TRANSPORT GROUPS END STRIKE AS MARCOS ADMIN AGREES TO 'STUDY REVISION' OF PUV MODERNIZATION PROGRAM

Transport groups Manibela and PISTON have ended what should have been a week-long nationwide transport strike after a meeting at the Palace on Tuesday.

Public utility vehicles will resume plying their routes today (Wednesday) following a two-day strike.

Manibela head Mar Valbuena and PISTON president Mody Floranda met yesterday with Palace officials, including Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil, a former chairperson of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

“There will be no phaseout of jeepneys. The king of the road will remain,” Valbuena told Manila Standard in an interview.

He said this was based on the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., as relayed by the Palace officials they met at the Office of the Executive Secretary.

“For traditional jeepneys that are still road-worthy, they will remain on the road,” Valbuena said.

In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office welcomed Manibela's decision to end the transport strike.

He said the Department of Transportation has also assured them that there will be a dialogue on the concerns of UV Express drivers and operators as well.

He said they were “satisfied” with the commitments they secured during the meeting.

The Department of Transportation through the LTFRB extended the deadline for public utility jeepney franchise consolidation from June 30 to Dec. 31.

The DOTr also said it is eyeing an additional budget from the national government to increase the equity subsidy for drivers by P100,000 to help them purchase new e-jeepneys for the PUV modernization program. This would bring the total subsidy to P260,000.

PCG: CHINESE SHIPS IGNORE PH WARNINGS IN PAG-ASA

Chinese vessels roaming near Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea are not heeding the Philippine Coast Guard’s warnings to respect the country’s maritime borders, the latter’s spokesman said Tuesday.

This developed as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. boarded a fighter jet and flew over a portion of the WPS, a Palace source told the Standard, even as he vowed to upgrade the country’s defense capabilities and improve the military’s maritime patrol capability.

The President yesterday led the ceremonial blessing of the Philippine Air Force’s new C-295 medium lift aircraft at Clark Air Base in Pampanga, then was seen in pictures in full flight gear aboard an FA-50PH fighter jet on the tarmac.

The flight took Mr. Marcos over an area called IMTA (Intensive Military Training Area)-1 Zambales Area in the West Philippine Sea, together with four other jet fighters, the Standard source said.

A separate source from the Presidential Security Group, however, said it was only a “familiarization flight.”

It was related to a capability demonstration made by the PAF to showcase the performance and ability of the country’s air fleet, the source added.

As of press time, the Presidential Communications Office has not confirmed if Mr. Marcos indeed flew over the WPS.

Meanwhile, PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela said during a public briefing that the Coast Guard station in Pag-asa has been radioing the Chinese ships reminding them that the 12 nautical miles of waters off Pag-asa Island is part of the territorial sea of the Philippines.

Although the Coast Guard stresses that “we have sovereignty here,” the ships from China do not budge or respond to their repeated radio calls, Tarriela added.

PHILIPPINE ECONOMY LIKELY TO EXPAND BY 5.5 PERCENT IN 2023, SAYS FITCH

The Philippine economy is expected to remain resilient and expand by 5.5 percent this year, Fitch Ratings Director For Asia Pacific Banks Tamma Febrian said on Wednesday.

"We are forecasting for GDP growth to be around 5.5 percent for 2023, although this is also subject to quite a bit of downside risk given the interest rate trajectory and global external risks," Febrian said.

A recession is "very unlikely" for the Philippines, with the most likely scenario being a bit of moderation, she said.

Fitch Ratings also expects more expansion for net interest margin for local banks, he said.

The Philippines' gross domestic product (GDP) growth exceeded the target by growing 7.6 percent last year. Analysts are expecting a slower but still robust outturn this year.

SOS SENT OUT TO CURB OIL SPILL, BORACAY IN PERIL

The Philippine Coast Guard on Tuesday appealed for help to contain a massive oil spill from a sunken tanker in Oriental Mindoro, which continued to threaten the livelihood of thousands of fishermen and the health of residents along the coasts of several provinces.

