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Water under the bridge
Last year, Razon-led Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. and Lopez-owned First Gen Corp. said they were in discussions to develop a gas aggregation framework using the latter’s liquified natural gas (LNG) terminal in Batangas......»»
CLI allots higher capex, partners with Japan firm
Cebu Landmasters Inc. is hiking its capital spending to P14.5 billion this year as it gears up for growth and expansion following a strong financial performance in 2023......»»
Love CALABARZON, Love the Philippines!
The CALABARZON Region, an acronym for its five component provinces: Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon, is known for its rich culture, breathtaking sceneries, and delectable food. This is why the Department of Tourism has chosen the region for the second leg of the Philippine Experience Program — showcasing cultural tourism circuit development focused on the heritage, culture, and arts of the country’s various regions. From 30 September to 2 October 2023, delegates of the PEP, including foreign dignitaries from various Embassies, as well as tour operators, travel agencies, vloggers, and members of the media, were given the chance to explore the wonders of CALABARZON. The first stop of the PEP was the shrine in the ancestral home of the country’s first President, Emilio Aguinaldo, the place where the country’s first national anthem was played and where the Philippine flag unfurled. [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="194483,194482,194484,194485"] Delegates later served the Magdiwang and Magdalo breakfasts, a simple yet rich morning feast consisting of Cavite’s products: the Amadeo garlic fried rice, tuyo, tapa, scrambled eggs and hot chocolate. Delegates had a glimpse of the remarkable talents of 51 competing marching bands all over the country at the Bakood Festival, coinciding with the 352nd Founding Anniversary of the City of Bacoor, the marching band capital of the country. PEP participants took an epic trip down memory lane to revisit a small town in Taal, Batangas, richly endowed with well-preserved towers, which made Taal an inspirational cornerstone and pillar of Filipino history. [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="194481,194491"] Casa San Pablo was the first itinerary during PEP’s second day, where participants learned how coconut, the main product of San Pablo City, evolved and produced by-products such as lambanog (traditional Filipino distilled coconut palm liquor), vinegar, masapan de buko, macapuno and buko pie, among others. Lunch was served while participants’ feet were dipped at Villa Escudero, Atimonan, Quezon’s gem. The resort plantation offers sumptuous Filipino delis. A cultural show was also shown during guests’ relaxation at the plantation. [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="194486,194487,194488,194490"] On the last day, PEP delegates experienced the Magdapio River’s turbulent current while riding bancas to Pagsanjan (Cavinti) Falls in Laguna, maneuvered by expert and skillful boatmen. Paete wood carvers, which the small town of Laguna is known for, also amazed delegates as they saw how these woodcarvers etched their family’s legacy in the town’s history. Delegates were welcomed at Lumban, Laguna, by energetic pupils wearing ternos and barongs. The streets of Lumban offer a wide array of shops selling embroidered Barong Tagalog and Filipinianas, the trademark of Laguna’s oldest town. The Philippine Experience Program is just one of the many projects of Secretary Cristina Garcia Frasco. It aims to diversify the cultural tourism product offerings of the country, equalize opportunities across the regions, support the preservation of the country’s heritage and artistic resources and assets, and, most importantly, instill a sense of pride and patriotism among the Filipino people through a greater appreciation of the country’s inheritance and legacy. The post Love CALABARZON, Love the Philippines! appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
FLI debt papers get top PhilRatings grade
The proposed P10-billion bond float of property developer Filinvest Land Inc., or FLI, has been assigned the highest credit ratings and stable outlooks by the Philippine Rating Services Corporation, or PhilRatings. FLI’s proposed bonds, amounting to P10 billion with a P2-billion oversubscription allowance, were assigned an issue credit rating of PRS Aaa. The high rating was also assigned to FLI’s outstanding bonds, totaling P35.4 billion. Proceeds from the issuance will be used for capital expenditures and debt refinancing. “We are delighted to receive a PRS Aaa rating from PhilRatings for our proposed bond issuance. This rating reflects our healthy fundamentals and underscores our constant focus on growth and financial sustainability,” Tristan Las Marias, FLI president and chief executive officer, said. PRS Aaa signifies the highest credit quality with minimal risk. The capacity to meet financial commitment is extremely strong under the grade. Outlook stable PhilRatings also issued a stable outlook on PhilRatings. An outlook gives a glimpse on the direction of any rating change within one year. A Stable outlook means the rating will likely be unchanged in the next 12 months. PhilRatings said it took “into account the following key considerations: FLI’s established brand name and track record, with geographically diverse real estate products and substantial land bank for future expansion; its sound growth strategies; its improved revenues and operating cash flow, supported by more than satisfactory liquidity and interest coverage” for the outlook. For 2023, FLI will launch condominium and housing developments in Antipolo City, Taytay, Angono, Calamba City, Tanauan City, Trece Martires City, Bacoor City, Dumaguete City, and the Island Garden City of Samal. FLI will also accelerate the development of its township projects in East Town in Cainta, Rizal; Timberland Heights in San Mateo, Rizal; Ciudad de Calamba in Calamba City, Laguna, The Wood Estates in Trece Martires City, Cavite, and Palm Estates in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. The FLI townships will include residential, commercial, transportation, and school components to create a self-sufficient environment that considers the needs of residents and customers in mind. For malls, FLI is currently constructing Marina Town in Dumaguete City which will open by end-2023, and new malls in Filinvest Mimosa+ Leisure City and Activa Cubao which will open by end-2024. These will expand FLI’s retail portfolio by about 55,000 square meters in gross leasable area, or GLA, bringing FLI’s nationwide retail GLA to 300,000 square meters. The post FLI debt papers get top PhilRatings grade appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Filinvest Land bonds earn top credit score, stable outlook from PhilRatings
The proposed bond issuance of full-range developer Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) has been assigned the highest issue credit ratings and stable outlooks by the Philippine Rating Services Corporation (PhilRatings). FLI’s proposed bonds, amounting to P10 billion with a P2 billion oversubscription option, were assigned an issue credit rating of PRS Aaa. The same PRS Aaa rating was also assigned to FLI’s outstanding bonds, totaling P35.4 billion. Proceeds from these bonds will be used for capital expenditures and debt refinancing. "We are delighted to receive a PRS Aaa rating from PhilRatings for our proposed bond issuance. This rating reflects our healthy fundamentals and underscores our constant focus on growth and financial sustainability. We are grateful for PhilRatings’ trust and confidence in Filinvest Land and aim to continue building the Filipino dream through our various property developments,” said Tristan Las Marias, FLI president and chief executive officer. Obligations rated PRS Aaa (the highest rating assigned by PhilRatings) are of the highest quality with minimal credit risk. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment to the obligation is extremely strong. Each of the ratings was also assigned an Outlook of Stable. An Outlook is an indication as to the possible direction of any rating change within a one-year period and serves as a further refinement to the assigned credit rating for the guidance of investors, regulators, and the general public. A "stable outlook" means the rating will likely be unchanged in the next 12 months. According to PhilRatings, the assigned credit ratings "take into account the following key considerations: (1) FLI’s established brand name and track record, with geographically diverse real estate products and substantial land bank for future expansion; (2) its sound growth strategies; (3) its improved revenues and operating cash flow, supported by more than satisfactory liquidity and interest coverage,” among other factors. For 2023, FLI will launch condominium and housing developments in Antipolo City, Taytay, Angono, Calamba City, Tanauan City, Trece Martires City, Bacoor City, Dumaguete City, and the Island Garden City of Samal. FLI will also accelerate the development of its township projects in East Town in Cainta, Rizal; Timberland Heights in San Mateo, Rizal; Ciudad de Calamba in Calamba City, Laguna, The Wood Estates in Trece Martires City, Cavite, and Palm Estates in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. These FLI townships will include residential, commercial, transportation, and school components to create a self-sufficient environment that considers the needs of residents and customers in mind. For malls, FLI is currently constructing Marina Town in Dumaguete City which will open by end-2023, and new malls in Filinvest Mimosa+ Leisure City and Activa Cubao which will open by end-2024. These will expand FLI’s retail portfolio by about 55,000 square meters in gross leasable area (GLA), bringing FLI’s nationwide retail GLA to 300,000 square meters. FLI is also present in the industrial park and ready-built factory leasing businesses with its Filinvest Innovation Parks in New Clark City, Tarlac, and Calamba City, Laguna. Last 19 August, FLI broke ground on the 25-hectare Filinvest Innovation Park Ciudad de Calamba, an expansion of the 50-hectare Filinvest Technology Park in Ciudad de Calamba. FIP-CDC is envisioned to become a stage for new and relevant products that will catalyze progress in the local community. The post Filinvest Land bonds earn top credit score, stable outlook from PhilRatings appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Prime venture lights up households’ hopes
Giving Filipino families comfort in their abodes plainly is not possible without adequate electricity — a situation that Solar Tanauan Corp., a subsidiary of Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. led by businessman Enrique K. Razon Jr., hopes to immediately address. The renewable energy company is integrating advanced project design and execution tools into its solar plant developments in the provinces of Batangas and Cavite as part of its drive to augment affordable and clean energy supply in the country. Digital twin technology Solar Tanauan utilizes digital twin technology, drone verification of progress, optimized string sizing, and 24/7 quality assurance/quality control monitoring both at the factory and at the site. It has also conducted a Front End Engineering Design to streamline the procurement and construction phases, packaged contracting, and owner-supplied materials. These technologies allow each party to focus on their specialties, optimize risk allocation, and use software for simplifying complex earthwork assessment for terrain-following layouts. “We are proud to have the most advanced execution technology and strategy for a solar power project here in the Philippines. This is a testament to Prime Infra’s approach in deploying renewable energy projects and reaffirms our commitment to pioneer innovative solutions towards a clean energy future,” Prime Infra President and CEO Guillaume Lucci said in a statement sent to the press on Friday. Solar plants commissioned by yearend Prime Infra previously said it expects to start commissioning its 140-megawatt solar power plants in Tanauan, Batangas and Maragondon, Cavite by the end of the year. The company kicked off the construction of the plants in April. The projects are estimated to have an annual generation capacity of 202 gigawatt-hours — enough to power up over 84,000 households and displace over 100,000 tons of coal annually. The Tanauan and Maragondon solar power plants will have an installed gross capacity of up to 140 megawatts. Total annual generation capacity is estimated to power over 84,000 households and displace over 100,000 tons of coal per year. Once running, the projects will also support the national government’s bid to increase the share of renewable energy in the country’s total energy mix to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040. Last year, renewable energy only took up 22.8 percent of the total mix. By then, Filipino families would benefit through a steady supply of electricity at lower cost. The post Prime venture lights up households’ hopes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Comelec finishes printing of manual ballots
The Commission on Elections on Thursday said it has finished printing the official manual ballots and other forms that would be used in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, or BSKE, on 30 October. Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said around 92 million ballots were printed, 480,000 of which had been delivered to the Comelec office. Laudiangco added the ballots are being prepared for distribution nationwide starting in October. The Comelec will prioritize the delivery of the official BSKE ballots to the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, he explained. The earlier batch of ballots that had been printed will also be deployed in Batanes while those for the National Capital Region, Central Luzon and CALABARZON would be scheduled for delivery last, he added. The Comelec said about 68,197,135 ballots had been earmarked for the barangay elections, and 23,857,839 ballots for the Sangguniang Kabataan polls. Also, around 6,000 test ballots were printed for the pilot automated BSKE in select areas in Dasmariñas City, Cavite and Quezon City. Laudiangco said that automated election ballots are set to be printed in the coming days, and are expected to be completed within a week. The Comelec previously announced the conduct of automated BSKE polls in Barangay Pasong Tamo in Quezon City’s 6th District, which has about 60,766 voters, along with Barangay Paliparan III and Barangay Zone II in Dasmariñas City, with 51,435 and 1,475 registered voters, respectively. It targets to print a total of 86,165 official ballots for the barangay elections and 27,511 ballots for the SK elections for these three villages. The post Comelec finishes printing of manual ballots appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Comelec must come clean
More than ever, Commission on Elections officials need to come clean about the alleged fraudulent transmission of the May 2022 election results. Particularly so after the poll body’s chief again admitted last week that most of the election results were electronically transmitted using just one private internet protocol or IP address. After Chairman George Garcia’s admission before senators, opposition Senator Aquilino Pimentel III blurted out, “I’m in shock to find out that our entire election system (in 2022) was one large private network.” Similarly, Senator Imee Marcos, confronting Garcia, said, “So you are telling us that it’s true that the transmission of the results came from a single IP address? So that is true?” Like Ms. Marcos and Mr. Pimentel, most of us, too, need to inform ourselves about the brewing electoral integrity controversy, which has been floating around the Internet for some time. What Ms. Marcos and Pimentel were referring to had been alleged by former Information and Communications Technology Secretary Eliseo Rio. Garcia’s admission, in effect, confirmed Rio’s allegation that more than 20 million votes received from various vote-counting machines or VCMs in the 2022 polls had the same private IP address, 192.168.0.2. An IP address is a string of numbers assigned solely to each device so it can connect to the Internet. Significantly, the information about a single mysterious IP address used by VCM modems in 20,300 precincts in the (National Capital Region), and Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal provinces only came to light a year after the polls. The mystery IP address surfaced when Rio and his group of digital forensic experts cross-checked what seemed to be “raw files” — which a Comelec insider uploaded on the Comelec website — against the “reception logs” provided by the Comelec. Immediately after the 2022 polls, Rio strongly expressed alarm about the extraordinarily speedy transmission of electoral results and urged the Comelec to release the “reception logs.” With the discovery of a single IP address used to transmit an over 20-million vote count, Rio and his group became ever more alarmed about the electoral exercise’s integrity. Comelec, however, insisted no law mandates different IP addresses for transmission. Comelec also said all the modems were brand new, purchased after thousands of modems were found defective. The poll body said the primary telecommunications company involved in transmitting results recommended that modems be 4G-capable instead of the 3G used in previous elections. This, even if it meant using only one IP address. Bolstering the Comelec’s contention, two private electoral watchdogs said there was nothing illegal and surprising about the use of a single personal IP