Skip to content

Category: Transport

New Year’s Day epic fail at NAIA

No planes flying over NAIA noontime of January 1, 2023.

I had expected that today would be the usual boring New Year’s Day with everybody allowing themselves to be lazy after last night’s “Goodbye 2022, Welcome 2023” activities.

But not for long. At 12:52 p.m., I got a text message from my friend JB Baylon who was returning from Bangkok. He was asking what’s happening in the Philippines. He said his flight was about an hour away to Manila when passengers were told that “our plane had to return to Bangkok because Philippine airports were not contactable.” He had gathered that “all radars were down.”

I tried checking the website of the Office of the Press Secretary.

The latest story posted was about President Marcos’ New Year message, reiterating his campaign call “for unity, solidarity to overcome adversities.” No mention of any trouble in NAIA.

VERA Files Road Safety Fellowship

The third phase of the Road Safety Fellowship being conducted by VERA Files in cooperation with the World Health Organization is now open for application.

Just like in the first and second phases, we are inviting members of print, broadcast and online media including freelance writers based in Metro Manila and Luzon to participate in this project which aims to improve quality of life by producing stories that would make the public be conscious of making our roads safe.

Rich or poor, we are all road users. Road safety should be everybody’s concern.

Wasted first two years

In recent days, President Duterte has been announcing proudly his firing of officials which were rumored to be involved in graft and corruption.

Last Sunday, in his speech during the groundbreaking of Vista Alegre homes for soldiers and policemen in Talisay City, Negros Occidental , he talked about an official who talked with his relative about a government contract:” Humabol sa akin sa Cebu. You go. Both of you, you go. Wala akong, wala kong… I don’t want to work with you. At may isa dito, sinabi ko na. Mabuti kasi may TV. Do not entertain requests or give favors to any of my family. Huwag sa asawa ko, huwag sa akin, huwag sa mga anak ko, huwag sa mga pinsan ko. Now, if you try to say that I asked the help of the first family because you cannot decide on a certain thing, which you think would need, why do you have to consult my sister? Sinabi ko sa inyo — p***** i** ‘wag kayong — if it is a relative of mine, consider it denied”

The next day, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced that the President fired Assistant Transportation Secretary Mark Tolentino for violating his order against talking with his relatives on state contracts or appointments.

Fired Transport Asst. Secretary Mark Tolentino in Malacanang last February. Photo from Tolentino’s FB page.

The tragedy of a numbed citizenry

Senator Grace Poe at the hearing of LTFRB’s suspension of UBER operations.

I seriously doubt if this bill by Angat Tayo Party List Rep. Neil Abayon will prosper into law and if it could be implemented. But it’s good enough because it is a recognition of government officials’ incompetence and ignorance of the situation on the ground.

House Bill 6195 authored by Abayon requires elected and appointed public officials with the rank or equivalent of division chief to department secretary to ride public land transport to and from work and for official business at least once every calendar month during weekday rush hours.

The purpose of the bill is in order for government officials to gain “personal, first-hand experience “and “real world perspective” about riding in public transport in this country.