DoTr OK’s LRT fare increases

July 31, 2023 | 8:01 pm

THE DEPARTMENT of Transportation (DoTr) has approved petitions to increase ticket prices at the Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 effective Aug. 2.

The minimum boarding fee will increase from P11 to P13.29, while distance fare will increase to P1.21 from P1 per kilometer, the Light Rail Transit Authority said in an advisory on Monday.

For LRT-1, stored value card users will pay a minimum fare of P14 for one station to P35 from end to end, while single-journey fares will cost P15 to P35.

For LRT-2, stored value card fares will cost P15 for one station to P33 from end to end, while single-journey fares will cost P15 to P35.

“Despite the absence of fare adjustments in previous years, we have established major improvements in the 38-year-old railway line with the increase in trains deployed to service more commuters,” Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) Chief Operating Officer Rolando J. Paulino III said in a statement.

He also cited improved waiting time, station rehabilitation and expansion and the construction of LRT-1 Cavite extension project.

“We are determined to give people back their time through efficient transport and put more value one very peso that our passengers spend for every LRT-1 ride,” he added.

The last time a fare increase was enforced was in 2015, the LRTA said in the advisory. The latest increases would be used to fix and improve LRT-2 facilities, it added.

Meanwhile, transport groups opposed the fare hike, saying it should be shouldered by the government.

Prices remain high despite easing inflation, said Primo V. Morilla, convenor of Passenger Forum, said by telephone.

“People don’t feel like their lives have improved,” he said in Filipino, noting that higher train fares would make it more difficult for them. “This could be solved by subsidies.”

AltMobility PH Director Ira F. Cruz said it is well within LRCM’s right to enforce a fare increase, but this would add to commuters’ daily expenses.

“It is within their concession agreement to increase their fares; however, it has to be balanced by the government,” he said in a separate phone interview. “The concessionaire needs to be able to cover expenses but at the same time, it has to be within a level that commuters will be able to afford.”

Mr. Cruz said the government has yet to come up with a satisfactory mass transport system plan.

“The government has to be able to create a transportation system where people have a choice of mode of transportation so that we don’t encounter things like these, where people are severely affected by one mode of transportation,” he said.

“People have to be presented with an option to consider another form of transportation and that could be in the form of mass road public transportation such as jeepneys or active transportation,” he added. — J.I.D. Tabile

Typhoon Khanun intensifies, set to leave Philippines by Tuesday

July 31, 2023 | 8:01 pm

TROPICAL CYCLONE Khanun, locally named Falcon, has intensified while moving over the Philippine Sea, the state weather bureau said on Monday.

In a 5 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the typhoon had maximum sustained winds of 156 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 205 kph.

It was moving at 15 kph and was slightly accelerating and turning west-northwestward.

“The southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Falcon will bring occasional monsoon rains over the western portion of Luzon and the Visayas in the next three days,” the weather bureau said.

Falcon, the sixth typhoon to hit the country this year and the third in July, developed into a typhoon on Sunday evening.

Based on its forecast track, PAGASA said Falcon might exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Tuesday morning or evening.

“Falcon is forecast to further intensify in the next 12 hours and reach its peak intensity while maintaining its strength as it tracks over Okinawa Islands in the Ryukyu Archipelago,” it said.

Meanwhile, initial crop and irrigation damage from Super Typhoon Egay (international name: Doksuri) had reached P3.52 billion, the National Irrigation Administration said in a separate statement.

About 43,875 hectares of agricultural lands cultivated by 69,432 farmers were affected, it added.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council said in an 8 a.m. report the estimated cost of damage to infrastructure had reached P3.5 billion.

It added that 106 cities and municipalities were declared under a state of calamity.

About 2.39 million people from 654,837 families in 13 regions mostly on the main island of Luzon were affected by Egay. Typhoon victims received P146.68 million in assistance, it said.

These were the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Soccsksargen and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The typhoon killed at least 25 people, the disaster agency said. More than 50 people were also injured, while 20 went missing. — S.J. Talavera

Senate to probe boat mishap

July 31, 2023 | 8:00 pm

SENATOR Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares has filed a resolution to investigate the capsizing of MB Aya Express off the waters of Binangonan, Rizal that killed 27 people.

Senate Resolution 704 seeks to determine accountability for the July 27 tragedy and to find out whether maritime regulations were followed.

“Those responsible for the death of the 27 individuals and the trauma of the 43 rescued victims should be held accountable for this incident,” the senator, who heads the committee on public services, said in a statement.

