DepEd highlights culture of literacy, lifelong learning in 2023 National Literacy Conference

Wazzup Pilipinas!?




The Department of Education (DepEd) underscored the importance of creating a culture of literacy and lifelong learning during the 2023 National Literacy Conference (NLC) on October 11 at DepEd ECOTECH Center.

“Our goal is to promote functional literacy and ensure that every Filipino possesses the skills and knowledge in real life, equipping individuals with the ability to make informed decisions, communicate effectively, and actively participate in the workforce and society,” Vice President and Secretary of Education Sara Z. Duterte said during her keynote address.

With the theme, “Building a Culture of Literacy: The Power of Communities as Catalysts of Literacy Development,” the 2023 NLC gathered around 500 participants to enhance and provide educational opportunities, advocate for lifelong learning, and empower community members in literacy activities.

“By investing in education and promoting literacy, we are investing in the future of our country, unlocking the potential of our people, and paving the way for sustainable development and prosperity,” VP-Sec Duterte added.

During the plenary sessions, regional delegates and resource speakers highlighted the role that communities play in fostering and promoting literacy skills among learners and individuals through four sub-themes, which include Building a Culture of Literacy Towards a MATATAG Nation, Strengthening Intercultural and Inclusive Teaching and Learning Practices, Recognizing the Vital Role of Communities in Literacy Development, and Advancing Literacy Through Research and Development.

“The journey to promote literacy is not without its challenges, but as we come together to share our experiences, knowledge, and innovative approaches, we become a formidable force for change. We are the ones who can break down the barriers to learning whether they be social, economic, or cultural,” Undersecretary for Curriculum and Teaching Gina O. Gonong said.

In addition, the LCC issued a Call for Papers last September 8, to gather policy recommendations that may influence, shape, or impact approaches, strategies, and mechanisms at the national and local levels in building a culture of literacy in the country.

These policy recommendations were also summarized and presented at the end of the conference.

The NLC hopes to increase awareness of key education stakeholders on the current initiatives of the Department and to strengthen intercultural and inclusive teaching and learning practices in an ever-changing education landscape.

Kuryente.org slams MERALCO power rate increase, unjust automatic pass-through

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Kuryente.org slams the recent announcement of MERALCO to increase by .44/kwh in the billing for October. This increase will result in an P84.00 increase for consumers with 200Kwh of electricity consumption per month. The announced increase is double in amount compared to the recent average minimum wage increase of P40.00.

Roland Vibal, National Coordinator for Kuryente.org, said:

“MERALCO’s basis for this abrupt increase is unacceptable and unjust for residential electricity consumers. The increase due to high generation cost as supply of local natural gas is insufficient and the continued high price of imported alternatives is a knee-jerk reaction and not a valid excuse. MERALCO must stop acting as a spokesperson for the generation company.

“The true cause of the increase is the automatic pass-through provisions that the government allows to continue despite calls for its prohibition. This mechanism justifies both power producers and distribution utilities like MERALCO to abruptly pass on to consumers any changes in price to preserve their profit margins.

“Kuryente.org calls for the scrapping of automatic pass-through provision and the Energy Regulatory Commission must review all MERALCO Power Supply Agreements and immediately stop it. Likewise, the review and amendment of the EPIRA should repeal and scrap any section of the law that allows this mechanism of automatic passing of increase in cost to consumers.”

What Are the Best Payment Methods for Gambling for Filipinos?

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Are you gambling online? Read our article for more details about the best payment methods for deposits and withdrawals at Filipino online casino sites.

Filipino people have become extremely passionate about online gambling. It is a flexible and entertaining activity available to everyone with a stable internet connection. The online gambling market within the country is becoming extremely competitive. Players can find hundreds of online casinos and thousands of different casino games.

People matter the most because of the quality and quantity of games and the fairness of bonuses. Yet, one of the things you need to get familiar with before opening an account is the available payment methods. They are not the same on each gambling site, and you may not be satisfied with the offer always.

On this page, we would like to make an analysis of the best payment methods for gambling in the Philippines. That way, you will know whether the payment method you typically use for everyday purchases is also available for gambling. Let’s go!

Bitcoin

Undoubtedly, cryptocurrencies have become the favorite payment method among Filipino gamblers. Logically, Bitcoin is the most preferred option and there are various reasons for that. First and foremost, cryptos ensure the complete safety of the transactions. Apart from that, all the crypto-based transactions are extremely quick and cheap. Ultimately, they ensure complete anonymity, which means you don’t have to expose all the private information (you would usually have to).

Still, there is one disadvantage regarding online casinos accepting Bitcoin (and other altcoins). Their number is still not that big! The online gambling market is slowly adapting to innovative financial solutions. That’s why finding the best Filipino crypto casinos may be challenging. On the other hand, many people are still unaware of the benefits they can get from crypto gambling. Because of that, we invite you to read explanations and analyses about Bitcoin casino sites in the Philippines and properly inform about everything before starting this journey.

 
E-Wallets

It doesn’t need to surprise us at all why e-wallets are at the top of this list. As we analyzed last year, Filipinos spend around 4.4 million hours using e-wallet apps. The same habit has become popular in the online gambling space. People appreciate the benefits they can get from using Skrill, Neteller, EcoPayz, PayPal and other e-wallets. These tools allow them to transfer their funds from and to their casino account relatively quickly. More precisely, all the deposits are instant, while withdrawals won’t last longer than 24 hours. Opening an account on any e-wallet platform is easy and can be done with a few clicks. Would you be willing to test such an option?

 
GCash

Something unique about Filipino people is their habit of using GCash for everyday purchases. It is a payment method that exists only there. Using GCash is extremely easy. It will be necessary to download the app, create and verify the account and deposit the money. Fully verified accounts will get more benefits compared to unverified users. Best of all, many casino sites in the Philippines accept payments made by this tool. That’s why finding the most suitable ones won’t be tough. Make sure to register only at licensed online casinos.

 
Credit/Debit Cards

The previous three payment methods ensure more benefits to an average gambler in the Philippines. Yet, credit and debit cards are old and traditional payment methods that people have used for years. Even in the modernized world, people consider them most convenient. It is hard to find a person who does not have one, which is something we can’t say for the previous payment methods.

Anyway, the good thing is that almost every foreign online casino will accept credit and debit cards. In most cases, the list of available payment methods is extremely long. You will find options like MasterCard, American Express, VISA and others on almost every gambling platform. Unfortunately, there are certain disadvantages to these tools. Although they are extremely easy to use, you may need to wait a bit longer for funds to be approved. That especially counts when we talk about withdrawals.

 
Conclusion

These are the four most popular payment methods for gambling in the Philippines. Of course, we do not want to say they are the only ones. You will also find people using prepaid cards, vouchers, and direct bank transfers. Some people even use eChecks, but not many Filipino online casinos accept them. Anyway, you don’t have to use the most popular ones. Use those that ensure you the most comfortable gambling. Yet, if you can, test the ones we highlighted on this page.