THE NATIONAL Capital Region’s (NCR) Quad-Intel Force will set up a liaison office at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) to help address corruption and stop the operations of convicted drug lords inside the detention facility. “The Liaison Office of the Quad-Intel Force at the New Bilibid Prisons will serve as the intelligence command headquarters to facilitate the sharing of information against convicted felons who are allegedly continuously running the operations of drugs syndicates and other criminal groups,” NCR Police Office (NCRPO) chief Major General Guillermo T. Eleazar said on Sunday. He said this is the first time that intelligence units of various government law enforcement agencies have been allowed to set up an office at the NBP for monitoring and intelligence-sharing with the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor). The Quad-Intel Force, formed in September, is composed of the NCRPO, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-NCR, the National Bureau of Investigation-NCR, and the military’s Joint Task Force-NCR. Mr. Eleazar said the liaison office will serve as the eyes and ears of the Quad-Intel Force, who will then provide BuCor with information. — Marc Wyxzel C. Dela Paz
THE SECOND phase of Davao Light and Power Company, Inc.’s (DLPC) underground distribution system project in Davao City is now 80% done and is expected to be completed by early 2020. “We will continue the third to fourth phases after this. Our commitment is keep continuing to go underground in Davao,” Aboitiz Power Distribution Utilities Group Chief Operating Officer Jaime Jose Y. Aboitiz told reporters during the annual Aboitiz Media Party, Friday. DLPC, a unit of Aboitiz Power Corp., completed the first phase in 2017, covering the area around the city hall complex.
OTHER PROJECTS
Mr. Aboitiz also said that their conversion to LED street lighting for the city is continuing to help reduce the local government’s energy consumption. It is targeted to be completed within five years. To date, he said, more than 3,000 LED lamps have been installed since 2018. The Aboitiz group official also announced that the P12.6-billion bulk water supply project of Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc. (AAII) and Davao City Water District (DCWD) remains on track to be operational by the first half of 2021. “The pipe laying works will begin within the month. Excavation works and foundation of its water treatment plant in Barangay Gumalang are currently ongoing. To date, Apo Agua now has a total of close to 500 laborers and skilled workers from its host barangays,” he said. Apo Agua is a joint venture between Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. and JV Angeles Construction Corp. — Maya M. Padillo
A MEMBER of the breakaway rebel group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) was killed Saturday while on the run from military forces in Pandag, Maguindanao, a report from the army said. Authorities identified the slain BIFF member as Kaliga Usman Kamsa who tried to escape the 40th Infantry Battalion in a Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit checkpoint in Barangay Malangit. “The troops launched the operation at the residence of the target in barangay Upper Siling, Paglat, but he escaped onboard a motorcycle,” said Major General Diosdado C. Carreon, Joint Task Force Central commander. “The blocking troops were to apprehend him but he resisted,” Mr. Carreon added. Recovered from Kamsa were two fragmentary hand grenades. Both the BIFF member and the recovered items were turned over to Pandag Philippine National Police. — Marc Wyxzel C. Dela Paz
THE DEPARTMENT of Health (DoH) will be using a new IT system that will keep track of its medicine supply after the agency was flagged for more than P18 billion in undistributed drugs. DoH, in a statement on Saturday, said they are in the process of bidding for new technology that will efficiently systematize their drug inventory. The DoH’s inventory is manually processed through acquiring third party logistics providers. “To ensure efficiency in the distribution of drugs and medicines, the Department is currently in the process of procuring a customized Electronic Logistics Management Information System for easy access to information on availability of stock, stock-outs, real-time inventory balances, expiring and about to expire commodities, utilization even at the LGU levels and among other important information needs,” DoH said. The Commission on Audit (CoA) earlier reported that P18.49 billion worth of medicines nearing expiry dates were unutilized and stored in DoH warehouses. As of August, DoH said P12.22 billion worth of medicines have been distributed and recorded, while the rest have yet to be reconciled with inventory records. — Gillian M. Cortez
PHILSTAR
158 OFWs repatriated from UAE
THE DEPARTMENT of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has repatriated 158 distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the United Arab Emirates due to trafficking. Of the total, 74 were from Abu Dhabi and the remaining 84 from Dubai. “In line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s commitment to protect the welfare and well-being of Filipinos overseas, we welcome home this morning 158 OFWs, most of whom were victims of trafficking in persons,” Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Y. Arriola was quoted as saying in a statement, Sunday. DFA noted that over 4,800 Filipinos have been repatriated from UAE since January this year, which cost the government P135.34 million in assistance. In 2018, the government repatriated 5,842 OFWs from Dubai and another 3,533 from Abu Dhabi, which cost over the P175.21 million. The repatriation was the joint effort of the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai. The DFA, meanwhile, again warned Filipinos seeking overseas employment through tourist visas as this exposes them to more abuses and exploitation by employers abroad. “The Philippine government strongly condemns the abuses being experienced by our OFWs in the hands of their recruiters or employers. DFA will continue to partner with other member agencies of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) to prevent and suppress trafficking,” Ms. Arriola said. — Charmaine A. Tadalan
Duterte retracts on drug claims vs generals
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Sunday backtracked on his earlier claim that two generals were involved in illegal drugs.
