Category: General

DAVAO CITY: The City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) is set to deploy enforcers at the Davao International Airport (DIA) to keep unregistered taxi drivers from scamming passengers.

In a radio interview Thursday, CTTMO chief Dionisio Abude said the move would ensure that only authorized vehicles can pick up passengers and ensure that taxi drivers were not contracting passengers or overcharging them.

“We will deploy personnel to check on drivers to see if they have identification documents (ID) if their public utility vehicle (PUV) IDs are not expired, and if their PUV ID is not fake,” Abude said.

He said enforcers from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Davao Region (LTFRB-11), Land Transportation Office-11, and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines will assist them with the initiative.

Passengers, he added, would be given a piece of paper containing information about the taxi they hailed.

“The paper will contain the complete information about the taxi, t
he driver, and the passenger. It will be given to the passenger, meaning that the vehicle has a meter and is allowed to pick up passengers there,” Abude said.

In a recent meeting with stakeholders, Abude said the modus operandi of some dishonest taxi drivers at the airport involves relying on a canvasser who would charge exorbitant fares.

Another scheme, he said, involves authorized airport taxi drivers offering rides at a fixed rate, while the third type employs canvassers who pose as passengers and are dropped off at the taxi lane.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Economists in the government and academe agreed that Calabarzon Region’s stature as a manufacturing hub is poised for further growth but they pointed out that more interventions are needed to support the expansion of production activities as well as the movement of goods and raw materials.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the value of the five-province region’s economy breached the PHP3-trillion barrier in 2023.

Calabarzon also maintained its position as the second-largest contributor to the gross domestic product (GDP), accounting for 14.7 percent last year.

Only the National Capital Region (NCR) contributed more, accounting for 31.2 percent of the final tally in 2023.

However, Calabarzon narrowly missed its 6 to 7 percent gross regional domestic product (GRDP) target last year, growing by a still-respectable 5.2 percent.

In an interview on Friday, Roberto Galang, Jr., dean at Ateneo de Manila’s John Gokongwei School of Management, said more resources must be spent towards
developing critical infrastructure that support manufacturing operations in the region.

Specifically, he suggested that Calabarzon’s air and seaports and its network of highways be further enhanced to ensure seamless transportation of products.

‘The CALAX (Cavite-Laguna Expressway) project is designed to make it easier for trucks to go around and deliver goods to the ports. They need to enhance connectivity and productivity of Batangas Port,’ he told the Philippine News Agency.

‘Calabarzon is the industrial hub of the Philippines. It hosts many of our economic zones. A lot of our local manufacturing capacity is there, especially in Cavite, Laguna and Batangas. So if this region falls short, then that may mean a slowdown in manufacturing growth,’ Galang noted.

Meanwhile, Agnes Tolentino, regional director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), said that key government initiatives topbilled by the continued expansion of economic zones, various export promotion activities and even the Sma
ll Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program will play crucial roles in driving the region’s growth.

Calabarzon’s tourism sector flourished, with 29.17 million tourists recorded in 2023, thanks to initiatives like the Department of Tourism’s Philippine Experience Program, she added.

Also, construction activities saw a 14.8 percent growth, propelled by government projects like the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino program, Tolentino further reported.

The NEDA official explained that while there has been strong emphasis on the industrial side of Calabarzon’s progress, the government has also lined up projects to boost the sub-optimal performance of the region’s agricultural sector.

These projects include the Kaliwa Dam Project, also called the New Centennial Water Supply Project, which is envisioned to irrigate farms in the region even through droughts.

‘Despite challenges, Calabarzon remains optimistic about its economic future, with proposed projects focused on infrastructure and social sector developme
nt. Collaboration among stakeholders is crucial to achieving the targeted GRDP growth rate,’ Tolentino emphasized.

Source: Philippines News Agency

CEBU CITY: Cebu’s largest power distribution firm on Friday assured customers that there would be no power interruptions amid a nationwide low power supply alert.

Quennie Sanchez-Bronce, head of the Visayan Electric Co.’s reputation enhancement department, said they have not yet imposed rotational outages despite the grid problems.

‘We advise our consumers to practice electricity conservation. But we have not yet experienced power interruptions related to a shortage of power supply,’ Bronce told the Philippine News Agency.

She, however, said there are warnings already that outages might occur if the current power supply alert continues.

Power outages may be caused by scheduled maintenance outages or emergency measures related to some accidents.

Bronce said household owners could observe some practical measures like minimizing appliance usage to minimize power usage and help stabilize the grid.

According to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), Visayas is still under yellow alert as of
April 26, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

A yellow alert is issued when the operating margin is insufficient to meet the transmission grid’s contingency requirement.

NGCP traced the low supply to forced outage of one power plant since 2022, two power plants since 2023, two power plants between January and March 2024, and 14 since this month.

It said eight power plants are currently running on derated capacities.

All these issues resulted in the reduction of around 604.1 megawatt to the grid, it added.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Dubai: The highly anticipated 10th Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition (PPIE), the Philippines’ largest international property and investment show, is set to return to Dubai on May 11-12, 2024.

This year’s annual event will take place at The Bristol Hotel, Deira, Dubai, aiming to spotlight the Philippines’ robust economic performance, positioning the country as a premier investment hub in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.

In 2023, the Philippines achieved remarkable economic growth, surpassing key Asian economies with a 5.6 percent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate. Overseas remittances also hit a record high of AED136.5 billion, driving positive momentum for the real estate market.

The surge in demand for real properties in the Philippines, especially from overseas Filipinos and foreign investors, reflects the country’s attractiveness as an investment hub.

The participation of leading real estate investment firms in the Philippines like Ayala Land, Hotel 101, RLC
Residences, and Rockwell Land, as recurring major exhibitors in this year’s highly anticipated event not only meets this demand but also highlights PPIE’s enduring legacy and significance in the investment landscape.

In a statement, Alfonso Ver, Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, commended the event, stating: ‘The return of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition this year highlights the robust growth of the Philippines’ investment and real estate sectors, particularly in the UAE. This growth signifies the increasing confidence in the Philippine economy. I commend the NPM Group for organizing this event, which brings together leading developers from the Philippines to encourage investment from Filipino and foreign investors.’

Marford Angeles, Philippine Consul General in Dubai, underscored the exhibition’s contribution to showcasing investment opportunities and empowering Filipino professionals and entrepreneurs, stating: ‘This year, as we celebrate a decade of the largest Philippine real estate ev
ent in the UAE, with an inspiring community nearing one million strong Filipinos, we also mark half a century of fruitful relations between our two nations.The exhibition, a pivotal platform, has not only showcased the best investment opportunities to our kababayans but also played a crucial role in shifting the narrative of migrant Filipinos from one of low-skilled workers to one of empowered professionals and successful entrepreneurs.’

Karen Remo, CEO and founder of New Perspective Media Group, organizer of PPIE, expressed confidence in the Philippines as an economic powerhouse, reaffirming PPIE’s commitment to promoting it as a top investment event, stating: ‘The 6.4 percent projected growth rate this year makes the Philippines an economic powerhouse in the ASEAN region. This fills us at NPM with an even greater sense of confidence as we showcase our country as a premier investment hub and be a one-stop-shop for all savings and investments needs for Filipinos and non-Filipinos wanting to invest in the Phi
lippines.’

‘From its very inception in 2014, PPIE has served as a conduit of progress for our nation, and the return of our annual international exhibition underscores our unwavering commitment to this cause. Through our ongoing efforts to promote financial literacy among overseas Filipinos, such as through our signature event like the PPIE, we’ve fostered a culture of saving and investment that will positively impact lives for generations to come,’ she added.

Vince Ang, chief operating officer of NPM Group, said ‘PPIE was born from NPM’s desire to see every overseas Filipino thrive, even after retirement. This vision remains strong. We invite Filipinos and other UAE-based investors to join us for the 10th edition of PPIE. Together, we’ll learn how to manage finances, invest smartly, and gain new skills for the future. This free, two-day event is all about making informed choices today for a brighter tomorrow.’

PPIE will feature a diverse range of real estate, financial and business solutions and services,
along with more than 50 keynotes and forums from over 50 industry experts and corporate leaders from top property developers in the Philippines, as well as UAE-based businesses and organizations.

Aligned with this year’s theme, ‘Discover, Invest and Thrive: Revealing the Beauty of Philippine Investments,’ PPIE will promote investment opportunities including those in the growing tourism sector – showing how investing in the Philippines provides both financial benefits and promoting the country’s natural and cultural heritage.

By showcasing these aspects, the event aims to highlight the attractiveness and potential of investing in the Philippines, welcoming overseas Filipinos and foreign investors to participate in the investment event.

PPIE continues to make history in the Gulf region by attracting high-level delegations from the Philippines and the UAE, featuring the Philippine Economic and Investment Summit (PEIS), and welcoming over 2,500 quality visitors every year for the past nine editions.

Source
: Philippines News Agency

CEBU CITY: The Task Force Gubat sa Baha (War on Flooding) has served the final notice to 34 Cebu City establishments to demolish their structures encroaching on the riverbanks.

Retired military official Melquiades Feliciano, chief implementer of the task force, said Thursday that recovering riverbanks illegally occupied by these establishments is part of the city government’s efforts to address flooding.

Feliciano said so far, only a restaurant chain owner voluntarily demolished its commissary.

Under the Water Code of the Philippines, riverbanks, streams, and other bodies of water must have a 3-meter easement in urban areas.

The code also states that the owner of the lower estate cannot contract works that impede the natural flow of the water.

Establishment owners were given notices to voluntarily destroy the structures encroaching on riverbanks, particularly the Estero de Parian, which overflows during heavy rains and inundates downtown Colon Street.

They were given the final orders Tuesday but Felicia
no clarified that no abrupt demolition would happen.

“We will follow the proper procedure after the lapse of the 72-hour notice,” he said.

The task force will identify those who would not follow the order and coordinate with the Business Permit and Licensing Office, which will issue the cease and desist order.

The cease and desist order will also be implemented based on the legal opinion of the city’s Legal Office.

Estero de Parian is one of the oldest estuaries in the city covering the downtown’s historical villages of Sto. Niño, Tinago, Parian, and San Roque.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: San Juan succeeded in its first home stand for the 6th Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) season, scoring a blowout 106-78 win over Iloilo at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Thursday night.

Exactly a week after opening their MPBL campaign with a rout of the Marikina Shoemasters in Caloocan, the Knights did the same to the United Royals, quickly stamping their dominance from the get-go.

Orlan Wamar came close to a triple-double as he led San Juan, now 2-0, with 24 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists with four steals.

His last triple earned him his 1,000th career point in the regional basketball league.

AC Soberano added 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, one rebound, three assists, and one steal off the bench.

CJ Cansino led Iloilo, which dropped to 1-3, with 19 points, five rebounds, four assists, and one steal.

Earlier, Pasay stretched its winning streak with a 65-64 victory over Batangas City, thanks to a game-winner of Laurenz Victoria with less than a second left.

After h
is team forced a turnover with 7.5 seconds left, Victoria went for a pull-up jumper that swished through the net with only 0.6 seconds remaining to give Pasay the lead.

Jeckster Apinan tried to steal the win for Batangas City, but his three-point attempt hit the backboard as time expired.

Patrick Sleat led the Voyagers, who dropped their season opener against the Negros Muscovados, with 15 points, three rebounds, and one steal.

Warren Bonifacio added 14 points, eight rebounds and one block.

Ced Ablaza made 18 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and two steals for the Rum Masters, who suffered their first loss of the season after a 3-0 start.

In the curtainraiser, Rizal banked on a blistering start to take down South Cotabato, 92-81.

The Golden Coolers outscored the Warriors, 31-11, in the first quarter and never looked back, even extending their lead to 24 before the Warriors cut the lead to a respectable one in the second half.

Rizal, which remained undefeated at 4-0, leaned on Alwyn Alday w
ho produced 22 points, six rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block.

Kraniel Villoria flirted with a triple-double with 19 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists with one steal and one block.

Val Acuna scored 19 points, two rebounds, three assists, and five steals for South Cotabato, which fell to 2-2.

The scores:

First Game

RIZAL 92 – Alday 22, Villoria 19, Apacible 12, Balagtas 11, Agovida 9, Alonzo 8, Serrano 5, Argente 3, Casino 3, Bernardo 0, Jimenez 0, Timajo 0, Davis 0, Pingoy 0, Lao 0.

SOUTH COTABATO 81 -Acuna 19, M. Cruz 14, Wilson 12, Tolentino 10, Dionisio 7, Elorde 6, Mahaling 4, Sorela 3, Rodriguez 2, Joson 2, J. Cruz 2, Cosip 0, Dumapig 0, Lantaya 0, Apreku 0.

Quarters: 31-11, 52-31, 73-56, 92-81

Second Game

PASAY 65 – Sleat 15, Bonifacio 14, Victoria 12, Reverente 7, Caballero 6, Inigo 5, Ramirez 3, Aguirre 2, Coronel 1, Sienes 0, Salenga 0, Chan 0, Tabi 0, Hillario 0, Lustina 0.

BATANGAS CITY 64 – Ablaza 18, Hernandez 10, Dela Virgen 8, Apinan 7, Baloria 6, Cruz 5, Ramirez
4, Porter 4, Ochea 2, Isit 0, Oliva 0, Lunor 0, Arim 0, Alarcon 0, Importante 0.

Quarters: 13-17, 28-26, 34-47, 65-64

Third Game

SAN JUAN 106 – Wamar 24, Soberano 13, Huang 12, Maiquez 11, Taywan 11, Hugnatan 11, Galinato 6, Miranda 5, Malonzo 4, Soriano 4, Mojica 3, Ando 2, Gamboa 0, Panganiban 0, Ubalde 0,

ILOILO 78 – Casino 19, De La Rosa 11, Doliguez 10, Jeruta 8, Rangel 7, Imperial 6, Catapusan 6, Ongteco 6, Nonoy 3, Larupay 2, Gomez 0, Etrata 0, Madrigal 0, Beltran 0, Diaz 0.

Quarters: 28-17, 50-37, 80-60, 106-78

Source: Philippines News Agency