Business
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Oriental Mindoro’s Inflation Rate Drops to 3.7% in January
Oriental Mindoro’s inflation rate fell to 3.7 percent in January 2025 from 4.9 percent in December 2024, the provincial statistics office has reported, though consumers continue to face pressure from reduced purchasing power. The decline…
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New Specialty Food Store Opens in Mindoro
A new specialty food store featuring locally produced wines and vinegars opened Friday, January 31, 2025, in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. JJS Food Products Pasalubong Center, owned by Felicitas D. Baldonado, displays wines made from…
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Gov’t Agencies Propose Inclusion of Mimaropa in Luzon Economic Corridor
The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) have jointly urged the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) to integrate the island provinces of Mimaropa—Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan—into the Luzon Economic…
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DMCI Power’s Energy Sales Surge in Mindoro and Beyond
DMCI Power Corporation reported a 9% jump in energy sales for 2024, driven by increased demand in Mindoro and other provinces, marking its 14th consecutive year of record performance. The company delivered 491.2 gigawatt-hours of…
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lnflation Hits 5.4% for Oriental Mindoro’s Poor Households as Meat Prices Soar 33.6%
Inflation for Oriental Mindoro’s poorest households surged to 5.4 percent in December 2024, driven by skyrocketing meat prices and rising utility costs, unveiling a worrying trend for the province’s most vulnerable residents, the Philippine Statistics…
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Oriental Mindoro Construction Sector Sees P252M Investment Surge, Commercial Projects Lead Growth
Oriental Mindoro’s construction sector had demonstrated robust activity in October 2024, with non-residential projects dominating both volume and value, as commercial developments spearheaded a P252.09 million investment in building permits, according to preliminary data released…
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Oriental Mindoro Eases Pork Import Restrictions Amid Devastating ASF Crisis
The Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro has announced sweeping measures to combat severe pork shortages, authorizing frozen pork imports until January 2025, as an African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak continues to ravage its hog industry.…
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Calapan City Implements New Traffic Route for Rolling Cargoes and PUVs
The Calapan City Public Safety Department announced Monday a new traffic route for all rolling cargoes and public utility vehicles (PUVs) entering and exiting Calapan City Pier, effective November 28, 2024. According to the department,…
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Mindoro Town Market Wins Regional Consumer Excellence Award
After winning the provincial level crown, the Bongabong Public Market has been named Regional Champion in the inaugural Pamilihang Bayan ng Bidang Mamimili (PBBM) Awards, recognizing excellence in consumer-friendly markets across the MIMAROPA region. The…
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DTI Offers Emergency, Collateral-Free Loans to Storm-Hit Businesses
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Thursday urged storm-hit businesses to tap into a government financing program aimed at helping them recover from disaster, or the recent typhoon Kristine and Leon. DTI Acting…
Founder’S Profile
Romel “Direk” Ferriol Bernardo
Bernardo Creative Ventures, Inc., the company behind Direk Fuels, Oriental Mindoro’s homegrown gas station chain, and Direk Builders, which rents out heavy equipment, is expanding its portfolio by venturing into online media and content production.
The company’s entry into news media is not surprising, as its founder and CEO, Romel “Direk” Bernardo, was a television writer, producer, and director for over 15 years. From 2002 to 2007, he served as a researcher, writer, and producer for GMA-7’s top-rating show Imbestigador before becoming the executive producer for ABS-CBN’s award-winning documentary program, The Correspondents.
