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Contestable market and the ride-hailing sector

“A contestable market is one into which entry is absolutely free, and exit is absolutely costless… Absolute freedom of exit is one way to guarantee freedom of entry, any firm can leave without impediment, and in the process of departure can recoup any costs incurred in the entry process. Their firms need not be small or numerous.”

— William Baumol,
Presidential address at the 94th meeting,
American Economic Association, December 1981

This is the beauty and superiority of the contestable market theory over the perfectly competitive market theory. Even under a temporary monopoly, oligopoly or other imperfectly competitive markets, the incumbent player/s will not abuse their dominant position through very high prices and/or lousy products and services because there is always a possibility of new entrants coming in to challenge them. The threat of “hit and run entry” from new rivals will keep the industry or sector operating at a competitive price and output.
Applied to the ride-hailing subsector in Philippine land transportation, the behavior and ruling of the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) penalizing both Uber and Grab a total of P16 million for their merger this April is wrong from the perspective of promoting a contestable market. PCC sent a bad signal to future players and competitors, local and foreign, telling them that there is a big cost for exit — on top of a big cost of entry — due to the bureaucratic red tape of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
This two-in-one barrier to entry and exit — barrier to more competition and consumer choice — is created by government agencies that are ironically created to protect consumers, to give them more choices.
As of today, LTFRB retains the cap of 65,000 cars for ride-hailing players in Metro Manila. Prior to the Grab-Uber merger in April 2018, their combined 43,000 units were getting some 600,000 bookings a day on average. After the merger, only 34,000 cars were available because LTFRB did not accredit 8,000 cars from Uber. As expected when supply shrinks but demand remains the same, the waiting period increased, fares increased, and public dissatisfaction increased. But the public and government agencies blame the merger, not the government agency that caused the shrinking of supply.
By late 2018, things seem to have deteriorated because many accredited but retired Grab cars and drivers cannot easily be replaced by new cars and drivers. LTFRB makes it difficult and very bureaucratic to do so. Meanwhile, demand has further increased from 0.6 million bookings a day in April to nearly 2 million a day in December as traffic congestion continues to worsen, with a peak demand of 2.5 million on certain days.
Fares naturally have increased as a rationing mechanism. Passengers who want to avail of ride-hailing service but can’t afford to do so will opt out and take instead the regular taxi or aircon van, or bus/jeep/tricycle multiple rides. Other passengers keep waiting or endure higher fares then lambast the dominant player later.
The Philippines has a good outlook in the ride-hailing business based on Statista projections, the compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) in 2018-2023 is estimated at 30%. This year, projected gross revenues for all competing players is close to $500 million, 15th largest in the world. In 2019, the Philippines is projected to overtake Vietnam, now ranked 14th in the world in ride-hailing revenues (see table).
ride-hailing
No one puts a gun to people’s heads and demands that they must endure the high fares charged by transport network vehicle services (TNVS)/transport network companies (TNCs). People have the choice to opt out. But when government puts a shadow gun to the heads of TNVS operators and car drivers, saying that they must endure heavy traffic and graveyard shifts without raising their fares to a level dictated by LTFRB, things become different.
To approximate contestable market conditions, government — LTFRB, PCC, Congress, etc. — should step back, deregulate, and remove various caps and controls (fare caps, franchise caps, merger caps).
Government should also give existing and potential players the leeway to enter and exit, and to innovate new services with corresponding fares.
Only when accredited cars and drivers do things outside of their stipulated service, like robbing or sexually molesting their passengers, should the heavy hand of government regulations and coercion apply.
 
Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr. is the president of Minimal Government Thinkers.
minimalgovernment@gmail.com

