The four northbound lanes of the Marilao segment of North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) have been reopened after completion of repairs on the interchange bridge that was damaged by an oversized truck. Originally scheduled for completion within two weeks, the private operator expedited the repairs on bridge after swiftly delivering the fabricated steel needed for the infrastructure. On March 19, an …

The Supreme Court declared unconstitutional the requirement for land-based overseas Filipino workers (OFW) to make Social Security System (SSS) contributions before they can be granted Overseas Employment Certificates (OEC). The High Court en banc partly granted the petition filed by Migrante International and other groups, striking down Rule 14, Section 7(iii) of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the …

Siargao island often gets rains coming from winds and currents from the Pacific Ocean. While these waves and rain, intensified by the Mindanao current, give Siargao its serene and lush greenery and fuel its reputation as the country’s surfing capital, these might cause unfavorable weather conditions that may cause some turbulence that might delay or cancel a flight to Siargao.  …

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is fast-tracking construction of the Cavite segment of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) to ensure its completion by third quarter of 2025. DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan reported that the 8.64-kilometer Subsection 3, which includes the Governor’s Drive Interchange, is 44% complete, bringing the overall progress of the 44.58-kilometer expressway to 68%. Once completed, …

By Rose de la Cruz Unable to defend the wisdom of reducing tariffs on imported rice, which failed to result in lower retail prices, the government is now reviewing whether to continue implementing EO 62 (on reduced tariffs) or to raise them in time for the coming harvest season for the main crop in April. “To ensure our farmers are …

By Rose de la Cruz Decades of wanton trawling and destruction of seabeds and coral reefs mostly from commercial fishing vessels– many of them operating without permits, including those of recent years by Chinese fishing vessels– have led to the depletion of local fish stock, which necessitated the continued importation of mackerel, sardines and other species that used to teem …

BEYOND ELLIPTICALBy Rose Marie de la Cruz The swine sector, which is now reeling from the rampage of the African Swine Fever as with so many other countries around the world, would take a long time to recover from this virus. An article on Pig Site said Dr. Liz Wagstrom, chief veterinarian of the National Pork Producers Council in Des …

After decades of lucrative profits from exporting ores of precious metals (iron, steel, nickel, gold, copper, etc,), the mining industry claims it is not yet ready for a total ban on ore exports, which Congress is now considering passing bills to discourage ore shipments in place of finished mineral products, where the country could earn more from. In a statement, …

Executive Director Glenn Estrada of the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority said his agency is open to granting long-tenured certificate of product registration of up to 5 or 10 years just like the licenses for Land Transportation Office, but this must be based on track record of the product, consistency of ingredients and encouraging outcomes of the product on actual farms. …

By Rose de la Cruz With its immense power, the Department of Agriculture is nothing to be scared about as far as agricultural stakeholders are concerned.  Rice traders and importers do not heed the maximum suggested retail price (SMRP) of DA, neither do meat and pork traders and importers. Even its warnings on violations of current laws on imports and …