Latest news with #P7
GMA Network
8 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Tacloban mayor Romualdez seeks transparency in San Juanico Bridge repair project
Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez has called for full transparency and expert evaluation on the planned rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge, which links the islands of Samar and Leyte in Eastern Visayas. The Tacloban City Council declared a state of emergency on Thursday to expedite the mobilization of resources following the Department of Public Works and Highways' (DPWH) recommendation to limit use of the bridge due to safety concerns. 'So, to be quite frank, medyo nalilito rin ako (I am perplexed),' Romualdez said in a video statement. 'I feel the public should be given all the information pertaining to the condition of the bridge,' he added. He urged the national government to disclose the study that determined the bridge's current state and provide details on the extent of the damage and the timeline for repairs. 'This is not the first time,' he said, recalling a previous repair on the bridge 20 years ago that allowed for a six-month preparation period. Romualdez emphasized the need for independent experts to assess the bridge's condition and verify the cost of rehabilitation, which was initially estimated at P800 million but now stands at P7 billion. 'Even if you spend P7 billion, a feasibility study, a project study, and a careful analysis should have been made,' he said. He also warned against using the current crisis to justify the construction of another bridge without going through the right process. A recent assessment by the DPWH raised concerns about the bridge's structural integrity. As part of precautions, the DPWH has temporarily prohibited vehicles weighing more than three tons from crossing the 2.16-kilometer bridge. Since May 18, pedestrians have been prohibited from crossing the bridge on foot. Instead, they should use coasters and light vehicles for their safety. On Friday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the restrictions on San Juanico Bridge could result in up to P600 million in monthly economic losses, as 14,000 vehicles cross the infrastructure daily. 'The abrupt imposition of restrictions has stranded more than 200 vehicles and is projected to result in monthly economic losses ranging from P300 million to P600 million,' the NDRRMC said. Among the affected sectors are food and fuel supply, delivery of healthcare services, commercial distribution, and regional trade. Aside from Tacloban City, Samar Province is under a state of emergency due to the bridge repair project. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
San Juanico Bridge rehab costs P7B, monthly loss at P600M —NDRRMC
Around P7 billion is needed for the repair and rehabilitation of San Juanico Bridge amid concerns on its structural integrity, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said. 'The estimated cost of repair and rehabilitation by the DPWH amounts to P7 billion, and any delay in fund release would further escalate the crisis,' the NDRRMC said in a resolution dated May 25. According to the NDRRMC, the restrictions on San Juanico Bridge could result in up to P600 million monthly economic losses as 14,000 vehicles cross the infrastructure daily. 'The abrupt imposition of restrictions has stranded more than 200 vehicles and is projected to result in monthly economic losses ranging from P300 million and P600 million,' the NDRRMC said. Among the affected sectors are food and fuel supply, delivery of healthcare services, commercial distribution, and regional trade. State of calamity, state of emergency Due to this, the NDRRMC has recommended to President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. to declare a state of calamity in the entire region of Eastern Visayas. Currently, Tacloban City and Samar Province are under a state of emergency. Completed in 1972, San Juanico Bridge is the only permanent land link between the islands of Samar and Leyte. It is a vital artery of the Maharlika Highway that connects Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. A three-ton load limit has been imposed on San Juanico Bridge since May 15 after an assessment showed that there are significant structural compromises to the bridge. Only the middle portion of the bridge is open for motorists. This restriction halted the passage of heavy cargo vehicles, severely disrupting the transport of food, medicine, agricultural products, construction materials, and other essential commodities across the region. Green lane To ease the impact, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) spokesperson Chris Noel Bendijo on Friday said old ports and additional permits for landing craft tanks are being considered to ferry affected trucks. As the upcoming rainy season may limit the number of roll-on/roll-off (RORO) operations, Bendito said the agency is still looking into possible solutions. The OCD is planning to designate a 'green lane' for basic commodities on San Juanico Bridge. There is also a proposal to construct another bridge to have more alternative routes in the affected areas, according to the OCD spokesperson. 'Sa madaling salita po, lahat ng ating posibleng maging solusyon ay tinututukan po ng OCD (In short, all of possible solutions are being studied by the OCD),' Bendito said.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
Electronic fund transfers hit P7.15T from Jan.-April 2025
The value of electronic fund transfers coursed through PESONet and InstaPay reached over P7 trillion in the first four months of 2025, according to data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). The combined value of transactions through the BSP-National Retail Payment System-supervised automated clearing houses hit P7.15 trillion in January to April this year, up from P5.22 trillion in the same period in 2024. The bulk of electronic fund transfers during the period were made through PESONet, amounting to P4.014 trillion, which is higher than the P3.122 trillion in PESONet transactions from January to April 2024. InstaPay transactions, meanwhile, reached P3.13 trillion in the first four months of the year, up from P2.101 trillion year-on-year. In April alone, the value of transactions through PESONet reached P1.011 trillion, up from P855.01 billion in the same month last year. InstaPay transactions, on the other hand, stood at P841.11 billion in April 2025, higher than the P558.62 billion in transaction value seen in April 2024. Launched in 2017, the Philippine EFT System and Operations Network, or PESONet, was the first automated clearing under the BSP's National Retail Payment System. It is a batch electronic fund transfer (EFT) credit payment scheme, which can be considered an electronic alternative to the paper-based check system. InstaPay is a real-time low-value EFT credit push payment scheme for transaction amounts up to P50,000. Launched in 2018, it is designed to facilitate small-value payments that will be especially useful for the purchase of retail goods, paying toll fees and tickets, and for e-commerce, which shall enable, among others, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). —VAL, GMA Integrated News
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Little-known car brand to release ‘AI-powered' super-saloon including smart cockpit' with conversational voice assistant
'This car is our dream – refined through countless iterations" A LITTLE-known car brand is preparing to launch an AI-powered luxury saloon to rival the mighty Porsche Taycan. Chinese EV manufacturer Xpeng has unveiled the latest iteration of its P7 sports saloon that they've branded "more than a car'. Advertisement 4 Xpeng unveils its next-gen P7 sports saloon, showcasing cutting-edge AI tech to rival the Porsche Taycan Credit: XPENG 4 The Chinese EV brand reveals a sleek, AI-driven electric saloon Credit: XPENG 4 They say their flagship P7 aims to stand out in the crowded EV market Credit: XPENG 4 It combines style, performance, and AI-driven mobility to promise a new era of electric luxury Credit: XPENG Said to be Xpeng's answer to "the AI [artificial intelligence] era in form and function', the company has identified itself as an "AI-driven mobility company'. Indeed, they're positioning the new flagship P7 as a showcase for how AI can redefine the luxury car experience. Details at this stage are scarce, but the previous P7 was described as "the world's first AI-defined vehicle' and included highly advanced autonomous driving functions, as well as a 'smart cockpit' that included a Knight Rider-style voice assistant. The next-gen model is expected to build on this, as well as introduce even more advanced capabilities. Advertisement Their ultimate aim is to stand out in China's increasingly crowded luxury saloon market - with the likes of the Avatr 12, Nio ET9 and Luxeed S7 all hoping to be big sellers. Regarding the upcoming P7's new styling, Xpeng's Exterior Design Director Rafik Ferrag told Autocar: "With this new generation, we set out to design a pure-electric sports sedan that could amaze at every angle. 'This car is our dream – refined through countless iterations. 'In my eyes, the all-new Xpeng P7 is a work of art, shaped with emotion and purpose.' Advertisement It's currently unknown if the P7 will be sold outside of China - with more details to follow. For now, the Porsche Taycan remains the industry leader when it comes to luxury, performance all-electric saloons. Inside Taycan Turbo GT Porsche that can hit 200mph as SunSport's Isabelle Barker is taken for a spin by Formula E safety car driver While sales have dipped in recent times, the Taycan remains a highly sought-after electric sports car ahead of the likes of the Lucid Air, Tesla Model S, BMW i4, and Audi e-tron GT. One other Chinese brand that's got Porsche in its sights is Denza - headed by motoring giant BYD. Advertisement The ever-expanding car brand is one of the largest private companies in China and has already started to make waves globally - including in the UK. But for those seeking something with more speed and luxury, their sister brand Denza and their first car in its line-up – the stunning Z9 GT - might appeal. Clearly borrowing design cues from the Taycan and Panamera, the grand tourer - with its shooting brake estate styling - was unveiled at the recent Milan Design Week ahead of its European market release later this year.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Little-known car brand to release ‘AI-powered' super-saloon including smart cockpit' with conversational voice assistant
A LITTLE-known car brand is preparing to launch an AI-powered luxury saloon to rival the mighty Porsche Taycan. Chinese EV manufacturer Xpeng has unveiled the latest iteration of its P7 sports saloon that they've branded "more than a car'. 4 4 4 4 Said to be Xpeng's answer to "the AI [artificial intelligence] era in form and function', the company has identified itself as an "AI-driven mobility company'. Indeed, they're positioning the new flagship P7 as a showcase for how AI can redefine the luxury car experience. Details at this stage are scarce, but the previous P7 was described as "the world's first AI-defined vehicle' and included highly advanced autonomous driving functions, as well as a 'smart cockpit' that included a Knight Rider-style voice assistant. The next-gen model is expected to build on this, as well as introduce even more advanced capabilities. Their ultimate aim is to stand out in China 's increasingly crowded luxury saloon market - with the likes of the Avatr 12, Nio ET9 and Luxeed S7 all hoping to be big sellers. Regarding the upcoming P7's new styling, Xpeng's Exterior Design Director Rafik Ferrag told Autocar: "With this new generation, we set out to design a pure-electric sports sedan that could amaze at every angle. 'This car is our dream – refined through countless iterations. 'In my eyes, the all-new Xpeng P7 is a work of art, shaped with emotion and purpose.' It's currently unknown if the P7 will be sold outside of China - with more details to follow. For now, the Porsche Taycan remains the industry leader when it comes to luxury, performance all-electric saloons. Inside Taycan Turbo GT Porsche that can hit 200mph as SunSport's Isabelle Barker is taken for a spin by Formula E safety car driver While sales have dipped in recent times, the Taycan remains a highly sought-after electric sports car ahead of the likes of the Lucid Air, Tesla Model S, BMW i4, and Audi e-tron GT. One other Chinese brand that's got Porsche in its sights is Denza - headed by motoring giant BYD. The ever-expanding car brand is one of the largest private companies in China and has already started to make waves globally - including in the UK. But for those seeking something with more speed and luxury, their sister brand Denza and their first car in its line-up – the stunning Z9 GT - might appeal. Clearly borrowing design cues from the Taycan and Panamera, the grand tourer - with its shooting brake estate styling - was unveiled at the recent Milan Design Week ahead of its European market release later this year.
