Balik-Probinsya program is all set THE NATIONAL government said it is ramping up efforts for the simultaneous rollout of the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa (BP2) program for the second batch of qualified beneficiaries who want to return to their provinces in Visayas and Mindanao, BP2 Council Executive Director Marcelino Esca-
Founded 2006
lada Jr. said. Escalada, who is also the general manager of the National Housing Authority (NHA), said an evaluation has been done upon the completion of the rollout of the BP2’s first batch of beneficiaries on May 20. “We are set already to have a simultaneous rollout effective June 11. I’m speaking again
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Marcelino Escalada Jr.
for Leyte, Samar, Negros Occidental, Northern Samar, Camarines Sur, Eastern Samar, Zamboanga del Norte, and Lanao del Norte. We are confirming that our next batch of the rollout will be on June 11 for Leyte,” Escalada said. Another 100 BP2 qualified enrolees, he said, will be sent home to their provinces starting June 11.
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Due to the congestion of the dispatch area, Escalada said he had already coordinated with the provincial government of Camarines Sur to conduct a separate send-off of BP2 beneficiaries departing Manila scheduled on June 12. “There will be a minimum of five or six buses Continue on page 2
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June 8-14, 2020
U.N. office denounces human rights violations ‘Duterte spokesman says rehashed claims of impunity unfounded’
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he UNITED NATIONS Human Rights Office called on the Philippine government to end all violence targeting suspected drug offenders and to disband private and state-backed paramilitary groups. The U.N. rights of- in the Philippines under down on drug offenders fice chronicled reports President Rodrigo Dute- and users. and long-standing con- rte, who has particularly “A heavy-handed cerns about state-backed drawn domestic and in- focus on countering naand vigilante violence ternational condemna- tional security threats that it says has worsened tion for a deadly crackContinue on page 3
Sulu praises U.S. donations
President Rodrigo Duterte (PCOO)
Anti-terror bill approved! FILIPINO LAWMAKERS have approved a bill allowing warrantless detention and wiretapping of suspected terrorists,
which the country’s human rights commission says could curb expressions of dissent and other freedoms.
The House of Representatives gave its final approval on the anti-terrorism bill, adopting the Continue on page 2
Governor Sakur Tan with U.S. donations. (Sulu Task Force Covid-19) SULU – Governor Sakur lauded the efforts of the
U.S. military in assisting this southern Filipino
province in fighting the Continue on page 7
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June 8-14, 2020
Anti-terror bill approved! Continued from page 1 Senate’s version of the measure that’s been certified by President Rodrigo Duterte as urgent. Bills on economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic await lawmakers’ approval, with sessions adjourning this week. “People are losing jobs. Uncertainty lies in the air. People are hungry, clamoring for direction. Certainly, the timing is very bad,” Deputy Minority Leader Janette Garin, a former health secretary, said after the House passed the bill. The House gave its penultimate approval on a bill allocating 1.5 trillion pesos for infrastructure to create jobs for those displaced by the pandemic. Similar stimulus measures remain pending at the Senate. Rights Violations The anti-terrorism bill can now be signed into law by Duterte. The legislation
is needed as current policies lack “the teeth that is required given the current face of international terrorism,” Duterte’s spokesman Harry Roque said in an ABS-CBN interview. The bill’s broad definition of terrorism could result in possible abuses, Commission on Human Rights spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said. “With the vague and overly broad definition, authorities could wantonly tag exercise of rights as terrorist expressions,” she said. The United Nations Human Rights Office said that human rights concerns in the Philippines “have become more acute in recent years,” particularly due to Duterte’s drug war which has killed thousands. The government has said that some drug suspects fought back, prompting cops to defend themselves. “The underpinning
focus on national security threats – real and inflated – has led to serious human rights violations, reinforced by harmful rhetoric from high-level officials,” the U.N. office said. But Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said there is nothing draconian about the bill. “Ang mga provision naman po ng amendment to the Human Security Act eh binase rin po natin kung ano iyong mga batas na umiiral sa mga bansa gaya ng Inglatera, Estados Unidos at saka Europe, Australia, lalung-lalo na. So, wala naman pong draconian na provision diyan, lahat po ng provision diyan ay ibinase rin natin sa mga batas na mga iba’t ibang bansa na mas epektibo po ang kanilang pagtrato dito sa mga terorista,” he said. (By Andreo Calonso, Cecilia Yap – Bloomberg. With a report from the Mindanao Examiner.)
