Angara pushes equitable education reform with new Schools Division Office in City of Carmona

Wazzup Pilipinas!?




CARMONA, CAVITE, 31 October 2025 — For years, Carmona’s schools were under the vast umbrella of the Schools Division of Cavite Province, one of the largest in CALABARZON.



With the SDO managing 345 schools then, the needs of teachers and learners of the 11 schools in Carmona often competed with those of larger municipalities. Many local initiatives had to wait their turn, as resources were stretched thin across the province’s many schools.



But that chapter has finally closed.



On Thursday, October 30, Education Secretary Sonny Angara led the inauguration of the Schools Division Office (SDO) of the City of Carmona, following the city’s conversion into a component city through Republic Act No. 11938 enacted in February 2023.



“Bago maging component city ang Carmona, ito ay nasa ilalim ng SDO Cavite Province—isa sa pinakamalalaking dibisyon sa CALABARZON,” Angara said. “Ngayon, magkakaroon na ng sariling SDO funds ang lungsod, na tiyak na makatutulong sa mga guro, kawani, at mag-aaral dito sa Carmona.”



Cavite 5th District Representative Atty. Roy Loyola credited then-Senator Sonny Angara, now serving as Education Secretary, as one of the strongest advocates of the measure in the Senate.



Now at the helm of DepEd, Secretary Angara wasted no time turning the promise of the law into tangible action. He immediately initiated the creation of Carmona’s own Schools Division Office, ensuring that the city’s teachers, personnel, and learners would no longer have to wait for attention or resources.



During the ceremony, Angara thanked Rep. Loyola, Mayor Dra. Dahlia Loyola, and city officials for their enduring commitment to education, and to congratulate the pioneering officials of SDO Carmona led by OIC-Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Joepi F. Falqueza and OIC-Assistant SDS Wilson G. Centeno.



He also reaffirmed DepEd’s full commitment to the city’s education programs under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., emphasizing that this localized structure will allow the Department to respond more effectively to learner needs. The approach is also aligned with the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) recommendation to rationalize DepEd’s structure for more equitable and efficient service delivery.




Angara shared that Congress has recently adjusted funding priorities, reallocating some flood control funds to allow for an increase in DepEd’s budget, an opportunity to expand investments in schools and teachers across the country.



Funded through a ₱30-million national subsidy under the Financial Assistance to Local Government Unit – Other Infrastructure Program, the SDO Carmona will embody the principles of Transparent, Ethical, and Accountable (TEA) Governance, and its mission to deliver accessible, inclusive, and liberating basic education.




“The creation of SDO Carmona is a story of persistence, partnership, and the promise that every new city brings new hope for our learners,” Angara said.




SDO City of Carmona is the 25th Division of DepEd CALABARZON Region, led by Regional Director Atty. Alberto Escobarte.

The Global Wind Race: Offshore Power on Track to Triple by 2030, Despite Headwinds

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

The global push for offshore wind energy remains a powerful force, with capacity on track to nearly triple worldwide by 2030, even as some key markets face short-term uncertainty. A new analysis by Ember and the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA) highlights that strong, clear government targets are the cornerstone of this growth, signaling confidence in offshore wind as a pillar of the future energy system.

The Global Target Tally: 27 Nations Lead the Charge

A total of 27 countries have established national offshore wind targets, underscoring a broad international commitment. These national ambitions, excluding China, combine to reach 263 GW by 2030.

Regional Powerhouses

Europe remains the front-runner, with 15 countries targeting a combined 99 GW by 2030. Germany (30 GW) and the Netherlands (21 GW) account for over half of this capacity. The United Kingdom holds the largest single national target, aiming for 43-50 GW.

Asia is rapidly building its pipeline, with a combined ambition of 41 GW from South Korea, Taiwan, and Viet Nam. India is targeting 30-37 GW by 2030, while Japan is aiming for 30-45 GW auctioned by 2040, including a significant 15 GW of floating offshore wind.

China, while not yet having a single national target, has laid out a highly ambitious provincial and industry plan. The recent Beijing Declaration 2.0 stated that annual installed offshore wind power capacity shall be no less than 15 GW during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). This is almost double the 8 GW average achieved in the preceding five years. Already, 11 coastal provinces have set 2025 targets totaling 64 GW.

