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Ocean economy grows to over P1 trillion last year

The country’s ocean-based industries expanded by 5.3 percent in 2025, driven by stronger contributions from fishing activities and marine equipment manufacturing.

In its latest report, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said the value of the country’s ocean-based economy reached P1.08 trillion last year, from P1.02 trillion in 2024.

Despite the expanded value of ocean-based industries, its contribution to the country’s gross domestic product declines to 3.8 percent in 2025 from 3.9 percent the prior year.

Among ocean-based activities, the PSA said marine safety, surveillance and resource management saw the highest growth at 31.7 percent in 2025.

This was followed by marine insurance at 29.6 percent, while sea-based transportation and storage posted a 10.8 percent increase.

In terms of total contribution to the ocean economy, ocean fishing registered the highest share with 24.1 percent.

This was followed by the manufacture of ocean-based products at 21.3 percent, sea-based transportation and storage at 16.3 percent and coastal accommodation and food and beverage service activities at 12.1 percent.

The PSA added that total employment for ocean-based industries amounted to 2.46 million in 2025, a 3.4-percent increase from the 2.38 million logged the prior year.

‘With respect to the total employment in the country, five percent is ocean-based,’ the report said.

Among sea-based activities, ocean fishing made up the largest share at 37.8 percent.

Sea-based transportation and storage followed, making up 23.6 percent, while coastal accommodation and food and beverage services activities employed 21.7 percent of the total.

Paystack targets Nigeria’s SME survival gap with new growth accelerator

Thousands of Nigerian small businesses struggle with rising operating costs, weak consumer spending and limited access to business support.

This is even as Paystack is launching a new accelerator programme aimed at helping entrepreneurs build stronger and more resilient companies beyond simply accepting digital payments.

The fintech company on Monday unveiled Small Business Launchpad, a four-week growth programme that will provide selected small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with practical business training, one-on-one mentorship, operational support and financial incentives, underscoring a growing shift among fintech firms from payment processing to business development.

The initiative comes at a time when Nigerian SMEs, which account for the overwhelming majority of businesses and employ millions of people, are facing one of their toughest operating environments in years. Inflation, high borrowing costs, exchange-rate volatility and rising energy prices have squeezed profit margins, leaving many entrepreneurs searching for practical ways to improve efficiency, manage cash flow and grow revenues.

Paystack’s programme seeks to address those challenges by pairing founders with experienced operators who have built successful businesses, while giving them direct access to finance experts, growth specialists and Paystack’s own support teams.

‘Small business owners are making decisions every day about customers, cash flow, operations and growth, often with limited time and support.

‘Launchpad gives us a practical way to work more closely with the merchants building on Paystack, connect them with experienced operators, and help them leave with stronger systems, relevant networks and actions they can apply immediately. We want the programme to be useful from day one, not theoretical,’ said Jumoke Gbeleyi, strategy and operations leader at Paystack.

The first cohort will begin on August 27 and admit up to 50 active Paystack merchants operating SMEs in Nigeria. Participants will attend business clinics, receive tailored advice through expert office hours, enjoy priority customer support from Paystack and qualify for three months of free payment processing after completing the programme, capped at N25 million in processed transactions.

Businesses accepted into the programme will also gain access to exclusive product benefits, early access to Paystack features and a founder community designed to continue long after the four-week programme ends. Selected participants will pay a N150,000 participation fee and must commit to completing the entire programme.

The first cohort will focus on customer acquisition, financial management, business systems and operational excellence, with sessions led by entrepreneurs and executives who have scaled businesses across different sectors.

Among the facilitators are Babajide Duroshola, managing director of M-KOPA Nigeria; Luther Lawoyin, co-founder of Pricepally; Nana Abu, senior manager at KPMG; Kenny Isichei of Bumpa; and Jumoke Dada, founder of Taéillo.

The programme builds on Paystack’s broader push to become more than a payment infrastructure provider. In June, the company introduced its Small Business Bundle, offering eligible merchants discounted products and services from business partners. Launchpad expands that strategy by helping entrepreneurs strengthen the operational foundations needed to survive and grow.

