The Ilocos Times

  As the southwest monsoon (Habagat) continues to bring heavy rains across the country, a new Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) study has found that routine rainfall reduces the number of hours Filipinos work each week, with day-to-day and short-term workers bearing the greatest impact. In the discussion paper “When Rain Falls, Work Slows: Rainfall Variability and Working Hours in the Philippine Labor Market,” PIDS research specialist John Joseph Ocbina and Senior Research Fellow Dr. John Paolo Rivera analyzed nationally representative Labor Force Survey (LFS) data alongside regional rainfall records from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). The findings suggest that frequent rainy periods—not only major storms and typhoons—can add up to meaningful productivity and income losses across the labor market. “At the aggregate level, rainfall exerts a statistically significant but modest negative associa...

  T he Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF) convened the "Nuclear Workforce Educational Forum: A US-PH Exchange of Ideas" on June 11 at the University of Makati. The event is part of the Freedom 250 Lecture Series commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States and the 80th anniversary of the Fulbright Program . Attended by representatives of the energy sector from Philippine higher education institutions, policymakers, and industry leaders such as AboitizPower and Meralco , the forum aimed to increase awareness and strengthen understanding of nuclear education and operations in support of workforce readiness for the country's emerging nuclear sector. In his opening remarks, PAEF Executive Director Julio Amador III emphasized the importance of nuclear energy to the Philippines and highlighted how the United States' decades of experience in developing a safe and regulated nuclear workforce can provide valuable lessons for the country's ...

  By Dominic B. dela Cruz,  Staff reporter Solsona , Ilocos Norte—The Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Solsona, led by Vice Mayor and presiding officer Jonathan De Lara , held the municipality’s first State of the Legislative Address (SOLA) on June 1, 2026, coinciding with the blessing and inauguration of the new SB session hall. De Lara marked the milestone as a chance to reflect on the SB’s first 365 days of public service and to report legislative accomplishments. He told constituents the body approved 975 resolutions and enacted 64 municipal ordinances in its first year, emphasizing that each measure was intended to promote good governance, strengthen public services, protect the environment, support education and health care, enhance peace and order, and stimulate local economic growth. All members’ accomplishment reports were presented via PowerPoint during the event. De Lara thanked fellow councilors for their professionalism and commitment, the executive department unde...

The Philippines is becoming increasingly vulnerable to global fuel supply disruptions as crude oil imports become increasingly concentrated in the Middle East , while its power grid continues to face tightening reserves, according to a study presented by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). The findings come as the government moves to strengthen national energy security, including plans to establish a Strategic Petroleum Reserve . Presenting the findings of “How Energy Secure Is the Philippines?” PIDS senior research fellow Adoracion Navarro said the Philippines remains energy insecure despite improvements in energy efficiency. “The short answer to how energy secure is the Philippines—we are insecure,” Navarro said. The study assessed the country’s energy security across six dimensions that go beyond traditional measures: sufficiency, reliability, resilience, affordability, accessibility, and sustainability. It found that fossil fuels still accounted for ...

Violence experienced at home and exclusion encountered in school can have lasting consequences on Filipino adolescents’ education, well-being, and future opportunities, according to studies presented during the second session of the forum “Ugnayan: The Journey of Filipino Adolescents Across Past, Present, and Future”. Organized by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with support from the Australian Government, the session examined how childhood and adolescent experiences shape long-term development outcomes. Drawing from the Longitudinal Cohort Study of the Filipino Child (LCSFC), PIDS researchers found that children exposed to parental violence were significantly less likely to stay in school, while adolescents with diverse sexual orientations faced higher risks of domestic violence and bullying. The LCSFC, which follows about 5,000 Filipino children from age 10 in 2016 until they reach young adulthood in 2030,...

  Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming part of newsroom operations in the Philippines, helping journalists work more efficiently and produce content more quickly. However, a new study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) warns that the technology also poses significant challenges to the long-term sustainability of news organizations, while raising concerns about information integrity and intellectual property rights. Titled “AI Use in Philippine News Media: Adoption, Impacts, and Challenges,” the study examined how Philippine news organizations are adopting AI and assessed its implications for journalism, media sustainability, and governance. Researchers found that AI is increasingly being used for tasks such as transcription, editing, fact-checking, content research, and audience analytics. These applications help newsrooms streamline routine tasks, boost productivity, and meet growing demand for digital and multimedia content. Despite ...

Manila — This Father’s Day, the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) joins Filipino families across the country in honoring fathers for their invaluable contributions in nurturing, protecting, and guiding their families. For generations, fathers have been regarded as the “haligi ng tahanan”—the pillar of the family whose hard work and sacrifices help provide stability and security for their loved ones. As Filipino families continue to navigate changing social, economic, and demographic realities, CPD recognizes that the role of fathers has evolved beyond being providers to becoming active partners in building healthy, resilient, and future-ready families. "Fatherhood today encompasses many roles," said CPD Executive Director Usec. Lisa Grace S. Bersales. "Fathers are not only providers but also caregivers, mentors, role models, and partners in making decisions that shape the future of their families. This Father's Day, we celebrate Filipino fathers wh...

A recent study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) found that students under the MATATAG Curriculum performed better on assessments after a year of implementation, while teachers in participating schools reported stronger collaboration that may help improve classroom practices over time. The study, “Teaching through Transition: What Influences Teachers’ Practices amidst Curriculum Reform?”, evaluated the curriculum's first year of implementation in selected public schools during School Year 2023–2024. It drew on teacher surveys, classroom observations, and assessments administered to about 15,000 students. The findings come as the Department of Education (DepEd) continues to implement the MATATAG Curriculum nationwide in School Year 2026–2027, providing early evidence on how the reform affected teaching and learning during its pilot phase. Introduced by DepEd to address learning losses and long-standing concerns over education quality, the MATATAG Cu...