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Balik-Probinsya program is all set Continued from page 1 every day from June 11 and June 12 and we hope to get another schedule for Zamboanga del Norte and Lanao del Norte,” he added, noting that coordination with the provincial and local governments in the Mindanao provinces is on-going. Balik Probinsya enrolment “There are two ways within which an applicant can go into our enrolment (so) in the observance of physical distancing, much better than everyone will apply online,” Escalada said. There are already 79,000 individuals already enrolled online for the BP2 program.These individuals, he added, are situated in barangays within the National Capital Region (NCR). Escalada said people can also avail of the free enrollment for the Balik Probinsya program through manual registrations. He said forms are available in the barangay within NCR for those who don’t have smartphones and internet connections at home. “They can enrol manually, they can fill out the form and at the same time, it will be submitted
to the NHA secretariat and we will be the one to consolidate the data that will form part of our database,” he said, noting that the government has already produced 50,000 forms which were distributed to the barangays within Metro Manila. “We expect around 10,000 applications via manual to be in anytime towards the end of this week which will form part of our database both for online and manual enrolment,” he said. BP2 centers, enrollees’ profiles Escalada said he requested village leaders through the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to establish the Balik Probinsya centers in all barangay levels. “We also requested our BP2 council member departments to establish their own BP2 desks in their main office in Metro Manila and in their regional field offices,” he said. He said most online enrolees in the BP2 program are composed of local migrants who originate from the Visayas provinces. These individuals, he said, are victims of natural calamities such as Typhoon Yolanda wherein widespread de-
struction was brought to affected residents in the provinces of Leyte, Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar, Biliran, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Capiz, Aklan, Antique, Iloilo, Masbate, Palawan, and Dinagat Islands. “If you notice in our profile, these were all residents of Manila for the last seven, six or five years, my impression, my data tells me that indeed this was the time that Yolanda hit the Tacloban and the Yolanda Corridor,” Escalada said, adding, the rest of the local migrants were hard-hit by the insurgencies in various areas in Mindanao provinces, he said. “The movement of people upon certain calamity, whether it’s natural or even man-made calamity, that indeed the opportunities in the provinces at that time were no longer available. That’s why they left their provinces and proceeded to Metro Manila,” he explained. Escalada said the government is now pushing for the “reverse migrations” of these people, as the provinces hit by calamities “have gradually developed and bounced back already in those span of three or four years.”
Target returnees Escalada said the readiness of the local government units (LGUs) should also be considered in the implementation of the BP2 program. “We have the targets from the point of view of the BP2 council. However, the targets remained to be a tentative figure because we have to consider the readiness of the LGU,” he said, noting that the target numbers of migrants to be sent home to their provinces remained to be fluid. Escalada said the government is also considering the health crisis situation in the country. “In the case of Leyte, their testing capacity for coronavirus is only 100 (so) that 100 is the maximum number that we will be deployed in certain dispatch time. However, since we have a quarantine period of 14 days, we will have to wait for another 14 days for the second batch to come,” he said. He said the government is also observing preventive measures of a ‘certain province’ against Covid-19. “If you notice, the last batch we had in the pilot project was on May 20. We will have our second rollout by June 11, that is an observance to
the protocols and standards of a certain province,” he said, adding that the testing capacity of the LGUs also matters. “In courtesy to the governors and the mayors, we would highly recommend close coordination as well as recognizing their capacity to treat and test their own constituents. The numbers are still fluid. The targets will be there for us to be able to help us plan the next rollout,” Escalada said. Balik Probinsya vs. Hatid Probinsya Escalada also noted that the public should not be confused with the difference between the Balik Probisya program and the Hatid Probisya program of the government. “The Balik Probinsya is a program by which (it is) intended for the residents living in Metro Manila going back to the provinces for good,” Escalada said. The Balik Probinsya is a long-term program of the government, he said, that provides certain packages for the beneficiaries upon their return to their provinces “for good”. On the other hand, he said the Hatid Probinsya is a “short-term humanitarian effort to assist residents who have been