The move also reflects a broader evolution across Africa’s fintech industry. As digital payment services become increasingly competitive, providers are looking for new ways to differentiate themselves by offering software tools, financing, education and business advisory services that help merchants succeed.

For Paystack, whose platform serves more than 300,000 organisations across Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire, stronger businesses could ultimately translate into greater payment volumes, higher customer retention and deeper engagement with its ecosystem.

While access to finance remains a major obstacle for Nigerian SMEs, many businesses also struggle because of weak financial management, limited business systems and inadequate mentorship. Programmes that provide practical guidance from experienced entrepreneurs could therefore become an important complement to funding initiatives.

Paystack said Small Business Launchpad will initially focus on Nigeria, with plans to introduce additional cohorts and expand the programme in the future. Applications for the inaugural cohort are now open to eligible Paystack merchants.

UBEC sets minimum standards for inclusive education

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has unveiled national minimum standards and implementation guidelines aimed at strengthening inclusive and special education in Nigeria’s basic education system, with a renewed focus on ensuring that no child is denied access to quality education because of disability or developmental challenges.

The initiative was unveiled during a two-day National Stakeholder Engagement and Capacity Building Workshop on the utilization of the National Special and Inclusive Basic Education Minimum Standards, Implementation Guidelines, Functional Difficulty Early Identification Tool and Capacity Building Manual, held at the UBEC Digital Resource Centre in Abuja.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aisha Garba, represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Mr. Razak Olajuwon, described the initiative as a major step towards strengthening state capacity for effective implementation of inclusive and special education across the country.

She spoke against the backdrop of revelation that about 40 per cent of Nigerian children under five are stunted, while approximately 52 per cent are not developmentally ready for school, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated early intervention.

Garba noted that despite improvements in school enrolment over the years, children with disabilities continue to face significant barriers to accessing and completing basic education, citing reports by United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and UNICEF indicating that inadequate early identification of disabilities, inaccessible learning environments and limited teacher preparedness remain major obstacles to inclusive education globally.

According to her, UBEC has developed three strategic national instruments to address these challenges, noting that the National Special and Inclusive Basic Education Minimum Standards provide measurable benchmarks covering governance, infrastructure, accessibility, teacher competencies, curriculum adaptation, assistive technology, learner assessment, safeguarding and quality assurance. She stressed that international evidence has shown that early identification and intervention significantly improve school readiness, literacy development and long-term educational outcomes while reducing the cost of remedial interventions later in life.

‘Standards and tools alone cannot transform educational outcomes. Their effectiveness depends on strong institutional capacity, coordinated implementation and continuous monitoring,’ she said.

She urged every SUBEB to strengthen inclusive education planning, institutionalise functional difficulty screening in schools and Early Childhood Care Development and Education (ECCDE) centres, improve referral pathways with the health and social sectors, and establish reliable data management systems.

The UBEC boss said implementation of the national documents would improve school compliance with minimum standards, enhance teacher effectiveness, increase learner participation and generate reliable disability-disaggregated data to support national education planning.

She noted that such data would strengthen equitable financing, targeted interventions and Nigeria’s commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal Four (SDG 4), the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the National Policy on Inclusive Education.

Garba commended the Federal Ministry of Education as well as development partners, particularly UNICEF and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), for providing technical support during the development and validation of the documents. Earlier, the Acting Director of the Department of Special Programmes and Early Childhood, Dr. Chijioke Onwuzurike, described the workshop as a strategic intervention designed to bridge the gap between policy formulation and implementation.

She said while Nigeria has developed sound policy frameworks for inclusive education, effective service delivery at state, local government and school levels remains a challenge.

According to him, the newly developed documents are intended to guide planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring and quality assurance of inclusive education programmes nationwide.

Onwuzurike disclosed that the workshop would provide participants with practical skills on administering the Functional Difficulty Early Identification Tool, interpreting screening outcomes, establishing referral pathways and supporting timely interventions.

She stressed that strengthening inclusive education requires collaboration across education, health, social welfare and other sectors.

The acting director expressed concern that Nigeria currently operates more than 45 Early Childhood Development service delivery platforms across different sectors with limited coordination, resulting in fragmented services and duplication of efforts.

She revealed that about 40 per cent of Nigerian children under five are stunted, while approximately 52 per cent are not developmentally ready for school, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated early intervention.

According to her, many children with developmental disabilities are not identified until between the ages of five and ten, long after the critical period for early brain development.

She also identified inadequate financing, geographical disparities and insufficient training for frontline teachers and caregivers as major constraints to effective implementation of inclusive education.

Onwuzurike appealed for continued support to expand capacity building on Early Childhood Care, Development and Education as well as alternative education programmes for girls.

In her goodwill message, UNICEF Education Officer, Blessing Afuwai, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in building an inclusive education system where every child can learn and thrive.

She described inclusive education and early identification of children with special needs as critical to achieving quality education and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The workshop brought together representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, SUBEB Directors of Special Programmes, Special Education Desk Officers, development partners, disability advocacy groups, education professionals and other stakeholders to chart a coordinated pathway for implementing inclusive education across Nigeria.

Dy calls for truth as House pushes anti-disinfo, social media bills

Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III on Monday warned of the growing risks of unregulated social media use amid the proliferation of false information online.

In his opening remarks to lawmakers, Dy called on Filipinos to push back against disinformation, saying its unchecked spread threatens to erode democracy.

‘Let us not allow the noise of social media to shape our beliefs,’ he said in Filipino. ‘Let us uphold truth over fake news, understanding over anger, and unity over division.’

Dy also said the lower chamber had passed a bill penalizing those who circulate false information online to curb disinformation.

The House is also pushing for a bill prohibiting those under 13 from accessing digital platforms to bolster such efforts, he added.

‘We are requesting that this proposal also be included in the Ledac (Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council) priority bills so it can be enacted at the soonest possible time,’ Dy said.

Temporary reprieve, but no real solution

The government’s willingness to once again suspend excise taxes on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and kerosene offers immediate relief to millions of struggling households-and reveals just how precarious their economic security truly is. (Read the BusinessMirror story: PHL mulls over halting tax on cooking gas, kerosene, July 25, 2026).

Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go’s announcement that another tax suspension is ‘possible’ if Dubai crude remains above $80 per barrel for 30 days is the right short-term response to an untenable situation. With kerosene prices already jumping by nearly P12 per liter last week alone, and further increases of P3 to P7 per liter expected across all fuel types, poor families can no longer afford to tighten their belts. For millions of households that rely on LPG and kerosene for basic daily needs, the P2.5 billion in foregone government revenue is a small price to pay for keeping the lights on and stoves burning.

But let us be clear about what this represents: triage, not treatment.

The country finds itself at the mercy of geopolitical forces it cannot control. The escalating conflict in the Middle East-now expanding from the Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea with Houthi attacks on commercial shipping-has injected a volatile risk premium into global oil markets. When President Donald Trump threatens ‘major military punishment’ and contemplates ‘massive attacks’ on Iran, Filipino families thousands of miles away brace for higher jeepney fares, and more expensive goods, including LPG and kerosene.

This is not sustainable energy policy. It is crisis management masquerading as governance.

Executive Order No. 114, which provides the mechanism for these tax suspensions, was designed precisely because policymakers recognized this vulnerability. But the fact that we are already contemplating a second suspension within months-after the first three-month reprieve ended on July 8-should alarm us. The ‘when’ of these suspensions has become not a matter of if, but how often.

The fundamental problem remains unchanged: the Philippines remains heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels, with domestic prices tethered to the violent fluctuations of global markets and the petrodollar machinations of distant powers. Every Middle East flare-up becomes a tax on Filipino kitchens. Every Strait of Hormuz skirmish translates to higher prices at the sari-sari store.

What is needed is not merely a suspension of taxes when prices spike, but a serious reckoning with energy security. Renewable energy investments, strategic petroleum reserves, mass transit infrastructure that reduces fuel dependence, and targeted subsidies that reach the truly needy without bankrupting the treasury-these are the conversations that should dominate policy discussions, not just emergency meetings when Dubai crude breaches arbitrary thresholds.

For now, the DBCC should absolutely recommend suspension. The alternative-allowing poor households to absorb the full brunt of an P87 per barrel oil price while regional tensions escalate-is unconscionable. But when the immediate crisis passes and prices inevitably retreat, as they always do, the government must resist the temptation to declare mission accomplished.

The next suspension, whenever it comes, should be the last. Not because oil prices will never rise again-they will-but because by then, we should have built something more resilient than a tax code that changes with the headlines from the Persian Gulf.

Filipino families deserve energy security, not energy charity.

Partners in hope

If you want a village, you must first be a good villager.

Communities are not built overnight. They are shaped by people willing to show up for one another, especially during the hardest of times.

At its core, true partnership is an act of solidarity. It asks for no recognition or reward, only the willingness to extend compassion where it is needed most.

This same philosophy guides Operation Damayan, the humanitarian arm of the PhilSTAR Media Group. With every urgent call for help, its partners answer without a moment’s hesitation; stepping up as dedicated villagers serving a much larger purpose. The act of showing up

This commitment to the Filipino people is a legacy built over decades. The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) has long stood within arm’s reach of Damayan.

Through its flagship Operation Barrio School program, the FFCCCII has donated more than 6,500 school buildings nationwide since the 1960s. To further bridge the educational gap, the federation pledged two brand-new school buildings to Damayan as recently as October 2025.

The Angelo King Foundation Inc. (AKFI) is equally close to the heart of Damayan. By placing impactful initiatives at the center of its mission, the foundation has consistently supported Damayan.

“What makes AKFI’s partnership with Operation Damayan meaningful is that it is really a collective effort. No single organization can address every challenge on its own, especially during large-scale disasters,” says Teddy Kingsu, president of AKFI.

“For us at AKFI, it also gives us confidence that our contributions are being used effectively and are truly reaching the people who need them,” he adds.

The strength of these bonds is most evident in times of crisis.

In December 2021, Damayan’s fund drive reached the P5 million mark to aid survivors of Typhoon Odette, thanks to the Angelo King Foundation Inc., San Miguel Corp., GT Capital, Metrobank Foundation, and SM Prime Holdings Corp.

That synergy continues to translate into real-world relief today.

In July 2025, the FFCCCII and Angelo King Foundation each donated P1 million to support Damayan’s typhoon relief drives, significantly expanding the reach of emergency aid to devastated communities.

The Freeman Foundation has also been hands-on in relief operations alongside Damayan. Its invaluable support has helped make the program successful in its mission.

Whether facing earthquakes, severe floods or torrential rains, the desire to help remains unstoppable. These are just a few examples of how Damayan and its partners have uplifted the lives and spirits of the Filipino people.

What matters most

At the end of the day, it is the act of building community that truly matters. Being a “good villager” means more than simply providing funds; it means being on the ground with the people, especially when they need it most.

It is about going out of one’s way to build not just structures, but a sense of hope and security for the future.

Most importantly, it is about the power of initiative. It is the art of delivering aid without asking for anything in return; asking only what more can be done to help.

House prioritizes tax relief, lower power costs on post-SONA agenda

The House of Representatives will prioritize measures granting income tax relief to workers, easing the tax burden on small businesses and reducing electricity costs as lawmakers begin work on the legislative agenda outlined by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ G. Dy III said the House would give priority to proposals exempting employees earning up to ?350,000 annually from income tax, reducing taxes for other workers, and granting tax relief to small businesses.

The proposed reforms also include exempting small enterprises from the minimum corporate income tax and providing tax amnesty for unpaid income tax, estate tax, donor’s tax, value-added tax (VAT) and related penalties.

Dy said the House is prepared to translate the President’s policy priorities into legislation.

‘The House fully supports the President’s call to provide meaningful tax relief to our people. We will carefully study these proposals and work to pass measures that will allow Filipino workers to keep more of what they earn, help small businesses grow, and give qualified taxpayers a fresh start through a fair and responsible tax amnesty,’ he said.

