Darwin G. Amojelar

NLEX submits offer for phase 3 expansion

February 12, 2024

Darwin G. Amojelar

NLEX Corp. submitted a proposal to widen the North Luzon Expressway to ease traffic congestion, according to the Toll Regulatory Board. “They [NLEX] submitted what we call NLEX Widening Expansion Phase 3. It’s still under evaluation,” TRB executive dir...

November inflows lifted 11-month foreign direct investments to $7.6b

February 12, 2024

Darwin G. Amojelar

Net inflows of foreign direct investments (FDI) in the Philippines climbed 27.8 percent in November 2023 to $1 billion from $820-million net inflows in the same period in 2022, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said Monday. The BSP attributed...

‘CNN Philippines to halt free TV operations amid financial losses’

January 27, 2024

Darwin G. Amojelar

CNN Philippines is shutting down its free-television operations in the country after nine years amid mounting financial losses, its owner said Friday. D. Edgard Cabangon, chairman of ALC Group of Companies and Nine Media Corp., which owns and operates CNN Philippines, confirmed to Manila Standard in a text message that the channel would go off […]
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NTC suspends operations of SMNI

December 21, 2023

Darwin G. Amojelar

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said Thursday it suspended the operations Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) for 30 days over alleged violations of its franchise terms. SMNI is the media arm of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ led by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. The regulator, acting on the House of Representative’s Resolution No. 189, issued a […]
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Telecom industry pursues innovation

December 18, 2023

Darwin G. Amojelar

The Philippine telecom sector is bullish about 2024 amid easing inflation, a robust economy and a bigger focus on innovation. The industry, boasting P267 billion in revenues through the first nine months of 2023, exhibited resilience in the face of economic challenges. Globe’s outlook Globe Telecom Inc. chief executive Ernest Cu expressed optimism, as he […]
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Warner Bros., local company team up to revive PH film market

November 26, 2023

Darwin G. Amojelar

Warner Bros. Pictures signed an exclusive partnership with a local film company to reawaken the Philippine movie industry. The Hollywood film studio signed an agreement with Filipino firm Mentorque Productions over the weekend to handle the theatrical distribution of horror movie Mallari, its first local mainstream film distribution. “This is the first mainstream Filipino movie […]
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DoTr sets new EDSA busway rules

November 18, 2023

Darwin G. Amojelar

The Department of Transportation has issued a new set of guidelines on the use of the EDSA busway amid the increasing number of violations. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the dedicated lane is for public utility buses (PUB) in a bid to move as many commuters as possible. In his letter to Metro Manila Development […]
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Toyota Veloz units deployed for JoyRide ‘super taxi’ fleet

November 12, 2023

Darwin G. Amojelar

Toyota Manila Bay Corp. (TMBC), a joint venture of GT Capital Holdings Inc. and Mitsui & Co. Ltd., said it is committed to supplying enough Toyota Veloz for the expansion of JoyRide Philippines’ “super taxi” service. “We are now talking with JoyRide, and we have to prepare enough numbers to supply the Philippine market,” TMBC […]
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Angkas launches ‘weekend market’

November 12, 2023

Darwin G. Amojelar

Angkas, the pioneering motorcycle ride-hailing service in the country, rolled out initiatives to augment their rider partners’ supplemental income. The motorcycle taxi company launched“Angkas Weekend Market” in partnership with SariSuki to fuel Biker Marketplace. The weekend market offers a wide range of products from their partner riders and their families aimed at providing additional livelihood […]
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PH drops China funding for Mindanao railway

October 26, 2023

Darwin G. Amojelar

The Philippines will no longer pursue Chinese financing for a major railway line in Mindanao after learning that Beijing’s interest in the project has waned. In a letter to the Chinese Embassy, the Department of Finance (DOF) said the Philippines “is no longer inclined to pursue the Chinese ODA (official development assistance) financing for the […]
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House website hacked, defaced

October 16, 2023

Darwin G. Amojelar

The website of the House of Representatives was hacked Sunday, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said. “Immediate steps have been taken to address the issue,” Velasco said in a statement. He said the House is working closely with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and law enforcement […]
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Marcos to DICT: Beef up defenses vs. cybercriminals

October 14, 2023

Darwin G. Amojelar

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to beef up its defense against cybercriminals, as he expressed concern over recent data leaks in government agencies. “Yesterday, the President called up and he’s really very afraid of what’s happening here. And he actually told us that we should really […]
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PhilHealth won’t pay P17 million ransom demand from hackers

September 26, 2023

Darwin G. Amojelar

The government on Tuesday said it will not pay $300,000 or P17 million ransom demand from hackers for the stolen database of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth). “According to our initial investigation, there were around 72 workstations that were affected and the systems affected are, of course, our website, our e-claims system, our member […]
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Release of fuel subsidies to start Wednesday

September 12, 2023

Darwin G. Amojelar

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said the distribution of fuel subsidies to public transport operators will start Wednesday (Sept. 13) to cushion the impact of high petroleum prices. The agency’s Memorandum Circular No. 2023-038 provides the standards in the implementation of the Pantawid Pasada Program (PPP) or Fuel Subsidy Program (FSP). Among […]
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DOTr to hasten P3b fuel subsidy release as pump prices rise again

September 8, 2023

Darwin G. Amojelar

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said it will hasten the distribution of fuel vouchers to public utility vehicle operators and drivers after the release of the funds for the P3 billion subsidy program was approved on Friday. This is as oil firms are expected to implement a minimal price increase next week amounting to P0.10 […]
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