Abbey M.

A pilot literacy assessment by the Department of Education has revealed that 87% of grade 11 learners, equivalent to 1.3 million students, cannot yet read on their own and still require constant guidance from a teacher, parent, or another person.

The findings were contained in a DepEd report submitted to the Second Congressional Commission on Education, or EDCOM 2, during a hearing of the House Committee on Basic Education, painting a troubling picture of the state of education quality in the country.

Based on the March 2026 pilot run of the Senior High School Literacy Assessment, only 12.58 percent of the 1.4 million grade 11 students are considered independent readers. The remaining 1.3 million fall under the categories of instructional and frustration readers.

Frustration readers are those who struggle to read and comprehend, while instructional readers are those who can read but still need guidance. Grade 11 students are typically between 16 and 17 years old.

"Only 12 percent of learners in the 11th grade level are independent learners or readers that are fully able to comprehend and understand as expected from their grade level what the outcome or information supposed to be," EDCOM 2 Chief Legislative Officer Atty. Simoun Salinas said.

(Tanging 12 porsyento lamang ng mga mag-aaral sa ika-11 baitang ang mga independiyenteng mag-aaral o mambabasa na ganap na kayang maunawaan at intindihin ayon sa inaasahan ng kanilang antas kung ano ang resulta o impormasyong dapat nilang malaman.)

House Committee on Basic Education Chairperson and Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo said DepEd must address the problem through the curriculum, stressing that the issue goes beyond the proposed shift to a three-term school calendar expected to be implemented in 2026 and 2027.

"Yung curriculum ba nila, whether 3 semesters o 4 quarters, kailangang matugunan nila yung issue of quality of education, yung reading comprehension, kasi yun talaga ang issue," Romulo said.

ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio argued that the data is proof of the failure of the K to 12 program.

"Systemic yung problema, hindi pwedeng sabihing isang factor lamang ito, kundi yung buong sistema mismo at yung mga incentives at all levels, from the individual, from the teacher level, to the school level hanggang sa buong sistema, yun ang lumikha ng ganitong sitwasyon. Basically para magtuloy-tuloy ang takbo ng sistema, kailangang ipasa, pero ang resulta, kalakhan ng guma-graduate ay wala yung competencies na kailangan ng isang senior high school graduate," Tinio said.

Romulo called on DepEd to conduct a thorough internal study and discussion to address the core problem of reading comprehension, saying it is time for the department to come forward with its own concrete solutions.

"Nakita naman natin, karamihan ng suggestions ay nanggaling from policymaker, third party, so siguro it's time for DepEd to tell us, 'we appreciate po naming lahat ng ginagawa at suggestions ninyo, pero di kaya ng DepEd na maimplement lahat yan, ang kaya ng DepEd para malutas ang functional literacy.' Yun ang kailangan nating marinig," Romulo said.

Senator Robin Padilla is pushing for the use of technology to allow Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa to continue fulfilling his duties as a senator amid what Padilla described as security threats against his colleague.

In an online post, Padilla defended Dela Rosa and said that allowing senators to vote and attend sessions online would help him continue serving the public. 

He clarified that Dela Rosa does not want to be absent in person, but is prevented from doing so due to alleged security threats, specifically, the risk of being arrested or forcibly taken abroad and detained by the International Criminal Court, or ICC, if he leaves his current location.

Padilla also noted that Dela Rosa has one of the best attendance records in the history of the Senate.

Given the alleged security threat facing his fellow senator, Padilla is recommending that Dela Rosa be allowed to work and attend sessions through online or teleconferencing means.

Padilla stressed that Dela Rosa cannot yet be considered a criminal, as no final decision or conviction has been handed down by any court proving his guilt. On that basis, Padilla maintained that Dela Rosa retains the right to perform his duties as a senator.

Meanwhile, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan of the Senate minority bloc rejected the arguments being made in defense of Dela Rosa.

