Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, less than five hundred people went to Muntinlupa City office of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) inside South Park Center mall during the first day of the voter registration process, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The current process will last until September 2024.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
Registrants flocked to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Muntinlupa on the first day of voter’s registration on Monday, Feb. 12.
According to Comelec-Muntinlupa Election Officer Kim Alzate-Cu, a total of 479 people registered on Feb. 12 for the 2025 national and local elections.
As of August last year, there were 319,654 registered voters in Muntinlupa.
The voter registration, which will accommodate new voters and transferees, will run from Feb. 12 to Sept. 30 this year from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Comelec-Muntinlupa office on the Fourth Level of the South Park Center in Barangay Alabang.
It will be held from Monday to Saturday, including holidays, unless the Comelec declares no registration for a specific date.
No voter registration will be held on March 28, 29, and 30, which are Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Black Saturday, respectively.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, are you planning to avail of COMELEC services during the voter registration processes any time soon?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
In recent times, a lot of people have spotted electric bikes (e-bikes) and electric tricycles (e-trikes) traveling on national roads – including the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) – and posted images of them online. That being said, the local authorities could not ignore the many complaints of these electric vehicles (EVs) and they will respond by issuing a new guideline soon, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news article. Some parts in boldface…
Viral videos of complaints against e-bikes and e-trikes , including an elementary pupil driving one of them on a national road and their presence on major thoroughfares that include the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), have prompted national government agencies to expedite the finalization of the rules and regulations that would govern both their ownership and use.
On the side of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), its chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II, said two of the measures that would be included in the recommendation they would submit to the Department of Transportation is for the registration of the e-bikes and e-trikes before the agency.
E-bikes and e-trikes are not required to be registered similar to motor vehicles and this is actually the major marketing strategy of its sellers, according to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairperson Don Artes.
Aside from registration requirements, Mendoza said they will also include in the recommendation the issue on whether or not the users of e-bikes and e-trikes will be mandated to obtain a driver’s license.
Artes, again, said the non-requirement of a driver’s license to drive them is another selling point of the e-bikes and e-trikes.
According to Mendoza, another argument that will be included in the recommendation is the total ban of e-bikes and e-trikes not only on national roads but also on major thoroughfares and even public roads, particularly the busy ones.
“The guideline (on e-bikes and e-trikes) must be released within this month because a publication of it is still needed before the implementation,” said Mendoza in a press briefing at the MMDA office in Pasig City on Thursday, Feb. 15.
“So we should be able to submit our recommendations to the Secretary (DOTr Secretary Jaime J. Bautista) within this week so that everything will be finally ironed out,” he added.
Exponential growth – Asked if the national government has a data on how many e-bikes and e-trikes in the country, Artes said they do not have the figure simply because there is no source of credible information since e-bikes and e-trikes are not required to be registered.
Artes, however, said that in Metro Manila alone, they have been seeing an exponential growth on the number of e-bikes and e-trikes.
But in Caloocan City where an ordinance was passed for the mandatory accounting of e-bikes and e-trikes, Artes said the figure is at around 18,000.
“So in just one LGU (local government unit) here in Metro Manila, there were already 18,000. So you can just imagine using the fact there are 17 LGUs here in Metro Manila. For sure, there are plenty of them,” said Artes.
“This is really concerning in terms of road safety because they are using roads, especially major roads, and some of the users do not even have the idea of basic road regulations that may cause accidents. So it’s about time that we come up with regulations on this matter,” he added.
E-bikes accident data – Based on the data released last month by the MMDA, a total of 556 road accidents were recorded in Metro Manila involving e-bikes and e-trikes from January to November last year.
There were two reported fatalities recorded in the same period—one was reported in February last year while the other one was reported in August last year.
The same data revealed that e-bikes and e-trikes accidents resulted in 282 non-fatal injuries and 281 cases of damage to property.
Enforcement difficulties – Artes admitted that their enforcers on the roads are having difficulty dealing with e-bikes and e-trikes.For one, they could not issue a citation ticket for traffic violation since the riders have no driver’s license in the first place.
Another one is that they could not also impound the e-bikes and e-trikes due to the absence of a guideline that would legally allow the MMDA to do so.
Consolidation of policies – Artes said there are a number of local government agencies which came up with guidelines on the use of e-bikes and e-trikes, one of them is their use for livelihood by allowing e-trikes to be used as public utility vehicles.
On the part of the national government, Mendoza said they will come up with a guideline that would be nationwide in scope in coordination with local government agencies and other stakeholders.
This is the reason, he said, why they have been continuously meeting even with representatives of groups advocating e-vehicles.
