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NGCP raises yellow alert over Luzon

CAIQUE NASCIMENTO-UNSPLASH

THE NATIONAL Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) on Wednesday placed the Luzon grid under yellow alert after turbine failures at two coal-fired power plants.

The alert level was from 2-4 p.m. and from 5-10 p.m., according to a 1p.m. advisory.

Available capacity was 12,969 megawatts (MW), while peak demand hit 11,768 MW.

The grid operator said Sual coal-fired power plant unit 2 had tripped, due to a possible boiler tube leak.

GNPower Dinginin unit 2 started to ramp down at 11 a.m. and was targeted for emergency shutdown at 1 p.m. due to a boiler tube leak. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

P9.3M of substandard items seized

THE DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Wednesday said it had seized 9,428 noncompliant products, mostly household appliances, worth P9.3 million during an inspection of two warehouses in Plaridel, Bulacan on July 3.

Authorities seized 656 units of unbranded and uncertified items worth P638,852 from the first warehouse including helmets and visors, electric rice cookers, self-ballasted LED lamps, extension cord sets and electric food mixers, it said in a statement.

The larger haul valued at P8.7 million came from the second warehouse with 8,772 units of confiscated noncompliant electric rice cookers, induction cookers, electric ovens, electric blenders, washing machines, electric fans and electric multi-cookers. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

BoC told to fix tobacco smuggling

BW FILE PHOTO

A SENATOR on Wednesday urged the Bureau of Customs (BoC) to cut revenue leakages by boosting efforts against tobacco smuggling.

“The government needs to tackle illegal trade of cigarettes and other tobacco products as this weakens the government’s revenue collection goal and undermines the profitability of those who are legitimately doing business,” Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian said in a statement.

The Philippine Supreme Court has upheld a 2021 decision that said the Food and Drug Administration has the power to regulate the health aspect of tobacco products. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Repeal of POGO law pushed

SENATOR Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva on Wednesday said he would ask Congress and President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to prioritize a bill that seeks to repeal a law that legalized Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) by taxing these.

“If I’d be given a chance to talk to the President, I would appeal to him to make this a priority,” he told a news briefing.

He said he would ask the Senate president to fast-track the approval of the measure.

Mr. Marcos on July 22 ordered a total ban on POGOs, citing their links to crimes. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Report POGO workers, public urged

PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

FILIPINOS should help state efforts to apprehend illegal workers in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) by reporting them, a congressman said on Wednesday.

In a statement, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace S. Barbers also urged all POGO workers to surrender to authorities after a presidential ban imposed last week.

“The public… may use various social media platforms or report directly to concerned local government units, immigration and law enforcement agents about the presence of underground POGO offices and workers in their respective localities,” he said. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Typhoon Carina death toll hits 39

PAGASA.DOST.GOV.PH

THE DEATH toll from Super Typhoon Carina (Gaemi) has reached 39, the local disaster agency said on Wednesday.

Infrastructure and farm damage has exceeded P5 billion, it said in a report.

Agricultural losses hit P1.082 billion in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordillera Administrative Region, the agency said.

Infrastructure damage reached P4.09 billion with more than 2,000 houses in 15 regions damaged, it said.

About 5.3 million people from 1.4 million families had been affected, it added. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

DepEd, partners to boost literacy

PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) aims to end a learning crisis in the Philippines through a partnership with several advocacy groups.

DepEd is working with World Vision Development Foundation, Angat Buhay Foundation, Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) and Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) to reach a goal of using over a million literacy advocates by 2040 to ensure at least 10 million Filipino students achieve appropriate reading levels.

“It is critical that we prioritize literacy, as it is the gateway for learning and success,” PBEd Chairman Ramon R. Del Rosario said in a statement on Wednesday. “If we do not address this fundamental issue, we risk having future generations of Filipinos facing illiteracy and incompetence, which would have far-reaching and detrimental effects on our nation’s progress.” — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Flood control project pushed

Residents wade through the flood caused by Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon on July 24, 2024. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE GOVERNMENT should build flood water infrastructure that would divert water from the Sierra Madre Mountain range away from Metro Manila, Public Works Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan told congressmen on Wednesday.

“The main component [of the flood management project]… is how we can mitigate the flow of floodwaters from the watershed of Sierra Madre that would go through Metro Manila,” he said at a House of Representatives hearing.

The project would cost about P351.2 billion, according to a presentation by Mr. Bonoan. Of the amount, P198.44 billion will fund the construction and improvement of flood infrastructure along the Pasig River and Marikina River. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Teachers’ groups under guardianship

THE INSURANCE Commission (IC) has placed the Teachers Association of Pangasinan, Dagupan City and San Carlos City Mutual Benefit Association, Inc. and Pangasinan Public School Teachers Mutual Benefit Association, Inc. under conservatorship.

Both had failed to submit their annual statements for the first quarter, the regulator said in separate notices on July 30.

The first group also failed to set up a guaranty fund by depositing with the commissioner an initial minimum amount of P5 million, the IC said. — Aaron Michael C. Sy

Motorcycle riders die in accident

COTABATO CITY — Three women riding separate motorcycles died instantly while five others were hurt in a road accident in Saravia village in Koronadal City late Tuesday.

In a report, the Koronadal City Police Office said the victims were hit by a pick-up truck of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources while they were driving through a stretch of the Koronadal-General Santos Highway in Purok Ilang-ilang in Saravia. — John Feix M. Unson

Davao personalities face drug case

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

EX-SENATOR Antonio F. Trillanes IV on Wednesday filed a drug smuggling and graft complaint before the Department of Justice (DoJ) against ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s son and son-in-law, a former Customs chief and several people allegedly involved in a P6.4-billion crystal meth shipment in 2017.

Among those sued were Davao Rep. Paolo Z. Duterte and Manases R. Carpio who is the husband of Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio.

“I am executing this complaint-affidavit to attest to the truth of the foregoing, in fulfilment of my duties as a former public official and now a private citizen deeply concerned and troubled because of the government’s failure to prosecute the real culprit and real big fishes who have allowed illegal drugs to proliferate in our country,” according to his 47-page affidavit.

“I have always maintained my innocence, and I am confident that the judicial process will clear my name,” Rep. Duterte said in a statement. “It is important to rely on our legal institutions rather than resorting to trial by publicity or baseless allegations.”

BusinessWorld contacted one of Ms. Duterte-Carpio’s staff members who said the request for comment had been relayed to her. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Philippines ranks 7th most stressful country for new drivers

Vehicles are stuck in traffic along the northbound lane of EDSA Guadalupe. — PHILIPPINE STAR/WALTER BOLLOZOS

The Philippines placed 7th out of 35 nations for the most stressful countries for learner drivers, Zutobi, a driver education platform said. 

Congestion, road traffic deaths, registered vehicles, and road quality score were the four categories used for the ranking system. 

The Philippines received a 46% congestion rate, a 12.0 for road traffic death rate per 100,000 people, 8,005 registered vehicles per 100,000 people, and a 3.7 score for the percentage of electronic vehicles (EVs).  

Overall, the country tallied 3.21 points out of 10. 

Meanwhile, Poland ranked first with a total of 2.14 points, highlighting the significant challenges in road safety and fatalities. Malaysia and Greece both followed with a 2.38 score. 

 

Road safety in the Philippines 

The Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department cited a 2023 study by the TomTom Traffic Index stating that Metro Manila has the worst traffic congestion among metro areas globally.  

To address the road traffic difficulties and issues in the Philippines, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the World Health Organization (WHO), and other partners launched the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan (PRSAP) 2023-2028 last June 2023. 

Strategizing different solutions helps solve the daily problems of road users, the Vehicle Inspection Center Operators Association of the Philippines (VICOAP) Board Secretary John Alison ‘Tonton’ Uy told BusinessWorld in an interview on June 4. 

“Road safety… can’t be solved by one solution only.”  

Five pillars were established in the PRSAP to address road traffic concerns and create a safer environment on the road. 

  • Road safety management 
  • Safer road  
  • Safer vehicles  
  • Safer road users  
  • Post-crash response  

Further, PRSAP aims to reduce approximately 35% of road traffic fatalities in the country by 2028.  

According to the Department of Health (DOH) last May 10, road crash-related injuries fatalities are continuously rising and remain the top cause of death among the youth.  

“We have 12,000 people dying every year from road traffic that’s amounting to 2.6% of our GDP, and no one is really giving it a lot of thought,” Mr. Uy said. – Almira Louise S. Martinez

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