26 Hulio 2024, Biyernes

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EO enough to enforce POGO ban – SolGen

By Nidz Godino

“Executive order or other administrative issuance is sufficient to implement  policy,” Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said when asked if  law is needed to ban POGOs or if an EO would be enough  executive order is enough to enforce  ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).

Guevarra explained  all gaming operations, under the law, fall under  jurisdiction of  Philippine Amusement Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), which reports directly to  Office of the President.

He stressed  ban on POGOs is  matter of government policy and it is within  President’s prerogative to make such move for the good of the country, after carefully weighing all possibilities.

In his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.ordered PAGCOR to have all POGO operations ceased by the end of the year.

He also directed  Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to find jobs for Filipinos who would be displaced by  closure of POGOs in the country.

Ban  came after consecutive raids on POGO hubs revealed their involvement in illegal activities such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, torture, even murder.

According to PAGCOR, some 40,000 Filipino employees of POGO firms would be affected by  ban.

Bureau of Immigration (BI) earlier said foreigners employed in POGOs and internet gambling licensee companies would be given 60 days to leave the country.

BI  would not return  working visa payments of foreign POGO workers even if they were required to leave the country before expiration of their visas.

“There is no refund…application fee is part of the process whether approved, denied or revoked,” BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said. Foreigners have to pay P32,460 for working visa.

There were some 20,000 foreign POGO or internet gaming licensee workers in the country, 70 percent of whom were Chinese nationals, according to BI records.

BI’s 60-day period for POGO and IGL foreign workers to leave the country starts today until Sept. 24.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco earlier warned foreign POGO workers of deportation if they failed to leave before  Sept. 24 deadline.

He  had instructed  bureau’s intelligence division and Fugitive Search Unit to intensify their operations against illegal online gaming hubs.

Meanwhile, Sen. Risa Hontiveros has urged  BI to give proper treatment to  20,000 foreign POGO workers now being asked to leave the country.

“It looks like there are more workers from illegal POGOs, and this will pose more challenges to  agencies tasked to deport them,” Hontiveros said.

The senator said some of foreign nationals were victims of human trafficking by  big bosses of illegal POGO hubs.

“Nonetheless, we must ensure humanitarian treatment toward foreign workers, especially those who may have been trafficked into these legal or illegal POGOs or IGLs,” Hontiveros said.

The senator also urged authorities to blacklist foreign POGO and IGL workers with criminal backgrounds or have standing arrest warrants in their home countries.

“Our Senate inquiry found that there are POGO or IGL workers who are fugitives from China and other countries…law enforcement should flag these personalities and place them on blacklist,” Hontiveros said. 

26 Hulio 2024, Biyernes

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Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

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PM for any hospital discharge problem

Hse panel sets probe on MM flooding

By J.Lo

“First of all, Department of Public Works and Highways ,DPWH and  Metro Manila Development Authority ,MMDA should explain what happened to our flood control systems and why was it not able to contain  rains dumped by typhoon Carina,” committee chairman Manila Second District Rep. Rolando Valeriano said House committee on Metro Manila development is set to investigate  massive flooding brought about by Typhoon Carina that submerged  whole metropolis and nearby provinces.

Valeriano said they have to “assess  extensive damage” as typhoon wreaked havoc on homes and trapped thousands of vehicles in floodwaters in National Capital Region and nearby areas.

“It’s true that rains dumped by this typhoon were record-breaking, but we, as government, should be fully prepared for such worst-case scenarios…let’s always expect  worst…our benchmark should always be super typhoons Ondoy and Yolanda,” Valeriano stressed.

In  chance interview, Speaker Martin Romualdez  fully supports House inquiry as he highlights  oversight function of Congress.

He explained  government has  master plan on flood control and there is need to comply and update such plan. There should also be  relocation plan for those living in low-lying areas as heavy rains and climate change are unavoidable.

Meanwhile, Senate President Francis Escudero has called for  Senate investigation on  failure of billion pesos worth of flood control projects to curb  effects of typhoons in  metropolis.

Escudero said he has had enough of  cycle of flooding every typhoon season in Metro Manila that remains unchecked despite flood control projects of  DPWH and MMDA.

26 Hulio 2024, Biyernes

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Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

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Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

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Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

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PM for any hospital discharge problem

FMJ to DPWH: Fix damaged Navotas gate

By Nidz Godino

“What is our remedy…maybe we can at least block  water or is there something we can do…at least as an emergency measure and then we can go back and repair it properly,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. instructed  Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to immediately come up with  remedy to  damaged navigational gate in Navotas that has been causing severe flooding in the city and nearby areas.

