affari o al turismo senza ritardi.

5. Montecarlo, Monaco

Montecarlo è una delle destinazioni più esclusive d'Europa, famosa per i suoi casinò, yacht e eventi di gala. Noleggiare un jet privato con Aeroaffaires ti permette di arrivare rapidamente a questo paradiso del lusso, dove puoi goderti il sole e la bellezza della Costa Azzurra. La comodità di un volo privato ti consente di pianificare il tuo viaggio in base alle tue esigenze, senza dover seguire gli orari dei voli commerciali.

6. Los Angeles, Stati Uniti

Los Angeles è la capitale dell'intrattenimento e una meta ambita per celebrità e viaggiatori di lusso. Con Aeroaffaires, puoi noleggiare un aereo privato per atterrare a LAX o in uno degli aeroporti privati della zona, evitando il traffico e le lunghe attese. Che tu stia visitando Hollywood, le spiagge di Santa Monica o i parchi a tema, un volo privato ti offre la massima flessibilità.

7. Roma, Italia

Roma, con la sua storia millenaria e la sua cultura vibrante, è una delle città più visitate al mondo. Noleggiare un jet privato con Aeroaffaires ti consente di atterrare all'aeroporto di Ciampino, situato a breve distanza dal centro città. Questo ti permette di esplorare le meraviglie di Roma, dai Fori Imperiali al Colosseo, senza le complicazioni dei voli commerciali.

8. Cancun, Messico

Cancun è una delle destinazioni balneari più popolari del Messico, famosa per le sue acque cristalline e le spiagge di sabbia bianca. Con Aeroaffaires, puoi noleggiare un aereo privato per raggiungere rapidamente questa meta tropicale, permettendoti di iniziare la tua vacanza senza stress. Che tu stia cercando relax o avventura, Cancun offre qualcosa per tutti.

9. Tokyo, Giappone

Tokyo è una metropoli affascinante che unisce tradizione e modernità. Noleggiare un jet privato con Aeroaffaires ti consente di atterrare all'aeroporto di Haneda, il più vicino al centro città. Questo ti permette di immergerti nella cultura giapponese, visitando templi storici e assaporando la cucina locale, senza le lunghe attese degli aeroporti commerciali.

10. Sydney, Australia

Sydney è famosa per la sua iconica Opera House e le sue splendide spiagge. Noleggiare un aereo privato con Aeroaffaires ti offre la possibilità di atterrare direttamente all'aeroporto di Sydney, consentendoti di esplorare questa vibrante città in modo rapido e conveniente. Che tu stia visitando per affari o per piacere, un volo privato rende il tuo viaggio ancora più speciale.

Conclusione

Scegliere Aeroaffaires per il noleggio di jet ed elicotteri privati ti offre la possibilità di viaggiare verso alcune delle destinazioni più popolari del mondo in modo comodo e veloce. Con un servizio personalizzato e una flotta di aerei di alta qualità, Aeroaffaires è la scelta ideale per chi cerca un'esperienza di viaggio senza pari. Non importa quale sia la tua meta, un volo privato ti permetterà di ottimizzare il tuo tempo e di goderti ogni momento del tuo viaggio