“The guideline that will be issued will be nationwide on scope. So it is important that coordination with LGUs and other stakeholders is important,” said Mendoza.
For road safety – Both Artes and Mendoza said that the guidelines that will be issued by the national government are purely aimed at ensuring the safety of all road users, including the riders of e-bikes and e-trikes.
To see why e-bikes and e-trikes are problematic on major roads and highways here in the Philippines, watch the following videos below…
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you consider e-bikes and e-trikes traffic hazards on major roads and highways? Do you think the national authorities will be able to come up with new rules in response to the many complaints made against e-bikes and e-trikes? Do you want to see all e-bikes and e-trikes banned on major roads and highways nationwide? Should all e-bikes and e-trikes be registered and their respective drivers should be required to have drivers’ licenses?
Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, a memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed by officials of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and Filinvest Malls inside Festival Mall in Filinvest City which should enhance voter accessibility through the local implementation of the Register Anywhere Program (RAP), according to a social media post by Festival Mall dated February 7, 2024.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the social media post of Festival Mall. Some parts in boldface…
In a move to enhance voter accessibility, Filinvest Malls becomes the first mall chain to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), launching the Register Anywhere Program (RAP) during a contract signing ceremony at Festival Mall on February 7, 2024. Tristan Las Marias, President & CEO of Filinvest Land, Inc., and COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia, solidified their commitment to RAP during the ceremony.
Operational from February 12 to September 30, 2024, RAP will establish registration sites in key Filinvest Mall locations, including Festival Mall (Alabang), Main Square (Bacoor), Fora Mall (Tagaytay), and IL Corso (Cebu). This initiative seeks to enhance the efficiency of the voter registration process, prioritizing accessibility and community involvement. These locations have been strategically selected to ensure easy access for diverse communities.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City who happens to need voter-related registration soon, would you avail of the RAP service at Festival Mall? Do you think the agreement between Filinvest Malls and COMELEC will make a huge impact with current voters as well as aspiring voters?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, electric tricycles (e-trikes) became a topic of concern for one member of the City Council, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The City Councilor clarified that any regulation covering e-trikes will be discussed in a public hearing that will be conducted by the legislative body.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
A member of the Muntinlupa City Council has proposed to regulate passenger e-trikes (electric tricycles) amid the growing number of the vehicles plying the national road.
During the City Council’s regular session on Jan. 29, Councilor Ryan Bagatsing expressed concerns about the safety of e-trikes, which are currently not required to register with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
He is also concerned that some e-trike users are not following traffic rules and overloading.
In an interview with Manila Bulletin, Bagatsing said the use of e-trikes should be regulated in Muntinlupa.
Bagatsing noted that road accidents have happened involving e-trikes. He is also concerned that in some cases, these electric vehicles are driven by minors.
He is proposing that all e-trikes should be registered with the city government to identify the owners, users and drivers.
“It’s the same thing with what we are doing with fishing boats. These have body numbers to identify the users. We really need to come up with some regulations,” he said.
Another issue is e-trikes using the national road in Muntinlupa. Currently, tricycles in Muntinlupa are banned from using the national road, a long stretch of road from Barangay Tunasan to Sucat.
Motorists have complained that e-trikes have become hazards on major roads in the country.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, do you consider e-trikes as a hazard on the major roads locally? Do you think that e-trike drivers in the city lack discipline and are prone to causing traffic violations knowing that they are not under the LTO since they are not required to be registered with them? Do you think that e-trikes traveling along major roads like the Alabang Zapote Road are so slow, they make traffic congestion worse and slower moving? Do you think it is time to have all e-trikes and electric bikes (e-bikes) banned from traveling along the city’s major roads?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
In relation to the resumption of the voter registration process set for February 12, 2024, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) announced that its Register Anywhere Program (RAP) will be implemented nationwide on the same date, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to implement nationwide its Register Anywhere Program (RAP) when the voter registration period resumes on Feb. 12.
In a statement Thursday, the poll body said the RAP would accept applications in all capital cities and towns and highly urbanized cities (HUCs).
“RAP registration sites will be set up in malls, universities, or government offices/agencies in all capital cities and towns and HUCs nationwide. RAP has now been institutionalized in the Commission as a program owing to its favorable turnout and positive reception by the general public and other stakeholders,” the Comelec added.
In 2022, the poll body held a pilot testing of the RAP in selected areas, including malls and government agencies.
The initial testing was held in SM Fairview, Robinsons Place Manila, SM Sucat, Robinsons Galleria, SM Mall of Asia, Robinsons Tacloban, SM City Legazpi and Robinsons Naga.
