Furniture makers want gov’t help in ‘opening doors’ to new markets

March 6, 2025 | 9:48 pm

By Justine Irish D. Tabile, Reporter

THE furniture industry said it needs government support to break into new markets, citing the expense of mounting trade shows overseas.

“We just hope that they support us more, open doors for us, especially internationally,” 2025 Philippine International Furniture Show (PIFS) Chairman Erwin V. Tan told reporters on Thursday.

“It is very expensive to bring shows like this abroad, and it’s not a joke. But with the government there, it’s going to be easier for us. They have all the connections; they have all the resources, so we really need their support,” he added.

He said that the industry is now starting to normalize after the pandemic.

“Things are going back to normal. So our goal is to reposition ourselves back, not only here in the domestic market but also on the international stage,” Mr. Tan said.

Asked about the current standing of the Philippines vis-a-vis its ASEAN counterparts, he said that the Philippine furniture industry has lagged.

“We’re reintroducing a lot of new stuff, new materials, and new talent, because we’d really like to position ourselves for a comeback,” he said.

He said Philippine furniture enjoys a reputation for ingenuity and skilled work, adding: “We just want to bring that back again; thus, we organize shows like this.”

He said that the plan is to do more shows overseas, including Dubai, the US, and Europe adding: “First things first, we have to settle down and fix things first.”

Managed by Global-Link MP Events International, Inc., the 2025 PIFS and Interior & Design Manila (IDM) has around 180 participating brands and 15,000 attendees. It will run until March 8.

Mr. Tan said he is optimistic for the industry this year. “Everything seems to be going back to normal. The construction business is booming again. All the projects that have put on hold are now ongoing. So we feel bullish about it, and that is why we try our best to improve the outlets or the shows like what you see now,” he added.

Asked to comment, Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis, Jr. said the furniture industry is not making full use of the European Union’s (EU) Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+).

“Furniture exports have gone down. It’s almost gone. This afternoon we have a meeting with the EU delegation, and I think the GSP+ will be the topic,” he said.

“We are not taking advantage of it. (Furniture) should be a beneficiary of the GSP+, but it is not being utilized,” he added.

He said challenges faced by Filipino furniture exporters include unfamiliarity with procedures in international markets and high production costs.

IPPs promise swift resolution to outages

March 6, 2025 | 9:47 pm

THE Philippine Independent Power Producers Association, Inc. (PIPPA) said on Thursday that its members are hoping to resolve the problem of power plant outages “in the soonest possible time.”

“We comply with the no-planned-maintenance rule during the summer months. We make sure our plants run as efficiently as possible. It is in our best interest to ensure that we are operating and that there is stable supply,” PIPPA President Anne E. Montelibano said via Viber.

“Our members are working hard to resolve the issues and to bring those plants back to operation in the soonest possible time,” she added.

PIPPA consists of 28 members with a combined installed capacity of about 18,132 megawatts (MW).

On Wednesday, the Luzon grid was placed on yellow alert — the first such notice this year — due to the increase in forecast demand and power plant forced outages.

According to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, peak demand hit 11,829 MW, against available capacity of 12,488 MW.

A total of 3,362.3 MW was unavailable to the grid after 12 power plants declared forced outages while 16 plants are running on derated capacities.

Earlier this week, the DoE urged the public to adopt energy efficiency measures to manage consumption and ensure the stability of supply as temperatures rise with the onset of the dry season.

“The summer months are characterized by higher energy demand, primarily driven by the increased use of cooling appliances such as air conditioners, electric fans and refrigerators. Without mindful consumption, this surge could strain the power grid, potentially leading to supply challenges and price fluctuations in the spot market,” Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla said.

The DoE demand forecast this year projects highs of 14,769 megawatts (MW) for Luzon, 3,111 MW for the Visayas, and 2,789 MW for Mindanao.

Actual peak demand last year was 14,016 MW for Luzon on April 24; 2,681 MW for the Visayas on May 21; and 2,577 MW for Mindanao on May 22.

