Lafarge Republic Inc (LRI) and Holcim Philippines Inc have begun plans for a local merger. Both Boards of Directors gave the green light "to explore, study and consider the combination" of their businesses "in order to avail... of the resulting synergies and opportunities... and in the course of such study, determine optimal structures to implement the combination".

Discussions opened in a special meetings on 6 July. Both companies said "it is contemplated LRI's two plants in Norzagaray, Bulacan and... in Iligan... together with their related assets will be excluded from such combination and considered for divestment..."