Subic Bay Freeport, Philippines – The United States Embassy delegation for the Luzon Economic Corridor Steering Committee visited this premier Freeport on May 13, 2026, seeking to create more investment opportunities. US Ambassador Heather Variava, Senior Advisor for Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs, and Head of Delegation for the committee, together with several representatives of the US economic team, arrived here as part of the mission to work on US-Philippines growth through a series of coordination with government officials and business leaders. The ambassador met with officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), led by Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño, to discuss economic growth efforts for the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC). The LEC is a multi-billion-dollar economic partnership designed to supercharge infrastructure, logistics, and supply-chain connectivity between four primary hubs in the Philippines: Subic Bay, Clark, Manila, and Batangas. Chairman Aliño said that the trilateral initiative with the US, Japan, and the Philippines has now expanded to include Australia, Denmark, France, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. “This ambitious venture will strengthen infrastructure, supply chains, and green energy across Subic, Clark, Manila, and Batangas. It is most timely that Her Excellency Heather Variava and her delegation visit us now, as the Luzon Economic Corridor gains momentum through international partnerships and expanded economic engagement,” he added. The SBMA top official said that with upcoming projects in railway connectivity, port modernization, clean energy, and semiconductor supply chains, “Subic Bay’s role as a premier logistics and manufacturing hub grows even stronger.” Initially launched in April 2024 as a trilateral project between the Philippines, the United States, and Japan under the G7’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI), the initiative has rapidly scaled into a powerful 10-nation coalition. The said visit is part of her travel to coordinate strategic infrastructure and investments alongside the Philippine government and business leaders, as the ambassador advocates for streamlining complex regulations to increase investor confidence. Variava is currently coordinating economic growth efforts for the Corridor to counter exploitative regional infrastructure programs with sustainable alternatives.            

By Kathlene Joyce Ramones   SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, Philippines. (PIA) — The Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 1, the La Union Police Provincial Office (LUPPO), and the Provincial Government of La Union signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on May 14  to establish a Tourist Police Unit aimed at promoting safety and security in the province’s tourism areas. The initiative is anchored on Republic Act 9593 (Tourism Act of 2009), which promotes safe, secure, and sustainable tourism destinations across the country. The partnership comes as La Union continues to attract many visitors each year, driven by its growing reputation as a leading tourism destination in Northern Luzon. Under the agreement, the Tourist Police Unit will provide a visible police presence at key tourist sites to ensure peace and order while improving visitors’ overall experience. Police Regional Office (PRO) 1 acting director, Police Brigadier General Jovencio Badua, Jr., said the unit’s creation reflects the shared responsibility of maintaining public safety amid the province’s tourism growth. “As a holistic tourism destination in Northern Luzon, La Union continues to attract millions of visitors each year. With this growth comes our responsibility to maintain peace, order, and public safety,” Badua said. He added that activating the Tourist Police Unit under the Tourist-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (TOP COP) program would strengthen responsive and service-oriented policing in tourism areas. DOT Region 1 Regional Director Benjamin ‘Bingo’ Manahan, Jr., meanwhile, emphasized that tourism development must go hand in hand with public safety. “When travelers feel secure, communities prosper, businesses grow, jobs are created, and confidence in our region becomes stronger,” Manahan said. The DOT vowed to continue working with local government units (LGUs), law enforcement agencies, and tourism stakeholders to promote safe and tourist-friendly destinations across the Ilocos and Pangasinan region. The La Union Tourist Police Unit is also expected to serve as a model for tourism security initiatives nationwide once it is fully established. (CCMT/KJCR, PIA La Union)

