FDCP Counts Down to Film Ambassadors’ Night 2022

 

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

 

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), in anticipation of the 6th Film Ambassadors’ Night, gathered friends from the press last February 22, 2022 in Quezon City.

The FDCP welcomed more than 40 of their media partners at the Agency’s first in-person press conference after two years of holding media events online. About the same number of friends from the press joined the occasion virtually via Zoom.

FDCP Chairperson and CEO, Liza Diño together with Film Ambassadors Adam Dumaguin and Jek Jumawan, shared what’s in store for the honorees at this year’s exclusive Film Ambassadors’ Night that goes with the theme “Beyond Limits” in recognition of the efforts and creative artistry of Filipino filmmakers as shown by their continuous presence in the in the international scene despite the pandemic.

Dumaguin, a 21-year-old filmmaker, won 3rd Place for his debut short film, My House at the AGBO Film - No Sleep ‘til Film Fest in California, USA last May 2021. Dumaguin admits that his win was unexpected, “fast forward to a year from that win, nandito po ako sa harap niyo, until now I’m still taking everything in and using everything for experience.”

Jumawan, a Senior High School teacher, won best actor “Sun of the East Award” for Pas-an (Carried Burdens) at the Tagore International Film Festival in India last April 2021. “Iyong dala mo ang pangalan ng Pilipinas sa paglahok mo roon [international film festivals] at mabigyang parangal, talagang nakakataba ng puso,” Jumawan remarked.

My House is one of the twenty one honorees for the short film category while Jumawan is one of the four short film actor honorees.

John Arcilla, A-List Awardee and one of the recipients of the Camera Obscura Award for On the Job: The Missing 8, graced the event as an online participant. Some of the other honorees who were also present virtually were: Hannah Ragudos, director of the Short Film Honoree Ana Bikhayr (Okay Lang Ako); Khent Cacho, director of the Short Film Honoree Ora Miss Mo; Patti Lapus, producer of the Feature Film Honoree Midnight in a Perfect World; and Cedrick Juan, Feature Film Actor Honoree for Gitarista.

All of the 77 honorees—including the Camera Obscura and Gabay ng Industriya Awards to be conferred by the FDCP— will all be feted at the Film Ambassadors' Night on February 27, 2022 to be held in the historic architectural landmark, The Manila Metropolitan Theater.

In the press conference, FDCP Chairperson and CEO, Liza Diño expressed “FDCP’s objective for FAN is to celebrate our filmmakers’ successes. We have gone so far in bringing Philippine cinema to the world but we still have so much to do. We continue to create content and we continue to represent the Philippines through our stories.”

Diño also clarified, “We name them ‘film ambassadors’ because they represent our cinema, they promote our films in different parts of the world by joining international film festivals. We give importance to these recognitions because they are creating platforms for our Filipino filmmakers to be showcased in that particular country where their films were screened.” She added, “With more than 7000 film festivals all over the world every year, our role is to find the legitimate ones. Our criteria is on the film festivals and not on the filmmakers.”

The annual celebration of Philippine cinema continues to be a symbol of hope for the future of Filipino filmmakers in setting the standards to be a globally competitive industry. This year’s Film Ambassadors’ Night is special as it will also celebrate not just the wins, but the courage and strength of Filipino filmmakers overcoming the challenges of filming during a global pandemic in the past year–and despite these challenges, still get to represent the country in the world stage. Film Ambassadors’ Night 2022 will be an in-person event this Sunday exclusive to honorees. Telecast date via the FDCP Channel will be announced at a later date.

Land Transportation Office (LTO) sa Candon City, Ilocos Sur

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Binigyang-diin ni Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Art Tugade na kailangang pairalin ang disiplina at tamang pamamaraan sa pagsisilbi sa publiko sa gitna ng kaniyang pagpapasinaya sa bagong tanggapan ng Land Transportation Office (LTO) sa Candon City, Ilocos Sur ngayong araw, ika-24 Pebrero 2022.Nasa Ilocos Region ang Kalihim, kasama ng iba pang opisyal ng Kagawaran para sa sunud-sunod na aktibidad, tulad ng inagurasyon ng nasabing LTO District Office at inspeksyon ng iba pang mga proyekto kabilang na ang Vigan at Laoag Airport, gayundin ng Currimao Port.

