General

Agusan del Norte: Construction of the 48-megawatt Nasipit Hybrid Energy Storage System in Agusan del Norte has commenced, with completion anticipated to enhance grid stability by the second quarter of next year. According to Philippines News Agency, Therma Marine, Inc. (TMI), a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corp., initiated the groundbreaking on Monday for the battery energy storage system (BESS) project. This system is set to be integrated into TMI’s oil-fired TMI Mobile 2 in Lawis, Sta. Ana. BESS technology utilizes batteries to store surplus power, releasing it when necessary to support the grid’s power supply. Ronaldo Ramos, AboitizPower Transition Business

Lanao del Sur: Government officials in Lanao del Sur province welcomed the enactment of Republic Act 12160, officially known as the Philippine Islamic Burial Act, a landmark legislation designed to uphold religious traditions in the burial of Muslim Filipinos. According to Philippines News Agency, Second District Rep. Yasser Balindong stated that the new law mandates the prompt burial of deceased Muslims, ideally within 24 hours of death, in accordance with Islamic rites and practices. Balindong emphasized that the legislation also stipulates that the non-payment of hospital bills or other similar charges cannot be used as a valid reason to delay

Manila: Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David clarified that there are no specific candidates in the conclave to be held following the passing of Pope Francis. David emphasized that the method of choosing the new leader of the Catholic Church differs significantly from political elections. According to Philippines News Agency, Cardinal David stressed in an interview on Church-run Radio Veritas that the process of selecting the next pope should be considered a “retreat” rather than an election. This period is marked by sincere prayers and reflection, guided by the Holy Spirit, rather than political

Manila: The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is set to enhance the existing free WIFI coverage in Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) stations while also adopting cashless fare payments and improving security measures to boost rail line services. According to Philippines News Agency, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda announced that the enhanced free WiFi will be rolled out across all MRT-3 stations, with a long-term objective to expand the coverage to include WiFi access inside the trains. Aguda emphasized that DICT is collaborating with major telecommunications providers to increase bandwidth and improve coverage in critical transit zones. These

Manila: Taiwan has expressed its interest in strengthening economic exchanges with the Philippines following the clarification of travel policies for Filipino officials visiting the island for trade-related purposes. Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lin Chia-lung, described the move as a ‘pragmatic step’ by Manila, emphasizing that it would enable Taiwan to ‘deepen substantive cooperation’ with the Philippines. According to Philippines News Agency, Taiwan is currently the Philippines’ eighth-largest export market, ninth-largest trading partner, and 10th-largest source of imports. Despite the absence of diplomatic relations, the Philippines and Taiwan maintain commercial, economic, cultural, and other unofficial contacts through the Manila Economic