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Malacañang is unaware of any agreement reached between first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and the head of transport group Manibela, even as the group decided to cut short its planned transport strike following their meeting.

In a briefing on Wednesday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said she had yet to speak with the first lady about the details of her conversation with Manibela Chair Mar Valbuena, who responded positively to the first lady’s appeal to reconsider the strike.

Castro said Manibela’s negotiations could also be conducted with government agencies involved in the transport sector, including the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and Land Transportation Office (LTO).

‘So for now, we do not have a definite answer as to what issues could still be negotiated,’ she added.

Manibela called off its strike on Tuesday, which was only the second day of its mass action, after the LTO requested a dialogue with its members, along with other stakeholders in the transport sector.

Valbuena said the group did not expect the dialogue to coincide with an event the first lady attended at the LTO Central Office in Quezon City, where rice, assistance, and other forms of aid were distributed to jeepney drivers.

The transport leader and Mrs. Marcos also engaged in a lighthearted exchange during the event as they briefly joked about the transport group’s decision to call off the strike.

The first lady told Valbuena, ‘Don’t go on strike, okay?,’ to which he replied, ‘Not anymore, I love you.’

Malacañang could not confirm whether Mrs. Marcos’ presence at the LTO was a coincidence or intentional, as the first lady regularly leads the government’s rice distribution program in different parts of the country.

Castro said the meeting between the first lady and Valbuena resulted in a ‘positive’ outcome.

Taiwan Excellence brought together Taiwanese innovation, technology and business opportunities at the Taiwan Excellence Pavilion during Taiwan Expo 2026, giving Philippine businesses, industry professionals and consumers a closer look at solutions designed for a smarter future.

Under the theme ‘Empowering a Smarter Future,’ the three-day Pavilion showcased Taiwan Excellenceawarded companies and their technologies across computing, digital infrastructure, healthcare, mobility, consumer electronics and smart living. Beyond showcasing products, the Pavilion provided visitors with opportunities to experience the technologies firsthand, engage with industry experts and explore how these innovations can address real-world needs and potential applications in the Philippine market.

For those discovering Taiwan Excellence for the first time, Brian Lee, Executive Director of the Strategic Marketing Department at the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), described the recognition as a mark of Taiwan’s leading innovation.

‘For those discovering Taiwan Excellence for the first time, it represents the very best innovation from Taiwan and is often described as the Oscars of Taiwanese industries.’

The Pavilion featured brands including Acer Incorporated, Acerpure Inc., Aetina Corporation, AiSeed Inc., Asus and

ROG, AVer Information Inc., Datavideo Technologies Co. Ltd., D-Link, DEMAI Business LTD., Gigabyte, Heartway

Medical Products Co., Ltd., HEPTY International Technology Co., Ltd., JIAN LING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., KUANG YU

METAL WORKING CO., LTD., Litemax Electronics Inc., MicroBase Technology Corporation, MSI, Sauber Technology Co. Ltd., Shuttle Inc., SYNTEC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., Team Group Inc., Transcend Information, Inc., Vision Electronics Industrial Co., Ltd., and Zyxel Networks.

Together, these companies presented technologies spanning computing, digital infrastructure, healthcare, mobility, consumer electronics and smart living, giving Philippine businesses and industry professionals a broader view of Taiwanese technologies and their potential applications.

From Technology Showcase to Industry Learning

The Pavilion’s three-day program also moved beyond product displays by creating opportunities for visitors to learn how technology can be applied to real-world business needs.

On the first day, Ivana Alawi explored the Pavilion through a tour of its different zones, experiencing selected technologies and products firsthand alongside Taiwan VIPs. Her visit brought greater attention to the featured innovations while giving audiences a closer look at how these technologies can translate into practical applications.

On the second day, the Pavilion hosted two 60-minute workshops focused on technology, entrepreneurship and the changing demands of modern businesses.

Jay Ortiz, AI Generalist of DarkSide Studio, led the session ‘AI Generalist: A Strategic Roadmap for Sustainable Success in the Age of AI,’ exploring the growing role of artificial intelligence and the importance of adapting to an increasingly AI-driven business environment.

This was followed by Jesse Tan, Co-Founder and VP of Sales and Marketing at PC Express, who led ‘Buy Back Your Time: The Tech Stack Every Filipino Entrepreneur Actually Needs,’ focusing on how technology can help entrepreneurs address everyday business demands and make better use of their time and resources.

On the final day, Eric Redulfin, known as the ‘Godfather of Esports,’ also visited the Pavilion and toured its different zones, experiencing the technologies and solutions showcased by the participating Taiwan Excellence companies. His visit added another perspective to the Pavilion’s focus on how technology continues to shape different industries and communities.

The Pavilion also featured product talks from Aetina Corporation, Team Group Inc., Zyxel Networks, Jian Ling Technology Co., Ltd. and Sauber Technology Co. Ltd., providing visitors with opportunities to learn more about the technologies and solutions represented by the participating companies.

Bringing Innovation Closer to Filipino Audiences

The Pavilion’s first day also highlighted how technology can be made more accessible and relatable to Filipino audiences through the participation of Ivana Alawi, who explored the different zones and experienced selected technologies firsthand alongside Taiwan VIPs.

After her Pavilion experience, Alawi highlighted the quality and innovation represented by Taiwan Excellence awarded products.

‘I learned a lot, and I’m very happy that these kinds of products are being brought here to the Philippines. The Taiwan Excellence Award is very difficult to earn, so you know that the products have gone through a rigorous process and are truly high quality. But it’s not just about quality. These products also represent the next level of innovation and a smarter future.’

She also emphasized the importance of technology being practical and accessible in everyday life.

‘Technology should be easy to use, simple, and, most importantly, make our lives easier. The technologies being showcased here are also designed with safety and health in mind. So, it’s not just about having a smarter life. It’s also about having a better life.’

Her hands-on experience across the Pavilion’s different zones allowed audiences to see the technologies beyond their technical specifications, showing how innovation can translate into practical applications for everyday users.

On the final day, actress Dimples Romana visited the Pavilion and experienced its technologies and activities, further connecting the showcase with Filipino audiences.

‘What an amazing energy coming from Taiwan Excellence, of course, here at Taiwan Expo. I’m so grateful that you all came to see us today.’

Connecting Innovation with the Philippine Market

Across three days, the Taiwan Excellence Pavilion brought together technology companies, industry professionals, business audiences, media and consumers around a common focus: understanding how Taiwanese innovation can respond to evolving needs in the Philippine market.

From AI and business technology discussions to product demonstrations and hands-on experiences, the Pavilion showed how innovation can move beyond the exhibition floor and into potential applications across industries and everyday life.

Through ‘Empowering a Smarter Future,’ Taiwan Excellence continued to provide a platform for Philippine audiences to discover award-winning Taiwanese technologies while creating opportunities for greater understanding and connections between Taiwanese companies and the Philippine market.

For more information and updates on the Taiwan Excellence Pavilion at Taiwan Expo 2026, follow Taiwan Excellence on social media (FB: @TaiwanExcellence.ph, IG: @taiwanexcellence_ph, LinkedIn: Taiwanexcellence).

About Taiwan Excellence

The Taiwan Excellence Awards were established by the Ministry of Economic Affairs in 1993. Each year, eligible products undergo a rigorous selection process covering four major aspects: ‘RandD,’ ‘Design,’ ‘Quality,’ and ‘Marketing.’ The awards recognize outstanding products that offer ‘Innovative Value’ while meeting the key criterion of being ‘Made in Taiwan.’

Products selected for the Taiwan Excellence Awards serve as examples of Taiwan’s domestic industries and are promoted internationally to strengthen the global presence and creative image of Taiwan’s businesses.

For more information, please visit Taiwan Excellence

About International Trade Administration (TITA)

The International Trade Administration (TITA), established by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) on January 1, 1969, is responsible for formulating Taiwan’s international trade policies, promoting trade, and managing trade-related activities.

Over the decades, TITA’s role and responsibilities have evolved to respond to the changing demands of the international business environment and support Taiwan’s continued participation in global trade.

For more information, please visit International Trade Administration (TITA)

About Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA)

Founded in 1970, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) is Taiwan’s foremost non-profit trade promotion organization. Supported by government and industry associations, TAITRA promotes Taiwan’s innovation and connects its businesses with international markets.

Headquartered in Taipei, TAITRA has more than 1,300 specialists operating across five domestic offices and a global network of more than 60 branches, in collaboration with the Taiwan Trade Center (TTC), Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC), and Far East Trade Service (FETS). Supported by alliances with more than 500 international affiliates, TAITRA provides a global service network for international trade.

When planning a home renovation, homeowners often look to designers, architects, and online sources for inspiration. But bringing that vision to life takes more intentional planning, from the layout of the home to the interiors and elements that shape how the family uses and experiences the space every day.

Carrier, the authority in air solutions, made inspiration a tangible experience when it opened the doors of its three-day pop-up, the Carrier Home Design Studio, at Uptown Mall, BGC. The event invited homeowners and designers to reimagine modern living and cooling with the brand’s floor-standing aircon, Carrier Slim.

‘Times have changed, and people now beautify their houses. They want their appliances in there to match. The 4HP was introduced about a year and a half ago. Today, listening to consumers, they said, ‘I like to put it in my condominium or a small part of my house. Does it come in different capacities?’ Hence, we launched 2.5HP and 3HP,’ shared Philip Trapaga, President of Carrier Concepcion Airconditioning Company (CCAC).

‘That is our commitment to the Filipino community, who need efficiency, technical expertise, and durability. Carrier is here for you.’

At the launch program of the Carrier Home Design Studio, TV Host of Metro Home and Senior Partner at ADesign, Anton Barretto, and interior stylist, Marilen Montenegro, joined a fireside chat to share their perspectives on the design trends shaping homes today, how to bring comfort into the home without compromising its overall design, and why air conditioning should be considered early in the design process.

According to Montenegro, ‘Home design is becoming more about creating spaces

that are not only beautiful, but also intentional and responsive to how families actually live. We’re seeing many homeowners today wanting to incorporate wellness and dedicated spaces for wellness into their homes.’

Barretto echoed this, particularly as more homeowners today are gravitating toward more open layouts. ‘Homeowners prefer open plan layouts with provisions to close them off so spaces can be flexible. They can transform into separate areas or open up into one big space as needed, depending on how the intended use for the day.’

With these evolving needs, both experts emphasized the importance of thinking through every element of a space early in the design process, including air conditioning. ‘For me, it needs to be considered as early as planning the walls of your house,’ Barretto shared. ‘Because when you think of the aircon and where you’ll place it, it follows that you think about piping, compressors, and electrical layout.’

Montenegro added that it’s important to consider the physical characteristics and intended use of the space that will be cooled. ‘You have to think about things like the ceiling height of the space, how many square meters it is, and from there, how much horsepower would then be needed to cool it,’ she advised.

Designed to Fit the Way Modern Families Live

At the pop-up, guests explored how Carrier Slim can complement different spaces through two interactive room setups that they could walk into and experience the product in a home setting. These rooms were furnished with pieces from contemporary lifestyle brand Fashion Interiors, showcasing how comfort can be integrated seamlessly into thoughtfully designed spaces. An accompanying gallery offered guests an additional look at the Carrier Slim and its design-forward features.

Each room featured the Carrier Slim, showing how its vertical design can make better use of floor space while keeping walls open and without disrupting a clean, contemporary layout. The rooms also demonstrated how it delivers quiet yet powerful, and even cooling, distributed through its 3D Airflow while avoiding direct drafts for more comfortable cooling with Breeze Away.

And while keeping the home cool is a top priority, homeowners also want an aircon that helps keep energy costs more manageable in the long run. The Carrier Slim delivers on both fronts, with superb efficiency and 5-star energy rating for more manageable electric bills.

Previously available in 4.0HP, the Carrier Slim now expands its cooling options with 2.5HP and 3.0HP capacities, offering solutions suited to different types and sizes of spaces.

Through the Carrier Home Design Studio, Carrier highlighted how comfort and thoughtful design can coexist to create spaces that feel good and reflect the way people live.

Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI) achieved a significant industry milestone at the Philippines Real Estate Awards 2026, earning the distinction of Best Developer in Metro Manila, Best Developer in the Visayas, and Best Developer in Mindanao. The Visayas win marks FLI’s second consecutive year receiving the distinction, while its Mindanao recognition extends its winning streak to three consecutive years.

These recognitions reflect Filinvest Land’s commitment to creating communities that respond to the distinct needs and aspirations of Filipino families across the country.

From established urban centers to emerging growth areas, FLI continues to bring together homes, amenities, and opportunities through thoughtfully planned communities. In Metro Manila, developments such as Panglao Oasis in Taguig and Activa in Cubao connect residents to key business and commercial districts. In the Visayas, communities including Futura Homes Palm Estates in Bacolod, Futura Rise in Iloilo, and Futura Shores in Dumaguete reflect the evolving needs of regional markets. In Mindanao, projects such as Maldives Oasis, 8 Spatial, and Centro Spatial in Davao, Futura Vinta in Zamboanga, and Futura Bay in General Santos continue to expand access to modern community living.

‘Winning across Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao in one sweep means we are successfully answering the diverse needs of the Filipino family,’ said Filinvest Land President and CEO Tristan Las Marias. ‘Our true north remains unchanged: creating places that seamlessly connect living and livelihood, opening up enduring opportunities, and putting homeownership within reach.’

The three awards reinforce Filinvest Land’s nationwide presence and continued role in shaping communities that connect living and livelihood, bringing opportunities closer to Filipino families, and building the Filipino dream.

The Commission on Audit (COA) has found several ‘unverifiable’ beneficiaries in the senior high school voucher program of the Department of Education (DepEd), which resulted in an ‘overpayment’ of P938,000 worth of government assistance.

The existence of these beneficiaries could not be verified because they have either dropped out, transferred schools, did not enroll in the second semester, were reportedly deceased or had no school records available, the COA said.

These were the findings of a compliance audit released on Sept. 23 on the existence and eligibility of voucher program beneficiaries under the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (Gastpe) program of DepEd for the school year 2025 to 2026. Under Gastpe, students enrolled in private high schools may receive assistance through the voucher system of the Private Education Student Financial Assistance program.

Assistance is provided based on the tuition charged by the school, the geographic spread and size of the student population, their academic qualifications and financial needs, and the socioeconomic needs of each region, among others.

According to the COA, there were a total of 172,909 beneficiaries nationwide under the voucher program of Gastpe for school year 2025 to 2026, excluding those from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the Negros Island Region.

During its validation, the COA said it took a sample size of 5,507 beneficiaries from 571 senior high schools. It noted that 995 of the beneficiaries were from the National Capital Region while 4,512 came from other regions.

Out of the 5,507 sample size, the COA said it was able to validate the existence of 5,383 beneficiaries, while 58 could not be verified.

It added that among the unverified beneficiaries, ’32 had officially or unofficially dropped out, 12 transferred to other schools, 11 were not enrolled in the second semester, two were reported deceased, and one was absent during school validation with no records available.’

Violations

But for 53 of the unverified beneficiaries, payments had already been released to their respective schools, resulting in an overpayment of P938,000.

The COA pointed out that under DepEd Department Order No. 20, Series of 2023, students lose entitlement to their subsidy if they drop out in the middle of the school year. The same order also calls for a refund to DepEd whenever payments to a participating school exceed the correct amount. The COA said this applies when there are inadvertent errors, or when a student drops out or transfers schools before the end of the first semester.

Schools participating in the program are responsible for updating the status of their students, the COA noted, with DepEd conducting further verification in order to prevent potential overpayments.

As part of its recommendations, The COA called on DepEd to validate the enrollment status and existence of unverified beneficiaries and require all senior high schools participating in the program to ensure the accuracy of all necessary documents.

In a statement on Tuesday, DepEd said it has already acted on the COA’s findings regarding the unverified beneficiaries.

It reported that the Private Education Assistance Committee, its comanager of the voucher program, has already completed its validation of school year 2025 to 2026.

