MANILA, Philippines — The peso exchange rate stands at P42.94 to the US dollar, the closing rate last Friday at the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. (PDEx). The weighted average rate stands at P42.912.

D.B.M. launches open budget initiatives

In line with the Aquino government’s commitment to honest and effective governance, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has been embarking on initiatives that establish transparency, accountability and citizen participation in the budget process.

With this, the budget department will launch some of its Open Budget Initiatives, which include People’s Budget of 2011, a publication on the 2011 National Budget, which is geared towards the layman and the Transparency and Accountability Initiative for Lump-Sum Funds (TAILS), an IT project that ensures the timely disclosure of releases from lump-sums, particularly the Priority Development Assistance Fund. (CSL)

Alveo launches first Q.C. project

Alveo Land, middle-income residential arm of Ayala Land Inc., has launched a P2-billion townhouse complex as its first project in Quezon City (QC) called Ferndale Villas.

In an interview, Alveo project development head Jennylle Tupaz said the project is being developed on a 5-hectare lot beside the Quezon City campus of Far Eastern University.

The project will consist of 233 duplex or triplex units of 150 to 185 square meters each. (JAL)

Smart unveils new postpaid plans

Wireless leader Smart Communications (Smart) has unveiled UNLI Text Plan 299 and UNLI Call & Text Plan 599 – the telco’s newest and most affordable postpaid plans ever.

“Our subscribers want a real ‘UNLI’ postpaid plan and so we are giving it to them” said Smart Mobile Marketing Head Guido Zaballero. “With these new plans, we will further cement our position as the no. 1 wireless services provider in the country.” (EHL)

D.E.N.R. asks help for wildlife

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has urged the business sector and environmentally-inclined non-government organizations to take a more active role in saving the country’s endangered wildlife species from extinction by ‘‘adopting’’ them.

DENR Undersecretary for project management Manuel Gerochi made the appeal duing a recent forum on “Fostering Partnerships towards the Conservation of the Philippine Eagle and other Threatened Wildlife Species” which was attended by representatives of conservationist groups. (EHL)