Camille Naredo

People visit the SM By the Bay at the Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City on November 19, 2021. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/FIle

People visit the SM By the Bay at the Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City on November 19, 2021. As Metro Manila eases age restrictions and increases venue capacities in malls, the NCR mayors have endorsed the restrictions of mobility of minors to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) as they believe that they are in the best position to decide on the matter. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

SM By the Bay

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178461763698320211119-covid-sm-moa-GC-5293.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="People visit the SM By the Bay at the Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City on November 19, 2021. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">People visit the SM By the Bay at the Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City on November 19, 2021. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- The Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) will launch a pilot electric shuttle service in Manila Bay Freeport Zone that will be free to commuters for its first six months, PRA Chairperson Alexander Lopez said on Tuesday.</p><p>In an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, Lopez said the shuttle service called Bay City Loop is set to begin operations with six electric buses and a target waiting time of 10 minutes. Lopez said the waiting time could be reduced to five minutes if passenger demand increases.</p><p>The route will connect major locations in the Bay City area, including the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), SM Mall of Asia (MOA), the GSIS complex, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the World Trade Center, said Lopez. </p><p>&quot;The board thought of making it free… For six months, lahat po nang iikot libre po. Walang cost to the government, walang cost to the commuters. Libre po yan,&quot; Lopez said. </p><p>Assistant General Manager for Reclamation Joseph Literal said private establishments in Bay City will shoulder the cost of the project.</p><p>Literal said the pilot project may later be expanded to other reclamation developments if successful.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>700 HYDROPONICS FACILITIES</strong></div><p>The agency also announced it will launch 700 hydroponics facilities nationwide by October under its P210-million Social and Environmental Fund.</p><p>Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil by using nutrient-rich water. It enables crops to be cultivated in limited spaces and under controlled conditions.</p><p>Lopez said this follows a P300,000 pilot project in Naic, Cavite that has benefited around 4,000 students by teaching them modern farming techniques, environmental stewardship and entrepreneurship.</p><p>&quot;One program namin na (worth) P300,000, isipin n&#x27;yo 4,000 students ang na-benefit,&quot; Lopez said.</p><p>He said the expansion will prioritize coastal communities, where many families rely on fishing for their livelihood.</p><p>&quot;So in all coastal communities, we will be launching sa 700 high schools not only to train their students to be environmentally conscious, to be industrious, to be entrepreneurs, but we will help them be productive elements of society,&quot; Lopez said. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>HALF A MILLION JOBS EXPECTED</strong></div><p>The PRA also said reclamation projects are expected to generate about 500,000 jobs once businesses begin operating in reclaimed areas.</p><p>Citing a study by the House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means, the agency said the reclaimed developments are expected to create employment opportunities as commercial and residential projects become operational.</p><p>Lopez also said the PRA aims to increase the value of its assets to P500 billion by the end of the year.</p><p>&quot;Hopefully by the end of the year, hindi lang tayo P228 billion, we will be P500 billion,&quot; Lopez said.</p>

<p>The Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) will launch a pilot electric shuttle service in Manila Bay Freeport Zone that will be free to commuters for its first six months, PRA Chairperson Alexander Lopez said on Tuesday.</p>

The Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) will launch a pilot electric shuttle service in Manila Bay Freeport Zone that will be free to commuters for its first six months, PRA Chairperson Alexander Lopez said on Tuesday.

PRA to make Bay City electric shuttle service free for six months

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PRA to make Bay City electric shuttle service free for six months

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 21, 2026 03:08 PM PHT

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Philippine Reclamation Authority

Bay City

Manila Bay

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