DOTr releases list of alternative modes of transport for passengers affected by MRT-3 shutdown
BY ALEXANDRIA SAN JUAN * The Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Road Sector will continue to roll out other modes of public transportation after the shutting down of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) on Tuesday. DOTr Assistant Secretary Goddess Libiran said passengers may use the MRT-3 Bus Augmentation, the EDSA Busway System, […].....»»
Online booking fare slightly higher: Dcott
DURING the AFP-PNP-ISpeak press conference on Wednesday morning, March 20, 2024, at the Royal Mandaya Hotel, Aisa Usop, the manager of Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (Dcott), said that the fare for online booking is slightly higher than traditional fares, prompting inquiries from passengers......»»
AIADMK releases first list of 16 candidates for Lok Sabha polls
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], March 20 (ANI): AIADMK on Wednesday released its first list of 16 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2024. The list was released by the party general secretary, Edappadi K Palaniswami. While releasing the list, he said that five constituencies have been allocated to the DMDK; and one each to Puthiya Tamilagam and SDPI. "In the AIADMK alliance, DMDMK is to contest in 5 seats, SDPI.....»»
DSWD: Gov’t may still grant P15K subsidy to El Niño-hit farmers
The Marcos administration has not ruled out granting P15,000 in cash subsidy to farmers who will be severely affected by the El Niño phenomenon, the Department of Social Welfare and Development announced on Thursday. DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the agency is in talks with the Department of Agriculture for other interventions after the Sustainable Livelihood Program payout of cash aid to micro rice retailers and sari-sari store owners selling rice. The DSWD chief earlier said the SLP payout for sari-sari store owners has already started, following Malacanang’s imposition of a price cap on regular and well-milled rice through Executive Order No. 39. "We are coordinating with the Department of Agriculture to make sure the intervention will arrive in the coming days. Right now, we are finishing with the small rice retailers. I am a hundred percent sure the president will want to see the shortlist with the department," Gatchalian said. He added that the DSWD can adopt the SLP-cash aid payout mechanism similar to the subsidy for small and micro rice retailers where the list of SLP beneficiaries was provided by the Department of Trade and Industry. The DSWD chief said the DA will be the one to identify the SLP farmer-beneficiaries most affected by the El Niño phenomenon. Aside from SLP, the DSWD launched Project LAWA, or the Local Adaptation to Water Access, in Davao de Oro, Ifugao, and Antique last 31 August to help improve the resiliency of communities affected by the El Niño phenomenon. Project LAWA is an early action plan of the government to mitigate the impacts of drought and dry spells by establishing small farm reservoirs. To assist the poor, vulnerable and marginalized families of Indigenous Peoples, farmers, and fisherfolk, the DSWD, through its cash-for-training and –work program, will provide financial support as an alternative income in exchange for the work rendered by the beneficiaries while constructing the alternative water resources. The post DSWD: Gov’t may still grant P15K subsidy to El Niño-hit farmers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Yellen says US ‘carefully’ monitoring China economy
The United States is "carefully" monitoring China's challenges, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Friday, as the slowdown in the world's second-largest economy raises concerns for global growth. Many are worried about the Asian giant's struggles, with the threat of recession in Europe and high inflation in many major economies contributing to a plunge in demand for Chinese goods. "China faces a variety of both short and longer-term global challenges, economic challenges that we've been monitoring carefully," Yellen told reporters in New Delhi, ahead of a two-day G20 summit. "That said, China has quite a bit of policy space to address these challenges," she added. China's President Xi Jinping will miss the leaders' meeting at a time of heightened trade and geopolitical tensions with the United States and India, with which it shares a long and disputed border. China's challenges included "less of a pick up in consumer spending that had been anticipated in the aftermath of the Covid restrictions, as well as long-standing issues with respect to the property sector and... debt related to that", she said. G20 host India overtook its northern neighbor as the world's most populous country earlier this year, and Yellen added that China's "labor force is beginning to shrink". Xi's absence will impact Washington's bid to keep the G20 the main forum of global economic cooperation and its efforts towards a financing push for developing countries. That includes a plan to increase World Bank and International Monetary Fund lending power for emerging nations by some $200 billion as a better alternative to Beijing's "coercive" Belt and Road Initiative. While "aware of the risks to global growth", Yellen said she had "been surprised by the strength of global growth and how resilient the global economy has proven to be". "While there are risks and some countries that have certainly been affected, overall, the global economy has been resilient," she added. Yellen added that the "most important negative influence is Russia's war on Ukraine." The post Yellen says US ‘carefully’ monitoring China economy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DSWD Project LAWA to improve community resilience amid El Niño
The Department of Social Welfare and Development over the weekend said that Project LAWA or the Local Adaptation to Water Access will improve the resiliency of communities affected by the El Niño phenomenon. Project LAWA, which was simultaneously launched in Davao de Oro, Ifugao, and Antique on Thursday (31 August), is an early action plan of the government to mitigate the impacts of drought and dry spells by establishing small farm reservoirs (SFRs). “By building water-harvesting facilities, our farmers and fisherfolk will be ready for the effects of El Niño and climate change," DSWD Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Romel Lopez said. "They can use SRFs to improve the production of crops or they can use it as fishponds for an additional income,” Lopez, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, pointed out. The LAWA project targets to construct 90 SFRs in the nine local government units (LGUs) in Davao de Oro, Ifugao, and Antique. The three provinces were chosen based on the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration’s (PAGASA) geophysical map which showed that Davao de Oro, Ifugao, and Antique would be severely affected by El Niño. To assist the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized families of Indigenous Peoples (IPs), farmers, and fisherfolk, the DSWD, through its cash-for-training and –work program, will provide financial support as an alternative income in exchange for the work rendered by the beneficiaries while constructing the alternative water resources. “Through this cost-efficient and small-scale infrastructure for community-based rainwater retention, production of crops will not be affected, hence the continuous income of our farmers,” the DSWD spokesperson explained. According to the Department of Agriculture-Water Resources Management Division, SFR is a smaller version of Small Water Impounding Projects (SWIP) that “collects rainfall and runoff for use by a single farm, with height of less than 4 meters and reservoir area of 300–1,500 square meters serving about half to a hectare of farmlands.” In partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), the DSWD is exploring the possibility of applying vermicomposting to Project LAWA in 2024 to further provide the beneficiary- communities with alternatives to increase crop yield. The post DSWD Project LAWA to improve community resilience amid El Niño appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Over 100 collapse-prone schools told to close
Education authorities in the United Kingdom has told at least 104 schools and colleges to shut their buildings that are prone to collapse. The education ministry said Thursday that affected schools buildings are those made with Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete which was widely used for school and college constructions from the 1950s to the mid-1990s. RAAC poses collapse risk over time and schools were warned about this and told to implement mitigations as early as 2018, according to the ministry. In its new guidance, the ministry asked that affected buildings be vacated and to either fully or partially relocate to alternative accommodation. The announcement comes as millions of pupils in England are returning to school after the lengthy summer holidays. “Nothing is more important than making sure children and staff are safe in schools and colleges, which is why we are acting on new evidence about RAAC now, ahead of the start of term,” Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said. Education officials, public-sector unions and opposition parties hit out at the government. Unison union’s head of education Mike Short said it “squandered valuable months hiding this crisis when they should have been fixing dangerous school buildings.” WITH AFP The post Over 100 collapse-prone schools told to close appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DHSUD hits ground running on Pasig River rehab
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development has hit the ground running after being tapped as head of the Inter-Agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development by virtue of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order 35. DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, along with key DHSUD officials, has started inspecting key areas along the Pasig River and laid out plans on how to implement the President’s order. Initially, Acuzar checked on the portions of the historical river in Manila, particularly at the back of the Central Post Office, which is being eyed as pilot area for mixed-use development and tourism spot, and Parola Compound for the affected informal settler families. “We already have plans, and we will soon present it to the Office of the President and before the council for approval,” Acuzar said. The DHSUD chief has already met with MMDA Chairman Romando Artes, vice chair of the IAC-PRUD, to discuss the council’s initial steps to put the order’s provisions into actionable strategies for the member-agencies. Under EO35, the secretaries of DPWH, DENR, DILG, DOT, DoTr, DOF, DBM; the chairperson of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, general manager of the Philippine Ports Authority, commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard, the general manager of the Laguna Lake Development Authority and the chief executive officer of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority were named as council members. The National Housing Authority will serve as the secretariat. The IAC-PRUD was tasked primarily to “facilitate and ensure the full rehabilitation of the banks along the Pasig River water system and nearby water systems in order to provide alternative transportation, propel economic opportunities, and boost tourism activities.” The council was directed to formulate a Pasig River Urban Development Plan which shall serve as the blueprint for the full rehabilitation of the river to realize its full potential for mixed-use development, transportation, recreation, tourism and sustainable human settlement, taking into consideration its historic and cultural value. It was also ordered to “study, prepare and implement a comprehensive shelter plan for massive relocation of informal settler families and other unauthorized or unlawful occupants along the Pasig River banks, including identification of suitable relocation sites; strategies for economic and social integration for ISFs, and long-term solutions to address ongoing migration into the Pasig River banks." The EO also authorizes the IAC-PRUD to “accept grants, contributions, donations, endowments, bequests or gifts in cash or in kind from local and foreign sources in support of the formulation and implementation of the Pasig River Urban Development Plan, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations. To monitor the progress of the rehabilitation, EO35 tasked the IAC-PRUD to submit to the Office of the President, through the Office of the Executive Secretary, a quarterly status report. The post DHSUD hits ground running on Pasig River rehab appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos’ plan vs flooding: water dam to catch floods, improve agri
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday called on government entities to implement solutions aligned with the challenges posed by climate change. Marcos made the appeal during his visits to flood-affected communities in Bulacan and Pampanga due to recent typhoons and the intensified southwest monsoon (habagat). "We won't return to how things used to be; this is how climate change is now. We can't do the things we used to do anymore," Marcos said during the situation briefing in Pampanga. Marcos said that the national government has a master plan which includes building a big water dam to help stop floods and improve agriculture at the same time. "If nothing is done, flooding will happen again and again even if we dredge," Marcos said. Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation president Rogelio "Babes" Singson, who previously served as the Public Works and Highways Secretary during the Aquino administration, suggested building a 200-hectare water storage space in the Candaba swamp in Pampanga. Singson, who was present during the situation briefing, explained that the initiative aims to mitigate flooding in the surrounding regions with lower elevations. However, Pampanga Representative Anna York Bondoc disagreed with the suggestion, saying that such a plan could negatively impact the livelihoods of local residents, particularly those engaged in rice farming. Marcos then guaranteed that the government would not do the project without their consent. "If there are people who will be displaced, I will personally guarantee each farmer that they will be transferred to another location that is equally good to ensure they won't encounter difficulties or losses," Marcos said. Marcos also said that the government is planning to raise the North Luzon Expressway bridge in San Simon by 5.2 meters to prevent a recurrence of flooding in the area, adding that they will study other alternative routes. "We'll raise the NLEX so that what recently happened will not happen again. And then we will study alternative routes," Marcos said. For his part, Singson vowed to fix the situation in the San Simon segment to avoid floods since that segment was "very low," with the longest stretch being only 200 meters and the highest point measuring less than 0.7 meters. "The DPWH agreed to let us raise that portion by 0.7 meters, and we will leave a clearance of 4.5 meters. This will allow legally sized trucks to pass through there," Singson said. Marcos also mentioned that fixing the dredgers is just as a short-term solution, as flooding will happen again if the government does not do anything to solve the problem. The latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council showed that more than 3.2 million individuals across the country had been impacted by Typhoons "Egay" and "Falcon" and the intensified southwest monsoon. The Department of Agriculture assessed the total agricultural damage resulting from the combined impact of the inclement weather at P4.66 billion. Preliminary evaluations by the NDRRMC indicated that the initial destruction to infrastructure is estimated at P3.6 billion. The post Marcos’ plan vs flooding: water dam to catch floods, improve agri appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pursuing sustainable dev’t, food security
Asia is the world's largest rice consumer, accounting for 90 percent of global rice consumption. According to a business website that made use of data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service, the Philippines is among the top 20 countries with the highest rice consumption per capita. Data shows that the country's almost 113 million population consumes around 16.50 million metric tons of rice every year. The affordability and availability of rice have been cited as the primary reasons for Filipinos' penchant for eating rice. Thus, the proliferation of restaurants in the country serving "unlimited rice" has always been a fool-proof marketing strategy to entice customers. India's announcement in July that it would restrict the export of non-basmati rice has jolted not just the country but the global rice market. India is the world's largest rice exporter, accounting for over 40 percent of the global rice trade. It is on this note that I am calling for stronger government interventions in the agricultural sector. Unfortunately, India's decision comes at a time when the country is grappling with flooded rice fields as a result of recent calamities. But we cannot blame India for its decision to prioritize its domestic market. We have to be prepared as this could trigger a rice crisis affecting millions of Filipinos who consider rice a staple food. It is high time that we provide our local farmers with much-needed support to boost domestic rice production by offering them drought-resistant rice seeds, more fertilizers, additional irrigation, increased training, and easy access to credit facilities with low-interest rates. Our government must focus on short-term remedies such as exploring alternative sources like Vietnam and Thailand. But more importantly, we must implement long-term interventions that will lead to sustainable rice production. I have always been an advocate of sustainability and self-sufficiency to achieve food security which is a top priority of the current administration. Meanwhile, I have remained committed to visiting various parts of the country, not only to provide assistance but also to address the concerns of our people. On 5 August, we attended the blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremony of the two-storey Malasakit Center Building at Cotabato Regional and Medical Center in Cotabato City. We aided 647 patients and 2,535 medical frontliners including security guards, utilities, and other hospital staff. Meanwhile, qualified beneficiaries were given financial assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Joining us were CRMC Chief of the Hospital, Dr. Ishmael Dimaren, Maguindanao del Norte Rep. Bai Dimple Mastura, Matnog Mayor Zohria Bansel-Guro, Sultan Kudarat Mayor Tucao Mastura, and Vice Mayor Shameem Mastura. We also participated in the inauguration of the new Super Health Center (SHC) in the town of Libungan, where we assisted 1,000 indigent beneficiaries together with Vice Governor Efren Piñol, former vice governor Shirlyn Macasarte, Mayor Angel Rose Cuan and Vice Mayor Jims Fullecido. At the invitation of Mayor Angel Rose Cuan, we attended the town's Inter-Barangay Basketball Championship as part of its 62nd Founding Anniversary and 8th Katambolit Festival. We then headed to Midsayap to attend the groundbreaking of the SHC and assist 1,000 struggling residents together with Rep. Samantha Santos, Vice Gov. Efren Piñol, Mayor Rolando Sacdalan, and Vice Mayor Vivencio Deomampo Jr. On 4 August, we witnessed the groundbreaking of the SHC to be built in Monkayo, Davao de Oro. We visited the construction and renovation of the public market funded through our efforts. We also distributed assistance to 1,000 indigents in the area accompanied by Congresswoman Maria Carmen Zamora, Vice Governor Jayvee Uy, and Board Member Herv Apsay, among others. On 3 August, we were in Batangas to witness the groundbreaking of the Batangas Provincial Medical Center (New Provincial Hospital) in the municipality of Tuy. We also led the distribution of aid to 1,700 residents, with the support of Governor Dodo Mandanas. We were joined by Vice Gov. Mark Leviste, Congressmen Eric Buhain and Ray Reyes, Tuy Mayor Jose Jecerell Cerrado, San Luis Mayor Oscar Lito Hernandez, Vice Mayor Maan de Gracia, Lian Vice Mayor Ronin Leviste, and other local officials. We then went to Davao City to attend the 1st General Assembly of the Philippine Councilors League-Occidental Mindoro. On 2 August, we visited Caloocan City and witnessed the groundbreaking of the SHC, along with Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, Congresswoman Mitch Cajayon-Uy, Congressman Oca Malapitan, Mayor Along Malapitan, and Vice Mayor Karina Teh. We distributed aid to 980 impoverished residents in collaboration with the offices of Cong. Cajayon-Uy, Councilor Ed