‘The SONA sets the direction of the administration. The role of the House is to ensure that its priorities receive the necessary support through orderly, thorough, and timely deliberations,’ Dy added.

Apart from tax reforms, Dy said lawmakers would prioritize measures aimed at lowering electricity costs.

These include the proposed Sariling Kuryente Act, which seeks to make rooftop solar panels and battery storage systems more affordable and accessible to households, and amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).

The proposed EPIRA amendments would prohibit power distributors from passing system-loss charges and the corresponding value-added tax on to consumers.

‘The president has made it clear that bringing down electricity costs is a national priority, and the House stands ready to do its part. We will give due priority to the proposed Sariling Kuryente Act and the amendments to the EPIRA to ensure that consumers are no longer made to shoulder charges that should not be passed on to them,’ Dy said.

He said the House’s legislative agenda remains focused on measures that provide direct and tangible benefits to ordinary Filipinos.

‘The challenge now is to ensure that every measure considered by the House delivers clear and tangible benefits to every Filipino. That will be the measure of our work,’ Dy said.

The Speaker also underscored the need for close coordination between the executive and legislative branches to implement the administration’s priorities.

‘These are practical reforms that respond to the everyday concerns of Filipino families. The House is committed to working closely with the executive to turn these priorities into laws that will ease the cost of living, strengthen our economy, and improve the quality of life of every Filipino,’ he said.

Dy added that the House would continue to pursue responsible and people-centered lawmaking.

Business backs SONA pitches, but cautious on outcomes

BUSINESS groups largely gave President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona) a passing grade on Monday, but said the real test begins after the applause, with execution, funding and policy follow-through now under the spotlight.

The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) said the President touched on many of the priorities long raised by the business community, including job creation, food security, affordable energy, health care, support for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and improved government services.

‘We are encouraged that he addressed key priorities such as job creation, food security, affordable energy, health care, MSME support, and improving government services,’ MAP President Donald Patrick Lim said in a statement after the Sona.

‘These are the right priorities and are aligned with many of the concerns consistently raised by the business community,’ he added.

Lim, however, said businesses are now looking for clear implementation timelines, policy consistency and closer collaboration between government and the private sector.

He also noted that tourism-one of the country’s major economic drivers-was absent from the President’s address.

‘We hope this is complemented by a stronger emphasis on long-term economic reforms that improve the investment climate, strengthen MSMEs, accelerate infrastructure and digital transformation, and make the Philippines more competitive globally,’ he said.

Lim added that Congress should promptly translate the administration’s priorities into legislation while the Executive ensures programs are implemented efficiently and their benefits reach ordinary Filipinos.

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman emeritus Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. echoed the generally positive assessment but questioned whether the government has the fiscal capacity to deliver on the commitments outlined in the speech.

‘From the business point of view, he answered almost everything we have been asking for-and even added more,’ Ortiz-Luis said in a televised interview after the Sona.

However, he said he did not hear any specific plans to strengthen tourism or expand export promotion and product development.

Ortiz-Luis renewed his call for greater support for MSMEs, saying the sector remains among the most underfunded in Asia despite its significant contribution to the economy.

‘I hope there is a plan to source the funding for all these programs,’ he said.

Also, the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) said targeted assistance remains necessary for manufacturers and small businesses as inflationary pressures continue to weigh on operations.

‘Sustaining MSMEs means protecting jobs and keeping local supply chains intact,’ FPI chairman Elizabeth Lee said in a statement.

‘By cushioning enterprises against rising costs, we can soften the blow of weakening demand while preserving employment and production capacity. The dual impact-jobs retained and supply chains stabilized-helps maintain confidence in the domestic market and shields industry from deeper contraction,’ she added.

Lee also said the administration’s emphasis on ease of doing business, Green Lanes and strategic investment initiatives such as Pax Silica provides a clear direction for industry, although businesses will be watching how these policies are carried out.

‘Ultimately, this Sona laid down benchmarks for accountability and competitiveness. The priority now shifts to swift execution-lowering operational costs, cutting red tape, and ensuring reforms translate directly to the factory floor,’ she said.

