Category: General

MANILA: Lawmakers and a senior administration official on Sunday urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to heed the advice of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to extend the bidding for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) rehabilitation project for one month to ensure due diligence and avoid monopoly.

In separate interviews, Manila Rep. Rolando Valeriano, OFW Party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino and Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon all stressed that ADB’s position should not be ignored, but instead followed, as it would be for the best interest of the government and the public as well.

Valeriano said extending the deadline would give the DOTr an opportunity to ‘choose the most qualified to do the project.’

‘Sa ganito pong mga proyekto bihasa ang ADB (ADB is well versed in projects like this),’ Valeriano, chairperson of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development, said in a news release. ‘Malaking halaga ang nakataya (A big amount is involved). Due diligence is a must.’

If the Dec. 27 deadline is followed, the DOTr stands to be accused of favoring only two prospective bidders and rigging the process, according to the officials.

‘We strongly believe that extending the bid submission date would attract more bids, thus resulting in greater competition and a better financial outcome for the government… It would also send a strong statement that the government is committed to ensuring a level playing field for all investors, now that recent reforms allow local and foreign investors to compete for NAIA on the same terms, without foreign ownership restrictions,’ the ADB explained in its memo.

Magsino stressed that the one-month extension in the bidding for the project ‘will be more beneficial.’

‘If extending the deadline for proposals on these plans will allow the government to choose from more reputable companies and secure the most cost-effective agreement, then the one-month delay eventually will be more beneficial,’ Magsino said.

‘The only thing we want to ensure in whateve
r decision the government will make is that the people will not be shortchanged. The option we will take must vastly improve the services of NAIA, solve capacity issues, upgrade the technology infrastructure, and ensure steady and reliable operation for the benefit of air passengers, especially our OFWs (overseas Filipino workers),’ she added.

In an internal memo previously obtained by the media, the ADB proposed that the bidding be extended from Dec. 27 to Jan. 29, 2024, primarily to allow potential bidders more time to prepare and participate.

It said that increased competition will ensure better financial outcome for the government.

The ADB memo noted that at least four more bidders for the project are seeking the extension.

Gadon, meanwhile, pointed out that the extension proposed by the ADB is called for, especially in the light of the fact that the original deadline will marginalize other potential bidders.

‘I agree to the proposed extension as it will give more time to potential proponents in comi
ng up with a more realistic terms of bid that would become more advantageous for the government and, ultimately, to the public,’ Gadon said.

‘The rehabilitation is highly complex and technical. Issues might come up during construction and renovation works which may turn out critical (and) which could be prevented by constantly reviewing all aspects of work,’ he added.

ADB likewise reasoned out that the extension aligns with the government’s commitment to encourage new players and foreign investment in Philippine public-private partnerships and is aimed at fostering competition without causing undue delays to NAIA’s modernization.

Magsino said the DOTr leadership must seriously consider the proposal and heed the clamor from stakeholders and government leaders to have the deadline extended.

‘We believe the leadership of the Department of Transportation and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), in coordination with the National Economic Development Authority, have exhaustively studied the pros a
nd cons of the rehabilitation and expansion of NAIA through concession agreements, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of privatized operations for our international airports… Lastly, we hope the winning proposal will not result in higher terminal fees for air passengers. The government must retain its authority in the pricing of fees,’ she said.

Eight firms bought bid documents for the project — Asian Airport Consortium, Turkish firm Cengiz Insaat Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., South Korea’s Incheon International Airport Corp., India’s GMR Group, Turkish conglomerate Limak Holding A.S., Manila International Airport Consortium, San Miguel Corporation, and Spark 888 Management Inc.

The DOTr and MIAA began the bidding process for the contract involving the rehabilitation, expansion, and operation of NAIA in August.

The project seeks to address long-standing capacity issues, increase the airport’s annual capacity to at least 62 million passengers from 35 million.

The winning bidder will have 15 years to re
habilitate the airport’s passenger terminals and airside facilities, develop commercial assets and utility systems, and provide surface access facilities, among other responsibilities.

The concession agreement also allows for a possible 10-year extension.
Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Bureau of Customs (BOC) said it intercepted the attempt to smuggle a total of 146,000 liters of unmarked fuel amounting to millions of pesos in Mariveles, Bataan on Saturday.

