Latest news with #Post-StateoftheNationAddress
GMA Network
30-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
DOTr pushing for Subway partial ops by 2028
A section of the Metro Manila Subway under construction as of June 4, 2025. Photo: Japan International Cooperation Agency - Philippines Office (JICA Philippines) The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is doubling down on its efforts to meet President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.'s target to make the Metro Manila Subway Project partially operational by the end of his term in 2028. 'So the subway, the whole line, is 2032, that is our target. But we want to finish at least two to three stations by 2028 and that is starting from Valenzuela, Quirino and hopefully even North,' Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon told reporters at the sidelines of the Post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) forum in San Juan City on Wednesday. Marcos had earlier expressed optimism that at least the first three stations of the Metro Manila Subway Project would be available to service the commuting public come 2028. 'We want to do the partial ops but we are discussing that with the Japanese,' Dizon said. The Metro Manila Subway is envisioned to have a total of 17 stations and a 30.34-hectare depot where the Philippine Railway Institute is located. The project involves the construction of a 33-kilometer railway line that will connect Valenzuela City to Pasay City, with a spur line to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3. The MMSP's 17 stations are: Valenzuela where the depot will be located, Quirino Highway, Tandang Sora, North Avenue, Quezon Avenue, East Avenue, Anonas, Katipunan (Camp Aguinaldo), Ortigas Avenue, Shaw Boulevard, Kalayaan Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Lawton East, Senate-DepEd, NAIA Terminal 3, FTI, and Bicutan. Earlier in the day, Dizon and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto inspected the Ortigas Station of the subway project, which the Transport chief said is the only remaining major right-of-way issue hounding the project. "Ngayon nagsama-sama kami dito para maghanap ng solusyon [We joined together here to find a solution]. Hopefully, after a few weeks, we will finally start construction," said Dizon. For his part, Sotto said the Pasig City government is also looking forward to the project's eventual completion. 'Nakikita namin umaandar na lahat, at 'yung mga natitirang problema naaayos na,' said Sotto. (We see that everything is in motion and the remaining issues are being addressed.) — BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
30-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Department of Energy fast-tracking nationwide electrification
The Department of Energy (DOE) is expediting efforts to achieve President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s goal of full nationwide electrification, especially in far-flung off-grid areas, by the end of his term in 2028. "The President mentioned electrification, particularly in remote areas where it's costly for electric cooperatives to expand. There are three approaches: first, microgrids; second, solar-powered homes; and third, continued expansion by electric cooperatives. The government is currently looking for investors for microgrid projects," Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said at the Post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) forum in San Juan City on Wednesday. "It's not just about electrification in remote areas—many homes near existing power lines remain unconnected due to permitting issues. There are ongoing discussions on how to reduce or waive application fees," Garin said. The Energy chief said the DOE and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) are working with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to reduce or waive these fees to fast-track household connections. Data from the Energy Department showed that the national household electrification level is at 94.75%, equivalent to 27.9 million households with electricity access as of December 2024. The DOE is estimating about 3.08 million households which are still needed to be electrified by 2028. Last February, the DOE said the government needs to spend at least P85 billion to provide electricity to all households in the entire Philippine archipelago. In a news release on Wednesday, the Energy Department said it will undertake a Competitive Selection Process (CSP) for Microgrid System Providers to reach geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas beyond the coverage of existing power distribution networks. Through the initiative, approximately 12,000 households in off-grid areas, located in Quezon, Camarines Norte, Palawan, Masbate, Samar, Negros Occidental, and Zamboanga del Sur, are targeted to be energized through microgrid systems (MGS), according to the DOE. Each MGS is equipped with self-contained power generation units and localized distribution networks. It comes with a solar panel, a battery-powered home system, and basic components that can power four LED bulbs, charge a mobile phone, and operate a built-in radio. These microgrid systems are designed to provide reliable and sustainable electricity in areas that existing distribution utilities (DUs) and electric cooperatives (ECs) can no longer reach. For 2025, the DOE is targeting to energize an additional 5,000 households nationwide. For households located in remote and mountainous areas that are completely inaccessible to conventional power distribution lines, the DOE said part of the solutions is the deployment of Solar Home Systems (SHS). For this year, NEA aims to bid out SHS to energize 100,000 households until the first quarter of 2026. Similarly, NEA will conduct early procurement for 54,000 SHS for its target household energization in 2026, benefitting a total of 154,000 households for the next two years, according to the DOE. Meanwhile, the Energy Department said it is also intensifying its efforts to expand access to the government's Lifeline Rate Program—key subsidy initiative that provides electricity discounts to marginalized households. As of June 2025, around 4.5 million households have been identified by the DSWD as eligible for the Program, primarily through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). This number is expected to increase following the President's directive to expand eligibility to include households listed under the DSWD's "Listahanan" database, a key reference in identifying poor and vulnerable sectors. Despite the high number of potential beneficiaries, only about 330,000 households, or 7.34% of the eligible 4.5 million, have registered with their respective DUs as of July 2025, the DOE said. In response, the Energy Department said it is implementing a multi-pronged approach to bridge this gap and ensure wider access to the program. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
30-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
EDSA rehab might be moved to 2027 — DPWH
The deferred rehabilitation of the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) — Metro Manila's busiest thoroughfare — which was supposed to start in June this year might be moved further to 2027, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Wednesday. On the sidelines of the Post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) forum in San Juan City, Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan told reporters that the DPWH is now awaiting President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.'s go signal for the agency to implement its recommendations to use a non-conventional construction technology to implement EDSA's rehabilitation. 'Ayaw ni Presidente na masyado mahaba 'yung pagsasara ng lanes sa EDSA,' Bonoan said. (The President does not want the closure of lanes at EDSA to take longer.) To recall, Marcos suspended the EDSA rehabilitation initiative that was supposed to begin on June 13, as the project needs to be studied for one month to know if there are new technologies that can be used to hasten the rehabilitation of the 23.8-kilometer road. In the original plan, EDSA would be reconstructed lane-by-lane, with each being replaced by a new road. The DPWH is now studying the 'time and motion' process where a layer would be placed above the surface of EDSA. Bonoan said it will not be practical to do the EDSA rehabilitation this second half of the year amid the rainy season. 'Mga next year na or 2027 kasi may ASEAN meeting eh,' he said. (It would be next year or 2027 because of the ASEAN meeting.) The Philippines is set to host the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit next year, as it took the helm of the bloc's chairmanship. The DPWH chief said that using a new technology, the rehabilitation of EDSA would 'take about six months.' With this, Bonoan said that 'there will be slight changes in the [budget].' The whole project would cost between P8 billion and P17 billion. Bonoan, in an exclusive report by Joseph Morong on '24 Oras,' earlier said that the road's rehabilitation and the consequent implementation of the odd-even scheme will only begin in 2026 as 'it is already the rainy season in the country, which will be followed by the Christmas rush during the 'Ber' months. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
29-07-2025
- Climate
- GMA Network
DILG urges forecast-based class suspensions to avoid last-minute announcements
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is instituting earlier, forecast-based class suspensions across local government units (LGUs) to spare families from the chaos of last-minute announcements during severe weather events. DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday said the shift is part of a 'whole-of-nation approach' aimed at streamlining disaster response, particularly in education. 'Dati ina-announce iyan alas-siyete ng umaga habang bumabagyo, minabuti na namin na alas-kuwatro ng hapon ang latest time ng announcement namin para iyong mga magulang hindi na nag-iisip, ang mga bata hindi na rin nag-iisip,' said Remulla during the Post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) Discussions. (Before, suspensions were announced at 7 a.m. while it was already raining. Now we've made it 4 p.m. the latest time for announcements so that parents and children aren't left guessing.) Remulla emphasized the importance of proactive announcements guided by scientific data from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), noting that previous inconsistencies among cities had caused confusion. 'San Juan nagsu-suspend, Quezon City hindi pa; minsan Manila nagsu-suspend, Mandaluyong hindi pa. Ngayon, isa na lang ang titingnan nila para makita nila,' he said. (San Juan would suspend, but Quezon City has not. Sometimes Manila has suspended but Mandaluyong has not. Now, everyone will just look at one source.) The initiative is also leveraging digital tools. The DILG's social media presence, particularly on Facebook, has become a key information hub. What started with just 3,000 followers has now grown to 1.2 million — a testament, Remulla said, to the public's growing trust in centralized announcements. In his fourth SONA on Monday, the President underscored the importance of continuous improvement in disaster response, particularly in the face of climate-induced events such as floods and typhoons, a sentiment shared by Remulla. 'We are guided by science,' Remulla said, noting that weather models and hazard maps help the DILG anticipate where heavy rainfall is likely to strike. 'Alam na namin kung saan mangyayari.' (We already know where these will occur.) He added that better coordination and early information dissemination are essential pillars of disaster preparedness — one that local governments must fully commit to. — RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
29-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
DTI seeks higher budget for MSMEs support
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is seeking a higher budget for its programs aimed at supporting the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in line with President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.'s vow to continue providing low-interest loans for the sector. 'Actually, napakaimportante po ang puhunan sa isang MSME or isang micro enterprises kasi iyon ang pinakaimportante na kailangan nila. Most of them, mayroon na po silang mga produkto pero hindi nila maisulong ito dahil kulang po sila ng puhunan,' Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque said during the Post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) forum in San Juan City on Tuesday. (Actually, funding is very important for an MSME or a microenterprise because that is the most important thing they need. Most of them already have products, but they cannot promote them because they lack capital.) In his fourth SONA, Marcos declared: 'Ipagpapatuloy natin ang pagbibigay puhunan sa mas marami pang negosyante.' (Let's continue to support more entrepreneurs.) 'Para makapagsimula ng maliit na negosyo o micro-enterprise sa mababang interest at walang kolateral.' (To start a small business or micro-enterprise at low interest and without collateral.) At the sidelines of the forum, Roque told reporters that the DTI will ask Congress for about P10 billion. However, she said the Trade Department is still finalizing its funding proposal for MSMEs' support. 'But we can go higher because first, our President mentioned that there's really a push for the capital. Definitely, he can provide more funding,' Roque said. 'There's really a push for the MSMEs, especially micro [enterprises]. We're really trying to make sure that we give funding for micro because they need to grow. They cannot remain as micro,' she added. The Trade chief emphasized that MSMEs comprise 99.5% of businesses in the country and employ about 62% of the labor force. –VAL, GMA Integrated News