Sa inagurasyon ng LTO Candon District Office, pinaalalahanan ni Secretary Tugade ang mga kawani ng ahensya na bukod sa pagsasa-ayos at pagpapaganda ng mga pasilidad, tulad ng bagong gusali ng LTO, kailangan ding panatilihin ang maayos at kalidad na serbisyong pampubliko.

"Sa pag-inaugurate natin ng mga facility at mga darating pang pasilidad, kailangan – cut processing time, no corruption, be punctual and don't be late," ayon kay Secretary Tugade.

"If you cannot do good in government service, don't join government service. If you cannot sacrifice for the people, don't join government service," dagdag pa ng Kalihim.

Matatagpuan sa tinatawag na sentro ng mga aktibidad sa lugar, ang LTO Candon District Office ay sumasakop at nagseserbisyo sa dalawampu’t-dalawa (22) pang mga bayan. Maliban sa Candon City, sakop sa Geographical Area of Responsibility ng LTO Candon ang mga sumusunod na munisipalidad ng Ilocos Sur: Santa, Narvacan, Nagbukel, Sta. Maria, San Esteban, Burgos, Santiago, Lidlidda, Banayoyo, San Emilio, Galimuyod, Salcedo, Gregorio Del Pilar, Quirino, Sta. Lucia, Sta. Cruz, Tagudin, Sigay, Suyo, Cervantes, Alilem, at Sugpon.

Taong 2019, pinagsumikapan ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Candon na gawing government center ang kahabaan ng Bypass Road, Bagani Campo sa Candon City at isa sa mga ahensiya ng gobyerno na nabigyan ng lupang pagtatayuan ng himpilan ay ang LTO Candon District Office.

Matapos ang groundbreaking nito noong Enero 2020, nailipat at naitayo na ang bagong tanggapan ng LTO Candon, tampok ang mga makabagong pasilidad. Layon ng inisyatibo na mas ilapit ang serbisyo ng gobyerno sa mga tao.

Samantala, pinasalamatan naman ni Candon City Mayor Ericson Singson si Secretary Tugade at ang pamunuan ng Land Transportation Office sa pagsasakatuparan ng proyekto. Aniya, malaking tulong ang pagtatayo ng bagong LTO Candon District Office sa kanilang adhikain na mas palaguin ang ekononomiya sa lugar sa pamamagitan ng pagdami ng negosyo, pagkakaroon ng iba’t-ibang tanggapan ng pamahalaan o at pamumuhunan ng maraming investor.

"Aminin natin na we need to speed up our recovery dahil sa sobrang epekto ng pandemya sa ating lahat. Again, we acknowledge that such government project na gaya nitong LTO Building na maraming attached na negosyo and new opportunities ang makakatulong nang malaki,” ani Mayor Singson.

Online Traditional Bingo BingoPlus has first 8 millionaire jackpot winners after just one month of opening

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

 

Only over a month after soft-launching the country’s first and only licensed Online Traditional Bingo (OTB) services under BingoPlus’ Remote Gaming Platform, it now has eight individuals winning more than a million each in jackpot prizes in quick succession.

 

Starting February 3, nearly16 million pesos in cash has been collectively won from playing BingoPlus online traditional bingo. The innovative game transforms the way traditional bingo is played by combining the fun and familiarity of traditional bingo with the excitement and convenience of technology and online access. The new game format was created by AB Leisure Exponent Inc.,  a subsidiary of Leisure and Resorts World Corporation (LRWC), to provide more playing opportunities to customers during the pandemic and is in line with its digital expansion plans.

 

The first winner took home P3,171,259 on February 3, followed by another winner (P1,364,302) on February 4. Since then, six more winners received P2,274,498 on February 7, P2,131,704 on February 11, P3,096,612 on February 16, P1,073,315 on February 17, P1,293, 739 on February 20 and P1,497, 924 on February 22 for a total of P15,903,353. This does not yet include winnings from non-jackpot games.