The bureau also impounded the motorized tanker used to transport the fuel, according to a press statement.

BOC-CIIS Director Verne Enciso said the estimated value of the fuel and 16 lorry trucks is placed at PHP88 million, while the vessel is PHP60 million.

The operation in Barangay Alas Asin was carried out by agents of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service at the Manila International Container Port and National Bureau of Investigation – Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division following a tip.

‘Our agents went to the anchorage area upon receiving information that there were several vessels carrying alleged smuggled fuel and thereafter being transferred to lorry trucks. A significant challenge in this operation is that this happened in a private port without BOC personnel, so the intel we received is
critical,’ Customs Commissioner Bien Rubio said in a statement.
Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Organizers of the 2024 Feast of the Black Nazarene traslacion (transfer) announced on Saturday that they would follow the route used during the 2020 grand procession.

The announcement was made after a walkthrough in the morning for the Jan. 9 traslacion, starting at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park and up to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene or Quiapo Church in Quezon Boulevard.

‘Ang ruta po ay katulad ng nakaraang year 2020 (the route will be the same as that of year 2020),’ the Quiapo Church said in a brief statement.

The walkthrough, which lasted for over two and a half hours, was conducted to ensure the safety of thousands of devotees.

The procession will start from Quirino Grandstand, turn left to Katigbak Street; pass through Padre Burgos Street; and along Finance Road, and Palanca, Arlegui, Fraternal, Vergara, Duque de Alba, Castillejos, Farnecio, Nepomuceno, Concepcion Aguila, Carcer, Hidalgo, Bilibid Viejo, Gil Puyat, and J.P De Guzman Streets; under the Quezon Bridge; and Vill
alobos Street en route to Plaza Miranda right outside the church.

It would mark the first time the traslacion will return to its old format after the celebration was suspended from 2021 to 2023 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year, Quiapo Church held a ‘Walk of Faith’ sans the traslacion and lured 1.2 million devotees over two days.

The last procession in 2020 had about three million participants joining the shorter traslacion route that lasted 16 hours.

In 2018 and 2019, the police estimated an average crowd of four million, both lasting for nearly 24 hours.
Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: A senator is pushing to revise the government’s quarantine system to better and effectively combat outbreaks and epidemics.

In Senate Bill No. 2508 or the Philippine Quarantine Authority (PQA) Act, Senator Lito Lapid underscored the need for a robust and adaptive public health infrastructure.

Lapid said it could be attained by transforming the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) into the Philippine Quarantine Authority and restoring the military ranks to its officials to fortify their authority in dealing with outbreaks and public health emergencies.

‘By returning military ranks to quarantine officials, the PQA will be empowered to act swiftly and decisively, ensuring the immediate implementation of quarantine measures and the enforcement of public health protocols,’ Lapid said in his explanatory note.

The proposed conversion to the PQA is grounded in the recognition of the need for a certain level of coercive authority to effectively manage and mitigate the impact of outbreaks and public health emergencie
s similar to what happened during the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘By learning from the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, this bill seeks to equip the country with the necessary tools and authority to effectively manage outbreaks and epidemics, protecting the health and well-being of our citizens,’ he added.

The creation of the PQA is complementary to the Philippine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Act, he said, adding that while the latter focuses on research activities, the new body will serve as the regulatory and implementing agency responsible for executing and enforcing regulations on the ground.

This synergy ensures a comprehensive and coordinated approach to public health management, aligning research efforts with practical measures for effective disease prevention and control.

The bill repeals Republic Act (RA) 9271 or the Quarantine Act of 2004.

Under RA 9271, the BOQ is placed under the Department of Health, with the category of a first-class line bureau and a nationwide scope of func
tion and commitment in accordance with the international regulations of the World Health Organization.
Source: Philippines News Agency

ILOILO: Three persons died while 72 families were left homeless after a residential fire in Zone 3, Barangay Habog-Habog Salvacion, Molo, Iloilo City before dawn Saturday.

Teresa Gelogo, head of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), identified the fatalities as bedridden Elizabeth Jetano, 65; her son Nell Gabriel, 33; and Gabriel’s daughter, Rain, 10.