For her capstone project, one of my master’s students wanted to make a documentary for an island-based anti-mining advocacy group. I asked her why she thought a documentary was necessary.

She spoke excitedly about the group, which had blocked trucks carrying ore to waiting ships and had led the island in protest. The group also had an ally in its newly elected mayor, she said, and a documentary could make their hitherto hidden work more visible.

Then she paused. The group had indeed been anything but kept from the public eye. They had the local government on their side, were rallying more people to their cause, and got support from local advocacy groups. My student couldn’t explain why it needed an expensive, time-consuming, sleep-depriving documentary, which would simply add to a congested media environment. The group needed help, but it couldn’t be just bells, whistles, and technology striving to outshine and outtalk everything else out there.

I advised her to observe the group’s day-to-day work, talk to its members, ask them about their problems, and articulate the unspoken challenge beneath the obvious inconveniences. I also told her to look up human-centered design (HCD), something I’d been teaching for years as a required course for our undergraduates, but an elective she hadn’t taken at the graduate level.

She went off and read, observed, and investigated. A week later, she called me.

‘Ma’am, they have so many activities!’ my student said, excited, though not exhausted. ‘But they don’t have a mission and vision, and they don’t have a communication plan! I know what to do!’

This was around a year ago. Since that time, my student has gone through the process of creating her proposal, understanding her theoretical framework, applying for ethics clearance, organizing trips to the island, lining up her interviews and focus group discussions, carving out time to analyze her data, gathering the group for a workshop so that it could collaborate on the communication plan, and refining the plan for its final evaluation.

And my student embraced the uncertainty-imbued process of human-centered design. She recognized that she was not facing uncertainty that should elicit fear, anxiety, or unease. She was encountering the kind of uncertainty that comes when one is willing to let go of assumptions, to preempt nothing, to be curious, to play.

In HCD, everything begins with the needs of the target group. There should be no attempt at creation, speculation, or planning until all interviews, observations, and discussions are finished. There should be no push for an anticipated result, only observing, listening, and empathizing.

In my student’s specific case, it meant that she had to first speak to the group rather than plan a shoot. It meant being more attuned to the group and authentic to its experience, to immerse herself in their advocacy rather than record it as a story, to seek out what the group truly needed and allow the group to discover itself.

Everything went by quickly. In mere months, she had uncovered the story of a group that had energy in great abundance but no guiding path. Its members reacted to issues as they came and relied on centralized leadership for decisions. Its officers were dispersed geographically, but when she brought them together for a workshop, they finally articulated a mission and vision no one had given them the chance to name.

I remembered her story last week, as I taught more undergraduate HCD classes. My students have already gone through the process on a smaller scale. Every meeting, they also have to sketch three designs in five minutes to meet a specific need for a specific profile.

They were hesitant at first, but as the semester moved forward, so did their play. Last week, I asked for three designs ‘to meet this person’s need for something to keep water from splashing out of their shower.’ I got rugs that looked like giant burgers, a device that pulled water when a person sang, and a variety of sliding doors with built-in monitors for scrolling through social media.

The students were meeting needs with their imagination, not endorsing products out of convention.

After class, a student approached me and said that his philosophy lecture earlier reminded him of our class. To be human, his professor had told them, was not only to be rational or to feel, but to recognize and meet another person’s needs.

Last weekend, I read my graduate student’s complete capstone document. She had added the results of her evaluation workshop. The group loved her communication plan. One participant said, in the vernacular, ‘We now have something we can use in actual life.’

My student is nearly done. In two weeks, her panel will review her work. There will be no big premiere, no film festival. But she was able to get people to work together to articulate their goals, create a plan to guide them, and meet a group’s greatest need.

And next year, she will graduate as someone who has learned to become deeply, lovingly human.

The Pangilinan Group is taking bolder steps to meet the growing data center market’s power needs by exploring ways to power these facilities with clean electricity.hungry facilities with clean electricity.

Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGEN), and PLDT’s Vitro Inc. have partnered to launch a feasibility study for ‘sustainable’ digital infrastructure in the country.