Japan and the United States, along with several private companies, expressing their willingness to extend assistance, PCG Admiral Artemio Manalo Abu said, after it held coordination meetings with various foreign embassies.

“They learned that we are calling for help. We are inviting those who want to participate to help the Filipino people to address the oil spill. Support for the cleanup operations could be in the form of human resources,” Abu said.

The spillage has reached the provinces of Antique and Palawan and could reach Romblon, the PCG said.

It might even reach the world-famous Boracay Island, warned Sen. Francis Tolentino, as he questioned how the PCG would contain or stop the spread of oil.

In a privileged speech delivered Monday night, Tolentino said the PCG is the responsible agency to control the pollution in the country’s territorial waters.

Although the PCG already created the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP), due to its lack of resources, its actions to avert the spread of oil were limited, the senator said.

DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, during a media forum, said vulnerable groups had to be relocated to a safer area.

Another vessel rescued the 20 crew members on board.

“Additionally, the oil spill might affect 20,000 hectares of coral reef, 9,900 hectares of mangroves, and 6,000 hectares of seagrass and could possibly coat the marine habitats and animals… which can clog the gills of fish and marine invertebrates… damage the feathers of birds and fur of marine mammals,” Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. said in the resolution.

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the government is looking to clean up the oil spill from a sunken tanker in Oriental Mindoro in less than 4 months.

The target is based on how the government cleaned up the 2006 Guimaras oil spill in 4 months, Marcos Jr. said in an interview on the sidelines of an event in Quezon City.

ENTIRE NEGROS CITY POLICE FORCE SACKED

MANILA — The entire police force of Bayawan City, Negros Oriental was relieved yesterday following the daring assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo that also left eight others dead.

The getaway vehicles, high-powered guns and other materials allegedly used by the suspects in the killing of Degamo at his house in Pamplona town on March 4 were recovered in Bayawan City.

Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesman for the Philippine National Police Special Investigation Task Group Degamo, said the relief was in compliance with orders from PNP headquarters at Camp Crame.

The entire police force was relieved, Pelare said, “as an operational and tactical decision of the Command, probably to make sure that the remaining suspects will be arrested.”

He noted that all the suspects arrested by police – Joric Labrador, Joven Javier, Banjie Rodriguez and Osmundo Rivero – who used to be members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), were arrested in Bayawan City, where another suspect also died in a gunbattle with pursuing police troopers and Army soldiers.

The relieved police force has been temporarily assigned at the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office headquarters, he added.

As to the peace and order situation in Bayawan, Pelare said that they have maximum police presence in the city and neighboring areas, as manhunt operations against the remaining suspects are still ongoing.

GOV’T EYES NEW WORK HOURS FROM 7 A.M. TO 4 P.M.

Government agencies may soon adjust their office hours to 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Mondays to Thursdays with work-from-home setups on Fridays, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said Tuesday.

In a Palace press conference, Diokno revealed that the Department of Energy (DOE) is planning to implement daylight saving time within its agency to save electricity and promote energy efficiency.

He said this will be part of the government’s short-term interventions to mitigate high inflation in the country.

Diokno said this proposal was presented before President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during a Cabinet meeting at Malacañan Palace earlier in the day.

“We also presented to the President that it’s important to address energy because there are complaints that energy cost in the Philippines is expensive,” he said.

“One of the proposals to be carried out by the DOE is to implement adjusted office hours. They will start at 7 am and end at 4 pm so this is what you call daylight saving time,” he added.

The Energy department is also eyeing to implement a four-day in-person work week while the work-from-home (WFH) scheme will be done every Friday, Diokno said.

4 MORE TAU GAMMA MEMBERS SURRENDER

Four members of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) head office in Manila on Monday.

Cavite police director Col. Christopher Olazo said yesterday over the phone that the four fratmen are temporarily in NBI custody for proper disposition before they are turned over to police authorities.