“I must admit my ignorance,” Mr. Duterte told reporters upon his arrival from Russia yesterday, adding that he only got confused with the military titles.
Mr Duterte said one of the military officials involved was actually a colonel. He did not identify the official.
The president last week said two generals were involved in illegal drug trading.
His comments come as the Senate investigates the illegal drug trade inside jails that can be allegedly traced to high-ranking police officials. — Arjay L. Balinbin
Veteran actress Amalia Fuentes, passed away at the age of 79 early Saturday morning, her grandson, Alfonso Martinez announced in a post on his personal Facebook page.
“It is with great sadness that I together with my siblings Alyanna and Alissa, inform you that our Grandmother, Amalia Amador Muhlach has taken her last breath this morning in the Philippines. She is now reunited with her husband Joey Stevens, our mother Anna-Lissa Martinez and her ex-husband, our Lolo Bobby. We have prayed for nothing but peace for her and now she can finally rest. Our family only asks that you respect our privacy during this time and join us in praying for her soul,” Mr. Martinez wrote on his post.
In a radio interview with DZMM, Ms. Fuentes’ nephew, actor Nino Muhlach said that the cause of death was due to multiple organ failure.
She was brought to the hospital several days ago but Mr. Muhlach noted that she has been bedridden for the past four years after suffering a stroke during a trip to South Korea.
Born Amalia Amador Muhlach on Aug. 27, 1940 in Naga, Camarines Sur, Ms. Fuentes started her almost seven-decade career in 1956 when she won Sampaguita Pictures’ Mr. & Miss Number One contest alongside fellow actor Juancho Guttierez. In the same year, they were paired together for the film “Movie Fan” by Tony Cayado.
Billed as a love team, Ms. Fuentes and Mr. Guttierez starred in several more films including “Rodora” (1956), “Sonata” (1957), and “Ang Senyorito at Ang Atsay” (1963). She was also paired with Romeo Vasquez in films like “Pretty Boy” (1957), “Bobby” (1958), “Ako Ang May Sala” (1958), and “Bilanggong Birhen” (1960).
She later married Romeo Vasquez in 1965 and had one child with him, the late actress Liezl Martinez (real name: Anna Lisa Muhlach Sumilang). Ms. Fuentes and Mr. Vasquez eventually separated in 1969 and she went on to marry Joey Stevens with whom she adopted a son, Geric Stevens. She divorced Mr. Stevens after 28 years of marriage.
Aside from her romantic films, she also starred in movies like Mar S. Torres’ “Estela Mondragon” (1960), and “Amy, Susie, Tessie” (1960) alongside Susan Roces.
She won a Best Actress Trophy from the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences in 1966 for her role in Gerardo de Leon’s horror-drama, “Ibulong Mo sa Hangin,” and a Best Actress Award in the Manila Film Festival in 1973 for Eddie Rodriguez’s “Pag-ibig Mo, Buhay Ko.”
Ms. Fuentes also branched out in 1966 to screenwriting, writing the script for “Tatlong Kasaysayan Ng Pag-ibig,” followed by “Ito Ang Aming Kasunduan” (1973). She also started producing movies, establishing AM Productions which produced movies like “Whisper to the Wind” (1966), “Baril at Rosary” (1967), and “Pwede Ako, Pwede Ka Pa Ba?” (1976).
She also directed and starred in the film, “Mga Reynang Walang Trono” (1976).
Her IMDb page listed 160 acting roles, the last of which was a role in the 2013 ABS-CBN series, “Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala.”
SM treated kiddie shoppers with fun and best-loved activities for the third year with the biggest and grandest #SMSuperKidsDay2019 celebration held last October 5 at SM Supermalls nationwide. A grand launch was held at SM Southmall featuring royalty-themed games, activities and entertainment!
“SM serves as a place for kids and their families to create great childhood memories. This October, we are bringing more fun playtime activities in our malls nationwide as we officially begin Kids’ Month,” said Jonjon San Agustin, SM Supermalls SVP for marketing.
Fit for princes and princesses alike, SM Super Kids Day featured free fun and play kiddie activities with countless toys, arts and crafts activities, deals on kiddie meals and items! To unveil more surprises, shoppers also joined the SuperKids Royal Dash Augmented Reality Game by simply scanning the QR code posters located in select areas in the mall and Toy Kingdom branches!
#SMSuperKidsDay2019 was be celebrated at SM BF Parañaque, SM Bicutan, SM Cherry Antipolo, SM Pasig, SM East Ortigas, SM Fairview, SM Las Piñas, SM Mall of Asia, SM Manila, SM Marikina, SM Megamall, SM Muntinlupa, SM North Edsa, SM Novaliches, SM Sangandaan, SM Southmall, SM Sta. Mesa, SM Sucat, SM Angono, SM Bacoor, SM Baguio, SM Baliwag, SM Batangas, SM Cabanatuan, SM Calamba, SM Cherry Antipolo, SM Clark, SM Dagupan, SM Legazpi, SM Lemery, SM Lipa, SM Lucena, SM Marilao, SM Masinag, SM Megacenter Cabanatuan, SM Molino, SM Naga, SM Olongapo Downtown, SM Olongapo Central, SM Pampanga, SM Puerto Princesa, SM Pulilan, SM Rosales, SM Rosario, SM San Fernando, SM San Jose del Monte, SM San Mateo, SM San Pablo, SM Santa Rosa, SM Tarlac, SM Taytay, SM Telabastagan, SM Trece Martires, SM Tuguegarao, SM Urdaneta Central, SM Valenzuela, SM Bacolod, SM Cebu, SM Consolacion, SM Iloilo, SM Ormoc, SM Seaside City Cebu, SM Cagayan de Oro, SM CDO Downtown Premier, SM Davao, SM General Santos, and SM Lanang Premier.
SM Super Kids Day is part of the month-long Kids’ Month festivities of SM malls across the country. For the whole month of October, kids and their families can enjoy The SM Store’s Babies and Kids Fest plus the Halloween offerings of Toy Kingdom and SM Markets. Completing Kids’ Month are the annual nationwide celebration of United Nations Day (October 8 to 31) and Halloween (October 18 to 31).
For more information, check out www.smsupermalls.com, or its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @smsupermalls.
Veteran actor and director Antonio “Tony” Mabesa died after a long illness on Oct. 4, Friday, at 10:20 p.m. He was 84.
Screenwriter Floy Quintos wrote on Facebook: “We, the family of Antonio Mabesa, are saddened to announce his passing . Sir Tony joined his creator at 10:20 this evening. He was surrounded by family and friends.”
“We thank you for your prayers. We hope you can respect the family’s wish for privacy at this time,” Mr. Quintos added.
Born in Laguna in 1935, Mr. Mabesa began his journey in the theater scene directing school plays at UP Rural High School. He studied at the University of the Philippines and was under the mentorship of National Artist for Theater Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero. In 1976, he founded the theater organizations Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas and its umbrella group, UP Playwright’s Theater.
In 2018, Mr. Mabesa played his last role as the late Eddie Garcia’s lover in the 2018 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) LGBT-themed family drama Rainbow’s Sunset where he won the award for Best Supporting Actor.
INFLATION slowed to 0.9% in September amid lower food and electricity costs, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Friday.
Prices of widely-used goods and services in September further cooled from 1.7% in August due to “softer price adjustments observed in nearly all commodities and base effects, coming from 6.7% in the same period in 2018.”
The September reading was the slowest since the 0.7% logged in April 2016, but matched the 0.9% in May 2015 and May 2016.
Last month’s print fell at the low end of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) 0.6%-1.4% forecast for September. It was also below the 1.1% median estimate in BusinessWorld’s poll of 16 economists last week.
For the nine months to September, headline inflation averaged at 2.8%, well within the BSP’s 2-4% target range for 2019.
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said in a statement it “expects inflation to further ease in the near term due to higher supply of rice in the country allowed by the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).”
Food and non-alcoholic beverages recorded deflation at 0.9%, while non-food inflation eased to 1.6%.
The NEDA noted rice deflation continued for the fifth straight month, dropping to 8.9% in September from 5.2% in August.
“We see the Rice Tariffication Law continuing to help pull down overall inflation in the near term as it continues to help improve rice stock inventory of the country. This access to cheaper rice is good for Filipino consumers,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia was quoted as saying in the statement.
In a separate statement, the BSP said the September inflation print was “driven by the continued decline in rice prices and electricity rates, which offset higher prices of petroleum and selected food products.”
“The latest inflation outturn is likewise consistent with the BSP’s prevailing assessment that inflation will continue to decelerate in Q3 2019 and pick up slightly in the remaining months of 2019,” the central bank said.
ING NV-Manila Branch senior economist Nicholas Antonio T. Mapa noted that inflation eased after bottlenecks were addressed from last year’s “supply-side oriented” spike, paired with series of rate hikes implemented by the BSP.
“Inflation will likely revert target once base effects fade. Price pressures appear to be benign as food prices are expected to be more stable given new legislation and government’s openness to importing food stuff,” he said in a note sent to reporters.
Meanwhile, Security Bank Corp. economist Robert Dan J. Roces said the central bank may have reached the end of its projected easing cycle for the year.
“We think that further cuts might affect real interest rates if not managed since inflation is expected to normalize next year,” he said in a note sent to reporters.
However, he added that global pressure “does give scope for the BSP to consider further cuts should the situation warrant it.”
Inflation peaked at a near-decade high of 6.7% in September and October last year. Overall prices have since eased, allowing the central bank to start reversing some of last year’s 175-basis points’ worth of interest rate increases.
Last week, the central bank slashed its benchmark interest rate for a third time this year to support a slowing economy. It also reduced banks’ reserve requirement ratio by 100 basis points to boost credit growth.
“Declining inflation trend would provide increased flexibility in terms of greater leeway for any furthering easing of local monetary policy,” said Michael Ricafort, economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said on Tuesday he remained confident 2019 growth would reach 6%, the lower end of its 6-7% forecast, but acknowledged it might just miss the mark.
He declined to say whether further easing would happen in 2019, saying it would depend on inflation rates which are currently “under control”. — L.W.T.NoblewithReuters
THE country’s manufacturing production growth rates have been dropping since December 2018. — REUTERS
By Jenina P. Ibañez
MANUFACTURING output declined for the ninth straight month in August, the government reported on Friday.
Preliminary results of the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) latest Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries (MISSI) showed factory output — as measured by the volume of production index — contracting by 9.3% year on year in August versus July’s revised 6.1% contraction and the 3.1% increase in August 2018.
Manufacturing production growth rates have been dropping since December 2018.
Year to date, factory output decline averaged 8.6% compared to the 11.7% growth average in 2018’s comparable eight months.
The PSA reported seven out of the 20 subsectors contracted in August: petroleum products (-59%), furniture and fixtures (-43.4%), transport equipment (-19%), miscellaneous manufactures (-17.7%), electrical machinery (-11.1%), beverages (-8.4%), and textiles (-3.6%).
Food manufacturing once again went up, increasing by 7.2% in August after ending its eleven-month decline in July.
In comparison, the IHS Markit Philippines Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index, which used a different set of parameters, bared a 51.9 reading in August, compared to July’s 52.1. A reading above 50 signals improvement in business conditions from the preceding month, while a score below that point indicates deterioration.
Average capacity utilization — the extent by which industry resources are used in the production of goods — was estimated at 84.3%. Thirteen of the 20 sectors registered capacity utilization of at least 80%.
