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Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Transport strike ends; restudy of PUV modernization plan eyed
The transport strike in the country supposed to last for a week has ended, Malacañang announced on Wednesday, March 8, when the strike was about to enter its third day.
Transport group leaders Mar Valbuena, chairman of Manibela Transport Group, and Mody Florada, PISTON president, announced through a video posted by the Palace on Facebook that they are halting the planned week-long strike.
This came after a meeting between Valbuena and Florada, and Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil.
The transport groups said they were ending the transport strike as they hold on to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr’s pronouncement that the implementation of the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program will be restudied.
“[U]pang masimulan ang diskurso, nagdesisyon ang aming grupo na ihinto ang transport strike kasama ng PISTON at magbalik pasada na simula bukas (In order for the discourse to begin, our group and PISTON decided to stop the transport strike and resume plying starting tomorrow),” Valbuena said.
They apologized to the commuters for the inconvenience their planned week-long transport strike caused, stressing that they are not against the government’s PUV modernization program.
“Ang grupong Manibela ay kaisa ng pamahalaan sa adhikaing makapagbigay ng maayos, kumportable, at ligtas na pampublikong transportasyon sa ating mga kababayan. Hindi namin hinahadlangan ang planong modernisasyon ng mga pampublikong sasakyan, sana lamang gawin ito sa pamamaraang walang mapag-iiwanan, makatao, at makatwiran (Manibela is one with the government in providing comfortable and safe public transportation to our fellowmen. We are not going against the PUV modernization program, we are only hoping it to be implemented in a humane and just way),” Valbuena said.
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“Panghahawakan namin ang pahayag ng ating mahal na pangulo Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. na bukas ang admnistrasyon sa pag-aaral at pagrebisa ng implementasyon ng PUV modernization program upang mapanatili ang kabuhayan ng ating mga PUV drivers at operators (We will hold on to the statement of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. that his administration is open to study and revise the PUV modernization program to ensure the continuous livelihood of our PUV drivers and operators),” Valbuena added.
The Palace, meanwhile, welcomed the decision of the transport groups to halt the strike.
Garafil said the President has ordered the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to study the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG) until Dec. 31.
Gararil said the DOTr and LTFRB will also conduct an intensive consultation to ensure a better implementation of the PUV modernization program for the benefit of drivers, operators, and commuters.
PH jeepneys’ iconic look can still be retained, LTFRB says
The old look of the iconic Philippine jeepneys may still be retained as the government pushes for the shift to modernization of public transport, particularly the world-famous jeepneys dubbed as the country’s “king of the road”.
In a statement, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said it is open to such idea, provided that the modern version of the Philippine jeepneys should be compliant to the Philippine National Standards set by the Bureau of Philippine Standards under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
“The modernized jeep that you saw is clear proof that the traditional look can be maintained so the possibility of a phase out is very, very remote. What we only wanted was to improve the roadworthiness of the vehicle,” said Guadiz.
A local manufacturer of Philippine jeepneys has already initiated moves to come up with a design that would comply with the DTI requirements but would retain the jeepneys’ old look.
The DTI’s Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) specified dimensional limits for PUVs with strict limits on the seating arrangement and capacity, as well as maximum mass.
Also included in the dimensional limits are the vehicle’s overall height, width and length, wheelbase and even front and rear overhang, cabin, seat and seat layout, step board, service door and emergency exit.
Aside from the standards set for its size, the DTI said modern jeepneys must be powered by a Euro-4 emissions compliant engine or electric motor powered by onboard batteries.
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The use of Euro-4 engines are already 43-percent more efficient than the traditional jeepneys, based on the study.
They should also be equipped with dash cams, speed limiters, CCTV cameras and an automatic fare collection system (so that the driver doesn’t have to manage giving change).
Designed after World War II Willys Jeeps left by the American military during their occupation of the country, the Philippine jeepneys have been operational since the 1940s and became the country’s symbol of public transportation.
Oriental Mindoro oil spill now affecting tourist spots—DOT
Tourist destinations in Oriental Mindoro and nearby provinces are now affected by the oil spill caused by sinking of the motor tanker (MT) Princess Empress, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has disclosed.
Tourism Secretary Christina G. Frasco ordered the DOT Regional Offices in MIMAROPA and Western Visayas to closely monitor the situation and coordinate with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and concerned local government units (LGUs) following the PCG report last Feb. 28 about the oil spill from MT Princess Empress which capsized the coast of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro and was reportedly carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil as cargo.
Based on the information gathered by the agency, the oil spill has affected several Marine Protected Areas in the Municipality of Pola in Oriental Mindoro, such as the KingFisher Reserve, St. John the Baptist Marine Sanctuary, Song of the Sea Fish Sanctuary, Stella Mariz Fish Sanctuary, Bacawan Fish Sanctuary, St. Peter the Rock Fish Sanctuary, and the San Isidro Labrador Fish Sanctuary. 1
Beach resorts such as Bihiya Beach, 3 Cottage, Long Beach K. I, Aguada Beach Resort, Oloroso Beach Resort, Munting Buhangin Tagumpay Beach Resort, and Buhay na Tubig White Beach Resort in Oriental Mindoro have also been affected.
To address this problem, coastal clean-up is now being done in the affected areas as an immediate solution to prevent further damage.
“The DOT notes with seriousness the oil spill incident and its grave impact on the tourism industry, including disruptions in the livelihood of the affected communities, tourism-dependent businesses, and recreational activities,” Frasco said.
“Scuba diving, beach, and cruise tourism depend on the region’s coastal resources, and are also its major tourism products. If unmitigated, the oil spill can have adverse impacts on three of the world-class dive destinations in the Philippines, specifically the Verde Island passage and Apo Reef in Mindoro, and Coron’s World War II Wrecks and Philippine Dugong,” she went on.
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The effects of the oil spill have also reached the Municipality of Caluya in the Province of Antique, particularly along the shorelines of Sitio Sabang, Barangay Tinogbo, Liwagao Island, Barangay Sibolo, and Sitio Tambak in Barangay Semirara. At present, none of the tourist attractions in these areas have been affected, but the LGUs, together with the PCG, have been conducting clean-ups, with the support from the private sector who provided personal protective equipment.
The Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan is preparing, as well, for the possibility of the effects of the oil spill reaching its area of jurisdiction. The PCG and the Malay Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office are continuously conducting roving and monitoring along the coasts of Boracay, and have prepositioned oil slick booms in strategic areas around the island in anticipation of the oil spills.
The DOT Western Visayas Office is also actively coordinating with the LGU of Malay in terms of extending possible assistance to tourists in Boracay in case the spillage reaches the island’s coastal area, and has likewise issued advisories on the areas affected by the oil spill.
Frasco added that cruise tourism in the region could also be affected; with 34 cruise ships expected to call in Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, and Palawan for the year.
“The DOT, in coordination with its regional offices, commits to continuously coordinate with agencies such as the DENR, EMB, PCG, and concerned LGUs on any update concerning the oil spill, and in searching for urgent mitigating measures to address the harmful effects of the incident to marine life, world-class dive sites, and tourist attractions,” the tourism secretary assured.
Meanwhile, the DOT noted that none of the tourist attractions in the municipalities of Naujan, Victoria, and Pinamalayan in Oriental Mindoro have been affected by the oil spill, as of press time. The Naujan Lake, a major tourist attraction, has no connection with the ocean and will not be affected by the oil spill. The DOT is also in close coordination with officers of the Tubbataha Management Office who are monitoring the situation in Tubbataha Reef, which is along the Municipality of Cagayancillo in Palawan. Based on the latest update, there are no reported effects yet of the oil spill in the area.
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