The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (Apeco) welcomed the administration’s energy agenda, saying more reliable power will strengthen the ecozone’s ability to attract investments.

Apeco President Gil Taway IV said the agency plans to support the government’s energy initiatives by opening the ecozone to investments in renewable energy generation, battery energy storage, power distribution infrastructure and other emerging clean-energy technologies.

Trade, industry agenda

In his address, President Marcos underscored supply chain resilience, trade diversification and industrial upgrading as key components of the administration’s economic strategy.

He highlighted the planned Pax Silica Industrial Hub in New Clark City, describing it as an artificial intelligence-centered manufacturing and logistics ecosystem under the United States (US)-led Pax Silica Initiative and a cornerstone of the Luzon Economic Corridor.

Government projections estimate the project could attract $40 billion to $70 billion in investments, create 130,000 to 190,000 direct jobs, and generate another 500,000 to 800,000 indirect and induced jobs across supporting industries and supply chains.

The chief executive also affirmed the country’s commitment to expanding trade through free trade agreements, citing the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the conclusion of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa) with the United Arab Emirates.

The Philippines now has 23 free trade agreements either in force or under negotiation, which include the recently concluded Cepa negotiations with Chile, alongside ongoing talks with the European Union, Canada and India, as well as the review of the Philippine-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement.

He also said the government’s Green Lanes initiative has facilitated more than P6 trillion worth of strategic investments over the past three years, with projects projected to create over 400,000 jobs.

Since Executive Order 18 took effect in February 2023, at least 239 strategic investment projects worth P6.32 trillion have been certified under the program, per data from the Board of Investments.

Marcos also said the government maintained adequate fuel supplies despite disruptions affecting the Strait of Hormuz by diversifying oil import sources, adding that the country has enough inventory to meet demand for nearly two months.

On manufacturing, Marcos reiterated the administration’s push to accelerate electric vehicle adoption through zero tariffs on electric vehicle (EV) imports until 2028 and a directive requiring government agencies to prioritize EVs in fleet replacement.

He also identified pharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing, technology, logistics and luxury goods among the industries the government aims to develop further.

ST. VINCENT-EDUCATION-Organisation praises blind student for remarkable CXC performance

Voice of the Disabled (VOD), an organisation that helps people living with disabilities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has congratulated Faith Grant, a blind student for her remarkable performance at this year’s examinations set by the Barbados-based Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).

Grant, who was born blind, and is among special education students accommodated at the Fair Hall Government School, performed exceptionally well in this year’s Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA) to gain entry into the country’s top high school for females. Grant, who placed 19th among girl students and 43rd among the 1,760 students in St. Vincent and the Grenadines who wrote this year’s (CPEA) exam, has earned a place at the Girls’ High School.

‘God has blessed Faith, kept her and provided guidance along the way. With a mother who has been passionate and persistent, Faith successfully completed her primary education and ultimately showed the country that all people are capable of achieving greatness, despite differences,’ VOD said in a press statement.

It said that nearly a decade ago, Sister Samuel, who served as programme coordinator for an annual event recognising persons with disabilities at Calder Adventist Church, introduced VOD president and founder Cheryl Adams to the Faith’s mother, Yolanda Grant, .

‘This introduction would begin a friendship that blossomed and grew into partnership. As a parent of a child with a visual impairment, Ms Grant recognised the importance of educating herself, connecting with a supportive community, and seeking out the proper resources’.

The statement said that Yolanda Grant was invited to become a member of VOD and shortly after joining, she was assigned to the role of public relations officer and served as parent group coordinator.

‘Throughout her time at VOD, she delivered training for teachers and parents, and along with Mrs. Adams, worked collaboratively with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment.

‘Not only did Ms. Grant commit to enhancing the life of her own child, but she dedicated her time to serving the community and contributing to a meaningful cause for differently abled Vincentians,’ VOD said, adding that Adams and Grant worked to identify a school for Faith and advocated for proper accommodations.

‘Securing resources for Faith required a great deal of engagement with the Ministry of Education. Ms. Grant had been using her own money to cover the expenses for specialised support and services for Faith,’ VOD said, adding that it raised the family’s needs to the Ministry of National Mobilisation, which at the time was responsible for people with disabilities.

