News Roundup 01 April 2023
Apr 01, 2023 • 4 min Read
Probers: Lamp spark triggered ferry fire | PHILSTAR.COM – Zamboanga City, Philippines – A spark from a ceiling lamp in a passenger cabin may have caused the fire that killed dozens of passengers on the ferry Lady Mary Joy 3 off Basilan, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) investigators said yesterday.
The PCG’s Marine Casualty Investigation team revealed the initial findings after interviewing passengers and crewmembers.
“Based on the initial results of the interview, it showed that the fire started from one of the air-conditioned passenger cabins. Apparently, there was spark from the ceiling lamp. The plastic covering reportedly melted and hit the mattress, causing the fire,” Ens. Tenessy Charl Rojas, deputy commander and spokesman for the Zamboanga Coast Guard station, said.
Rojas said three investigators from PCG headquarters in Manila arrived here late Thursday.
He said based on interviews with survivors, crewmembers using fire extinguishers tried in vain to put out the fire, which spread rapidly on the deck. Rojas said investigators are set to further inspect the wreckage of the boat for more evidence.
Full Story at: Probers: Lamp spark triggered ferry fire | Philstar.com
‘Bad for commuters’: Group lambasts SC for junking petition vs MRT-LRT fare hike | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — A progressive group condemned a recent decision by the Supreme Court to dismiss its petition against the implementation of fare hikes within the MRT and LRT systems that have been stalled eight years ago — stating that this would lead to more rounds of increases in the long run.
In a statement released last Friday, the SC En Banc stated they are dismissing various petitions from 2015, challenging the former Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC)’s department order which mandates the application of “user-pays” principle and adopts a uniform base fare of P11.00, plus P1.00 per kilometer of distance travelled.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) last January urged the SC to expedite the ruling on the petition, stating that no public consultation was held prior to the implementation of the fare adjustment. The group earlier suggested that refunds in form of discounts should be given after years of collecting increased fares.
“The SC dismissal of our petitions legitimizes the 2015 fare hikes and paves the way for a new round of fare increases for the MRT and LRT. This is bad for commuters,” said Renato Reyes, secretary general of BAYAN, this Saturday.
“An initial reading of the SC press release shows that our petitions were dismissed because the then DoTC substantially complied with the required notice and hearing for the fare hike. At the time, such notice and hearing consisted of mere announcements and a forum where the DoTC gave power point presentations. Is this the barest minimum now for notice and hearings for fare hikes that affect hundreds of thousands of commuters?” he added.
Full Story at: ‘Bad for commuters’: Group lambasts SC for junking petition vs MRT-LRT fare hike | Philstar.com
BARMM lawmakers seek own inquiry into Basilan sea mishap | INQUIRER.NET – COTABATO CITY — Two members of the interim parliament of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) had jointly filed a resolution seeking the conduct of their own investigation into the fire incident last Wednesday involving MV Lady Mary Joy 3 of Aleson Shipping as it was passing through Basilan en route to Sulu.
Members of Parliament Amir Mawallil and Laisa Masuhud Alamia filed Proposed Resolution No. 209 which seeks to assess the sufficiency of existing protocols and safety measures for maritime travel within the Bangsamoro region.
The measure, according to Mawallil, aims to craft legislation that will reinforce existing policies.
The tragedy claimed at least 29 lives.
“While we grieve with the families of those lost in the tragic ferry fire, we in the Bangsamoro government should also make sure we take steps to ensure that this incident does not happen again. It is very unfortunate that this tragedy occurred during the Holy Month of Ramadan, which only adds to our sorrow,” Mawallil said.
Mawallil said the incident raises troubling questions, including how it could have occurred, given that the Bangsamoro people have traveled these waters for millennia.
Full Story at: BARMM lawmakers seek own inquiry into Basilan sea mishap | Inquirer News
Sectoral regents endorse Nemenzo as next UP Diliman Chancellor | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines–Dr. Fidel R. Nemenzo has received the endorsement of all University of the Phillippines sectoral regents, as well as one regent-at-large, for the position of Chancellor of UP Diliman.
The three regents represent the sectors of the academic community: Carlo Marc Ramota, Faculty Regent; Siegfred Raymundo Severino, Student Regent; and Victoria Canape-Belegal, Staff Regent.
They declared that they will vote for Nemenzo due to his qualifications and the support he has received from various sectors of the community.
In a statement, they said they want a chancellor who “embodies the traditions and principles of academic excellence, honor and democratic governance; advances the interests and welfare of the sectors and the rank-and-file employees; defends academic freedom and human rights; and defends the public character of UP as the national university.”
Raul Pagdanganan, another regent, also publicly endorsed Nemenzo as the next UP Diliman Chancellor.The UP Board of Regents requires a minimum of six votes for a candidate to be appointed. The board is set to meet on April 3 at Quezon Hall to select the next UP Diliman Chancellor.