Recycling Arroyo

Former President, and, since July of the year that’s about to end, Speaker of the House of Representatives Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was generous in her praise for her accomplices during her speech this Wednesday when the aptly named Lower House adjourned for the Christmas break.
As of Dec. 11, Arroyo crowed, “the House can report with confidence that we have already passed the President’s entire legislative agenda as he announced it in his 2018 State of the Nation Address.”
A press release from her office mentioned the House’s passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the Security of Tenure Act, the National Land Use Act, and the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience, among other “accomplishments.” But it did not mention the hasty approval on third and final reading of the House majority’s resolution urging adoption of its draft of a Constitution that, among other problematic traits, abolishes the anti-dynasty and term limit provisions in the 1987 Charter it is intended to replace.
“Under Arroyo,” her press release nevertheless continued, “the House processed 1,361 bills, and approved 492 measures, of which 95 have been passed into law.”
What the House has succeeded in doing, however, isn’t as outstanding as what it failed to do — pass the 2019 General Appropriations Bill so the Senate could examine and discuss it.
Without a budget approved by both chambers of Congress for the coming year, the government will have to use the 2018 budget to continue operating. This will still require Congressional action in early January 2019 via a reenacted allocation, which, however, binds the government to the programs of 2018.
The last time the government operated under a reenacted budget was in 2010, but during the last three years of Arroyo as President, in 2007, 2008 and 2009, Congress also failed to pass a budget before it adjourned at year’s end.
As if to remind everyone of that far from exemplary record, while declaring that the Speakership is “a position I do not take lightly,” Arroyo also described her “leadership and management style as Speaker” as similar to when she was President.
The House failure to pass the budget can indeed be attributed to her far from unique leadership and management style, which can only be charitably described as similarly self-serving as that of her predecessors’.
The 2019 budget failed to pass because of Arroyo and her House allies’ more than obvious attempts to secure other posts for themselves once their terms in Congress end in May next year.
Making full use of her background in economics, Arroyo summoned the Duterte economic managers in October and — in a thinly veiled criticism of the way they have been running the economy, as well as to earn brownie points among the populace — urged them to adopt several measures that she claimed would lower the inflation rate. In an unmistakable rebuke to her “I know better” presumption, her suggestions were not taken seriously, and none have been adopted by the government.
What ensued next only served to validate rumors of a House-Malacañang break. The Arroyo House leadership claimed that there were pork barrel “insertions” worth P52 billion worth in the 2019 proposed budget, and that Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Benjamin Diokno was primarily responsible for it.
Duterte ally Senator Panfilo Lacson countered with allegations that it was Arroyo and her House cohort who had “inserted” billions of pesos in pork barrel in the budget. Malacañang quickly demanded that Arroyo explain the P2.4 billion in pork she allegedly inserted in the budget for the supposed benefit of her district. Congressman Rolando Andaya, who was Arroyo’s DBM Secretary when she was President, and her other House allies denied Lacson’s allegations.
The dispute dragged on with claims and counterclaims being hurled at each other by the House and Malacañang. The long and the short of it is a repeat of what happened during Arroyo’s last years as President, when factional disputes and endless bickering over who should get how much in pork and perks led to successive budget reenactments, with the General Appropriations Act’s being passed only in the first quarter of the year.
The present impasse, however, has been further complicated by Arroyo and company’s apparent focus on assuring themselves of a reasonably secure and profitable future after May 2019, when Arroyo and Andaya can no longer run for another term.
Was the House demand that President Duterte fire Diokno meant to pressure him into naming Andaya to that post? Even more to the point, is Ph.D. in Economics degree-holder Arroyo eyeing the post of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, or that of National Economic and Development Authority Director-General Ernesto Pernia, thus her pointedly successful attempts to call attention to the failure of the Duterte regime to curb inflation? Or is she aiming for a more powerful post such as that of “Little President,” the Executive Secretary?
What makes these suspicions credible is, among others, Arroyo’s unexpected coup against Pantaleon Alvarez, which took even Mr. Duterte by surprise this July. That alone suggests that she’s not about to withdraw from public life. But Arroyo has also been suspected of eyeing the prime ministership in the event that the country adopts the parliamentary system, or the Presidency should a federal form of government come to pass, when, depending upon the transitory provisions of the Constitution that will implement it, she could run for another term.
Taken together, these events suggest that Arroyo and company seem to be laying out a smorgasbord of options for their continued dominance in government rather than fading away in retirement.
Because she has been President, few expected, and many were surprised and even shocked, when Arroyo ran for Congress in 2009. She did win as Representative of the Second District of her home province of Pampanga, a post in which many thought she would shun controversy while awaiting retirement from government. Her July coup, achieved with the connivance of Sara Duterte and Imee Marcos, relieved them of that illusion.
To most people, being Secretary of Social Welfare and Development, and then Senator, Vice-President, President, Congresswoman, and Speaker would be more than enough rewards for a lifetime. But neither Arroyo nor her fellow bureaucrat capitalists are “most people.” They are neither like you and me in their lusts and ambitions, nor a majority, they being only a handful among the teeming millions of this archipelago.
Consider another example of the differences between the many and the few in this land of inequity, that of Joseph Estrada.
Himself a former President and having been a Senator as Arroyo was, as well as San Juan Mayor earlier, and Vice-President of the Philippines, Estrada again ran for President in 2010 after his pardon for plunder in 2007, and then ran for Mayor of Manila in 2013, a post that he won and will still contest in 2019.
A government post apparently has its attractions beyond its official remuneration benefits, and access to public funds. But Arroyo, Estrada, and several others’ (Juan Ponce Enrile also comes to mind) running for and continuing election, and/or appointment to public office, reveal not only how short the memory of Filipino voters is, but also how narrow is their field of choice in who can best govern them.
It’s a function of the limited democracy that for decades has passed for majority rule, and which masks the reality of oligarchic dominance in Philippine politics and governance. Expect Arroyo and company to be, like Mr. Duterte’s chosen few, recycled into functionaries in some other equally powerful, equally lucrative posts in government in 2019. It’s not quite right to say they will return to government, because they’ve never left it.
The views expressed in Vantage Point are his own and do not represent the views of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility.
 