During  briefing  on effects of Typhoon Carina at the Presidential Security Command headquarters, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes said  gate would be repaired within a month.

However, five barangays in Malabon and three barangays in Navotas would continue to experience floods even if there are no typhoons while bridge is undergoing repair, the MMDA chief stressed.

Marcos then asked  DPWH whether something could be done to prevent floods while  repair is ongoing.

“Maybe put sandbags or something… I don’t know…but we have to get  engineer to look at it and to tell us what we can do,” he added.

Gate,  inspected by Marcos was damaged in June after  barge forcefully entered  channel from the sea going to  shipyard.

Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan said  F. Manalo Bridge,  hit by 13 barges and tugboats because of  strong current in Marikina River, would undergo reconstruction.

According to him,  bridge’s freeboard is too low and is not really designed for barges to pass through.

“We’re going to reconstruct this bridge eventually…we have funds for it, Mr. President… just  matter of going through  design,” he said.

Bridge  is temporarily closed while authorities are checking  damage it sustained.

“So, what we need to do there is to get  assessment as to whether or not we can use the bridge…really  most important thing right now because what we’re trying to do is to… distribute whatever help, whatever assistance is required…but we have to know where that assistance is required,” Marcos said.

Artes said  MMDA has coordinated with coast guard to determine how to remove  barges.

Marcos also directed agencies to address “weaknesses” in informing local governments about  release of excess water from dams.

“If we decide to open dams and if it is about to spill over,  downstream communities should be aware of it,” he said, adding local governments should be given three to four hours to prepare for  release of dam water.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assured  local government units (LGUs) affected by Carina that it is ready to “replenish”  supply of family food packs (FFPs) they have given to flood and typhoon victims.

“It’s noteworthy to point out that there’s another 100,000 requests that came in…so, it would bring us to 500,000 family food packs,” Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said.

DSWD chief said they have already released  total of 360,228 FFPs to  various regional offices severely affected by  super typhoon and monsoon.

This is broken down as follows: 39,038 National Capital Region; 171,147 Central Luzon; 90,957 for Calabarzon; 38,766 for Mimaropa; and for Bicol 20,000.

Based on July 25 report of DSWD, there are 101,509 families or 393,962 persons affected by  twin weather disturbance from 1,004 barangays.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has also launched extensive humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations across  affected regions.

AFP has deployed nine search, rescue and retrieval teams from  2nd infantry division and five from  Joint Task Force National Capital Region.

Meanwhile, Philippine Air Force 505th search and rescue group, in collaboration with  Pasay City government, successfully rescued and evacuated approximately 100 residents affected by flooding on July 24.

Emergency employment awaits workers displaced due to Typhoon Carina, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma directed all DOLE offices to provide assistance to typhoon-affected workers through  Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program.

Department of Migrant Workers has also assisted overseas Filipino workers whose flights were canceled due to typhoon.

Department of Health (DOH) sees  possible surge in leptospirosis and other flood-related diseases.

Unless appropriate precautionary measures are immediately taken, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said hospital emergency rooms could be filled with patients a week after massive flooding in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

Herbosa  ordered  immediate release of one million doses of Doxycycline to protect those who have been exposed to flood from leptospirosis.

He stressed Doxycycline is  prescription drug and cannot be taken without consulting  doctor.

At least 11 health facilities, including four DOH-retained hospitals, were partially damaged by Typhoon Carina but Herbosa said all health facilities are operational.

He stressed  Philippine General Hospital is back in full operation after closing its outpatient services for a day due to massive flooding.

Government hospitals and other health facilities in Ilocos region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Metro Manila are now under code blue.

Based on DOH data, 835 evacuation centers are housing over 38,000 families or 277,431 individuals from various parts of the country.

State-run pension funds Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and Social Security System (SSS) opened their emergency loan programs to members and pensioners affected by Typhoon Carina.

For GSIS, it has set aside P18.5 billion in emergency loans to assist 864,089 members and pensioners in Metro Manila, Batangas and Rizal that are all under state of calamity.

Members and pensioners may apply for emergency loans starting today until Oct. 28.

GSIS members who have  existing emergency loan balance may borrow up to P40,000 to pay off their previous balance and still receive  maximum net amount of P20,000.

Those without existing emergency obligations, as well as pensioners may apply for  P20,000 loan.

For SSS, members may borrow  loan equivalent to their one monthly salary credit or up to a maximum of P20,000.

Members should have at least 36 monthly contributions and should be below 65 years old to avail themselves of calamity loan.

Meanwhile, government agencies can still tap P11 billion in disaster funds to support disaster rescue and relief operations, according to the Department of Budget and Management. 