Aruelo, and Councilor Wewel De Leon. For those affected by Typhoon Egay, we distributed food packs and assisted 5,000 beneficiaries in Minalin, Arayat, and various towns in Pampanga; 500 in Bauang, La Union; 700 in Calumpit, and 1,700 residents from Hagonoy, Guiguinto, and San Miguel in Bulacan; 900 in Dagupan City, San Fabian, and Calasiao in Pangasinan; 200 in Binangonan, Rizal; and 200 in San Antonio, Zambales. We also assisted 89 fire victims in various barangays in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. We also provided help to 1,200 impoverished residents of Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija; 1,049 in San Pedro City, Laguna; 800 in Tabaco City, Albay; and 67 more in Pulupandan, Negros Occidental. We also helped people in Bulacan, including 66 in Santa Maria, 66 in Paombong, 66 in Baliwag, 66 in Bustos, 66 in Obando, and 66 in Norzagaray. In Batangas, we also assisted 500 beneficiaries from Calaca, 400 in Tanauan City, and 57 more in Batangas City. The post Pursuing sustainable dev’t, food security appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MMDA clears obstacles at EDSA bypass
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has cleared the proposed alternative routes in connection with road repairs being done on the highway. The agency said clearing operations were done at the Mabuhay Lanes, Timog, Tomas Morato and West Avenue. Citation tickets were issued to parked vehicles, as well as public vehicles loading and unloading in unauthorized areas. The MMDA said road repairs being done in the EDSA carousel will continue until 5 a.m. on 9 August. Affected roads are: Both directions of the EDSA Busway in Caloocan; the road along SM North Edsa to MRT Quezon Avenue station, in front of Corinthian Gardens past Camp Aguinaldo, in front of the BBM headquarters and near Ricoa in Mandaluyong City; and four other areas in Makati City, from the Guadalupe Bridge to Rockwell Kalayaan Footbridge. Repairs along EDSA began Friday night and resulted in traffic build-up on Saturday morning. The traffic build-up was on the northbound lane stretched from North Avenue to just before the Quezon Avenue flyover in Quezon City. Motorists are advised to take the following alternate routes during the road repairs: Caloocan — Use Rizal Avenue, A. Bonifacio Avenue, or EDSA Balintawak; Quezon City Use Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon Avenue, or Sgt. Rivera Street; Mandaluyong City — Use Boni Avenue, Shaw Boulevard, or EDSA Guadalupe; Makati City — Use Ayala Avenue, Buendia Avenue or EDSA Guadalupe. The post MMDA clears obstacles at EDSA bypass appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Expect EDSA road repair gridlock — MMDA
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority warned motorists that repair work on roads damaged by continuous downpour will cause traffic congestion along EDSA next week. The asphalt overlay and reblocking will be conducted by the Department of Public Works and Highways in 15 EDSA sites from 10 p.m. of 4 August, Friday, until 5 a.m. of 9 August Wednesday. MMDA acting Chairman Romando Artes said they decided that instead of conducting asphalt overlay and reblocking every weekend that sometimes left unfinished, they will instead conduct one-time, big-time repairs. “Fifteen sites will be repaired simultaneously. The road works will run for the whole day. If it will be limited to nighttime, the repairs will take 15 days, there will be heavy traffic,” said Artes, thus he urged commuters to use alternate routes, avoid EDSA during the repairs, or take the MRT. Also, Artes told motorists to plan their commute and if they finish the activities that would entail passing through EDSA this Thursday and Friday, for them to enable reducing the volume of vehicles. The MMDA said the repairs are also part of government efforts to prepare for hosting the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Quezon City to be held later this month. The roads that will be affected will be along these areas: Both directions of the EDSA Busway in Caloocan; Road along SM North Edsa to MRT Quezon Avenue station; in front of Corinthian Gardens past Camp Aguinaldo; In front of the BBM headquarters and near Ricoa in Mandaluyong City; four other areas are in Makati City, and from the Guadalupe Bridge to Rockwell Kalayaan Footbridge. Motorists traveling from North-to-South in Metro Manila are advised to use the Skyway as an alternative route while the repairs are ongoing. There are also 11 other alternative routes along the Mabuhay lanes which are posted on the MMDA website. Artes said the agency will deploy additional enforcers to guide motorists during the repairs. The post Expect EDSA road repair gridlock — MMDA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Quick AI response as small biz magnet
Digital banking powered by artificial intelligence or AI is increasingly becoming the norm. How fast and flexible industry players can maximize benefits from this technology to provide credit to most small businesses is the edge, Edwin Bautista, president and CEO of Union Bank of the Philippines, told the Daily Tribune. [caption id="attachment_164549" align="aligncenter" width="585"] Edwin R. Bautista, president and CEO, UnionBank of the Philippines[/caption] “All we know is AI will disrupt industries, so the earlier you try to figure out how to adopt it, the better. Now, the question is, how many financial institutions are prepared to make that bet of lending using alternative data sources using AI?” Bautista said. UBP’s digital banking arm UnionDigital Bank is shifting gears to provide small businesses with accessible loans using AI. It collects data from the Internet and humans and organizes them into qualitative and quantitative categories to generate text, images, audio and videos. Many small business owners usually need financial statements on paper, as they sell products and services primarily online through social media, such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. However, Bautista said their financial capabilities could be traced and analyzed even without the formal documents required by traditional banks, such as income tax returns, financial statements, and trading partners profiles. He stressed AI does not discriminate. “When you look at the smaller businesses, they appear as an underground economy, so they cannot produce those kinds of documents. AI will help us because what it does is it puts together different information about that particular business or person and flow of sales so it can give a prediction on whether the small business owner will pay you back or not.” This technology is critical to lenders, including informal lenders, as micro, small and medium enterprises comprise 99 percent of all businesses in the country and drive most of its economic activities. Global market researcher McKinsey & Company said Philippine-based lenders can boost their growth by tapping the country’s bankable population, which is expected to expand by 30 percent to 85 million by 2030, along with