The maximum adjusted available generating capacity for Luzon was reported at 15,504 MW, the Visayas 3,040 MW, and Mindanao 3,314 MW in the Grid Operating Maintenance Program 2025-2027, which incorporates output from committed power projects for 2025.

“By making simple adjustments in daily routines, consumers can contribute to a more sustainable and efficient use of electricity, helping to prevent power interruptions and ensuring that energy resources remain sufficient throughout the summer season,” Mr. Lotilla said. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

Taiheiyo Cement building Luzon distribution center in Batangas

March 6, 2025 | 9:47 pm

TAIHEIYO Cement Philippines, Inc. has notified the government of plans to enhance its distribution system on Luzon, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

In a statement on Thursday, the DTI said the plan was announced at a meeting with company executives on March 3.

“The discussions focused on Taiheiyo’s long-term commitment to the market, with the company pledging to continue developing strategies to boost domestic production and enhancing distribution networks,” DTI said.

According to the DTI, the company has also increased the capacity of its P12.8-billion facility in Cebu from 50,000 bags a day to 100,000.

“Taiheiyo’s investments will strengthen the Philippines’ foundation for sustained industrial excellence, paving the way for resilient infrastructure, residential, and commercial development that will benefit generations to come,” Trade Secretary Cristina A. Roque said.

“By integrating modern technologies and improving operational efficiency, this partnership expands local production, generates quality jobs, and reinforces the country’s position as a key force in regional infrastructure advancement,” she added.

A distribution terminal is being built in Calaca, Batangas. It is being positioned to supply Luzon, which accounts for 64% of Philippine cement demand.

“Once operational, this new facility will streamline logistics, optimize supply chain efficiency, and ensure timely delivery of cement to this critical region,” the DTI said.

Ms. Roque met with 13 companies in Japan between March 3 and 4.

Among the companies was Fujifilm Holdings Corp., which announced plans to diversify its operations at its Fujifilm Optics Philippines, Inc. site in Laguna.

In particular, Fujifilm plans to introduce new business lines at the facility, which will be configured for sustainable manufacturing.

“Fujifilm’s initiative will focus on enhancing operational efficiency to reduce its environmental footprint. This facility will serve as a pilot project for (further) investments in sustainable technologies and practices,” the DTI said.

The company’s factory in Laguna specializes in high-performance optical lenses, critical components for digital cameras, projectors, and surveillance cameras, among others.

She also met with Chodai Co., Ltd. which announced plans to pursue clean energy and waste management projects in the Philippines.

These projects include zero-initial-cost solar power systems for hotels in Palawan, a biomass power generation plant in Central Luzon, and the introduction of advanced Japanese waste treatment equipment for hospitals in Tarlac.

Meanwhile, the company is also planning resource recovery and reforestation projects in Davao and Mindoro. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

PHL rice inventory declines 4.6% month on month in early February

March 6, 2025 | 9:45 pm

NFA rice-warehouse — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE national rice inventory at the start of February fell 4.6% month on month, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.

Rice stocks hit 2.10 million metric tons (MT) as of Feb. 1.

Year on year, the national rice inventory rose 38.9%, it added.

Rice held by households as of Feb. 1 fell 24.7%. Commercial entities held 18.0% less rice month on month, while National Food Authority (NFA) holdings fell 1.5%.

Year on year, NFA stocks rose 516.7%, while rice held by commercial entities rose 30.4%, and holdings of households rose 15.9%.

“Of this month’s total rice stocks, 48.4% were from the commercial sector, 37.8% were from households, and 13.8% were from the NFA depositories,” the PSA said.

“Normally, stock levels in the first three months of the year go down until the dry season harvest starts entering the market,” Federation of Free Farmers National Director Raul Q. Montemayor said via Viber.

He said the year-on-year rise in inventory follows record imports of about 4.8 million MT in 2024, “some of which were not consumed in 2024 and carried over to 2025.”

Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura Executive Director Jayson H. Cainglet said the main concern is the farmgate price of palay at P15-16 per kilo, which could dampen the impact of the harvest on inventories.

He said traders are only willing to pay between P16 and P18 per kilo due to the competition from imported rice, whose landed cost is now at P35 per kilo.

