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₱7.5-B Solar Project in Cebu starts construction

March 20, 2025

The construction for the ₱7.5 billion Daanbantayan Solar Power Plant has begun in Cebu last March 16th. This Cebu-based Solar Power Plant is a 176 Megawatt (MW) renewable energy project and part of the government’s “green lane” initiative.

Acciona Energia Global partnered with Cebu provincial government for the solar power plant, this public-private partnership will provide generate around 280 gigawatt-hours of clean energy to 300,000 people and reduce 259,000 tons of carbon dioxide emission annually.

“This project highlights the tangible impact of the Green Lane program, showcasing its success in attracting investors, particularly in renewable energy. It serves as a meaningful milestone, paving the way for more projects that advance our mission to promote green investments and create job opportunities for Filipinos,” Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary and BOI chairperson Ma. Cristina Roque said.

Acciona Energia Global’s project, the largest solar plant under construction in the Visayas and has a peak capacity of 176 MW, the solar plant is slated to begin operations next year.

Acciona chairperson and chief executive officer José Manuel Entrecanales Domecq said “This plant is Acciona Energia’s first plant in the Philippines, and as you know, as have been repeated, the biggest under construction in the Visayas archipelago. This project supports the government’s goal of increasing the share of renewables in the energy mix, ensuring energy security, and promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth.”

This article was originally published on allthingsev.net as ₱7.5-B Solar Project in Cebu starts construction.

Marikina City to hold its first Car-Free Sundays start March 2nd

March 1, 2025

Heads-up to all motorist headed to Marikina, since the City is holding its first ever car-free Sunday starting this March 2nd, 2025. A section of the Gil Fernando Avenue will be closed to vehicles from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM this coming Sunday, March2, 2025.

Marikina’s car-free Sundays is similar to what Makati City is doing along Ayala Avenue and Quezon City along Tomas Morato Avenue.

In an article by Climate Change Commission, “Car-free zones also encourage physical activity, offering residents a safer, cleaner environment for walking and cycling. With fewer cars on the streets, the risk of road accidents decreases, and the air becomes more breathable, reducing the occurrence of respiratory diseases. Promoting active lifestyles has long-term benefits in addressing obesity and other health conditions tied to inactivity.”

Other Metro Manila Cities implementing Car-Free Sundays are “Roxas Boulevard and Intramuros in Manila, People’s Streets in Pasig, Fifth Avenue in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Ayala Avenue in Makati, Greenfield District in Mandaluyong, Spectrum Midway in Filinvest, Muntinlupa, and the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City“

BYD Cars Philippines opens its first dealership in Central Luzon

October 22, 2024

BYD Philippines just opened its first dealership store in Pampanga. BYD Pampanga is located along the Olongapo Gapan Road in the City of San Fernando, Capital of the province of Pampanga, the 4,000sqm facility is a showroom, test drive and service center rolled into one.

BYD Pampanga also has 3 charging stations, an ideal for those travelling in their BYD EVs then passing Central Luzon. The EV chargers of varies in capacity (7kW AC, 22kW AC, and 60kW DC) to cater to each customer’s charging needs.

For more information, you can go to their official FB page @bydpampanga or website BY Pampanga

BYD Pampanga is one of the 24 facilities nationwide that BYD Philippines plans to open by the end of 2024.

This article was originally published on allthingsev.net as BYD Cars Philippines opens its first dealership in Central Luzon.

Eight New Electric Bus to arrive in Quezon City to provide Free Transport Services

October 17, 2024

Eight (8) new electric bus have been acquired by Quezon City to expand its bus fleet to provide free rides to residents and reduce air pollution. The new buses will join the existing fleet of gasoline-powered buses, which serve over 145,000 commuters weekly. This initiative aligns with the city’s broader goal of transitioning to electric vehicles and improving air quality.

This initiative aligns with the city’s broader push towards electrification to combat air pollution, as transportation accounts for 69% of particulate emissions (PM2.5). With Manila’s air quality exceeding WHO recommendations, the electric buses are an important step toward cleaner, healthier air for all.

