Vic Vic Bautista

Residents of Caloocan are taking action to protect their communities from the health risks that frequently follow prolonged periods of intense rain and widespread flooding that continue to affect many regions of the country. Residents started cleanup efforts to lower the dangers of dengue and leptospirosis, two illnesses that flourish in flood-prone areas, with assistance from Pru Life UK through its SHIELD Project.

The Sustainable Health Interventions for Eradicating Leptospirosis and Dengue (SHIELD) Project, which aims to increase community resilience against two of the most prevalent climate-sensitive diseases in the Philippines that are predicted to worsen as a result of climate change, is being implemented in specific communities in Caloocan and Malabon.

The project is funded with PHP10 million grant from the Climate and Health Resilience Fund by Prudence Foundation, the community investment arm of Prudential plc, with CARE Philippines as the project implementing partner.

Over 110 volunteers, including barangay staff and residents from Barangays 178 and 186 in Caloocan, joined a two-day community-led initiative in August to eliminate stagnant water, clear potential mosquito breeding sites, and remove waste that can clog drainage systems. The SHIELD Project provided essential cleaning supplies such as brooms, dustpans, and garbage disposal bags as well as mosquito repellents to support the effort.

To raise awareness, Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials on dengue and leptospirosis prevention were distributed to residents. These efforts not only helped create cleaner, safer public spaces but also strengthened community knowledge on how to prevent climate-sensitive diseases.

“Through collaborative efforts with the residents and stakeholders from the local government units, we are able to bring the community together and foster a sense of collective responsibility to help build resilience to the health risks of climate change,” said Maricel Estavillo, Pru Life UK’s Sustainability and Takaful Head.

This September, Malabon will host cleanup events to carry on the community-led campaign for resilience and public health.

Visit www.insurance.gov.ph/contact-us/ for the Insurance Commission’s complete contact information.

The Padday na Lima Regional Trade Fair is returning to the Metro for its 19th year! The Upper Ground Floor, Carousel Court and East Hall, Festival Mall Alabang, Muntinlupa City, will host this annual display of the finest of the greatest in the Cagayan Valley from September 19–25, 2025. A vast, eye-catching display of goods showcasing the best of tradition, culture, and inventiveness in the center of the city awaits visitors to the trade expo.

The products of over 100 MSMEs from Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, and Nueva Vizcaya will be on display. These include processed foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, fisheries and aquatic products, native specialties (kakanin), rice and corn-based products, plants, furniture, and furnishings, as well as creative new products.

Aside from promoting products, the trade fair will also offer unique opportunities and experiences highlighting tourism and investment opportunities in the region. Featuring the Provincial Pavilions of Batanes and Isabela, mall-goers can explore the one-of-a-kind culture of Batanes, and the abundance of agricultural products of Isabela. Buyers from Manila can also look forward to a special pavilion by the City of Ilagan, showcasing the heart and pride of Isabela’s capital city.

Padday na Lima will bring fresh energy this year with their festival passport where buyers can collect stamps after every purchase or booth interaction to unlock access to games, activities, and a chance to win exciting prizes. Fun activities will also include food and wine tasting, a captivating fashion show, and a creative crafts demonstration.

But the fun won’t stop at the fair! Buyers from the Metro can now easily get their hands on the finest products of Cagayan Valley with just a few clicks through PaddayNaLima.ph. In partnership with Shopee and Mayani.ph, these sought-after good are now made accessible to the buyers more than ever!

Products at the Padday na Lima Trade Fair will also be available at the PaddayNaLima.ph and Mayani.ph

The largest market in the area and a venue for showcasing Region 2’s excellent goods is Padday na Lima, which translates to “made by hands” in Ybanag. Through business matching initiatives and engaging partnerships with the public and private sectors, it has served as a fertile environment for expansion and advancement, assisting Region 2’s MSMEs in realizing their full potential for social and economic development.

Enjoy the breathtaking wealth of the Cagayan Valley’s distinctive customs and heritage this September at the Padday na Lima Regional Trade Fair. Padday na Lima is waiting for you, so come and take in everything that is in store!

See you there!

Limited number of copies have been printed in support of SM Prime’s sustainability efforts. A digital copy of the manual will be made available for download.

Manila. Making segregation straightforward, quick, and actionable is the goal of the SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime) campaign for a Waste-Free Future and its Recyclable, Disposable, Compostable, or RDC model.

The SM Waste Free Future Manual, a playbook that helps people and communities to learn about RDC and develop better segregation behaviors, was introduced by SM Prime at the most recent Sustainability Expo (SUSTEX 2025).

Small steps, big impact

In the Philippines, the country generates up to 61,000 tons of waste daily and an annual 2.7 million tons of plastic waste. A figure that will rise with urbanization and poor waste disposal practices.

Inspired by the SM Green Movement’s strong call to action to make sustainability part of everyday life, SM Waste Free Future invites everyone to become part of the solution.

