News Roundup 31 December 2023
Dec 31, 2023 • 4 min Read
ASEAN foreign ministers urge peace, restraint amid South China Sea tensions | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Top diplomats of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) expressed concern over escalating tensions in the South China Sea and called on all parties involved to engage in peaceful dialogue.
In a statement Saturday, ASEAN foreign ministers said they “closely follow with concern the recent developments in the South China Sea that may undermine peace, security and stability in the region.”
“We reaffirm the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, safety, security, stability, and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the maritime sphere of Southeast Asia, particularly the South China Sea,” they said.
The statement comes amid rising tensions between the Philippines and China, with Manila releasing videos showing Chinese ships ramming and firing water cannons at Philippine vessels.
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has sought to strengthen ties with the United States and push back against Beijing increasingly aggressive behavior in the West Philippine Sea.
Full Story at: ASEAN foreign ministers urge peace, restraint amid South China Sea tensions | Philstar.com
Transport group says PUV modernization program should ‘leave no one behind’ | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — A transport group renewed its appeal to the government to leave no one behind in its modernization program as the deadline for the consolidation of public utility vehicles (PUVs), particularly jeepneys, lapsed Sunday.
The year-end deadline pushed through despite protests by jeepney drivers and operators who fear the PUV modernization program will force them off the road by 2024.
Those who failed to file an application to consolidate into cooperatives or cooperation by December 31 will not be allowed to organize into a juridical entity or join consolidated transport service entity.
“We are calling on the administration of [President] Bongbong Marcos to prove that he will not abandon his campaign promise of leaving no one behind,” Piston president Mody Floranda said in Filipino in an interview with TeleRadyo Serbisyo. He was referring to Marcos’ presidential campaign slogan: “Sama-sama tayong babangon muli.”
“Many drivers and operators are relying on Marcos’ promise,” Floranda added.
The transport leader also urged the Supreme Court to recognize the importance of public transport in the country. Piston earlier asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order against the franchise consolidation requirement.
The modernization program aims to replace jeepneys that are 15 or more years old with newer and cleaner units, and consolidate operators and drivers into cooperatives or corporations.
Drivers and operators recognize the need to upgrade the iconic but polluting jeepney, but they stress the cost of modernization is too steep.
Full Story at: Transport group says PUV modernization program should ‘leave no one behind’ | Philstar.com
Pimentel hits PUV modernization budget, asks gov’t to take heed | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The P1.6 billion allocated for the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) modernization program was one of the reasons why Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III voted against the proposed 2024 national budget.
“Isa rin [ang PUV modernization] sa dahilan [kung bakit] bumoto ako ng no sa budget. Kasi nabigyan ng budget na P1.6 billion ang PUV modernization program,” said Pimentel in an interview over DZBB.
(The PUV modernization is also one of the reasons why I voted against the budget. Because the PUV modernization program was given a budget of P1.6 billion.)
According to Pimentel, the administration should listen to the voice of the people, especially the affected sector.
“Rather magpatuloy sila sa pagiging driver ng jeepney, stop na lang daw sila dahil lugi nga,” said Pimentel.
“Hanapbuhay ito at hindi naman hanap utang. Kung ganyan ang salita ng ating mga kababayan ay makinig naman tayo,” he emphasized.
(Rather than continuing their jobs, they say they would stop because they are losing money. They are after a means of livelihood, not a loan. If that’s what our countrymen say, let’s listen.)
Full Story at: Pimentel hits PUV modernization budget, asks gov’t to take heed | Inquirer News
Labor group fears fare hike, job loss due to PUV modernization program | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Alyansa ng Manggagawa sa Probinsya ng Laguna labor group on Sunday said it fears a possible fare hike with impending implementation of the government’s Public Utility Vehicles (PUV) modernization program.
“It will definitely become an additional burden for every worker in Laguna, especially when their daily wages range from only P385-520,” the group said in Filipino in its post on social media.
Previously, transport group Piston mentioned that it is anticipating a minimum fare increase to P35 with an additional P3 per succeeding kilometer if traditional jeepney units are be replaced with modern ones.
The labor group also voiced its concern over the loss of jobs in the transport sector upon the implementation of the program.
Another labor group, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), likewise pointed out that the modernization program will displace thousands of jeepney drivers and operators.
Full Story at: Labor group fears fare hike, job loss due to PUV modernization program | Inquirer News
