OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines —  Aboitiz Renewables Inc., through wholly-owned subsidiary AP Renewable Energy Corporation, signed a P7.4-billion project finance deal with the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) to fund the engineering, construction, operation, and maintenance of the 221 megawatt peak (MWp) Olongapo solar power plant in Zambales. The project is currently 95% complete and is on track for testing and commissioning by the third quarter of 2025, connecting to the Castillejos 230 kilovolt substation of the grid operator. Upon completion, the solar PV capacity will be Aboitiz Renewables’ largest solar project to date. “Olongapo Solar represents a major contribution to AboitizPower’s clean energy portfolio and more so to achieving the Philippines’ energy transition targets,” said Aboitiz Renewables President Jimmy Villaroman. “Every project we build is the product of a highly motivated organization contributing to AboitizPower’s energy transition effort.” AP Renewable Energy Corporation is the project company for the construction of the Olongapo solar power plant, which began in the first quarter of 2024. The company is wholly-owned by Aboitiz Renewables, the renewable energy arm of Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower). Aboitiz Renewables holds the investments and interests of AboitizPower in various renewable energy projects, including geothermal, large hydro, run-of-river hydro, wind, battery energy storage systems, and solar projects. According to the Energy Regulatory Commission, AboitizPower is the market leader in power generation capacity, with a national market share of 23.86% as of July 2025. Together with its partners, AboitizPower also offers the largest renewable energy portfolio in the Philippines based on installed capacity under its operational control.    

By Ruben A. Veloria Almost no cost to the province ZAMBALES, Philippines – The provincial government of this province is fast tracking the development of the 62-hectare campsite to house the 30,000 scouts from Asia and the Pacific countries who will be attending the 33rd Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Jamboree in December 14, 2025. According to Zambales Provincial Engineering Office chief Engr. Domingo Mariano, provincial crews are now working 24/7 to meet the deadline to develop the campsite in Barangay San Juan, Botolan here, into the best scout jamboree campsite ever prepared. Having the theme “Be Prepared: Scouts for Peace and Sustainable Development,” this year’s scouting event aims to gather thousands of young people ages 12 to 17 from across the region for a week of learning, growth, cultural exchange, and creating lasting friendships. “The scouts will advocate sustainable development, the Global Development Village, the Asia-Pacific Village, Faith Valley. They will also treat with exciting outdoor activities, and the opportunity to experience traditions, and cultures, and the taste local delicacies,” said Engr. Mariano. Based on Boy Scout of the Philippines (BSP) website, among the delegations who have already submitted their confirmation for the event, include Bangladesh, Fiji, Hong Kong, South Korea, TGA Scouts of China, Brunei Darussalam, Maldives, USA, Canada, Kuwait, and the host country, the Philippines which will be sending 26,800 scouts. Provincial Engineer Mariano boasted that despite the seemingly grandeur project, the local provincial government has not spent a single peso for the development of the area, except for fuels of the machineries and machines. The BSP has shouldered the cost of rental of the site. “Through the prudent initiatives of Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr., the local government of Zambales is purchasing heavy equipment and trucks using revenue earnings of the province,” said Mariano. Mariano explained that as chairman of the Zambales Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Gov. Ebdane wanted to have a fleet of heavy equipment and ready-to-use supply of construction materials that can be used during emergency, and for other community projects. The official also noted that old but reusable materials from demolished old buildings and bridges were kept for future use. “As you can see, we already built five small bridges inside the campsite with no cost to the province,” he added. Meanwhile, Engineer Mariano showed to media the four major infrastructure projects of the provincial government worth ₱1-Billion which contracts were terminated or cancelled prior to review of the Commission on Audit (COA). The projects were awarded to contractors included in the 15 contractors named by the President which bagged P100 billion in flood control projects, including: 5-story New Capitol Building worth ₱499,661,764; and the two-storey sports complex, tract and football stadium, with a capacity of 20,000 persons, worth ₱499,000,600, both were awarded to St. Gerald Contraction owned by Cezarah Cruz-Discaya. The other two projects were: Provincial Capitol Annex Multi-Purpose Building worth ₱213,280,421 (RD Talens Construction); and the 165-bed capacity PRMMH Provincial Hospital worth ₱399,773,774, awarded to Hi-Tone Construction and Dev’t. Corp. Engr. Mariano, clarified that construction of the projects were partially completed with an average of 2.0% ahead of schedule. “Despite all the news we heard about the allegedly anomalous projects involving the construction firms, all their projects here in Zambales have no problem recorded,” he added. Engr. Mariano has assured the public that the construction of the projects will resume immediately once they receive clearance from COA.      