“We hope that under the food security emergency, additional funding will be provided to the Department of Agriculture so it can procure more dry palay at P23-24 per kilo,” he said.

The NFA has raised the buying price to P18 per kilo for fresh palay (unmilled rice) and P24 for clean and dry palay.

NFA administrator Larry del Rosario Lacson said on Wednesday that millers were paying P20-P22 per kilo for clean and dry palay, adding that fresh or wet palay usually fetches P5 less.

Mr. Cainglet noted that the current budget for palay procurement is the equivalent of 12-13 days, or 3% of rice demand.

“Ideally, government procurement should be at least 15% of consumption.”

Inflation eased to 2.1% in February from 2.9% in January as rice inflation dropped to 4.9%, the sharpest decline since April 2020.

To bring down rice prices, the government has lowered tariffs and has declared an emergency that triggers the release of government rice stocks.

Arze G. Glipo of the Integrated Rural Development Foundation said on Wednesday that production costs are rising while monopolies in key commodities distorting rice markets.

Eduardo Landayan, Vice-President of the AMMA-KATIPUNAN farmers’ group, noted that in Nueva Ecija and Isabela, which account for more than 20% of national rice output, palay prices have dipped to P15-P18 per kilo because traders are reluctant to buy palay because their warehouses are still stocked with rice imports.

He said the Rice Tariffication Law gave traders and importers access to cheap imported rice that they can use during harvest season to delay buying and force palay prices down.

Crop scientist Teodoro M. Mendoza said the threat of climate change and reliance on the international rice market subject the industry to price volatility, especially if major rice exporters suffer from extreme weather events.

He urged the government to give the NFA an additional P100 billion to procure at least 25% of the domestic rice harvest.

He also called for measures to raise household incomes of farmers and workers, expand irrigated land, and diversify sources of food to include more plant-based protein. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

PHL growth to hit lower end of gov’t target — ING

March 6, 2025 | 9:45 pm

Road-cars-vehicles — Motorists are stuck in traffic during morning rush along the southbound lane of EDSA in Cubao, Quezon City, April 1, 2024. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

GROSS domestic product (GDP) is expected to remain within the official growth target band this year, ING Philippines said.

“The Philippine economy remains a standout performer in Asia, with GDP growth projected at 6.1% in 2025, following a strong recovery in 2024,” it said in a statement.

“The country ranked the third-fastest-growing economy in Asia and eighth globally in 2024, driven by robust labor market conditions and rising domestic consumption.”

ING’s forecast would be at the lower end of the Development Budget Coordination Committee’s 6-8% target for the year.

The economy expanded by a weaker-than-expected 5.2% in the fourth quarter, bringing 2024 growth to 5.6%, missing the government’s target.

“Additional initiatives, including entry into the JPMorgan Bond Index and amendments to key banking charters, underscore the government’s commitment to fostering a competitive economy,” ING added.

The growth outlook, along with easing inflation, could also attract investment despite the weak peso.

Inflation eased to 2.1% in February from 2.9% in January and 3.4% a year earlier. This was also the weakest inflation reading in five months.

The bank said reforms such as the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Act will boost investment due to the reduction of corporate tax rates. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

Tourism revenue hits P65 billion in January

March 6, 2025 | 9:44 pm

Boracay-202304-PHILSTAR-MIGUEL-DE-GUZMAN — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

REVENUE from tourism activities, products, and services totaled P65.3 billion in January, up 78.8% from a year earlier, the Department of Tourism (DoT) said.

In a statement on Thursday, the DoT said that the January total also exceeded the pre-pandemic level of P43 billion.

“The surge of income for Philippine tourism is a sign that the industry is not only bouncing back from the pandemic but is also evolving and expanding, contributing significantly to the country’s economic stability and growth,” Tourism Secretary Ma. Esperanza Christina G. Frasco said.

She added that the increasing revenue “translate to thousands of jobs created for Filipinos, especially in our rural and underserved areas.”

The tourism revenue estimate was based on visitor surveys, arrival/departure data, shipping manifests, and the eTravel System.

In 2024, tourism revenue hit a record P760.5 billion, up 9.04%.

Separately, the Philippines welcomed 1.17 million foreign travelers in the first two months of the year.

South Korea was still the top source of arrivals for the first two months, accounting for 295,611, or 25.3%, of the total. This represents a 10.3% decline from the 329,651 South Korean visitors a year earlier.

“South Korea has been the Philippines’ top source of tourists since 2023, which is expected to increase further with the appointment of South Korean star Seo In-Guk as ‘celebrity tourism ambassador for the Philippines’ in February,” the DoT said.

Next to South Korea were the US (229,836), Japan (83,208), Canada (65,145), and Australia (61,564).

“The Philippines also welcomed 53,545 tourists from China, 41,388 from Taiwan, 34,451 from the UK, 29,352 from Singapore, and 21,252 from France,” the DoT added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

World Bank approves loans for Mindanao transport, health projects

March 6, 2025 | 9:43 pm

THE World Bank said on Thursday that it approved two loans worth a combined $950.54 million for transport connectivity and health projects in Mindanao.

The two projects were approved by the bank’s Board of Executive Directors, the bank said in a statement.

“The World Bank is committed to support the Philippines in its journey towards inclusive growth and its aspiration to become an upper middle-income country,” according to Zafer Mustafaoğlu, World Bank Country Director for the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam.

One of these is the $454.94-million Mindanao Transport Connectivity Improvement Project.

It aims to improve connectivity, sustainable transport infrastructure and services for 1.16 million residents along the Cagayan de Oro- Davao-General Santos corridor.

The project will fund rehabilitation and upgrading of the 428.2-kilometer main road corridor connecting the mentioned cities, which hosts key ports and airports in Mindanao.

“This road network comprises four highways —Sayre Highway, Bukidnon-Davao Highway, Digos-Makar Highway, and the Davao-Cotabato Road — traversing six provinces, 14 municipalities, seven cities, and 168 barangays,” the World Bank said.

Meanwhile, World Bank Senior Transport Specialist Pratap Tvgssshrk noted that connecting rural and remote areas to urban centers benefit agricultural growth.

The Food and Agriculture Organization said Mindanao supplies 40% of the country’s food and accounts for more than 30% of the national food trade.

Meanwhile, the $495.6-million Philippines Health System Resilience Project aims to strengthen provincial health systems, invest in disease surveillance, public health laboratories, and emergency response systems, the World Bank said.

“This project will prioritize 17 provinces with low healthcare access capacity, benefiting 17.9 million people, including those in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas. Eleven of these provinces are in Mindanao,” it said.

“This project is vital as it aims to empower these low-capacity LGUs to deliver high-quality health services, thereby driving socioeconomic progress through improved health outcomes,” World Bank Senior Economist Wei Han said. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Marcos says cost-cutting led to collapse of P1.2-B bridge in Isabela province

March 6, 2025 | 9:38 pm

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana and Ashley Erika O. Jose, Reporters

PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., on Thursday, attributed the collapse of the Cabagan-Santa Maria bridge in Isabela province to critical design flaws, citing cost-cutting measures that compromised the bridge’s structural integrity.

During an inspection with Public Works Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, the President cited the need to overhaul the bridge to ensure public safety.

“The root cause of this failure is a design flaw,” Mr. Marcos told reporters during the inspection in Isabela, based on a video posted on social media. “The bridge was initially budgeted at P1.8 billion, but funding was reduced to under P1 billion, leading to weaknesses in the design.”

The structure was originally intended to be a suspension bridge, but key support elements were omitted, the President said.

“This is the only suspension bridge I have seen without cables,” he said in Filipino. “Had it been properly designed, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Mr. Marcos added that concerns were raised during construction, prompting a refit that pushed costs up to P1.2 billion.

Despite the design specifications, the bridge ultimately failed under the weight of two overloaded trucks, each exceeding 100 tons — far beyond the 44-ton capacity limit.

“Cutting costs from P1.8 billion was pointless,” the President said. “Now, we have to spend even more to rebuild it.”