address since it was common practice. Rio and his group, however, remain undeterred in their allegation that there was a single “fabricated source” for the electoral results, and they were unconvinced by the watchdogs’ explanation. So, the debate on IP address 192.168.0.2 continues, particularly on the technical issue of a “man-in-the-middle” hack attack. Technically, “a man-in-the-middle attack is a security breach where a hacker inserts himself between two parties and potentially alters the communication between the two.” Still, wherever these highly technical debates lead to, Rio and the electoral watchdogs are sure of one thing — Comelec must do more. Rio and his group are challenging Comelec to resolve all remaining doubts about the election by disclosing the actual transmission logs from the VCMs. They rightly point out that transmission logs are not the same as “reception logs,” which the Comelec made public last March. Like Rio and his group, the National Citizens Movement for Free Elections said that what Comelec claimed to be “transmission logs” were actually “reception logs.” Resolving the ongoing controversy, therefore, will only happen when the Comelec comes clean with accurate transmission logs. The post Comelec must come clean appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BI arrested 3 foreign fugitives in Cavite
The Bureau of Immigration arrested one Taiwanese and two Nigerian nationals in the back-to-back operations it conducted this week. The BI Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Office - National Capital Region, National Bureau of Investigation - Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (NBI-TFAID), and government intelligence units conducted a joint buy-bust operation on September 13 at a popular mall in Imus, Cavite, which led to the arrest of two Nigerian nationals who were identified as John Chukwuemeka Enuka, age 41, male; and Ugochukwu Christopher Nwabufo, age 31, male. The two were arrested after being caught selling illegal drugs in violation of Section 5 in relation to Section 26, paragraph B, and Section 11, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, during the operation conducted by the authorities. The authorities seized a large stash of marijuana and heroin with an estimated street value of P8 million. The BI said that based on their records, Nwabufo has already overstayed his visa. He arrived in the Philippines in 2022 and never left the country. Menuka, Enuka has worked for a company in the country, but he failed to present his documents during checks. Moreover, on 14 September in General Trias, Cavite, BI-FSU operatives arrested a Taiwanese national identified as Chen Kai-Wun, a 55-year-old male. According to the BI, the Taiwanese authorities designated Chen as a wanted alien and declared him a fugitive from justice. Based on the report of the Taiwanese authorities, Chen is the subject of a warrant of arrest issued by the Shilin District Prosecutors Office in violation of the Controlling Guns, Ammunition, and Knives Act of Taiwan in May 2023. He is allegedly the leader of a notorious Taiwanese arms trafficking organization. Chen is also involved in facilitating the illegal entry of other Taiwanese fugitives into the country. Nwabufo and Enuka were detained at the PDEA National Office in Quezon City, while Chen will remain in the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong, Taguig City pending his deportation proceedings. The post BI arrested 3 foreign fugitives in Cavite appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NHA to launch 1st People’s Caravan
The National Housing Authority over the weekend announced that it will launch its first-ever People’s Caravan on 15 September 2023 at the Villa de Adelaida Housing Project in Brgy. Halang, Naic, Cavite. The program is the NHA’s new and innovative method of delivering various government services effectively and directly to the beneficiaries. NHA General Manager Joeben Tai’s directed Assistant General Manager Alvin S. Feliciano to head the activity, in cooperation with Naic Municipality Mayor Ruperto C. Dualan and Vice Mayor Junio C. Dualan. It can be recalled that the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) had already expressed its willingness to provide free legal consultations on housing-related concerns and other legal services. This is to signify their support for the success of the NHA’s initiative in bringing its services closer to the beneficiaries. In ensuring the health and wellness of the beneficiaries, the Municipality of Naic, Cavite, together with the Department of Health (DOH) will conduct a medical mission. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) will give away free vitamins and medicine to residents who are in need, while the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will offer free medical check-ups and haircuts. The Department of Agriculture (DA) will offer affordable agricultural products that can be purchased at the NHA-DA KADIWA store of the Department of Agriculture (DA). For residents interested in expanding their agricultural expertise, the DA Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) will conduct skills training demonstrations. The participants of the said training will receive starter kits and planting materials. The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on the other hand, will provide on-site internet services to help the beneficiaries with their online connectivity. For beneficiaries looking for work opportunities, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will hold a job fair together with the Public Employment Service Office. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will facilitate an intensive orientation on sustainable livelihood programs (SLP). The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is willing to teach business consultancy and literacy and orientation on business capital. Meanwhile, skills training demonstrations about food processing, food technology, and food packaging will be discussed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute. The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will support the event through its LTO on Wheels by rendering renewal of motor vehicle registration, application for new/renewal of student permit, and renewal of Driver's License available. In addition, the Pag-IBIG Fund intends to register non-members and issue PAG-IBIG Loyalty Card Plus to NHA beneficiaries. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will render services in Philhealth ID registration and issuance. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) will assist beneficiaries through the registration of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), issuance of ePhilID, and application services of birth certificates, certificates of no marriage (CENOMAR), death certificates, and marriage certificates. Residents will also have the chance to accomplish their SSS membership enrollment and verification at the Social Security System booth. The People's Caravan is also in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in conducting free skills training demonstrations and training and orientation on the livelihood and scholarship programs and services. The Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) will disseminate information on the programs and services of their agency. The Commission of Population and Development (CPD) will provide an orientation on their accessible services and programs and will distribute free population control kits. Meanwhile, the Province of Cavite will also provide essential services, and the Philippine National Police and AFP will ensure peace and safety during the conduct of the said caravan. In line with this, the NHA invites all Caviteños to join and support the very first People’s Caravan of the agency. To cater to more beneficiaries, four more People’s Caravans are expected to be launched in Luzon. The Authority is optimistic that future People’s Caravans in the country will gain more support and partnerships from other government agencies and the private sector. The post NHA to launch 1st People’s Caravan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Forming strategic partnerships with upcoming projects
