Erodians benefit from 90-day SIM registration extension

By CARLO ESGUERRA

The Government and telecoms carriers have extended the registration time for the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card by 90 days.

On April 25, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed the extension of registering the sim cards.

According to Remulla, “there is a 90-day extension.” President Marcos presided over a sectoral conference at which authorities deliberated whether to prolong the SIM card registration period.

Mr. Dustin Wayne B. Gatus, a grade 10 student from Eulogio Rodriguez Junior High School said that he couldn’t register his simcard because of its many requirements. He also added that he was relieved when he heard the extension of registration.

As of Sunday, April 23, more than 82 million SIM cards had been registered, accounting for 49.31% of total active SIMs as of December 2022. The Philippines now has 168,016,400 active SIM cards.

AFP unites with US military in Balikatan 2023

By ANGELA PALOMAR

More than 17,600 troops of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the U.S. military will take part in Balikatan 2023, the largest Balikatan exercise to date, from April 11-28. Activities will take place in Antique and North and Central Luzon.

“Engagements such as Balikatan are important investments in our ability to work together across the spectrum of military operations, respond to crises, support the people of the Philippines, and accomplish our shared missions.” said Lt. Col. Daniel Huvane, Balikatan Combined Joint Information Director.

However, the 18-day exercise would cause a significant chunk of the town’s typical fishing grounds to become a “no-sail zone” on some days.

Fear is what Grade 10 students from E. Rodriguez Jr. High School (ERJHS) feel whenever they go home at 5 p.m., afraid that they might be in danger walking or commuting alone.

“Sometimes, I’m frightened to walk home alone because we won’t know what could happen especially in the dark, I might get catcalled or who knows I might get robbed,” said by a 10th grader from ERJHS.

In a similar manner, fishermen and fish vendors expressed fear that local fishing areas might get distrupted during the Balikatan.

42% of Filipinos prefer optional ROTC

By YHASHLEY FLORES

The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program should be ‘optional’ for Senior High School Students, said by more Filipinos.

It is according to a national survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) in the First Quarter of 2023.

1,200 adults nationwide were asked about their opinion for the implementation of ROTC, and 42% of them believed it should be optional.

Some Erodians also believe that it should be optional and not mandatory. While it aims to provide them with military training, boosting national security and preparedness, they also think that it is not suitable for them and may affect their academic development.

A Grade 10 student in E. Rodriguez Jr. High School (ERJHS) said “The ROTC should not be mandatory, I don’t want to be forced to do things I don’t like.”

The choice regarding the optional, compulsory, or removal of the ROTC program in the educational curriculum will require the consideration of every perspective and needs of Filipino students.