Floating Wind and Future Ambition

Governments are looking beyond short-term milestones, with 18 countries announcing goals for capacity post-2030.

Seven countries have also set specific targets for floating offshore wind. This newer technology, though at an earlier stage, is crucial as much of the potential in countries like Finland, Greece, Ireland, Italy, and Spain lies in deeper waters suitable for floating turbines.

The US has a national target of 30 GW by 2030 and an aggressive 15 GW floating target by 2035. However, the national picture is complex, with recent policy headwinds contrasting sharply with the combined 84 GW of targets set by 11 states, showing continued momentum at the sub-national level.

The Next Wave: 88 Countries with Untapped Potential

The biggest opportunity for global growth lies in the 88 countries that have been assessed to have offshore wind potential but have not yet set national targets.

Of these, nine are members of GOWA, signaling their intent, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Malta, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Latin America is emerging as a critical region, with Colombia already having a target and Brazil—which joined GOWA at COP28 and holds the COP30 Presidency—poised to be next. Its marine leasing framework and strong domestic supply chain make it the most advanced market in the region, with its first auction expected in 2026.

In other regions, countries like Morocco, which will begin building Africa's first offshore wind farm in 2029, and Azerbaijan, which is preparing for development tenders in the Caspian Sea by 2026, are actively developing plans.

An Urgent Call to Action

Despite an overall global tripling of capacity projected by 2030—from 83 GW in 2024 to 238 GW—most individual nations, including the US, Japan, and Korea, are currently forecasted to fall short of their specific 2030 targets.

This gap between ambition and reality is a clear message: while targets are successfully stimulating market growth, urgent action on policy support, infrastructure, and supply chain pressures is now critical. As GOWA Head of Secretariat Amisha Patel stated, "Achieving the Paris Agreement goals depends on large-scale offshore wind deployment... To countries thinking about agreeing new targets or extending existing targets, the message is clear: now is the time to act".

FDCP gathers stakeholders for Film Industry Conference 2025

 

Wazzup Pilipinas?!

 

The Film Development Council of the Philippines recently hosted the Film Industry Conference 2025 at Lanson Place in Pasay City.

The event brought together filmmakers, industry experts, and enthusiasts for one whole day of crucial discussions and collaborative sessions aimed at shaping the local filmmaking landscape.

The conference also offered both onsite and online access, broadening its reach to allow more participants to engage with the conversations driving Philippine cinema.

The FIC 2025 featured three hybrid sessions that tackled pressing issues faced by the industry.

Session 1, entitled “Own Your Story: Navigating the Copyright Legal Rights and Remedies of Filipino Screenwriters and Directors,” focused on intellectual property rights for screenwriters and directors.

Atty. Nick Pichay and Atty. Janice Tejano shed light on the standard practices for securing rights to creative material and the available remedies against copyright infringement.

Wanggo Gallaga moderated the discussion with the two legal experts after they have delivered their talk.

The second session, “Independent, Not Invisible: An Indie Filmmaker’s Guide to Selling Films with Impact,” offered strategies to independent filmmakers for elevating their films and achieving market success in today’s competitive landscape.

The panel featured insights from filmmakers Baby Ruth Villarama, Chuck Gutierrez, and Alex Poblete, with MJ Marfori as the moderator.

The last panel discussion, “The Right Price: The Economy of Cinema and Its Impact on Habits of the Filipino Audience,” explored how the economics of cinema, particularly ticket pricing, influences Filipino audience behavior and viewing culture.

Speakers Atty. Joji Alonso, John Joshua Barbo, and Mon Garilao examined the impact on access to local movies on the big screen. Pat-P Daza moderated the discussion.

FIC aims to bring together experts and stakeholders to share and discuss the latest trends, opportunities, platforms, and cooperation that Filipino producers and filmmakers can explore for the development, production, and distribution of their projects with the intent of crossing beyond local borders.

The FDCP is the national film council in charge of creating and implementing policies and programs to ensure the economic, cultural, and educational development and growth of the Philippine film industry.