Federal Land strives to make a difference in the Philippine real estate landscape with developments that embody its vision of a brighter and more sustainable future in collaboration with Nomura Real Estate Global, Inc. Federal Land NRE Global, Inc.’s commitment to redefining urban living manifests through its upcoming three noteworthy projects: [caption id="attachment_178444" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] MET Park in Pasay lounge. | PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF FEDERAL LAND[/caption] Riverpark Cavite Located in Cavite, this residential neighborhood within Federal Land’s Riverpark community introduces a Japanese-inspired haven tailored to starting families. Riverpark Cavite embraces lot sizes ranging from 300 to 527 sqm. This residential enclave harmonizes the aesthetics of Japanese design with contemporary family requirements. Riverpark Cavite is expected to be completed within two to three years with its horizontal arrangement. [caption id="attachment_178442" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Tom Mirasol, Federal Land chief operating officer and president; Yusuke Hirano, FNG vice chairman; Ar. Gilbert Berba, FNG head of Urban Planning and Design Group; and Yasuhiro Ohira, FNG Senior Management advisor.[/caption] Met Park Pasay Nestled in the bustling Bay Area, Met Park Pasay reimagines modern living with a youthful and balanced touch. This mixed-use neighborhood offers various sizes catering to diverse lifestyles, from compact studio units at 31 to 32 sqm to spacious three-bedroom penthouses at 152 to 220 sqm. The Observatory Mandaluyong Situated in Mandaluyong City, The Observatory presents a modern retreat in a strategically advantageous locale. With unit sizes spanning from compact studios at 26 to 33 sqm to expansive penthouses at 155 to 202 sqm, The Observatory caters to diverse preferences, integrating modernity with an inviting retreat, promising a holistic urban living experience. The Observatory is targeted to be done in five to six years. [caption id="attachment_178441" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] THE Observatory in Mandaluyong.[/caption] “These projects are just the beginning of plans to realize in the next 30 years. Our focus is on creating milestone developments that will continue to integrate Japanese inspiration with the Filipino sensibility, differentiated by the coming together of cultures resulting in smart and sustainable cities that aim to create value in townships. That is the promise of excellence — one we are confident to deliver,” Thomas Mirasol, Federal Land chief operating officer and president, said. At the core of these developments are brand pillars brought by the union of Federal Land, Inc. and Nomura Real Estate Development Co., Ltd.: 1. Japanese: From project concept and design, the seamless integration of nature into the development, to the Japanese cultural trait of putting clients at the forefront, FNG prioritizes the creation of spaces that cater to the diverse needs of modern urban dwellers; 2. Innovation: FNG integrates Japanese innovation into its projects through well-thought-of design, architecture and features; and 3. Collaboration: FNG will continue to forge partnerships with local and global brands, companies and individuals to enhance the lives of its future communities. Federal Land, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of GT Capital Holdings, a listed major Philippine conglomerate whose investment holdings include Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company (Metrobank), Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation, Toyota Manila Bay Corporation, Toyota Financial Services Philippines Corporation, Sumisho Motor Finance Corporation, GT Capital Auto and Mobility Holdings, Inc., JBA Philippines, Inc., Premium Warranty Services Philippines, Inc., Philippine AXA Life Insurance Corporation and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation. The post Forming strategic partnerships with upcoming projects appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
How ‘Here Lies Love’ co-producer found his mark on Broadway
When Here Lies Love, the hit musical about former First Lady Imelda Marcos, made history by debuting on Broadway debut with an all-Filipino last July, one of its co-producers, Don Michael H. Mendoza, also reached a career milestone. His goal of putting his name on a Broadway show before turning 40 came true now that he’s 34. [caption id="attachment_172743" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Don Michael Mendoza with Daily Tribune’s (from left) Dinah Ventura, Jojo G. Silvestre, Gigie Arcilla, Vangie Reyes, Marc Reyes, Raffy Ayeng, Gibbs Cadiz and Nick Giongco.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_172742" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Always ask for what you want because the worst that can come back is a no.’ | Photographs Courtesy of Daily Tribune.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_172741" align="aligncenter" width="525"] DON Mike Mendoza with Daily Tribune’s Jojo G. Silvestre and Dinah Ventura.[/caption] It happened, and it’s not just any show. It’s the first Filipino musical on Broadway,” he tells Daily Tribune’s Dinah Ventura and Jojo Silvestre in an interview on their online show Pairfect. “It’s very important to me because a lot of my career is based on the idea of D,E & I — diversity, equity and inclusion — especially in a country like America that’s a melting pot. “It’s very important to make sure that unrepresented voices and communities are brought to the front. To be part of that, for me personally, is an incredible honor because it’s exactly aligned with how I live my professional life every day, every year.” “For the Fil-Am community,” he adds, “I think it’s important for people to see themselves in that arena, whether be as a producer, an actor, or a stagehand, or on the creative team as an assistant director. You know, it says a lot when someone tries to reach that can see themselves in a role that they want to achieve. “Because for a long time, my role models were very few. They’re mostly Americans, they’re white people. And I wanted to be an actor and my only acting influences in the media was Paolo Montalban. He was in Cinderella, American Adobo… He’s now a friend — which is amazing! But I didn’t really have many role models. So, to our community, both Filipino and Fil-Am, they can now look at this production and say, whatever they feel is their career path, ‘I can do it, too.’ So, it’s very powerful.” Beginnings Don Michael Hodreal Mendoza, nicknamed Don Mike, was born in Washington D.C., the capital city of the United States, to immigrant parents. His father Donald Mendoza’s family hails from Cavite and is involved in local politics. His mother Maria Leonila Hodreal has families in Marinduque (maternal side) and Bicol (paternal side). His grandfather Querubin Hodreal created what is now known as the Easy Rock Manila radio station. “My mom, who’s part of that legacy, says even though we’re in the States I somehow ended up doing what our family does, in entertainment and media,” he says, beaming. From Washington D.C., Mendoza’s nuclear family moved to the city of Pittsburgh in the Pennsylvania state, where he grew up. “But I was also raised here in Manila, in Ayala Alabang, for a couple of years,” he points out. He was then between the ages of six and eight, also starting his education at Montessori Manila in BF Homes. “We’re lucky we’re able to come home a lot, so even though I grew up on majority in America, we’d come home every other year.” That explains why he also has exposure and gets inspiration from Filipino movies and entertainment. Mendoza started performing in school plays and high school musicals “for fun.” For college, though, he “needed to study that wasn’t the arts because immigrant families want you to do something that makes money in their eyes.” So he took up broadcast journalism and political science at the American University in D.C. But he didn’t like political science, so he dropped it and added musical theater to his studies without telling his parents until he got into the program. After graduation, he was torn between two goals: becoming a Broadway actor like Jose Llana, who currently plays the late President Ferdinand Marcos in Here Lies Love, and becoming the “Filipino Anderson Cooper.” He ended up staying in D.C with a job in marketing, which eventually became his master’s degree. Mendoza started auditioning and trying to get into shows. “But I wasn’t getting cast the way I wanted to,” he recalls, “because it’s very hard for a Filipino, an Asian male actor to get parts, unless you decided to be in Miss Saigon, which was one of the only very few shows that hire Asian people. So, I kinda fell into producing.” That was when he met a fellow Fil-Am, Regie Cabico, who’s 20 years older than him and became his mentor. He remembers Cabico telling him, “The way to be successful for someone like us in the arts is to start your own opportunities.” Thus, the birth, in 2012, of their company, La Ti Do, which is into production of cabarets and concerts. “I met so many people and worked with so many actors and performers without knowing it’s producing,” he says, smiling at the memory. “I just realized producing means organizing. It means you’re in charge, you’re putting things together and hire people. In those 10 years, I was able to produce small musicals and concerts and special events.” He then put up his own DMH Mendoza Productions, which has La Ti Do as its cabaret-concert arm, to allow him to “produce bigger and more