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Metro Manila mayors OK 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. light truck ban along EDSA, Shaw

MEMBERS of the Metro Manila Council (MMC) approved on March 22 three traffic-related proposals of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), including an expanded light truck ban along EDSA highway and Shaw Boulevard.

The MMC, composed mainly of the mayors of the 17 cities and municipalities in the National Capital Region, is the policy-making and governing body of the MMDA.

In a statement issued today, March 22, MMDA said light trucks, or those with a gross capacity weight of up to 4,500 kilograms, will soon be banned from EDSA and Shaw, within the jurisdiction of Mandaluyong and Pasig cities, from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m., except Sundays and holidays.

The current ban is in effect from 6 to 10 a.m. and 5 to 10 p.m.

The MMC also approved the establishment of non-exclusive motorcycle lanes along Marcos Highway from Katipunan Avenue to Sumulong Highway and vice versa; Roxas Boulevard (from NAIA/MIA Road to Anda Circle and vice versa, and Elliptical Road to Quiapo (Quezon Avenue, España, Lerma, and Quezon Boulevard and vice versa).

MMDA Chairman Danilo D Lim said the non-exclusive motorcycle lanes that were established along EDSA, Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, Commonwealth Avenue, and President Carlos P. Garcia have been successful in instilling discipline among motorcycle drivers and have significantly reduced motorcycle related incidents in the capital.

The third policy approved is the enforcement of the No Physical Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) in apprehending illegally-parked vehicles along major roads.

Mr. Lim said the NCAP has been effective in catching traffic violators with the help of closed circuit television cameras, digital cameras and other handheld devices.

“There remains a proliferation of illegally parked motor vehicles along the national, city and municipal roads of Metro Manila despite earnest efforts exerted by the MMDA and Metro Manila local government units in road clearing,” said Lim.

“Thus, this regulation can be a big boost to the agency’s campaign against illegal parking and help avert heated argument between traffic enforcers and vehicle owners during clearing operations,” he added.

According to MMDA data, at least 45,236 were apprehended for illegal parking in 2017.

NYC tells youth: Drop your FOMO and #Connect2Earth

“LET’S SET aside our fear of missing out (FOMO) for an hour for Earth Hour.” This was the call made by outgoing National Youth Commission (NYC) Chairperson Cariza Y. Seguerra as the country prepares to join the annual Earth Hour on March 24. “Aside from switching off our lights, we enjoin our young people, especially millennials, to disconnect from their mobile devices and instead connect with the planet (#Connect2Earth), and for an hour, dedicate the symbolic switch-off to commit to live a climate-smart lifestyle,” said Mr. Seguerra in a statement released on Tuesday.

SMALL STEPS
Assistant Secretary Paul Anthony M. Pangilinan, chair of NYC’s committee on environment, said each person can adopt small lifestyle changes that would contribute to a more sustainable environment. “We encourage young Filipinos to take up the cudgels in the fight against the effects of climate change and contribute tangible actions for the planet. These actions can be as simple as using a tabo (dipper) when taking a bath or bringing your own tumbler or grocery bag,” Mr. Pangilinan said. This year’s Earth Hour theme, #Connect2Earth, focuses on a strengthened awareness on biodiversity and climate action. The main event in the Philippines will be held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines main grounds in Pasay City from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m on Saturday.

>> See full story on https://t.co/037rlVZ58k

Opposition councilors question Gokongwei firm’s capability to build P18-billion SRP complex in Cebu City

SOME OPPOSITION councilors have questioned the financial and technical capability of a newly formed Gokongwei-owned firm to undertake the P18-billion integrated resort project at the South Road Properties (SRP) in Cebu City. Councilor Raymond Alvin N. Garcia, during the first committee hearing Wednesday, said he is “wary” of Universal Hotels and Resorts, Inc. (UHRI) because it was incorporated in 2017 with an authorized capital of P100 million, but has a paid up capital of only P6.2 million.