owners of small and medium enterprises. “The Philippines has an estimated 15 million informal entrepreneurs and self-employed workers. Meanwhile, retail lending is heavily concentrated in a narrow band of wealthy households,” the researcher said. McKinsey reported a few domestic digital banks had gained traction, with three digital banks, including UnionDigital, growing a total market value by $3 billion. In contrast, traditional banks only saw a $2.2 billion growth between January 2021 and January 2023. However, McKinsey stressed digital banks in the Philippines have been limiting their services to mobile payments. “While competition in digital financial services intensifies, dominant players have yet to emerge outside the mobile-payments subsector. Six digital banks have recently launched operations in the Philippines, but none lend at scale.” Unlike informal lenders, Bautista said digital banks can reach more borrowers as AI learns about all people with access to the Internet and produces sound data correlations. “The theory is that if you have many friends and are grounded in a particular community, chances are you will not just run away from your debt. The minute borrowers go outside their community. It’s challenging for informal lenders because they already do not know the people they are lending to.” With the developments in AI, Bautista said UBP is redesigning its brick-and-mortar banks by tapping digital technologies and its UnionDigital to exchange market insights, systems, and people skills to boost mutual growth. “We think we can be the number one Consumer Bank in the Philippines in the next three years. Why? Because Our growth path is based on broadening the base on which we can learn to adapt. You can only do that if you’ve transformed your front, middle, and back office accordingly.” Bautista said this means the ever-changing skills development of people of both banks. While AI has been demonized by some of the labor force and business owners worldwide, saying it will replace traditional jobs and employees, Bautista said the future remains uncertain. Still, it can also highlight innately human jobs. “AI may rather have pluses and minuses. You will be affected negatively, but you will also have a positive impact if new jobs are generated.” Bautista said proof of this is the human eye, intuition, and brain need to verify whether AI-generated data matches customers’ changing preferences and needs. “So today, I can know instantly what my customer sentiments are. If my back-end operations take me six months, what good is knowing today if I can act on it? And the only way I can act is I have people with the ability to modify their things and a back end that allows me to change my products and features near real-time.” The post Quick AI response as small biz magnet appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senate tackles airlines’ booking glitches, offloading mess
Growing complaints from various passengers against budget carrier, Cebu Pacific’s overbooking, offloading, and booking glitches have reached the Senate inquiry on Wednesday. This came after Senate committee chairperson, Senator Nancy Binay, filed Senate Resolution No. 575 pushing for an investigation on the customers’ complaints against Cebu Pacific due to recent flight cancellations. During the hearing, Binay said her office was able to compile at least 3,000 complaints from the passengers, which have been aired through social media platforms. “We have since seen it fit to invite our other airlines to this hearing because these problems, it seemed, have only grown in number. Our passengers face inconveniences on multiple fronts on account of flight delays, cancelations, offloading, and overbooking,” Binay stressed. Overseas worker, James Bartolome, said he has yet to receive his refund from Cebu Pacific after his flight going to Qatar was canceled. After knowing that his original flight was canceled, Bartolome opted to book another airline as the budget carrier won’t be able to give him an earlier flight. Senator JV Ejercito said the airport and airline operations will provide the “first and last impressions” to the tourists and potential investors entering the country. “We need to systematize this for our tourism and business climate,” he said, sharing that he was not even spared from experiencing flight delays. Binay emphasized the need to identify problems and immediately craft strategies to prevent similar complaints in the future. Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said that Cebu Pacific and other similar airline companies should acknowledge the impacts of flight cancellations and other airline mess. “Incidents like these could discourage tourists so this hearing should serve as a platform to air the grievances of the frustrated and helpless passengers,” Go said, citing that these may affect the country’s tourism industry and the economy. “Remember that we are still reviving from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added. Go said the airlines must immediately act and rectify these issues by imposing proper mechanisms for compensating affected passengers—which includes food provisions during flight cancellation and alternative flight schedules. During the hearing, several Cebu Pacific passengers also complained about apparent website errors that resulted in them being charged multiple times for transactions yet it appeared to be unsuccessful. Cebu Pacific chief marketing and customer experience officer, Candice Iyog, explained that there is a part of the flow where if a passenger clicks proceed, it commits the changes even before the passenger pays. “We recognize that and we are taking that feedback as well,” Iyog said. The Cebu Pacific, she added, is already working on “a fix or an enhancement” to the interface of the website, which will likely be ready at the end of this month. “Depending on when it's ready, we're looking at possibly, end of July that we will be able to implement this change in the user experience,” she said. Senator Risa Hontiveros lamented that in several instances when passengers’ original flights were canceled, Cebu Pacific offered flight rebooking and passengers were immediately made to pay before they could confirm their purchase of travel tickets. Citing a passenger’s experience, the airline’s website technical issue made them pay a bill of P16,000-worth of add-ons after availing of Cebu Pacific’s free rebooking option, following the cancellation of flights. Iyog said they recently reminded their customer service agents to allow passengers to get back to their original flight or to remove add-ons that were “accidentally added.” “We don’t want to cancel flights for our passengers. It’s bad business and we don’t want to disrupt our passengers—that’s why we give options,” Iyog noted. Tougher passengers’ rights Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe slammed the budget carrier for lacking customer service agents directly responding to these complaints. Poe called on for a tougher policy on air passengers' rights to