Aside from these venues, the Comelec said the program will also be held in select church organizations, private establishments, government agencies and educational institutions.
The RAP’s nationwide implementation aims to provide additional avenues and opportunities for voter registration in places of higher concentration of people traffic and congregation of persons of voting age.
“This move will maximize efforts to register workers, employees, and students with limited time and opportunity to register, for them to become voters for the 2025 National and Local Elections,” it said.
Under the RAP, a registrant will be allowed to file his/her application wherever there is a designated RAP registration site regardless of his/her place of residence.
Other applications that will be accepted in RAP sites include new registration, transfer of registration from another city/municipality/district, transfer of registration from overseas to local, correction of entries or change of status, and reactivation.
The RAP will be available until Aug. 31.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are there many members of your local community who intend to avail of COMELEC’s RAP?
Those who intend to get registered as new voters can do so starting February 12, 2024 once the voter registration process formally resumes nationwide, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article citing the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
Voter registration for the May 2025 midterms elections would resume on Feb. 12, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Wednesday.
Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia, in a phone interview, said the voter registration period will run for seven months or until Sept. 30.
Garcia noted that they expect some 3 million to apply for registration as voters.
“Our projected number of registered voters is around 3 million, which shall be added to the current 68 million voters,” he added
The last voter registration period was held from Dec. 12, 2022 to Jan. 31, 2023.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are there many members of your local community who intend to get themselves registered as new voters with the COMELEC? How far is the nearest COMELEC from your place?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
UPDATE: Muntinlupa City officially extended the deadline to January 31, 2024 according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
Recently in the City of Muntinlupa, the City Government announced that it has formally launched on January 2, 2024, the annual processing of applications for business permits – both new and renewals) at the Muntinlupa Sports Center in Barangay Tunasan, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. As of this writing, the entire process will last until January 20, 2024, but an extension of the deadline might be declared as with prior years.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
According to the city government, the renewal of business permits will be held from Jan. 2 to 20 at the Muntinlupa Sports Center.
According to the Muntinlupa Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO), the requirements for the renewal of business permits this year are:
1 BIR Monthly/Quarterly Payments for 2023 (photocopy and original)
– Form No. 2550Q/2551Q/2550M
– Form No. 1701Q/1702Q
2. Audited financial statements duly filed before the SEC/BIR (for the period covering two years prior) / Annual Income Tax Return
3. Previous Mayor’s Permit
4. Declaration of gross sales:
a. Notarized Certificate of Gross Sales for 2023
b. If financial documents are consolidated”
– Notarized certificate of breakdown of gross sales per branch for 2023
– 2023 Business Permits/Assessment from other LGUs
– Official Receipts/Sales Invoices/Journals/ POS Reports, etc. (if applicable)
c. Certificate of gross sales for 2023 from the mall admin (if business is located in the mall)
5. Others
a. Copy of 2024 cedula from head office (If business is a branch only)
b. Certification from market administrator (If business is located in Alabang Central Market)
c. Authorization letter and valid ID for representatives
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City who plans to start a business locally, do you find the list of requirements intimidating? Do you think it is inevitable for the City Government to announce a deadline extension?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
If you are looking to start the new year with multisport action and competition, then you might be interested to join the 2024 National Age Group Triathlon – Subic Bay race set for January 27 and 28, 2024. Registration for the event is ongoing as of this writing.
Right now, the registration fees are as follows: P8,500 for Standard Distance Team Relay, P5,500 for Standard Distance, P5,000 for Sprint Distance, P4,500 for Super Sprint Distance and P3,500 for Super Trikids.
The Super Trikids and Super Sprint races will start at 6AM on January 27. The Sprint and Standard Distance races will take place on January 28 at 6AM.
The start and finish will be at The Boardwalk within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
The 2024 National Age Group Triathlon – Subic Bay event is a qualifying race for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games and also a part of Triathlon Philippines’ trials and talent identification for the Philippine Triathlon Team. To learn more about the event, visit https://register.raceya.fit/event/nagt-2024
The 2024 National Age Group Triathlon – Subic Bay event is a joint project of Triathlon Philippines (formerly Triathlon Association of the Philippines), the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and FUNtastic Subic Bay. The supporters of the event are the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, Inc., Standard Insurance and Gatorade.
Due to the circulation and unauthorized selling of Friendship Route stickers on online markets, the City Government of Las Piñas issued another warning to the public about the said stickers, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
The Las Piñas city government released an advisory, warning the public against the illegal sale of friendship route stickers.
According to Mayor Imelda Aguilar, the local government discovered the unsanctioned circulation of friendship route stickers on popular online platforms, including Lazada and Facebook Market Place.
