Visitors of germanexpatinthephilippines/Besucher dieser Webseite.Ich liebe meine Flaggensammlung!
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Cayetano urges DOTr to integrate train system with commercial spaces
.jpg)
PRESS RELEASE
November 14, 2023
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday pushed for the integration of commercial spaces with train stations to make trains economically feasible in the country.
Citing a lack of a railway system that is economically advantageous, the senator made the proposal during the plenary debate of the 2024 budget of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on November 13, 2023.
“We haven’t found a good economic model ng trains so much so na panay utang [tayo] sa Japan at China (to build our train systems),” he told DOTr officials present on Monday night.
"Kasi kung maganda ang model ng trains natin at economically feasible business-wise, dapat our biggest businessmen ay nag-uunahan na magpropose ng mga train,” he said.
“I’d like the DOTr to take this as a mission to find a way to make trains economically feasible whether in advertising revenue or real estate component,” he added.
Cayetano said a big factor that makes the train systems in Hong Kong and Japan is the ownership of real estate by the train management.
“One of those that are making money is MTR (Mass Transit Railway) in Hong Kong because they own the real estate. The other one that is break-even or earning is the Japanese. When you go to Japan, y’ung pinaka-ordinaryong overhead na train ay may kainan sa ilalim o may bentahan ng mga old records, et cetera. Then y’ung magandang Central Station is a real mall,” he said.
Cayetano said this is not the case in the Philippines, where mall owners have to "lobby to have a train connection" rather than it being a "part of the plan… to bid it out to one of them or for the train corporation to own it."
The senator asked the DOTr officials if they could make this possible in the Philippines especially since it would mean government can lower the subsidy given to train passengers.
In response, Senator Grace Poe, who is the sponsor of the DOTr budget in the Senate, relayed to the chamber that DOTr is looking into the matter as 11 stations are currently identified to have a mixed-use development and would be accessible to the train passengers.
In response, Cayetano expressed confidence in the DOTr on the matter.
“I appreciate the work that you are doing. Let us just do whatever we can do with the present contracts para lang lumiit ang subsidy. And for future plans for example light railway, I’d like to see DOTr be creative and think like a business person,” he said. ###
Cebu Pacific logs P5-B net income in 9 months
BY KHRISCIELLE YALAO
Cebu Pacific (CEB), the aviation unit of the Gokongwei Group, reported a huge turnaround with a net income of P5.03 billion for the first nine months of the year from a net loss of P12.05 billion incurred in the same period in 2022.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), CEB reported that its revenues surged by 78.2 percent to P66.9 billion in 2023’s nine-month period from P37.5 billion last year due to an increase in passenger volume because of higher demand for travel.
International flights in particular leapt by 236.2 percent this year, accounting for a 105.2 percent increase in passenger revenues to P46 billion this year from P22.5 billion last year.
ADVERTISEMENT
Passenger volume increased by 48.8 percent to 15.5 million from 10.4 million and, as international travel demand significantly rose in the third quarter, average fares also grew by 37.9 percent to P2,970 from P2,154.
Ancillary revenues also shot up by 88.5 percent to P17.8 billion from P9.4 billion last year driven by the higher passenger volume and flight activity for overseas trips.
Meanwhile, cargo revenues dropped by 47 percent to P2.97 billion from P5.6 billion last year because of lower cargo kilograms flown and yield from cargo services.
Operating expenses of CEB were 24.7 percent higher at P60.7 billion from P48.7 billion, partly influenced by the weakening of the Philippine peso against the US dollar.
Flying operations expenses increased by 31 percent to P6 billion from P19.6 billion due to a 56 percent hike in fuel consumption and increased flight activity in the nine-month period.
The airline, however, expressed confidence of increasing their flight frequency as they observed higher bookings.
In the third quarter alone, the airline has flown four million domestic passengers on over 2,000 weekly flights, running at over 100 percent of pre-pandemic level, as well as 228 percent more passengers for international flights to 1.3 million compared to last year.
Travel demand is going up for destinations like Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Chine since the final quarter of last year. Flights to Melbourne, Australia; and Hong Kong from Cebu were also resumed while a new flight from Manila to Da Nang, Vietnam will begin in December this year.
“With these improvements and supported with the Group’s latest network plan, by fourth quarter of 2023, international network will further grow to 37 routes with over 490 weekly flights,” said CEB.
By the fourth quarter of 2023, the airline said it "will be going beyond pre-pandemic capacity levels on a system-wide basis."
"Improvement in both capacity and seat load factors driven by higher bookings, support the outlook for improvement in the Group’s revenues and profitability margins,” it added.