stranded in Metro Manila due to travel restrictions imposed under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). “The Hatid Probinsya initiative is just assistance. These are all stranded individuals, stranded tourists, students and OFWs due to lack of public transport in Metro Manila (so) the government—as part of our commitment, we provided for the sea transport, land transport as well as the air transport just to make sure that they have been assisted back home to their provinces,” he said. Last month, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 114 to institutionalize the Balik Probisya, Bagong Pag-Asa (BP2) program, which aims to address Metro Manila’s congested urban areas by encouraging people, especially informal settlers to return to their home provinces. The program includes the introduction of a sustainable program and rationalized system of fiscal incentives for export-oriented and domestic-oriented enterprises, as well as support for micro, small and medium enterprises to the qualified beneficiaries.(Lade Jean Kabagani)
The Mindanao Examiner
June 8-14, 2020
U.N. office denounces human rights violations
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‘Duterte spokesman says rehashed claims of impunity unfounded’ Continued from page 1 and illegal drugs has resulted in serious human rights violations in the Philippines, including killings and arbitrary detentions, as well as the vilification of dissent,” the report said. It said many of the human rights concerns “have become more acute in recent years” and have continued even amid Covid-19 outbreaks. Police raids “were routinely carried out without warrants” and post-operations reports indicated that evidence may have been falsified. The report cited a study of 25 drug operations in metropolitan Manila between August 2016 and June 2017, which showed that “police repeatedly recovered guns bearing the same serial numbers from different victims in different locations,” suggesting some victims were unarmed when they were killed. The report, requested by the U.N.-backed Human Rights Council, is based on nearly 900 submissions as well as government input, court and police records, and interviews with victims and witnesses. It noted that official figures have documented more than 8,663 people have been killed since the government’s campaign against illegal drugs began four years ago, “with some estimates putting the real toll at more than triple that number.” The Philippine National Police placed the death toll of what officials call the “drug war” at more than 5,600. The report also noted killings of and threats against human rights defenders in a country known for a vibrant civil society, and pointed to prosecutions of journal-
ists. “Unfortunately, the report has documented deep-seated impunity for serious human rights violations, and victims have been deprived of justice for the killings of their loved ones,” said U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet. “People who use or sell drugs do not lose their human rights,” she said. Both Duterte and the police have stated in the past that there is no state policy condoning extrajudicial killings in the crackdown. The toughtalking president, however, has repeatedly threatened drug traffickers with death and produced a list of suspects, including local politicians, some of whom were later killed in still-unsolved attacks. The report urged the repeal of a police circular that launched the deadly campaign against illegal drugs in 2016 and repeatedly used the terms “negation” and “neutralization” of “drug personalities.” “Such ill-defined and ominous language, coupled with repeated verbal encouragement by the highest level of state officials to use lethal force, may have emboldened police to treat the circular as permission to kill,” the report stated. Duterte has also threatened independent investigators looking into the killings and barred them from entering the Philippines. Ahead of the report, the Philippine diplomatic mission e-mailed a letter from Ambassador Evan Garcia to reporters in Geneva saying his government “has always maintained a positive approach to addressing claims and allegations and investigating claims
of violations, on the basis of facts.” It included a May report by the government on human rights in the Philippines. It said that popular support for Duterte and his administration were “inconsistent with the picture of systematic and widespread human rights violations and civil society crackdown being painted of the Philippines in the international community.” An independent poll, however, showed that 76% of Filipinos stated that there were many human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, in the campaign against illegal drugs. The poll also stated that 73% said the number of illegal drug users had fallen since Duterte took office in mid-2016. The Social Weather Stations surveyed 1,200 people from Dec. 13-16 in a nationwide poll that has a margin of error of 3 percentage points. In July last year, the Human Rights Council voted 18-14 with 15 abstentions to approve a resolution asking Bachelet to prepare the comprehensive report on human rights in the Philippines. Duterte reacted angrily by ordering the suspension of talks on any loans and grants that might be offered by the 18 countries that backed the resolution, particularly Iceland, which spearheaded the call for an investigation into rights conditions in the Philippines. Not true Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said there is no truth to the accusation of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that the Philippines is using the health crisis as an excuse to clamp down on freedom of expression and to tighten censorship.