The first four jackpot winners were already awarded their prizes at the Bingo Bonanza Store at SM Megamall. The other winners are scheduled for another awarding ceremony.

 

One of the players who received over 2 million pesos said he will invest some of his prize money in a business and help his family pay their bills. He also plans to donate money to the church being built in their area and help some relatives. “I’m inviting everyone to play this game. I was able to prove this is really a legit game,” he said.

 

LRWC President Andy Tsui said, “The pandemic ushered in a new normal, where technology is at the forefront of almost everything we do. BingoPlus will continue to bring entertainment and provide value to the Philippine audience. We aim to be recognized as one of the most reputable brands in the country through our collaborations and partnerships with different organizations.”

 

“Our goal is to be the best one-stop online entertainment platform in the country,” added Jasper Vicencio, president of ABLE, the country’s bingo gaming pioneer and first licensed OTB operator of BingoPlus. “BingoPlus will provide a wide variety of online games besides traditional bingo: slot machines, card games, and many more to come. 2022 is going to be a thrilling and busy year with an amazing jackpot pool.”

 

To play Online Traditional Bingo, no special equipment is needed besides a smartphone and internet access. There is no membership fee, the game can be accessed from anywhere in the Philippines, but players have to be at least 21 years old to play, Vicencio added.

Finding cheaper electricity supply in Australia

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Australia is known for its expensive electricity rate history compared to other parts of the world. The rise in energy prices is due to some factors. The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) shows through research that the energy prices in Australia have been affected due to two main factors.

The first factor is a lack of investment in things (this could be infrastructure), and the second is the increase in the prices of gas because of higher demand for gas in export markets. An additional factor is a regulation imposed by the government that is not in support of the competition. Nonetheless, a lot of state governments in the last decade have been deregulating the energy industry, allowing discounts on electricity and creating competition.

To know the cheaper electricity supply in Australia, it's crucial that a comparison should be made between different energy prices, rates, and tariffs. This is what several energy comparison sites, such as Econnex Comparison, do. So, how exactly can you find a cheaper electricity supply in Australia?

 

How do I Find the Cheapest Electricity Supplier in Australia?

Everyone should understand that technically there is no cheap electricity supplier, especially in Australia. How cheap the electricity deal is will depend on the levels of your consumption, the type of tariff you would prefer (variable or fixed), your type of meter (smart meter, prepayment, or standard), and if you would want your electricity to be renewable. 

Below are how you can find a suitable energy deal for you:

·       Visiting energy comparison sites, such as Econnex Comparison, will help you compare electricity prices from time to time to ensure you're on the best energy deal.

·       Ensure you get an annual statement or recent bill to compare energy prices, which should be tailored to your energy usage.

·       Do you use both electricity and gas in your home? Then ensure you compare the prices of the electricity with dual fuel deals. It's possible to discover that a dual fuel tariff is cheaper for you.

Notes

You may be on the standard variable tariff of your supplier (typically the most expensive plan) if you have not switched in a while. You can find the cheapest electricity tariffs when switching to a fixed deal.

In addition, switching away from your supplier to have a better deal may not be necessary. All you may need to do is to run a comparison to get the cheapest electricity tariff on offer from your energy provider (energy comparison sites, such as Econnex will be an ideal route)

 

Does Cheap Electricity Mean Poor Customer Service?

The simple answer is no. When you switch to a cheaper electricity tariff, it doesn't necessarily imply that the customer service you get will be compromised.

There are energy comparison sites that can help you compare electricity prices and show you the customer satisfaction rating of every available supplier in Australia.

With these rating that is based on actual customer reviews, you can freely choose the top electricity in accordance with customer service and price.

In addition, you can go through energy awards in Australia to know if it's appropriate to switch to a provider with a cheaper electricity tariff for you or  a provider with great customer reviews ( sometimes they mean the same thing)

 

Wrapping Up

Some people switch to a new energy provider to get a cheaper electricity supply, while others intend to get great customer service or sign up for a green energy plan.