26 Hulio 2024, Biyernes

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Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

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HEADLINES

Flood-damaged sch to defer class opening

By Creselda Canda-Lopez

“Some schools will really have to postpone their openings kasi maraming aayusin at lilinisin,” Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara said schools damaged by Typhoon Carina or still with numerous concerns to address might have to postpone  opening of classes on Monday.

“But those with none or with minimal damage, they would push through with opening,” he stressed.

DepEd reported  about 90 schools all over the country suffered damage placed at P600 million, with reconstruction estimated to cost P630 million.

Angara  would be issuing  list of areas where  opening of classes would be deferred, adding that he had ordered DepEd regional directors to work with principals to determine  readiness of schools for  opening of classes.

“We will not force  schools that were damaged and might have difficulties if they open their classes on Monday,” Angara said.

Earlier, DepEd reminded schools to provide students with instructional support should  students be forced to stay in evacuation centers for one week or more during times of disasters.

To prevent prolonged on-site class disruptions during rainy season, DepEd also asked local government units to no longer use public schools as evacuation centers during typhoons and other calamities. While DepEd only allows use of schools as evacuation for  maximum of 15 days, some regional and division offices go past this moratorium at  request of LGUs.

As of 2019, buildings being used for educational purposes outnumber actual structures dedicated to evacuees during natural calamities.

In the provinces, Mayors Benjamin Magalong of Baguio City and Romeo Salda of La Trinidad, Bernard Waclin of Itogon and Armando Lauro of Tublay, all in Benguet province  issued directives to postpone classes in all school levels and work in government offices.

However, those involved in frontline services  like emergency response, delivery of basic, health and medical services as well as disaster risk reduction and management teams  are ordered to report for work.

Pangasinan Gov. Ramon Guico III and Dagupan City Mayor Belen Fernandez issued  similar directive for their respective constituents.

Landslides were reported in provinces of Benguet, Mountain Province and Abra, forcing road closures.

Meanwhile,  Bureau of  Treasury is preparing to file claims for 45 public schools damaged by Typhoon Carina as part of  national indemnity insurance program. NIIP provides comprehensive cover to government assets against fire, lightning, typhoons, floods, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

When  program commenced this year,  Treasury secured coverage for  initial 132,862 school buildings nationwide with  total insured value of P843.11 billion.  Treasury covered  premium for pilot program using  excess payout it received from  catastrophe bond.

In a statement,  Treasury  is now coordinating with DepEd and  Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for  filing of insurance claims.

DepEd reported 45 public schools have been affected by  typhoon, saying  cost of damage has so far reached P308.5 million. Once  payout is confirmed,  DepEd will be able to utilize  funds for  repair and reconstruction of  schools.

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto emphasized  protecting national assets is crucial in ensuring  economic security of Filipinos.

“Poor school facilities negatively impact both teachers and students, leading to lower human capital development, reduced economic productivity and persistent poverty,” Recto said.

NIIP is part of  country’s disaster risk finance strategy,  aims to protect  government’s fiscal health, provide immediate liquidity post-disaster and reduce  impact of disasters on most vulnerable.

Insured by  GSIS,  NIIP aims to cushion government finances from unexpected losses arising from disaster events such as typhoons and earthquakes and ensure access to funding post-disaster for reconstruction.

Unlike  often single-asset insurance purchase,  portfolio approach was taken to spread out  risk and maximize  available premium budget. Under the law, GSIS is mandated to provide insurance cover to all government assets and properties with insurable interests.

Meanwhile,  Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) is questioning  government’s flood control projects, worth over P200 billion, after Carina inundated hundreds of communities, damaging infrastructures, including public schools ahead of  school opening on Monday.

“President Marcos boasted of over 5,500 flood control projects with  budget exceeding 200 billion pesos…yet here we are, witnessing extreme floods that have devastated communities across the country, including facilities in public schools… where are these supposed flood control measures?” said ACT chairman Vladimer Quetua.

ACT criticized President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “empty rhetoric” on climate responsibility and justice, highlighting  administration’s alleged glaring lack of concrete climate adaptation and mitigation measures.

“The President claims  Philippines is resilient and prepared for calamity damages…but the facts on the ground tell  different story with not evena hundred evacuation centers built in two years, our public schools are once again compelled to receive our hapless countrymen who need emergency shelter,” Quetua said.

“This clearly demonstrates  administration’s lack of priority and efficiency in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management…how often do we have  disaster like this where children’s education is sacrificed because of  negligence of the government?” he said.

