Jasha Gamao

PASAY CITY—Following growing concerns over student welfare and campus security, the Senate has officially passed Senate Bill No. 2426, or the School Safety Act. Authored by Senator Bam Aquino, the measure seeks to establish a comprehensive framework protecting students, teachers, and school personnel from bullying, violence, harassment, and other safety threats.  

The proposed law centers around a three-pillar framework: prevention, response, and recovery. Under this framework, every learning institution will be required to establish a localized School Safety Plan tailored to the unique risks and needs of its community. 

The bill aims to ensure proactive risk prevention, rapid incident response, and strong recovery support including mental health and counseling services for affected individuals.  

“Karapatan ng bawat estudyante na matuto sa isang ligtas na paaralan. Hindi dapat sila pumapasok nang may takot na makaranas ng bullying, harassment, karahasan, o anumang pang-aabusong maaaring makaapekto sa kanilang kaligtasan at mental health.” Senator Aquino said on a social media post. 

To ensure seamless implementation, the Department of Education (DepEd) will lead a multi-agency collaboration involving local government units, law enforcement, schools, and local communities. 

Beyond protecting students, the legislation also prioritizes the safety and well-being of teachers and campus staff, equipping them with the necessary institutional backing and support to fulfill their duties securely.  

With the measure now cleared by the Senate, Senator Aquino has called on the House of Representatives to swiftly act on and pass their counterpart version of the bill. 

Urging lawmakers not to wait for another tragedy before taking action, Aquino stressed the urgency of enacting the legislation into law to guarantee safe learning environments across the country.

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PASAY CITY—The Senate closed out last week by approving nine bills, adopting one resolution, and ratifying two bicameral conference committee reports. The session covered a broad range of national priorities, including youth welfare, housing access, labor support, economic growth, and national security.

Youth protection and educational access were central to the week's legislative output. Lawmakers ratified the bicameral report for the Presidential Merit Scholarship Programs Act, sponsored by Senator Joel Villanueva, establishing expanded financial aid for deserving students pursuing higher education and technical-vocational courses. 

The chamber also passed on third and final reading the SMART KIDS Act, sponsored by Senator Robin Padilla, which restricts social media account creation for minors under 18 to enhance online safety.

Housing reform and labor support saw significant action with the passage of multiple measures. Senators approved four key housing bills sponsored by Senator Chiz Escudero, the Residential Emancipation for Calamity Survivors Act, the Affordable and Decent Rental Housing Incentives Act, the Rental Housing Subsidy Act, and amendments to the Urban Development and Housing Act while also ratifying the Condominium Redevelopment Act. 

To support Filipino workers, the Senate passed the Bagong Balikbayan Act for returning overseas workers, sponsored by Sen. Raffy Tulfo, as well as two measures sponsored by Sen. Erwin Tulfo to grant formal recognition and expanded insurance benefits to line workers nationwide.

The legislative package concluded with key measures addressing local industry and international relations. Senators passed on third reading the Kawayan Act, aimed at developing the national bamboo industry to stimulate rural economic growth. 

In foreign affairs, the chamber formally concurred in the ratification of the Philippines-France Status of Visiting Forces Agreement—marking the country's first status of forces pact established with a European nation.

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MANILA—The Judiciary Magis delivered a final verdict on DOJ Radiance's unbeaten run, pulling off a heart-stopping 67–66 victory in the second game of the UNTV Cup Executive Face Off 2026 triple-header on Wednesday, October 7, at the Paco Arena. 

The hard-fought win snapped DOJ’s winning streak, dealing them their first loss of the elimination round and sliding them down to the fourth spot in the team standings.  

Supreme Court Associate Justice Midas Marquez earned Best Player of the Game honors after spearheading Judiciary's attack with 12 points. 

Marquez proved clutch in the closing seconds of the nail-biter, sinking a critical charity stripe shot with 21.3 seconds remaining to give Judiciary a vital four-point breathing room down the stretch.  

In a post-game interview, Justice Marquez reflected on the team's commitment and resilience following the huge victory over their government rivals. 

