Single contract eyed for LRT-1, MRT-3For investment viabilityMANILA, Philippines — The country’s busiest railways – Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) and Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) – could end up being managed by a single group eyeing to operate train services jointly to make them profitable assets. The DOTr is willing to package the concession agreements for the MRT-3 and LRT-1 into one. Originally, the DOTr had wanted a single operator for the MRT-3 and the Recto-Antipolo railway of Light Rail Transit Line 2. “The MRT-3, along with the LRT-1, is intended to be covered in an unsolicited (proposal) being developed by a certain group,” Lopez told The STAR. Lopez declined to identify the private group planning to consolidate the MRT-3 and LRT-1, but he confirmed that it is already in the business of rail operations.

Meneses said under the bottom-up budgeting framework, the DPWH would seek to involve communities in identifying the infrastructure projects that the DPWH should consider for priority funding under the National Expenditure Program. “Under the bottom-up budgeting system, communities will be directly involved in identifying or proposing infrastructure projects. It will not be the congressman or a senator who will submit proposals or a wishlist of projects,” Meneses said. In a press conference last Friday, IBMI called on the Senate and Congress to pass the legislation of a policy implementing and institutionalizing the bottom-up budgeting system. Catalina Cabral in allocating infrastructure funds and identifying projects to be funded by the DPWH budget.

Dizon forms Oplan Kontra Baha task forceMANILA, Philippines — Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon has formed a task force for the government’s Oplan Kontra Baha, which will be spearheaded by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) this year. In an order issued last Jan. 14, Dizon had constituted the DPWH-Oplan Kontra Baha Task Force and named Public Works Undersecretary for special concerns Charles Calima Jr. as task force commander. Dizon also ordered the creation of similar task force units in the 17 DPWH regional offices all over the country. Dizon has given the task force a six-month timeline, or until July, to accomplish its task. Dizon had announced the DPWH’s launch of the Oplan Kontra Baha, which he said will avoid the previous push of the DPWH in putting up costly flood control.

Rider’s license suspended after knife-wielding road rageMANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has ordered the suspension of the driver’s license of a motorcycle rider who figured in a knife-wielding road rage incident. “The use of a bladed weapon on the road is not only illegal, but also a direct threat to the life and safety of the people. Road rage has no place on our roads. The rider’s driver’s license was placed under a 90-day preventive suspension. The rider was ordered to surrender his license to the LTO upon receipt of the show-cause order.

Carrick refuses to get carried away by United success at Old Trafford derbyPatrick Dorgu shoots to score United’s second goal against City during the derby at Old Trafford.

When Bella TED-talkedLast week, I went to San Juan to listen to my youngest daughter, Bella, give a TED Talk. I watched Bella practice for a whole month to give the 12-minute talk to an audience made up of mostly young people like her. Bella always had an entrepreneurial streak, likely because she grew up surrounded by people who are in business. To see Bella talk about her entrepreneurial journey, she would strike you as confident, decisive and self-assured. I, too, am excited to see who Bella will become, knowing she’s found her courage to begin.

Another FQS? I had just turned 16, and was a senior and an activist at the Philippine Science High School. What happened next that afternoon, when both groups of protesters converged at the Senate, would change Philippine political history. Very soon, placards had turned into missiles, and the sound of broken glass punctuated the yelling: soft-drink bottles were flying, too. The effigy was down on the ground, still burning.”The Jan. 26 rally and the trouble that erupted would lead to the Jan. 30-31 demos that would prove even more violent, and what would become the First Quarter Storm or the FQS was born.

2 Indians nabbed for Las Piñas robberyThis photo shows a picture of a hand in handcuffs. MANILA, Philippines — Two Indian nationals were arrested by police following a robbery in Las Piñas City on Friday. Probers said the suspects, aged 27 and 33, robbed a fellow Indian national of a cell phone worth P73,000 and P10,000 in cash in front of the victim’s house. Recovered from the suspects were the stolen cell phone, a motorcycle, helmets and a red jacket allegedly used in the crime. The suspects were identified by the victim and were brought to the Las Piñas police station for inquest proceedings.