Pangilinan emphasized that hiding and evading arrest is the conduct of a law breaker, and should not be given special consideration or be compared to the situation of former senator and now Congresswoman Leila de Lima, who complied with legal processes.

On that basis, he said virtual attendance at sessions cannot simply be allowed, especially if it is not covered under the institution's current rules.

A motion to amend the Senate rules to allow online or virtual attendance and voting by senators during sessions remains pending and is expected to be taken up in the next session.

Good news for travelers!

The fuel surcharge imposed on air passengers will decrease starting June 1 to June 15, bringing relief to travelers ahead of the mid-year period.

The Civil Aeronautics Board announced that the fuel surcharge will be reduced from level 15, which was in effect from May 16 to May 31, 2026, to level 13 effective June 1 to June 15.

Under level 13, domestic passengers will pay a fuel surcharge ranging from P423 to P1,237, while international travelers will be charged between P1,396 and P10,385.

The CAB also temporarily shortened its fuel surcharge adjustment period from one month to 15 days, citing the volatile movement of jet fuel prices in the international market.

To further widen the reach of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s flagship Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino, or Expanded 4PH Program, and help address the oversupply of available housing inventory, Pag-IBIG Fund has raised its maximum housing loan amount per borrower to ₱10 million, providing middle-income and higher- earning Filipino workers access to affordable long-term home financing, particularly in Metro Manila and other highly urbanized areas, top officials announced on May 26.

The higher loan ceiling complements the program’s ongoing subsidized 3% housing loan rate for qualified buyers of socialized housing, enabling Pag-IBIG Fund to serve more members seeking homes beyond the socialized housing segment through affordable long-term financing.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling, who also chairs the Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees, said the increase is part of the government’s broader effort to make homeownership more accessible to Filipino workers across income segments.

“With the higher ₱10-million loan ceiling, Pag-IBIG Fund can now serve more members, especially Filipino workers who seek homes in higher price segments but still require long-term and affordable financing to own homes near their workplaces, schools and sources of livelihood. 

This move allows Pag-IBIG Fund to widen access to home financing across more income segments, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to make decent and affordable housing more inclusive and accessible to more Filipino families,” Aliling said.

Aliling said the move also supports efforts to improve the take-up of available housing units, particularly in Metro Manila and other urban centers where there is an oversupply of ready-for-occupancy condominium units. He said the higher loan ceiling, combined with Pag-IBIG Fund’s long-term home financing, can make the purchase of these units more affordable for qualified members.

“This is also our call to developers: let us make the numbers meet. Pag-IBIG Fund is expanding the financing available to qualified borrowers. We urge our developer-partners to recalibrate their prices, offer reasonable packages and help bring their available units within the reach of Pag-IBIG Fund members. 

When housing prices,borrower capacity and affordable financing meet, more Filipino workers can finally own homes of their own,” Aliling said.

Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta said the increase in loan ceiling reflects Pag-IBIG Fund’s mandate to serve Filipino workers from all income segments.

“At Pag-IBIG Fund, our mandate is to serve all Filipino workers. This means serving first-time homebuyers and members who need subsidized support, as well as middle-income and higher-earning members who also need affordable long-term financing to buy homes for their families. 

Because of our strong financial position, we are able to offer a higher loanable amount while keeping our housing loan rates not only affordable, but among the lowest in the market. With the higher loan ceiling, qualified borrowers now have even better access to home financing payable for up to 30 years, with interest rates that may go as low as 5.75% a year depending on their chosen fixing period. 

More importantly, this allows us to widen the reach of the Expanded 4PH Program so that more members, across more income segments, can gain access to decent and affordable homes, while eligible socialized housing borrowers continue to benefit from the 3% subsidized rate,” Acosta said.

Acosta said the broader Pag-IBIG Housing Loan Program is intended to make homeownership a practical alternative to renting for more Filipino workers, especially when available housing units are offered at prices that match members’ income and borrowing capacity.

