By Mamerta de Castro   BATANGAS CITY, Batangas, Philippines (PIA) — The economy of CALABARZON expanded by 5.1% in 2025, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) CALABARZON. Although lower than the 5.7% growth recorded in 2024, Manufacturing remained a key driver, contributing 1.9 percentage points to the region’s overall growth. Among the fastest-growing sectors were Human health and social work activities at 11.9%, Public administration and defense including compulsory social security at 8.6%, and Education at 8.5%. Based on industry growth rates from 2024 to 2025, CALABARZON continues to be the country’s leading industrial region. The Industry sector accounted for the largest share at 48.6% (P1.67 trillion), followed by Services at 47.1% (P1.62 trillion), and Agriculture, forestry, and fishing at 4.3% (P0.15 trillion). Records also show that out of the country’s 4.4% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in 2025, CALABARZON contributed 0.7 percentage point—the second highest among the country’s 18 regions. The region likewise ranked second in terms of share to national GDP at 14.3%. Meanwhile, exports of goods and services to the rest of the world posted the highest expenditure growth at 14.0% in 2025, followed by imports at 8.4% and gross capital formation at 6.2%. The region’s per capita Household Final Consumption Expenditure (HFCE) was estimated at P166,573, which is 12.5% higher than the national per capita HFCE of P148,034. (MPDC-PIA Batangas)      

By Christopher Hedreyda   CALAMBA CITY, Laguna, Philippines (PIA) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the opening of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) Subsection 3 on May 4 in General Trias City, Cavite, which is seen to improve the connectivity and mobility of people, goods, and services between major cities in the provinces of Laguna and Cavite, and Metro Manila. The 7.88-km new subsection of CALAX extends the expressway from Silang (Aguinaldo) to Governor’s Drive Interchange in General Trias City, Cavite. The new segment is expected to further ease congestion and cut travel time between Biñan City, Laguna, and Gen. Trias City, Cavite, to just 26 minutes from one hour, further strengthening the commitment to slash traffic congestion and boost transport network. Toll fees in CALAX Subsection 3 will be free for all classes for one month, the President announced, saying that aside from bringing ease of travel to motorists, it can also provide needed relief from their transportation costs. “I can announce na mabuksan ito starting 12 midnight tonight and for one month, wala na muna toll. So, ‘yung ating mga kababayan, gamitin po ninyo, makita ninyo, maramdaman ninyo na ang malaking ginhawa na dinadala nitong mga ganitong malalaking project,” President Marcos said. Designed to accommodate additional 6,000 motorists daily, CALAX Subsection 3 provides a faster alternative route for commuters and businesses by bypassing heavily congested local roads in Cavite’s growing industrial and residential corridors. “Bubuksan natin itong section, which is about four and a half kilometers. ’Yung dating kalahating oras na biyahe ay magiging five minutes na lang, six minutes, kaya’t malaking bagay ito,” the Chief Executive added. According to MPCALA Holdings Inc., the developer and operator of CALAX, the new subsection now spans 26 kilometers from Mamplasan Entry and will ultimately extend to 44.6 kilometers, linking the Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) in Kawit, Cavite, to the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) in Mamplasan, Laguna. “At hindi lang kasi mabibilisan eh dahil ma-relieve din ang traffic.  At tinitingnan namin doon sa mapa ay ‘yung inaantay natin na matagal na galing dito sa Silang hanggang Kawit na. ‘Yung dati mga dalawang oras, magiging kalahating oras, 45 minutes na lang,” the President said. The President commits to support the continued expansion of the road network to connect people and enable economic growth. “At ulit, kahit na nagtatrabaho ka sa Taguig, puwede kang nakatira dito sa Cavite. Kaya’t magandang-maganda na matapos na natin ito.  This is ten years in the making at pahirapan kasi as usual ‘yung nagiging problema natin sa lahat ng construction ng mga kalsada ‘yung right of way,” he said. The President was accompanied by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla Jr.,  Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon,  Department of Transportation (DOTr) Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez, and Jose Ma. K. Lim, President Emeritus, of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC). President Marcos then thanked Secretary Remulla, who he credited as crucial in the success of the project during his term as governor of Cavite, and the MVP Group for the CALAX Project implemented by the MPCALA Holdings Inc. with the DPWH as the grantor. Once the CALAX and CAVITEX integration is completed, the combined network is projected to serve up to 95,000 vehicles per day, serving as a key economic corridor for trade and mobility in CALABARZON and Metro Manila. (CH/PIA-Laguna)              