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) economist Michael L. Ricafort said that the continued decline in manufacturing output is largely caused by global trade tensions.
“The latest year-on-year decline in manufacturing gauges may be largely brought about by the lingering/escalating US-China trade war that weighed on global economic growth/outlook that resulted to slower global trade and manufacturing gauges,” he said in an email response to questions.
He added that investors’ “wait-and-see” attitude in response to pending legislation on tax incentives also contributed to the decline.
“Uncertainties on the proposed rationalisation of fiscal incentives (though offset by the proposed reduction of corporate income tax from 30% to 20% over 10 years) may have caused some slowdown in both investments and production activities by both local and foreign investors while waiting for greater clarity and immediate implementation of the CITIRA bill before they pour in more investments and production, especially in the manufacturing sector,” he said.
The House of Representatives has already approved on third and final reading the Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Rationalization Act (CITIRA), fast-tracking the government’s plans to lower income taxes and slash the incentives of businesses.
ING Bank Manila NV senior economist Nicholas Antonio T. Mapa said that some growth in food manufacturing, the largest subcategory in terms of contribution to the country’s factory output, was not able to offset weaknesses in other major manufacturing contributors.
“Lower demand for petroleum products due to oil prices movements and general demand weakness due to global slowdown dragged on output, while electrical machinery and transport equipment pulled back on due to the regional tech slump exacerbated by the trade war,” Mr. Mapa said.
RCBC’s Mr. Ricafort added that the delay in the approval of the 2019 budget, along with the 45-day election ban on some infrastructure projects, may have also caused a slowdown in the construction and related industries.
He also noted that recent loan growth is relatively slow because manufacturers may have waited for interest rates to go down further. This caused slower capital formation and manufacturing production activities.
Moving forward, Mr. Ricafort sees more manufacturing investment in the coming months. He said that local long-term interest rates in early August 2019 could have bottomed out at their cheapest rate in two to three years.
He said that this “could make some businesses, consumers, government, and other institutions more aggressive in their borrowings/financing for new investments (capital formation), expansion projects, and other acquisitions/spending that could lead to more economic activities and faster growth especially in the manufacturing sector as well as in the broader economy in the coming months.”
According to ING Bank’s Mr. Mapa, growth in the manufacturing sector will depend on how it diversifies.
“Going forward, the sector must look to diversify away from reliance on food manufactures and look to other sectors to improve resilience to downturns and, well the weather,” he said.
“True reform will be needed to get manufacturing revived, and the ‘Build, Build, Build’ initiative will help improve efficiency and bolster the economy across the board from agriculture to manufacturing and services.”
THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released on Friday its proposed amendments to the rules guiding real estate investment trusts (REITs) in the Philippines.
The corporate regulator formalized through two notices uploaded on its website its planned changes on Republic Act No. 9856, or the REIT Act of 2009. The proposal includes easing public ownership requirements, requiring proceeds from a REIT offer to be reinvested in the country, adding oversight powers in related party transactions and imposing sanctions for administrative violations.
The SEC is seeking public comments on the draft rules until noon of Oct. 18.
“The proposed amendments align with our mandate to promote the development of the capital market toward the democratization of wealth and broadening of participation in the ownership of enterprises,” SEC Chairperson Emilio B. Aquino said.
As announced in earlier reports, the SEC’s draft amendment proposes to reduce the public ownership requirement for REITs to a 33% minimum public float from the current 40% on the first year.
It also wants to require all income generated from a REIT offer to be reinvested in the Philippines, with the goal of promoting growth in the capital market and Filipino participation in real estate.
The SEC also proposes to create a special committee which will be tasked to review related party transactions of REITs. The goal is to tighten the SEC’s review process of related party transactions. It is also requiring listed firms to disclose all such transactions within three days from execution.
REIT fund managers will also be required to obtain a license from the SEC, which will be given if it fulfills the requirement of having a minimum paid-up capital of P10 million for both local and foreign corporations. Its experience in property management and real estate will now also be considered for the three-year track record requirement for fund managers.
Should REITs violate any of the rules, the SEC is also seeking powers to impose administrative sanctions.
