Seafarers Advised by Tugade to Manage their Finances, Don't Get Involved in Drugs, and Wave the Filipino Flag

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade has some words of advice to Filipino seafarers, and those aspiring to get into the maritime industry. 

He offered these pieces of advice during the celebration of the National Seafarer’s Day yesterday, 25 June 2018, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City. With a theme centered on promoting seafarers’ wellbeing, the celebration aimed to bring to the front issues that affect seafarers’ mental health, as well as strategies that will help address their stress, and other concerns. 

Among the issues Secretary Tugade highlighted is substance abuse. He called on Filipino seafarers to observe protocol, and not allow themselves to be instruments of illegal drugs.

“Nakikiusap po ako at nagsusumamo, sa inyong paglayag huwag kayong pumayag na maging instrumento ng bawal na gamot. ‘Wag kayong gumamit, huwag maging carrier at huwag kayong magtulak ng droga, dahil ýan ay ikalulugmok ninyo, ýan ay pagsisisihan ninyo,” Tugade said. 

Through the efforts of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), several reforms have already been put in place, showing the government’s commitment in promoting the wellbeing of seafarers. Secretary Tugade said many processes have been simplified, and may be done online.

“Naalala ko noong ako ay nag-uumpisa. Nag-inspeksyon ako alas-sais y medya ng umaga, at nakita ko, yung mga seafarer na naghihintay, ang iba natutulog sa bangketa sa kalsada upang magampanan ang kanilang application. Napakalungkot na pangitain. Kaya ang sabi ko, ayoko nang makakita ng ganito. Kanina tinanong ko ang ating mahal na MARINA Administrator Rey Guerrero. Sabi ko, ‘may natutulog pa ba sa bangketa upang maghintay sa kanilang aplikasyon?’ Ang sabi niya, ‘Sir, wala na po,’” he recalled.

Among these processes is the application of the Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book or the Seaman’s Book, which used to take weeks and can now be done online in one day.

Secretary Tugade also tackled what has been a pressing concern for many OFW families: the management of their finances. 

“Sana marunong tayong i-manage ang ating kikitain. Sana marunong tayong maging masinop, dumiskarte at pangalagaan ang pera. Sapagkat may isang katotohanan sa inyong propesyon: hindi po kayo magiging marinero habambuhay,” Tugade said. 

He also discussed a common problem among seafarer families with regards to remittance: “’Wag na kayong maglalagay ng maraming allotment at allottee. Ibigay sa tama at tumpak na allottee. Kunsomisyon lang ang aabutin nila.”

Filipino mariners are the most preferred seafarers in the world and the “biggest nationality bloc” in the global shipping industry, according to the Department of Labor and Employment. They are also among the major drivers of the economy, with remittances amounting to $5.87 billion in 2017, representing 21% of the total remittances of overseas Filipino workers. 

MARINA Administrator Rey Leonardo Guerrero assured that all seafarers will be given the proper skills training so that they can carry on with the Filipino brand of excellence.

“Filipino seafarers are known all around the world because of their industry and efficiency. Ngayon, ang trabaho namin sa MARINA ay masiguro na ang mga advantages na iyon ay ma-maintain, maalagaan, at mas mapag-ibayo pa,” Guerrero said.

During the celebration, MARINA awarded Filipino seafarers who have made a mark in the global maritime industry. Many of these seafarers responded to distress calls at sea and saved numerous lives. Secretary Tugade called them the “heroes of the maritime industry.”

Secretary Tugade said this brand of service is what makes the Filipino seafarer stand out. It is also because of this that he reminded seafarers of their duty and responsibility as ambassadors of the country. 

“Kayo ay maglalakbay sa karagatan. Ang dala ninyo áy ‘di lang inyong sarili; ang dala ninyo ay inyong pagka-Pilipino, ang bansa nating Pilipinas. Kaya sa inyong paglayag, sa inyong pakikitungo sa iba’t ibang nasyon at ibang tao, pakiusap, ipagmalaki ninyo ang Pilipinas, ipagranya niyo ang pagka-Pilipino niyo. Bitbitin niyo, ‘pagkat yun lang po ang iisang bayan natin,” Secretary Tugade said.

