Day: May 20, 2025

Manila: The Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) announced its ongoing collaboration with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to reintegrate abaca fiber into the country’s polymer banknotes. According to Philippines News Agency, the BSP stated that the current polymer banknotes have a lifespan of up to 7.5 years, significantly longer than the 1.5-year average for paper banknotes. This durability is due to their resistance to dirt, water, and oil, making them “smarter, cleaner, and stronger.” PhilFIDA executive director Arnold Atienza shared insights during the Usapang Agrikultura program on Radyo Pilipinas. Atienza noted that the BSP is interested in incorporating

Manila: Education Secretary Sonny Angara expressed gratitude towards President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for their support in hiring 16,000 additional teachers for public schools. This initiative aligns with the administration’s objective to enhance education quality and reduce the workload of public school educators. According to Philippines News Agency, the newly created positions aim to address the demand for specialized and subject-specific teachers from Kindergarten to Senior High School. This move is expected to improve the teacher-student ratio and optimize class sizes, thereby enhancing learning outcomes. The deployment of these new hires is