Mr. Garcia said he wants to make sure that the company can complete the project at the nine-hectare Kawit Island property owned by the city government. Officials of UHRI and the Cebu City government, including Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña, who were at the hearing defended the company and the project, which would include a shopping center, theme park, convention center, casino gaming area, three hotels, and parking spaces. The series of hearings is intended to evaluate the lease contract between UHRI and the city government for the required council resolution that would authorize the mayor to sign the deal. — The Freeman

>> See the full story on https://goo.gl/ekc3C8

Iloilo provincial board convinced that water rate hike needed

MEMBERS of the Iloilo provincial board have been convinced that Metro Iloilo Water District’s (MIWD) petition for a rate hike is justified following a public consultation held March 21.

Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Member Domingo B. Oso, chair of the committee on transportation, communication and public utilities, said it is reasonable for MIWD to increase water tariffs to cope with inflation. MIWD’s last rate hike was in 2004.

“We at the provincial board were enlightened by their reasoning. Considering their compliance, the committee was satisfied with what had happened in the public consultation and on the rate increase that they are requesting,” Mr. Oso said in an interview after the hearing. At the same time, he said the provincial board is hopeful that the increase would also translate to improved water supply services.

MIWD Water Rates Committee Chair Amarylis Josephine Castro, for her part, said the proposed hike is necessary to sustain their operations as well as for expansion. “We need the increase to expand and improve our service coverage and carry out our mandate of providing safe and potable water. We also need to replace and rehabilitate our depreciating facilities,” Ms. Castro said. MIWD is seeking to increase the tariff on the first 10 cubic meters for residential consumers to P200 from the current P156. The petition is subject to approval by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA). MIWD covers Iloilo City and the towns of Pavia, Sta. Barbara, Leganes, Cabatuan, Oton , Maasin, and San Miguel.— Louine Hope U. Conserva

Davao City council urges creation of task force to check on tourism establishments

A LOCAL TASK FORCE that will check on tourism establishments in Davao City is being pushed amid the crackdown against violators of various laws being undertaken by national government agencies on those located in popular island destinations such as Boracay, Panglao and Siargao.

Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre, chair of the city council committee on tourism, said the local Tourism Code already provides legal basis for the creation of the group, which would be composed of representatives from the City Tourism Council, tourism office, and a third-party auditor. The task force would have authority to conduct ocular inspections of tourism establishments to determine their compliance with the Tourism Code and other city ordinances.

Mr. Alejandre said the Times Beach area and the highland district of Marilog are of particular interest, where hotels and restaurants have been mushrooming. The councilor cited that they have received reports that some of these establishments are not compliant with ordinances such as the no-smoking law, no serving of alcoholic beverages, waste disposal and the zoning ordinance.- — Carmencita A. Carillo

Water day

POTABLE WATER SUPPLY, which remains one of the biggest concerns in the ongoing rehabilitation efforts in war-torn Marawi City, has been a focus of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), together with the Philippine Red Cross and local authorities.

“Water is closely linked to public health. Waterborne diseases such as diarrhea and cholera, as well as sanitation issues, can be prevented if there is regular supply of potable water,” Alessandro Giusti, head of the ICRC water and sanitation team in the Philippines, said in a statement issued on March 22, the observance of World Water Day.

Nation at a Glance — (03/23/18)

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

Peso drops ahead of BSP move

THE PESO weakened against the dollar on Thursday as the market stayed on the sidelines ahead of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) policy decision later in the day and after the US Federal Reserve hiked borrowing rates.

The local currency ended yesterday’s session at P52.20 against the greenback, five centavos lower than the P52.15-per-dollar finish on Wednesday.

The peso opened flat at P52.15 versus the greenback, while its intraday high was at P52.05. Its worst showing was its closing rate.

Dollars traded spiked to $717.4 million from the $445.6 million recorded during the previous session.

“We saw a very strong dollar versus the peso because the expectation for the [BSP’s Monetary Board] was no rate hike,” a trader said in a phone interview on Thursday.