Luis V. Teodoro is on Facebook and Twitter (@luisteodoro).
www.luisteodoro.com

Christmas in a house and not in a barn

The passage is famous itself: “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David, To be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child. And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished, that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”
That is from Luke 2:4-7, Douay-Rheims Bible, containing the powerful image of the Son of God coming into the world in utter simplicity and humility, born in a manger, in a barn, with St. Joseph and Mother Mary looking on, surrounded by meek and peaceful sheep and cows, shepherds peeking from without for good measure.
The popular imagery it evoked is seen in countless movies, postcards, and belens; encouraging us to turn away from the callousness of the innkeeper and instead to welcome Christ, in our hearts and in our lives.
Yet, is the understanding of the circumstances of Jesus’ birth by popular culture correct? Note that this is not a commentary on the biblical passage but rather our interpretation of it.
For a start, a reading of the passage above — as it is — makes no mention of a barn. We merely assumed it. It just says Mother Mary laid Jesus “in a manger.”
We thought of “barn” because of the word “manger.”
But, as New Testament and Middle Eastern scholar Kenneth E. Bailey points out (Eternity News, 2011), we “assume animal feeding troughs are placed in structures that contain only animals and are separate from houses, as they are in our culture. But in Jesus’ culture, animals were not kept in barns, but rather in houses.” The “family brought their animals into this section of the house each night, where they were safe from theft and offered warmth in winter, then took them outside in the morning.”
Thus, “peasant houses normally had only two rooms, one was set aside for guests, while the other was used for the whole family’s activities including sleeping, cooking and eating.”
This is not difficult to picture as many old Filipino houses were structured this way: as protection from the elements, such as floods, the common family living spaces are usually on the second floor, while the animals and storage areas, as well as possible day and play spaces, are on the ground.
xmas
Another reason had to do with language. Some recent Bible versions proffer that the proper translation is not “inn” but rather “guest house.” The reason has to do with the precise words in the original language.
The clue is found in Luke 22:10-12: “He said to them, ‘Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house which he enters, and tell the householder, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I am to eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished; there make ready.’”
The Greek word used here for guest room is “katalyma,” the same word used in the birth narrative above. On the other hand, when using the word “inn” in Luke 10:34, for example, the Greek term employed was pandocheion, literally “commercial inn.”
So, the picture that now emerges is different: there was no hardhearted innkeeper. But was there a hardhearted homeowner that did not offer the Holy Family the guest room and instead forced them to sleep with the animals?
Again, probably not. The reasons have to do with the Middle East’s generous standards of hospitality. The other is that Joseph would most definitely have sought lodging with a family member.
Remember that the reason Joseph went to Bethlehem was because Augustus Caesar’s census ordered Jews to return to their hometown. And Joseph was of the House of David. It would have been highly improbable (as it would be in the Philippines) for no relative to take Joseph and his family in.
What was likely was the census caused many families to all return to Bethlehem at the same time, crowding the houses with one’s relatives. And for privacy’s sake, as well as for other needs, like hot water, etc., the ground floor would have been a practical choice offered by a homeowner to a relative about to give birth.
Our Savior thus was born not in isolation but surrounded by his extended family. This, however, clearly does not change the message of humility, repentance, forgiveness, and salvation.
But it does place greater emphasis as well on the importance of family, that the Son of God, indeed born helpless, came from the warmth of Mary’s womb to a childhood in the womb of His family.
Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all!
 
Jemy Gatdula is a senior fellow of the Philippine Council for Foreign Relations and a Philippine Judicial Academy law lecturer for constitutional philosophy and jurisprudence.
jemygatdula@yahoo.com
www.jemygatdula.blogspot.com
facebook.com/jemy.gatdula
Twitter @jemygatdula

Thoughts on Christmas

On Christmas, we pray for spiritual grace, love, forgiveness and lasting world peace. We count our blessings and release all negative thoughts.
Here are wishes for all children who deserve to inherit a better world.
1. A home with loving parents who will guide and care for them. That all parents will lead by example and teach kids spiritual and family values, and good manners.
2. That all children will be safe from domestic violence and abuse.
3. Good health. That all children, especially in the rural areas, will have proper nourishment, medical and dental care to grow strong and healthy. That the essential vaccines to combat diseases will be available to all children especially in remote areas.
4. A pollution-free environment — clean air, pure water, open fields and parks with trees and flowers. That they may appreciate nature and learn how to protect the seas, rivers, lakes and forests.
5. Quality education. That the public school system will be upgraded with dedicated teachers, more classrooms and books for all. Mobile libraries and reading programs. That all kids will be given the opportunity to study and the chance to excel.
6. A comprehensive sports program for national and international competitions. That kids will learn the values of friendly competition and the art of winning and losing gracefully.
7. A gender discrimination-free society that will encourage girls and boys to aspire to become leaders in their chosen professions. The resources and opportunities to fulfill all their goals.
8. A progressive national arts and culture program and outreach projects to elevate the consciousness of children. That gifted children will be recognized and given the opportunity to develop their artistic talents.
xmas
9. More education grants for scholarships for deserving students in the best schools throughout the country.
10. Quality and balanced programming on television with more educational and wholesome entertaining shows. That producers will not exploit aspiring young performers in noontime shows.
11. An accelerated science, math, and technology educational program to equip all future graduates with the skills to work and compete in the international markets.
12. A stable economy. More jobs and livelihood programs so that the parents can earn enough to allow their children to go to school. That kids do not have to work or beg.
13. A country with visionary national leaders, hardworking, honest officials with wisdom, integrity and heart.
14. A safe, crime-free, drug-free, abuse-free environment. That all kids will be protected from the menace of incest, physical and emotional abuse and the scourge of drugs.
15. That children will not be used as soldiers in areas of armed conflict.
16. Freedom of expression. The right to be themselves. That adults realize that kids need respect and are entitled to be heard. Open communication with parents and teachers.
17. Innocence. A happy childhood and the chance to enjoy being a child. Time to play, study and rest. Above all, time to grow up — at their own pace.
“On n’est jamais si hereux ni si malhereux qu’on s’imagine.” (One is never so happy or so unhappy as one thinks.” — Francois, Duc de la Rochefoucauld (1613-1680), French writer
A Blessed Christmas to all!
 
Maria Victoria Rufino is an artist, writer and businesswoman. She is president and executive producer of Maverick Productions.
mavrufino@gmail.com

Another UN rapporteur draws ire of Malacañang

MALACAÑANG ON Thursday lambasted United Nations Special Rapporteur (UNSR) Michel Forst for asking the Philippine government to “review and desist from employing counter-insurgency measures which result in extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, and human rights violations” in the country.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo said Mr. Forst’S call is “reckless and irresponsible.”
“It not only demeans the integrity of the UNSR system but the entire UN mechanism itself,” he said.
Mr. Forst released last Wednesday, Dec. 18, a report on the situation of human rights defenders (HRDs) in 140 countries.
In the Philippines, his report said, “the stigmatization, defamation, judicial harassment, arbitrary arrest and criminalization of defenders is a key area of concern.”
“It has been reported that human rights defenders are subject to smear campaigns and online harassment. Government officials have tried to connect human rights defenders with the drug trade, communist groups, or terrorist groups,” he explained.
Mr. Panelo, on the other hand, countered, “We are fed up with this practice of using the UN as a platform to parrot baseless criticisms of local interest groups who are supported by resentful politicians belonging to the opposition. For too long has the UN been used by these detractors as a tool for vilification. UNSRs should be less gullible…”
“If Mr. Forst only checked his facts first, he would have known that organizations presenting themselves as so-called human rights defenders never had it so good under the Duterte administration,” the spokesman said.
He also said the Palace is challenging the local groups “that have been feeding Mr. Forst with false information to submit their alleged cases of violations against their members to proper authorities such as the Inter-Agency Committee under Administrative Order 35 (s.2012) which is charged with handling cases of extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances and other grave violations of the right to life and liberty.”
“Unless they can properly do so, we stand by our firm admonition of these groups to refrain from making a fool of these UNSRs, a mockery of the UN, as well as using their allegations as leverage to secure financial resources from overtrusting funding institutions,” he said.
CLARIFICATION
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is seeking clarification into the report, which it pointed out was not published by the UN Office of the High Commission for Human Rights (UN OHCHR) and was only made available in Mr. Forst’s personal website.
In any case, the DFA stressed that the Philippine government upholds the rule of law.
“As we are currently seeking clarification on the nature of report of the Special Rapporteur to enable us to respond more properly, we would like to reiterate the full commitment of the Philippine Government to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that human rights violations are properly investigated, including those allegedly committed by state actors, to make the perpetrators accountable,” the DFA said.
Mr. Forst shared his findings on Twitter, noting that the world report was only available on his website since UN OHCHR “did not accept to publish it.” — Arjay L. Balinbin and Camille A. Aguinaldo

IP commission says ‘hamletting’ not the way to protect lumads

THE NATIONAL Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) on Thursday rejected President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s plan to “hamlet” IP, locally referred to as lumads, to protect them from harm and the influence of the communist New People’s Army (NPA).
NCIP officials said they will to reach out to the Office of the President (OP) to clarify the matter.
Lawyer Erwin M. Caliba, executive assistant to NCIP Chairperson Leonor T. Oralde-Quintayo, told BusinessWorld in a phone interview on Thursday, Dec. 20, that Mr. Duterte’s “hamletting” approach is different from what the commission has proposed to the OP.
“‘Yung hamletting kasi nakakatakot ‘yun (That hamletting is scary). I am sure the President has high respect for the rights of the indigenous peoples,” he said, explaining that hamletting connotes isolating the community.
Hamletting, which involves the isolation of civilians in a small settlement, was used by the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos to combat communist guerrillas in the southern Philippines.
The NCIP is hoping that the President will adopt the agency’s Integrated Ancestral Domain Development Approach (IADDA), which is “close” to the new town development approach wherein a new settlement is built in order to give IP an opportunity to transform their area into a self-sufficient town.
“When you say new town, it’s the IP who will identify their new center within their ancestral domains… The idea is for them to identify a center or they could put a settlement, but without giving up their original places in the ancestral domains,” he further explained.
The priority areas, he added, are the conflict-affected zones so that IP who are dispersed in wide areas could be gathered together and can be more easily protected by soldiers.
Mr. Caliba said the pilot testing of the IADDA is actually being conducted in Davao City, Mr. Duterte’s hometown.
“Meron ng (There is a) pilot area sa Davao City, in Paquibato and Sitio Paraiso…. It started two or one year ago,” he said, adding that it covers the Ata Manobo tribe there. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Japanese fraud ring leader nabbed in PHL

THE BUREAU of Immigration (BI) arrested on Wednesday Japan’s most wanted fugitive, described as a “leader of a major fraud ring.”
BI Commissioner Jaime H. Morente identified the 59-year-old suspect as Misao Koyama, who was nabbed in Manila in a joint operation of the BI-Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) and Tokyo Interpol.
Mr. Morente said Mr. Koyama is charged in his home country for allegedly forging private documents to sell other people’s land without consent.
BI FSU Chief Bobby R. Raquepo said Mr. Koyama and his eight-man fraud ring embezzled “billions of yen” from their victims in Japan.
Mr. Koyama will be held at the BI’s detention facility in Taguig City while awaiting deportation proceedings. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

DoJ denies conflict of interest in Okada estafa case

THE DEPARTMENT of Justice (DoJ) denied the allegations of conflict of interest on the part of Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra in connection with the National Prosecution Service’s (NPS) decision indicting Japanese gambling tycoon Kazuo Okada of estafa.
The alleged conflict of interest stems from the engagement of Mr. Guevarra’s son as an associate director of Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment, Inc. (TRLEI), the company behind casino resort Okada Manila, that filed charges against Mr. Okada.
In a press statement, DoJ Undersecretary and Spokesperson Markk L. Perete said the “speculation is unfounded.”
Mr. Perete noted that the NPS is independent from the office of Mr. Guevarra.
“Its resolution in the Okada case was arrived at by the prosecutor handling the case without the intervention or influence of the Secretary,” Mr. Perete stated.
He also emphasized that Mr. Guevarra met with the parties on June 27, 2018, after the case reached the Department in May, where he informed them that his son works for TRLEI.
The Justice chief also noted in the meeting that his son initially applied for a managerial position in November 2017, but was offered the associate director position in December 2017.
Mr. Guevarra was appointed to the DoJ post on April 5, 2018 after the resignation of former Justice secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II.
“The Secretary likewise assured the counsel (of) both parties that the engagement of his son by Tiger Resorts would have no bearing in the resolution of their cases, and that these cases will be resolved with utmost impartiality,” Mr. Perete said.
“The Secretary stresses that his son knew absolutely nothing about the cases involving Tiger Resorts and Mr. Okada. Neither have (the) father and son discussed these cases in any way,” he added.
Mr. Perete also said the Secretary will inhibit from resolving the cases should his son not resign from TRLEI, and even consider resigning from his position.
Last Dec. 7, the NPS indicted Mr. Okada and Takahiro Usui, Okada Manila’s former operating officer and president, for allegedly conspiring over the $3.16-million transferred to Mr. Okada as his compensation as former chief executive officer and consultancy fee. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Andaya challenges Diokno to debate on Road Board abolition

HOUSE MAJORITY Leader Rolando G. Andaya, Jr. of the 1st district of Camarines Sur has challenged Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno to a debate on the proposed road board abolition bill. “If he is really up to it, I challenge Sec. Diokno to a debate on the proposed bill. To see who is telling the truth,” Mr. Andaya said in a statement on Thursday. Mr. Andaya argued that House Bill 7436 will not completely abolish the seven-man board and will instead transfer the power to “Three Road Kings,” referring to the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Transportation and Department of Environment and Natural Resources. He added that the new structure will more likely allow corruption to prevail. “Deretso ibibigay sa kanila at bahala na sila ang gagasta (It will go directly to them and allow them to utilize the funds on their own.) Each will have dictatorial powers over the funds. No oversight,” he added. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Waze app shows worst times to be on the road during the holidays in select metro areas

WAZE, a digital platform on road data and other traffic- and transport-related information, has released the “best and worst” time to be on the road in select urban areas around the country, based on last year’s patterns during the holidays. “Driving patterns from last year’s data indicated that more people were traveling in December compared to a regular month, highlighting a 10 percent increase in active users on Waze. Not only that, there were more vehicles on the road, with drivers spending 12 percent more time on Waze in December compared to a regular month,” Waze said in a statement. “Keeping these driving patterns in mind, you can expect the same or even more vehicles and longer hours spent on the road” this year, it added. The Waze app is available on Google Play and Apple App Store.

12 Chinese arrested for illegal online gambling operations

THE NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested 12 Chinese nationals last Dec. 11 in Pampanga for illegal online gambling operations. NBI Director Dante A. Gierran identified the arrested foreigners as Chen Ya Ting, Chen Chengang, Sun Qiao Yan, Wei Bing, Lei Shi Feng, Gao Cheng Feng, Lin Jin, Wang Hai Tao, Wu Cheng Pin, Ruan Cheng Hui, Gao Fei, and Long Xi. One of the target subjects, Chen Hao Ran, evaded arrest as he was not in the area during the operation. “The operation of online gambling itself is illegal. The workers there are illegal in the sense na wala silang (that they do not have) working visas,” NBI Forensic Investigation Service Deputy Director Ferdinand M. Lavin said in a press conference Thursday. Under Philippine law, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. is the authorized agency to operate and issue licenses for gambling and gaming-related business. The 12 Chinese have been presented before the Department of Justice for inquest proceedings. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Number coding scheme lifted during non-holidays

THE METROPOLITAN Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced on Thursday the lifting of the number coding scheme in Metro Manila for provincial buses from Dec. 21 to Jan. 2, and on Dec. 26-28 for all vehicles. The coding scheme is automatically suspended on official holidays. In a text message to BusinessWorld, MMDA Spokesperson Pircelyn B. Pialago said the coding scheme for provincial buses will not be in effect for the entire period Dec. 21 to Jan. 2, an expected busy period as people travel to their hometowns for the Christmas and New Year holidays. The Dec. 26-28 suspension for all cars was announced by MMDA General Manager Jose Arturo S. Garcia Jr. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

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