The new electric buses join a fleet of over 100 gasoline-powered buses currently serving 145,000 commuters weekly. As part of its commitment to sustainable transportation, Quezon City aims to transition its entire fleet to electric vehicles, including e-trikes, in the near future. Charging infrastructure is already in place to support this transition.

Top gear Philippines reports that “The electric buses have a 41-passenger seating capacity, plus space to accommodate standing passengers. Safety features include handrails, fire suppression and emergency equipment, CCTV cameras, and smart TVs. For persons with disability, there are also wheelchair ramps to aid ingress and egress”

This initiative aligns with the city’s participation in the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, its commitment to the Paris Agreement, and its compliance with the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA Law).

Source: Quezon City Local Economic Investment Promotions Office (LEIPOQC)

Classes and Government Work in Manila and Pasay Suspended

October 10, 2024

Malacañang suspends class and government work in the Manila and Pasay City from Monday to Tuesday, October 14th-15th, to give way to the opening of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

The announcement was made via Memorandum Circular 66 issued by Malacañang.

Filipinos can now ride self-driving bus in Clark for free   

September 12, 2024

Kris Crismundo, writing for PNA;

The country’s first autonomous bus powered by Japanese technology is now plying around New Clark City, Clark Freeport Zone, and Clark International Airport, and commuters can ride the self-driving vehicle free of charge for now.

In a statement Tuesday, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said Zenmov, Inc. and MC Metro Transport Operation, Inc. launched its smart autonomous bus service in New Clark City on Sept. 10.

Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) posted this announcement on their official Facebook Page;

SNEAK PEEK: Former #BCDA Chairman Delfin Lorenzana tests the Philippines’ first publicly accessible, self-driving bus in New Clark City, Tarlac.

Being implemented by Japan-based Zenmov and its local partner MC Metro Transport, the autonomous bus service utilizes a transportation cloud system called Smart Mobility Operation Cloud (SMOC), which helps maximize operational availability while keeping the number of vehicles at a minimum.

Japan’s national research and development agency, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), had appointed Zenmov to implement the smart mobility demonstration program to be conducted until June 2025.

Clark Development Corporation launches its own Bus Transportation System   

September 12, 2024

ClarkDevelopmentCorp, posted on its official FB page;

Getting in and around Clark, now more convenient with Clark Loop!

Clark Development Corporation is excited to announce the launching of its very own bus transportation system, featuring a cashless payment system ready to take you around Clark starting September 17.

Balay Dako, a supposedly pet-friendly restaurant turns away customer with Aspin   

September 10, 2024

Balay Dako, a purported “pet-friendly” restaurant, is in hot waters after what appears to be a discrimination on the staff’s part for turning away customers with Aspin, a local breed of dogs in the Philippines. a.k.a. Askal.

Ms. Lara L. Antonio posted a 1000 words post on her Facebook account regarding her encounter with the Balay Dako staff and how she and her companion where turned away because of her dog ‘Yoda’ is not a “shit tzus, labradors…” or a “golden retriever”.

Here’s a snippet of her.. now viral post;

We’ve eaten at Balay Dako before – we know it’s pet-friendly. Yoda has, in fact, been here before as well so we went there assuming everything’s okay. We get to the front of house and she hands me a paper with pet guidelines. It basically says small-medium sized dogs only and big dogs are not alllowed. It also says that dogs must be in a diaper, can’t be smelly, etc. and they will be turned away. I see “diaper” and I instantly think oh no we didn’t bring a diaper. So Mon asks the front of house, and she says it’s okay. There are diapers we can buy inside. She sees Yoda and Ari and nothing is amiss (for now).

Yoda, Ari and I are standing in front of the FOH, waiting to be seated and waiting for Mon to come out with the diapers when someone in black – staff – sees Yoda, goes inside, goes back out and then whispers something to the front of house.

Suddenly, FOH tells me that Yoda isn’t allowed inside. I ask “why”, she says “up to medium sized dogs only”. And I said huh? At this point, we’ve been standing in front of they door for over 10 minutes na, people going in and out greeting Yoda and Ari and she didn’t say anything to me. Tapos biglang she says ah bawal na yung isang dog. So I say, “she’s medium sized. We’ve been here before and no issues naman” and then !!! She said “ano pong breed niya?”