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, Pampanga, Philippines – Department of Finance Secretary and Investment Czar Frederick D. Go joined executives of FedEx at the groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of the company’s Clark gateway facility, a major investment aimed at strengthening regional connectivity and reinforcing the Philippines’ role as a key trans-shipment hub within the FedEx Asia Pacific network. The expanded gateway in Clark Freeport Zone is expected to enhance cargo handling capacity and improve logistics services for businesses and communities across Central and Northern Luzon, supporting faster and more efficient movement of goods in one of the country’s rapidly growing economic corridors. “The expansion of FedEx will deepen global connectivity and strengthen local trade capabilities. Filipino firms and consumers can reach more markets while more foreign traders can reach ours. As the Asia-Pacific region grows, the Philippines will be better positioned to ride on this momentum and drive our economic growth,” said Secretary Go. Once completed, the modernized facility will span over 78,000 square meters and feature upgraded handling and operational capabilities designed to enhance shipment flow reliability and service flexibility for customers. The expanded Clark gateway will further strengthen the company’s ability to support express, e-commerce, and freight shipments, while bolstering overall network resilience as cross-border trade continues to grow across the region. “The expansion of our Clark gateway reflects our continued commitment to the Philippines and to building a smarter, more resilient network across the region,” said Masamichi Ujiie, president of FedEx North Pacific and South Pacific. “By enhancing our operational capabilities at Clark, we are better positioned to support Philippine businesses, enable efficient cross-border trade, and provide more reliable connectivity to global markets.” This development builds on the company’s growth in the Philippines, following the opening of its Clark gateway in October 2021, and the signing of a land lease agreement with Luzon International Premiere Airport Development (LIPAD) in 2024. Construction will commence in the second quarter of calendar year 2026, with Robinsons Land Corporation, engaged as the developer. Sustainability features have been incorporated into the design to help improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact. These include insulated building materials, energy-efficient glazing, a high-performance roofing system, LED lighting, skylights and electric vehicle charging stations, water-efficient fixtures, a rainwater collection system, and power-optimization equipment, with provisions for future solar power deployment. This latest investment aligns with the company’s broader strategy to strengthen network reliability, enhance service experience for customers and position the company to support long-term growth across the Asia Pacific region.          

By Rachel Magday   Nueva Vizcaya Lone District Rep. Atty Timothy Joseph E. Cayton has urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to include vegetable farmers in the coverage of the Presidential Assistance for Farmers, Fisherfolk, and their Families Program (PAFFP), citing their crucial role in ensuring the country’s food supply. Cayton made the appeal during the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle meeting, where he said vegetable growers are also bearing the impact of rising production costs, unstable farmgate prices and market uncertainties. “Our vegetable farmers are also carrying the burden of high production costs and fluctuating market prices. They are an essential part of our food supply chain, and they should not be left behind in government assistance programs,” Cayton said. He said Nueva Vizcaya is among the country’s vegetable-producing provinces and serves as one of the sources of vegetables supplied to Metro Manila. Cayton added that Nueva Vizcaya plays an important role in helping stabilize vegetable supply, particularly when production problems affect the Cordillera Administrative Region, another major vegetable-producing area. “When there are disruptions in vegetable production in the Cordillera, Nueva Vizcaya helps respond to the needs of Metro Manila. This shows how important our vegetable farmers are not only to the province but also to food security in the capital and other markets,” Cayton said. He said expanding the PAFFP to cover vegetable farmers would provide much-needed support to growers who continue to face increasing costs of seeds, fertilizer, fuel, labor and transport. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Laurel Jr. said the DA is open to expanding the coverage of the program if additional funding is made available by the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The PAFFP is a government assistance program intended to support farmers, fisherfolk and their families affected by economic challenges in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.    

Former Vice President and current Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo visited the campus of Asian Institute of Management on May 8, 2026 to meet with academic program directors and discuss possible collaboration between the City Government of Naga and the institute. During the meeting, Robredo shared the development challenges faced by Naga City, noting that despite being geographically landlocked and constrained by infrastructure limitations, the city continues to pursue reforms aimed at improving governance and public service delivery. A major focus of the discussion was the need to accelerate digital transformation in local government operations. Robredo noted that many city government processes remain manual and underscored the importance of digitization in improving efficiency, transparency, and responsiveness in public services. The discussions also explored possible technical collaboration related to the People’s Survival Fund (PSF), the national financing mechanism for climate adaptation projects, as Naga City prepares submissions ahead of the May 29 deadline. Representatives from AIM shared insights on leadership, sustainability, public management, and digital governance, while discussing possible capacity-building initiatives for senior city officials through the institute’s degree and executive education programs. “The climate discussions are landing in the middle of a food and fuel crisis, with another El Niño looming. Building climate strategies under those conditions isn’t a technical writing exercise — it requires bringing together stakeholders and expertise that do not usually sit in the same room. That’s what AIM and Naga can do together,” said Chad Briggs, academic program director of AIM’s Executive Master in Disaster Risk and Crisis Management program. The meeting reflected a shared commitment between AIM and the City Government of Naga to strengthen local governance, sustainability, and innovation through academic-practice partnerships. I via Jason Neola