Subic Bay Freeport, Philippines – Around 300 qualified workers were among the first wave of beneficiaries of the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) na” program launched by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño recalled that when President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. appointed him to lead the agency, he was asked to “take care of Subic Bay workers.” “Here in Subic Bay, we regard our workers as the bloodline of our economy, and I’m glad that this program would greatly help the minimum wage earners here,” Aliño said. The BBM program, in coordination with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Labor Department, was launched yesterday, September 4, 2025, at Cresc Incorporated in the Moonbay Marina, Central Business District here. SBMA Labor Department manager and OIC-Deputy Administrator for Legal Affairs Atty. Melvin Varias, said that the DOLE-led program aims to bring ₱20-per-kilo rice to the workforce of the Subic Bay Freeport. Varias added that the program here, spearheaded by DOLE Chief Labor and Employment Officer Reynante Lugtu, is a flagship program of President Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos Jr. to stabilize rice prices and make basic goods more accessible. Kazutomo Murata, Cresc Inc. president, thanked DOLE and SBMA for being chosen as among the first company to benefit from the program. “Marami yan! Ako rin [pahingi]! I am glad that you have President Marcos who loves you. We don’t have this in Japan,” said Kazutomo. Meanwhile, Aliño added that aside from the government programs, the agency has three projects that would benefit the workers, namely: dormitories, to bring workers closer to their place of work; development of the Mini Golf Course into a park, to provide a place for unwinding; and the e-bus, which the agency is working on at least a very minimal fare, if not free. The beneficiary workers were given a maximum of ten kilos each, and will be paid through salary deduction by the Cresc Inc. administration. Cresc Incorporated is a leading consumable printer ink manufacturer based in Japan. The company is the second company in the Subic Freeport in the printer refilling trade.        

By Ruben A. Veloria   SUBIC, Zambales, Philippines — The Philippines is strengthening its vision of becoming among world’s great shipbuilding nations as President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. led on Tuesday, Sept.2,  the inauguration of Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard here. “Ladies and gentlemen, today, we will begin reclaiming our rightful place among the world’s great shipbuilding nations,” Pres. Marcos said addressing the dignitaries attending the ceremony that also marked the steel-cutting of the shipyard’s first vessel under Hyundai. The President noted that for decades, even centuries, the Philippines has given the world the finest seafarers. It is only fitting that the Philippines also supply the world with excellent vessels to sail on. He said that from 2014 to 2018, the country’s shipyards were producing 1.2 to 2 million gross tons of ships—roughly around 20 oil tankers or 30 large container ships—annually. In those years, the shipyard has provided employment to more than 28,000 highly skilled shipyard workers, and thousands more to indirect workers, including passenger jeepneys and buses, ambulant vendors, and more. However, starting in 2019, its output fell, it lost its momentum, after the Subic-based South Korean shipyard declared bankruptcy and closed. “Today, we raise the sails once more,” the President said. “I am excited to see where this endeavor will take us,” he continued. “Together, let us show the world that Filipinos have the skills, the vision to navigate the uncertain waters of an ever-changing world.” According to the President, with Hyundai Heavy Industries investing in Subic, the shipyard capacity will significantly increase from 1.3 million to 2.5 million deadweight tons, from handling four to five massive oil tankers to about now eight of those ships. But more than size, now the ships that were to build –means that it can now accommodate vessels with higher volumes, boost its export potential, and create more jobs for Filipino workers. By 2030, the President look forward to this yard employing 4,300 Filipinos. That equates to thousands of families with food on the table, thousands of workers with dignity in their craft, thousands of Filipinos who see shipbuilding as a source of livelihood. “As President, I take great pride in Filipino hands navigating the world’s oceans. Thirty percent of the world’s seafarers are Filipinos. These are diligent men and women whose skill and dedication keep the seafaring industry moving every single day,” he continued. Before the inauguration, to make the partnership succeed, the Philippine Government worked to match Hyundai’s investment with a skilled workforce worthy of their trust. Last November 2024, TESDA signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Hyundai to establish an off-campus training facility in Subic. Through this partnership, 24 trainees have completed the Flux-Cored Arc Welding NC I program and are now part of Hyundai’s workforce. To train even more Filipinos, TESDA has awarded 25 more scholarship slots for Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC I and 100 slots for enterprise-based training in Flux-Cored Arc Welding NC I. This ensures a steady influx of skilled workers ready for the needs of this industry. We now have 16 training programs covering every discipline—from marine electricity to gas or arc welding— these ensure that the skills forged meet the standards of any shipyard around the world. All these efforts show the government’s commitment to reviving the industry to ensure that it will thrive in the generations to come.        

Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 3 Director Richard C. Daenos (center) joins Rossell L Abuyo, SBMA Ecology Center OIC and SBMA Tourism manager Mary Jamelle A. Camba to address media practitioners during the media launch for the upcoming 2025 Sustainable Tourism Summit on September 10-12, 2025 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC), which is seen as the region’s biggest gathering of local governments, tourism officers, MSMEs, academe and community leaders advocating tto shape a greener, more inclusive, and future ready tourism industry.

PAMPANGA, Philippines – Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), the Philippines’ leading carrier, celebrated nine years of partnership with UNICEF Philippines’ Change for Good campaign by hosting a career talk and airport tour for select Alternative Learning System (ALS) learners from the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Angeles City, in Clark, Pampanga. The event, held on August 8, brought together CEB employees, ALS learners, DepEd officials, and UNICEF Philippines representatives. It aimed to inspire learners to explore careers in aviation and offered a behind-the-scenes look at airport operations. ALS is a DepEd program that provides out-of-school youth and adults with practical options to complete basic education outside the traditional school system. All the learners who participated in the event are beneficiaries of the Change for Good campaign. During the career talk, CEB employees shared their personal journeys in aviation and highlighted the diverse roles available in the industry. Afterwards, participants toured Clark International Airport with CEB employees and airport officials, visiting check-in counters, security screening areas, and the arrivals hall. The experience offered a first-hand look at how different teams work together to ensure safe and seamless travel for passengers. Change for Good is a partnership between CEB and UNICEF Philippines that allows passengers to donate loose change onboard flights. Since its launch, the program has raised over PHP 112 million (USD 2.13 million), supporting UNICEF projects in education, health, nutrition, and emergency response for vulnerable children across the Philippines. “The collective generosity of Cebu Pacific passengers has transformed the lives of thousands of children across the Philippines, especially those vulnerable communities” said Carmen Gonzalez Ortiz, UNICEF Philippines Chief of Private Sector Fundraising and Partnerships. “Every peso contributed is a vital investment to their future—providing them with opportunities to learn, thrive, and build a better tomorrow for themselves and their communities.” CEB remains the only Change for Good airline partner in Southeast Asia and the sole carrier directing all donations exclusively to programs within the Philippines.      

Subic Bay Freeport, Philippines – Government agencies partner with a recycling company to implement the Cash Cycled Project in public elementary and secondary schools in Zambales. In a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed on August 6, 2025, the Cash Cycled Project aims to encourage the active participation of schools and local communities in practicing plastic waste recycling and sustainability by trading collected plastic bottles with the recycling partner. The MOA was signed between the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Ecology Center, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Zambales, the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Zambales, and Foochi Trading and Resources Inc. at the SBMA Corporate Boardroom. “This project marks a significant milestone in environmental and youth empowerment initiatives as it aims to foster collaboration between the project proponents and the academic communities in building sustainable environmental practices,” SBMA OIC Senior Deputy Administrator for Regulatory, Amethya Dela Llana-Koval said. Meanwhile, DTI Provincial Director Enrique Tacbad explained that the plastic bottles collected by government -run schools in Zambales will be sold to Foo Chi Trading and Resources Inc. for income-generation to support school activities or environmental initiatives. Under the Cash Cycled Project, the income generated from the sale of plastic bottles will be deposited into a designated school fund account, which will be used solely for environmental projects, supplies, or student development programs, in accordance with DepEd’s financial policies and auditing rules and regulations. A joint monitoring team, composed of representatives from each Party, shall meet at least once every semester, or as needed, to evaluate project implementation, address any issues, and recommend improvements. (30)    