incredible things.” For starters, he produced the off-Broadway play Hazing U that tackles violence in fraternities. Around that time, February 2023, he heard about Here Lies Love being restaged, this time on Broadway. The musical created by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim originally premiered off-Broadway in 2013 at The Public Theater in New York City. A year later, it moved to the Royal National Theater in London, England, and then was restaged at Seattle Repertory Theater in the US in 2017. Mendoza admits with regret that he missed seeing Here Lies Love’s off-Broadway premiere and thought he’d never see it ever again “just because Filipino things don’t usually last very long in America.” So when he heard it was coming to Broadway, he basically called everybody he knew who’s involved in the production to ask how he could help. “I wasn’t really looking for a producer stature,” he says. “I said to many people I’m willing to sell t-shirts in the lobby just to support this show.” It turned out his good friend Lora Nicolas Olaes, who he stayed with in New York, was in the first workshop of the show in 2011, and she personally knows one of the lead producers, Clint Ramos. Olaes then connected Mendoza and Ramos via email, which led to Mendoza joining the Here Lies Love production team. “I’m still having trouble today saying I’m a co-producer. I’m so used to just doing rather than labeling,” he says. “It’s been a wild ride from then till now. I don’t regret any of it. It’s been the best experience so far.” He then shares that having an all-Filipino cast and a predominantly Filipino production team is very important for the lead producers. Two of the five are Filipino: Clint Ramos, a Tony award-winning costume designer, and Jose Antonio Vargas, a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist. This extends to other producers, such as Hal Luftig, Diana DiMenna and Patrick Catullo, as well as to musical writers David Byrne and Fatboy Slim. “They wanted to reach beyond the cast and make sure that the show is escorted into Broadway by Filipinos because it’s a Filipino story,” Mendoza points out. Aside from Llana, the main cast is made up of Arielle Jacobs (as Imelda) and Conrad Ricamora as (Ninoy Aquino), with Lea Salonga (as Ninoy’s mother Aurora) in a limited run until 19 August. “It’s beyond the cast. So our creative team, our production team, our stagehands, everybody. Even our house staff, some of them are Filipinos. We really wanted to make a mark on Broadway. That’s how it came about. So that was an early decision. Because the off-Broadway production was mixed. It was not all-Filipino. It had Ruthie Ann Miles as Imelda. She’s not Filipino. It was hard to move from her and bring in Arielle Jacobs, who is just as amazing, but, you know, it was very important for the team to be culturally accurate. Because it’s our story.” “It’s our show,” he reiterates. “Let’s bring it to the world. Our people are playing themselves. I’ve said this in an interview: The general public is trained to love Filipino as other ethnicities. This is the first time we’re training them to love us, Filipinos, as ourselves.” Musical textbook Mendoza’s fellow co-producers include Salonga and Fil-Am celebrities like comedian Jo Koy, musical artist H.E.R. and rapper Apl.de.ap. “Our show is a musical textbook,” he explains. “It’s a musical built around facts, what happened historically during her lifetime. Our whole goal for the show is to present to you what happened with, of course, entertainment attached to it. There’s a misconception that it’s a documentary. It is not. It’s musical theater. It’s supposed to be fun. You see what happened. “We empower our audience to make their own decision. We don’t tell them, ‘This was a bad person. This was a good person.’ Here’s what this person did in their life and how she was affected by her surroundings, and go home and do the research. You figure it out. We liken it to giving someone a Zip file of Philippine history in the 21th century and you go home and unzip the Zip file to get into the details. “But we give you an overview. It’s really up to the audience when they leave the show. I know it’s the goal of our writers and directors to not impose an opinion. We’re just here to entertain and make you learn. When you leave, it’s up to you.” Mendoza happily reports that Here Lies Love is being received “very well.” He adds, “The critics have come and said really wonderful about the show, especially the ones we’re nervous about, like the New York Times, or The Washington Post, or the Wall Street Journal. It trickles down to everyone who’s seen the show. I think we’re so proud and excited that it’s well-received. Audience members love it, they keep coming back.” He also notes that audiences are “pretty diverse. You see Filipinos, you see Americans, you see visitors. It’s really a big hodge-podge of different people. We’re happy about that, too. It’s not biased to just one community.” Indeed, Mendoza is living his dream and he has this piece of audience for the younger generation who also hopes to break into theater or arts in general: “Always ask for what you want because the worst that can come back is a no.” He then shares what she’s picked up from Kris Jenner: “If somebody says no to you, you’re asking the wrong person. Keeping asking for what you want. Not just manifesting, but really it’s just speaking up. Nobody can read your mind. Nobody can see what’s happening in your mind and in your heart. So if you express it, you ask and you’ll get there. It may not happen in the timing that you want, but it will happen if you keep pushing.” The post How ‘Here Lies Love’ co-producer found his mark on Broadway appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Environmental group appeals to PBBM, DENR to stop reclamation in Batangas as well
An environmental advocacy group is also calling on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to also stop ongoing reclamation projects on the coast of Batangas. The Protect the Verde Island Passage (Protect VIP) said the reclamation in Batangas province would pave the way for the construction of more liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals and power plants. Fr. Edwin Gariguez, Protect VIP convenor, said in a radio interview that the ongoing reclamation projects in VIP for the construction of fossil gas projects "will result in turbid waters and make (seagrass), coral reefs, and marine fauna vulnerable to stressors.” The Verde Island Passage according to Conservation International (Philippines), is one of the most productive ecosystems in the world and is recognized as the center of global shore-fish biodiversity. It is also home to species such as whale sharks, sea turtles, and an impressive array of corals. It extends to the coastlines of Batangas, Romblon, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, and Oriental Mindoro provinces. Gariguez said the VIP waters continue to yield new species to science, further underscoring its global biological significance. The marine corridor is the “epicenter” of fossil gas and LNG developments in the country now that eight of 27 proposed new plants and seven of the nine planned LNG terminals in the country will be located in Batangas. Protect group warned that by allowing fossil gas facilities to be built and operated, it will expose the VIP to the frequent entry of LNG barges, and inadvertent oil spills or disposal of shipboard liquid waste and bilge water. “Putting up these gas terminals and power plants is destructive as the dumping and filling of land disturb the existing coastal habitats in VIP, ” Gariguez said. In May 2023, while the passage is currently a marine protected area, the governors of five provinces governors want it to be a “legislated protected area", with DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga agreeing with them. “Considering its mandate, the DENR is committed to strengthening the protection and management of the VIP as a priority conservation area,” Loyzaga said. When Gariguez's group learned of the President's decision to suspend all 22 reclamation projects in Manila Bay, they believed this was also the best time to bring the matter to the DENR. 22 Manila Bay reclamation projects Meanwhile, DENR also on Tuesday clarified that the subject of the suspension order by the President are the 22 reclamation projects in the Manila Bay Area only and not the entire Philippines. Of the 22 reclamation projects, DENR records showed that 15 are in the jurisdiction of the National Capital Region where three projects are already ongoing. The remaining 7 projects are located in CALABARZON. The agency said Manila Bay is not only limited to Metro Manila shorelines. It also has areas in Region 3 and 4A--several provinces like Bulacan, Cavite and Bataan. The post Environmental group appeals to PBBM, DENR to stop reclamation in Batangas as well appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Managers: Phl remains on track