When asked about responsibility, he emphasized problem-solving over blame.

“Fix the problem, not the blame,” he said, though he acknowledged that the designers should bear responsibility for the weak structure.

He also called for stricter monitoring of vehicle loads, stressing that exceeding weight limits by such extreme margins poses severe risks.

“If a bridge is rated for 44 tons and you overload it with over 200 tons, this outcome is hardly surprising.”

The bridge, which was opened to the public last month, collapsed on Feb. 27 while a dump truck carrying boulders was crossing it, according to the Department of Public Workers and Highways.

The agency said it had tapped experts to assess the cause for the collapse of the bridge.

Its regional office was still trying to determine the cause of the collapse but its initial assessment points to the weight of the dump truck exceeding the limit as the cause, it said in a statement.

“As for the cause of the collapse, during our initial assessment, a dump truck carrying boulders with an approximate gross weight of limit 102 tons passed on it,” it said.

It added that it had tapped experts from the Bureau of Design and Bureau of Construction to conduct further evaluation.

Nigel Paul C. Villarete, senior adviser on public-private partnerships (PPP) at technical advisory group Libra Konsult, Inc., said the bridge’s design should be reviewed for completed staff work although the possibility of design issue being the cause for collapse is unlikely.

“The more probable cause would be a construction failure, which are of two kinds — material failure or methodology failure, resulting in structural members with less than their designed strength,” he said in a Viber message.

The P1.23-billion bridge started construction in 2014, DPWH said, adding that it was completed on Feb. 1, 2025.

The project had a total length of 990 meters, consisting of 12 arch bridges with a span of 60 meters and nine pans of pre-stressed concrete girder. It was by RD Interior Jr. Construction.

“At any rate, there is really a need to continually review design and construction management procedures, practices and methodologies, which are continually evolving and improving,” Mr. Villarete said. “Becoming better often leads us to shortcuts and makes us forget the basics.”

He said the government should look at the possibility that substandard materials and construction procedures were used.

Senate chooses not to comment on VP lawsuit against her impeachment

March 6, 2025 | 9:38 pm

THE PHILIPPINE Senate on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to excuse it from commenting on by Vice-President (VP) Sara Duterte-Carpio’s lawsuit seeking to stop her trial and void her impeachment by the House of Representatives.

“Respondent Senate, which has the sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment under the Constitution, cannot therefore possibly make a comment on the petition, and thus asks the honorable court that it be excused from submitting the comment,” it said in a manifestation.

It was signed by Office of the Senate Legal Counsel Maria Valentina S. Santana-Cruz.

In a resolution on Feb. 25, the full court gave the Senate 10 days to comment on the petition filed by the Ms. Duterte against her impeachment trial.

The Senate requested that the manifestation be considered its response in lieu of the required comment. A manifestation ad cautelam is a declaration made “out of caution” as a response to a petition filed in court.

Ms. Duterte earlier impleaded the Senate, represented by its president Francis G. Escudero, and the House under Speaker Martin G. Romualdez and its secretary general.

“A reading of the body of the above captioned petition reveals that it has actually no allegations against respondent Senate,” according to the pleading.

The House of Representatives impeached Ms. Duterte before it went on a four-month break on Feb. 5, alleging misuse of secret funds, unexplained wealth, acts of destabilization and plotting the assassination of the President, the First Lady and the Speaker.

The Impeachment complaint was filed and signed by more than 200 congressmen, more than the one-third legal requirement before it could be sent to the Senate, which will try her as an impeachment court. Under the 1987 Constitution, several congressmen will be serving as impeachment prosecutors.

Congress will reconvene for a two-week session on June 2.

The Senate plans to present the articles of impeachment and approve the revised impeachment rules once it reconvenes in June.

The proposes to start the trial on July 30, once 12 newly elected senators join the chamber and take their oath as impeachment judges with the 12 old members on July 29. — Adrian H. Halili

Stricter food labeling sought in PHL to fight obesity

March 6, 2025 | 9:38 pm

THE United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and health organizations urged the Philippines to increase funding for obesity prevention and impose stricter food policies.

