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Commuters against fare hike

A jeepney driver receives payment from a commuter in Metro Manila. — PHILIPPINE STAR/WALTER BOLLOZOS

THE MAJORITY of Filipino commuters in Greater Metro Manila do not have the budget for fare increases, a recent survey conducted by a network and mobility advocacy group showed.

The Passenger Forum (TPF) poll also showed that more than half of its respondents (71%) are against a jeepney fare hike.

“There is no doubt that regular commuters simply do not have the budget space to allow any fare hikes,” Primo V. Morillo, TPF convenor, said on Monday. “This confirms what we have been asserting that the government should look for other solutions such as continuous and effective fuel subsidy for PUJs (public utility jeepneys), rather than simply giving the go signal for a fare increase.”

He urged the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to publicly release the liquidation of the P3-billion fuel subsidies.

“As the main rationale for the fuel subsidies is to cushion the effects of oil price hikes on the transport sector, it should also eliminate, or at least minimize, the need for fare hikes,” said Mr. Morillo.

Earlier this month, the Department of Budget and Management said it has approved the release of the P3 billion fuel subsidy program for public utility drivers and transport operators amid the rising prices of oil.

“We just cannot understand how LTFRB Chief (Teofilo E.) Guadiz’s media statement after distributing 3 billion pesos is to announce that they will soon approve a fare hike,” Mr. Morillo said.

Meanwhile, the TPF poll was conducted on Sept. 16-17 with the biggest percentage of respondents from Quezon City at 20%, Manila at 14%, and Caloocan at 9%. It said 29% of the respondents ride PUJs about 14 to 10 times a week, while about 20% take the jeep over 14 times a week. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Bill seeks VAT refund for tourists

Local and foreign tourists are seen in Puka Beach in Boracay, Aklan, April 6, 2023. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

SENATOR Sherwin “Win” T. Gatchalian has sponsored to the plenary a bill seeking to provide a value-added tax (VAT) refund for foreign tourists, which he said would encourage visitor spending in the Philippines.

“The VAT refund mechanism emerges as our gateway to achieving a competitive edge, harmonizing us with our neighboring nations in the pursuit of excellence,” Mr. Gatchalian, chairman of the ways and means committee, said during the Senate’s Monday plenary session.

Under Senate Bill No. 2415, non-resident tourists will be eligible for a VAT refund for goods purchased if they are purchased locally from stores accredited by the government, the goods are taken out of the country within 60 days from the date of purchase, and must amount to at least P3,000.

“By incentivizing tourists to spend within our borders, we will undoubtedly drive economic growth, create employment opportunities and enhance the overall well-being of our people,” said the senator. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Barangay bet slain in ambush

STOCK PHOTO | Image by kjpargeter from Freepik

COTABATO CITY — A candidate for kagawad (village councilman) and his companion were killed after gunmen opened fire as their motorcycle passed by a secluded area in South Upi, Maguindanao del Sur on Sunday afternoon, police said.

Col. Roel Rullan Sermese, director of the Maguindanao del Sur provincial police, identified the fatalities as Zeraphi A. Omar, who was registered as a candidate in Barangay Biarong, South Upi, and his 32-year-old companion, Parato S. Mudzol. They were ambushed in Barangay Lamud and died on the spot.

Omar was the son of the incumbent barangay chairman in Biarong, Esmael D. Omar.

Mr. Sermese noted that the ambush happened a day after motorcycle-riding gunmen shot and killed Leonardo A. de Jesus, Jr., a third-termer kagawad in Barangay Poblacion, Datu Piang town in the same province. Both cases are now under investigation, he said. — John Felix M. Unson

HIV/AIDS figures alarming

BAGUIO CITY — The Baguio City Health Services Office (CHSO) is seeking an aggressive education and information dissemination drive as it sounded the alarm that cases of the Human Immuno-Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) are shooting up.

Newly diagnosed cases reported in the HIV/AIDS and retroviral treatment (ART) registry of the Philippines showed a leap in daily cases: from six new cases diagnosed daily in 2011 and 35 in 2019, now there are 50 a day.

In this city, there were only 21 cases in 2019 and 14 cases in 2020 before a leap to 31 in 2021 and 56 in 2022, the CHSO said. As of the first half of this year, there are already 19 new cases in the city included in the nationwide tally of 6,059.

During the recent AIDS Watch Council (AWAC) event, CHSO Officer-in-charge Celia Flor C. Brillantes highlighted the need to get aggressive in informing the public about HIV/AIDS.

She said an anti STI/HIV AIDS drive would increase knowledge on HIV transmission, prevention and services, provide combination prevention and access to services, and more importantly, prevent new HIV infections.

Ms. Brillantes also pushed for testing in an HIV-infected populace or vulnerable population so that victims can be properly diagnosed and enrolled to the ART — a medical regimen which reduces and keeps the amount of virus under control.

This process lowers and suppresses the viral load of people living with HIV (PLHIVs) and allows them to lead normal healthy lives; all at a ninety-five percent (95%) rate, she explained.

Ms. Brillantes cited latest reports showing that the vulnerable population consists of men having sex with men (MSM), transgender women, female sex workers, people who use/inject drugs, persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) and, women and children.

Another important factor to consider is zero discrimination for PLHIVs, because the stigma drives them away from seeking medical services, said Ms. Brillantes. It must be emphasized that all tests are treated with confidentiality.

As to HIV cases enrolled in the Reproductive Health and Wellness Center, 60.37% are from Baguio, 11.94% from the other provinces of CAR, and 27.67% from non-CAR area, she added. — Artemio A. Dumlao

Soldier on vacation killed

COTABATO CITY — Two men on a motorcycle gunned down an Army private who was on vacation in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat around midnight on Sunday. Two of his companions were also shot and wounded.

In a report to Brig. Gen. Jimili L. Macaraeg, director of the Police Regional Office-12, the Tacurong City Police Station identified the fatality as Pvt. Reymar S. Pelaez, whose family resides in Barangay Buenaflor in Tacurong City.

The attack happened while Mr. Pelaez was on a rest and recreation pass from the Army’s 32nd Infantry Battalion based in Malabang, Lanao del Sur.

Probers said Mr. Pelaez was having a conversation with his cousin, Royce S. Garde, at the entrance to their residential yard when two men riding in tandem on a motorcycle arrived, pulled out their guns and opened fire.

The attack killed Mr. Pelaez instantly and left Mr. Garde and bystander Jay-Ar B. Dineal badly wounded. — John Felix M. Unson

TUCP: Ratify ILO C-190

THE TRADE Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) reiterated its call on Monday for the Philippines to be the first in the Association of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) to ratify International Labor Organization Convention No. 190 (ILO C-190), a treaty ending all forms of violence and harassment in workplaces.

The ILO describes C-190, the Violence and Harassment Convention of 2019, as the first global treaty to contain the “first internationally agreed definition of violence and harassment in the world of work.”

The House in January this year adopted a resolution urging the Philippine government to ratify C-190, but the Senate has yet to concur.

In a statement, TUCP President and Party-list Representative Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza urged President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. to support its ratification in the interest of “gender equality, women’s freedom from sexism and abuse, and closing the gender gap.”

“What better way to honor the noble legacy of the late Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan ‘Toots’ V. Ople, who devoted her entire purpose-driven life to the plight of modern-day hero Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and the advancement of women rights and empowerment than to ratify the groundbreaking ILO Convention No. 190,” Mr. Mendoza said.

Ms. Ople passed away on Aug. 22. The President cited her as a dear friend and “irreplaceable” champion of the causes of OFWs. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Ex-NIA chief found guilty of harassment

THE OMBUDSMAN has found the former acting administrator of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) of harassment and oppression of the agency’s employees.

In a decision dated Sept. 11, the Ombudsman ordered the suspension of former NIA acting administrator Benjamin D. Antiporda and fined him an amount equivalent to a year of his salary.

Mr. Antiporda told BusinessWorld in a Viber message that he plans to appeal the decision, claiming the complaint against him was meant to cover up corruption within the agency.

“While I can only bow to the wisdom of the Office of the Ombudsman, may I point out that the punishment ordered against me appears unjustifiable and highly prejudicial considering that I only served at the NIA as acting administrator for less than four months,” he said.

“If upholding the public good has become punishable nowadays, then I take things with gladness in my heart,” he added.

During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing last month, Senator Rafael “Raffy” T. Tulfo cited NIA’s own data in June 2022 showing that only a little over 65% of the country’s 3,128,000-hectare total irrigation area was irrigated. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

POC sweetens pot for Asiad gold medalists with bonus of P1M

POC PRESIDENT ABRAHAM TOLENTINO — PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THERE are an extra million reasons Filipino athletes should strive harder for a gold medal in the Hangzhou Asian Games that is unfurling this Saturday.

With an eye at replicating, if not surpassing, the four-gold, two-silver and 15-bronze harvest in the 2018 edition in Palembang, Indonesia, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) added a P1-million cash bonus for the Philippine bets who will strike gold in the China meet.

“It will be a big challenge but I believe it’s achievable,” said POC President Abraham Tolentino during yesterday’s send-off of the 395-strong national team as well as the Asian Para Games-bound squad at the PICC in Pasay City.

The bonus sweetens the already big pot for Filipino athletes, who are mandated by the government to receive a P2 million incentive for a gold, P1 million for a silver and P400,000 for a bronze in the Asiad.

Senator Bong Go, who chairs the upper chamber’s committee on sports, wished the Filipino athletes the best of luck.

“This is a testament to your dedication and commitment towards greatness,” said Mr. Go.

Mr. Tolentino also named World No. 2 pole-vaulter EJ Obiena and 2018 Asian Games skateboard gold winner Margielyn Didal as the country’s flag-bearers to Hangzhou.

Philippine Sports Commission Chair Richard Bachmann and Philippine Paralympic Olympic Committee President Mike Barredo also graced the festivities.

The Asian Games is slated Sept. 23 to Oct. 8 while the Asian Para Games is scheduled Oct. 22 to 28.

Although the country will be without world champion gymnast Carlos Yulo, who has skipped Hangzhou for the World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium late this month, the country isn’t without a replete with stars.

Apart from Mr. Obiena and Ms. Didal, the squad will also have Olympic gold winner Hidilyn Diaz, Tokyo boxing medalists Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial, the star-studded Gilas Pilipinas and the World Cup heroes in the Filipinas. — Joey Villar

Obiena vaults to silver finish in Eugene, Oregon

EJ OBIENA — REUTERS

ON THE NIGHT Armand Duplantis raised the pole vault bar higher, Filipino star EJ Obiena and the rest of the world were left standing in awe at the mesmerizing display of greatness by the Swedish titan in Eugene, Oregon leg of the Diamond League.

The Asian record-record holder from Tondo in Manila settled for the silver with a 5.82-meter clearance and helplessly watched from the sidelines as the Olympic champion mercilessly and effortlessly took the gold and shattered the world record the latter owned with a galactic 6.23m.

At least, in one fleeting moment, Mr. Obiena was the last challenger standing and just a shadow behind Mr. Duplantis.

But when push came to shove, Mr. Obiena couldn’t clear 6.02m while Mr. Duplantis masterfully hurdled it before delivering another performance for the ages with that stellar 6.23m.

American Sam Kendricks took the bronze after he edged via count back Australian Kurtis Marschall and another United States bet Chris Nilsen, who had identical 5.72ms.

It was nonetheless a solid effort by Mr. Obiena, a World Championship silver winner who should destroy the Hangzhou Asian Games field next week the way Duplantis did in Eugene. — Joey Villar

PHL obstacle course racing team a factory of world record beaters

KEVIN PASCUA — FACEBOOK.COM/PINASOBSTACLES

THERE is no slowing down the Philippine obstacle course racing team in producing world champions.

And over the weekend, the country churned out another one from its growing factory of world-record-beaters in the person of Kevin Pascua, who blew everyone away in ruling the MaleOCR100m in the OCR World Championships in Genk, Belgium.

It was another eye-popping feat from a long list of it that was essayed by Mr. Pascua, who set a new world record by going sub-30 seconds in the 100-meter x10 obstacle event in seizing the 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold in Alabang. That record was eventually eclipsed by another Philippine bet Mark Julius Rodelas, who eventually captured the mint while pushing back Mr. Pascua in settling for the silver.

But in four months, the lightning-quick Mr. Pascua made sure to zoom back to the top with another performance to remember.

Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation President Al Agra also said Precious Cabuya and Kaizen dela Serna likewise brought home medals as the latter two copped the silver and bronze, respectively, in the female section. “There is no substitute for hard work, consistency and passion,” said Mr. Agra. “Our national athletes possess and demonstrated these during the World Obstacle Championships. They are truly world-class. They are heroes. Proud to be a Filipino,” he added.

Mr. Pascua’s sensational effort came less than a year after Andrico Mahilum and Sandi Abahan emerged from the Himalayas as the Altitude OCR World Championships Mount Everest winners.

By the looks of it, expect more to rule the world. — Joey Villar

Kaya FC battles Shandong Taishan in Rizal Memorial Stadium tonight

FACEBOOK.COM/KAYAFC

Match Tuesday
(Rizal Memorial Stadium)
8 p.m. — Kaya FC Iloilo vs Shandong Taishan FC

KAYA FC ILOILO looks to put up a winning performance in its first home game in the AFC Champions League (ACL) as it tangles with China’s Shandong Taishan FC tonight at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Game time is set at 8 p.m. with the reigning Philippine titlists finally enjoying crowd support after playing their previous ACL campaigns in Pathum Thani, Thailand in 2021 and India last year.

“We’re really excited knowing our families are going tonight to support us and they’re going to be our ‘12th man.’ We’re very happy to be the first to play at home,” said midfielder Fitch Arboleda.

Kaya hopes to make the most of its home field advantage to score its breakthrough win in the ACL group stage after going 0-6 in Group F two years ago. It failed to make the main draw last year after bowing to Sydney FC in the preliminary round, 0-5.

But the home club, seeded straight to the group stage this year, is fully aware it’s going to be a tall order against the Chinese FA Cup winners.

“They (Shandong) are a very, very strong team. They play in the Chinese Super League, a very strong league. Physically, they’re an imposing team and play a very different style of football. But nothing that we’re not prepared for,” said coach Colum Curtis.

For the Kaya mentor, the pressure is not on the Filipino club but on the visitors.

“The pressure is on Shandong because they come to us and they’re expected to get three points. It’s our job to ensure they won’t walk away with it. And the players will do everything to give a good performance and proudly represent the Philippines,” Mr. Curtis said. — Olmin Leyba

Terrafirma, Rain or Shine make the most of PBA Rookie Draft pool

TEAMS with multiple picks such as Terrafirma and Rain or Shine (ROS) made the most of the rich PBA Rookie Draft pool to beef up for the coming Season 48 wars.

The Dyip drafted fancied Fil-Am guard Stephen Holt at No. 1 then selected TJ Miller (12th) in the first round and Kemark Carino (13th) and Louie Sangalang (22nd) in the second. They went on to pick John Bahio, Tommy Olivario, Damie Cuntapay, Kenneth Villapando, Jeric Pido and Enrique Caunan before calling it a night in the proceedings that featured a record 124 applicants.

“We got the best talent,” Terrafirma coach John Cardel said of G-League and Euro leagues veteran Mr. Holt, who is expected to arrive in Manila at the end of the week. ”

With their other picks, Mr. Cardel said they’re filling up the team’s need for shooters, wingmen, bangers, enforcers and role players.

Owner of the third and fourth selections, the Elasto Painters went for big men Luis Villegas and Keith Datu before picking Sherwin Concepcion, JC Cullar and Larry Arpia.

ROS also drafted Henry Galinato in the Round 2 but is set to ship the UP frontliner to TNT for a future draft pick.

“We are happy with our picks. I think this batch is a good batch to stack up on big men. Our bigs, they’re getting a little older so we need a new generation of big men,” said ROS coach Yeng Guiao.

“We’re hoping they can take over. It’s a good time to mentor these young guys and maybe transfer some knowledge and some experience to these guys for the adjustment.” — Olmin Leyba

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