Since the power to choose your own energy supplier is in your hands, you may want to try all your best to find a cheaper electricity supply in Australia. The provided details in this article should help you find the cheaper electricity supplier in Australia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

DepEd clarifies the relationship between the Department and the PTA

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The Department of Education (DepEd) would like to clarify to the public its relationship with the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) as a school-based organization in ensuring the delivery of education-related services to all of our stakeholders.

 

As clearly stated in DepEd Order No. 54 series of 2009, “...As an organization operating in the school, the PTA shall adhere to all existing policies and implementing guidelines issued or hereinafter may be issued by the Department of Education. The PTA shall serve as a support group and as a significant partner of the school whose relationship shall be defined by cooperative and open dialogue with stakeholders to promote the welfare of the students.”

 

DepEd Order No. 54, series of 2009 also states that “all PTA activities within the school premises or which involve the school, its personnel or students shall be with prior consultation and approval of the School Head”.

The said order further stipulates certain prohibited activities for the PTA, including “engagement in any partisan political activity within school premises”.

 

We continue to recognize and value the partnership of the community, our parents, our teachers, and our school administration in ensuring the delivery of quality basic education for all of our learners.

Valentine's Day dinner at the Sheraton Manila Bay

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

My wife and I had the opportunity to try the Taste of Love: Valentine’s Day Dinner at the 21st floor of Sheraton Manila Bay. We wanted to have an overnight stay as well but the hotel informed us that they were fully booked that day. It seems even the pandemic has not stopped couples in booking for hotel stays. The day still was busy for hotels since they were still serving as quarantine places for newly arrived guests of the country, mostly fellow Filipinos arriving from other countries.

We were early, not really excited, at the venue but merely to avoid the rush hour traffic. The Sheraton Manila Bay is formerly the Pan Pacific Hotel that has been totally renovated when it was taken over by Marriott hotels three years ago. Honestly, we don't really spend Valentine's Day like young couples since we're not that keen on sharing the day with others adding to the traffic jams, but since we've been mostly indoors due to this pandemic, we opted to try our luck, and gave in to the season of love.

To spend time waiting for the 7pm dinner, we just hang around at their park located at the 21st top-most floor, but before that we tried going around the hotel surroundings first and realized it was quite near Robinson's Place Manila, the mall nearest where you can buy stuff or just go window shopping if ever you decide to stay at the hotel. 

While taking photos and videos of the venue, we also met Sheraton Manila Bay's Chef who prepared the Valentine's Day dinner tonight. He also revealed earlier that he has his own YouTube channel so that means he's also very bubbly and creative. Let's see if he'll be sharing more information later, and we'll definitely share how good the 7-course meal is.

A sumptuous 7-course set menu features foie gras croquette with smoke pimento aioli for the starter and shellfish veloute, potato espuma, dehydrated olives, arugula pesto for the soup. Followed by a salad of beet root carpaccio, goat cheese emulsion, candied pecans, mesclun, caper berry and a hearty serving of glazed cod, pumpkin risotto, edamame, pumpkin seed, watercress & parmesan crisp. Cleanse the palette with calamansi sorbet with tanqueray gin and then indulge in slow braised beef cheeks & herb crusted lamb rack, roasted cauliflower puree, blistered tomato, king oyster mushroom, radish & port wine reduction with beurre noisette for the main course. Cap off the meal with raspberry financier, irish mellow chocolate, mille-feuille, french macaron, fruit compote for dessert. Complimentary themed beverages of Cupid Cappuccino or Blueberry Acai White Tea and Mignardises are served après-dinner.

The start of our 7-course meal is Amuse-Bouche. - Foie Gras Croquetta with Smoke Pimento Aioli

Followed by the second dish named Shellfishly Devoted - Shellfish Veloute Potato Espuma , Dehydrated Olives, Arugula Pesto

My Heart Beets for You - Beet  Root Carpaccio, Goat Cheese Emulsion  Candied Pecans,  Mesclun,  Caper Berry is our third dish.

