THE Transportation department said it hopes to start feasibility studies for the EDSA busway, North Long Haul Inter-Regional Railway (National Capital Region-Ilocos Norte and Cagayan), and the Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake Ferry projects in January. “The feasibility studies will be bid out to international consulting firms,” the Department of Transportation (DoTr) told BusinessWorld on Thursday when […]
Category: Hot News
Marcos pitches young PHL workforce to potential EU investors
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. touted the young, trainable Philippine workforce to European executives, the Palace said. In a statement on Wednesday, the Office of the Press Secretary said Mr. Marcos also assured the executives of an improving business climate at a roundtable discussion in Brussels. “Apart from being young, the Philippine workforce is distinguished […]
Estonian expertise to be tapped in e-government, cybersecurity push
THE PHILIPPINES and Estonia have agreed to collaborate in digitization and e-governance projects, the Office of the President said in a statement. During a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-European Union Commemorative Summit in Brussels, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. noted that Estonia “seemed to have managed the technologies so […]
PHL hospitals see foreign investment as key to upgrading management practices
By Alyssa Nicole O. Tan, Reporter INCREASED foreign investment will allow the medical industry to incorporate more advanced technology and management practices, according to a hospital industry official. “I think for healthcare in the Philippines, the only problem probably is financing,” Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. President Jose Rene D. de Grano told […]
High rates seen dulling residential market as investors favor office, industrial property
HIGH RATES are taking the shine off the residential market, with property investors expected to lean more towards office, industrial, and logistics projects, Colliers Philippines said. Paul Chua, director for capital markets and investment services of Colliers Philippines, said that although the residential sector has seen a recovery in the high-rise condominium segment in Metro […]
DoE to explore marine-based renewable energy
THE Department of Energy (DoE) said it is evaluating various marine renewable energy technologies. Marissa P. Cerezo, director of the Renewable Energy Management Bureau, said in a virtual briefing on Wednesday that the Philippine clean energy strategy will involve harnessing ocean energy. Michael Lonchivar Sim Abundo, director of Ocean Pixel Pte. Ltd., said at the […]
GUIDE bill wins third-reading approval from House
THE House of Representatives, sitting in plenary session, passed on third reading the GUIDE bill, which would require government financial institutions to aid small businesses and others deemed “strategic” as a form of pandemic relief. The chamber approved the bill with a vote of 282 legislators, with no votes against and no abstentions. The proposed […]
China likely to just snub PHL senators’ tirade on sea incident
By Alyssa Nicole O. Tan, Reporter CHINA could not be expected to change its stance and course of action in disputed parts of the South China Sea after Philippine senators signed a resolution on Wednesday condemning what they called harassment and encroachment by Chinese vessels in Philippine maritime territory. “Probably not,” said Herman Joseph S. […]
PHL partners with two EU countries on defense
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has sought support from the Czech Republic and the Netherlands to enhance the technological capacity of the Philippines’ defense sector, according to statements released by the press secretary’s office on Wednesday. “It’s something that has been very helpful to the program of modernization that we are undergoing for defense forces […]
House approves NCSTP bill on final reading
THE HOUSE of Representatives on Thursday approved on 3rd and final reading a measure that seeks mandatory military training for public and private tertiary education students. House Bill 6687, certified by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as urgent, got 276 affirmative votes, while four opposed and one abstained. Under the proposed law, the National Citizens […]
Bangsamoro transport ministry ready to take over airport terminal operations by Jan. 1
THE BANGSAMORO Airport Authority (BAA) will start handling the passenger terminal operations of four airports in the region by Jan. 1, the regional government said on Thursday. BAA head Carmencita O. Salik, in a statement from the regional information office, said they held their first meeting with airport concessionaires and other business operators on Dec. […]
Spain vows continued support for peace programs in Bangsamoro region
SPAIN has vowed to provide continuing support to peace programs in the Bangsamoro, an autonomous region in southern Philippines that is transitioning from a history of conflicts, according to Philippine press secretary’s office. “But it’s true that you know, Philippines is the only Asian country in… from our side, listed as a priority country in […]
Comelec disqualifies Cagayan governor for violating spending ban
THE COMMISSION ON Elections (Comelec) has disqualified Cagayan Governor Manuel N. Mamba, Sr. from the May elections for disbursing funds for transport vehicles, cash assistance and scholarships during the spending ban period. “It’s all over the records of this case that respondent (Mr. Mamba) disbursed public funds during the prohibited period for the village programs,” […]
Russia says no Christmas ceasefire in Ukraine
KYIV — Russia ruled out a “Christmas ceasefire” after nearly 10 months of war in Ukraine and rejected a call by Kyiv to start withdrawing troops by Christmas as a step to end Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II. Russia and Ukraine are not currently engaged in talks to end the fighting, which is […]
Tokyo makes solar panels mandatory for new homes to be built after 2025
TOKYO — All new houses in Tokyo built by large-scale homebuilders after April 2025 must install solar power panels to cut household carbon emissions, according to a new regulation passed by the Japanese capital’s local assembly on Thursday. The mandate, the first of its kind for a Japanese municipality, requires about 50 major builders to […]
US Senate passes bill to ban TikTok on gov’t devices
WASHINGTON — The US Senate late on Wednesday passed by voice vote a bill to bar federal employees from using Chinese-owned short video-sharing app TikTok on government-owned devices. The bill must still be approved by the US House of Representatives before going to President Joseph R. Biden for approval. The House of Representatives would need […]
Vietnam makes big push to expand South China Sea outposts, says US think tank
WASHINGTON — Vietnam has conducted a major expansion of dredging and landfill work at several of its South China Sea outposts in the second half of this year, signaling an intent to significantly fortify its claims in the disputed waterway, a US think tank reported on Wednesday. Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) […]
Steely France ends Morocco run to set up Argentina showdown
France battles Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final AL KHOR, Qatar — France will play Argentina in the World Cup final after beating Morocco 2-0 in an enthralling semifinal on Wednesday to stay on course to retain the title and end the fairytale run of the north Africans in Qatar. Theo Hernandez scored in […]
Peso strengthens after US CPI release
THE PESO strengthened against the dollar on Wednesday after the recent release of positive US consumer inflation data. The local currency ended at P55.745 against the greenback, inching up by 15.50 centavos from Tuesday’s P55.90 close, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines’ website showed. The peso opened the day’s session at P55.65 per […]
PSEi up on lower US inflation, before BSP meeting
LOCAL shares closed higher on Wednesday on lower-than-expected US inflation in November ahead of more economic data releases. The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) climbed by 32.69 points or 0.49% to close at 6,615.07 on Wednesday, while the broader all-shares index added 17.92 points or 0.52% to 3,449.57. “Philippine shares rose once again, propped […]