The release of the amended REIT rules is expected to encourage companies to launch REITs in the country. — Denise A. Valdez
THE Philippine government is looking into strengthening diplomatic ties with Latin America, Africa, and Central Asia in the next three years, President Rodrigo R. Duterte said.
Speaking during the plenary session of the Valdai International Discussion club in Russia, Mr. Duterte also said his administration is eyeing more cooperation with countries in the Middle East.
“In the remaining three years of my term, we will likewise expand the horizon of Philippine diplomacy by deepening our engagement in Latin America, Africa, and Central Asia,” Mr. Duterte said in his speech, the official transcript of which was sent to reporters.
“It is also high time that the Philippines looked at the Middle East with fresh eyes going beyond oil and Overseas Filipino Workers,” he also said.
Mr. Duterte noted that at this point bilateral relations between the Philippines and Russia remained on the “margins,” after his 2017 visit was cut short due to the Marawi City siege.
The President reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to a robust and comprehensive partnership.
In the same speech, Mr. Duterte called on nations to allow others to govern their people without intervention, particularly in the Philippines which has been subjected to scrutiny over the the administration’s campaign against the illegal drug trade.
“The Philippines does not ask for special treatment nor favors from its partners. It does not seek exemption from the norms and principles that have kept the peace in our world for decades,” Mr. Duterte said.
“We want a strengthened rules-based order where countries, big or small, are treated the same. We want unimpeded freedom — guaranteed by our constitution — to exercise our right to govern ourselves as a people and as we saw it fit. And we want friends and partners to respect our independence to make sovereign decisions just as we respect theirs.”
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. made similar pronouncements in a Sept. 28 speech at the United Nations in New York, in which he cited that the international body should not be used as a platform against a tough approach to crime.
The Philippine government has long been criticized by other nations over its campaign against drugs among others. On July 11, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution that sought to probe the human rights situation in the Philippines.
A more recent development is an amendment approved by a Senate Committee in United States that will bar the entry in to the US of Philippine public officials involved in the detention of Senator Leila M. de Lima, which US Senator Dick Durbin said is “politically motivated.” — Charmaine A. Tadalan
THE Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) is suspending operations in two stations of the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) until mid-2020 after a fire damaged a portion of the railway on Thursday. It said it will take nine months to repair the damaged stations.
After suspending operations on Oct. 3, the LRT-2 is targeted to reopen for “partial operability” by Monday or Tuesday, LRTA Spokesperson Hernando Cabrera said in a phone call Friday. He noted, however, that the reopening will be limited to the stations from Recto to Cubao, and “in a couple of days,” the Anonas station.
The last two stations, namely Katipunan and Santolan, will take at least nine more months of work to repair, Mr. Cabrera said
“’Yung full line operations, meaning Recto to Santolan, mga nine months pa ’yung timetable natin. Ibig sabihin, ’yung Katipunan to Santolan, wala pang operations for the next nine months doon,” he said. (The full line operations, meaning from Recto Station to Santolan Station, our timetable is nine months. Meaning there will be no operations from Katipunan to Santolan for the next nine months.)
Mr. Cabrera said the LRTA is asking for at least P430 million from the government to fix the damaged system, which will cover tapping a contractor and acquiring spare parts to replace the affected parts and bring LRT-2 to full operability by June.
“We have already initiated the emergency procurement procedure… ’Yung replacement and repair ng lahat ng mga nasira (for the replacement and repair of everything that was damaged), we’re looking at around P430 million, minimum,” he said.
He explained the nine-month timetable for the repair is because the parts would have to be sourced abroad, and it may take time before these may be delivered to the Philippines to begin replacement of the damaged sections. But he said if resources could be provided sooner, the time needed for the repairs may be cut.
The LRTA is yet to complete its investigation into the cause of fire that hit the train line on Thursday. In a statement, it said it has commissioned engineers from the United States who were part of the design and installation of the LRT-2 substations to help in the process.
Until it completes both investigation and repair, the LRT-2 operator is providing additional buses from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Philippine Coast Guard for passengers from Katipunan to Santolan during peak hours. It is also coordinating with regulators to allow buses and SUVs to serve routes outside its stations to assist affected passengers. — Denise A. Valdez