According to reports, one member, alias Snoop, submitted a narrative report on witnessing the initiation of Salilig and the events afterwards.

Snoop’s lawyer, Maria Antonia Pascual, said her client was present during the important parts of the initiation, from picking up Salilig in Parañaque and during the hazing.

Pascual said Snoop was also a neophyte.

“He was new in the fraternity. He didn’t have a say, he couldn’t do anything and certain threats were made,” she said in Filipino

Another member with the alias “Biggie,” an officer of the fraternity’s San Pedro, Laguna chapter, also turned himself in to investigators, but said he had no involvement in the initiation and was only invited.

The third Tau Gamma Phi member, alias “Void” and also a neophyte of the fraternity, surrendered but has not yet spoken about the incident.

Meanwhile, an unidentified fourth person of interest surrendered to the NBI and narrated that he was there at the time of the initiation, but for disciplinary reasons.

According to the NBI, the four persons of interest who surrendered will stay under custody until their narrations are complete in order to give a clear timeline, and if their narratives match the available evidence.

Laguna police director Col. Randy Glenn Silvio said he is still encouraging at least eight more persons of interest to surrender and shed light into their alleged participation in the hazing incident.

“If we file the case and include their names, they will be implicated in this case, and they may be issued a warrant of arrest later on, and they will be treated as suspects,” Silvio said.

He said the six previously arrested persons of interest and the master initiator were charged earlier before the Department of Justice.

SENATORS CONFRONT ADAMSON EXECS, FRAT MEMBER TAGGED IN SALILIG HAZING DEATH

MANILA -- Several senators on Tuesday confronted the persons tagged in the fatal hazing of Adamson University student John Matthew Salilig, a member of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity.

Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights chairperson Sen. Francis Tolentino pointed out the supposed lapses of the university in monitoring fraternities that are not recognized in the campus.

“They could have monitored activities of non-recognized organizations. Tungkulin nila iyon eh," Tolentino said.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada also expressed dismay over what he noted as "indecisiveness and inaction" of Adamson University officials in locating students involved in the fatal hazing.

“You are aware of the initial investigation of the police about the death of the victim and you did not even exert effort to locate the perpetrators of this crime,” Estrada said.

The senators also grilled the fraternity members allegedly present during Salilig's initiation rites.

Police have said 22 individuals were involved in Salilig's death.

ADAMSON UNIVERSITY NOT LIABLE FOR SALILIG'S HAZING DEATH - PROF

MANILA — Adamson University is not liable for the death of chemical engineering student John Matthew Salilig from alleged hazing rites of Tau Gamma Phi fraternity, a professor said Wednesday.

According to AdU professor Dr. Julius Estampador, Tau Gamma Phi is not recognized by the university and the incident took place outside school premises.

"What Mat Salilig did and those who did the crime are on them," he told ANC's "Rundown". "The school has no liability in my opinion because they were told fraternities are not allowed and hazing is illegal."

Estampador noted that several students had been expelled for their involvement in fraternity-related activities.

For lawyer Jan Nelin Navallasca, AdU's students affairs director, they were not lacking in informing students that fraternities are not allowed.

He said Salilig and those involved in the hazing rites even attended the university's orientation over the "prohibition of fraternities and their violent and hazing activities."

"We have not been remiss of our obligation to tell them that fraternities are not allowed. Do not join this unrecognized organization," Navallasca said.

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QC CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

Hundreds of women from different districts in Quezon City participate in a ‘One Billion Rising’ flash mob in front of the Tandang Sora public market along Visayas Avenue in Quezon City early Wednesday morning (today) in celebration of International Women’s month. The QC local government officials was led by Mayor Joy Belmonte have implemented various programs to address violence against women in the city.

ANOTHER FACE OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

In conjunction with the observance of International Women’s Day, members of the militant Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women, the Tanggol Magsasaka, and the Free Our Sisters -Southern Tagalog chapter stage a protest rally at the main gate of Camp Aguinaldo, headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense, to denounce alleged abuses and human rights violations committed by the military against women in the countryside.

LOPEZ TO DEMOLISH ABS-CBN HEADQUARTERS — REPORT

MANILA — The Lopez family will demolish the original ABS-CBN headquarters, according to a report.

In a report by Bilyonaryo, the Lopez family's Rockwell Land will crack the 3.4-hectare property on Sgt. Esguerra Avenue and Mother Ignacia Avenue in Diliman, Quezon City.

The source said the "TV Patrol" Studio 7 will be transfered to ELJ building later this year.

ABS-CBN started operating in 1968 in the said property. Their franchise expired in May 2020 but the Congress declined its renewal.

The source said the company's move is practical because the property is now almost empty after its mass layoff.

Almost 6,000 ABS-CBN employees lost their jobs after the network's renewal was denied.

The network's TV frequencies have been granted to ALLTV of Manny Villar (Channel 2), Aliw TV of Cabangon-Chua family (Channel 23), and Sonshine Media Network Inc. (SMNI) of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy (Channel 43).

ABS-CBN airs their shows online and television networks such as TV5, A2Z and soon on GMA-7.

CALOOCAN LGU LAUNCHES FREE HIV TESTING AND COUNSELING

The City Government of Caloocan, led by Mayor Dale Gonzalo “Along” Malapitan launched “10 Minutes Awra,” a free human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing and counseling program on February 20 and 24.

The said program is in partnership with Caloocan Social Hygience Clinic, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Pilipinas Shell, United States Agency for International Development, PEPFAR, FHI-360, EpiC Project, TLF Share and Department of Health-Metro Manila Center for Health Development.

City Health Department (CHD) Officer-in-charge Dra. Evelyn Cuevas stated that testing is accessible, fast and non-invasive.

“Marami na po tayong mga testing centers sa buong NCR. Ito pong programa ay inilunsad natin sa Caloocan para sa ating mga kababayan. Mabilis at non-invasive po ang proseso,” she said.

In addition, she emphasized that the said program likewise aims to raise awareness on the symptoms, stages, progression, and possible treatment aside from the free testing.

“Liban po sa libreng testing, tinatalakay po ng ating program ang iba’t ibang sintomas, kalubhaan, maging ang mga posibleng paglulunas sa nasabing sakit,” Dra. Cuevas stated.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

LIZA SOBERANO DOESN'T MIND BEING TAGGED A 'CLOUT CHASER'

MANILA – Liza Soberano does not feel bad when netizens label her a “clout chaser” after having met a number of international personalities.

In an interview in Bea Alonzo's vlog, Soberano noted that “there is no harm, there is no shame in clout chasing.”

“That’s what the industry is. That’s what I don’t get actually about the Philippines. Everybody is so afraid of social climbing or clout chasing. But our industry is all about exposure and collaboration,” she said.

“That’s what I love about America. They don’t see it as clout chasing. They see it as you getting the bag. They see it as you working hard to achieve your goals, being proactive with your career,” she added.

When she meets with world-renowned celebrities, Soberano said she is doing that to gain knowledge through them.

“I want to gain collaborations, more fans hopefully if they like what I do. If they don’t like what I do, that’s okay too. Pero yes, I do use their clout to help myself. That’s how it should be in entertainment I think.”

Although she is trying to carve her own path in Hollywood, Soberano emphasized that she is abandoning her career in the Philippines.

“I still want to be able to do stuff here by leveraging what I’ve achieved as an actress here. Pero for the next few years, ang focus ko talaga is in Hollywood because there’s a lot of work to be done,” she said.

“I am a nobody there so I still have to work hard and put in a lot of time and effort. I can’t do that if I am maintaining my career over here. But I still want to keep in touch with my fan base here.”

Soberano also reassured her Filipino supporters that she still cares about them and her career in the Philippines, but it isn’t just her focus right now.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances. - Martha Washington (1732 - 1802)