Category: General

MANILA: Three rail services in the National Capital Region (NCR) have announced a temporary shutdown of operations during the Holy Week to give way for their annual preventive maintenance.

In a statement Monday, the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) said it will suspend operations of Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) from March 27 (Holy Wednesday) to March 31 (Easter Sunday).

‘This temporary closure is necessary to conduct the annual preventive maintenance activities, (as well as) facilitate the mandatory testing activities for the system integration of LRT-1 Cavite Extension. These tests are crucial to meet the target partial operations of the extension’s Phase 1 in the fourth quarter of 2024,’ the LRMC, the private operator and maintenance provider of the LRT-1, said.

Regular operating hours will be maintained on Holy Monday and Tuesday (Mar. 25-26).

‘The last commercial trips on these days will depart at 10 p.m. from LRT-1 Baclaran Station and 10:15 p.m. from LRT-1 Fernando Poe Jr. Station,’ it said
.

Normal operations will resume on April 1 at its usual start time of 4:30 a.m.

‘Commuters are encouraged to plan their trips accordingly this Holy Week to minimize inconvenience during the temporary suspension of operations,’ it said.

LRT-2

On the other hand, the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) also announced the temporary suspension of Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) operations beginning March 28 (Maundy Thursday) until March 31 (Easter Sunday).

On March 27 (Holy Wednesday), there will be shortened operating hours-with the first trains leaving Recto and Antipolo Stations at 5 a.m. and the last trains at 7 p.m.

The LRT-2 will resume normal operations on April 1.

MRT-3

Same as LRT-2, the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) will suspend operations from March 28 (Maundy Thursday) to March 31 (Easter Sunday).

The shutdown, the MRT-3 said would allow for the rail line’s annual Holy Week maintenance activities.

‘Regular operating hours will be observed on Wednesday, March 27, with the last train trip
s at 9:30 p.m. from North Avenue Station, and 10:09 p.m. from Taft Avenue Station,’ it said.

Like the two other rail lines, the MRT-3 will resume normal operations on Monday (April 1), with the first train trips scheduled at 4:30 a.m. from North Avenue Station and 5:05 a.m. from Taft Avenue Station.

Source: Philippines News Agency

LEGAZPI CITY: At least 1,200 assessed and eligible students in Camarines Sur started receiving financial assistance through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program on Monday.

DSWD-Bicol Regional Director Norman Laurio, Camarines Sur Governor Luigi Villafuerte, and Senator Imee Marcos led the distribution of the cash aid to beneficiaries at the municipal covered court in Libmanan, Camarines Sur.

In an interview, Marygizelle Mesa, DSWD-Bicol information officer, said a total of PHP6 million was allocated for the beneficiaries receiving PHP5,000 each.

“For today’s payout, a total of 622 deserving junior, senior high school, and college students received their educational assistance. The remaining beneficiaries have a scheduled payout on March 20 and 21,” Mesa said, adding that the grant is intended to help them meet their school needs.

In a social media post, Libmanan Mayor Jesus Camara thanked the DSWD, Senator Marcos and the gov
ernor for facilitating the DSWD AICS payout.

“Their dedication and proactive approach contribute immensely to addressing the needs of our constituents. We are truly grateful for their unwavering support and partnership in serving our community and we express our deepest appreciation to Senator Imee for her ongoing assistance, which is indeed a substantial help to our constituents. Their generosity and commitment to uplifting our community are deeply cherished and will leave a lasting impact on the lives of many,” Camara said.

The AICS program is being implemented by the DSWD to support the recovery of individuals and families in case of unforeseen crises, such as illness or death of a family member and other similar circumstances.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Hanoi: Customs authorities seized more than 3 tonnes of drugs of all kinds, with 365 suspects involved, from December 16, 2022 to February 15, 2024, according to a report by the Ministry of Finance to National Assembly deputies.

In the period, they detected, arrested and handled 18,468 cases of customs law violations, with contrabands valuing at an estimation of 15.7 trillion VND (635.5 million USD). The General Department of Vietnam Customs launched legal proceedings against 43 cases, and handed over to other agencies 204 cases. The amount of money collected was 588 billion VND.

Notably, from December 16, 2023 to February 15, 2024, 2,475 violation cases with contrabands worth 3.29 trillion VND were detected.

Customs officials also seized 11.35 kg of marijuana, 17.8 kg of heroin, 43 kg of ketamine, 900 ketamine tablets, and 145.89 kg of synthetic drugs and many other drugs.

According to the Ministry of Finance, recently, on the Vietnam – China border, smuggling activities and illegal transportation of goo
ds have decreased significantly, with no new hot spots uncovered. On the contrary, on the Vietnam – Laos, and Vietnam – Cambodia borders, those activities involving firecrackers, wild animals and plants, cigarettes and sugar still develop complicatedly, mainly in Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Long An, Dong Thap, An Giang, and Kien Giang provinces./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

MANILA: The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the dismissal from the service of former North Cotabato 2nd District congressman Gregorio Ipong in connection with irregularities in the use of pork barrel funds in 2007.

In a 13-page resolution released online last week, the SC Second Division affirmed the Court of Appeals (CA) which found Ipong administratively liable for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service in the transactions involving PHP4.9 million.

The Court, however, ruled Ipong’s liability as grave misconduct only and deleted the finding of administrative liability.

‘Here, since the acts complained of relates to Ipong’s official functions and duties as a member of the House of Representatives and that the same are tainted with the elements of corruption and/or flagrant disregard of an established rule, the Court finds him administratively liable for grave misconduct only,’ the SC said.

The SC said grave misconduct is a ‘grave offense’ which is punishable with dismis
sal from the service, along with accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification from re-employment in the government service.

‘In the event that the penalty of dismissal can no longer be enforced due to petitioner’s separation from the service, the same shall be converted into a fine, equivalent to petitioner’s salary for one year, payable to the Office of the Ombudsman, and may be deductible from petitioner’s accrued leave credits or any receivables from their office,’ the SC said.

The administrative case against Ipong was filed following his election as vice governor of North Cotabato in May 2016.

Ipong was forced to vacate his post following the ruling of the Ombudsman dismissing him from the service.

The Department of Budget released Ipong’s Priority Development Assistance Fund to finance and implement his livelihood programs.

Ipong endorsed Aaron Foundation to the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC), the implementing
agency of PDAF, as partner for his projects.

The amount was transferred to Aaron Foundation on the sole basis of Ipong’s endorsement without TLRC conducting a public bidding and despite the absence of an appropriation law or ordinance authorizing the foundation as the implementing agency.

Aaron Foundation was a bogus non-government organization, the Ombudsman said.

Investigators also found that the municipalities of Kidapawan and Makilala in North Cotabato did not actually receive any funded livelihood programs.

In September 2022, the Sandiganbayan sentenced Gregorio Ipong and TLRC Chief Accountant Marivic Jover up to 27 years of imprisonment for graft and malversation.

The decision was upheld a month later.

Source: Philippines News Agency

TACLOBAN CITY: The Northern Samar provincial government has inked a deal with Korean engineering firms to map out plans to curb floods in the province, the local government announced on Monday.

Under the memorandum of understanding, Kyong-Ho Engineering and Architects Co. and KCleng Co. Ltd. will serve as consultants in carrying out the pre-master plan study for the integrated water resources and flood control management project in Northern Samar.

According to the provincial government, the two Korean firms are reputable companies with vast experience in flood control, urban drainage, sewerage, and septage projects in South Korea and the Philippines.

‘The project, which aims to address the persistent issue of flooding in the province, will include the assessment of the existing drainage and flood control infrastructures, a feasibility study of the water flow in rivers, the effect of high tide, the water limit or volume of water in catch basins, and outlets of water, especially during the rainy season,’ Nor
thern Samar Governor Edwin Ongchuan said.

The firms will recommend development schemes, such as a drainage master plan, based on the results of the study.