The three categories, RDC, make sorting waste an empowering exercise by focusing on the word “able” meaning having the power, skill, or the opportunity “to do”.  The manual’s easy, practical, and inspiring read hopes to encourage readers to do just that –championing segregation systems and proper waste disposal.

It also features innovative reuse programs of SM Prime’s business units that keep materials in circulation and out of landfills. When done at scale, each contribution can inspire others to follow, creating a ripple effect.

Learn, practice, champion

Done with great reflection during its incubation stages, SM Waste Free Future presented a rethink of waste segregation habits and systems built over time.

“We have to be open to new ways of doing things and of putting into action every little step that’s crucial for advancing waste management solutions,” said SM Engineering Design and Development President Hans “Chico” Sy, during the 2024 World Environment Day program launch.

Today, the campaign is deeply encouraged by institutions and agencies that strongly advocate developmental goals.

In his message of support, Dr. Selva Ramachandran, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), lauded the RDC bin labeling system. “Proper waste segregation is an entry point toward a circular economy – one that goes beyond waste management to design out waste, keep materials in circulation, and regenerate natural systems.”

Together for a waste-free future, SM Prime sustainability champions at the Ignite Stage during SUSTEX 2025.

All together now

Together, we are stronger than we realize. “This project is not specific to one organization, but one that belongs to an entire society. We welcome everyone to practice this in their everyday lives,” Sy said.

In order to overcome a mounting problem, everyone must work together. SM Prime is adamant that we can build a waste-free, sustainable future by working together.

“A waste-free future requires shared action from government, business, and communities. May this manual be a catalyst for deeper collaboration, innovation, and circular solutions that support national priorities and the global Sustainable Development Agenda – building systems across sectors that prevent waste, recover valuable resources, and protect our environment for generations to come,” said Dr. Ramachandran.  

In photo (L-R): Marwin Galvez, BPI Central Metro Manila Division Head; Joy Ureta, BPI Ortigas Area Business Director; Richard Santos, Rizal High School Principal IV; Hon. Simon Romulo Tantoco, Pasig City 1st District Councilor; Carmina Marquez, BPI Foundation (BPIF) Executive Director; Rina Lopez, Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. (KCFI) President & Executive Director; Hon. Robert “Dodot” Jaworski, Jr., Pasig City Vice Mayor; Asec. Jerome Buenviaje, Department of Education (DepEd) Assistant Secretary for Learning Systems Strand; Dir. Ebenezer Beloy, DepEd Director for Bureau of Curriculum Development Learning Systems Strand; Ma. Lotuslie Dimagiba, DOST-STII Supervising Science Research Specialist; Sheryll Gayola, Pasig City Schools Division Superintendent; Manolo Nava, BPIF Senior Program Manager; and Edric Calma, KCFI Vice President.

The Bank of the Philippine Islands’ (BPI) social development arm, the BPI Foundation, is promoting financial education by releasing two new episodes of Estudyantipid, an entertaining instructional series that aims to teach young Filipinos the fundamentals of money management.

At Pasig City’s Rizal High School, hundreds of junior and senior high school students attended an interactive financial literacy program for the on-ground debut. In addition to engaging in interactive exercises and lively conversations, attendees received an advance preview of the upcoming episodes, which address current issues including scam and fraud awareness and the distinction between gross and net profit in the corporate world.

Carmina Marquez, Executive Director of BPI Foundation, highlighted the organization’s ongoing mission to make financial education more accessible and relevant: “At BPI Foundation, we believe that financial education is a cornerstone of empowerment. By equipping young people with practical money skills early on, we’re building a generation that is responsible, resilient, and ready to face the future. Estudyantipid reflects our commitment to making learning both relevant and transformative for Filipino students.”

Educators also praised the initiative, recognizing the value of integrating financial literacy into the school curriculum—a subject often overlooked in traditional education. Through the Knowledge Channel’s Portable Media Library, schools now have access not only to the new Estudyantipid episodes but also to a broad range of educational content designed to enrich student learning.

Hundreds of Rizal High School students in Pasig City took part in an interactive financial literacy session.

The latest episodes of Estudyantipid address topics that resonate strongly with today’s youth. One episode demystifies the concepts of gross profit versus net profit, while the other provides practical tips to help students identify and avoid scams. Presented through relatable storytelling, the series bridges classroom concepts with real-life financial decision-making.

This launch is a component of the larger FinEd Unboxed program by the BPI Foundation, which intends to provide financial education to businesses, communities, and schools nationwide. Estudyantipid airs on the Kapamilya Channel every Sunday at 8:15 AM, on Kapamilya Online Live every Saturday at 7:40 AM, and on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 1:40 PM during the Araling Panlipunan timeslot.

Visit www.bpifoundation.org to find out more about BPIF’s financial education initiatives, or follow the BPI Foundation on Instagram (@bpifoundationinc) and Facebook (@BPIFoundation).