News Roundup 01 March 2023
Mar 01, 2023 • 4 min Read
Jeepney groups shun talks; strike plan gains backers | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The weeklong strike planned next week by various public transport groups will push through despite a call for dialogue from Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, an official of one of the organizers said on Tuesday.
“There will be no dialogue for now, I will stand my ground. We will proceed with this,” transport group Manibela president Mar Valbuena said in a press conference on Tuesday.
According to Valbuena, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) Memorandum Circular No. 2023-013, which stipulates that franchises or provisional authorities (PAs) of traditional jeepneys will be valid only until June 30, should be scrapped first before they engage in any discussion.
Bautista on Tuesday said the government would be willing to discuss with transport groups the possible extension of the June 30 deadline for traditional jeepney operators to join cooperatives or corporations that will acquire modern public utility vehicles (PUVs).
However, he said the government would not scrap its PUV modernization program.
The official pointed out that the government needed to modernize PUVs for “a convenient, accessible, safe and secure and affordable” transport system.
Full Story at: Jeepney groups shun talks; strike plan gains backers | Inquirer News
Comelec halts proclamation of Erwin Tulfo as ACT-CIS party-list nominee due to DQ case | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday suspended the proclamation of Erwin Tulfo as a nominee of the Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Party-list amid a disqualification case filed against the former social welfare chief.
“In its Regular Meeting today, March 1, 2023, the Commission on Elections en banc resolved to suspend the proclamation of Mr. Erwin P. Tulfo, nominee next-in-line of ACT-CIS Paty-List Group in view of the filing of a Petition for Disqualification against him on 28 February 2023,” the poll body said in a statement.
According to the Comelec, a certain Atty. Moises Tolentino Jr. sought Tulfo’s disqualification on allegations pertaining to the “question of citizenship” and “conviction by final judgment of a crime involving moral turpitude.”
Comelec explained that under Section 8, Rule 5 of Comelec Resolution No. 9366, a nominee’s proclamation may be suspended “if the evidence in the Petition for Disqualification is strong and such remains unresolved.”
Full Story at: Comelec halts proclamation of Erwin Tulfo as ACT-CIS party-list nominee due to DQ case | Inquirer News
Oil spill from sunken tanker could threaten Verde Island Passage’s biodiversity — group | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — A coalition of environment advocates and local stakeholders called on the government to urgently contain an oil spill caused by a sunken tanker, saying this could threaten the already fragile Verde Island Passage and the livelihoods of people who depend on the marine corridor.
The Philippine Coast Guard is monitoring a spill of diesel fuel stretching several kilometers after oil tanker MT Princess Empress sank off the coast of Oriental Mindoro. The vessel was carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel.
Oriental Mindoro is one of the five provinces surrounding the Verde Island Passage, which is considered by scientists as the center of the marine biodiversity.
“Fish may experience reduced growth and the turbid waters will make it harder for seagrasses and corals to grow,” said Fr. Edwin Gariguez, convenor of Protect VIP.
“We are concerned that fishing activities will be restricted if the spill is not addressed soon. Potential fish kills due to the oil spill may cause lesser fish stock out of the already dwindling fish catch,” he added.
Full Story at: Oil spill from sunken tanker could threaten Verde Island Passage’s biodiversity — group | Philstar.com
You can now pay travel tax online. Here’s how | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, the infrastructure arm of the Department of Tourism, on Tuesday, has launched its Online Travel Tax Services Systems, providing the public with a convenient channel to pay their travel taxes online.
The OTTS was launched to save the time that travelers consume queuing in airports before boarding their flights.
The system was launched after TIEZA chief operating officer Mark Lapid signed the Memorandum of Agreement with MyEG PH Chief Executive Officer Ann Margaret Saldaña last June 8, 2022, at the Midas Tent in Midas Hotel and Casino, Pasay City.
Full Story at: You can now pay travel tax online. Here’s how | Philstar.com
