IN BRIEF

Teiheyo Cement investing

P3.9b

in Batangas terminal

JAPANESE cement manufacturer Taiheiyo Cement Corp. is investing P3.9 billion to put up a new cement distribution terminal in Batangas province through local subsidiary Taiheiyo Cement Philippines Inc., the Board of Investments said.

Special trade representative Dita AngaraMathay, commercial counselor of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Tokyo, said Taiheiyo Cement “has a good track record in keeping their avowed commitment to pour resources, capital, advanced technologies and materials that support the infrastructure development programs of the country.”

“The company’s latest announcement materializes their plans to expand to Luzon from their long-time base in the Visayan region,” she said.

The new terminal will store and supply 700,000 metric tons of cement annually to Luzon. The local subsidiary is also poised to upgrade its main facility in San Fernando, Cebu through a kiln renewal plant designed to increase production capacity to 3 million MT yearly, while reducing CO2 emissions from energy use by 10 percent. Othel V. Campos

AirAsia PH gears up for holiday season

AIRASIA Philippines is gearing up for the holiday season and expects a surge in air passenger traffic after the foreign traveler vaccine certificate requirement was lifted.

The Department of Health Circular 2023-06 applies to all airports and seaports in the country and states that all arriving international travelers will be accepted regardless of their vaccination status. The circular took effect on Aug. 12, 2023, and follows the Transportation Department’s earlier announcement of the scrapping of face masks for public transportation.

AirAsia spokesperson Steve Dailisan said the latest development is timely with the upcoming “Ber” months (referring to September, October, November and December), which are usually the busiest time for airlines and peak season for travel in the country.

He said the lifting of the vaccine certificate travel requirement is a significant step towards making travel more seamless and will encourage travelers, regardless of their vaccination status, to experience the Philippines.

The Department of Tourism aims to achieve 4.8 million international tourist arrivals this year, and AirAsia is committed to helping achieve this target by providing exceptional services and value deals for flights and other travel-related services through its Airasia Superapp. Joel E. Zurbano

AllDay Supermarket

books P4.9-b revenues ing CALAX Silang (Aguinaldo) Interchange to Nasugbu and the 60.90-kilometer NBEX that will provide seamless connectivity from Nasugbu to Bauan.

ALLDAY Supermarket, the country’s leading mid-premium supermarket chain, said revenues grew 6.6 percent in the first half of 2023 to P4.90 billion from a year ago.

The chain also reported a significant increase in net income after tax of P172 million from P12 million.

“We are pleased with AllDay’s steady business results for the first half of 2023,” said AllDay chairman Manuel Villar Jr.

“With the return of customers to in-person retail or revenge retail giving rise to many opportunities, our supermarket concept continues to capitalize on a market that is getting a lot more comfortable with spending time shopping in-store again,” he said.

AllDay Supermarket president and chief executive Frances Rosalie Coloma cited the supermarket chain’s operational efficiencies as a key driver in sustaining AllDay’s performance at the halfway mark of 2023.

“Our sustained momentum from our first quarter performance in 2023 is proof of our capability to sustain exceptional results. We continue to rely on continuous improvement of AllDay operations, leaving no stone unturned,” he said.

The groundbreaking is scheduled for 2024, and CBEX and NBEX are expected to be completed by 2027.

“Our shared commitment to nationbuilding has led us to this historic collaboration. Together, we aim to deliver world-class road networks that will serve as arteries of progress, growth and development for our country and the Filipino people,” San Miguel president Ramon Ang said.

“This collaboration stands as a testament to what we can achieve when we are united in purpose,” he said.

MPTC chairman Manuel Pangilinan said together with SMC, the company envisaged a future where CBEX and NBEX could help pave the way for connectivity and economic growth in the CALABARZON region.

“We look forward to leveraging on our respective strengths for the realization of this vital infrastructure project,” he said.

The MOA signing underscores the commitment of both toll road compa- nies to deliver world-class expressways that will serve the needs of millions of motorists and commuters in CALABARZON.

MPTC and SMC will work closely with the government, local communities and stakeholders to ensure a sustainable and responsible development that aligns with the country’s infrastructure goals.

The route will traverse the towns of Silang, Amadeo, Tagaytay, Indang, Mendez and Alfonso in Cavite before crossing to Nasugbu and finally reaching Bauan.

MPTC in 2018 presented a proposal for the 50.4-kilometer Cavite-TagaytayBatangas Expressway project to the Department of Public Works and Highways and was granted the original pro-

MPTC-SMC DEAL.

San Miguel Corp. chairman Ramon Ang (left) and Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. chairman Manuel Pangilinan seal a P72billion deal to construct the 87.96-kilometer Cavite-Batangas Expressway and Nasugbu-Bauan Expressway.