Despite the lackluster 4.3 percent in the second quarter, growth this year is expected to reach the target range of 6 percent to 7 percent gross domestic product expansion, according to Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno. “To do this, we will expedite the implementation of government programs and projects, to provide fiscal stimulus to increase the productive capacity of the public and private sectors and address the adverse recent impacts of typhoons.” Diokno added. Economic managers gathered in Fort Ilocandia in Laoag City to hold the Post-State of the Nation Economic Briefing that discussed the country’s economic situation and plans on 14 August. Diokno said in 2022, GDP increased 7.6 percent from 5.7 a year ago and a 9.5 percent contraction in 2020. Diokno said the economic team is determined to pick up government expenditure in the third and fourth quarters. Revenue collections remain robust from January to June as these totaled P1.9 trillion up 7.7 percent or P132.6 billion year-on-year which is also higher than the mid-year program by 2.7 percent. Hence, Diokno said they have already pipelined 194 infrastructure flagship projects worth P8.3 trillion of which 132 are located in Luzon that will address irrigation, water supply, flood management, agriculture, digital connectivity, physical connectivity, health, and power and energy. Diokno also highlighted some of the projects like the Laoag International Airport Development Project, the EDSA Greenways, the TPLEX Expressway Expansion Project, the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network Project, the Ilocos Norte-Sur-Abra Irrigation Project, and the Naga Airport Development Project. “The Philippines is determined to be a world leader in the race to net zero and the Ilocos Region will be a strategic partner in this mission. Dubbed to be the renewable energy capital of South East Asia, Ilocos Norte is emerging to be a promising player in the clean energy arena. Being home to the first and largest wind farms in the country,” Diokno stressed. In his address, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr., said from a peak of 8.7 percent in January, headline inflation slowed to 4.7 percent in July due to improving domestic food supply conditions and lower global oil prices. However, he also admitted that core inflation remains high at 6.7 percent although it has already started to decline due to the monetary tightening. The BSP has responded to inflation by aggressively raising its policy rate, as of today, the BSP has raised policy rates by 425 basis points. Prices reined in “The good news is that inflation expectations are still well anchored. The markets continue to believe that we will hit our target range by 2024 and stay there in 2025,” Remolona said. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman also gave an update on the use pf the budget for 2023. Pangandaman said at the end of July, the total amount of the national budget that has been released already is around 93 percent. “And we expect all our government agencies including all the cabinet members present here, to spend your budget so we can help grow the economy,” Pangandaman said. While for next year, the government budget will amount to 5.768 trillion and it is 21.7 percent of the GDP it has already been submitted to Congress last August 2 and the budget is expected to be passed earlier than expected. The National Economic Development Authority said it wanted to lower the poverty level to single digit. For Socioeconomic Planning Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo Abad Santos, the government has effective regional development plans. In the Ilocos Regional Development Plan from 2023-2028, the NEDA expects the Ilocos region to have a 7 percent to 7.5 percent growth while lowering the poverty incidence by 7.3 percent. ‘Build, Better, More’ under BBM;s watch Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan said the “Build, Better, More” program of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is very much aligned with the medium-term development plan for 2023 to 2028 and is consistent with the 8-point economic agenda of the president. Bonoan said that from July 2022 to May 2023, the DPWH has built, maintained, rehabilitated, widened, and upgraded 4,082 kilometer of roads, 497 bridges, built 2,103 flood control projects, 55 evacuation centers, 216 kms farm to market roads, 8 kilometers of farm to mill roads, 138 kilometers tourism roads, 18 kilometers of roads to seaports, railway stations, and airports, 4,038 classrooms, and 6,002 rainwater collector system. “Because of climate change, we have to address and be building and developing resilient and sustainable communities in the 18 major river basins in the country,” Bonoan said. Some of the major projects that the department would like to continue are converting the Daang Maharlika which is actually now Asian Highway 26 which starts in Laoag City and will go around Cagayan Valley and has extended all the way to Zamboanga City. Bonoan says that they want to convert this backbone of the national highway into seamless travel. “In other words, there should be no major stops along the way, along this Maharlika highway,” Bonoan said. Bonoan said they’re going to build 12 major bridges, and the first bridge is the Cavite-Bataan Interlink bridge with a span of more than 32 km. Should it be completed, this will be the second-longest bay bridge in the world. The department also plans to start the Luzon Spine Expressway which will run from Laoag City to Bicol, Bonoan says that this will be 1,073 kms more. As for Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, major Department of Transportation projects like the New Manila International Airport in Bulacan, Metro Manila Subway, EDSA Greenway Projects, EDSA Busway, MRT-3 Rehabilitation, LRT-1 Cavite, LRT-2 West Extension, MRT-7, and the modernization and capacity expansion of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport are proceeding. For the Department of Information and Communications Technology Ivan John Uy, there is already a cybersecurity plan for 2023 to 2028 which is a consolidated output of all the stakeholders in designing which includes the best practices all over the world. “We’ve ramped up in our cybercrime detection, we are busting cybercrime syndicates all over the country especially those that are dealing with scammers,” Uy said. Uy said agency is also enhancing cybersecurity status by designing courses to upgrade cybersecurity professionals. He admits that worldwide, there is a 3 million job vacancies on cyber security. DICT said by the end of the year, the department will have Two Terabits of capacity from Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan all the way to Manila and we should expect very good Internet connectivity by the start of next year especially on the Luzon area. These structures also open opportunities to data centers and BPOs along the places mentioned which produces employment. DICT expects that foreign investment opportunities and interest in those areas will boom. The post Managers: Phl remains on track appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Villar’s firm takes over MCX
Over a year since it signed the P3.8-billion acquisition deal, Prime Asset Ventures Inc or PAVI of the Villar Family has officially taken over the four-kilometer Muntinlupa Cavite Expressway or MCX from Ayala Corp. PAVI signed the implementing agreements for the transaction on Wednesday led by Vista Land Chairman Manuel Villar Jr. and Ayala Corporation president and CEO Cezar Consing. The signing came almost a month after the Department of Public Works and Highways had given its consent for the transfer of ownership from Ayala Corp. to the Villar Group just last 19 July. “This momentous event shows our resolve to provide our countrymen better services in the area of roads and tollways. You’ll be surprised by the many wonderful things to come in Villar City,” Villar said. Recycling capital As for Consing, the sale of MCX represented another example of recycling capital to benefit from opportunities core and emerging businesses. “Ayala developed MCX over a decade ago to connect Metro Manila to Imus, Dasmariñas and Bacoor in Cavite, which were experiencing rapid growth. “MCX succeeded in relieving traffic congestion and reducing the travel time between Metro Manila and Cavite,” Consing said. Under the parties’ deal, total consideration for the buyout should be paid in two tranches. The P3.219 billion should be paid upon the financial close of the transaction, while the remaining P581 million should be obligated upon the lapse of its lockup period as prescribed under the MCX concession agreement. The Villar Group continues to expand its investment portfolio from its core businesses on housing, retail, food, water, power and utilities, to integrated resorts and entertainment. The post Villar’s firm takes over MCX appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
2nd State of the Nation Address
Anti-inflation measures Crafting of Medium-Term Fiscal Framework supported by Congress Implementation of strategies to capacitate economic sectors Results (1) 7.6 percent growth in 2022 — highest rate in 46 years. (2) January to March 2023 — 6.4 growth percent (within 6 to 7 percent target) (3) Philippines considered to be among fastest-growing economies in the Asian region and in the world (4) Strong and stable financial system (5) Banks have strong capital and liquidity positions. (6) Digital economy contributed P2 trillion in 2022, the equivalent of 9.4 percent of our GDP. (7) World Bank projects a 6 percent overall growth rate due to strong local demand, consumer spending, strength from the BPO industry, steady flow of remittances, and continuing jobs recovery (8) Inflation rate eased up from 8.7 percent in January to 5.4 percent in June. (9) Bureau of Internal Revenue posted P1.05 trillion collections — an increase of almost 10 percent over the last year (10) Bureau of Customs increased collection by 7.4 percent for the first seven months of 2023, amounting to P476 billion. (11) PAGCOR increased collection by 47.9 percent (12) PCSO increased collection by 20 percent Reduction of prices of commodities like rice, meat, fish, vegetables and sugar Roll out of more than 7,000 KADIWA stores nationwide that link farmers with consumers, benefited 1.8 million families Agriculture Science-based methods toward food security Revision of Fisheries Code Unify 300 farm and fisheries clusters composed of 900 cooperatives Extensive technology training like the use of local bio-fertilizers Distribution of farm machinery, tools and inclement Distribution of more than 5 million rice seedlings and other crops Fuel at fertilizer discount vouchers Geo-Agri map of farm-to-market roads Irrigated 49,000 hectares of farmlands across the country. Constructed 4,000 additional fabrication labs, production at cold storage facilities Built 24 multi-species hatcheries to increase fisheries production Anti-animal pest monitoring, medicines, and vaccines Cloud seeding and buffer stocks in preparation for El Niño 70,000 agrarian land titles distributed Signing of EO No. 4. Or New Agrarian Emancipation Act the condoned P57-billion farmers’ loans Smuggling and hoarding Days of smugglers and hoarders are numbered Water Supply Creation of Water Resources Management Office Working for legislation of Department of Water Resource Management Allocated P14.6 billion for water supply projects Completion of Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project Phase 1 Installed 6,0000 rainwater collection systems across the country Infrastructure 8.3-trillion peso “Build, Better, More” Program in progress 194 flagship projects Continuation of “Build, Build, Build” projects Infrastructure spending stays at 5 to 6 percent of GDP 1,200-kilometer Luzon Spine Expressway Network Program will effectively connect Ilocos to Bicol from 20 hours to just 9 hours of travel Under Mega-Bridge Program, 12 bridges totaling 90 kilometers will be constructed including Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge and the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges, and Samal Island-Davao City Connector Bridge As of June 2023, 4,000 kilometers of roads and 500 bridges have been constructed, maintained and upgraded Completed Cebu’s Pier 88 smart port, new passenger terminal buildings of Clark Airport and Port of Calapan. North-South Commuter Railway System now in full swing Strategic financing Enactment into law of Maharlika Investment Fund Social security Funds for the social security and public health insurance intact and separate Energy and Power Generation Price of crude oil stabilized Since last year, gasoline and diesel prices have gone down by 18 to 29 percent, respectively. Built 8 new additional power plants, bringing to 17 the total number of power generation facilities Energy production increased by 1,174 megawatts. Almost half a million homes given access to electricity; 100 percent household electrification by June 2028 Renewable energy is the way forward Promotion of renewables targets 35 percent share in the power mix by 2030, and 50 percent by 2040 Opened renewable energy projects to foreign investments Since last year, an additional 126 renewable energy contracts with potential capacity of 31,000 megawatts awarded. To date, more than 1,000 active projects all over the country — 299 are solar, 187 are wind, 436 are hydroelectric, 58 are biomass, 36 are geothermal, and 9 are ocean-powered. Malampaya project is boon, energizing 20 percent of Luzon; renewal of the contract guarantees continued revenues and energy production for another 15 years Push for more gas exploration in other parts of the country Partnered with the BARMM in regard to energy exploration and development The Philippines now has a Unified National Grid with the interconnection of the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids “One Grid, One Market” will enable more efficient transfers and more competitive pricing of electricity Performance review of National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to complete all of its deliverables, starting with the vital Mindanao-Visayas and Cebu-Negros-Panay interconnections. Social welfare Enough funds for underprivileged DSWD, DoLE, DepEd, TESDA and CHEd involved in providing assistance Programs like AICS, TUPAD, TVET for Social Equity, Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens, Cash-for-Work for PWDs, and Integrated Livelihood Program-Kabuhayan available for indigents Social protection Pension of the military and the uniformed personnel is as important, urgent, and humanitarian as that of all other civilian Filipino employees Working closely with Congress to ease the transition from the old system to the new one, to guarantee that no effects are felt by those in the uniformed services. The post 2nd State of the Nation Address appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos hits NGCP over delayed transmission projects
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has reprimanded the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, the country’s lone transmission system operator, for the delay of numerous projects that could have further improved the power services in the country. “The one grid, one market will enable more efficient transfers and more competitive pricing of electricity throughout the country. However, 68 grid connections are much delayed according to the ERC's (Energy Regulatory Commission) count. We are conducting a performance review of our private concessionaire the NGCP,” Marcos said at his second State on the Nation Address on Monday, 24 July. Thus, the President vowed to look into the NGCP to ensure that “all of its deliverables” starting with the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project or MVIP and the Cebu-Negros-Panay interconnection will be delivered. NGCP is undertaking the P52-billion MVIP, which was supposed to launch within the first half of the year. The MVIP will link together all three major Philippine islands to create one grid. The NGCP was authorized by the ERC to start building the project way back in 2017. It was initially scheduled to be completed in 2020 but it was delayed due to the pandemic. Reacting to the President’s report, the NGCP said it will “concentrate all available resources toward the completion of ongoing transmission projects while expediting others in the pipeline.” “We agree with the President’s sentiments. Even before the SONA, NGCP has already been working towards the vision that he mentioned,” NGCP President and CEO Anthony Almeda was quoted as saying in a press statement. “After hearing it straight from him -- his vision that is completely aligned with ours -- we know we are on the right track and we’re more motivated to complete all our objectives in a prompt manner,” he added. The operator said the MVIP will be “fully energized to 450MW by the third quarter of this year.” Meanwhile, ERC chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta reiterated that the NGCP’s performance review is part of the ongoing regulatory rate reset process. “We expect to complete a significant portion (for years 2016-2020) very soon. We also reported to the President, and included in his address, the efforts regarding ensuring timely implementation of transmission projects,” Dimalanta said in a text message to the Daily Tribune. “Out of the 68 delayed projects identified, ERC already issued a show cause order to NGCP issued on 4 July 2023 for 37 projects requiring explanation for the delay,” she added. The ERC recently ordered the NGCP to explain the delay of more than 30 projects supposed to enhance the country's transmission system. In a show cause order dated 14 June 2023 and issued on 4 July 2023, the ERC pointed out that the NGCP’s approved capital expenditure or capex for projects was not followed. Hence, projects have been delayed. Thus, it required the NGCP to submit a “verified explanation” within 15 days from receipt of the order “why no administrative penalty should be imposed upon it.” According to ERC, some 37 projects with many days delayed ranging from 21 to as high as 2,561 days. Among those projects with a high number of days delayed is the Tuy (Calaca)-Dasmariñas 500-kilovolt Transmission Line Project. The project was supposed to be completed on 11 July 2016, but it remains 82.48 percent complete as of date. Per ERC, the project has been delayed by 2,528 days. The Bataan-Cavite/Metro Manila Transmission Line Project (Phase 1) Feasibility Study is 2,561 days delayed, the ERC added. As mandated by the power regulator, the NGCP should submit a “detailed explanation on the cause of delay per project, as well as the actual timeline of implementation per project.” The NGCP holds a 25-year franchise to solely operate the power transmission assets of the government and secure power reserves for contingency. The post Marcos hits NGCP over delayed transmission projects appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