Under the pact, both parties would conduct joint technical and commercial studies to assess potential sites, power generation capacity, renewable energy resources, connectivity requirements, data center specifications, and commercial structures.

MGEN would determine potential sites for data centers integrated with power generation facilities. In addition, it would also assess power supply arrangements.

Meanwhile, Vitro will focus on data center design and site studies, connectivity planning, and discussions with hyperscalers and locators.

‘This collaboration reflects the growing convergence between the energy and digital infrastructure sectors. Power increasingly influences where and how developers establish data centers,’ MGEN president and CEO Emmanuel Rubio said in a statement Wednesday.

‘By bringing together our respective capabilities, we can explore solutions on how reliable, cost-competitive, and sustainable power can be integrated into the development of digital infrastructure,’ he added.

Additionally, the government has been positioning the Philippines as a data center hub. For years, facilities meant to store and process digital information have been on the rise amid the booming services for financial technology, cybersecurity, and AI-powered programs.

Moreover, data from the International Energy Agency previously showed that these assets worldwide, including in Southeast Asia, have been growing 70 percent annually, especially with the popularity of artificial intelligence.

The Department of Energy earlier urged clustered data centers to deploy or build their own generation and storage networks to ensure they do not compromise electricity meant for households and other businesses.

The National Unity Party (NUP) on Wednesday called for an end to withholding district funding as political punishment for lawmakers who break ranks and do not toe the line, saying the practice is a form of retribution that ultimately harms their constituencies.

‘The practice of punishing districts and communities for any opinions or votes contrary to majority positions that are expressed by their representatives should be ended,’ Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno told a media briefing. ‘We are, after all, a democracy.’

‘We’re supposed to be speaking out. That’s why congressmen are here. We’re supposed to express the opinion of our districts.’

Puno’s remarks introduces a political dimension to the ‘serious concern’ that NUP, which he heads, aired on Wednesday, with complaints involving delayed funding releases for district infrastructure projects and social aid programs.

‘When a congressman does not vote the way the majority wants us to vote, it is not the correct reaction to deprive their constituents and their voters and their communities of whatever assistance they deserve,’ the Antipolo representative said.

‘So if there’s going to be retaliation, target us instead, not the district,’ he added.

Puno acknowledged that withholding support for local projects has long served as an informal mechanism to maintain discipline among lawmakers.

‘There has been a practice here in Congress that when a vote is necessary, there will be consequences for those who do not follow the majority will,’ he said.

‘Those consequences basically consist of non-cooperation or non-assistance in your projects with regard to your province. Sometimes it results in cancellation of projects and so on,’ he added.

Puno declined to cite specific instances or name representatives targeted by retaliatory fund withholdings.

‘I don’t want to get people into trouble,’ he said, though he illustrated how lawmakers are being deprived of funding. ‘For example, MAIFIP (Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients) funds addressed to a particular district, then the Department of Health announces they are releasing funds directly to hospitals. But there are some places where funds are not released.’

‘We have reports from some of our members that funding is not being released in their district,’ he said.

A station of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) in Clark, Pampanga, is now 73.29 percent complete, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said.

The progress of its underground Clark Station is at 73.29 percent, as of Sept. 2026, the DOTr said in a press release issued on Wednesday.

‘Ang sabi po ng ating Pangulo, kailangan matapos itong proyekto. This is not simply for DOTr, this is not simply for our Cabalens or kababayans, but this is for the entire Filipino people,’ Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said in a statement.

(‘As our President has said, this project must be completed. This is not simply for the DOTr, this is not simply for our fellow provincemates or countrymen, but this is for the entire Filipino people.’)

Officials from the DOTr, the Office of the Executive Secretary, and other key transportation personnel conducted a joint briefing and inspection of Clark Station and primary facilities of the NSCR extension project on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

Recto was quoted in the same press release saying that the construction of the NSCR is on the right track despite the adjustment on its timeline.

‘We are on [the right track]. May konting delay sa nakaraan, at pinatututukan ng Pangulo ito, na matapos natin on time.’ Executive Secretary Ralph Recto assured.

(‘We are on the right track. There were some delays in the past, and the President is ensuring that we finish this on time.’)

DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan echoed Recto’s assurance, adding that the first partial operations of the NSCR extension project will be accomplished by December 2027.

‘Currently, we are on track for our first partial operations by the end of 2027. That’s the first 28 kilometers, seven stations, from Valenzuela to Malolos. After Malolos, an additional 53 kilometers to Clark by the second half of 2028,’ he said during an inspection of the station.

He added, ‘And one of the first segments that will be finished is this Clark Station going to Angeles City.’

The government previously announced that the schedule of the NSCR extension project would be moved from 2032 to 2033 due to budget cuts.

Under the new timeline, full operation of the Clark-Calamba line is scheduled for the third quarter of 2033.

‘We are on [the right track]. There were some delays in the past, and the president is ensuring that we finish this on time.,’ Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said.

The 147-kilometer NSCR is expected to accommodate at least 800,000 passengers daily across its 35 stations in Metro Manila, Central and Southern Luzon.

According to Batan, the railway will be served by 51 eight-car train sets and seven airport express trains.

All Caitlin Clark wanted was one more chance to play this WNBA season. She delivered a masterpiece.

The All-Star guard scored 27 points, had 15 assists, reached another milestone and provided the energy on both ends of the court to help keep the sixth-seeded Indiana Fever’s postseason alive with a 99-89 victory over the defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces. Kelsey Mitchell added 26 points as the crowd chanted ‘M-V-P’ throughout the game.

Indiana evened the best-of-three series at 1-1. Game 3 will be played Thursday at Las Vegas.

Clark became the first player in league history to produce a points-assists double-double in the first half of a playoff game. She had 14 points and 11 assists in the first 20 minutes, and it wasn’t just her scoring or passing that impressed.

‘I thought her energy from start to finish – I mean a double-double in the first half – was pretty incredible,’ coach Stephanie White said. ‘The way she moved the ball, attacked from multiple positions. … You always expect to be able to make shots and facilitate. But I thought how she managed the game was really good and her defensive energy I thought was terrific. It’s what we need from her.’

What the Fever and Aces didn’t need was the fourth-quarter incident between a fan and four-time league MVP A’ja Wilson. The two appeared to be pointing and shouting at one another after Sophie Cunningham drew a foul. Wilson walked toward the seats and two teammates, an assistant coach and security intervened to separate everyone.

Wilson was assessed a technical foul for stepping off the court but was not ejected. The man was escorted out by security but was allowed to return because the Fever said he did not violate the fan code of conduct policy.

‘I didn’t exactly see what happened, I kind of saw the aftermath,’ Aces coach Becky Hammon said. ‘I’ve never A’ja Wilson go like that so whatever was done I can tell you she felt very disrespected in that moment. I’ve never seen her really react like that ever, so whatever it was, it doesn’t have any place, I don’t think in an arena.’

The incident seemed to motivate Las Vegas, which was trailing 90-79 when it happened at the 4:10 mark, and when Clark fouled out with 2:45 to play, the Aces got as close as 92-87.

But the Fever managed to hang on.

It was a complete turnabout from Game 1 when Wilson dominated the middle and Las Vegas controlled the game. This time, Jackie Young scored 31 points while Wilson had 22 points and nine rebounds and passed Rebekkah Brunson for fourth on the league’s career playoff list.

The Aces looked poised for a second straight blowout when they closed the first quarter on a 9-2 spurt and started the second with a 3 to take a 29-18 lead.

But Clark had something else in mind – she tied up Wilson for a jump ball, grabbed the ball and walked into the baseline corner while pumping her arm toward the crowd. Then Clark put on a dribbling clinic, made nifty pass after nifty pass and became both a harassing presence on defense and the Fever’s emotional leader during a 20-6 second-quarter run.

The spurt ended with Raven Johnson’s short jumper to give Indiana a 46-39 lead. It never trailed again.

‘The way I looked at it, your back’s up against the wall,’ Clark said. ‘This is the only opportunity you’re guaranteed to have is these 40 minutes, and you know you’re going to go down swinging if you’re going to lose. But I think we had the mentality like this was one we were going to win, no matter what and do it for our fans.’