25 Hulio 2024, Huwebes

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Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

happy 10th Anniversary Binang City, Laguna Chapter Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Inc., Dr. Enrico San Pedro, Pastor 

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IGL included in POGO ban

By Nidz Godino

“Internet gaming licenses are included in the ban,” Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil said ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs)   drew cheers when announced on Monday by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) covers  so-called internet gaming licensees (IGLs).

Marcos capped his third SONA by ordering  halt to operation of POGOs by the end of the year, citing the need to end their “grave abuse and disrespect to our system of laws.”

According to the President,  gaming entities have ventured into “illicit areas furthest from gaming” such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture, even murder.

After Marcos’ SONA, House ways and means committee chairman and Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda expressed hope that administration would find  way to ban POGOs without affecting IGLs.

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco decried  potential loss of billions of peso in revenue from POGOs but  he would comply with  President’s directive.

He said PAGCOR projects to earn this year around P7 billion from its IGLs,  new term for POGOs.

He also cited taxes collected from POGOs by  Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) as well as fees collected by  Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for work permits and by  Bureau of Immigration for alien registration certificates. He said those fees can reach up to P22 billion to P23 billion.

In  previous statement, Tengco said  ban would make it harder to monitor IGLs and would increase  number of illegal operators,  scenario that he said would “pose  bigger headache” to law enforcers. Government  would also lose potential revenues of more than P20 billion per year without any guarantee that illegal activities would stop, Tengco stressed.

Benefits can outweigh  costs of banning POGO, according to  National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

“POGO contributed less than one half of one percent of our GDP ,gross domestic product as of 2022…and that’s what you are likely going to lose or benefit,” NEDA

Secretary Arsenio Balisacan told reporters on sidelines of  post-SONA discussions.

He said there were losses to tourism with presence of POGOs, as China has made it clear that cross-border tourism is to be regulated for countries with POGOs that cater to Chinese individuals.

He said there were also social costs and reputational costs for hosting POGOs in the country.

“Those costs are very high…and I think that I would like to see, the President would like to see legitimate businesses, businesses that give good reputation to our country as  investment destination, as  tourist destination, not ones that encourage criminalities and related negatives,” he said.

Balisacan said workers in  POGO industry to be affected by  ban may be absorbed by  information technology-business process management sector, as these individuals already have some IT skills.

Philippine Economic Zone Authority chief Tereso Panga said that while  agency does not have any POGO locators in  ecozones, it can assist in the process of providing training and employment to displaced workers.

“If we need to upskill and reskill them, that’s the job of our agencies, particularly DOLE, CHED ,Commission on Higher Education and other agencies to provide this training as they transition to these new jobs,” Balisacan said. 

25 Hulio 2024, Huwebes

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Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

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Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

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Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

happy 10th Anniversary Binang City, Laguna Chapter Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Inc., Dr. Enrico San Pedro, Pastor 

PM for any hospital discharge problem

PAGCOR has no jurisdiction on Illegal POGO

By J.Lo

“PAGCOR has no jurisdiction over illegal POGOs…so when he meant that we will ‘wind down’ all POGOs, I suppose he was referring to  existing licenses,” Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco said gaming regulator has no jurisdiction over illegal POGOs.

Tengco  has yet to clarify scope of  ban with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, but assumes it refers to  licensed POGOs, which have been rebranded as internet gaming licensees or IGLs.

Tengco noted that  agency has due process in place for  43 IGLs under its jurisdiction, but has no choice but to comply with the president’s order, announced in his State of the Nation Address on Monday.

He estimated that  ban could result in PAGCOR losing around P7 billion in earnings this year, with total losses across government agencies reaching P22-23 billion.

Licensed  IGLs employ around 40,000 Filipinos, with 31,000 directly hired and nearly 10,000 working in POGO-affiliated business process outsourcing companies, Tengco said. This figure excludes workers indirectly employed by the industry such as drivers, security guards and service staff.

Department of Labor and Employment, meanwhile,  will implement job placement assistance and other interventions to help transition workers displaced by  POGO ban.

“We have programs that we can grant to workers that will be displaced from  IGLs,” Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said in  separate radio interview.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros,  longtime critic of POGOs, also emphasized  need for  “just transition” to ensure  Filipino POGO workers are taken care of following  phaseout.

“Actually, IGLs are  new PAGCOR instrument, it followed old POGO licenses…but with the President’s pronouncements, it should have been gone too,” Hontiveros said.

25 Hulio 2024, Huwebes

Congratulations and more power FMJ!!!

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Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

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Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

happy 10th Anniversary Binang City, Laguna Chapter Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Inc., Dr. Enrico San Pedro, Pastor 

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Ph keeps 73^rd  place in 2024 global passport index

By J.Lo

“We anticipate this growth will continue, and our research has consistently shown  strong correlation between  country’s visa free score and its economic prosperity,” Henley & Partners managing director Scott Moore said Philippine passport kept its spot at 73rd out of 199 passports globally in latest Henley Passport Index,  ranking of all  world’s passports based on visa-free travel to other countries.

While country’s position remains unchanged from its previous January ranking,  number of visa-free destinations for Filipino passport holders went down from 69 to 67. 

Armenia and Togo changed their visa policies and removed visa-free entry for travelers from the Philippines, among other countries, said Moore in  press conference. 

Disregarding  years when COVID-19 pandemic halted global travel,  Philippines has been “fairly consistent” on passport index “with  slight trend upwards” since 2015, Moore said.

With  Philippines’ annual economic growth hovering around 6 to 7.5% in past decade, Moore said  stronger economy in the next years could raise  Philippine passport’s visa-free score.

Nations with higher visa-free scores tend to enjoy greater GDP (Gross domestic product) per capita, increased foreign investments and more robust international trade relationships, he explained. 

Compared to its Southeast Asian neighbors,  Philippines’ visa-free score is “right in the middle of the pack,” Moore said.

Based on July 2024 index,  Philippines’ passport performs better than Vietnam and South Asian countries India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and China scored higher than Philippines. 

Singapore,  reclaimed  top spot as  most powerful passport with visa-free access to 195 countries, is “definitely  outlier,” Moore said. 

Second to Singapore are  countries France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain, all share  spot.  

Sitting in third place are countries Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden. 

Meanwhile,  United Kingdom, described as “former passport powerhouse,” remains at  4th place along with Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland. 

Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the list, with its passport losing visa-free travel to another country in the last six months. This brings Afghanistan’s access to visa-free countries to just 26, lowest score ever recorded in the history of  19-year-old index.

Henley Passport Index ranks countries’ passports based on official data from  International Air Transport Association.

25 Hulio 2024, Huwebes

Congratulations and more power FMJ!!!

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Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

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Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

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Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

happy 10th Anniversary Binang City, Laguna Chapter Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Inc., Dr. Enrico San Pedro, Pastor 

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Senate scrapped mother tongue requirement for k to Grade 3 students

By Nidz Godino

“Mother tongue as  medium of instruction is not  one-size-fits-all solution for every classroom… effective only in monolingual environments where learners are uniformly native speakers of the same mother tongue,” Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said Senate  approved on third and final reading  bill to discontinue  mandatory use of mother tongue as  medium of instruction from Kindergarten to Grade 3.

Measure , sponsored by Gatchalian, was formalized by Senate President Francis Escudero, day after  opening session of  19th Congress.

According to Gatchalian,  measure was only effective in schools where everyone was using the same language, more so in far-flung areas. 

New  bill allows Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education, as outlined in Republic Act 10533  Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, to be applied in monolingual classes provided  orthography is developed and documented by  Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), and that literature in  language and culture is available.

Bill  also mandated  Department of Education to review  implementation of  program three years after  law is passed.   

“Review shall further include recommendations on whether to continue or discontinue  optional use of  mother tongue as  medium of instruction in monolingual classes based on  review conducted by  DepEd,”  bill stated. 

TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

Psalm 119:60

⁶⁰ I will hasten and not delay
    to obey your commands.

24 Hulio 2024, Miyerkules

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Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

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Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

happy 10th Anniversary Binang City, Laguna Chapter Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Inc., Dr. Enrico San Pedro, Pastor 

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Tulfo ask suspension of PUVMP

By Nidz Godino

“Ako po ay maghahain ng resolusyon para suspendihin po itong PUVMP and susuportahan naman po ako ng mga kasamahan ko sa Senado, majority, minority, and even the Senate President – then so be it,” Sen. Raffy Tulfo is set to file  resolution seeking to suspend  Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP). 

During  Senate Committee on Public Services, Senate President Francis Escudero urged Tulfo to submit  resolution after  latter expressed concern over  allegedly failed implementation of  PUVMP. 

Escudero  had long opposed  PUVMP, saying  it was hastily implemented. He also pointed out that no matter how much PUVMP drivers worked, they would not be able to afford  required models of jeepney. 

Tulfo would file resolution so that Senate could immediately pass it. 

Escudero would help Tulfo get required signatures

PUVMP,  carryover program of previous administration, is long-delayed plan to modernize  country’s jeepney systems. However, many transport groups have opposed  measure, arguing that they could not afford it and thousands would lose livelihoods following its implementation.