By Orlan C. Jabagat   PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines (PIA) — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Palawan, in partnership with the Puerto Princesa City Public Employment Office (PESO), will offer more than 700 local job vacancies in the 124th Labor Day Job Fair on May 1. In an interview with City PESO Officer Demetrio Lopez, Jr., 32 local companies and establishments confirmed that they will join said activity to be held at Robinson’s Place Palawan from 10:00AM to 4:00PM. “We have 32 local companies/establishments that will join us in our Labor Day Job Fair that will be held at Robinsons Mall this May 1, with a total of 743 job vacancies,” Lopez said, adding that five  overseas agencies from Manila were invited but none of them confirmed their participation. Although the job fair is only until 4:00PM, they will continue to accept if there are still applicants onsite, he said, adding  “We aim to hire at least 15 percent of the job applicants on the spot that day.” Lopez also advised applicants to bring multiple copies of their updated resumes because there are many jobs available. If they don’t qualify for one, they can apply for other vacancies. Applicants should also bring their training certificates and other relevant documents to serve as backup for their qualifications, or the employer may require them to submit. He also advised them to prepare for the interview and wear appropriate attire when applying for a job. According to DOLE-Palawan Provincial Director Rhea J. Paitan, during the job fair, there will also be a one-stop shop that will provide various services for applicants as well as others in need of government services. These include the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, National Bureau of Investigation, Social Security System, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Civil Service Commission, Department of Migrant Workers, Professional Regulation Commission, City Health Office, Pag-IBIG Fund, PhilHealth, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Philippine Statistics Authority. DOLE-Palawan is also set to provide livelihood assistance on May 1, details on the target the beneficiaries and assistance to be given are being finalized. Aside from the job fair, DOLE-Palawan will also lead the implementation of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo at the City Hall on May 30, where farmers’ products can be purchased at affordable prices. DOLE-Palawan is partnering with the City Agriculture Office for said event. This year’s Labor Day has a theme “Disenteng trabaho para sa lahat: Iisang Hangarin, Bagong Pilipinas Sama-samang Mararating.” (OCJ/JBG/PIA MIMAROPA-Palawan)    

By Bhaby De Castro   BATANGAS CITY, Philippines (PIA) — The Batangas City government is advancing its E-Trike Initiative Program which will deploy 10 e-trike units to support the city’s free ride service amid the rising fuel cost. As part of the initiative, the local government conducted a study to ensure that the free ride program will not negatively impact the operations and income of tricycle drivers while still benefiting commuters. Five of the e-trike units will be assigned to selected routes in the Solid North, Solid East, Solid Baybay, Solid Upland, and Solid Poblacion clusters, operating from 4:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., and again in the afternoon until evening. The program aims to assist early commuters such as city employees, students, and residents transporting goods to the town proper, as well as those traveling home later in the day. Each e-trike unit is also equipped with a spare battery, allowing continuous operation without the need for downtime due to charging. Prior to this, the city government launched its walk-to-work and bike-to-work programs, encouraging employees to walk or cycle to work as a response to rising fuel prices. In line with these efforts, 10 employees who joined the walk-to-work program received new shoes, while 10 bicycles were raffled off to participants of the bike-to-work initiative. Mayor Marvey Marino said the city government continues to seek solutions to help ease the burden of high fuel costs on the public. “We will not stop finding ways to ease the challenges we face. We only ask for everyone’s cooperation so we can overcome these trials together. If we work as one, we can get through this,” Marino said. Earlier, 10 employees received new shoes and another 10 received bicycles when the program was launched on April 13, 2026. (MPDC-PIA Batangas)        

By Danny Estacio   TIAONG, Quezon, Philippines – A new site for a commercial hub for development in Quezon and San Pablo City was officially launched at Barangay Lalig, on April 22. The hub is hosted by the Villa Escudero Corporation, occupying a total area of 2.14 hectares within the property of Villa Escudero Plantation and Resort. The central project features high visibility from the South Luzon Expressway (TR4) exit and the Maharlika Highway, with less than 200 meters to the Tiaong interchange, and is directly accessible through the main highway. Mayor Vincent Arjay Mea said the development represents the next chapter of Tiaong’s economic growth and provides local job opportunities. The central hub targeted local and international investors, said Daniel Escudero, project development manager.            