Magnitude 4.7 quake jolts Sarangani — Phivolcs
Phivolcs said the earthquake struck at a depth of 26 kilometers (km) beneath the epicenter, which was 19 km southwest of Maitum, Sarangani.
The quake was felt at Intensity III (weak) in General Santos.
Its instruments also recorded the tremor at Intensity V (strong) in Kiamba, Sarangani; Intensity IV (moderately strong) in General Santos City; Intensity III in Pikit in Cotabato, Malungon and Maasim in Sarangani, and Tupi and Polomolok in South Cotabato; Intensity II (slightly felt) in Don Marcelino in Davao Occidental, Alabel, Glan and Malapatan in Sarangani, and Koronadal City in South Cotabato; and Intensity I (scarcely perceptible) in Tantangan in South Cotabato.
Phivolcs said the earthquake was tectonic, which means it was caused by the movement of an active fault near the area.
However, it does not expect aftershocks due to this.
Time to look back as we enter the ‘Decade of Philippine History’
History serves as a vital connection to our roots as a nation, making us understand the intricacies of human experiences and reinforcing our shared humanity as a nation among others in a global context.
During our formative years, the study of history is vital as it enables reflection on the past, encouraging a deeper understanding of the present, and guiding us toward a more enlightened future. Looking back allows us to learn lessons from historical mistakes, ensuring we do not repeat them and empowering us to make informed decisions.
To highlight the importance of history in our national conversation and collective consciousness, the President signed last Nov. 7, 2023 Proclamation No. 396, which is “Declaring the Years beginning 2023 through 2033 as the ‘Dekada ng Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas’ or the ‘Decade of Philippine History.’”
The proclamation aligns with Section 15, Article 14 of the Constitution, which declares that the “State shall conserve, promote, and popularize the nation's historical and cultural heritage and resources, as well as its artistic creations.”
Reinforcing this constitutional mandate is Section 2 of Republic Act (RA) No. 10086 or “Strengthening Peoples' Nationalism Through Philippine History Act,” which states that the “State shall provide the means to strengthen the Filipino people's nationalism, love of country, respect for its heroes, and pride for the people's accomplishments, by reinforcing the importance of Philippine national and local history in daily life, with the end in view of raising social consciousness.”
Tasked with ensuring the commemoration of the “Decade of Philippine History” is the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), which traces its origins back to the Philippine Historical Research and Markers Committee (PHRMC), established under Executive Order No. 451 on Oct. 23, 1933, during the American regime.
Evolving from its predecessor, the NHCP gained independence as a government agency in 2010 through RA No. 10086. This law designated the NHCP as the entity responsible for the restoration, conservation, and protection of the country's historical objects, along with determining factual matters related to official Philippine history.
From its predecessor as PHRMC, the NHCP will mark its centennial anniversary in 2033. Thus, celebrating the “Decade of Philippine History” is an appropriate inaugural event, one that should also enjoin LGUs, schools, and various youth organizations to be part of.
Over the next 10 years, a series of events will “highlight the contributions of the individuals who make up the NHCP, including historians, researchers, curators, architects, engineers, chemists, conservators, artists, planners, managers, and many others.” These dedicated professionals have tirelessly advanced historical research, celebrated Filipino figures, and preserved historic sites and structures.
Their collective efforts aim not only to commemorate the NHCP's milestone but also to underscore the indispensable role of history in nation-building. Through various events, Filipinos, especially the youth, will be encouraged to revere national symbols, embrace our rich history and heritage, and understand the profound connection between our past and present.
Looking forward to becoming a better nation requires a deliberate gaze into our past. The coming decade stands as a crucial period to instill in all of us the enduring importance of history. Without it, we will not know where we should be headed.
What are some famous German quotes?
Industrial- and Transportation Designer, innovation professional, lecturer, researcher; lived here and there and done this and that. Harmless, unless there is food involved. I appear to have what I call chronic innovation disorder; show me what you will, I will have a better idea.
My one big passion in life is to uphold the flag of high civilisation. Smaller passions include cats of all sizes, American vintage cars, obtuse movies, photography, and musing randomly on social media.
My absolute favourite is by Wilhelm Busch: “Ist der Ruf erst ruiniert, lebt es sich ganz ungeniert.” Very freely translated as, “the upside of a ruined reputation is that life gets a lot more relaxed.”
Other favourites: “Komisch ist alles, was scheitert.” (Loriot). Perhaps best translated as “Failure is comical.”
“Wer nichts zu sagen hat, macht viele Worte.” (Heinz Erhardt). You could translate it as, “those who have nothing to say will use lots of words.”