Our fourth dish is You are the Catch of My Day -  Glazed Cod, Pumpkin Risotto, Edamame, Pumpkin Seed, Watercress & Parmesan Crisp

To cleanse the palate for the next main dish is Squeeze Me - Calamansi Sorbet Tanqueray Gin

Going to the fifth dish, You Make Me Blush - Slow Braised Beef Cheeks & Herb Crusted Lamb Rack,  Roasted Cauliflower  Puree, Blistered Tomato, King Oyster Mushroom, Radish & Port Wine Reduction with Beurre Noisette

For dessert, Just For the Two of Us - Raspberry Financier, Irish Mellow Chocolate, Mille-Feuille, French Macaron, Fruit Compote

Final drinks for the night, Wrap Me with Your Desire - Blueberry Acai White Tea Mignardises. We also had the option of having coffee - Cupid Cappuccino.

By the way , before all of these , we had the option to drink wine (red or white) of our choice from their list of available wines.

Soft and hard buns were also served before the 7-course dinner.

Overall, I told the Sous chef that every dish passed my preference. In fact, I would have wanted more from the servings but as other people would comment, quality of the servings is the more important than the quantity. That's how food is really served for a decent fine-dining restaurant. It gives you more reasons to come back and enjoy the dishes again from start to end.

My wife agreed that all dishes were superb except for the Squeeze Me Calamansi sorbet. She was expecting the traditional sweet iced treats not knowing that was just served to prepare our tounge for the next meal.

She also got a complimentary panda stuff toy, and a stemmed rose to bring home as souvenir of the dinner.

Thank you Sheraton Manila Bay for the fab Valentine's Day dinner.

Family and Divorce Lawyers: A Legal Discussion

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Whether this has to be a marriage, divorce or child custody case, Family Lawyers in Dubai, have to be a Lawyer in Dubai for all such court cases. Family Lawyers, Marriage Lawyers or Divorce Lawyers are legally allowed experts to offer their expertise. Let’s explore how!!

During the divorce children are involved, which makes the whole thing a lot more challenging. This requires the parents to hire a family lawyer in the UAE to work with them in the crucial matter of child custody. He can assist you in resolving the custody and visitation issues. These family issues can be sorted out in a peaceful manner.

Family Lawyers in Dubai understand the emotional turmoil and the toll, the child custody brings in for children and the parents. They work throughout the entire procedure to safeguard the best interest of the kids involved. They also ensure the protection of the rights of the spouse at the forefront.

Family Lawyers in Dubai will assist you in determining who to distribute the parental responsibilities. They will also help the parents and children to resolve the time issues. They also address the issues related to the day-to-day care of the child. Moreover, they also assign the decisions making powers related to health care, education, and other significant issues surrounding the child.

The Family Lawyers understand that each family is different from the other and thus, has a different set of needs. An experienced and expert family lawyer can aid you to build a plan that can safeguard your parental relationship. They also ensure the well-being of the child during and after the divorce is settled.

If you have any concerns related to the security of the child, they place your trust upon lawyers for it. They will ensure that your voice gets heard in the courtroom. The court primarily focuses upon the children's betterment and well-being. Family lawyers will present your case will have a significant impact on the judges and jury decision making.

Family Lawyers value the client’s parental rights and their relationships with their children. They suggest the rational approach to the legal family matter to make sure things get better and offer convenience and satisfaction to the parties involved. They fully know and understand the consequences of how to address emotionally draining family issues. They will assist you through the whole procedure with great confidentiality.



Amicable Divorces:

Few of the divorces are friendly as the couple mutually decides to part their ways with mutual consent without any complications involved. On the contrary, most divorce cases are bitter and associated with many challenges. There are many complexities involved along with a deadlock over many crucial issues.