address the cancellations and delays in flights by local airlines besetting travelers. "This pressing public service issue calls for urgent effective solutions as it involves not only the air passengers' rights but also the overall impact on the country's tourism and economy,” she added. While overbooking is a globally accepted practice, Poe said "systematic delays and cancellations are not." Also, Hontiveros pressed that the government agencies should step in to prevent more passengers from being disrupted in their travels due to canceled, rescheduled, and delayed flights in Cebu Pacific and other airline companies. “These kinds of inconveniences disrupt the travel experiences also of tourists, and as the chair said, could negatively affect the tourism sector,” she added. Aside from the reported overbooking, offloading, booking, and flight cancellations, Senator Raffy Tulfo said that adding extra flights daily amid lacking proper airplane maintenance can be called “abuses of the airline companies.” He lamented that it could pose danger and compromise the safety of all airline passengers, “There were safety issues surrounding the uploading, overbooking, and flight cancellations of airlines. If these airlines don’t care about fulfilling their obligations to provide air transport for their passengers, I will not be surprised that they are cutting corners when it comes to safety as well,” Tulfo pressed on. Tulfo said extra flights can also cause fatigue in pilots and flight attendants. For his part, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa wants the Civil Aeronautics Board to become proactive in resolving the massive airline mess in the country. Dela Rosa asked CAB if it is amenable to institutionalize the Air Passenger Bill of Rights in order to protect the public from erring airline companies. "What is your position? Do you agree with the proposal to create a law that will institutionalize the Air Passenger Bill of Rights?" asked Dela Rosa. In response, CAB Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla, said they have been very supportive of the proposal. “But it seems it is not among the priorities of Congress,” he said. Dela Rosa said he is mulling to proposed the bill in the Senate “not to discourage the airline industry but to protect the public interest. The post Senate tackles airlines’ booking glitches, offloading mess appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go: Food, hotel stay, reimbursement for inconvenienced flyers
Senator Christopher “Bong" Go on Wednesday called on airlines to provide passengers affected by canceled or delayed flights with food and water, alternative flights, accommodation in nearby hotels, and prompt reimbursement of expenses they incurred from disrupted trips. The senator made the call during the Senate inquiry on passenger complaints against Cebu Pacific, including the airline's overbooking, offloading, and online booking glitches. Senator Nancy Binay chaired the hearing of her Committee on Tourism. Earlier, she filed Senate Resolution 575 that called for the investigation after her office compiled at least 3,000 complaints from passengers from social media platforms. Binay emphasized the need to identify problems and immediately craft strategies to prevent similar complaints in the future. Go told the Committee that even former president Rodrigo Duterte experienced a flight scheduled at five o'clock but changed to 9:30 last Saturday. The senator also cited his own experience that caused him to celebrate his birthday on an airplane at midnight of 14 June. "Last Saturday, I have an 11:25 p.m. flight. I received the boarding time on my cellphone at 10:40 p.m. It means you have to get ready. Then all of a sudden, when you are in the door, you will be told that the airplane has not yet arrived?" he said in another instance of delayed flight. "Why is that? What the online advisory said was different, that the plane was already there when the truth was that it was not there. Passengers should be given proper information to have a comfortable travel." Go added, "The situation is also difficult for our OFWs who are working tirelessly abroad to support their families. Delayed or canceled flights may jeopardize their employment and livelihood." He also lamented the practice of selling more airline tickets than available seats, which has led to situations where passengers with confirmed reservations have been denied boarding, disrupting their plans and causing immense inconvenience. "The airline should compensate affected passengers for their inconvenience," Go said. During the hearing, several Cebu Pacific passengers complained about apparent website errors that resulted in them being charged multiple times for transactions, yet it appeared to be unsuccessful. Cebu Pacific chief marketing and customer experience officer, Candice Iyog, told the committee that the airline is already working on “a fix or an enhancement” to the interface of the website, which will likely be ready at the end of this month. Iyog said they recently reminded their customer service agents to allow passengers to get back to their original flight or to remove add-ons that were “accidentally added.” The post Bong Go: Food, hotel stay, reimbursement for inconvenienced flyers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DPWH prioritizes 2 Luzon river basins
The Department of Public Works and Highways and the Japan International Cooperation Agency have regarded two river basins in Luzon were seen as priorities in a joint flood control study to improve flood control management in the concerned areas. DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain named the Pasig-Marikina River Basin and the Cagayan River Basin as infrastructures that will be subjected to a Japan-funded “Project for Enhancement of Flood Control Strategy in Prioritized River Basins.” The inclusion of the Pasig-Marikina River Basin is intended for “an urgent alternative flood control measures” in areas such as the Upper Marikina River, Rosario Weir, Manggahan Floodway and the Upper Wawa Dam, which will be subjected to various river projects. Meanwhile, Sadain said that the masterplan in some Cagayan River Basin works, including slope protection and dredging, must be updated ahead of a pre-feasibility study. “Our flood-control interventions along these river basins can be improved to better protect nearby densely-populated areas due to recurrent and extensive flooding during rainy and typhoon seasons,” Sadain said. DAN NAVARRO The joint study between DPWH and JICA is an 18-month project that would look into existing flood-control master plans ahead of future projects to improve flood control management in the country. JICA has been a known partner in DPWH projects, financially backing the Central Luzon Link Expressway, Davao City Mountain Tunnel and Bypass Construction Project, Cebu-Mactan Bridge and Coastal Road Project, Marawi Transcentral Road and access roads in the Bangsamoro Region in Muslim Mindanao through the Road Network Development Project in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao. The post DPWH prioritizes 2 Luzon river basins appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PNR fields buses during train break