This includes stricter regulations in package labeling, sugar regulations and tighter food marketing laws, sentiments shared by the World Health Organization (WHO) and National Nutrition Council.

“Policies must ban unhealthy food in schools, curb misleading advertising and ensure public food programs prioritize nutrition and sustainability,” it said in a statement on March 4.

UNICEF said one of 10 Filipino children and four of 10 adults are overweight or obese — considered high by global standards.

A bill on health food marketing is pending at a House of Representatives committee. The measure mandates warning labels in front of the package so consumers know nutrition information and prescribed thresholds for energy, fat, sodium and sugar.

It also regulates marketing on various media and in locations frequented by children.

“We must work hand in hand in rethinking how food is produced, marketed and made available to create an environment where nutritious options are within reach for every child, everywhere,” UNICEF Philippines Acting Representative Behzad Noubary said in the statement.

Misleading nutrition claims make it difficult for Filipino families to opt for nutritious food. Some products that target to children often hide their nutritional content.

However, labeling alone is enough, UNICEF said, suggesting limiting sales in schools and imposing higher penalties on companies that violate the labeling laws.

“Additionally, sustained government funding for nutrition programs and regulatory enforcement is crucial for long-term impact,” it said.

UNICEF also urged food manufacturers and retailers to improve product selection, pricing and placement for healthier options.

Restaurants and food outlets, including fast-food chains, should expand nutritious meal choices and adjust portion sizes, it added. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

P200-M SHS subsidies withheld in 2024 due to questionable claims, DepEd says

March 6, 2025 | 9:38 pm

AROUND P200 million in government subsidies were withheld last year due to “questionable” claims from some private schools for the voucher program for senior high school (SHS) students, an Education department official said on Thursday.

“For school year 2023 to 2024, around P200 million was not released due to discrepancies,” Department of Education (DepEd) project manager Tara C. Rama told a House of Representatives panel in Filipino.

“When private schools submit their billing statements, we process them through the learner’s information system before making any payments. If the billing statements do not match the data in our learner’s information system, the funds are not disbursed,” she added.

Ms. Rama was speaking before the House Committee of Basic Education, which launched an investigation into alleged “ghost students that plague DepEd’s SHS voucher program.

The program aims to subsidize the education of SHS students enrolled in private schools, with the subsidy being provided directly to participating schools.

In mid-February, Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara halted the release of close to P52 million in supposed private school subsidies.

Ghost students refer to beneficiaries that do not have school records or do not attend classes anymore, and unqualified students, said Ms. Rama.

“[Some are] unqualified because they’re supposed to apply via the voucher application program, but they did not apply. Private schools then categorize them as automatic grantees.”

Only high school graduates of government schools and private schools participating in the Education Service Contracting program are automatically qualified for DepEd’s SHS voucher assistance, according to its website.

Ms. Rama said they had terminated 55 schools so far from participating in the subsidy program, with 12 schools under investigation this year.

“For school year 2021 to 2022, a total of 22 schools were terminated. For the 2022 to 2023 school year, an additional 32 schools were terminated. Moving into school year 2023 to 2024, one school has already been terminated, while another 12 are currently under investigation,” she said. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Marcos accepts Uy’s resignation

March 6, 2025 | 9:34 pm

Ivan John E. Uy — IVAN JOHN E. UY — FACEBOOK.COM/DICTGOVPH

PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has accepted the resignation of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) chief, the Palace confirmed on Thursday.

In a Viber chat with reporters, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire B. Castro said Mr. Marcos has accepted the resignation of DICT Secretary Ivan John E. Uy.

“Department of Information and Communications Technology Sec. Ivan John Uy’s resignation was accepted by the President today,” she said.

“An officer-in-charge will fill the position until the President appoints a secretary,” she added.

The Palace has not yet provided information on the reason behind Mr. Uy’s resignation.

Under his leadership, the SIM Card Registration Act, which aims to curb spam calls and texts, was implemented.

He is the third cabinet secretary to resign, after Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista and PCO Secretary Cesar B. Chavez. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana