US, nakisali na sa Israel vs. Iran... Mga Pinoy, delikado — Imee

ni Mylene Alfonso @News | June 23, 2025

File Photo: Sen. Imee Marcos - FB

Ikinabahala ni Senador Imee Marcos ang pagsali ng Amerika hinggil sa sigalot sa pagitan ng Israel at Iran na mas nagdagdag ng pandaigdigang peligro.

Ginawa ni Imee ang reaksyon matapos ang naging pagsalakay ng Amerika sa tatlong nuclear sites ng Iran kabilang na ang Fordow, Natanz, at Isfahan.

"Labis ang pag-aalala nating lahat para sa kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayang naiipit sa digmaan," wika ng senadora.

"Isa pang epekto nito ay sa langis, na siguradong may mabigat na implikasyon sa ekonomiya ng bansa; sa agrikultura, transportasyon, pabrika, pagawaan at iba pa."

"Gaya ng lagi kong paninindigan, KAPAYAPAAN higit sa lahat. Magsilbi nawa itong panawagan sa Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO) na gawing prayoridad ang kaligtasan ng bawat Pilipino roon," saad pa niya.

Kumakatok din siya sa pamahalaan para sa isang matibay na aksyon at plano sa problema ng langis at magiging kabuhayan ng mga magbabalik-bayan.

Matatandaang umugong ang posibilidad na tumaas ang pamasahe sa mga pampublikong transportasyon kasunod ng pagsipa ng presyo ng petrolyo dahil sa lumalalang tensyon sa pagitan ng Iran at Israel.

Pinapahiya, pinagbabantaan... 150 biktima ng online lending apps

ni Mylene Alfonso @News | June 23, 2025

File Photo: Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission - PAOCC

Naghain ng reklamo ang mahigit 86 na biktima ng pang-aabuso ng ilang online lending applications (OLAs). 

Ito ang iniulat ng Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC). 

Bandang alas-6 ng umaga pa lamang, dumating na sa kanilang tanggapan ang mga biktimang nakaranas ng pagbabanta o pananakot mula sa mga online lending applications, upang magsumite ng kanilang sinumpaang salaysay.

Binigyang-diin ng PAOCC na ang mga ilegal na pamamaraan na ginagamit ng mga OLAs, kabilang ang public shaming, doxing, coercive messaging, at pagbabanta, ay malinaw na paglabag sa data privacy, lending regulations, at human dignity. 

Nakiisa rin ang United OLA Victims Movement (UOVM) sa sabayang pagsasampa ng reklamo. 

Ang UOVM ay isang civil society organization na pinamumunuan ni Kikay Bautista, na tumutulong at gumagabay sa mga biktima ng online lending harassment. 

Ayon kay Usec. Gilberto Cruz, ang pagdagsa ng mga bagong reklamo ay malinaw na tanda na mas maraming Pilipino ang nagpapasya nang ipaglaban ang kanilang mga karapatan at labanan ang pang-aabuso.

Sa kasalukuyan, mayroon aniya silang humigit-kumulang 150 pormal na reklamo, at inaasahan nilang darami pa ito habang dumarami ang mga biktima na nagsusumbong. 

“These abusive practices must end, and we are committed to holding perpetrators accountable,” ani Cruz.

BatStateU The NEU climbs in 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, breaks into 401-600 band globally

by Aaron Erwin Austria / Arnold Ramos @Brand Zone | June 20, 2025

BATANGAS CITY — Strengthening its commitment to advancing the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Batangas State University, The National Engineering University (BatStateU The NEU), has made a significant leap in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, rising from the 601–800 band to the 401–600 band out of 2,318 participating universities worldwide, as announced on June 18.

Among 113 Philippine (PH) higher education institutions making the list, BatStateU The NEU secured 2nd place nationally—further affirming its leadership in driving SDG-aligned initiatives and championing inclusive, sustainable development.

Despite intensified global competition—with 355 additional institutions participating this year—BatStateU not only ascended to a higher bracket but also recorded its highest overall performance score to date: 74.9. This marks a 10.47% increase from the previous year and an impressive 19.65% growth since its inaugural participation in 2023.

“BatStateU is honored to be recognized once again by Times Higher Education,” said Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo, University President. “This achievement reflects the steadfast efforts of our academic community—faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners—who bring our mission to life every single day. As we continue to elevate our global standing, we remain grounded in our purpose: to engineer meaningful change through inclusive, sustainable, and forward-thinking innovation. My deepest thanks to everyone who walks this journey with us as we strive to build a more resilient and sustainable world,” he added.

The THE Impact Rankings represents the first global initiative to assess how universities contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), evaluating performance across four key areas: research, stewardship, outreach, and teaching.

Among the 17 UN SDGs, BatStateU stood out in four key areas, earning placements within the Top 101–200 universities globally, with one SDG breaking into the Top 100. Leading the charge is SDG 5: Gender Equality, where the University ranked 68th out of 1,559 institutions, its highest SDG ranking to date. This achievement was driven by a substantial rise in the percentage of senior female academic leaders—from 34.6 to 72.5—as well as enhanced measures for student access and increased representation of first-generation female students. Equally noteworthy is the University’s performance in SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, where it earned high scores in water usage and care, boosting its overall score to 72.3, a significant leap from 63.3 in 2024. For SDG 14: Life Below Water, BatStateU maintained its strong global standing through consistent efforts in aquatic ecosystem preservation and improved marine-sensitive waste management. Lastly, under SDG 15: Life on Land, the University maintained its upward momentum, achieving a commendable score of 71.0 through expanded environmental education programs and advances in biodiversity research.

In addition, the University has also outperformed the global average scores in 9 out of 17 SDGs, including Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17), which is a mandatory goal for the said ranking. 

Batangas State University, designated as the Philippines’ National Engineering University through Republic Act No. 11694, is widely recognized for its excellence in engineering education. A Level-IV state university, it has produced over 180 engineering board topnotchers, solidifying its reputation as the country’s largest engineering university. Notably, BatStateU is also a pioneer in quality assurance for engineering education. It is the first state university in the Philippines to have engineering programs accredited by the Philippine Technological Council through its Accreditation and Certification Board for Engineering and Technology (PTC-ACBET). Moreover, it remains the first—and to date, the only—state university in the country with engineering and computing programs accredited by the US-based Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), through both its Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) and Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC).

With a QS Stars Rating of three stars, BatStateU has also earned global recognition for its commitment to sustainability, ranking as the 304th Most Sustainable University in the 2024 UI GreenMetric World University Rankings. Furthermore, it was also recognized as the 128th most innovative university globally in the prestigious World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI) 2024.

At the forefront of these efforts is the University’s Center for Sustainable Development (CSD), which serves as the central hub for advancing BatStateU’s sustainability agenda. Recognizing the urgent need for action in support of national and global sustainability goals, the CSD integrates sustainability across the University’s core functions—instruction, research, innovation, extension, and administrative services.

Through active collaboration with students, faculty, staff, and partner communities, the Center fosters a shared responsibility for building a sustainable future. As such, it is envisioned to evolve into a leading platform for transformative action and thought leadership in sustainable development, both locally and globally.

For the full rankings and methodology of THE Impact Rankings, detailed information can be accessed at the THE Website: