HEADLINES

Inihirit ng Motorcycle Taxi Community Philippines, isang grupo ng mga motorcycle taxi riders mula sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa, na pabilisin ang pagpasa sa Motorcycle Taxi Bill.

Ayon kay MTCP Chairman Romeo Maglunsod, nananawagan ang grupo kay Senate Committee on Public Services Chairman Senator Raffy Tulfo na unahin at pabilisin ang legalisasyon ng motorcycle taxis sa buong bansa.

Iginiit ng opisyal na ang matagal nang pilot program, na nasa ikalimang taon na nito, ay isang madaling solusyon na maaaring makatulong upang mapabuti ang urban mobility at makapagbigay ng mas maraming oportunidad sa ekonomiya.

Ayon kay Chairman Maglunsod, makapagbibigay ng malaking tulong sa mga komyuter ang pagpasa ng mc taxi law sa paggamit ng motorcycle taxis bilang abot-kaya, ligtas, at maaasahang transportasyon.

Sa kabila ng nakuhang suporta mula kay Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr., nananatiling nakabimbin ang panukala kaya’t pinangangambahan ng rider group na patuloy itong maantala at makasagabal sa pag-unlad ng industriya.

Tinitingnan na ng Department of Agriculture ang posibilidad na ibaba pa sa 45 pesos ang kada kilo ng maximum suggested retail price ng imported na bigas.

Ito, ayon kay D.A. Spokesman, Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa, ay bunsod ng malaking pagbaba ng presyo sa international market.

Gayunman, nilinaw ni Asec. De Mesa na nagsasagawa pa sila ng re-computation sa gitna ng pagbaba sa 434 dollars ng 5% broken variety mula vietnam hanggang nitong Enero a – diyes mula sa dating 510 dollars noong Disyembre.

Bumaba rin anya ang imported rice mula thailand at india at inaasahang magpapatuloy hanggang katapusan ng enero, indikasyon na posibleng mas ibaba pa nila ang MSRP.

Una nang inanunsyo ng kagawaran na ipapako nito sa 58 pesos ang MSRP ng kada kilo ng imported rice sa Metro Manila simula Enero a – bente.

Imagine a world powered by the sun, the ultimate source of life. As climate change worsens due to fossil fuel use, sustainable energy alternatives are more crucial than ever. The Philippines, with its abundant sunlight, is uniquely positioned to harness solar power and help combat climate change. In 2024, Manila experienced around 4,440 hours of daylight, which translates to a significant potential for solar energy production.

SM Prime recognized this potential early on. In 2014, SM North EDSA became the first commercial property in the Philippines to install solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on its roof, achieving the largest installation in Southeast Asia at the time. This move signaled the beginning of SM Prime’s commitment to renewable energy and energy efficiency.

SM Supermalls President Steven Tan explains, “SM’s environmental sustainability began with energy and water conservation. Revolutionizing our malls’ energy efficiency through renewable sources magnifies our responsibility to serving people and the planet.”

Today, SM Supermalls operates 44 malls with solar PV systems, generating a combined peak energy of 51.6 megawatts (MW). The largest installation is at SM City Santa Rosa. With a total of 96,000 solar panels across malls in Luzon and Visayas, SM Prime holds the Philippines’ largest solar energy portfolio, covering around 33 hectares. These efforts are a vital part of the company’s Net Zero by 2040 strategy, aimed at reducing its carbon footprint.

This 51.6 MW capacity significantly cuts carbon emissions, providing clean energy that powers thousands of homes or removes thousands of cars from the roads. It also reduces the need for coal, offering environmental benefits for both the planet and local communities.

The solar power generated directly fuels essential mall operations like lighting and escalators, reducing SM Supermalls’ reliance on the national grid. This, in turn, helps stabilize the power supply, reducing the risk of outages and easing the burden on electricity providers. By tapping into clean, renewable energy, SM Prime is contributing to a more sustainable future for the Philippines.

SM Prime’s sustainability efforts extend beyond solar energy. The company also focuses on waste management, water conservation, and air quality initiatives, all designed to minimize environmental impact. Through these comprehensive measures, SM Prime strives to create a positive change while ensuring responsible, innovative operations.

In sum, SM Prime’s large-scale adoption of solar PV systems, combined with its broader environmental initiatives, exemplifies its dedication to creating a sustainable future for the Philippines. By leading in renewable energy and sustainability, SM Prime is helping pave the way for a cleaner, greener, and brighter tomorrow.

Kumpyansa ang pamahalaan na hindi na muling mapapabilang ang Ninoy Aquino International Airport sa anumang listahan na naglalarawan ng worst airport sa buong mundo.

Ito’y ayon kay Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, kasunod ng pagsasapribado ng NAIA.

Sa Bagong Pilipinas ngayon, binigyang diin ng kalihim na ang pagsisimula ng rehabilitasyon sa naia ay isa sa mga malaking nagawa ng transportation sector noong nakaraang taon.

Kabilang aniya sa mga inire-reklamo ang mahinang buga ng aircon sa Terminal 3, ngunit ngayon ay malamig at komportable nang nakakapaghintay doon ang mga pasahero.

Maliban dito, maayos na rin aniyang gumagana ang baggage system at nakikita na rin ang resulta ng mga isinasagawang pagsasaayos sa paliparan at sa sistema nito. -

Nagpahayag ng suporta ang Trabaho Partylist sa House Bill 8039 o ang Green Lanes for Strategic Investments Act, isang hakbang na layong pasiglahin ang mga foreign investments at bigyang-daan ang pag-unlad ng ekonomiya ng bansa.

Giit ng grupo, ang panukalang batas ay magsisilbing susi sa mabilis na recovery at paglago ng ekonomiya.

Nabatid na layunin ng HB 8039 na lumikha ng mga ‘green lanes’ para sa mga investment sa mga mahahalagang sektor tulad ng imprastruktura, teknolohiya, manufacturing, at renewable energy.

Batay sa panukala, ang mga kumpanya sa mga estratehikong industriya ay makikinabang mula sa mas pinadaling proseso ng mga approval, mas kaunting mga regulasyon, at isang business-friendly na environment.

Sabi ni Atty. Mitchell-David Espiritu, tagapagsalita ng Trabaho Partylist, ang HB 8039 ay hindi lamang maghihikayat ng mga kinakailangang dayuhang kapital, kundi magdudulot din ng libu-libong trabaho para sa mga Pilipino.

“Ang panukalang batas na ito ay isang mahalagang hakbang upang makalikha ng isang kapaligiran para sa mga investment na hindi lamang efficient, kundi patas at inklusibo para sa mga manggagawang Pilipino,” ani Espiritu. “Sa pamamagitan ng pagpapadali ng proseso ng mga approval, mas pinadali natin ang pagpasok ng mga negosyo dito na magreresulta sa mas maraming trabaho, pag-develop ng kasanayan, at pagpapabuti ng kabuhayan ng ating mga kababayan.”

Paliwanag niya, magsusulong ang Trabaho Partylist ng mga sapat na safeguards upang maprotektahan ang lokal na empleyo at matiyak na ang mga Pilipino ang mauunang mabigyan ng mga bagong trabaho, lalo na sa mga lugar na mayroong sapat na lokal na workforce na kayang punan ang mga posisyon.

“Isusulong namin na magtakda ng malinaw na requirement ang mga dayuhang mamumuhunan na magpatupad ng isang workforce development plan na magbibigay-priyoridad sa mga manggagawang Pilipino, partikular sa mga skilled at unskilled na trabaho,” dagdag ni Espiritu. “Magmumungkahi rin kami na ang mga kumpanyang makikinabang sa Green Lanes program ay magtakda ng minimum na porsyento ng kanilang workforce na ipagkakaloob sa mga lokal na manggagawa, lalo na sa mga lugar na may mataas na unemployment.”

Ayon kay Espiritu, importante rin na matiyak na ang mga benepisyo mula sa mga investment ay madama ng karaniwang Pilipino, partikular ang mga manggagawa na makikinabang mula sa mga bagong oportunidad sa trabaho.

Maliban dito, inaasahan din ng Trabaho Partylist na ang Green Lanes for Strategic Investments Act ay magpapalakas sa transparency at accountability ng mga proseso sa gobyerno, na ayon sa kanila, ay mahalaga upang mapanatili ang tiwala ng publiko at hikayatin ang pangmatagalang pamumuhunan sa bansa.