“This tragedy revealed serious maritime safety compliance lapses that need to be revisited to determine whether the regulations are insufficient to provide and ensure safe voyage of individuals at sea or whether there is simply complacency in the implementation,” she added. — JJC

Comelec transparency urged

July 31, 2023 | 8:00 pm

THE NATIONAL Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) on Monday urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to bolster its transparency measures after allegations of vote rigging in last year’s elections.

“The election process and the automated election system must be open to everyone’s scrutiny and analysis, free from any conditions and restrictions,” it said in a statement.

Last week, former Information and Communications Technology Secretary Eliseo M. Rio, Jr. said the elections might have been rigged since the votes were transmitted on one private internet protocol (IP) address.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia told a briefing on July 27 Comelec owned the IP address, adding that the election results were accurate.

Namfrel said Comelec should ensure that independent organizations are free to examine and audit future elections. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Moro leader killed in ambush

July 31, 2023 | 7:59 pm

GUNMEN killed a traditional Moro leader and his son in an ambush in Matalam town in Cotabato province at dusk on Sunday.

Anwar Ebrahim Salem, Sr., 52, and his 21-year-old son, Anwar Hudines, were on a motorcycle from the village of Arakan when gunmen on the road opened fire, Brigadier General Jimili L. Macaraeg, director of the Police Regional Office-12, told reporters on Monday.

The older Salem, a village councilor in Arakan, died on the spot from multiple bullet wounds, while his son died at a nearby hospital.

Mr. Salem was a member of the Bangsamoro Council of Moro Elders, which is involved in peacebuilding programs in areas with mixed Moro, Christian and ethnic tribal communities.

Their attackers, whose faces were covered with masks, escaped before village guards could reach the scene. Investigators said the root of the ambush could either be rido or clan war, or tied to the October village elections. — John M. Unson

Napocor fined over hydro plant

July 31, 2023 | 7:59 pm

THE SUPREME COURT has upheld a fine on National Power Corp. (Napocor) over its Marawi City Hydroelectric power plant’s failure to comply with environmental standards.

In a resolution dated Jan. 30 and made public on July 27, the tribunal ordered Napocor to pay P100,000, saying it had failed to complete irrigation projects through its Marawi City plant. It upheld an appellate court ruling that ruled against the state power generator.

“Findings of fact of administrative agencies are accorded weight and respect in this court in deference to the agency’s specialized knowledge and expertise in matters under its jurisdiction,” the High Court said.

The Court of Appeals also affirmed the Environmental Management Bureau’s finding that Napocor had failed to prove that it conducted water quality monitoring and set up an environmental guarantee fund for rehabilitation through its hydroelectric plant. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Filipino consumers want sustainable lifestyles but face challenges — study

July 31, 2023 | 6:51 pm

Pedestrian-crowd-face-mask — PHILIPPINE STAR/RUSSELL PALMA

A study commissioned by technology company Alibaba Group revealed that 89% of consumers in the Philippines desire sustainable lifestyles but face obstacles such as inconvenience and high costs.

“The research finds around three in four consumers (76%) would welcome more information about how to be more sustainable, [and] the proportion is highest in the Philippines (93%), Indonesia (91%), and the United Arab Emirates (90%),” Alibaba said in a news release on Monday.

The study, titled “The Sustainability Trends Report 2023”, surveyed more than 14,000 consumers from 14 markets across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, according to the company.

It found that convenience (53%) and affordability (33%) are critical for driving behavioral changes in consumer sustainability, suggesting that businesses can help consumers make sustainably conscious choices.

According to the study, many consumers are cynical (38%) about the motives behind businesses’ “sustainable” products, and only 15% fully trust sustainability claims.

“As a digital platform company, Alibaba is uniquely positioned and committed to addressing the ‘say-do’ gap challenge; by reducing the inconvenience obstacle, adding more sustainable choices, and optimizing supply chains to keep costs reasonable for consumers,” said Liu Wei, Alibaba Group’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy lead.

“Sustainable consumption is crucial for the environment, and in the meantime it provides a great opportunity for businesses, as well as the digital economy as a whole, to have a long-lasting development into a sustainable future for all.”

Based on the study, more than half (58%) of consumers have already embraced sustainable practices and feel they are making significant efforts.

There is a general willingness (73% on average) to learn about sustainable online purchasing methods, indicating an openness to receive more information on the topic, the report noted. — Arjay L. Balinbin

This is just the tip of the iceberg for the Philippines — Alen Stajcic

July 31, 2023 | 6:04 pm

Sarina Bolden — SARINA BOLDEN — FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

AUCKLAND — The dream’s not over.

It’s intoxicating, that first taste of the FIFA Women’s World Cup (WC), and the Filipinas won’t rest until they get another and possibly make an even bigger impact next time.