‘In response to the request for intervention, the Ministry of Mobilisation relieved some of the financial burden by coordinating assistance through SVG’s Youth Empowerment Service (YES) programme.

‘There were many challenges and obstacles. However, Faith proved to be a determined, talented, intelligent and resilient young person with a strong desire to learn,’ VOD said, noting Faith’s performance in CPEA.

VOD said ‘every child deserves a fair opportunity to reach their highest potential. Learning institutions, at all levels, should continue to evolve to meet the demands and needs of our diverse population.

‘Creating adaptive materials, providing assistive technology, incorporating Braille and other alternative communication methods, offering family support, providing specialised training to staff and improving accessibility to physical spaces are just a few ways to promote inclusivity.’

VOD said SVG still has a long way to go as a society and a country.

‘Parents and guardians, please take note of Faith’s story. We hope that you feel inspired by Ms. Grant’s unwavering pursuit of a quality life for her child. She understands the value of education, the power of advocacy and the importance of being present. This is only the beginning,’ VOD said.

It said that Faith will need much love, encouragement and support as she tackles the different phases of life.

‘As a person with visual impairment, Faith will also need assistive devices and other tools, which can be costly. If you find it in your heart and are able to offer your support, reach out to the family. You can use your voice and your actions to support local causes in your community and help other children like Faith.’

VOD said it will maintain its commitment to serving the community by advocating for change, encouraging independence through education and training, offering parent support, engaging with local churches and other entities, performing outreach, partnering with local, regional, and international stakeholders.

DOE: Auction of Semirara coal deal faces slight delay

The planned auction for the Semirara coal mine will be moved to either August or September this year to update bidding terms in response to policy changes in Indonesia.

Indonesia has moved to improve regulations on coal exports, according to the Department of Energy (DOE). Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said this development in Indonesia may have an impact on the planned coal auction.

‘The Semirara auction will be impacted. It’s delayed a bit because now we

have to rethink about these changes in Indonesia. Semirara actually exports the majority of it coal.

There are things that we can put in the terms of reference so we maximize our utilization of indigenous coal. I think we still need a few more weeks to finalize. We want this finished as soon as possible,’ she said.

The bidding process for coal development and production areas, including the controversial blocks on Semirara Island, is expected to resume soon. Consunji-led Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC) currently holds coal operating contract (COC) No. 5, which is among the coal blocks on Semirara Island that will be tendered. The COC is valid until July 14, 2027.

‘If the schedule is July (or) August then probably it will be moved to August (or) September. Maybe a one-month delay…There are things that we can put in terms of reference so we maximize our utilization of indigenous coal,’ Garin added.

The DOE chief recently led a Philippine delegation in a series of high-level meetings in Jakarta, Indonesia to secure assurances on coal supply, strengthen bilateral energy cooperation, and seek ‘greater clarity’ on Indonesia’s new export governance framework for coal and other strategic natural resource commodities.

The delegation included officials from the DOE, and the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta. Separate meetings were held with Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs (CMEA), led by Coordinating Minister Airlangga Hartarto; the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR), with Vice Minister Yuliot Tanjung in attendance; and PT Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia (PT DSI).

During the meetings with MEMR and CMEA, the Philippine delegation underscored Indonesia’s role as a strategic energy partner and the Philippines’s principal source of imported coal. The delegation emphasized coal’s continuing role in supporting the country’s power sector and sought regulatory clarity on Indonesia’s export framework to help safeguard power supply stability, affordability, and existing commercial arrangements.

Coordinating Minister Hartarto and Vice Minister Tanjung confirmed the Indonesian government’s initiative in improving regulation on coal exports which is intended to enhance transparency and improve traceability. PT DSI is currently at the forefront of this initiative and hopes to have the draft regulation released soonest.

Nonetheless, both officials recognized the importance of ensuring stable supply of coal to its partner economies who rely heavily on coal for power generation and other industrial uses and emphasized that the recent development does not intend to disrupt supply but improve transparency in coal transactions.