After financial markets closed yesterday, the BSP announced that it kept policy rates unchanged, citing firm domestic economic activity and within-target inflation.

The central bank has been allaying concerns over the inflation, saying that the higher prices of goods and services are only transitory.

The market mostly expected the BSP to keep its interest rates. According to a BusinessWorld poll, seven out of 12 economists expected the central bank to hold on to its current borrowing rates.

Meanwhile, Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion, chief economist at UnionBank of the Philippines, also attributed the weaker performance of the peso to the interest rate hike of the US Federal Reserve announced earlier in the day.

“Dollar-peso experienced a downward pressure today from the Fed rate hike,” Mr. Asuncion said in a text message on Thursday.

The Fed decided to hike interest rates at two-day monetary policy meeting that ended Wednesday, in line with market expectations. This puts the new benchmark overnight lending rate from 1.5% to 1.75%.

This is the sixth rate hike by the Fed since the near-zero or 0.25% rate in 2015.

The US central bank also forecast at least two more hikes this year, signalling confidence in the stronger economy which could lead to further tightening, according to a report from Reuters.

In contrast, the trader said that the local market ignored the Fed’s rate decision, noting that BSP’s move “is more important.

For today, the trader expects the peso to move between P52.20 and P52.40, while Mr. Asuncion gave a slightly wider range of P52.10 to P52.40.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian ringgit led gains as Asian currencies rose against the dollar after the Fed’s rate hike decision came in as expected, although resurgent fears of a global trade war weighed on positive sentiment. — Karl Angelo N. Vidal with Reuters

US Congress unveils $1.3-trillion spending bill as shutdown looms

WASHINGTON — Republican and Democratic leaders in the US Congress late on Wednesday unveiled a $1.3-trillion bill to fund the government through September, which includes an additional $80 billion in national defense spending but fails to fund some of President Donald Trump’s immigration initiatives.

If passed by the House of Representatives and Senate by a Friday midnight deadline, it would avert the shutdown of many federal agencies and programs beginning this weekend, when existing funds expire.

Earlier on Wednesday, the White House indicated Mr. Trump would support the measure, potentially ending a prolonged debate over spending priorities for the fiscal year that began last Oct. 1.

The Republican-controlled Congress will need Democratic support to pass a bill that many Republican conservatives are likely to balk at because of its cost.

Representative Mark Walker, who heads a large group of House conservative Republicans, complained that the bill will add to budget deficits.

“It is imperative that we curb Washington’s out-of-control spending addiction that has not been slowed under Republican rule,” Mr. Walker said.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer touted the measure. “From opioid funding to rural broadband, and from student loans to child care, this bill puts workers and families first,” he said in a statement.

Mr. Trump at one point wanted $25 billion included in the bill to fully fund construction of his proposed US-Mexico border wall, but negotiations with Democrats to make that happen fell apart early this week, according to congressional aides.

Instead, Mr. Trump will get nearly $1.6 billion more for border security this year.

Republicans said that money will help with more than 90 miles of “physical barrier construction” along the southern US border “for replacement (of existing barriers), bollards, and levee improvements.” Democrats said the money would not be used for any new concrete wall.

The Department of Homeland Security would get an additional $7 million to hire 351 new Customs and Border Protection agents. But the legislation would not give Mr. Trump money for the significant increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents he sought as part of a plan to expand deportations of undocumented immigrants.

Besides containing the largest increase in defense spending in 15 years, the bill would provide a significant boost in non-defense spending.

And it would fix a “grain glitch” included in the tax law enacted at the end of last year.

Big grain buyers, such as Anheuser Busch, Cargill and the ethanol industry, have complained that the glitch gives lucrative tax breaks to grain producers for selling to farming cooperatives, and a lesser break for selling to agriculture companies.

In exchange for supporting the inclusion of the grain fix, Democrats secured the addition of a bipartisan proposal to expand a low-income housing tax credit, congressional aides said.