Ibinunyag ng Commission on Audit ang paggastos ng  Department of Education na nasa 1.64  billion pesos para sa un-usable digital infrastructure project kahit na ang key components ng sistema ay hindi naibigay.

Batay sa 2023 COA report, nagbayad ang DEPED ng higit 78 percent katumbas ng 1.356-billion pesos na halaga ng proyekto sa isang contractor kahit na may problema sa financial capacity at record kung saan madalas ay naaantala ang mga proyekto na ibig sabihin patuloy sa pagbabayad ang departamento sa kontraktor kahit hindi pa ito natapos.

Gayunman, nilinaw ng COA na ang nasabing proyekto ay sa ilalim pa ni dating DEPED secretary Leonor Briones.

Lumabas din na nagkaroon pa ng dagdag na gastos dito ang deped na P22.6-million pesos para sa extra maintenance fees at 9.6 million pesos naman na halaga para sa unused computer equipment na nadiskubreng nakatambak sa isang regional office.

Kinuwestyon din ng COA ang pag-award ng DEPED sa 697-million pesos contract sa phase 2 ng isang joint venture kahit na ang isang kompanya ay mayroon lamang na mahigit 92 milyong pisong net worth na may ulat na palaging delayed ang pagtatapos ng malalaking proyekto nito. –  Sa panulat ni Alyssa Quevedo

Nilinaw ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas na mananatili pa rin sa sirkulasyon ang mga paper banknotes ng Philippine currency kasama ng bagong labas na polymer bills, na umani naman ng pambabatikos mula sa publiko.

Nanindigan ang BSP na naging feature na ng mga barya at paper bills ang mga bayaning Pilipino.

Ginawa ng Bangko Sentral ang pahayag matapos ding kwestyunin ng August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM) ang desisyon ng BSP na tanggalin ang mga pambansang bayani sa mga perang papel.

Binigyang diin ng grupo na paraan ito ng pamilya Marcos para burahin sa isip ng mga Pilipino ang matapang na paglaban ng mga bayani para sa kalayaan ng bansa.

Nabuo ang atom kasunod ng pagpaslang kay dating senador Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. noong 1983, na tampok sa kasalukuyang 500 pisong papel kasama ang asawang si dating pangulong Corazon Aquino.

Japan is a dream destination and a favorite tourist spot worldwide, preferred for its seamless blend of tradition, innovation, and artistry. Now, SM Mall of Asia brings the best of Japan closer to home with a carefully curated lineup of iconic brands. Whether you’re looking for unique dining experiences, stylish lifestyle products, or the latest in fashion and beauty, there’s something for everyone. Many of these Japanese favorites are making their Philippine debut, offering an exclusive chance to enjoy Japan’s finest right here in the heart of the mall.

Japanese Dining Delights

No Japanese experience is complete without indulging in its renowned cuisine. SM Mall of Asia is home to some of the most exciting culinary concepts from Japan that you must try.

Savor Japan’s culinary excellence with Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu

Exclusive to SM Mall of Asia, experience the best of gyukatsu directly from Japan at SM Mall of Asia with Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu. The restaurant elevates the gyukatsu experience with premium beef and traditional preparation methods. Known for its crispy on the outside, tender on the inside beef cutlets, this dish is served on a sizzling stone, diners can customize their cutlets to their preferred doneness, making every bite uniquely satisfying, perfect meal to indulge in with friends or family.

Savor the Joy of Grilling at Yakiniku Like

Yakiniku Like, a first in the Philippines, offers an exciting solo-dining experience where you can grill your choice of premium meats right at your table. With a variety of dipping sauces and a focus on quality ingredients, it’s the ultimate Japanese BBQ experience. 

Lifestyle and Home Essentials

Step into the world of Japanese lifestyle and home essentials, where sleek designs and functional elegance come together. SM Mall of Asia offers a variety of brands that will transform your home and wardrobe with a touch of Japan.

Transform your home with Nitori

Nitori, Japan’s leading home furnishings brand, is now open at SM Mall of Asia. Known for its stylish and affordable pieces, Nitori helps you create beautiful, functional living spaces with everything from the softest beddings to fine dinnerware. Whether you’re looking to redecorate a room or add a practical upgrade, Nitori offers the perfect balance of quality and design.

Embrace minimalism with Muji

For lovers of minimalism, Muji offers the ideal shopping destination. From their iconic gel pens and cozy pants to versatile storage solutions, Muji has become synonymous with simplicity and functionality. Every item—from home décor to everyday essentials—is designed to elevate your lifestyle in the most subtle yet impactful way.

Don’t forget to visit the MUJI Coffee Counter, where you can enjoy their signature Soft Serve made from raw Holstein milk from Hokkaido, Japan. Choose from a range of flavors, including the milky Plain, earthy Matcha, rich Chocolate, and Espresso, which is infused with Benguet coffee for a local twist.

Live the Japanese lifestyle at Niko and…

Opening on December 12, immerse yourself in the full Japanese lifestyle experience with Niko and… offering a variety of items from fashion to home décor and quirky finds. Their stylish apparel, functional accessories, and unique home goods reflect the best of Japanese design. Perfect for anyone looking to add a little touch of Japan to their everyday life, Niko and… blends modern fashion with timeless style.

Fashion and Beauty

Japan’s dedication to quality and style extends into its fashion and beauty offerings, and SM Mall of Asia has brought the best of both to you.

Indulge in luxury with Clé de Peau Beauté

For those seeking the ultimate in luxury skincare and cosmetics, Clé de Peau Beauté, Shiseido’s premium beauty brand, delivers exceptional quality and sophistication. Combining cutting-edge Japanese innovation with French elegance, this luxe brand is known for its scientifically advanced skincare and makeup, Clé de Peau offers products like the transformative Le Sérum, all crafted for Asian skin. It’s a brand that doesn’t just enhance your beauty—it unlocks your skin’s true potential.

Fresh Perspectives with JINS

Start the year fresh with a fresh perspective and see clearly with JINS eyewear. Known for it’s innovative designs, JINS offers stylish, high-quality frames that blend fashion and function. Whether you’re looking for a chic upgrade or eye protection against blue light, JINS has the perfect pair for your. This year, embrace trending styles like oversized frames, bold geometric shapes, and sleek minimalism, ensuring you’re both on trend and seeing clearly.

Functional fashion at Uniqlo

Uniqlo brings the joy of the season to shoppers with its “Gifted with Joy” holiday collection, offering stylish and practical LifeWear pieces perfect for the holidays. From cozy winter essentials to versatile AIRism and Sport Utility Wear, the collection combines functionality with timeless Japanese aesthetics, making it ideal for gifting and celebrating special moments. For kids, discover playful yet practical options designed for every adventure, whether at home, school, or playtime.

These holiday offerings highlight Uniqlo’s commitment to providing pieces that fit seamlessly into every lifestyle, ensuring comfort, style, and joy this festive season.

Step Up with SPINGLE Shoes

Handcrafted in Japan with meticulous craftsmanship, SPINGLE shoes are the perfect combination of style, comfort, and quality—making them an excellent gift this Christmas. Known for their versatile designs and durable materials, these shoes are a statement of Japanese artistry and functionality, ensuring comfort for daily wear while elevating any outfit.

Spin the Magic at Gashapon Bandai

For toy collectors and enthusiasts, Gashapon Bandai is a must-visit destination. Known as a capsule toy specialty store, Gashapon offers limited-edition collectibles that make every spin of the machine a thrilling surprise. SM Mall of Asia takes this experience to the next level with the largest Gashapon store in the Philippines, featuring a staggering 610 Gashapon machines. Whether you’re hunting for rare finds or simply enjoying the excitement, it’s an experience the whole family will love.

Discover Japan at SM Mall of Asia

Whether you’re here to shop, dine, or explore new experiences, SM Mall of Asia brings the best of Japan to your fingertips. From fashion and home décor to dining and unique collectibles, these iconic brands—many of which are making their debut in the Philippines—offer a complete Japanese experience. And there’s more for you at SM—each visit reveals new offerings and exciting experiences waiting to be explored. Bring your friends and family, and dive into a world of innovation, style, and tradition, all under one roof.

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There’s #MoreForYouatSM 

More than just a promise of having it all, we’re committed to bringing you more. More diverse and first-in-market brands, more unique and world-class experiences, more flavors to savor, and more spaces to thrive. As we evolve together, we’re strengthening our commitment to sustainability, community involvement, and innovation, making every visit more meaningful. There’s more for you at SM.