“For many families, rent is already one of their biggest monthly expenses. Through Pag-IBIG Fund’s affordable housing loan terms, monthly amortizations for reasonably priced homes can be lower than rent in many urban areas. This is the value we want to give our members: instead of paying rent month after month, they can use their hard-earned income to pay for a home they can eventually call their own,” Acosta added.

Pag-IBIG Fund emphasized that the higher maximum loan amount remains subject to credit evaluation, capacity-to-pay requirements, collateral appraisal and other housing loan guidelines to ensure that borrowing remains responsible and sustainable for members.

Officials said the higher loan ceiling strengthens Pag-IBIG Fund’s role in bridging available housing supply to actual homebuyer capacity, while encouraging developers to offer homes at prices that better match the income and financing ability of Filipino workers.

Senator Imee Marcos said the Senate majority bloc remains solid and called on the minority to accept the recent leadership shakeup and return to work.

Marcos stressed that the 11-member Senate minority bloc must respect the outcome of the vote for chamber leadership, where they were defeated by the 13-member bloc now led by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.

She also recalled that her group did not stir any commotion when Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III was designated Senate President in September 2025, even after losing their committee assignments.

"Noon naman natalo kami. Hindi kami bumoto kay Senator Tito Sotto. Wala naman umalma eh. Quiet lang kami. Kahit tinanggal lahat ng aming committee. Ayos lang. Nagpasalamat pa rin kami kasi naniniwala kami sa proseso. Hindi kami kapit tuko sa posisyon. Pero ngayon bakit ganito? Hindi naman nangyari ito dati. Ang maliwanag kung wala kang boto eh tahimik muna. Trabaho muna. Walang ganito na sungkitan, sulutan kung ano-anong announcement sa media," Marcos said. 

(Before, we also lost. We did not vote for Senator Tito Sotto. No one protested. We were just quiet. Even when all our committees were taken away. It was fine. We still gave thanks because we believe in the process. We are not clinging to position. But now, why is it like this? This did not happen before. It is clear — if you don't have the votes, you stay quiet first. Work first. There shouldn't be this kind of grabbing, snatching, and all sorts of announcements in the media.)

Cayetano secured the Senate presidency on May 11 in a controversial and dramatic leadership shakeup, which also marked the reappearance of Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa after six months of absence from the chamber.

Marcos also rejected the proposal to back Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President in the name of institutional unity.

She added that negotiations and backchannel talks have continued in what she described as efforts to dismantle their bloc.

"Palagay ko hindi naman sang-ayon yung nakararami. Labing-tatlo kami, solid kami. Yung labing-isa, iba naman 'yun. Kung ano yung kandidato nila, minority pa rin yun. Palibasa nga buo kami siguro may nagnanais na buwagin. May mga kinakausap. Maraming nakikiusap, hindi lang senador, hindi lang kapwa senador, maraming opisyal sa gobyerno na nakikialam, marami pang kung sino-sino na mga nakaupo sa palasyo na nakikisuyo, talagang marami," Presidential sister added.

(I think the majority is not in favor. We are thirteen, we are solid. The eleven, that's different. Whatever candidate they have, that is still the minority. Because we are intact, perhaps there are those who want to break us up. There are people being talked to. Many are pleading — not just senators, not just fellow senators, many government officials are getting involved, and there are still others sitting in the palace who are making requests; there are really many.)

Despite the political tension, Marcos expressed hope that the issue will soon be resolved so the Senate can return to its regular work and the passage of legislation.

"Well, inaasahan ko na kumalma na at makapagtrabaho na kaming lahat. Kaya ito nga sana magkasundo na 'yung dalawang panig. Titiisin, magtitiisin na namin sila. Tiisin na rin nila kami," Marcos said. 

(Well, I am hoping that things calm down and that we can all get back to work. So I hope the two sides come to an agreement. We will endure them. They will also have to endure us.)