DOTr stands firm on PUVMP implementation–Bautista

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) stands firm on its position that the consolidation of drivers and operators into cooperatives or corporations remain “vital” to the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

Despite calls from advocacy groups and industry stakeholders for a “just transition,” Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the agency has so recorded a significant turnout for the industry’s consolidation.

H e said 70 percent of drivers and operators have already consolidated into cooperatives or corporations as part of the modernization program, adding that even their members have “vouched for the benefits of modernization.”

We explained that consolidation is a very important component of the Public Utility Modernization Program, 70 percent of the transport sector has already consolidated. If one would talk to our successful operators, they will tell you that consolidation is important,” Bautista said.

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin

Remulla on Wednesday confirmed that a missing prisoner at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City was found decapitated inside a septic tank of the prison facility.

“ The missing PDL [person deprived of liberty] has been found dead, decapitated. That is the status of the missing PDL,” Remulla told reporters in an ambush interview.

T he recovered remains were believed to be PDL Michael Angelo Cataroja, who went missing last July 15.

Remulla said a thorough investi-

THE chairman of the House Committee on Public Works and Highways said on Wednesday the Marcos administration’s decision to continue to allot 5 percent to 6 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) for infrastructure spending would serve as catalyst for economic recovery for post-pandemic Philippines.

S urigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Romeo Momo Sr., chairman of the public works and highways committee, said the decision would have “a big impact in terms of positive economic status” because these are the practices adopted by big economies like China and Japan.

T he DOTr chief cited the inclusive benefits of PUV modernization—from the safety of commuters, to the efficiency of PUV operations, and additional livelihood for transport workers—which eliminate the boundary system.

The program is for the Filipino people, the Filipino commuters. This is for the betterment of the transport sector,” he said. “This is our number one objective: to provide what call the CASA service: convenient, affordable, safe, accessible travel experience for passengers.”

Under the PUVMP, operators, and drivers must organize a cooperative or corporation to establish a larger fleet of PUVs. This is the first phase of the program, which was jumpstarted by the Duterte administration.

By consolidating franchises and forming a corporation or a cooperative, members can now have better access to business financing and are now able to effectively manage their fleets, a scenario that Bautista painted. “ There are more consolidation initiatives happening in the Visayas and Mindanao. We are working with the Office of Transportation Cooperative to continue gation is still ongoing to determine if the incident is related to the reported killings that took place before Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Chief Gregorio Catapang assumed his post.

The justice chief said he is expecting that the ongoing investigation would lead to “new revelations” about anomalies inside the NBP.

They’re still investigating all angles. I’m expecting a comprehensive report at the end of the day from Director General Catapang… and there will be other revelations in the next few days,” Remulla said.

We’ll be revealing some other things later on,” he added.

N BP Superintendent Angelina Bautista said forensic experts from

According to Momo, sustaining infrastructure spending is “definitive proof” that the country is charting the right trajectory, and his committee will continue to support the administration’s “Build Better More” program.

In President Marcos’ second State of the Nation Address last Monday, Marcos mentioned that the P8.3 trillion Build Better More program would have 194 projects covering investments in water resources, physical connectivity, agriculture, digital connectivity, health, and energy. The President said that infrastructure spending would continue to represent between 5 and 6 percent and barrel northwestward to graze past Taiwan’s southwestern coast before hitting southeastern China later this week.

Mamba said he feared there could be extensive damage to Cagayan Valley’s corn and rice farms, which have already been battered by a months long dry spell before Egay hit. At least four entire towns lost power due to the onslaught and six bridges were impassable due to flooding, Cagayan officials said in an initial damage report.

“ Violent, life-threatening conditions are expected to continue” on Wednesday over northwestern Cagayan and the outlying Babuyan Islands as well as the northern mountainous regions of Apayao and Ilocos Norte provinces, according to an advisory from the country’s weather bureau.

PCG personnel used rubber boats and ropes to evacuate villagers, who were trapped by brownish, waistlevel floodwaters in their houses in a village in Bacarra town in Ilocos Norte, said the PCG.

More than 3,700 inter-island ferry passengers and cargo truck drivers, along with nearly 100 passenger and cargo vessels and motor bancas, were stranded in several ports where a no-sail order was imposed, PCG said.

A lthough it is not poised for a direct hit, Egay’s outer bands brought heavy rain and strong winds to Taiwan’s eastern coast Wednesday.

