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Jun
28
Small World, literally for smokers now in Metro Manila
Filed Under Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, News, Paranaque | Leave a Comment
From journal.com.ph:
THE anti-smoking drive launched by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority got a shot in the arm after another local government unit tightened its anti-smoking ordinance.
MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino hailed the city government of Navotas for adopting a measure similar to the one passed by the local governments of Mandaluyong, Muntinlupa, Caloocan and Parañaque cities banning smoking in public places.
“’Yung Navotas ay pinalawak na rin ang definition ng public places kung saan bawal ang manigarilyo kagaya ng sa apat na mga LGUs. Halimbawa yung sa Mandaluyong sinasaad ng kanilang ordinansa na “in the absence of a designated smoking area, the place becomes a non-smoking area at ang Caloocan ay pinagbabawal din ang paninigarilyo sa mga public places maliban dun sa mga designated smoking area,” Tolentino said.
Nearly all 17 LGUs in Metro Manila have anti-smoking ordinances but the five cities “redefined” the term public places to include open spaces.
The agency is currently finalizing preparation for the implementation of the anti-smoking drive starting July 1 when violators will be apprehended and fined.
Tolentino said they will implement the anti-smoking drive as scheduled despite opposition from some sectors.
He said the crackdown on public smoking is mandated by the Tobacco Regulations Act and by the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Tolentino also cited existing anti-smoking policies imposed by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and LGUs.
The LTFRB bans smoking inside public utility vehicles and on major and minor thoroughfares. Alvin Murcia
Jun
27
To cushion the impact of high fuel prices on the marginalized sectors of the society, the Office of the President issued Executive Order No. 32, Series of 2011 creating the Public Transport Assistance Program (PTAP)-Pantawid Pasada.
Chosen as beneficiaries are public utility jeepney (PUJ) and tricycle drivers being the hardest hit among the vulnerable groups.
Pursuant to DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2011-63 dated April 28, 2011, the fuel subsidy release to tricycle drivers will be made through Local Government Units (LGUs) since the powers and functions relating to the issuance of franchises to this type of public transportation have been relegated (devolved) to LGUs upon the implementation of R.A. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991.
Complying with the directive, the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Parañaque enacted Resolution No. 11-043 (111), Series of 2011, a resolution authorizing the City Mayor, Hon. Florencio M. Bernabe, Jr. to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Dept. of the Interior and Local government (DILG) represented by its Regional Director Renato L. Brion regarding the implementation of the Public Transport Assistance Program (PTAP) in the city.
On orders of the Parañaque local chief executive, this LGU’s Tricycle Regulatory Unit promptly submitted a complete list of tricycle franchisees, addresses and number of operating units which was transmitted by the Office of the Mayor to DILG-NCR through DILG Parañaque City.
Mayor Jun Bernabe also prompted the Office of the City Treasurer, Public Information Office, other support departments, Liga ng mga Barangay and concerned barangay government units to firm up administrative preparations for the tricycle transport financial subsidy distribution which has been scheduled for June 29, 2011 at the San Antonio Gymnasium, this city.
Parañaque City has 50 TODA (tricycle operators and drivers associations) with an aggregate number of 4,787 members for which the national government allocated more than Php700,000.00.
Jun
27
Starting last June 25, the Moonwalk Gate (access to Friendship Route to and from BF Resort) will be closed once again at 10:30 p.m.
As with all Friendship Route gates, the gate will still open at 5:30 a.m.
Please take note so you won’t have to go all the way there then discover that it is closed already then you start cursing. We don’t like cursing in Las Pinas (except when it is pointed at erring jeepney, tricycle and bus drivers, pedestrians not using the overpasses and at traffic enforcers who don’t know what traffic enforcement is–okay, sorry for ranting).
Anyway, please share to your friends.
Happy cursing!
Jun
27
Deped Paranaque explains Dakak “outing”
Filed Under News, Paranaque | Leave a Comment
A bit late on this news but still worth knowing by everyone especially the residents of Paranaque:
By Aie Balagtas The Philippine Star
May 22, 2011
Manila, Philippines – The division of Department of Education (DepEd) in Parañaque City confirmed yesterday that it recently held a three-day seminar in the luxurious Dakak Park and Beach Resort in Zamboanga del Norte.
Glenn Ducta, program architect, justified the outing, even as he told The STAR that the seminar on gender and development benefited the division’s non-teaching personnel – particularly janitors, drivers, and clerks.
In a separate phone interview, division superintendent Joel San Luis said the seminar, held from May 6 to 8, and was “funded by the city government.”
“It had the approval of the higher-ups,” San Luis said.
Ducta and San Luis added that the funds were taken from the five percent allotment in their yearly budget for the said seminar.
San Luis and Ducta said they did not join the seminar but 52 employees of DepEd Parañaque attended the outing.
They denied reports that some of the staff brought their families with them. Neither official could not say how much was spent for the seminar but San Luis said he initially used his three credit cards to cover the P150,000 “downpayment” that Dakak asked of them.
“The budget was not yet ready so I used my credit cards to pay for the downpayment,” he said, adding P50,000 was credited to each of his cards.
Asked why it had to be in Dakak and not nearby venues, San Luis said the staff was “exploring (other) places where they can learn.”
He said Dakak is “a good laboratory of experiences.”
Among their guest speakers is former Zamboanga del Norte governor Romeo Jaloslos, who he said shared his experiences as an ex-convict found guilty of acts of lasciviousness.
Ducta also justified the venue by saying that Jalosjos is the best person to talk about gender and development. “I want them to see the real world,” Ducta said.
Like San Luis, Ducta could not say how much was spent on the outing but said “my conscience is clear because I did not pocket the money.”
He also said the money used for the seminar was allotted for the program and not for any procurement or purchases.
In a separate interview, DepEd media coordinator Boots Bautista, told The STAR that Secretary Armin Luistro was not aware of the seminar.
She added that Luistro has already asked DepEd National Capital Regional director Elena Ruiz to explain why the seminar was allowed.
“They (Parañaque DepEd division) were already about to leave when we found out,” Bautista said.
Just last month, Interior Secretary Jessie Robredo warned all local government units against holding government-funded out-of-town seminars after it was discovered that hundreds of barangay employees of Pasig City went to Boracay for a seminar.
You guys be the judges…
Jun
27
Beware of this new Modus Operandi
Filed Under News | 2 Comments
We came upon a post of one of our friends on Facebook and saw this:
FROM MARIKINA POLICE:
This message is for every girl who goes out from home, office or school alone.
If you find any child crying on the road showing his address and asks you to take him to that address, take the child to the police station and don’t take him to that address.
Its a new modus operandi, to RAPE women/teenage girls.
Please forward to all female or friends having sisters/girlfriends.
PLEASE SPREAD.
This is supposedly happening in Marikina. For now. We can’t be too sure that it won’t happen in our own cities.
Let us all just be more aware of our surroundings and follow what the Marikina Police is recommending.