“Well, every win is an achievement for the Judiciary. Talagang binibigay naman namin ang lahat ng mabibigay namin para manalo,” Marquez stated in the post-game interview.

The dramatic clash highlighted the intense, high-stakes action of Wednesday's action-packed fixture at the Paco Arena. 

With both teams now standing at 4–1, Judiciary's tactical composure under pressure proved to be the difference-maker in keeping their momentum alive while disrupting the top tier of the tournament standings.  

This signature triumph positions the Judiciary Magis favorably in their push for post-season positioning, proving they have the grit to withstand down-to-the-wire battles against top-tier contenders in the executive league.

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MANILA—The Ombudsman Graftbusters pulled off an emphatic 80–64 victory against the PhilHealth Health Insurers during the opening showdown of the UNTV Cup Executive Face Off 2026 triple-header on Wednesday, October 7, at the Paco Arena.

The decisive win served as a strong rebound for Ombudsman, allowing them to bounce back into contention while handing PhilHealth a setback in the ongoing elimination round.

Leading the charge for the Graftbusters was Best Players of the Game Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano IV and Attorney Hyderabad Casar.

Assistant Ombudsman Clavano puts up a stat sheet-stuffing performance of 19 points, 4 assists, and 4 steals.

He was reinforced inside by Attorney Hyderabad Casar, who registered a commanding double-double performance with 22 points and 15 rebounds to anchor Ombudsman's frontcourt dominance throughout the contest.

Following the matchup, Clavano stressed the team's burning desire to bounce back after a tough drop in their previous outing.

“Syempre gusto namin bumawi from the last games, we just came from a lost kaya importante din yung game na’to para patas 2-2 na kami,” Clavano stated when reflecting on their crucial victory in the post-game interview.

Clavano further emphasized the necessity of composure and maintaining command of the game's rhythm moving forward in the tournament.

“I think we have to play it in our own pace, kailangan ilaro namin yung laro talaga namin hindi kami pwede magpadala sa ibang team kung ano yung style nila, hindi dapat kami magpapadala do’n. I guess confidence in our own game,” Clavano added.

Meanwhile, echoing the team-first mindset required to sustain their winning momentum, Casar highlighted the collective effort that sealed their second victory of the season.

“We just have to play the roles that we are given by the coach. Anyway, basketball is laro yan ng 5 players sa court. So, kailangan talaga ng teamwork,” Casar shared on the key to their overall performance.

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MANILA—The AFP Cavaliers put on a masterclass performance to crush the PhilHealth Health Insurers, 121–53, during the second game of the UNTV Cup Executive Face Off Sunday triple-header on October 4, 2026, at the Paco Arena. 

Displaying unrelenting offensive authority and tactical defense, the Cavaliers dominated every facet of the floor to hand PhilHealth a lopsided beating.  

The high-powered victory keeps the AFP Cavaliers undefeated and propels them back to the number 1 position in the team standings with a clean 4-0 record. 

Conversely, the loss keeps the PhilHealth Health Insurers winless at 0-3, pinning them at the 9th spot of the executive tournament standings.  

At the center of the scoring explosion was Col. Edwin Parcia, who earned the Best Player of the Game title after knocking down a massive 34 points alongside 3 rebounds. 

Parcia put on a shooting display from beyond the arc, draining 9 out of 22 three-pointers to single-handedly bury the Health Insurers' defensive schemes.

Attributing their seamless execution to disciplined coaching and team cohesion, Parcia emphasized the collective effort behind their strong run: 

“First of all, teamwork. Sundan lang namin yung play na ginagawa ng aming mga coach kasi yun nagdadala sa amin sa maayos na laro at depensa. Kasi kung wala yung guidance ng coaches, medyo watak-watak yung depensa namin at saka opensa.”

With four straight victories under their belt, the Cavaliers continue to solidify their championship credentials in the elimination round. 

PhilHealth will need a quick turnaround and massive adjustments in their upcoming fixtures to stay alive in the playoff race.

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