Aguilar warned the public about the unauthorized sale of friendship route stickers and clarified that the stickers are available for free through the city’s official page.
She also emphasized that the reselling of stickers is illegal and those found engaging in such activities may face severe penalties, including imprisonment.
The mayor explained that friendship route stickers were created for Las Piñas residents’ use when implementing alternative routes to ease and decongest traffic along the main thoroughfares in the city.
Since the recent unauthorized circulation and sale of stickers raised concerns among city officials, Aguilar said the local government is working diligently to identify the individuals involved in the sale.
She added that law enforcement agencies are actively monitoring online platforms and conducting investigations to apprehend those responsible, stressing that individuals who will be caught may face legal consequences.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Have you applied for a Friendship Route sticker before?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Those who seek to strengthen their faith in the Lord and immerse themselves deeper with His Word are welcome to attend the New Life Conference 2023 which will be held simultaneously in two venues in Alabang, Muntinlupa City from August 22 to 25 (Tuesday to Friday). Pastors, leaders and members of other churches or ministries are welcome to join in by registering online.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the New Life Conference 2023 page. Some parts in boldface…
This year, for the first time ever, Pastors Conference, Worship and Creative Conference and Disrupt (formerly Life Conference) will be happening simultaneously as one big event..
The main theme of the conference will focus on mobilizing the church to take its place, be a beacon of hope and shine its light during the dark and confusing times. New Life Conference 2023: The Church for this Hour, aims to encourage, equip and empower the believer to answer the call of God through 3 streams:
And because we understand that ministry is not one-size-fits-all, attendees can pick and choose their daily sessions from each of the streams—making the conference a unique experience for everyone, tailored to fit their needs.
The place of worship inside New Life Main (Alabang Hills Village).
The Filinvest Tent in Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa. There are several restaurants, food/beverage joints, stores and bank ATMs within walking distance from this venue.
The three streams specifically are Pastors & Leaders, Worship & Creative and Disrupt. Each day from August 22 to 25 (Tuesday to Friday) there will be varied church activities that will be held simultaneously at New Life Philippines’ main church inside Alabang Hills Village and at the Filinvest Tent located within Filinvest City in the Alabang area.
The New Life Conference 2023 will officially kick-off with an opening rally at the Filinvest Tent at 10AM of August 22. At 2PM of the afternoon of that same day, the Disrupt Streams will take place inside Filinvest Tent while the Pastors & Leaders Streams will be inside New Life Main. At 6PM, the Disrupt Night Rally will start inside Filinvest Tent while the NL CON Night Rally will happen inside New Life Main. To see even more activities with their respective time slots and venues per day, click https://newlife.ph/nlcon/
For each day from August 22 to 25, there will be lunch breaks and dinner breaks that last 2 hours each so that conference participants can rest and feed themselves. For those who will be attending activities at Filinvest Tent, be aware that there are lots of stores, food/beverage vendors and restaurants that are within walking distance. Commercenter Mall is a short walk away from the Filinvest Tent and inside are restaurants such as Akrotiri, Sigekiya Ramen and The Black Pig to name a few. Even closer to the Filinvest Tent are branches of McDonald’s and Jollibee, as well as the area of South Supermarket which has some restaurants on the ground floor. For those who will be inside New Life Main, there is a cafeteria within.
Whether you are a pastor/leader/member of New Life Philippines or of a different church or ministry, be encouraged to deepen your faith in the Lord and immerse yourselves deeper with the Word of God by attending the New Life Conference 2023 this coming August. People of faith who submitted themselves to Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Heavenly Father are always meant to be together and this conference is a golden opportunity for worship and solidifying faith in the Lord even more. Learn from the holy scriptures below…
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Matthew 18:19-20 (NKJV)
And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities,
Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24-25 (AMPC)
“The Son of Man has come to give life to all who are lost. Think of it this way: If a man owns a hundred sheep and one lamb wanders away and is lost, won’t he leave the ninety-nine grazing the hillside and thoroughly search for the one lost lamb? And if he finds his lost lamb, he rejoices over it, more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. Now you should understand that it is never the desire of your heavenly Father that a single one of these little ones should be lost.”
Matthew 18:11-14 (TPT)
Take care and be on guard for yourselves and the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you bishops and guardians, to shepherd (tend and feed and guide) the church of the Lord or of God which He obtained for Himself [buying it and saving it for Himself] with His own blood.
If you have fully decided to get registered for New Life Conference 2023, click https://newlife.ph/nlcon/register-demo/ (note: have your credit cards prepared to ensure completion of registration). You can also register by scanning the QR code below…
Get registered by scanning the QR code on the above social media post of New Life Philippines.
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
