NSCR completion to mark ‘renaissance’ of PHL railway industry–DOTr chief

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Philippine National Railways (PNR) on Monday broke ground for the South Commuter Railway Project or the Alabang-Calamba segment of NorthSouth Commuter Railway (NSCR).

“We are forging ahead, overcoming every challenge, because we know meeting the project’s deadlines will lead to a game-changing rail system that will transform lives,” Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said. Worth over P73.25 billion, the three civil contract packages consist of railway viaduct structures and elevated stations in Alabang and

Muntinlupa, San Pedro, Pacita, Biñan, and Santa Rosa, and Cabuyao, Banlic, and Calamba.

To efficiently construct these three contract packages, the PNR “is giving way by suspending operations on this segment of their line.”

Existing tracks from Alabang to Calamba would be relocated to be used for the proposed 565-kilometer South Long-Haul project that stretches all the way to the Bicol region.

“The South Long-Haul rail project is just one of the reasons we want to fast-track completion of the NSCR,” Bautista said.

He added the South Commuter Railway will “open the gates for the renaissance of the railway industry in the Philippines.”

“We hope these three contract packages of the South Commuter Railway will push for the timely completion of the NSCR and open the gates for the renaissance of the railway industry in the Philippines,” Bautista said.

The construction of NSCR’s last three segments is part of DOTr’s collaborative efforts with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), embassies of South Korea and Japan, Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), contractor Hyundai-DongAh joint venture, and the local government of Santa Rosa, Laguna.

A massive 147-kilometer railway system, the NSCR will have 35 stations and will run on 51 commuter train sets and seven express train sets.

The rail line is expected to provide two hours of end-to-end travel for over 600,000 passengers daily on full operations.

By Henry J. Schumacher

IN 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, Yuval

Noah Harari explains:

“Even if you don’t know how to cash in on the data today, it is worth having it because it might hold the key to controlling and shaping life in the future. I don’t know for certain that the data-giants explicitly think about it in such terms, but their actions indicate thattheyvaluetheaccumulationofdata more than mere dollars and cents.”

If, later on, we decide to try and block the flow of data, we might find it increasingly difficult, especially as we might come to rely on the network for all these decisions, and even for our healthcare and physical survival.

Once people are aware of how vulnerable they are when they give away their privacy and data, it’ll be time to give them tools to actually control it.

It doesn’t matter if Facebook says they want you to control your data. That’s an illusion. They offer more privacy options because that makes people share more stuff with them. Real control, though, comes from deciding who can access it, how they might use it and what for. Until you have that kind of control, the problem isn’t solved.

If you think about it, we’ve got more than 100 years of experience dealing with physical property, but we’ve got limited experience when it comes to digital property. But the stakes are the same and I feel it’s way more scary not to own your digital property.

We surely have to come up with a system to control data as personal property, but we need the right regulations. That’s what Europe is trying with the GDPR and the Philippines with the Data Privacy Act.

But then look at what is happening in Europe:

On the one side, the EU very recently slapped Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and more) with a record €1.2 billion fine for not complying with EU privacy laws. T his is the largest fine given to a Big Tech company for not respecting our privacy in Europe.

A t the same time, the EU Commission is proposing to hand them access to sensitive, private medical records! T he new law plans to streamline the sharing of medical records and information. For example, making it easier to share an MRI scan from a holiday injury with your GP at home. But as part of the same law, the EU plans to forfeit the right to privacy and undermine trust with doctors.

As it reads now, the new law would compel health-care providers to share sensitive medical records with just about anyone who wants them for “research.”

This includes Big Pharma, Big Tech and insurance companies. Worse, they won’t need the patient’s permission to access the data or even to inform the patient that they’re using it.

W hile this is happening in Europe, we may have to fear that this could come to the Philippines too.

And that’s where we come in. Instead, we can make it so that such a law protects our privacy and medical records, while still making health-care systems more efficient.

We all want to feel healthy and safe— that’s the first step in being able to thrive in our lives and communities. For that, we need health-care systems built on privacy and trust. N ot the sort that compels our trusted doctors to undercut our privacy and share our medical records with anyone who requests access.

Big Pharma and Big Tech are itching to sink their teeth into our medical records under the guise of research. Unless changes are made to the proposed law, we could be sleepwalking into plans allowing companies to mine our medical information for profit, for example, training their latest AI. But it doesn ’t have to be this way. We don’t always have to accept the juggernaut of tech innovation at the expense of our rights.

L et’s do this right. Spread the word. Try to get people to watch out for their privacy. If not us, who? If not now, when?

I look forward to your feedback— contact me at hjschumacher59@gmail.com.

A LEADER of the House of Representatives on Monday pushed for the revival of nationwide “Sulong Pilipinas” consultations with stakeholders for genuine rebrand and restart of the country’s tourism sector.

H ouse Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte

Salceda issued the proposal amid controversies involving the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) Love The Philippines campaign video. “ The country must gain something productive from these heated discussions, nationwide consultations with tourism stakeholders on how to really rebrand and restart the country’s tourism sector,” he said.

“ The back-and-forth of statements was good for revealing what needs to be improved. But we have to move forward. Let’s genuinely sit down and talk,” Salceda said.

T he lawmaker from Albay earlier said the issue involving the contractor who used stock footage in the promotional video “proves my earliest point about the DOT either apologizing to Albay [for not including Mayon Volcano], or firing the consultant.”

“ We used to do that a lot in the past. We did Sulong Pilipinas for the general direction of the country’s government. That shot off to Sulong Agrikultura and Sulong Edukasyon, where government agencies would consult their stakeholders closely and seriously. At the end of each consultation, you had actionable points that were submitted to the President to be given the highest priority,” he said.

“ That’s how Dutertenomics was born. That’s where Build, Build, Build came. Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, Ease of Doing Business Act, Rice Tariffication, the Universal Health Care Law—all came from those consultations,” Salceda added.

“ Sulong Pilipinas,” was “an annual consultative conference that brings together different stakeholders from all over the country.”

S alceda said the previous administration explained it as “a platform through which the government can provide updates on our country’s achievements. More importantly, Sulong is a way through which the administration receives feedback on its proposed plans and programs.”

“ Let’s do Sulong Turismo.

Let’s consult the stakeholders nationwide on the six As of tourism: Attractions, Accessibility, Amenities, Available Packages, Activities, and Ancillary Services. If I may add two particular points: Airport and Airlines. All our fiercest competitors have beautiful airports and top-tier airlines,” Salceda added.

S alceda also said that the branding campaign of the DOT must “reflect improvements in what this country offers tourists.”

“If the experience doesn’t change, the impression will not change. So, beyond rebranding, we need to make genuine improvements in key areas in the sector. Remember, the pandemic reset the whole global tourism sector,” he said.

“ You need to set the agenda before you set the brand. Branding is a fool’s exercise without a good product to sell. A promising slogan without real improvements in the fundamentals is a false pretense.

As a slogan, ‘Love the Philippines’ is demanding enough on a foreign tourist’s first date with this country. Let’s at least give them reasons to do so,” he added.

Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz