CITY OF MALOLOS- Bulacan Governor Daniel R. Fernando and City of Malolos Mayor Gilbert Gatchalian united and led the Bulacan River System-Clean Up Project held this morning at Apulid Creek in Brgy. Longos here in support to the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program, which ensures that the creeks and rivers can hold up flood water.

For the initial phase of the project, the Provincial Engineer’s Office started the dredging of the 4.6 km Apulid Creek, which is among the creeks that directly flows to Sto. Niño River, one of the major river systems in the province that is connected to Manila Bay.

“Layunin nating ihanda ang ating mga ilog sa mga pagbabago sa ating kalikasan lalo na sa panahon ng kalamidad. Kailangan nating siguraduhin na ang tubig na bumabagsak sa ating mga ilog at sapa ay makadadaloy ng mabilis papunta sa ating Manila Bay upang hindi ito magdulot ng pagbaha dahil batid natin ang perwisyong dulot nito, peligro sa buhay at sagabal sa patuloy na pag-unlad dahil ang mga nagnenegosyo, umiiwas sa mga bayan na binabaha,” Fernando said.

He also said that the fight to protect the environment does not stop in dredging alone but it entails self-discipline with regard to proper waste management.

“Kahit paulit-ulit man nating palalimin ang ating mga ilog at sapa, kung hindi naman matitigil ang walang disiplinang pagtatapon ng basura sa mga ito, hindi pa rin matutugunan ang problema sa baha,” the governor added.

Moreover, Gatchalian emphasized the value of unity for the general welfare of the public.

“One essential ingredient sa pagpapakalat ng general welfare ay ‘yung pagkakaisa. Although we are divided politically as political subdivision but we are not to exist separately from each one. Iisa naman ang hangarin ng lahat ng nagtangkang ibigay ang kanilang sarili sa paglilingkod, ‘yun ay ang makita ang mas magandang bansa at mas magandang kalagayan ng ating mga mamamayan,” Gatchalian said.

Engr. Paquito T. Moreno, Jr., Regional Executive Director-DENR Region III, said that this project manifests the value of shared responsibility, that what was once an impossible mission has now become possible and achievable.

“I can surmise that it has been a mission possible. I am certain that we are taking a big leap in our battle to protect and rehabilitate our environment through this project. This shall attest the endless possibilities we can achieve together,” Moreno said.

Babaeng pasaherong umalma vs. mapang-abusong TNVS driver, pinarangalan ng LTO

QUEZON CITY – Bilang pagkilala sa kanyang katapangan laban sa pang-aabuso, pinarangalan ng Land Transportation Office – National Capital Region (LTO-NCR) ang babaeng pasaherong nagsiwalat laban sa isang mapagsamantalang Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) driver.

Sa flag raising ceremony ng LTO – NCR ngayong araw, ika-02 ng Setyembre 2019, ginawaran ng Certificate of Appreciation ang pasahero at complainant na si Gillian Cortez.

Matatandaang nag-viral ang Twitter post ni Cortez matapos niyang ireklamo ang Grab driver na si Anselmo Benigno. Ani Cortez, nahuli niyang inaangat ni Benigno ang kanyang palda nang magising mula sa pagkakaidlip sa biyahe dahil sa masamang pakiramdam noong ika-31 ng Hulyo.

Sa kanyang pahayag sa flag raising ceremony, sinabi ni Cortez na hindi ito ang unang beses na nakaranas siya ng pang-aabuso mula sa mga driver ng pampublikong sasakyan.

Sa kabila ng show cause order, hindi humarap sa mga pagdinig ng LTO-NCR si Benigno. Batay sa imbestigasyon, lumalabas na inabuso niya ang kanyang tungkulin bilang isang TNVS driver. Dahil dito, kinansela na ang driver’s license ni Benigno. Isinumite na rin ng LTO-NCR ang case records laban sa naturang driver sa Philippine National Police (PNP) para mabigyan ng karampatang aksyon.

Nagpasalamat naman si Cortez sa LTO-NCR para sa mabilis na pagresolba sa kanyang reklamo at agarang pagkamit ng hustisya laban sa mapang-abusong driver.

“I want to thank the LTO for making sure that at least one guy is not going to do this again to other women,” ayon kay Cortez.

Nanawagan din siya sa lahat ng mga biktima ng anumang uri ng harassment na huwag matakot at magsumbong agad sa LTO o iba pang otoridad sakaling makaranas ng kaparehong pang-aabuso.

Giit naman ni Department of Transportation (DOTr) Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Mark de Leon, hindi kinukunsinti ng Kagawaran ang mga mapang-abusong driver tulad ni Benigno.

“Kung ano ang tiwalang ibinibigay ng publiko sa paggamit ng mga public utility vehicle, sinasalamin nito ang tiwalang ibinibigay nila sa gobyerno. Kaya hinding-hindi natin hahayaang masira ang tiwalang ito,” ani Usec. de Leon.

Mariin naman ang banta ni LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante sa mga mapang-abusong tsuper.

“Oras na abusuhin niyo ang tiwalang ibinibigay ng pamahalaan para kayo’y makapaghanapbuhay, hindi kami magdadalawang-isip na bawiin sa inyo ang karapatang ‘yan,” pagpupunto ni Asec. Galvante.

DOTr-LRTA: Piling works for LRT-1 Cavite Extension finally start

PARAÑAQUE CITY — After 19 years of waiting, piling works for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 Cavite Extension have finally started yesterday, September 1.

Following completion of ground investigation and foundation design works, the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) has started piling works from Dr. Santos Station in Parañaque, where Right-of-Way (ROW) has been cleared. Piling works involve the construction of supporting piers that will serve as the foundation for the elevated railway structures.

Phase 1 covers 7 kilometers of the 11-kilometer LRT-1 Cavite Extension, including the Redemptorist Station, MIA Station, Asiaworld Station, Ninoy Aquino Station, and Dr. Santos Station. Asiaworld Station will be located parallel to and right beside the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), and will eventually be connected to the Metro Manila Subway, forming the Parañaque Common Station. These are stations where ROW is already free and clear.

Requiring a total of 203 piers, construction of the first 67 piers started on September 1 from Dr. Santos Station to Ninoy Aquino Station. Forty piers from Ninoy Aquino Station to Asiaworld Station and 22 piers from Redemptorist Station to the existing LRT-1 Baclaran Station will begin construction in November 2019, while 74 piers from Asiaworld Station to Redemptiorist Station will begin construction in March 2020.

To speed up construction, piling works will be done simultaneously in up to five different areas where ROW is made available. In cooperation with LRMC, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, the DOTr and the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) have been working hand-in-hand to deliver the ROW needed to ensure continuous works along the alignment.

Remaining ROW obstructions to be cleared under Package 1 include auxiliary facilities that will be cleared with the assistance of Parañaque City (e.g., traffic lights, plant boxes, and drainage lines), as well as utility lines of MERALCO, Maynilad, PLDT, Globe, Eastern Telecommunications, SkyCable, Radius Telecoms, and Cablelink.

Works along the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (CAVITEx) will begin soon, following productive coordination with its operator, the Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation (CIC), the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), and some remaining property owners, such as Puregold and Aseana City.

The partial operability section of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project is targeted to start operations in the 4th Quarter of 2021, with measures being taken for the rest of the line to Niog, Bacoor being operational in 2022.

The project is expected to increase LRT-1’s ridership from 500,000 to 800,000 per day, and reduce travel time between Baclaran and Bacoor, Cavite from 1 to 2 hours to only 25 minutes.