By Charmaine Odong-Pangan   STA. CRUZ, Laguna, Philippines (PIA) — In support of local farmers affected by the rising cost of fuel amid the crisis, the provincial government of Laguna launched the “Laguna Pantry Program” last April 13 to help ease their burden and provide free vegetables to the public. According to Governor Sol Aragones, this initiative is part of their action to help local farmers by sourcing out their fresh vegetable produce and distribute them to communities and beneficiaries across the four districts of the province. “These vegetables will be purchased from farmers and vegetable growers in Laguna. This is why we spoke with them earlier, so that they can at least have some additional income,” Aragones stated in her official Facebook video. The provincial government earlier visited farmers in the Nagcarlan town and personally spoke with them to assess their situation. The Laguna Pantry will procure produce directly from farmers, repackage it, and distribute it to residents. She added, “This way we could help our fellow citizens, even in small ways. We will package the vegetables into chopseuy package and ginisa package.” As the implementation expands, the provincial government assured farmers that it will source products from each district in Laguna to ensure wider participation and stronger support for local agriculture, while maintaining a steady supply for beneficiaries. Despite budget constraints, the governor said the initiative comes at a crucial time for local farmers who were badly hit by high oil prices, at the same time, to strengthen food security through farm-to-community distribution. Meanwhile, the program will be rolled out in phases, with scheduled distribution to ensure orderly and equitable access for beneficiaries, while the public is advised to await official announcements on the governor’s social media accounts to know the distribution schedule. (COP/PIA-CALABARZON)  

By Orlan C. Jabagat   PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines (PIA) — The Provincial Emergency Operations Center (EOC) of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO)  reported no major incidents directly related to the observance of Holy Week 2026 across Palawan. According to PDRRM Officer Jeremias Y. Alili, the overall conduct of Holy Week activities in various parts of the province remained peaceful and orderly, with only minor incidents recorded. “Naging maayos at ligtas ang kabuuang pagdaraos ng mga aktibidad sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng lalawigan, maliban sa isang vehicular accident at isang insidente ng pagkahilo na agad namang natugunan,” Alili said. He clarified that while other incidents were monitored and coordinated by the EOC, these were not directly related to the Holy Week observance. Alili also noted a key difference in this year’s activation, highlighting the strong participation not only of Municipal DRRMOs but also of Community Disaster Auxiliary Groups (CDAG) and DRRM volunteers across various municipalities. “Ang isang kakaiba sa ating activation ngayong Mahal na Araw ay hindi lamang ang ating mga MDRRMOs ang naging katuwang kundi pati ang ating mga volunteers,” he said, citing their role in monitoring, assisting, and providing services. He added that the presence of responders played a significant role in ensuring safety, especially for Catholic devotees participating in religious activities. “Marahil ito ang isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit halos wala rin tayong naitalang insidente dahil sa dami ng mga responders na nag-assist at nagbigay ng first aid,” Alili explained. The development also reflects the ongoing efforts of the provincial government to strengthen coordination among the province, municipalities, and barangays. “Ito po ay napakagandang indikasyon kung saan nakikita na natin na unti-unti ang adhikain ng ating mahal na gobernador na maging malakas ang pagtutulungan ng probinsiya, mga munisipyo, at mga barangay na naisakatuparan sa activation na ito,” he added, expressing his gratitude to the volunteers who dedicated their time and effort during the Holy Week operations. He added “We salute ang ating mga volunteers na tumulong. Maraming salamat po sa inyo. Nawa ay gantimpalaan ng Panginoon ang inyong ibinigay na oras at serbisyo ng may kasamang siksik na biyaya.” The Provincial Government of Palawan continues to support and strengthen volunteer groups across the province, recognizing their vital role in disaster response and public safety efforts. The EOC was placed under Blue Alert Status from April 1 to April 6, 2026, as part of intensified monitoring in the province in line with the directive of Governor Amy Roa Alvarez.  (Nicole Angelo Celis/OCJ/PIA MIMAROPA-Palawan)        

