DOTr-PNR, NLEX Corp. ink MOA for PNR Clark Phase 2 Project

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The second phase of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project continues to gain traction after the Department of Transportation-Philippine National Railways (DOTr-PNR) and the NLEX Corporation on Tuesday, 16 November 2021 signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the construction of columns for the PNR Clark Project. Under the agreement, columns for the PNR Clark Project will be constructed in the shoulders and median island that will cross above the Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) to allow seamless operations of both the expressway and the railway. The DOTr and NLEX Corp. will also coordinate for the project design, traffic management plan, safety plan, and security plan.

DOTr Undersecretary Giovanni Lopez said the government has gained the private sector’s trust with the Build, Build, Build Infrastructure Program.

“Ang paglagda ng ating MOA ay isang pagpapahiwatig ng tunay na pagtitiwala sa panig ng gobyerno at sa panig ng pribadong sector. Sa administrasyong Duterte at sa DOTr sa pangunguna ni Secretary Tugade ay napatunayan natin ang pagtitiwala hindi lang sa pribado, kundi sa milyun-milyong Pilipino,” Usec. Lopez said during the signing of the agreement.

“Ang ating MOA ngayon ang tunay na makikinabang dito ay ang milyun-milyong Pilipino—kung saan ang mandato ni Secretary Tugade at DOTr, kasama na ang PNR ay bigyan sila ng maginhawang pamumuhay,” Usec. Lopez added.

Present during the MOA signing were DOTr Secretary Art Tugade, NLEX Corp. President and General Manager Luigi Bautista and Chief Finance Officer Maria Theresa Wells, and Bases Conversion and Development Authority Senior Vice President Joshua Bingcang.

The second leg of the NSCR Project, the 53-kilometer PNR Clark Phase 2, will be connecting cities and municipalities in Central Luzon with Metro Manila, and will link the railway system with the country’s first ever Airport Express Service going to the Clark International Airport.

Once operational, the PNR Clark Phase 2 will reduce travel time between Makati City and the Clark International Airport in less than two hours through the Airport Express Service. The project’s current overall progress is at 32.21%.

Meanwhile, Bautista said the NLEX Corp. fully supports the NSCR Project to help spur economic activity and revitalize the country’s provinces by enhancing the country’s transport approach to improve mobility of Filipinos.

“We at NLEX believe that our shared purpose of helping our country’s economy grow through infrastructure development has suited us for this partnership. We are pleased to support this undertaking that will make travel easier for Kababayans in Bulacan, in Pampanga and more areas in North and Central Luzon,” he said.

SVP Bingcang said the PNR Clark Project, being a part of the Build, Build, Build Infrastructure Program, is a “game-changer” that will pave the way for opportunities for growth in Central Luzon.

“The BCDA plays a part in the Build, Build, Build Program of the government and in this we’d like to extend our support to this project to see its unimpeded, continued implementation. The project is a game-changer as we continue to develop business around Clark in Pampanga to provide more options to the Filipino public,” Bingcang said.

SSS opens penalty condonation program for short-term member loans

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Member-borrowers with past due short-term loans may apply for the Social Security System’s (SSS) Penalty Condonation Program via online using their My.SSS accounts starting November 15, 2021 up to February 14, 2022.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora C. Ignacio said that the Short-term Member Loan Penalty Condonation Program (STMLPCP) is part of the Pandemic Relief and Restructuring Programs (PRRP 5) being offered by SSS.

“Our heart goes to our members who were greatly affected during this pandemic and yet they try their best to get back on their feet. SSS is always here to extend not only in a form of cash benefits and loan privileges but also conditional condonation which provides financial relief by waiving their accumulated penalties once their loan principal and interest are fully paid.” Ignacio said.

Included in the program are those with outstanding Salary, Calamity, Salary Loan Early Renewal Program (SLERP), Emergency Loans and Restructured Loan under the Loan Restructuring Program (LRP) implemented in 2016 to 2019.