According to her Facebook profile, Ms. Lara L. Antonio is the Marketing Manager of Riot Games in the Philippines, Co-founder of Scene PH and a full-time fur-mom. It looks like those at Balay Dako, messed with the wrong fur-mom.

As of posting, Ms. Antonio’s post has more than 127K reactions and has been shared more than 61K times.

Malacañang declared January 9th as a Special Non-Working Holiday in the City of Manila in observance to the Feast of the Black Nazarene

January 4, 2024

Malacañang just declared that Tuesday, 9th of January will be a Special Non-working day for the City of Manila to give way to the thousands, if not millions of devotees, who will celebrate the Feast of the Black Nazarene also known as the Traslación.

A little background from Wikipedia;

The Feast of the Black Nazarene commemorates the anniversary of the translation or the transfer of the image from its original location at a church in modern-day Luneta Park to Quiapo. The image was brought to the Church of San Juan Bautista in Bagumbayan (now Luneta) until May 31, 1606, by Augustinian Recollect priests. In 1608, the icon was enshrined at the Recollect church of San Nicolás de Tolentino in Intramuros. It was moved to the Saint John the Baptist Church, which is now commonly referred to as the Quiapo Church, on January 9, 1787. The “solemn transfer” eventually became the date of the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

Reaction – 2 drinks, 3 tables: Bacolod cafe sends away non-paying customers, gets mixed

December 12, 2023

via Philippine Star Life;

A coffee shop in Bacolod received an outpour of support after a group of 10 customers review-bombed it when they were asked to leave as its non-paying members filled other tables. Owners of other cafes, however, have a different take on the issue.

SLO_BAR Cafe took to Instagram to lament how 10 people bought only two drinks but occupied three tables. They were asked to leave to give way to other paying customers.

The staff of the coffee shop is in the right when they asked the people to give way to paying customer, especially if the those group of people are occupying 3 tables and just bought 2 drinks.

For Nikaela Cortez of Sibs Cafe, which has a seating capacity of six, non-paying customers who decide to stay lead to an “opportunity” to market the business and spread awareness.

“Though they may only buy two drinks, and even if ten of them choose to stay, that specific moment can be a chance to attract more customers in the future,” Cortez told L!fe. “They are still customers at the end of the day.”

She, however, said that once a paying customer arrives, that’s the time her cafe would politely ask the non-paying ones to share the table.

“We encourage an environment where our customers get to experience a sense of sharing while enjoying their stay in our cafe,” she added.

This comment is holds a lot of weight, of course if you are a non-paying customer in a cafe, then we have to give way to customer who are actually paying to enjoy their drinks. And yes… customers are not always right… for this case, we need to educate the customers, so next time they will know what is right.

NLEX Issued Safety Advisory on the situation at the Tulaoc River Bridge, San Simon, Pampanga

August 3, 2023

NLEX Corp. just issued a safey advisory regarding the situation at the Tulaoc River Bridge section of NLEX in San Simon, Pampanga.

In the advisory, it states that both on the North bound (Plaridel to Tulaoc River Bridge) and South bound (San Fernando to to Tulaoc River Bridge), the approximate speed of vehicles are 5 to 10 kph due to the water buildup. Class 1 vehicles are advised to use the left most lane.

NLEX Corp. added that as the water level of Pampanga river continue to rise, NLEX team will be installing sand bags to reduce the flooding at the Tulaoc River Bridge section.

The flooding of the Pampanga river is caused by the Typhoon Egay (international name: Doksuri) that recently devastated under 200 cities and municipalities that are not under state of calamity.

Use of Face shield is now voluntary in Angeles City

November 17, 2021

Use of face shield is now voluntary for Angeles City residents, after being under Alert Level 2. This was stated in the Memorandum no. 1524 (series 2021) that was release by Office of the City Mayor of Angeles City.

