BIZ BUZZ: Another ‘PITX’ in Parañaque

The government and Light Rail Manila Corp. are working hard to finish the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 Cavite extension project on time to improve the connection between Metro Manila and Cavite.

The first phase of the project, which links Baclaran station to Dr. Santos station in Parañaque, is set to be operational before Christmas when mobility traditionally picks up.

With the opening of Dr. Santos station, which is near SM City Sucat, an intermodal terminal accommodating jeepneys, buses and other public transportation modes will also await passengers.

“This will be a duplicate [of] PITX (Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange),” said Parañaque City Rep. Edwin Olivarez during a press briefing last week.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said this terminal would provide passengers more options when commuting.

In the first phase of the extension project, one of the five new stations will also be connected to PITX, which is being operated by Megawide Construction Corp. —Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

DTI’s export promotion arm gets new head

A new head has recently been appointed at the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (Citem), marking a new management regime for the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) export promotion arm.

Described by her peers as a homegrown talent, former Region 2 director Romleah Pulido Ocampo was appointed as the agency’s new executive director starting June 3.

She replaced Edward Fereira, the former special envoy to the Republic of Kazakhstan, who was named to the position by the President in December 2022.

“We shall be collaborative and strategic, inclusive, and an important and indispensable part of a robust ecosystem that supports MSME development, industry development, and export development,” Ocampo said in a statement.

CITEM said that part of Ocampo’s plans is to reinvigorate CITEM as an institution and as a brand.

The agency said they would also focus on expanding regional export development and participation throughout the country under her leadership. -Alden M. Monzon

MDC promises to pay employees’ SSS contributions

Makati Development Corp., a unit of Ayala Land Inc., has pledged to pay the Social Security System (SSS) contribution of their employees’ spouses for six months, starting with 10 MDC workers.

Rolando Macasaet, president and chief executive officer of the state pension fund, lauded the company’s generous move as it seeks to extend social security coverage to the wives of their foremen and construction workers.

“Other companies should imitate the example set by MDC, which extends social security protection to the spouses of their workers,” Macasaet said.

Under the Contribution Subsidy Provider Program (CSPP), employers are encouraged to help employees make their contributions for at least six months. This way, they can demonstrate their commitment to social responsibility and protect their employees’ social security.

Since the launch of the program in 2022, the state pension fund has partnered with 10 groups in Metro Manila, benefiting 685 members with a total contribution of P783,530.

One of the newest partners is Marikina City 1st District Representative Marjorie Ann Teodoro, who allocated P8.2 million to pay the one-year SSS contributions of more than 1,200 tricycle operators and drivers of the Sto. Niño Unified Tricycle Operations and Drivers Association (TODA) in Marikina City. –– Mariedel Irish U. Catilogo