The Department of Transportation has directed the Philippine National Railways to provide an alternative means of transportation for commuters who will be affected when the trains stop operation on 2 July to make way for the construction of the P873.62-billion North-South Commuter Railway. PNR chairperson Michael Ted Macapagal said on orders of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, he is coordinating closely with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to ensure timely implementation of the bus augmentation plan. Under that plan, LTFRB will approve the franchise of additional buses plying the roads on the affected train routes. It is estimated that 30,000 people ride the trains that pass through Malabon, Tutuban, Sta. Mesa, Makati, Alabang and Calamba. The number was much bigger — 70,000 — before the Covid-19 pandemic struck. According to Macapagal, the original proposal was to relocate the tracks so that the trains could continue operation even while construction is underway. Expensive tracks relocation The proposal was shelved because that would cost P4 billion and disrupt the progress of the civil works project. The DoTr chief wanted to adhere strictly to the five-year timetable, Macapagal said. Barely a year in office, Bautista has seen 12 contracts bid out and awarded. The contracts have an average cost of P20 billion each. Macapagal noted the speed with which DoTr implements the vision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is unprecedented. “Observers on the economic front attribute it to the fact that Secretary Bautista is no politician,” Macapagal said. “He used to move in the corporate world. It is his nature to hurry things up, once convinced he is on the right path. It helps that he has the support of the business community.” NSCR will run for 147 kilometers, from Clark in Pampanga to Metro Manila and, finally, to Calamba City in Laguna. Once the project is completed, PNR will be able to ferry 800,000 passengers everyday safely and in comfort. Travel time on the entire length of the railway system will be cut in half, from four hours to two hours. ‘Observers on the economic front attribute it to the fact that Secretary Bautista is no politician,’ Macapagal said. “He used to move in the corporate world. A total of 51 local train sets and seven express train sets will be deployed. The local trains load and unload passengers in each of the 35 stations, while the express trains are faster since they make fewer stops. Two Japanese firms, Sumitomo Corporation and Japan Transport Engineering Company, will supply the trains. The Asian Development Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency are financing the project. The post PNR fields buses during train break appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Groups want ban on toxic cargo in VIP
Civil society groups and representatives of fisherfolk have demanded a total ban on tankers carrying toxic cargo along the Verde Island Passage. The ban should spare the island’s marine environment and communities from the risk of oil spill, according to the think-tank Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development, the environmental advocacy group Protect VIP and the Koalisyon ng Mangingisdang Apektado ng Oil Spill. The call was made as the House of Representatives Committee on Ecology and Committee on Natural Resources are jointly investigating the oil spill caused by the 28 February sinking of the fuel tanker MT Princess Empress off Oriental Mindoro. “Tankers carrying toxic cargo like industrial oil and other fossil fuels should be banned from coursing through the VIP,” Gerry Arances, Executive Director of CEED and co-convenor of Protect VIP said Arances said the complexity of responses necessary in the aftermath of a disaster like the Oriental Mindoro oil spill showed that the government should not allow such incidents to happen in the first place. “We’re disappointed that even as it took two long months before Congress called for another investigation, there appears to be no significant progress in exacting justice for affected communities and biodiversity. Coordination among various government and responsible actors still proves to be severely lacking,” he complained. The groups raised alarm over the high volume of fossil fuel and toxic cargo-carrying vessels’ allowed to ply critically biodiverse seas, especially the VIP, without a complete and thorough assessment of these vessel seaworthiness right from its point of departure as seems to be the case for the Princess Empress. Meanwhile, fisherfolks complain of unclear and unjust processes for the delivery of compensation, inedible products in food packs and lack of plans for long-term support for alternative livelihoods. “It is disheartening to see the finger-pointing at the hearing earlier: the discussion of allowing MT Princess Empress to sail despite its no permit to sail between the Philippine Coast Guard and Marina (Maritime Industry Authority), the unclear water testing and results from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and Department of Social Welfare and Development’s recall of canned tuna after it has been distributed,” Dindo Melaya, convenor of KMAOS, said. Melaya called for a clear and long-term plan such as providing alternative livelihoods to fisherfolks who are yet to resume fishing, retrieval of the sunken tanker and full accountability from the polluters, instead of sending them canned tuna that are unsafe even for their dogs. The groups raised alarm over the high volume of fossil fuel and toxic cargo-carrying vessels allowed to ply critically biodiverse seas. The groups also pointed out that the absence of RDC Reield Marine Services and the oil tanker owner and charterer, subsidiaries of San Miguel Corporation, makes the oil spill hearing unable to genuinely facilitate the exacting of accountability from polluters. “Government agencies and members of our congress can go on with the blame game as much as they want, but there will be no justice if the polluters that caused this ecological disaster are allowed to play truant,” according to Arances. “We sincerely hope that our government will deliver the punitive actions these companies deserve, including the compensation they owe to communities whose livelihoods they robbed and whose welfare they harmed. These polluters should stop sending stand-ins, and instead, stand up and face the consequences of their actions,” he said. The post Groups want ban on toxic cargo in VIP appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DILG identifies alternative fishing sites for Oriental Mindoro fishers
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources last week recommended keeping fishing bans in oil spill-affected areas in Oriental Mindoro as results of its analyses were not yet conclusive as far as food safety was concerned......»»