The memo states that Angeles City was placed under Alert Level 2 by the IATF last November 13, 2021 and that the use of face shield as stated in IATF Resolution-148D, will be voluntary.

The LGU of Angeles City still encourages the use of face shield when indoors like in high-risk areas like clinics and hospitals. Even though private establishments are given the discretion on the use of faceshield, staffs of food establishments are also encourage to use face shield.

The new memorandum regarding face shield took effect November 16th and will in effect until Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) release a new list of Alert Level classification by the end of the month.

Mayor Isko Moreno signs the Manila anti-discrimination ordinance

October 30, 2020

Mayor Isko Moreno signs the Manila anti-discrimination ordinance (Ordinance No. 8695) or the Manila LGBTQI Protection Ordinance of 2020, which takes effect immediately.

The ordinance establishes and protects the rights of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders, Queers and Intersex (LGBTQI) in the City of Manila against any and all forms of discrimination solely on the basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (SOGIE).

The following are the banned acts specified by the ordinance on the basis of “actual or perceived SOGIE”;

  • To deny employees access to opportunities for promotion, transfer, training, schooling or any other benefit which are otherwise granted to other employee.
  • To deny students admission and or to expel, dismiss or prevent them from graduating.
  • Subjecting persons to physical or verbal harassment, profiling, unjust detention and involuntary confinement.

The city’s anti-discrimination ordinance also requires establishments operating in Manila to create their gender-neutral toilets come 2023.

The Manila anti-discrimination ordinance also mandates the creation of the Manila Gender Sensitivity and Development Council (MGSDC) which will be formed through an executive order. MGSDC is a technical working group mandated to document and monitor complaints concerning violations of the ordinance, assist victims of discrimination, recommend anti-discrimination policies to the City Council, and review all existing policies, codes, and other government documents to make sure that they are free of discriminatory statements.

Source: Rappler, gov.ph. @IskoMoreno

Ilonggo painter sells artwork on street to raise funds for wife’s dialysis

June 29, 2019

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/29/19/ilonggo-painter-sells-artwork-on-street-to-raise-funds-for-wifes-dialysisILOILO CITY—A street in Jaro, Iloilo City has turned into an outdoor gallery featuring the paintings of a local artist.

Larry Casinao started showcasing his paintings on the sidewalk last week to raise funds for his wife’s kidney treatment.

Images of him with curious passersby checking his artworks is making the rounds online.

College student Sal Molinos, who took the photos and shared it on social media, said he was touched by Casinao’s noble cause.

LOOK: Osmeña strips mayor’s office bare before stepping down

June 29, 2019

https://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2019/234174-osmena-strips-bare-mayor-office-before-stepping-downMANILA, Philippines – Outgoing Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña stripped his office bare on his last day in office on Friday, June 28.

All of the office fixtures, furniture, cabinets, down to the tiles were removed from his office.

A construction company removed all of these items, according to the Cebu City Department of General Services’ order.

At least 8 dead in NLEX bus crash

June 29, 2019

https://www.rappler.com/nation/234176-death-toll-nlex-bus-crash-june-28-2019MANILA, Philippines – At least 8 people were killed after a bus toppled along North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) on Friday night, June 28, according to several media reports.

At around 7:30 pm Friday, NLEX Corporation first posted on Twitter of heavy northbound traffic after the Balintawak toll plaza “due to accident.”

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said the vehicular crash near Valenzuela exit involved a passenger bus.

4 arestado sa Tondo buy-bust

June 26, 2019

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/26/19/4-arestado-sa-tondo-buy-bust

MAYNILA—Arestado ang 4 katao sa buy-bust operation sa Tondo, Maynila.

Ayon kay Police Capt. Val Valencia ng Jose Abad Santos Police, nag-ugat ang operasyon sa reklamo ukol sa pagbebenta ng droga sa lugar.

Timbog ang target ng operasyon na si alyas Mich na itinuturong supplier ng grupo. Aminado rin sa pagtutulak ng droga ang 3 niyang kasamahan.

Nakumpiska sa kanila ang P32,000 halaga ng hinihinalang shabu.