8 big-ticket projects pre-qualify in ecozones
Eight big-ticket projects prequalify in the Philippine economic zones, amounting to P33 billion of investments, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority announced on Tuesday. Those investments were for just the first half of this year, PEZA Board chairperson and Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said. He said the new and expansion ecozones will undergo Fiscal Incentives Review Board approval for projects with a minimum capital investment of P1 billion and Presidential Proclamation as required for the developers’ signing of the Registration Agreement with PEZA. For his part, PEZA director general Tereso Panga said their ecozone development projects have spiked compared to what they reaped last year. “In comparison to last year’s figures of P4.858 billion worth of investments during the same period, we’ve experienced a 579.23 percent jump to P 33.002 billion. This uptick in ecozone development investment is crucial as it indicates a growing demand for proclaimed areas, which is further supported by the rise in new and expansion projects,” Panga disclosed. Broken down, the eight approved new and expansion ecozone projects include three manufacturing ecozones, one information technology center, and four IT parks. The largest investment among the projects is a manufacturing special economic zone which will be located in Medellin, Cebu to be known as North Cebu Economic Zone with a project cost of P27.178 billion. While the other two manufacturing ecozones are the expansion projects in Lima Technology Center-SEZ in Malvar, Batangas, and in Gateway Business Park-SEZ, in General Trias, Cavite having a total project cost of P233.260 million. The post 8 big-ticket projects pre-qualify in ecozones appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PEZA Board prequalifies 8 big-ticket ecozone projects for 1st half of 2023
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority Board as chaired by DTI Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual has pre-qualified a total of eight big-ticket ecozone development projects amounting to P33.002 billion of investments for the first half of 2023. These new and expansion ecozones will undergo FIRB approval for projects with minimum capital investment of P1 billion and Presidential Proclamation as required for the developers' signing of Registration Agreement with PEZA. According to PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga, “We're thrilled to announce that our ecozone development projects have seen a significant increase in investment from January to June 2023. In comparison to last year's figures of P4.858 billion worth of investments during the same period, we've experienced a 579.23 percent jump to P33.002 billion. This uptick in ecozone development investment is crucial as it indicates a growing demand for proclaimed areas, which is further supported by the rise in new and expansion projects.” For the breakdown of the eight approved new and expansion ecozone projects, three are manufacturing ecozones, 1 an IT center and four are IT parks. The largest investment among the projects is a manufacturing special economic zone which will be located in Medellin, Cebu to be known as North Cebu Economic Zone with a project cost of P27.178 billion. The two other manufacturing ecozones are the expansion projects in Lima Technology Center-SEZ in Malvar, Batangas and in Gateway Business Park-SEZ, in General Trias, Cavite having a total project cost of P233.260 million. Of the four new IT Parks with total investments of P1.474 billion, three will be situated in Araneta City, Quezon City and one will be in South Cotabato City. One IT center will be in Makati City with an investment of P4.116 billion. During the first year of the PFRM administration covering the period July 2022 to June 2023, the PEZA Board greenlighted 17 ecozone development projects with a total investment of P122.274 billion. These are composed of seven new and expansion manufacturing ecozones, eight IT parks, one IT center and one new agro-industrial ecozone, located in Regions 1-Ilocos Region, 3-Central Luzon, 4-A- CALABARZON, 6-Western Visayas, 12-SOCCSKARGEN and the National Capital Region. The eight pre-qualified ecozones for the first half of 2023 are part of the total 17 new and expansion ecozones approved during the one-year coverage of the current administration and are in various stages of development. Streamlining of ecozone proclamation process As part of the Director General’s commitment to revisit processes to better cater to the evolving needs of PEZA’s stakeholders, the PEZA Board has approved Board Resolution No. 23-138 to streamline the ecozone proclamation process, making it easier to do business within the ecozones. Panga said, “As we are now beefing up our Agency to continuously enhance our delivery of services and facilitate faster ecozone proclamations to provide ready-for-occupancy sites for our agile locators, it is high time for PEZA to amend its guidelines for a simplified application, proclamation and registration process for new and expanding ecozone developer/operator projects.” Panga expressed optimism that by passing this resolution, more economic zones could be established, especially in rural areas. This will effectively make the Philippines ready to accept more investments from global market players, and ultimately, increase exports, create more job opportunities and hasten countryside development for the foreseeable future. The PEZA Board Resolution No. 23-138 will take effect immediately following its complete publication in a newspaper of general publication. The post PEZA Board prequalifies 8 big-ticket ecozone projects for 1st half of 2023 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Dodong’ affects over 1,600 people nationwide
The effects of tropical storm "Dodong" (known internationally as Talim) and the southwest monsoon, or "habagat," impacted more than 1,600 people nationwide, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Sunday. In its 8:00 a.m. bulletin, Dodong and its effects on Habagat have so far affected 1,638 people, or 491 families, and forced 1,508 people to move from their homes in Regions 1 (Ilocos), Region 3 (Central Luzon), Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), Mimaropa (Mindoro Oriental and Occidental, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan), and the National Capital Region. Over 1,400 people who had to leave their homes were relocated to 36 relief centers in the affected areas. NDRRMC also said that the weather affected 26 roads, four bridge parts, and 24 seaports. The inclement weather also caused class suspensions in 66 cities and municipalities, 23 canceled seaport trips, and water and power supply interruptions in several areas. The agency said that local government units across the country and the Department of Social Welfare and Development have given out P267,338.84 to help those Filipinos affected by the typhoon. Earlier, the state weather bureau said that Dodong or Talim was last seen 390 kilometers (km) west of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, moving 20 km per hour with maximum steady winds of 85 kph and gusts of up to 105 kph. But it also said that Dodong's changes to the southwest monsoon, or "habagat," will make it rain in most of the country. For context, Dodong left the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday afternoon. PAGASA said in its weather report that the southwest monsoon will continue to bring rain to many parts of the country on Sunday. The post ‘Dodong’ affects over 1,600 people nationwide appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»