There is a need to agree upon a similar point in many important issues including the splitting of the assets and liabilities. Moreover, they even have to handle issues like child-sharing and child support. It is vital to navigating the couple through the entire process of divorce. Family lawyers in the UAE precisely direct the entire procedure. They work with the client to refrain from any kind of legal implications. Furthermore, they also try to avoid the legal concerns down the road related to the process of the divorce. However, this is one of the most important contributing factors to having a family attorney in the UAE by your side.

Couples are also advised never to go to court without the assistance of a family lawyer. One of the assets that any family lawyer in the UAE could bring in for you is the pool of knowledge. He knows how the court proceedings will take place and what exactly happens inside the courtroom. Couples normally do not know how to handle court matters. It is the lawyer who navigates him through the process. Moreover, the judges are always busy with their workload.

Judges don’t waste their time therefore; the skilled lawyer knows how the courtroom operates. Couples will remain to the point and precise with what is the purpose to be in the court. The absence of a lawyer may waste a lot of the time and energy of the couple and the judges.

The family lawyers in UAE come in and ensure that everything is prepared in advance before appearing for the hearings at court. They work on the necessary things and ensure that their client is well-prepared for everything that will happen inside the room. Inexperienced or even the couple fails to file for the adequate documents as they are not well-aware about the documents needed and thus, it makes the judge happy and content with the smooth and efficient court proceedings.

David D’Angelo aims to be the “Boses ng Kalikasan sa Senado”

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David D’Angelo, a long time environmental advocate, cosplayer and National President of the Green Party of the Philippines is running for Senator in the 2022 elections. He says he wants to be the voice for the environment in the senate, hence his tagline, “Boses ng Kalikasan sa Senado.”

D’Angelo had filed his Certificate of Candidacy for Senator under the Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), a registered political party that is part of the Kalikasan Muna (Nature First) Coalition.

“We are running under PLM because they are the only registered political party who wholeheartedly and holistically supported our green agenda even before we discussed it with them. We are part of the slate of candidates that are both progressive and green and is pursuing the Kalikasan Muna or Nature First agenda,” said D’Angelo.

Declaration of a National Climate Emergency, moratorium on mining, food sovereignty, green education, green communes, push for renewable energy, use of blockchain and smart contracts in governance, and criminalization of environmental offenses are some of the key agenda under the platform spearheaded by David D’Angelo in his run for the senate.

David D’Angelo is a longtime youth advocate for the environment dating back 1995. He has been a member of the Youth for Sustainable Development Assembly, the Asia-Europe Youth Network for Sustainable Development, and Sustainability Watch Network. Currently he is a member of various organizations including Aksyon Kalikasan (Eco Actions PH), Bayanihan para sa Kalikasan Movement, Inc., Rotary Club of Alabang Madrigal Business Park, Upper Marikina Watershed Coalition, the Climate Reality Project Philippines, Lupang Arienda Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LAMCO), Naruto Cosplayers PH (NCPH) and Brotherhood of Destiny (BROOD).

He is also well-known in the cosplay community as Master Pogi owing to his nearly perfect cosplay of Master Hercule from Dragonball Z. In 2010, he co-founded Naruto Cosplayers PH (NCPH) which is one of the first cosplay for cause oriented organizations in the Philippines. Their cosplay for a cause includes helping young children with cancer, disaster assistance, environmental response, charity events, and more.

Other candidates under Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) include Leody De Guzman for President, Walden Bello for Vice President, Atty. Luke Espiritu for Senator, and Roy Cabonegro for Senator.

You can follow David D’Angelo through his social media channels on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @daviddangeloph and @dangelo4senator. Follow the hashtag #dangelo4senator online or visit the website www.dangelodavid.com for more details.

36th Anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The country will commemorate the 36th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution with the theme, “EDSA 2022: Pagtutulungan Tungo sa Sama-samang Pagbangon Mula sa Pandemya” on Friday, February 25, 2022 at 8 am.

Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año will lead the flag-raising and wreath-laying rites at the EDSA People Power Monument in Quezon City.

Joining Año in the ceremony are Quezon City Mayor Ma. Josefina “Joy” Belmonte, NHCP and EDSA People Power Commission Chair Escalante, Spirit of EDSA Foundation. Inc, Commissioner Chris Carrion and Gen. Antonio Sotelo (Ret.), and Chino Roces Foundation Consul-General Fernando Peña.