ERC proposes P8/kWh cap for WTE auctionIn its proposal, the ERC factored in costs from at least three developers, along with other technical and economic considerations, to determine the preliminary green energy auction reserve (GEAR) price. MANILA, Philippines — The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has set an initial ceiling price of P8.0167 per kiloWatt-hour for the upcoming waste-to-energy (WTE) auction this year. To facilitate the auction, the ERC is inviting comments from all interested parties on the preliminary GEAR price until Jan. 30. Accordingly, GEA-6, which will cover both biomass and WTE projects, is scheduled for the second quarter, although further details remain under wraps. Beyond boosting power supply, the government is positioning WTE projects as a strategic solution to the country’s persistent flooding challenges.

Why green energy is way harder than it looksRecently, the Department of Energy (DOE) launched a sweeping crackdown, terminating more than 160 renewable energy (RE) service contracts tied to projects that failed to materialize over the past two years. Notes on the beatMANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has the sun, wind and bold clean energy targets. Recently, the Department of Energy (DOE) launched a sweeping crackdown, terminating more than 160 renewable energy (RE) service contracts tied to projects that failed to materialize over the past two years. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the DOE consistently reached out to Solar Philippines regarding its contracts, but the company failed to respond. Among all RE projects, solar is considered the fastest to develop, with some installations completing in less than a year depending on their type and scale.

New precast plants to boost Megawide’s orders to P80 billionMegawide chairman and CEO Edgar Saavedra said the company plans to build new precast plants to hike its capacity. Megawide chairman and CEO Edgar Saavedra said the company plans to build new precast plants to hike its capacity. “Most likely, we will have a big expansion of our capex maybe by the end of the year because we will expand our precast capacity. Megawide expanded its precast production capacity with the opening of a second precast plant in Taytay, Rizal in late 2022 which is capable of producing over 35,000 cubic meters of precast annually. “If this comes in, (Pag-IBIG’s) P10 billion, easily, we’re looking at P70 billion to P80 billion of our order book.

Senate Blue Ribbon resumes flood control probe todayMANILA, Philippines — The Senate Blue Ribbon committee is set to resume hearings today into alleged irregularities in flood control projects, with lawmakers expected to press deeper into claims that flawed data submissions and possible cover-ups distorted government assessments of so-called “ghost” projects. While former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan has already arrived in Manila yesterday, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon chairman Panfilo Lacson has yet to confirm whether the embattled former official would attend the hearing. In an interview with radio dzBB, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said Bonoan also has“a lot to explain” amid allegations of massive kickbacks tied to flood control projects, as bared by former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo. He recalled how Bernardo’s testimony before the Blue Ribbon committee last year pointed to alleged dealings involving Bonoan and the late former undersecretary Cathy Cabral amounting to about P15 billion, or roughly P5 billion a year in supposed commissions. In the meantime, he said, continued Blue Ribbon hearings remain important, especially as other investigative bodies undergo transitions.

Zubiri files bill to reset BARMM pollsMANILA, Philippines — Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri has filed a bill seeking to reset the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s first parliamentary elections to March 30, citing the long-delayed exercise of the region’s right to elect its own leaders. Zubiri filed Senate Bill 1587, which proposes to amend Article XVI, Section 13 of Republic Act No. 11054, or the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). Under the measure, officials elected in the 2026 polls would assume office at noon of April 30 following the election. The bill also provides that subsequent BARMM elections be synchronized with the 2028 national and local polls and every three years thereafter.

Pope Leo: Appreciate sacrament of baptism, perform charityIn a Facebook post, the Basilica Minore del Sto. MANILA, Philippines — Pope Leo XIV extended his greetings for the celebration of the Feast of the Sto. Niño, expressing hope that the feast would help the Catholic faithful have a greater appreciation and understanding of the sacrament of baptism that made them God’s children. Pope Leo, the first Augustinian head of the Catholic Church, also expressed his greetings to the Augustinian community of the Minor Basilica of Sto. “His Holiness Pope Leo XIV sends warm greetings… together with the assurance of his spiritual closeness to all gathered for the annual Fiesta Señor celebrations,” it said.

‘Discaya’s clearing of Romualdez should end baseless claims’MANILA, Philippines — Repeated insinuations of the alleged involvement of Rep. Martin Romualdez in the flood control controversy should end with the declaration of contractor Curlee Discaya that the former speaker has nothing to do with it. Allegations have surfaced that Discaya acted as a front to Romualdez in the alleged purchase of a high-end real estate property in Makati City. Last week, Discaya flatly denied the allegation, saying he had only seen Romualdez once at a public event and had in fact never spoken to him. He lamented that his name was being used to drag the former speaker into the flood control controversy. He said this would allow the property to be included in the list of assets under review by the Anti-Money Laundering Council.