Mindoro fisherfolk gets reprieve
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday directed the Department of the Interior and Local Government to hold talks with local government leaders on permitting affected fisherfolk to fish in alternative sites while the cleanup following the massive oil spill in Oriental Mindoro is ongoing. The Chief Executive gave the instruction in a situation briefing after he conducted an aerial inspection of areas affected by the oil spill off Oriental Mindoro last February. During a briefing in Pola town, the President discussed how the affected fishermen could use alternative fishing sites as the oil spill continues to disrupt their livelihood. These sites include Mindoro Strait in Oriental Mindoro, Cuyo Pass in Batangas, Tablas Strait in Romblon and Tayabas Bay in Quezon — after the government imposed a fishing ban after scientists detected oil chemicals in fish samples from the spill site. In particular, Marcos directed Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos to meet with local officials of the four fishing sites in the CALABARZON and MIMAROPA regions. The President said that other urgent matters, such as containing the oil spill from the sunken vessel, were addressed during the meeting. “The oil that is coming out of the vessel is gradually decreasing. Once we seal all the leaks and extract the remaining oil inside, the operation to control the oil spill will be over,” Marcos said in a media interview. He said the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will continue to monitor the situation on the ground. The President said that while the national and local governments continue to move forward to the recovery stage of the economic activity in the affected area, the Philippine Coast Guard will continue with the clean-up operations. “The immediate danger, the immediate situation has already been attended to. Let’s provide a new water system and explore new livelihood opportunities,” Marcos added. He noted that the five-year recovery plan, which was prepared by the local chief executives of the affected areas, includes all the livelihood programs. He reiterated that the local folk could return to their old normal once the area is cleared. The post Mindoro fisherfolk gets reprieve appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
P400M+ income lost due to Mindoro oil spill
Seawater around Oriental Mindoro still showed low-level contaminants or pollycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, while seaweed collected and analyzed from select sites in Catluys, Antique on 9 March showed low-level contaminants or PAH, the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources reported over the weekend. PAH, according to DA-BFAR, are "harmful to humans and other living organisms, and may accumulate in the flesh of marine organisms over time. Seaweeds and other sessile organism have greater chances of accumulating PAH due to their immobility." Thus, the BFAR is still keeping the fishing ban in oil-spill hit municipalities of Oriental Mindoro, which has accumulated P441.25 million losses in income in 22 fishing days. The agency said the amount came from the more than 26,000 fishermen who have been directly affected by the oil spill as of March 31, based on a daily income of P714. The damage in terms of inputs and produce, fishing gear and paraphernalia, and facilities and equipment was placed at P445,333,928.00. These include: Fisheries Production Losses from MIMAROPA’s Commercial and Municipal Fisheries valued at P14,138,400.00, and damage to 119 metric tons of seaweed production in Western Visayas valued at almost P3 million. The "DA-BFAR detected minimal levels of PAH, including benzo(a)pyrene or B(a)p, from the initial samples collected," BFAR director Demosthenes Escoto said. He added that 86 fish and other marine samples were taken on 10-11 March from seven municipalities in Mindoro (Bongabong, Bulalacao, Gloria, Mansalay, Najuan, Pinamalayan and San Jose) for testing. "These did not show the presence of petroleum-related products," Escoto said. However, from seven seaweed samples collected on 31 March in Caluya, Antique, three showed the presence of petroleum-related products. Some 23 water samples collected from 9 March to 4 April from 10 municipalities of Oriental Mindoro (Bansud, Bongabong, Bulalacao, Calapan, Gloria, Mansalay, Naujan, Pinamalayan, Pola, and Roxas) and Caluya in Antique had minimal levels of oil and grease, within the standard set by the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources. BFAR also said 15 fish samples collected from Oriental Mindoro from March 4 to 10 showed low levels of PAH. Likewise, seaweed taken from Caluya, Antique on March 4 yielded low-level PAH. 'Since the Bureau found low-levels of PAH in seafood samples, it recommended keeping fishing bans in areas concerned while the time-series analyses are still ongoing," BFAR said in its Bulletin No.2 . The Bureau meanwhile, added that a total of P22 million worth of livelihood assistance has been allocated to affected fishing communities. This includes P4.4 million worth of post-harvest technology packages for 10 fisherfolk associations and cooperatives or 689 families. It also includes P12 million worth of fuel subsidy for fisherfolk who had to seek alternative fishing grounds. The BFAR said it is considering providing affected fisherfolk some fiberglass-reinforced plastic boats. As for food and relief goods, the BFAR said it has earmarked P1.5 million for food assistance to 5,689 affected fisherfolk in Mimaropa. Meanwhile, P580,500 has been used to help displaced fishing groups in Western Visayas, the BFAR said. For cleanup operations in Oriental Mindoro, the agency said it deployed P720,945 worth of PPE, ropes and other materials. The MT Princess Empress sank on 28 February off Najuan, Oriental Mindoro while carrying 900,000 liters of industrial fuel. The post P400M+ income lost due to Mindoro oil spill appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»