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“We remain a nation that takes pride in protecting our people’s rights and freedoms, among which is the freedom of expression. But there are circumstances - and we have said this on numerous occasions - wherein such freedom becomes subject to derogation,” he said. Roque said a form of derogation falls under the criminal clause in Republic Act 11469, or the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act. The unconscionable conduct by individuals or groups to create, perpetrate, or spread false information on the
COVID-19 crisis on social media and other platforms does not constitute a right or freedom, but a crime. “We have a working, independent and functioning justice system in the country, where such cases are addressed. The Duterte Administration takes each case, be it a violation of the freedom of the press or of any other human rights, brought before its attention seriously and resolves each one within our domestic processes,” he said. Roque said rehashed claims of impunity are unfounded and the Pal-
ace reiterates that it has no place in the Philippines. He said law enforcers operate on strict protocols and transgressors of the law are made accountable. “We remain steadfast in our pursuit of our obligations and commitments in the stewardship of the welfare and the human rights of our people. The consistent high approval ratings of the President, up to this time, affirm public support for his leadership,” he said. (Jamey Keaten and Jim Gomez, Associated Press. With a report from the Mindanao Examiner.)
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June 8-14, 2020
Sulu Pictures in the News Sulu provincial government at work. This is where your taxes go. (Photos from the Office of the Provincial Governor, Task Force Covid-19, and Jolo Municipal Government)
June 8-14, 2020
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Sulu Pictures in the News
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June 8-14, 2020
Across : 1. Summed up 6. Saloon 9. Shred 12. Throw 13. Boxer Muhammad ___ 14. Pitcher’s stat 15. Peruvian range 16. Motorcycle adjunct 18. Sulphur, e.g. 20. African desert 24. Chicken serving 27. Hillary Rodham ___ 29. And not 30. Well-ventilated 31. Hero sandwich 33. Begeyman 34. Grant’s opponent 35. Tailors’ needs 37. Make lovable 41. Church leaders 42. Leading lady 44. Enjoying continual success (3 wds.) 46. Asian country 51. Poetic twilight 52. Director ___ Brooks 53. Tuckered out 54. Beet’s color 55. Mule’s father 56. Hearty soups
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June 8-14, 2020
Sulu praises U.S. donations
(Sulu Task Force Covid-19)
HEALTH
ni Dr. Willie T. Ong
Tips Sa Baradong Ilong at May Sipon
image: Freepik.com
N
akakainis ang may baradong ilong. Hirap kang huminga at matulog. Tumutulo ang iyong sipon at nagbabago ang iyong boses. Ang kadahilanan ng baradong ilong ay ang pamamaga ng ugat sa iyong sinuses (sa loob ng ilong). Naiirita ang mga ugat dahil sa mikrobyo o allergy. Heto ang payo ko Steam Inhalation. Magpara malunasan ito: pakulo ng 2 litrong tubig 1. Uminom ng 8-12 (8 baso) sa isang kaldero. basong tubig sa isang Kapag kumulo na, palamaraw. Puwede din umi- igin ng 10 minuto at isalin nom ng sopas, tsa-a at ang tubig sa isang plastic juices. na palanggana. Ilapit ang 2. Maligo sa show- iyong mukha ng 6 inches er gamit ang mainit na sa mainit na tubig. Itaklob tubig. Isara ang pinto sa ang tuwalya sa ulo habang banyo para makulob ang nakatapat sa palanggana. usok na manggagaling sa Ito’y para makulob ang init mainit na shower (parang at malanghap mo ang usok sauna). Ang steam o usok na nanggagaling sa tubig. ay may water vapor na Puwede kang mag-steam nagpapalabnaw ng ple- inhalation ng 3 o 4 beses sa ma. maghapon. 3. Subukan ang 4. May tulong ang Sa-
line Spray na nabibili sa botika (mga P100 ang halaga). Isa itong botelya na ipinapasok sa ilong at inispray. Sa ganitong paraan, mapapalabnaw at matutunaw ang plema sa ilong. 5. Gumamit ng warm compress. Ilubog ang tuwalya sa mainit na tubig at pigain ito. Ilagay ang mainit na tuwalya sa bandang ilong at noo. Ang warm compress ay nakababawas ng kirot at pamamaga ng sinus. 6. May mga nabibiling gamot para sa sipon (decongestants) pero hindi ito puwede inumin ng pang-matagalan. Minsan, nakaka-apekto din itong mga gamot sa iyong blood pressure. 7. Kung may allergy, umiwas sa mga bagay na nakaka-allergy sa iyo. Linisin ang kuwarto at linisin ang mga gamit, kama, sofa at rug. Labhan maigi ang unan, kumot, tuwalya at baro. Ang mga balahibo mula sa alagang hayop at stuffed toys ay nakaka-allergy din. Kung matindi ang allergy, puwede din uminom ng gamot sa allergy ng paminsan-minsan.