CLARK AVIATION CAPITAL, Pampanga, Philippines  — The Commission on Audit (CoA) has once again issued an unmodified opinion to the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), marking the agency’s eighth consecutive year of clean audits from 2017 to 2024. The CoA’s 2024 Annual Audit Report released last May 16, 2025 attributed CIAC’s compliance to “exceptional financial performance, characterized by its ability to generate revenues that exceeded the revenue targets set by the Governance Commission for Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations (GCG) based on its Performance Scorecard for calendar year (CY) 2024. Notably, CIAC’s contributions through dividend remittances play a pivotal role in providing the government with the essential funds needed to achieve its socio-economic objectives.” CIAC President Jojit Alcazar welcomed the recognition from the COA, describing it as “a testament to the fair and transparent presentation of CIAC’s financial position, and a significant outcome of the corporation’s financial management expertise and unwavering commitment to transparency and good governance.” The recent audit includes the independent auditor’s report, CIAC’s audited financial statements as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, updates on prior audit recommendations, and a summary of key accounting policies. “In our opinion, the financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, CIAC’s financial position as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, in accordance with Philippine Financial Reporting Standards (PFRSs),” the report stated. The audit report noted that CoA conducted its review in line with the International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions (ISSAIs), providing a sound basis for the audit results. As a result, CoA issued an unmodified opinion on the fair presentation of CIAC’s year-end financial statements. The report also highlighted CIAC’s consistent compliance with Republic Act No. 7656, or the Dividend Law, by regularly declaring and remitting the mandated cash dividends to the National Government through the Bureau of the Treasury. According to the Commission on Audit, an “unmodified opinion … is issued when the auditor concludes that the financial statements are prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework such as the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and Philippine Financial Reporting Standards. For this purpose, the auditor’s evaluation includes due consideration on quantitative and qualitative materiality established based on the prescribed COA’s audit guidelines.”

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines — Local government units (LGUs) contiguous to this premier freeport received their revenue shares worth Php197.85 million. The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) released today the revenue shares for the first semester of this year in a simple turnover ceremony at the SBMA Corporate Boardroom. “Rest assured that we will do our best to make progress in the Freeport so that our neighboring LGU partners will also benefit including the 166,000 freeport workers who chose to work here instead of working abroad,” SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño said. According to Aliño, for the current period, the shares came from revenues collected between January and June this year, and are given to contiguous LGUs to augment funds for their projects in tourism, infrastructure, education, peace and order, health, livelihood generation, and social services that will benefit more than 785,000 individuals from their respective LGUs, especially households who have been severely affected by the recent calamities. Olongapo City, the lone recipient city, received the largest share due to its population and land area among the seven LGU recipients, which is Php46,270,769.33. In Zambales, Subic received Php29,683,317.56, the second biggest amount received. Next is San Marcelino with Php23,763,694.31, while Castillejos received Php17,987,887.14, and San Antonio received Php16,824,398.47. In Bataan, Dinalupihan received Php24,643,508.58, while Hermosa received Php21,186,145.67, and Morong received Php17,489,910.85. SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Support Services Atty. Ramon Agregado said that the LGU shares distribution came timely since the provinces of Zambales and Bataan were affected by three typhoons that hit the country recently. “Hermosa has hit a deficit in resources because of the calamity. This LGU shares distribution will be a huge boost to augment the resources we lost. As you all know, Hermosa was among the most hardly hit municipalities by the heavy rains brought about by the typhoons and the southwest monsoon, as 18 out of 23 barangays got flooded,” newly-elected Hermosa, Bataan mayor Atty. Anne Inton said. Aliño explained that the LGU share is determined according to 50 percent population, 25 percent land area, and 25 percent equal sharing. Net shares are computed by adding the current base share to the ten percent retention amount from two years prior, but less ten percent retention amount from the current period. He also shared that the reduction in the amount of dividends for the same period in 2024 in the amount of ₱204.7 million to ₱197.8 million in 2025 was due to the imposition of 25 percent tax by the Department of Finance, which is remitted by the Agency to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and the removal of the five percent tax privilege wherein three percnet used to be remitted to the BIR, and two percent used to be distributed as dividends among the eight contiguous LGUs. These revenue shares collected from January to June are released in August, and revenue shares collected from July to December are released in February of the following year. (30)