INFRASTRUCTURE

First phase of Cavite-Laguna Expressway to open in December - February 8, 2018 

Commercial operations for a portion of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) is targeted to begin by December 2018, after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) asked the concessionaire to hasten the construction. DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said on 8 February , that the first 7 kilometers of CALAX, which stretches from the Mamplasa Interchange in Binan, Laguna to Laguna Boulevard, is predicted to be passable by motorists by December 2018, instead of the original target date which is February 2019. MPCALA Holdings Incorporated is the winning concessionaire of the 44.6 kilometer, 4-lane toll road CALAX. Back in March, MPCALA signed a P7.2-billion agreement with DM Consunji Incorporated (DMCI) for the construction of the 18-km Laguna side of Calax. As for the side of Cavite, MPCALA is hiring Australia’s Leighton Holdings with a P7.3 billion deal. MPCALA paid the government a premium bid of P27.3-billion to win the CALAX contract. They will also operate and maintain CALAX for 25 years, and after, the maintenance of the expressway will be in the government’s hands.

Source: https://www.rappler.com/business/195578-cavite-laguna-expressway-calax-construction-first-phase-december-2018

Cavite-Tagaytay-Batangas Expressway project seen to move forward in February. - February 11, 2018 

The Metro Pacific Investments Corporation led MPCALA Holdings Incorporated and Metro Pacific Tollways Corporations (MPTC) are the proponents for the 49-kilometer Cavite-Tagaytay-Batangas Expressway (CTBEX). The project is a two-by-two lane that will traverse the rural areas of Silang, Tagaytay, Amedeo, Mendez, Alfonso and Magallanes in Cavite. According to Luigi Bautista, MPCALA Holdings President and CEO, the CTBEX is almost complete with the documentation. He also stated that the only cause of delay was determining who the proponent would be - MPCALA or MPTC. Last December 5, MPCALA and MPTC completed the required documents for the CBTEX project. Once the Metro Pacific group attains the original proponent status and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board gives the go-signal for the project, the government can begin the Swiss exchange for the CBTEX. Construction of the expressway is expected to start by the 1st half of 2019 and would be completed by mid-2022. With the CBTEX, it would only take less than an hour for motorists from Manila to reach Tagaytay.

Source: https://www.rappler.com/business/195788-metro-pacific-cavite-tagaytay-batangas-expressway

3-in-1 public building constructed in Diliman, QC - February 23, 2018

The Department of Public Works and Highways has completed in a 3-in-1 building that is now a Day Care Center, Multi Purpose Hall, and Police Post in Barangay Teachers Village East, Diliman, Quezon City. DPWH National Capital Region Director Melvin Navaro stated that the 4.9 million project only took 4 months to build. The building’s second floor is a Multipurpose Hall with an area of 82 square meters that can cater to public events.

Source: http://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/news/12833

 ENERGY

CA halts suspension of 4 ERC commissioners - February 11, 2018

The suspension of 4 Energy Regulatory Commission Commissioners for 60 days after Associate Justice Mariflor Punzalan Castillo issued a TRO. The CA made the decision in order to not impair the public as the Malacanang has not appointed replacements for ERC Commissioners Alfredo Non, Gloria Victoria Yap-Taruc, Josefina Patricia Asirit and Geronimo Sta. Ana. The 4 Commissioners was suspended for a year after being found out that they are allowing electric utilities to forgo the bidding of power supplies at the expense of the public.

Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/ca-halts-suspension-of-4-erc-commissioners/

Senate OKS National Energy Efficiency Bill on 3rd reading - February 5, 2018

In early February 2018, the Senate approved on third and final reading of a bill creating a comprehensive framework for energy efficiency and conservation with an 18-0 voting. Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, the principal author, stated that sa Senate Bill 1532, to be known as the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act of 2018 was created to advance energy efficiency and conservation practices in the Philippines. Gatchalian said that the proposed law builds the foundation for a comprehensive energy-efficiency and conservation policy that would mandate the efficient and judicious use of energy resources. Gatchalian who serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy estimates that if the country’s energy efficiency reaches half as the energy efficiency of Germany, the country can achieve savings of around P1.6 trillion from a period of 2018 to 2030. The approved SB 1532 mandates the creation of a National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan which defines national targets, details feasible strategies, and imposes a regular monitoring and evaluation system. Gatchalian said the remedial legislation would also institutionalize these energy-efficiency and conservation standards and strategies in local governance through the creation of a Local Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan. The Senator also stated that the Department of Energy shall be the lead government agency tasked to ensure the proper implementation of the measure.

Source: https://businessmirror.com.ph/senate-oks-national-energy-efficiency-bill-on-3rd-reading/

 ENVIRONMENT

DOT makes sure Siargao will not go the way of Boracay - February 21, 2018

In Davao City, the Department of Tourism plans to put up sanitary fills in Siargao to ensure that it would not end up like Boracay. According to Tourism Undersecretary Katherine de Castro, the local residents made the request to make sanitary landfills because they make use of open dumpsites to dispose the waste that they have generated. De Castro then said that the Department of Tourism will aid in putting up the landfill because it will cost the local government much in the construction. The landfills can be expected by the end of the year.

Source: https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/02/21/dot-makes-sure-siargao-will-not-go-the-way-of-boracay/

DENR joins I-Act in crackdown vs. smoke belchers - February 22, 2018

The Department of Energy and Natural Resources has joined the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic which was created to cater to traffic congestion and go after smoke belching vehicles in the Metro. DENR is participating in the “Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok” project with their own anti-smoke belching program. DENR Task Force Metro Manila now has the equipment and manpower to conduct smoke emission tests. The task force has also been conducting roadside smoke emission tests on old and on poor condition vehicles. The vehicles that fail to meet the emission standards are handed a traffic violation receipts on the spot.

Source: https://www.denr.gov.ph/news-and-features/latest-news.html?start=6

Laguna Lake cleanup is Cimatu’s next target - February 01, 2018 

After Manila Bay, Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu has stated that his next target would be the clean up of Laguna Bay. In order to achieve his goal, Cimatu said that he would need the commitment and cooperation of the DENR field officials, especially the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officers and Community Environment and Natural Resources Officers located in Laguna and Rizal. Cimatu has also pledged a stricter law enforcement to punish those who pollute bodies of water.

Source: https://www.denr.gov.ph/news-and-features/latest-news.html?start=24

 AGRICULTURE

Rice production up by 1.65 million tons in 2017 — gov’t data—February 8, 2018

Filipino farmers have produced an addition of 1.65 million metric tons of palay in the year 2017, based from the Philippines Statistics Authority. 19.28 million MT of palay were produced for 2017 as compared to 2016’s 17.63 million MT which shows a 9.36% increase. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol expects a “record” of 3 million MT by the end of the first quarter of the year.

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/967209/breaking-news-rice-agriculture-philippine-statistics-authority-psa-palay-emmanuel-pinol-manny-pinol-nfa

Duterte signs law giving free irrigation service to small farmers—Feb 9, 2018

Small farmers no longer have to pay irrigation fees after President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 10969 which is also known as the Free Irrigation Service Act. The law exempts farmers with up 8 hectares of land from paying irrigation service fees and condones and voids unpaid irrigation fees & penalties of the covered farmers. However, farmers with more than 8 hectares still have the pay the needed fees.

Source: http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/02/09/rodrigo-duterte-free-irrigation-ra-10969.html

 HEALTHCARE

The Medical City, Maxicare partner for ‘TMC Partner Care’—February 8, 2018

Medical City and Maxicare, both known leaders in the medical services industry has launched a first-of-its-kind health-care plan that will revolutionize both the TMC patients and Maxicare members. The health-care plan, dubbed “TMC Partner Care” is a project initiated by Maxicare with the full support of its partner, TMC. The health-care plan covers both outpatient and inpatient services as it carries an Annual Benefit Limit of P100,000 where preexisting conditions, or illnesses that a member experiences even before the commencement of the HMO plan, are covered. Sean Argos, Maxicare President and CEO mentioned that the goal of the program is provide convenient way for members to access healthcare services. Members can now access various services in TMC hospitals and clinics which guarantees superior quality and a wider health-care coverage. Another unique feature of the TMC Partner Care plan is the 24/7 TeleConsult Service which connotes an unlimited, all day, all-week consultation service where members can consult an actual physician for any medical advice needed. Membership is categorized into three types: Individual, Family, and Business. Applications are available at in the TMC Main in Pasig City.

Source: https://businessmirror.com.ph/the-medical-city-maxicare-partner-for-tmc-partner-care/

Health group to Duque: Focus on preventive health care—February 9, 2018

HealthJustice Philippines has expressed hope that Health Secretary Francisco Duque III would focus more on preventive health care. HealthJustice member Dr. Jaime Galvez-Tan mentioned that the health department should develop and implement programs that will prioritize prevention over cure. He also described Duque as a “battle-tested public servant” given his experience under former president Gloria M. Arroyo. Duque was appointed last October by President Rodrigo Duterte and was confirmed last February 7, 2018 by the Commission on Appointments after two hearings.

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1024620

 TOURISM

DOT records 6.6 million foreign tourists in 2017—February 1, 2018

Despite the adversities the nation went through in the year 2017, the Department of Tourism (DOT) recorded more than 6.6 million of foreign tourist who came into the country. About 6,620,908 international arrivals were recorded, compared to 2016’s 5,967,006, the tourism department declared an 11% growth as an “all-time high”. Officials noted that the events such as the Miss Universe 2017, ASEAN Summit, Madrid Fusion Manila 2017, World Street Food Congress, and the UNTWO International Conference on Tourism Statistics contributed to this growth. In addition, countries such as South Korea, China, the United States of America, Japan, and Australia gave the highest number of tourist arrivals in the country. In the year 2018, an anticipated growth of 7.4% is expected by the DOT.

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/965347/dot-records-6-6-million-foreign-tourists-in-2017

Duterte slams top Philippine tourist island Boracay as ‘cesspool’—February 10, 2018

The Philippines’ famous white-sand island destination Boracay is drowning in faeces and may need to shut down according to President Rodrigo Duterte. He stated that he warned hotels, restaurants, and other business that they need to clean up or he would ban tourism there. In addition, out of 150 Boracay business establishments, only 25 were connected to the sewege line and a majority of them drained their sewage directly into the sea. Boracay is said to attract more than 2 million tourists and brings in an annual revue of P56 billion (US $1.2 billion). Duterte warned the situation as an environmental “disaster” and a “tragedy”. He had given orders to Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to clean up Boracay in a span of 6 months or he will shut down the island to tourists.

Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/duterte-slams-top-philippine-tourist-island-boracay-as-cesspool-9948092