It would also include new money for infrastructure, combating Russian election hacking and some modest gun legislation following a series of mass shootings at American schools, churches and other public spaces.

The bill calls for tightening gun sales background checks, but falls far short of Democratic demands to close loopholes that currently allow some gun sales to go unchecked.

The bill will provide a $307 million increase above the administration’s request for counter-intelligence efforts to fight Russian cyberattacks in 2018, when midterm congressional elections will be held.

Another $380 million is planned for grants to states to secure US election systems.

Democrats said the bill will help fund the Gateway rail tunnel under the Hudson River connecting New York and New Jersey and serving both Amtrak and New Jersey commuter trains, which Mr. Trump opposes.

But a Republican aide said that funding will be at the discretion of the Trump administration.

If approved by Congress and signed into law by Mr. Trump, the bill would take budget squabbling off the table in Congress for the next several months, allowing lawmakers to focus on their November reelection efforts.

Lawmakers have been arguing since early 2017 about funding for the current fiscal year. Since then, several temporary funding measures have been enacted. Two brief government shutdowns recently occurred due to Congress’ inability to pass appropriations bills in a timely way. — Reuters

Chinese paper says China should prepare for armed conflict over Taiwan

BEIJING — A widely read Chinese state-run newspaper said on Thursday China should prepare for military action over self-ruled Taiwan, and pressure Washington over cooperation on North Korea, after the United States passed a law to boost ties with Taiwan.

Beijing was infuriated after US President Donald Trump signed legislation last week that encourages the US to send senior officials to Taiwan to meet Taiwanese counterparts and vice-versa.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alex Wong said in Taipei on Wednesday the US’ commitment to Taiwan has never been stronger and the island is an inspiration to the rest of the Indo-Pacific region.

China claims Taiwan as its own and considers the self-ruled island a wayward province, which Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday would face the “punishment of history” for any attempt at separatism.

The Global Times said in an editorial China had to “strike back” against the law.

“China can pressure the US in other areas of bilateral cooperation: for example, the Korean Peninsula issue and Iran nuclear issue. China can also set itself against the US in international organizations such as the UN,” it said.

“The mainland must also prepare itself for a direct military clash in the Taiwan Straits. It needs to make clear that escalation of US-Taiwan official exchanges will bring serious consequences to Taiwan,” said the paper, which is published by the ruling Communist Party’s official People’s Daily.

“This newspaper has suggested that the mainland can send military planes and warships across the Taiwan Straits middle line. This can be implemented gradually depending on the cross-Straits situation,” it said.

TENSION
The island is one of China’s most sensitive issues and a potential military flashpoint.

Underlining that threat, Taiwan sent ships and an aircraft earlier on Wednesday to shadow a Chinese aircraft carrier group through the narrow Taiwan Strait, its defense ministry said.

The Global Times said it was a misunderstanding to think that “peaceful unification” would be a harmonious, happy process.

“Sticks matter more than flowers on the path to peaceful reunification,” it said.

China’s hostility towards Taiwan has risen since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen, a member of the island’s pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party. — Reuters

Peru’s president resigns on eve of impeachment vote

LIMA — Peru’s center-right President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski announced his resignation on Wednesday after vote-buying allegations ensnared him in a fresh scandal on the eve of an impeachment vote, capping months of political turmoil in one of Latin America’s most stable economies.

Mr. Kuczynski, a 79-year-old former Wall Street banker who once held US citizenship, promised a “constitutional and orderly” transition of power to end what he described as a hostile political climate that had made governing nearly impossible.

But Mr. Kuczynski, who is expected to be replaced by Vice-President Martin Vizcarra on Friday, denied allegations of wrongdoing and blamed the premature end of his five-year term on the right-wing opposition party that controls Congress.

“I’ve worked for nearly 60 years of my life with complete honesty. The opposition has tried to depict me as a corrupt person,” Mr. Kuczynski said in a pre-recorded video message to the nation that broadcast as he left the presidential palace.

But Mr. Kuczynski added, “I think what’s best for the country is for me to resign… I don’t want to be an obstacle for the nation’s search for a path to unity and harmony.”

‘MORALLY UNFIT’
Lawmakers agreed to accept Mr. Kuczynski’s resignation instead of moving forward with a vote scheduled for Thursday on whether to oust him on grounds he was “morally unfit” to govern, said the president of Congress, Luis Galarreta. Mr. Galarreta said he would swear Mr. Vizcarra in as president at around midday Friday.

A former governor of a mining region who once helped secure community support for Anglo American Plc’s Quellaveco copper project, Mr. Vizcarra has served as Peru’s ambassador to Canada since September and is currently in Ottawa.

In recent days, Mr. Vizcarra has received public assurances from opposition lawmakers that they will support his government.

But he will take office amid a fractured party, widespread disgust for elected officials in Peru and inherit economic growth that slowed to 2.5% last year.

Mr. Vizcarra, who turns 55 years old on Thursday, appealed to the public to pull through the crisis on Twitter.

“I’m outraged by the current situation like the majority of Peruvians,” the vice-president said.

“But I’m convinced that together we can show that we can once more push forward.”

Mr. Kuczynski had been scheduled to welcome Donald Trump on the US president’s first visit to Latin America next month, where many of the region’s leaders plan to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to enact democratic reforms.

A White House official, speaking on background, said that Mr. Trump still plans to attend the summit. — Reuters

North Korea’s parliament to hold annual meeting amid diplomatic thaw

SEOUL — North Korea’s rubber-stamp parliament will hold an annual session next month, state media said Thursday, with all eyes on whether it will move to bolster a diplomatic thaw with the US and South Korea.

A rapid rapprochement that kicked off during last month’s Winter Olympics has seen US President Donald Trump agree to hold a summit with the North’s leader Kim Jong Un.

The hermit state’s legislative body meets only once or twice a year, mostly for daylong sessions to approve budgets and other routine business of the ruling Workers’ Party.

However, it occasionally announces major news: a session in 2012 approved a revision of the constitution to formally declare the country a nuclear state.

“The sixth session of the 13th Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will be convened in Pyongyang on April 11,” the official KCNA news agency said.

It gave no other details, including the session’s agenda.

But Cheong Seong-Chang from the Sejong Institute think tank said the session may involve a reshuffle of top officials as Mr. Kim steps up a push to ease the nuclear-armed regime’s international isolation.

Kim Yong Nam, the nation’s ceremonial head of state who made a rare visit to the South last month to attend the Winter Games, may be one of the senior cadres to step aside, Mr. Cheong said.

“At this time when Kim Jong Un comes forward himself to hold summits with the South and the US… the North’s leadership may think that the presidium president needs to take more proactive role in diplomacy,” he said.

The frail 90-year-old head of state may be replaced by the current foreign minister Ri Yong Ho, who has played an active role in the current flurry of diplomacy including talks in Sweden last weekend, Mr. Cheong said.

“The latest session will further accelerate generational changes in the leadership of the North’s government and strengthen Kim’s grip on power.”

Kim Jong Un’s recent proposals to hold two summits — North-South talks followed by a face-to-face meet with Mr. Trump — were relayed by Seoul’s envoys who met with the North’s leader this month.

But other than a commentary in state media earlier this week in which it denied sanctions were pushing it to the negotiating table, Pyongyang has made no public pronouncements on the apparent rapprochement, raising concern over its intentions.

To prepare for the planned inter-Korea summit, Seoul has proposed high-level talks with the North at the border truce village of Panmunjom on March 29.

Seoul is also sending a troupe of K-pop performers to Pyongyang for a four-day visit, officials have said, to stage the first performances by South Korean acts in the North since 2007.

And the South and the US have announced a plan to resume annual joint military exercises on April 1, with its main drill shortened by a month — in an apparent conciliatory gesture over an event that infuriates the North. — AFP

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