“We’re definitely going to try to get back here in four years,” said goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel after their dream run ended with a 0-6 beatdown from former world and Olympic champ Norway.

“This isn’t the end of the Filipinas. We have a lot more in us and we have a lot of tournaments going on (after the WC) so we’re excited to keep going.”

They lived the dream when the elite football extravaganza officially rolled last July 20, showcasing their characteristic puso, unwavering faith and remarkable resilience against tremendous odds.

They battled opening opponent Switzerland with little jitters and a lot of fight before yielding, 0-2. Then with their feet wet, the troops of Alen Stajcic hit paydirt via a historic 1-0 nipping of host New Zealand led by the breakthrough header of Sarina Bolden and Player of the Match performance of Ms. McDaniel.

Sopie Roman Haug and the powerhouse Norwegians eventually pulled the plug on the Filipinas’ Round-of-16 aspirations with their masterclass performance in a high-stakes duel in front of Eden Park’s predominantly-Filipino 34,967-strong crowd.

Ever the believers, the Filipinas see a return trip in 2027 as a huge possibility.

“We just need to continue what we’ve been doing and (not) change up things too much and continue to learn and grow and trust the process,” said Ms. Bolden.

“Four years is a long time from now, but the process starts now and (figure out) how we can get better, how can we grow from this, learn from this. And I have no doubt in my mind that we’ll be a better team for it.”

Alen Stajcic, the former Australia Matildas coach who helped whip the Filipinas into World Cup shape, underscored the importance of sustaining the momentum.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg for the Philippines,” he said.

“For them to continue this legacy, they need investment in grassroots program in the Philippines. We can go through a lot of spectrum that needs to happen to grow on this point.

“But what it is a starting point of a new history, one where these players hopefully inspire a new generation of young kids to want to be future national team players and do what these players have done this week.” — Olmin Leyba

Big guns of UAAP, NCAA vie for SSL quarterfinals

July 31, 2023 | 6:04 pm

DLSU — DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY women’s volleyball team

Games Tuesday
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
9 a.m. — La Salle vs University of Southern Philippines Foundation
12 p.m. — Lyceum vs Adamson
2 p.m. — La Salle-Dasma vs UST
4 p.m. — Enderun vs College of St. Benilde

FANCIED squads De La Salle University, College of St. Benilde (CSB), University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Adamson University seek to live up to expectations against separate counterparts to top their groups and clinch quarterfinal tickets in Day 3 of the 2023 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals Tuesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

Action kicks off a 9 a.m. with reigning UAAP champion De La Salle (1-0) clashing against CESAFI runner-up University of Southern Philippines Foundation (0-1) in Pool A followed by the 12 p.m. duel between Adamson (1-0) and Lyceum of the Philippines University (0-1) in Pool C.

At 2 p.m., UST collides (1-0) with De La Salle-Dasma (0-1) in Pool B while two-time NCAA queen CSB tackles Enderun Colleges at 4 p.m. in Pool D to wrap up the short single-round robin elims among 12 teams from the NCR, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Only the top two teams from each pool will advance to the knockout playoffs of the SSL presented by Eurotel as official hotel and Victory Liner as office transport provider, and in cooperation with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Only Notre Dame of Dadiangas University (0-2) so far from General Santos City in Pool D is out of contention, making the last playdate a waiting game for CESAFI champion University of San Jose Recoletos or USJR (1-1) in Pool B and Jose Maria College Foundation or JMCF (1-1) in Pool C to determine their fates.

While all eyes are on the big guns from the UAAP and the NCAA, unheralded squads like the USJR from Cebu and the JMCF from Davao have proven their worth so far in the historic joust also backed by Mikasa, Team Rebel Sports, Summit Bottled Water, Genius Sports, Potato Corner, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken and Sauce Bar, and R&B Tea.

USJR took down Luzon bet La Salle-Dasma, 25-20, 25-18, 25-18, while JMCF stunned NCAA runner-up Lyceum via reverse sweep, 24-26, 25-19, 25-22, 26-24, to stay in playoff contention. — John Bryan Ulanday

It was an incredible ride — Filipinas skipper Hali Long

July 31, 2023 | 6:04 pm

FIFA Women’s World Cup-Philippines — HALI LONG (center) of Philippines celebrates with team mates after the FIFA Women’s World Cup match between New Zealand and Philippines on July 25, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand. — REUTERS

AUCKLAND — From the singing of the national anthem to the post-match media powwow, the tears flowed freely for Filipinas skipper Hali Long.

The longest serving mainstay with a record 76 caps, Ms. Long swore she swelled with pride representing the Philippines and fighting for flag and country in the international front.

So one can just imagine how emotional it was for the Fil-Am defender to do it at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“It’s an utmost honor to, one, bring the Lupang Hinirang here (World Cup), (two) bring the Philippine flag here for the first time and (three) to be able to be on the pitch to do that,” Ms. Long said, her cheeks glistening with tears.

“It’s just that definite highlight of my life.”

Videos of Ms. Long tearing up while singing the anthem from the heart minutes before kickoff was a sight to behold. She said it’s been like that for her since the 2017 SEA Games.

“Anytime Lupang Hinirang comes on, it just means so much because it’s just like you die for your countrymen,” she said.

“I mean, it’s everything. It’s the pride and honor you have to represent your country everywhere on the global stage — as an underdog, as a beauty queen, as a boxer, as a weightlifter, as a futbolera.”

When the Filipinas’ magical run was crushed by a 0-6 loss to Norway, Ms. Long, no surprises there, was the most brokenhearted.

But that didn’t take away her immense gratification for what she and her sisters in arms pulled off here.

“It was an incredible ride,” Ms. Long said. “There’s so many firsts that happened here — our first goal, our first win, our first game, our first card, our first anything, it was all a first for us and you can’t take it away from us.” — Olmin Leyba

Dethroned Creamline Cool Smashers eye third and last PVL conference

July 31, 2023 | 6:03 pm

MOMENTS after being dethroned by Kurashiki Ablaze of Japan in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference, the Creamline Cool Smashers have set their sights on winning the championship in the league’s third and last conference late this year.

“We’re hoping for a better and more improved Creamline Cool Smashers next conference,” said Creamline captain Alyssa Valdez after falling to the Japanese, 19-25, 25-23, 25-19, 20-25, 15-13, in the one-game finale Sunday at the PhilSports Arena.

It was a heartbreaking defeat for the dethroned champions, who were denied a seventh crown in the league.

It was also a sad ending especially for Ms. Valdez, who had to sit out the last two sets after she was seen limping late in the third set.

“It’s just sad …,” said a teary-eyed former national team skipper and Philippine Southeast Asian Games flag-bearer. “But we learned so much and I’m grateful to be back on the court.”

“No excuses, Japan did good and everyone in the team did well. We’re grateful we learned a lot,” she added.

Despite the defeat, Creamline already made history as they still ended up with a record 12^th straight podium finish in a stretch where it hauled six titles, three runner-up finishes and three third-place efforts. — Joey Villar

PBA On Tour a resounding success before the FIBA World Cup

July 31, 2023 | 6:03 pm

SAVE for the injury of Barangay Ginebra wing Jeremiah Gray in the 11^th hour, the PBA On Tour proved as a resounding success for Asia’s first pro league before giving the keys to Gilas Pilipinas in the country’s full-swing preparations for the FIBA Basketball World Cup hosting.

As it lent the majority of its stars to Gilas that’s in the thick of its build-up, the PBA did not waste time providing opportunities for the up-and-coming players, prospects and seldom-used players in the PBA On Tour that culminated over the weekend.

It served as a summer tournament and preseason tilt in one for the 12 PBA franchises prior to the 48^th Season in October with Magnolia earning the top honors following a sweep, 11-0.

Rain or Shine (8-3), which will represent the Philippines in the Jones Cup, finished second as Blackwater (7-4) and Meralco (7-4) completed the Top 4.

Converge (6-5), Ginebra (6-5), NLEX (5-6), Northport (5-6), Terrafirma (4-7), Phoenix (3-8), San Miguel (3-8) and Talk ‘N Text (1-10) finished in order for the PBA On Tour that ran for two months since May.

Though the majority of the games were held at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig, the PBA On Tour held games around Metro Manila, including at the University of Santo Tomas.

The PBA On Tour also had trips to Antipolo, Bulacan, Batangas, Quezon and Dumaguete as preparations for the return of staple out-of-town games next season in the aftermath of the COVID-19 health emergency and its restrictions.

Moreover, the PBA introduced new rules highlighted by the first-ever coach’s challenge with NLEX mentor Frankie Lim utilizing it first in the opener in Caloocan last May.

Under the experimental rules in the PBA On Tour, coaches will have two challenges, one per half, during the games.

NOTE: Jeremiah Gray suffered a dislocated knee according to Ginebra coach Tim Cone. The doctors have already aligned back Mr. Gray’s knee but the ligaments around it are still under evaluation and if surgery would be needed.

Mr. Gray, who already had an ACL injury in 2021 during his PBA 3×3 stint, was all alone in transition when he went down with the gruesome injury late in the third quarter of Ginebra’s 91-85 win over NLEX, where he finished with eight points, seven rebounds and five assists. — John Bryan Ulanday