Continued from page 1 spread of the novel coronavirus or Covid-19. Tan, chairman of the local task force on Covid-19, thanked the members of the Special Operations Task Force headed by Captain Weston Bartkoski, who recently donated protective suits for the Sulu Integrated Provincial Hospital or IPHO. The protective suits were purchased by the Department of Defense and turned over by Bartkoski to Tan and Doctor Farah Omar, head of the IPHO. “The personal protective equipment for Sulu Provincial Hospital was procured by the U.S. Department of Defense as support to those risking so much to provide care for the citizens of Sulu,” Tan said. Senior government and military and police officials also witnessed the handover of the donations which were airlifted by two helicopters to the capital town of Jolo. “We thanked the U.S. government and the American people, and the U.S. forces for coming all the way to Sulu and turned over the donations despite United States is also addressing the pandemic back home,” Tan said. The U.S. Embassy in
Manila said Washington is providing an additional P201 million ($4 million) to help support vulnerable populations in Mindanao in the fight against Covid-19, bringing the total amount of U.S. pandemic assistance to the Philippines to over P978 million ($19.5 million). On June 2, U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim met virtually with Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) officials, led by Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, who also chairs the BARMM Inter-Agency Task Force on Covid-19, and reiterated U.S. commitment to partnering with the Philippines to address the pandemic in the region. The meeting provided an opportunity for BARMM leadership to discuss challenges and present its Covid-19 contingency plan, while Kim and U.S. Agency for International Development or USAID Mission Director Lawrence Hardy provided updates on U.S. Covid-19 assistance. “In these trying times, I am inspired by the resilience and courage of the Filipino people. The United States and the Philippines have met and overcome many challenges together, and I am confident that working togeth-
er we will overcome this challenge as well,” Kim said. He said with the additional $4 million in humanitarian assistance, USAID will protect vulnerable populations – those displaced by conflict and the recent earthquakes in Mindanao – from the on-going health crisis. USAID and its partners will work with local governments, local health authorities, and communities so that vulnerable populations have access to the most accurate and up-to-date health messages. USAID partners will reach over 100,000 persons with distributions of essential hygiene supplies, hand-washing stations, and hygiene promotion to reduce transmission risk and help communities re-open. USAID will also continue to provide vital water supply in transitory sites in Lanao del Sur for families displaced by the Marawi siege and in North Cotabato for earthquake-affected communities. The U.S. has provided more than P228 billion ($4.5 billion) in development assistance to the Philippines over the past 20 years, including over P29 billion ($582 million) in health assistance. (Mindanao Examiner)
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June 8-14, 2020
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P10
June 8-14, 2020
Duterte rejects motorcycle back-riding
P
RESIDENT RODRIGO Duterte rejected the plan to allow motorcycle back-riding in Cebu amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Duterte said he another an undue advan- not my discretion. Just understands the pub- tage,” he said in a taped because I’m the president lic’s plight, but stressed public address aired on does not mean I can igthat he cannot allow the state-run PTV-4 on Friday nore the laws of the land,” provincial government morning. he said. to authorize back-riding The IATF-EID has Despite the Inon motorcycles while the ter-Agency Task Force prohibited motorcycle country is still battling for the Management of back-riding in the counCovid-19. He made the Emerging Infectious Dis- try even after the quaranremark after Cebu Gov- eases’ (IATF-EID) pro- tine measures have been ernor Gwendolyn Garcia hibition on motorcycle relaxed since physical signed an executive or- back-riding, Garcia al- distancing cannot be obder on June 3, allowing lowed a motorcycle rider served. back-riding on motorcy- to carry one passenger, Interior Secretary cles within the province. provided that no fare will Eduardo Año also said “Much as I would be collected. the government could not like really to accommoDuterte said he could permit back-riding even date Governor Garcia not exempt Cebu prov- for married couples due and the board members, ince from the IATF-EID’s to the health risks posed first, what I can say is if policy against back-rid- by Covid-19. “Ang virus I begin an exemption to ing because “others will ay walang pinipili, yung one which I cannot, I will follow”. “The law is hard minimum health stanopen myself to charges but it is the law. Wala ta- dards na physical distancof anti-graft law giving laga akong magawa. It Is ing, napakahirap i-prac-
President Rodrigo Duterte (PCOO) tice sa motor,” he said. He, however, said the ban was just temporary. Duterte agreed with Año, saying that it is in-
deed challenging to practice physical distancing on motorcycles. “Ako sang-ayon ako na mahirap talaga ngayon. We
are in hard times. I don’t know if we can go back to the same old style,” he said. (Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos)
LTFRB issues special permits to Cebu PUVs
SPECIAL PERMITS. Jonathan Tumulak, City of Talisay Traffic Operations and Development Authority head, inspects a modern public utility jeepney owned and operated by the People’s Multi-Purpose Cooperative (People’s Coop) that will provisionally ply the route from Barangay Linao to Barangay Bulacao in Talisay City near the boundary of Cebu City. Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board issued 90 special permits for public utility vehicles allowed to travel in Cebu during the GCQ. (Photo courtesy of Talisay City PIO)
CEBU CITY – At least 90 special permits were issued to public utility vehicles (PUV) in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay, including Consolacion town while under the general community quarantine (GCQ) until June 15, a top transport regulatory officer in Central Visayas said. Eduardo Montealto Jr., Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB-7) regional director, said 61 special permits were issued to buses plying different routes in Cebu City and 29 more for buses in Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Talisay, and Consolacion. “Based on Section 4 of the
Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine, ‘the movement of all persons in areas placed under GCQ shall be limited to accessing essential goods and service,’” he said, adding, the movement of people for leisure purposes is not allowed and those aged 21 below and 60 above are still required to stay at home. “The increase in the number of vehicles allowed to ply the routes would be in phases, depending on the passenger demand, which will be monitored by LTFRB-7,” he said, noting that Memorandum Circular 2020-017 provides for the hierarchy of transport service if there is a need for addi-
tional PUVs. Topmost in the hierarchy are buses followed by Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG)-compliant public utility jeepneys (PUJs) or modern PUJs and UV Express. The fourth is traditional PUJs, which have already been consolidated as cooperatives or are fleet-managed and last are the tourist vans. The LTFRB-7 also issued 150 special permits for taxis and Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) such as Grab and Micab. However, TNVS operators might still be conducting training for their drivers since the taxis and TNVS would be using the cashless payment system.
Montealto said LTFRB continues to validate applications for special permits and is coordinating with the LGUs to determine if there is a need to add more PUVs to serve a certain route. The LTFRB, in coordination with the local government units, has come up with rationalized routes, which were identified due to the presence of businesses offering essential services, he explained. He called on commuters in areas that have not been covered yet by the routes to be patient and understanding since there would still be limited number of PUVs that will be allowed to operate. (John Rey Saavedra)
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