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PHL deploys long-idled Dalian trains, launches 50% senior fare discount

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R Marcos, Jr. leads the inspection of the Camp Aguinaldo Station of the Metro Manila Subway project in Quezon City. — CHLOE MARI A. HUFANA

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter

THE PHILIPPINE government on Wednesday launched the first batch of long-idled Dalian train cars, more than a decade after they were bought from China, as it tries to ease congestion in Metro Manila’s rail network and improve public transportation.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. led the rollout ceremony at the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) Santolan-Annapolis station in Quezon City, where he announced that three Dalian trains — each consisting of three coaches — had officially begun commercial operations on the same day.

This marks the first time any of the Dalian trains have been used since the government acquired 48 train sets from Chinese manufacturer CCRC Dalian Co. in 2014. The trains were delivered in 2016 but remained unused due to technical incompatibilities with the MRT-3’s existing infrastructure and signaling systems.

“Now there are already three trains with three coaches each, so that’s nine cars in total,” Mr. Marcos said in Filipino. “Out of the 48, we will continue to look into and find ways to use them because they’ve been parked here for 10 years without being used.”

The deployment of the Dalian trains will reduce the waiting time between trains on the MRT-3 from four minutes to 2.5 minutes, effectively increasing the line’s capacity, according to the Presidential Communications Office.

The launch comes amid worsening traffic in the capital, which ranked as the 14th most congested city in the world in 2024, with an average of 32 minutes and 10 seconds needed to travel just 10 kilometers, according to the TomTom Traffic Index released in January.

Data from the Department of Transportation showed that MRT-3 served more than 135 million passengers last year, equivalent to about 380,000 daily riders.

However, the launch also drew criticism from commuter advocacy group PARA Commuters’ Network, which said the government was simply putting a band-aid on deep-rooted transport problems.

“Marcos and [Transportation Secretary Vivencio B.] Dizon distract us with short-term comforts, but in exchange, we face longer suffering and higher fares under their pro-business policies,” the group said in a Viber message. “Our call is this: public transportation should be a public service.”

The group criticized the government for celebrating the use of just three out of the 48 Dalian trains, which cost taxpayers over P500 million and had remained idle for nearly a decade.

PARA also warned that despite the MRT-3’s full transfer to government ownership by July 2025, the Marcos administration still appeared committed to further privatization of transport services.

“This policy has wasted billions in public funds on fees and rent while delivering poor services marked by frequent interruptions, outdated systems, and inefficiency under various private operators,” the group added.

During the same inspection, Mr. Marcos also launched a 50% fare discount for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWD) for LRT-1, LRT-2 and MRT-3 — extending a similar benefit earlier granted to students in June.

“Previously, we were able to give discounts to our students… Now, we will add senior citizens and persons with disabilities to that group who will receive a 50% discount,” he said.

The initiative raises the statutory discount from 20%.

Mr. Marcos said the policy is expected to benefit about 13 million senior citizens and 7 million PWDs nationwide.

Mr. Dizon said the discounts would apply daily and the government would consider expanding the program to other modes of public transport.

Also on Wednesday, Mr. Marcos inspected the Metro Manila Subway project and vowed to complete it by the end of his term in 2028.

“We might finish this (Valenzuela to Ortigas) by 2028; maybe we can inaugurate it in 2028,” he told reporters in Filipino at the Camp Aguinaldo station site.

The 33-kilometer underground railway will span 17 stations from Valenzuela City to Parañaque City and is expected to cut travel time from Valenzuela to Ninoy Aquino International Airport from two hours to just 40 minutes.

A tunnel boring machine for Contract Package 103 was recently launched from Camp Aguinaldo toward Ortigas, tunneling beneath White Plains, Corinthian Properties and the Meralco compound.

VP ‘eager’ to face ouster trial if Supreme Court allows it

VICE-PRESIDENT SARA DUTERTE-CARPIO — FACEBOOK.COM/MAYORINDAYSARADUTERTEOFFICIAL

VICE-PRESIDENT (VP) Sara Duterte-Carpio is ready to face the Senate impeachment court, her office said on Wednesday, even as her legal team pursues lawsuits to stop the trial and dismiss what they describe as a “defective” complaint.

“The Vice-President said she wants to go to trial,” Office of the Vice-President (OVP) spokesperson Ruth B. Castelo told a news briefing on Wednesday. “She’s eager to be able to present her case, or her evidence, in the impeachment court so that once and for all, all doubts cast on her will go away.”

The House of Representatives impeached Ms. Duterte, a likely contender in the 2028 presidential race, in February on charges of budget misuse, unexplained wealth, and allegedly conspiring to assassinate President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., his wife, and Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez. She has denied all accusations.

The impeachment complaint gained the support of more than 200 congressmen — well beyond the constitutional threshold of one-third required to elevate the case to the Senate for trial.

Her legal team has questioned the legality of the impeachment, arguing before the Senate that the House violated the constitutional one-year bar on initiating more than one impeachment complaint against the same official. Two petitions have also been filed before the Supreme Court to halt the proceedings.

“In this case, the lawyers or the Vice-President are taking legal remedies, legal strategies that are allowable in our system,” Ms. Castelo said. “The Vice-President will just wait for whatever decision the Supreme Court issues on this one. And should the impeachment trial go as planned, the Vice-President is prepared.”

The Supreme Court consolidated the two petitions on July 8 and ordered the House and Senate to respond. Ms. Duterte’s supporters claim her right to due process was violated during House proceedings.

Ms. Castelo said halting the impeachment trial would save public funds.

“If the Supreme Court says it cannot be heard at this time, then we’ll be very lucky actually… as we’ll save millions and millions of money on a trial that is technically defective from the very beginning,” she said. “Let’s not waste the country’s resources. There are more important things we need to spend on.”

The Senate is expected to convene as an impeachment court shortly after the 20th Congress opens. A recent Social Weather Stations survey found that six in 10 Filipinos think the Vice-President should face trial and respond to the charges in the Senate.

Support for the trial was strongest in Metro Manila, where 76% backed the move. It was followed by Luzon at 69% and the Visayas at 67%. Mindanao, Ms. Duterte’s political stronghold, registered the lowest support at 55%.

The Philippine Senate is eyeing Aug. 4 as the new date to reconvene as an impeachment court, Senator Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva separately told reporters.

He said the Senate needs time to finalize committee chairmanships and leadership roles for the 20th Congress, which opens on July 29. “In my discussion with other senators and Senate President Francis G. Escudero, once we are able to organize the leadership and committees, perhaps we are looking at Aug. 4.”

The Senate was originally expected to convene as an impeachment court on July 29, a day after Congress opens. Senator-judges must take their oath before the trial begins.

Earlier, Senate President Escudero expressed intent to stick with the original schedule, saying the court would “no longer tolerate any dilatory motion or pleading.”

However, the proposed Aug. 4 schedule would give both chambers more time to settle internal matters, Mr. Villanueva said.

“Then, the week after, we can convene the impeachment court and have the defense and prosecution present their cases,” he said. “By Aug. 4, the new roster of senator-judges will take their oaths.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio and Adrian H. Halili

Crising may intensify into storm, hit northern Luzon by Friday — PAGASA

SATELLITE photo of Crising. — DOST/PAGASA

A LOW-PRESSURE area east of Catanduanes has developed into a tropical depression, according to the state weather bureau.

The tropical depression that authorities named Crising may intensify into a tropical storm by Thursday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Wednesday. It could reach the severe tropical storm category by Friday, it added.

Crising was spotted 625 kilometers east of Virac town in Catanduanes as of 4 p.m., the agency said in a 5 p.m. report.

It was moving westward at 20 kilometers per hour (kph), packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center, gustiness of up to 55 kph and central pressure of 1002 hectopascals.

“Strong winds extend outwards up to 280 km from the center,” PAGASA said.

It said tropical cyclone wind signal No. 1 might be hoisted over portions of Cagayan Valley by Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning.

“Should Crising maintain its westward movement or increase its radius, the possibility of raising tropical cyclone wind signal No. 1 over Catanduanes is also not ruled out,” it said. “Furthermore, the highest wind signal which may be hoisted during the occurrence of Crising is wind signal No. 3 or 4.”

Earlier in the day, PAGASA said Crising was forecast to move west-northwestward throughout the forecast period. It was expected to be closest to northern Luzon by Friday evening.

“It is forecast to continue intensifying over the Philippine Sea and may reach severe tropical storm category by Friday afternoon or evening, prior to its approach to the northern Luzon area.”

PAGASA said Crising’s development into a typhoon category “prior to approach is not ruled out.”

Crising may pass close to or make landfall over the Babuyan Islands, while a “slight change in the succeeding forecast track may also suggest a landfall scenario over mainland Cagayan.”

