BIZ BUZZ: Delayed, but on track

One of the largest public-private partnership projects in the country might have been delayed by the pandemic, but it’s very much on track to proceed with a partial opening by 2025.

Of course, we’re talking about the Makati City subway project since the larger Metro Manila subway project of the national government would be completed by 2028 and perhaps even beyond.

Sources tell us the project’s station No. 3 is already seeing minor construction activities. Soon, the city fire station, police station and post office will be relocated.

The main tunnel boring machine is also being assembled. Once lowered and operational, the project would take about 36 months to complete.

“Makatizens” can also expect some big changes to the design. As it turns out, the planners are doing away with two stations located near Ayala-Edsa and Ayala-Makati Avenue since these locations were “unavailable.”

That means no direct access to the busy Edsa road in those areas—apart from the one planned in the vicinity of Guadalupe, where it will be close enough to intersect with the national government’s own Metro Manila subway system—but it also means the project cost comes down from $3.7 billion down to roughly $2.5 billion.

In any case, congestion can only worsen in the coming years at our current trajectory. Any form of additional mass transit would be beneficial to commuters.

At the same time, the Makati subway will be a lasting legacy project of Mayor Abby Binay who is on her third and final term as chief executive of the country’s premier business and financial hub. —Miguel R. Camus

It’s raining mojos

True to their promise not to make consumers wait for too long, the popular mojos that come with Shakey’s fried chicken bundles are back at the country’s leading pizza parlor chain.

The supply chain issue that had forced Shakey’s Asia Pizza Ventures Inc. (which trades under the ticker PIZZA) to pull out its mojos offering in January had been resolved, to the relief of patrons who couldn’t eat their Shakey’s fried chicken without these delish potato slices.

We had to see and taste to believe it. Restaurant servers in the metropolis told us that the mojos have returned in abundance starting Feb.1. Hopefully, they will never disappear again. —Doris Dumlao-Abadilla

iAcademy, Netflix join forces

Filipino filmmakers with roots in the regions now stand a better chance of having their creations brought to life through iAcademy’s the “Indiegenius” program of iAcademy that won the support of streaming giant Netflix.

iAcademy’s Indiegenius project lab encourages emerging and talented Filipino filmmakers with regional backgrounds or regional roots to submit their film concepts and compete to be among 10 finalists who will go through a series of workshops. Two winners will be awarded a production and scholarship grant.

“We’re always in pursuit of opportunities where we can provide space that invites diversity and inspires inclusivity. We’re humbled that Netflix shares and believes in this same value that iAcademy holds and we are very grateful for their generosity,” says iAcademy COO Raquel Perez.

It is the first program of its kind in the Philippines to get support from Netflix in the form of mentorship and a production grant.

“By supporting the next generation of filmmakers in the Philippines through iAcademy’s Indiegenius program, we hope to increase representation in front of and behind the camera and support authentic stories that showcase the talent and skill of young filmmakers from across the Philippines,” said Amy Sawitta Lefevre, Netflix’s head of external affairs for Asia-Pacific. —Tina Arceo-Dumlao

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