METRO PACIFIC Tollways Corp. (MPTC), setting its sights on someday having cashless payments in its expressways, launched on Tuesday a program that is aimed at making customers aware of various electronic options for paying toll fees.

“Our goal in these payment options is to allow our motorists and our customers to experience even more convenience whenever they travel Metro Pacific expressways,” said MPTC President and Chief Executive Officer Rodrigo E. Franco in a press conference at Seda Vertis North hotel in Quezon City.

The options — which include Easy Trip RFID (radio frequency identification), Mastercard contactless cards and beep cards — are now available to motorists using the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx), Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEx) and Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx).

The “Digital tollways” program of MPTC, the tollways arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), is also supported by MPTC partners PayMaya Philippines, Easy Trip Services Corp. and AF Payments, Inc.

Mr. Franco said the enabling of electronic transactions in the tollways is a “key contributor” in growing electronic money usage as thousands of motorists use the group’s expressways everyday.

“With this initiative, we are offering Filipinos more options that can suit their lifestyle and personal preferences,” he said.

Although cash payments will not be totally removed, motorists traveling NLEx can now pay tollway fees using Easy Trip RFID, beep cards, Mastercard contactless debit, prepaid and credit cards, including their Smart Mastercard powered by PayMaya.

Mastercard acceptance for CAVITEx and SCTEx will start soon, Mr. Franco said.

Motorists can also pay expressways with their Visa contactless debit, prepaid and credit cards soon.

“With these payment options, motorists will experience an even more seamless, convenient and hassle-free travel at the NLEx, SCTEx and CAVITEx,” he said.

Orlando S. Vea, PayMaya Philippines president and chief executive officer, said the impact of digital transformation in the toll roads space “will not only bring a whole new level of convenience to consumers but also place the country at the forefront of the region’s digital global economy.”

MPTC Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan described the use of digital payments as helping usher a new era of tollways operations “where consumers can enjoy faster, more secure and more convenient electronic transactions.”

He said the initiative is aligned with the National Retail Payment System program of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas that aims to transform 20% of the country’s payment transactions to electronic by 2020.

MPIC is one of three key Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls.​ — ​ ​Victor V. Saulon

By Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral
Reporter

PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte on Monday dismissed the reported presence of Chinese vessels in Sandy Cay near Pag-asa Island in the disputed South China Sea, saying Beijing promised him that it will stop new occupations of sea features.

“Why should I defend a sandbar and kill the Filipinos because of a sandbar?” Mr. Duterte told reporters in an interview in Malacañang, adding that the Chinese ships there were just “patrolling” the area.

“China assured me that they will not build anything there,” he said.

China claims most parts of South China Sea, where trillion dollars’ worth of ship-borne goods pass through annually. But the Asian power’s maritime ambitions were challenged by the Philippines, another claimant nation, in the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague that ruled in Manila’s favor last year.

Last week, Rep. Gary C. Alejano of Magdalo Party-list released images of Chinese vessels, including fishing, coast guard, and navy ships that he said had been operating near the Philippine-controlled Pag-asa Island.

Mr. Alejano further claimed that the fishing ships included members of China’s maritime militia that blocked Philippine-flagged vessels. A helicopter dispatched from one of the Chinese naval vessels was also seen hovering over unoccupied sandbars, he said.

The lawmaker’s report was later confirmed by US-based think tank Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) through satellite images. AMTI said China possibly wanted to “dissuade” Manila from its planned upgrades on Pag-asa.

‘SPECULATING’
Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio, who was among those who argued in closed court hearings in The Hague, earlier explained that the arbitral award “extensively discussed” Sandy Cay, which is located between Pag-asa Island and Zamora Reef.

According to Mr. Carpio, Sandy Cay is a disappearing high-tide sandbar and appears only for a few months. But due to China’s “dredging” in Subi Reef, pulverized corals gathered by waves at Sandy Cay made it “permanently above water at high-tide”.

“As a high-tide elevation, Sandy Cay is now land or territory capable of sovereign ownership with its own territorial sea and territorial airspace,” he said in a statement.

“If China acquires sovereignty over Sandy Cay, it can now claim Subi Reef as part of the territorial sea of Sandy Cay, legitimizing China’s claim over Subi Reef and removing Subi Reef from the continental shelf of the Philippines,” he added.

“The very least that they could do now is to vigorously protest this invasion of Philippine territory by China.”

Mr. Duterte brushed aside the comments of the member of the country’s Supreme Court, saying Mr. Carpio was only “speculating” and that the Philippines must avoid confrontations with China.

“That is not true. China would not do that… he (Mr. Carpio) should go out there and find for himself,” the President said.

“I believe in the word of [China], if they break out, so hindi na ako mag-bilib sa kanila (I won’t have faith in them anymore).”

Taking office shortly before Manila’s legal victory against China, Mr. Duterte set aside PCA’s verdict, pursuing instead friendly ties with Beijing and seeking billions of dollars in aid and investment while berating traditional ally, the US.

While Washington is not a claimant nation and maintains it takes no sides in the territorial conflict, it has condemned what it qualified as China’s “militarization” of the sea and has repeatedly deployed warships in waters close to reefs occupied by Beijing.

In the same news conference on Monday, Mr. Duterte said he would no longer seek help from the US because the country, whose officials had questioned his bloody war on drugs, has “lost” his trust.

By Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral
Reporter

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday, Aug. 21, said Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Eduardo M. Año remains his top pick for the next Local Government secretary despite a law barring the appointment of newly-retired military or police officials to the post.

Mr. Duterte announced last May that Mr. Año would be appointed secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) when the AFP chief reaches his mandatory retirement age of 56, replacing sacked Ismael D. Sueno.

But under Section 8 of Republic Act No. 6975, or the DILG Act of 1990, no retired or resigned military officer or police official may be appointed as DILG secretary within one year from the date of his retirement or resignation.

In a press conference in Malacañang, Mr. Duterte, noting the “prohibition” in placing Mr. Año to the post, said the military chief will be under him until the ban on appointing retired military officials lapses.

Mr. Año must also finish his “mission” of ending the Marawi siege before he can take the helm at DILG, Mr. Duterte said.

“I would make him a senior aide of the Office of the President or whatever. Or undersecretary if that is legally feasible. Ilagay ko lang siya undersecretary but he performs as officer-in-charge,” the President said of Mr. Año.

Malacañang earlier said the chief executive had an “alternative solution” regarding Mr. Año’s appointment.

Last April, Mr. Duterte fired Mr. Sueno after the Office of the President received a confidential letter enumerating graft allegations against the dismissed official. But Mr. Sueno denied the corruption complaints.

Shortly after Mr. Sueno’s dismissal, Undersecretary Catalino S. Cuy was appointed DILG officer-in-charge in a holdover capacity.

Agencies under the DILG include the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

‘SHE WAS REALLY BRIGHT’
Still on the topic of presidential appointees, Mr. Duterte also lamented the Commission on Appointments’ (CA) decision to reject the ad-interim appointment of Judy M. Taguiwalo as Social Welfare secretary after more than a year in office.

“They (CA) voted secretly. I do not know who voted for and who was against Taguiwalo. And that is the job of Congress as part of the checks and balances in this government,” Mr. Duterte said.

“Checks and balance ‘yan eh. So wala tayong magawa kung i-reject (So there’s nothing we can do if she’s rejected). I do not want to attribute or impute something, motive. It’s a discretion and they voted secret,” he added.

Ms. Taguiwalo’s appointment had been bypassed five times.

It was not immediately clear why the Left-leaning Cabinet official was rejected, but there were speculations that the collapse of peace talks between the state and communist rebels created an air of uncertainty over her position.

Asked if he already has a replacement for the “bright” Ms. Taguiwalo, Mr. Duterte, apparently in jest, said he offered the position to ABS-CBN reporter Doris Bigornia but she rejected it.

“All that I ask of her is just to work and avoid corruption, period. And enjoy the duty of serving your countrymen,” he said of Ms. Bigornia.

Ms. Taguiwalo is the third appointee of Mr. Duterte rejected by the legislative body.

Mr. Duterte has insisted he does not try to influence the commission, despite having the backing of a legislative super majority.

Last week, Social Welfare Undersecretary Emmanuel A. Leyco was designated as the department’s officer-in-charge.

By Mario M. Banzon

THE proposed P443.9-million budget for the Office of the Vice-President (OVP) sailed through the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday.

Presented by Vice-President Maria Leonor G. Robredo to committee chair Loren B. Legarda, the proposed budget focuses on anti-poverty projects and health-care programs.

Ms. Robredo presented three goals: Improved health and nutrition of mothers and children under 5 years of age, improved income for families living below the poverty threshold and improved access inclusive and equitable education.

Ms. Robredo also specified in her presentation that she is supporting the administration’s anti-poverty efforts by “pushing advocacies that are focused on six thematic areas.” Included are livelihood and jobs; education; women empowerment; housing and resettlement; universal healthcare; and food security and nutrition.

P83,577,000 is allocated to personnel services, P349,029,000 to maintenance and other operating expenses, and P11,340,000 to capital outlay. The budget slightly increased from P428,618,000 in 2017 to P443,946,000 in 2018.

The budget for the OVP is the third to be approved by the committee after the Department of Foreign Affairs and Office of the President. Currently, only the proposed 2018 budget for the Department of Justice awaits further deliberation.

TROPICAL STORM Hato, locally named Isang, was forecasted to be out of the Philippine area by today, Aug. 23, but not before dumping heavy rains in the central to northern parts of Luzon on Tuesday. Isang also intensified the southwest monsoon, bringing light to heavy rains over the Visayas and the rest of Luzon, particularly over the western section and the Cordillera Administrative Region. The country’s weather bureau, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), raised typhoon signal #1 yesterday in Ilocos Norte, the Batanes and Babuyan islands. In Metro Manila, the Marikina River was placed under alert level 2 on Tuesday morning as the water reached 16 meters above sea level (MASL). An alert level 2 sends out a signal to residents to prepare for possible evacuation. Forced evacuation is implemented at alert level 3 when the water reached 18 MASL. Classes were suspended in the capital, surrounding areas, and other provinces in the northern part of Luzon. — with a report from philstar.com