The Philippines lies along the typhoon belt in the Pacific and experiences about 20 storms each year. It also lies in the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, a belt of volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean where most of the world’s earthquakes strike.

The Southeast Asian nation constantly experiences unavoidable losses and damage equivalent to 0.5% of its annual economic output mainly due to an increasingly unpredictable climate, according to the Finance department. — KATA

Bill increases healthcare budget allocation

A CHAPEL was converted into an intensive care unit for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients as hospitals struggled with a surge in infections in August 2021. — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

A BILL seeking to allot at least 5% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) towards healthcare spending was filed at the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

Setting aside at least P1.3 trillion for public health spending could help improve the quality of government hospitals and clinics, helping boost healthcare accessibility nationwide, Party-list Reps. Antonio L. Tinio and Renee Louise M. Co said in the explanatory note of House Bill No. 1973.

Increasing funding for the health sector would also lead to lower out-of-pocket expenses for the hospitalization and medical needs of Filipinos, which currently rank the third highest in Southeast Asia, they added.

Just last week, Malacañang said President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is looking to reduce, if not eliminate, the out-of-pocket expense of Filipinos when they are hospitalized.

“The Philippines’ public spending on health, which was about 1.5% of the GDP, was much lower than that of Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia, which spent four times more,” they said in the bill.

The measure seeks to amend the 1997 Administrative Code by explicitly citing that 5% of the GDP should be spent on “public health expenditures.”

The 1987 Philippine Constitution mandates the government to “protect and promote” the right to health, while adopting an “integrated and comprehensive” approach towards health development, Mr. Tinio and Ms. Co said, citing it as the basis for their proposal.

The Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department said in a July report that almost half of Filipinos need to travel more than 30 minutes to access hospitals despite the implementation of the almost two-decade-old Health Facilities Enhancement Program.

Funding could be sourced by diverting “non-productive” government expenditures towards healthcare programs, citing debt servicing, secret funds, and discretionary allocations as potential sources of funds, they said.

“Progressive taxation like a wealth tax on the super-rich, as well as bigger taxes on big corporations can provide the needed additional funds,” they added.

Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto last year said he is not keen on pushing for a wealth tax, as the Philippines already has enough duties.’

Mr. Tinio and Ms. Co also earlier proposed a measure seeking to set a spending floor of at least 6% for the education sector in a bid to improve the country’s schooling system. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

US to set up boat facility in Palawan

FACEBOOK.COM/USEMBASSYPH/

THE UNITED STATES said that it is looking to set up a boat maintenance facility in Palawan to service small watercrafts, the US Embassy in Manila said on Wednesday.

“The facility will provide repair and maintenance capabilities for several small Philippine military watercraft and will include two multi-purpose interior rooms suitable for equipment storage or conference use,” the embassy said in a statement.

The embassy added that the US Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command on July 7, issued a public solicitation for the design and construction of a new facility to be located at the Naval Detachment Oyster Bay, Palawan.

It noted that the planned boat maintenance facility is not a military base.

Naval Detachment Oyster Bay serves as one of the departure points for AFP-contracted vessels used in the rotation and resupply (RoRe) missions to the naval outpost BRP Sierra Madre in Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin).

“The project is approved by the government of the Philippines in accordance with all applicable US and Philippine local rules and regulations,” it said.

The embassy added that all US military activities in the country are done with the full coordination with its Philippine allies.

The US is the Philippines’ major security partner, with a 1951 defense treaty compelling both nations to defend each other in case of an armed attack.

“Our US-Philippine alliance with its roots in the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty remains a cornerstone of peace and security, promoting our common vision for a free, open, and resilient Indo-Pacific,” it said. — Adrian H. Halili

Bill bans Duterte-like arrest

FORMER PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. DUTERTE — INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT / COUR PÉNALE INTERNATIONALE

A SENATOR has filed a bill seeking to prohibit the arrest and transfer of any person within Philippine territory to foreign jurisdiction without a court order, prompted by the arrest of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte in March.

Senate Bill no. 557, which Senator Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos called the “President Rodrigo R. Duterte Act,” was filed to prevent such “abuses” from being committed against others.

“It is necessary to make it exceedingly clear — if it is not yet clear already — that arresting an individual for the purpose of turning him or her over to a foreign jurisdiction without an order and a warrant of arrest issued by a Philippine court is against the Constitution and punishable under the law.”

The former President was arrested in March by local authorities under the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), for his alleged crimes against humanity linked to his war on drugs. He is currently being detained in The Hague, Netherlands.

Ms. Marcos asserted in the explanatory note of the bill that the ICC did not have any jurisdiction over the crimes allegedly committed by Mr. Duterte, and that the government “forced” Mr. Duterte to board the plane that later flew him to The Hague.

The bill also prohibits any form of financial, technical, material or technological support or assistance to a foreign entity or court that is not recognized by the Philippines.

It also disallows cooperation with the government unless approved by the Departments of Justice and Interior and Local Government.

The bill states that any person may seek to deny any via request issues to an alien if there is substantial evidence to prove that they are visiting the country to conduct or aid in investigation for a foreign entity.

Violation of the proposed measure would entail between six to 20 years in prison or a six-month imprisonment and a P10-million fine. — Adrian H. Halili

PCO officials asked to resign

PCO chief Dave M. Gomez — REVOLI CORTEZ / PPA POOL

THE NEWLY appointed Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary asked officials within the agency to submit their courtesy resignations for an internal assessment no later than July 18.

“Just your standard transition practice while I do the performance audit,” PCO chief Dave M. Gomez told Palace reporters in a Viber chat.

The move was made “in the exigency of service and to give the undersigned a free hand to perform his duties and responsibilities,” he wrote in his July 14 memorandum, released to reporters on Wednesday.

Mr. Gomez, who began his term as PCO chief on Monday, said reorganizing the agency was not a priority for him.

He is the fifth Communications chief of the Marcos administration. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Arbitral ruling on SCS dispute already part of PHL law — lawmaker

AN AERIAL VIEW shows the BRP Sierra Madre on the contested Second Thomas Shoal, locally known as Ayungin, in the South China Sea, March 9, 2023. — REUTERS

THE PHILIPPINES’ legal victory in the 2016 South China Sea (SCS) arbitration case is embedded within the country’s Charter even if the ruling is not explicitly stated, a congressman said on Wednesday.

In a media briefing, Party-list Rep. Jose Manuel Tadeo “Chel” I. Diokno said that international laws are already part of Philippine law under the 1987 Constitution, cautioning that proposed amendments could open the door to broader, unintended changes.

“Whether Article 1 is amended or not, the arbitral ruling of the arbitral court in The Hague is already part of our law,” he said in Filipino, referring to the Permanent Court of Arbitration, based in the Netherlands.

“So if that’s our only purpose, what we see as a potential issue is that once the Constitution is opened up for amendment, other provisions might also be changed,” he added.

A lawmaker on Tuesday filed a resolution seeking to amend the Constitution to ease foreign ownership limits in key industries and reinforce the country’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, Party-list Rep. Renee Louise M. Co said that the proposed amendments to the Constitution’s provisions on national territory might be used as bait to entice support for Charter change.

“Let’s not use the West Philippine Sea issue to deceive the public into supporting Charter change,” she said in a statement in mixed English and Filipino, using the Philippines’ designation for parts of the South China Sea within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. “This is clout chasing at its worst.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Lawmaker files resolution to probe Manila Bay’s dolomite beach

People visit the Dolomite beach in Manila, Feb. 18, 2024. — PHILIPPINE STAR?EDD GUMBAN

A RESOLUTION seeking a congressional probe into the environmental impact of the controversial Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach was filed in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

Filed by Party-list Rep. Terry L. Ridon, House Resolution No. 56 seeks to determine if the artificial white sand project had an effect on beach nourishment and coastal restoration of Manila Bay.

The inquiry would also assess whether the beach project contributed to flooding in nearby areas and if its cost aligns with similar beach nourishment efforts by the government, he added. It would also aim to determine if officials involved in the project may bear criminal or administrative liabilities.

“We will undertake a full congressional inquiry, determine criminal and administrative liability, and hold every government official directly involved in the origination, planning, and implementation of this project accountable,” Mr. Ridon said in a statement.

The 500-meter stretch of white beach along Manila Bay cost P389 million and was named after the artificial sand made from crushed dolomite. The project was launched under the administration of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte and promoted as part of efforts to rehabilitate and beautify the bay.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Romando S. Artes earlier this week blamed the beach project as among the main contributors of flooding along a major thoroughfare in Manila. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

NHA turns over 457 houses in Cebu

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE National Housing Authority (NHA) turned over 457 housing units for typhoon victims in Barangay Kangkaibe, in Bantayan, Cebu.

The P208-million development, called the Kabiayan ni Man Liling Housing Project, was turned over by the NHA’s Region 7-Cebu District Office in a recent ceremony.

The housing project forms part of the larger Yolanda Permanent Housing Program (YPHP) with the aim of giving permanent shelter to displaced families affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan, locally called Yolanda.

“This initiative marks a step forward in providing safe and decent housing for the people of Bantayan, symbolizing the continuing partnership between the local government and national agencies in building resilient and inclusive communities,” the agency said in a statement.

Earlier this year, the government turned over 3,517 housing units in Haiyan-affected areas in Eastern Visayas.

Under the YPHP, the NHA has already completed 53,917 units out of 58,619 permanent housing requirements as of January.

Of the constructed units, about 45,454 units are already occupied by beneficiaries.

The NHA is expected to complete the remaining required units under the YPHP by December this year, said former Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Rizalino L. Acuzar.

Super Typhoon Haiyan, widely known as one of the strongest typhoons recorded, affected over 15 million Filipinos in 2013, displacing over four million civilians from their homes. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

P304-M illegal drugs seized in NAIA

LOREN BISER-UNSPLASH

THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) said it seized P304 million worth of illegal drugs from two passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last Monday.

In a statement on Wednesday, the BoC said more than 44 kilograms of suspected crystal meth (shabu) were confiscated from two passengers arriving from Hong Kong on separate flights.

The first passenger’s physical inspection uncovered 20,555 grams of shabu concealed in a hidden compartment, valued at P139.7 million.

Following this was a second passenger intercepted after a K-9 sweep and physical examination of her luggage revealed 24,231 grams of alleged shabu, estimated at P164.77 million.

“We remain steadfast in securing our borders against the entry of illegal drugs. These successful interdictions in a single day demonstrate the Bureau’s unwavering resolve to support the President’s call for good governance, public safety, and the protection of our airports from criminal exploitation,” Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

SM Group doubling down on plastic waste reduction efforts

SY-led holding company SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) is strengthening its commitment to reduce plastic waste across its business units as part of its sustainability efforts.

SMIC recently created a working group committee that convenes and conducts regular dialogues, instructing its business units to incorporate plastic reduction into their respective sustainability roadmaps, the conglomerate said in an e-mailed statement on Wednesday.

The conglomerate’s plastic reduction efforts are in support of the Extended Producer Responsibility law that mandates companies to recover their plastic packaging products and to pursue waste management programs.

“While plastic plays a crucial role in modern life, its convenience often contributes to a throwaway culture, leading to one of our planet’s most pressing environmental challenges,” SMIC Head of Investor Relations and Sustainability Timothy Daniels said.

“We understand the importance of waste recovery and recycling not only as part of our sustainable business vision but also as a social and legal obligation. SM’s approach is both practical and actionable,” he added.

In 2024, SM Markets sold 19 million eco-bags, equivalent to around 42 million plastic bags avoided, as its brands SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket, and Savemore encouraged sustainable retail practices.

Affiliate Watsons Philippines has transitioned 81% of its stores to using paper bags instead of single-use plastics, while over 2,140 retail stock-keeping units are under the company’s sustainable choices category that consists of products classified as clean beauty, better ingredients, better packaging, and refills.

Goldilocks Bakeshop, Inc. saw a reduction of 7,000 kilograms of plastics annually after decreasing the size of ribbons used in each of their packaging.

The shipping operations of 2GO Group, Inc., now utilize 100% recyclable, reusable, and biodegradable packaging materials to reduce plastic use.

Real estate subsidiary SM Prime Holdings, Inc. has installed Materials Recovery facilities across its properties, as well as standardized waste segregation systems across all malls and developments. It has diverted 63,874 kilograms of plastic from landfills with the help of 15 designated drop-off points for plastic waste.

All SM Supermalls also implement a trash-to-cash monthly recycling market where customers can exchange recyclables for cash, which saw the exchange of over 1 million kilograms of recyclables each month.

SM Supermalls also launched the recyclable, disposable, compostable segregation bins in 2023.

SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation has also phased out single-use plastics in its hotels as early as 2018, replacing amenities with refillable or eco-friendly options.

“Plastic waste reduction at SM is about steady, coordinated progress made possible by a shared culture of everyday solutions, and a proactive approach across all our businesses,” Mr. Daniels said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

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