By Danny Estacio   LIMA, Batangas – Binigyang-pugay ng Global Technical Center of Excellence (GTCOE), isang training facility na inilunsad ng Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) at JERA Co., Inc. (JERA), ang ikalawang batch ng mga nagtapos sa Basic Operations and Maintenance Program, na binubuo ng 17 technical professionals, kabilang ang batch valedictorian na si Nathalie Abdon. Ang programa na may adhikaing tulungang  punan ang agwat sa pagitan ng teorya sa aklat at ng aktuwal na kalagayan sa industriya, sa pamamagitan ng paghahanda sa mga inhinyero mula sa “steady-state” na akademikong modelo patungo sa “non-linear” at mataas na responsibilidad na kapaligiran ng operasyon ng power plant. “Sa paaralan, malinaw at maayos ang mga kundisyong nilulutas namin, ngunit sa planta, hindi linear ang sistema,” paliwanag ni Abdon. “Natutunan ko na kailangan kong lumipat mula sa pag-aaral para lamang makaunawa tungo sa pag-aaral na may pananagutan. Ang mga desisyon sa totoong mundo ay may tunay na epekto, at ang pagbabagong ito ang nagpatibay sa aking pagiging mas sinadya at responsable.” Sa valedictory message, binigyang-diin ni Abdon ang kahalagahan ng katatagan at ng representasyon sa sektor ng enerhiya. Siya ang unang babaeng inhinyero sa kanilang pamilya. “Sa paglalakbay na ito, napagtanto ko na ang tunay na koneksyon ay maaaring mabuo sa kabila ng pagkakaiba,” dagdag pa niya. “Ang pagkakaroon ng ibang pananaw na nagpapahalaga sa pagkalinga, malasakit, katumpakan, at layunin sa bawat teknikal na hamon na aking haharapin. Mula sa paglutas ng mga equation, ang aking paglalakbay ay ngayo’y bahagi na ng progresibong pag-unlad para sa isang mas matatag na Pilipinas.” Para kay Abdon, ang pagsali sa Therma Luzon, Inc. ng AboitizPower ay katuparan ng kanyang panghabambuhay na kuryosidad. Lumaki sa Quezon, madalas niyang tinitingnan ang mataas na chimney ng kalapit na planta, na napagkakamalan niyang parola. Si Abdon at ang kanyang mga kasamahan ay sinanay batay sa Limang Haligi ng GTCOE: Kaligtasan, Husay Teknikal, Kakayahang Umangkop, Pakikipagtulungan, at Komunikasyon. Tinitiyak ng kurikulum na ang mga nagtapos ay may aktuwal na karanasan sa control room at paggamit ng mga high-capacity na kagamitan. Kahit sa panahon ng Artificial Intelligence (AI), hindi nalilimutan ni Abdon ang mga pangunahing prinsipyo ng kanyang propesyon. “Bagaman kayang i-optimize ng AI ang mga sistema, dapat itong gabayan ng matibay na mga engineering principles gaya ng thermodynamics at physics,” saad niya. “Tungkulin naming itaguyod ang kaligtasan at integridad ng operasyon sa bawat desisyon.” Ayon naman kay GTCOE Director Engr. Mayshelle Rosario, ang mga prinsipyong ito ang nagtutulak sa misyon ng training facility, at sinabing ang kahusayan ng tao ang siyang tunay na nagtutulak sa pagkakaroon ng business excellence. Si Hideaki Oana, Chief Technical Officer ng JERA Philippines, ay nagbahagi ng parehong pananaw, at pinuri ang mga nagtapos bilang mga lider na kayang gawing konkretong solusyon ang teknolohiya.