The provincial government said Ongchuan signed the deal on March 14 with Korean firm officials, accompanied by representatives of the Department of Public Works and Highways Unified Project Management Office-Flood Control Management Cluster.

Ongchuan earlier asked for assistance from the national government to help solve the worsening floods in Northern Samar, proposing the integrated water resources and flood control management project as a long-term solution to the problem.

Massive floods in November 2023 affected over 110,000 families in Northern Samar province, destroying more than 300 houses.

The unprecedented 618 millimeters of rainfall in 24 hours, or the equivalent of nearly six weeks’ volume of rainfall in a single day, caused the heavy floods.

Source: Philippines News Agency

ALAMINOS CITY: The city government here is eyeing to make the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) an eco-sports hub with the success of the relay race activity during this year’s Hundred Islands Festival celebration.

The race, held last March 15, was called Amazing Race Challenge and was participated in by over 30 individuals who ran, kayaked and trekked from island to island at the HINP and to the other tourist spots in the city.

Cloyd Peter Lalas, head of the Alaminos City Youth and Sports Development Office and event chairperson of Amazing Race Challenge, in an interview on Monday said the event wanted to promote the city as an eco-sport events area and highlight the other tourist spots such as the Lucap Park, Mangrove Park and the marine park.

“Hopefully by next year, following the success of the event, we will be including biking. That way, we could really cover all the other tourist spots in the city. We also have the Bolo Beach and the mangrove area,” he said.

The race started at the Quezon Island
where student-athletes kayaked their way following clues as to where to go next until they reached the finish line at the mangrove area.

Students from the Pangapisan Integrated School (PIS) won by only two minutes against those from Golden West College Eagles, followed by the Pangasinan State University Alaminos and the Golden West College Agila.

Alaminos City Mayor Arth Bryan Celeste said the race was at its prototyping phase.

“It is something we want to take advantage since we have the HINP. We would like to use the activity as (a) promotion (activity). Hopefully, later on, we get to invite big names or influencers and they get to market our city and the HINP because at the end of the day, Alaminos revolves around tourism and we want to make sure that we use the proper resources to boost tourism in the city,” he said.

Tourist arrivals in the city reached 438,619 in 2023, allowing the city to earn around PHP44 million tourism receipts.

Source: Philippines News Agency

BUTUAN CITY: Endurance swimmer Ingemar Macarine, dubbed as the ‘Pinoy Aquaman,’ completed a 10.8-kilometer swim from Olotayan Island to the People’s Park in Baybay, Roxas City, Capiz province, on Sunday.

‘(It was) good that the current, tides, and wind were all in perfect condition. I took advantage of it by swimming faster, as they would change at any time,’ Macarine, a native Surigaonon, said in an interview on Monday.

Macarine’s three-hour, 15-minute nonstop, unassisted swim made him the first person to cross the waters between Oloyan Island and Baybay in Roxas City.

‘The endurance swim is part of my advocacy and promotion for clean seas and beaches, healthy lifestyle, and the local tourism of Roxas City,’ Macarine said, adding it was his fastest swim yet.

Born in Placer, Surigao del Norte, Macarine grew up in Surigao City and currently serves as a prosecutor in Bohol.

On June 24 last year, Macarine also succeeded in his long-distance and open-water swim from Bugtong Island in Pio V. Corpus town to Ba
rangay Matayum lagoon in Cataingan, all in Masbate province.

‘Last year’s swim in Masbate was more difficult as I encountered a strong current about two kilometers from the shoreline,’ he said.

The Surigaonon swimmer said he is now preparing for his next swim in July this year, covering 10 kilometers from Canada to the United States.

Macarine’s longest open water swim took place in 2017, covering 24.6 kilometers from Siliman Beach in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, to Tambisan Port in San Juan, Siquijor. It lasted 11 hours and 21 minutes.

He also had two open-water swims in 2016 and 2017 in the United Kingdom and another six in the United States.

Source: Philippines News Agency