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President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. recently directed the Department of Energy (DOE) to continue expediting the integration of all applications and permitting processes for energy projects in the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (EVOSS). In his 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July, President Marcos ordered the DOE to fast-track the integration of all applications and permitting processes for …

Police arrested a 36-year-old Japanese fugitive allegedly linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) based in Cambodia. In a report, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said Sasaki Yohei was nabbed by a team from the NCRPO and the Bureau of Immigration in Barangay Tandang Sora, Quezon City at about 3:40 p.m. Tuesday …

It’s all systems go for Prime Waste Solutions Pampanga Inc. (PWS Pampanga) as it begins servicing businesses within the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zones starting yesterday, October 6. “Our large-scale Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Porac is ready to serve clients and partners both within and outside of Clark and Pampanga,” said PWS Pampanga President Cara Peralta. “We look …

Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista categorically denied allegations by online news portal Bilyonaryo that singularly reported NAIA’s increase in fees were not approved by the Cabinet. Sec. Bautista said the NAIA Public-Private Partnership project was presented to the Cabinet thrice, updating President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on the progress of the privatization of NAIA.  Included in the presentations were …

In a striking display of unity, former senior government officials from various administrations have come together to call on Finance Secretary Ralph Recto to halt the impending transfer of P89.9 billion in excess funds from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to the national treasury.  This move, they argue, underscores a dangerous precedent: prioritizing political maneuvering over the pressing health …

A new financing program for franchising businesses will be launched this month through the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) financing arm Small Business Corporation (SBCorp). This, as the DTI, SBCorp and the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) in Makati City Tuesday to promote micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) development through franchising. Part of …

The North-South Commuter Railway System (NSCR) is expected to partially operate by late 2027 or early 2028, according to Transport Secretary Jaime J. Bautista.  “It will be from Clark Airport to Valenzuela City,” Sec. Bautista said during the ceremonial linking of the elevated NSCR viaduct at Bocaue, Bulacan, that now connects the Bocaue and Balagtas stations.  “Maraming magbebenepisyo rito, maraming …

A foreign shipping firm has decided to throw its hat into the Philippine domestic shipping arena, which has been plagued for decades with the high cost of doing business, lack of economies of scale and poor port infrastructure.  This is expected to lower the cost of domestic shipping which has higher than shipping from abroad.  CNC, the intra-Asia short sea …

By Rose de la Cruz The International Monetary Fund is giving a more realistic projection for the country’s economic growth citing the continued elevated inflation which would likely continue to weigh on domestic demand. The IMF cut the country’s gross domestic product outlook for 2024 to 5.8 percent from its previous 6 percent projection and for 2025 at 6.1 percent, …

By Rose de la Cruz For the sake of transparency and to reduce fraud and misuse of funds– frequently occuring in the bidding and awarding of procurements and projects– the World Bank is urging the government to increase the participation of civilian watchdogs in such processes. “Civil society organization (CSOs) often act as watchdogs, ensuring that the bidding process is …