Various activities related to the EDSA People Power have been scheduled online. For a complete list of EDSA People Power Revolution Activities, you may visit the NHCP website at www.nhcp.gov.ph 

The NHCP is the national government agency mandated to promote Philippine history through its museums and publications, and preserve the nation’s historical heritage.  

 

Realization of LRT-1 Cavite extension project, Deployment of new 4G trains on existing LRT-1 line

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Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Art Tugade has assured that the much-awaited LRT-1 Cavite Extension project will continue to take shape and will be finally realized under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, as the DOTr and its development partners remain committed to pursue the completion of the project’s key components.

Among the latest developments in the LRT-1 Cavite Extension project is the completion of civil works for the expanded Baclaran Depot, which was inaugurated today, 23 February 2022.

DOTr Secretary Art Tugade led the inauguration and inspection of the expanded depot, which added 4.2 hectares to the existing 6.4-hectare Baclaran Depot, allowing for the handling of additional trains and the extension of rail tracks. With the expansion of the Baclaran Depot, 21 stabling and maintenance tracks will be added to the existing 45, increasing the depot's stabling capacity from 130 to 182 Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) and increasing its heavy and light maintenance capacity from 30 to 48 LRVs.

In his message, Secretary Tugade said the completion of civil works for the expanded Baclaran Depot forms part of the vital milestones that the LRT-1 Cavite Extension has so far reached towards its realization.

The transportation chief identified three milestones that were achieved recently: [1] The start of the arrival of new fourth-generation LRVs in early 2021; [2] erection of the last span of vertical structure for the project’s first phase, which was completed last 07 February 2022; [3] and the completion of civil works for LRT-1 Cavite Extension’s Baclaran Depot.

During the event, Secretary Tugade also announced that the new LRVs or trains will be used in the second quarter of 2022 on the LRT-1’s existing line (Baclaran-Roosevelt). The deployment of the LRVs will be done in phases.

"On the first milestone, there is the equipment. On the second milestone, there is the structure, wherewith and whereupon the trains are traveled. Today, milestone number 3: we have this depot, which will also be extended in due time to cover Sucat. It shows that while we have the facility of travel, and the structures of travel, we also have the facility of putting in place where the trains will park, where the trains will be maintained, and where the trains will be assured of being operational," Secretary Tugade said.

"With these three milestones, listen to me mga kababayan, ang ibig lang 'hong sabihin niyan, 'yung proyektong pinakaaantay-antay at sinimulan noong year 2000 ay naandito na – totoong matatapos, totoong mabubuo sa panahon ng administrasyong Duterte," Secretary Tugade expressed.

The expansion of the Baclaran Depot was funded through the Official Development Assistance (ODA) from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) with Shimizu as the project contractor.

“Today, we are adding another item to the long list of achievements of Japan-Philippine cooperation. The completion of the LRT-1 Baclaran expansion depot is indeed worthy of celebration. We successfully delivered on our commitment even in the midst of this pandemic,” Japan Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa said.

"JICA, as your development partner, has remained steadfast with its mission and vision for the development of the Philippines. Our key direction to achieve high-quality growth for the Philippines by decongesting Metro Manila shall continue to be enforced for the country's BUILD, BUILD, BUILD program," JICA Senior Representative Kenji Kuronuma, for his part, said.

Moreover, an additional satellite depot, also funded by JICA ODA, is also nearing completion. To date, the civil works of the New Zapote Satellite Depot for the LRT-1 Cavite Extension project is 93.36% complete. The satellite depot covers 4.3 hectares with a capacity of handling 80 LRVs and featuring a total of 22 stabling and maintenance tracks.

Once fully operational, the LRT-1 Cavite Extension will increase the rail line’s capacity from 500,000 to 800,000 passengers per day and significantly cut travel time between Baclaran, Parañaque to Bacoor, Cavite from the present 1 hour and 10 minutes down to just 25 minutes.