‘They were probably trapped inside the house,’ Gelogo said in an interview.

Jetano’s husband, village councilor Nestor Jetano, was on duty as security guard when the fire erupted.

Gelogo said the Department of Social Welfare and Development immediately extended PHP30,000 in financial assistance to the immediate family of the fatalities, aside from food and non-food assistance to the other victims.

Mayor Jerry Treñas directed the CSWDO to look into the availability of funds for the urgent release of more assistance.

The validation by the CSWDO showed 64 totally burned and two partially gutted houses.

‘Most of the houses are made of light
materials, so the fire spread faster,’ she said.

The displaced families are now at the evacuation center at Baluarte Elementary School.

The local government also appealed for help, particularly for clothing, undergarments, food items, utensils, and water.

‘We already have a community kitchen and donations keep coming,’ she added.

The Bureau of Fire Protection said in a statement that the fire also damaged commercial establishments and educational structures, including a daycare center.

It received the call around 2:59 a.m. and extinguished the fire that reached the fourth alarm at 6:59 a.m.

‘The estimated damage are approximately PHP6.664 million, and a total of 15 firetrucks and three ambulances were deployed in the response efforts,’ the statement read.
Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: At least five business deals and memoranda of understanding (MOU) are set to be signed during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s official visit to Japan, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said on Saturday.

In a media interview in Tokyo, Pascual said the business agreements will be signed on Dec. 18.

‘It’s an expression of interest to invest in the Philippines, expressions of Japanese companies to invest in the Philippines. Some are MOU between Philippine company and Japanese company,’ Pascual said, as quoted in a news release by the Presidential Communications Office.

Pascual did not elaborate yet on the details of the agreements.

He said the investment commitments from Japanese businesses signify Japan’s confidence in the Philippines and ‘serious intent and serious plans to proceed to the investment.’

‘It has support of the present policy of the administration in the sense that we are inviting foreign investors to come into the country and these Japanese investments are most welcome,’ Pascual sai
d.

‘They are among the largest investors in the Philippines already among all the nationalities that have operations in the country,’ he added.

Marcos flew to Japan on Friday for the 50th Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – Japan Friendship and Cooperation Commemorative Summit.

Japan is one of the Philippines’ three strategic partners with 264 bilateral agreements, including transfer of defense equipment and technology, infrastructure and Mindanao development.

Japan is the country’s second largest trading partner in 2022 with a total trade of USD23.49 billion, which is up by 10.9 percent from the USD21.83 billion recorded in 2021.

It is also the largest source of Official Development Assistance, with a share of 40.49 percent or USD12,923.99 million of the country’s total portfolio.

Japan is likewise the second largest source of grant assistance, accounting for 28.93 percent or USD577.72 million of the total grants’ portfolio.
Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is expecting some three months’ worth of national rice stock inventory by the end of December in addition to rice supply sourced abroad, thus enough supply until the next harvest season.

‘At the end we’re expecting mga (around) 85 to 90 days national stock inventory by end of December which is enough na ma-itawid natin hanggang sa susunod na (to last until) harvest season come March or April,’ DA Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

‘Siyempre mayroon din namang import na dumarating kasi liberalized naman iyong importation natin. Based on historical data, may dumarating din na imports additional (Of course, imports are expected because out importation system is liberalized. Based on historical data, there will be additional imports) during the first quarter,’ he added.

De Mesa said the DA is expecting at least 20 million metric tons (MT) before yearend.

The country’s imports as of November have reached 3.03 mil
lion MT, lower compared to last year’s 3.5 million MT for the same period.

‘Last year ang kabuuan (the total is) is 3.8 [MT]. We’re expecting this year mga (around) 3.2, 3.3 million metric tons wala pa iyong Indian rice. So, kumbaga, magkaroon lang na kaunting diprensiya, so plus matatag naman iyong ating (excluding the Indian rice. There will be a slight difference and we have stable) production,’ De Mesa said.

The DA is waiting for the delivery of the 95,000 MT of Indian rice out of the 295,000 MT secured by the government.

Succeeding deliveries are expected in January, De Mesa added.
Source: Philippines News Agency