PBBM’s mobilization following plants have yet to resume normal operations: n Lon-oy Units 1-4 (Bakun, Benguet) n Labay Units 1-4 (Bakun, Benguet) n Ampohaw Units 1-3 (Sablan, Benguet) n Bineng 3 Unit 1 (La Trinidad, Benguet) n La Trinidad Units 1-2 (La Trinidad, Benguet) n I risan 3 Units 1-3 (Tuba, Benguet) n Irisan 1 Unit 1 (Tuba, Benguet) to encourage those who have not consolidated to consolidate. The deadline is December 31 of this year,” he said. the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are still conducting examinations on the remains recovered to determine if these belong to Cataroja. of the GDP, up from the previous government.

“TULUY-TULOY ang ating pagkilos upang maaksyunan ang maaring pinsalang dulot ng Super Typhoon #EgayPH (Our mobilization continues to respond to the damages done by Super Typhoon #EgayPH),” Marcos said in his Twitter post.

Marcos added power was already restored to 93.53 percent of the affected municipalities.

The President is currently on his three-day State Visit in Malaysia, which will end on Thursday.

T he Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration reported typhoon Egay made landfall in Aparri at 3:10 am last Wednesday bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds to many parts of the country.

The DOE also reported that a number of barangays in Bataan, Masbate, Samar, Cagayan are still with no power. For the transmission side, the DOE said there are eight 69kV transmission lines, one 115kV line and one 23 kV lines affected.

The second component of the PUVMP involves the creation of the Local Public Transport Route Plan, more commonly referred to as the Route Rationalization Plan.

Bautista said that “in terms of preparation, we have already attained almost 60 percent [compliance]” from local government units.

The last component of the PVUMP is the actual fleet modernization, “a very contentious issue,” according to Bautista.

H e noted that of the 180,000 jeepneys in the country, around 7,000 have modernized already.

It will take some time for the industry to be able to implement the fleet modernization program,” Bautista admitted.

He, however, highlighted that the government is providing equity subsidies to help cooperatives acquire modern units.

“ We are looking at the possibility of increasing the subsidy. We’ll ask for more budget so that we can implement fleet modernization program,” he said, noting that the actual amount is still being studied.

We have yet to identify if the body was that of the missing PDL,” Bautista said in a radio interview.

She said that while Cataroja was the first PDL who went missing under Catapang’s watch, there have been other missing PDLs since 2019.

“ There are many missing PDLs here. You don’t know if they escaped or not,” she said.

Bautista disclosed that the remains were found in the septic vault through the assistance of the Philippine Coast Guard and information given by other PDLs.

The Chief Executive also mentioned in his speech that 123 projects under the Build-Better-More program are new.

The President likewise noted that physical connectivity infrastructure—such as roads, bridges, seaports, airports, and mass transport—accounts for 83 percent of the program.

Moreover, as a former undersecretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Momo lauded the plans mentioned by the President for the country’s infrastructure projects. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Disaster-response officials said they were verifying reports of a woman drowning in a swollen creek amid heavy rains Monday in Cardona town southeast of Manila as the typhoon approached from the Pacific.

The typhoon has been enhancing seasonal monsoon rains in central and northern provinces, including in the densely populated capital region of Metro Manila. It was forecast to move away from the northern Philippines on Thursday

The typhoon has affected 38,991 families in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Soccsksargen.

DOE’s initial damage report

THE Department of Energy (DOE) reported on Wednesday that there were some power generation facilities that experienced outages amid Egay’s onslaught.

Most of the power plants already went back on line, however, the DOE reported. As of this writing, the

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said the following transmission lines are unavailable as of 1 p.m. These are the San Esteban-Bangued 69kV line, San Esteban-Candon 69kV line, Itogon-Ampucao 23kV line, La Trinidad-Ampucao 69kV line, La Trinidad-Sablan 69kV line, Lallo-Sta. Ana 69kV line, TuguegaraoMagapit 69kV line, and Cabanatuan-San Luis 69kV line.

“ NGCP has mobilized its line crews and is currently conducting patrols to inspect and assess the impact of the typhoon to its operations and facilities. Simultaneous restoration activities are also being conducted in areas already accessible,” the grid operator said. AP, Samuel P. Medenilla and Lenie Lectura