News Roundup 05 March 2023
Mar 05, 2023 • 3 min Read
MMDA suspends coding for Monday, deploys 25 vehicles to help during transport strike week | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said Sunday that it is lifting the number coding scheme on Monday, the first day of the week-long transportation strike against the public utility vehicle modernization program.
In a statement, the MMDA said that it will provide 25 vehicles, including buses, to pick up passengers it sees will be “stranded” on the road due to the reduced number of public utility vehicles plying usual routes.
“The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is prepared to provide free rides to passengers that will possibly be stranded during the one-week transport strike that will start on Monday,” the statement read in Filipino.
MMDA Acting Chairman Don Artes said in an earlier statement that the “libreng sakay” vehicles to be deployed by MMDA can accommodate 1,200 passengers per trip.
Metro Manila police said on Friday that it will order five police districts to provide free rides for passengers starting Monday, 1 a.m.
In a statement, Metro Manila police chief Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo said that 10 vehicles — mostly trucks and buses — will be used to ferry affected commuters all over the metropolis, with the possibility of adding patrol vehicles.
Jeepney drivers and operators will stage a week-long transport strike beginning Monday to protest the jeepney modernization program, which transport groups say would force drivers to shoulder the hefty cost of consolidating jeepney franchises, as well as hike minimum jeepney fares.
Barangay, SK candidates warned against premature campaigning | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines – A former national president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and original convenor of a cause-oriented group on election issues on Sunday reminded and warned candidates in the coming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in October against disqualification on the basis of premature campaigning.
“This is a tricky issue because the village and SK elections are not automated but manual polling or counting as such it is not covered by a 2009 Supreme Court ruling that virtually nullified premature campaigning,” Atty. Jose Vicente Salazar, also known as Jovy Salazar in social circles, said.
A former Justice and Department of Information and Communications Technology Undersecretary, Atty. Salazar is one of the two original convenors of LENTE (Legal Network for Truthful Elections), formed in 2007 together with Ateneo Human Rights Center head, Atty. Chochoy Medina, and other representatives from CBCP-NASSA, PPCRV, NAMFREL, and ALSP.
Full Story at: Barangay, SK candidates warned against premature campaigning | Philstar.com
Angkas assures passengers: No price surges during transport strike | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Angkas will keep operating even during the week-long transport strike that starts on Monday and it will not implement any price surges or extra fees, George Royeca, the co-founder and chief executive officer of the ride-hailing firm said in a statement on Twitter on Sunday.
“Staying true to our core of providing safe alternative transport to our riding public, we would like to assure our commuters that will do our best to augment any transportation gaps that may be brought about by the impending transport strike,” Royeca said.
He called on commuters to report any erring Angkas rider who would demand to be paid extra fare. Royeca also reminded passengers to book rides earlier than usual to avoid inconveniences.
“You can be assured your Angkas fleet and the whole team will do everything we can to get you to your destinations,” Royeca said.
5th suspect in murder of Negros Oriental governor nabbed | INQUIRER.NET – DUMAGUETE CITY — A fifth suspect in the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and eight other persons was arrested by joint forces of the police and the Philippine Army in Bayawan City on Sunday, March 5.
Osmundo Rivero did not resist arrest.
Full Story at: 5th suspect in murder of Negros Oriental governor nabbed | Inquirer News