Qualified applicants are as follows:

Members with short term member loans that are past due for at least six (6) months as of the first day of the condonation availment period;

Members who have not been granted any final benefit such as permanent total disability or retirement;

Members who have not been disqualified due to fraud committed against the SSS;
Members who will file their final benefits application for permanent total disability or retirement, whose contingency date is on or before the last day of the availment period of the condonation program; and

Heirs or beneficiaries of deceased member borrowers who will file the death benefit application, whose contingency date is on or before the last day of the availment period of the condonation program.

For member-borrowers who will pay their consolidated loan under instalment basis, their age must be under 65 years old at the end of the instalment term.

Under the STMLPCP, the total amount of the outstanding principal and interest of the member’s past due loans shall be consolidated and settled through the following arrangements:

One-time full payment, in a single payment transaction, within 30 calendar days from the receipt of notice of approval of the STML Penalty Condonation Application.

Installment term - member should pay the 50 percent of the consolidated loan in full, in a single payment transaction, within 30 calendar days from the receipt of the notice of approval of the STML Penalty Condonation Application. Meanwhile, the remaining 50 percent of the consolidated loan will become Restructured Loan 1 (RL1) and shall be paid in six equal monthly installments starting from the month following the end of the 30-calendar day period.

“Please do take note that no staggered/partial payment shall be allowed for the consolidated loan under one-time payment or 50% down payment under installment term even if the required payment is completed within the 30-day period,” Ignacio said.

For member-borrowers who are 65 years old or older who will choose not to file their final benefit claim within the availment period, they may only avail the one-time payment. Whereas, member-borrowers and heirs or beneficiaries of deceased members whose contingency date is on or before the last day of the availment period should file their benefit claim within the availment period of the penalty condonation program and shall only be allowed to avail of the one-time payment scheme through deduction from the benefit proceeds.

Applicants except the final benefit filers shall pay their consolidated loan using the SSS-issued Payment Reference Number (PRN) with the amount and due date for each required payment.

RL1 has an annual interest rate of three percent computed on a decreasing principal balance over the six-month payment term. Every unpaid/late payment shall be charged a one percent penalty per month.

Other terms and conditions under the loan penalty condonation can be viewed in SSS Circular 2021-014 which can be accessed through this link https://bit.ly/3GEzwhf.
For accurate information and updates on SSS programs and benefits, visit and follow SSS on Facebook and YouTube at “Philippine Social Security System,” Instagram at “mysssph,” Twitter at “PHLSSS,” join its Viber Community at “MYSSSPH Updates,” or visit the uSSSapTayo Portal at https://crms.sss.gov.ph/.

Sheraton Manila Bay Bags Awards at the 2021 Philippine Culinary Cup

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Sheraton Manila Bay’s Sous Chef Daryl Vance Yulo Sy wins Silver and Bronze at Philippine Culinary Cup

The Philippine Culinary Cup (PCC), one of the most awaited and prestigious culinary competition in the country was held recently at the SM Megamall, Megatrade Hall. The PCC is the only culinary competition endorsed by the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS) in the Philippines which serves an internationally-recognized platform for Filipino chefs to hone their skills and showcase their talents in the culinary field. The culinary competition was made possible with the collaboration of the LTB Chefs Association Philippines, the Pastry Alliance of the Philippines and PEPTarsus Corp. and holds the highest standard in culinary competition guidelines allowing only accredited WACS judges for each category.

Competing with participants from different hotels, restaurants, and culinary schools, Sheraton Manila Bay stands triumphant at this year’s competition as Hotel Sous Chef Daryl Vance Yulo Sy successfully bags Silver award in “US Lamb” category and Bronze awards in “US Beef” category.

Chef Daryl Vance Yulo Sy is Sheraton Manila Bay Sous Chef. Sample his delectable menu at Sheraton Manila Bay’s Pre-dinner cocktails every Friday and Saturday evening or take home his newest delectable gourmet creation “Croll Burger” available at the Sheraton Kiosk located at Robinsons Place Manila, Level 1, Padre Faura Entrance.

For reservation please call +632 5318 0788 or email reservations.manilabay@sheraton.com. Like us on Facebook and Instagram @sheratonmanilabay and Twitter at @sheratonmnlbay.