Secretary Tugade, who delivered the keynote speech on behalf of President Rodrigo Duterte, also assured seafarers that the President values their contributions and greatly respects the work that they do. 

“Nararamdaman ng ating Pangulo ang inyong sakripisyo. Damdam niya ang kalungkutan at hirap na sa inyong paglayag ay iiwan ninyo ang mahal sa buhay upang magampanan ang tungkulin. Alam rin niya ang inyong kontribusyon sa ekonomiya at kanya itong kinikilala. The President sends his congratulations. Ang sabi nya maraming salamat. Binibigyan niya kayo ng halaga. Mahal niya kayo at matindi ang kanyang respeto sa inyong propesyon,” he assured the seafarers.

Top Cloud Threats Your Business Should Look Out For

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Big data has driven the need for companies to find a powerful repository for every bit of customer information that's available on the internet. In line with this, cloud services are becoming very handy for enterprises. But at the same time, cloud storage is also paving the way for hackers and fraudsters to use sensitive corporate data to their advantage.

Today, there are many forms of cloud threats that may put your corporate and customer data at serious risk-from system vulnerabilities to malware attacks and lack of due diligence. They may also hamper the continuity of your day-to-day operations.

Cloud data attacks are likewise very detrimental to your company image, which could affect customer trust and loyalty. Indeed, there is so much that your company could lose over cloud security threats.

To prevent these threats, you need to be proactive in securing your cloud data. Your cloud service provider is not the only one responsible for your data, but you, as the customer, also have to understand how you could reinforce the security of your network right from your own backyard.

This infographic from Transcosmos should help you identify and curb the threats that are looming in the cloud.

Pinoy mobile POS solution wins in Epson Regional App Challenge

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A digitalized order management app for laundry services, conceptualized by a Filipino team, MobileMINDS, bagged first runner-up in the recently concluded Epson Regional App Challenge 2018, a first-ever application development competition organized by Epson.

The Epson Regional App Challenge aims to encourage developers to create innovative mobile Point of Sale (mPOS) solutions within the Independent Software Vendor (ISV) community, as well as to increase awareness and interest in mPOS products.

A total of 56 teams from Southeast Asia participated, with five finalists from Indonesia, Philippines, and Malaysia. These final contenders were selected to develop an application that utilizes a receipt printer that would reduce the operational cost of business and enhance its productivity.

The winning entry, ‘Wartal’ from Indonesia, developed by Lazuardi Widya Adyafora and Ibnu Isnaini Hakim, was designed for Indonesian small family warung shops, to connect directly with manufacturers and helped manage the delivery of goods, as well as track transactions with its customers. When combined with a mobile receipt printer, it enables the shop to automatically issue receipts to customers upon scanning of the purchased item.

Meanwhile, the first runner-up winner, ‘Rover Fieldmate’ app, conceptualized by Jason Russ Unson and Miguel Luis Ting, helps laundry businesses digitalize the process of their services, from pick up to delivery. Through the use of a mobile receipt printer, the app can issue receipts and tags for labeling of laundry for its customers.

The winners were announced during a prize ceremony held earlier this year. They received cash prizes, as well as Epson Moverio BT-300 Smartglasses.

With the said competition, Epson provided a platform for aspiring start-ups and developers to develop an application that would meet a business need. This was also intended to contribute towards innovation and grow the developer community and applications supporting receipt printers in the region.

“Indeed, it was an opportunity for developers to showcase their innovations with many interesting possibilities and business ideas coming to the fore. We are glad to see how the features of Epson POS printers are able to complement the applications to provide effective business solutions. We wish our winning teams all the best in their business ventures to turn their ideas into reality,” said Jocelyn Tan, Regional Manager, Printer (Home, SOHO & Biz) & Wearable Division, Epson Singapore.

The Regional App Challenge is an initiative of the Epson POS Developer Programme, which aims to develop a community of certified mPOS partners. Certified partners receive support and benefits from Epson.

Fujitsu PH Advocates ‘Co-creation’ in Realizing Success for Business, Society

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Fujitsu Philippines, a leading Information Technology (IT) systems integrator and solutions provider, proposes a new approach for businesses and society to realize success in shaping a better future.

In its recently released Fujitsu Technology and Service Vision, the company’s global theme revolves around “Co-creation for Success.” It encompasses Fujitsu’s learnings in its co-creation projects with customers and partners in different countries, which delivered successful outcomes, ranging from improvement of efficiency in manufacturing to the transformation of the customer experience in retail and financial services.

“Fujitsu understands that co-creation is shifting into a new phase, from proof of concept to new business creation. Our vision for this year introduces key success factors for digital transformation, while proposing a new approach to transforming data into value, trends in breakthrough technologies, and new business and societal models in the era of IoT, AI, and Blockchain,” said Raul “Cricket” Santiago, president and CEO of Fujitsu Philippines.

Santiago also noted that the rapid advancements in digital economy are transforming the way people live, as well as on how businesses across different industries work. However, they also create many challenges. Fujitsu’s new tech and service vision 2018, thus, introduces three key trends that can help organizations have valuable insights in tackling today’s business adversaries.

Six success factors for digital transformation. The digital landscape is uneven and, the transformation is taking place at different speeds across different industries. Nevertheless, Fujitsu revealed that organizations that delivered greater outcomes showed higher capabilities across six factor—Leadership, People, Agility, Business Integration, Ecosystem, and Value from Data.

“We call these six success factors the 'digital muscles.' The stronger their digital muscles, the better the likelihood of delivering success. It also indicates that digital transformation is not just about introducing digital technology, but also a journey affecting every part of the enterprise,” Santiago noted.

Fujitsu's approach to creating value from data. Deep learning and other AI technologies are evolving remarkably, but exploiting data is not just a technology challenge. Fujitsu believes that it is crucial to apply the most appropriate AI technologies across different types of data to generate substantial business and societal outcomes. It also requires the integration of business experience and technological know-how.

Fujitsu provides a digital business platform, solutions, and services, which connect AI, IoT, Cloud and Security technologies. In addition, the company is pushing the boundaries of technology to solve business and social challenges.

For instance, Fujitsu realized the implementation of 'Explainable AI.' The company’s Human Centric AI, Zinrai, explained the logic behind its insights, while other existing AI technologies are not yet able to do so. Another breakthrough technology is Fujitsu's new computing architecture, called Digital Annealer, that can solve complex combinatorial optimization problems that conventional computers cannot handle.

An autonomous and distributed society, where people and AI will collaborate. In this era of IoT, AI, and Blockchain, Fujitsu believes a new type of organization, called a Learning Enterprise, will emerge. In this business setup, people will collaborate with AI to learn from experience and data, and continuously create innovation.

“Data is causing the transformation of entire industries, a significant shift from vertically integrated value chains to distributed ecosystems. In a hyperconnected world, Blockchain and new advanced security technologies will underwrite uncertainty in transactions and assure the trustworthiness of data,” Santiago said.

Fujitsu first published the Fujitsu Technology and Service Vision in April 2013 and has updated it, annually, since then. The key concept of this vision is how digital technology can empower people to create significant value for business and society. Fujitsu calls this approach Human-centric Innovation, the key to driving digital transformation.

Through the years, Fujitsu’s vision also evolved in accordance with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The company leverages its knowledge gained in using the latest digital technologies in building and operating systems in a wide range of industries.

“At Fujitsu, this vision is our way of proving that we can be the business partner of choice for co-creation in digital transformation. We want to play a big role in our customers' success and help society shape a better tomorrow,” said Santiago.

To know more about Fujitsu Philippines, Inc., visit their website athttp://www.fujitsu.com/ph.

Ley La Salle Proudly Presents Luculentus 2018

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In the words of  Confuscius: The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential, these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.
Back on its second year, Ley La Salle—the professional organization for legal management students and aspiring lawyers at De La Salle University—brings you Luculentus 2018!

“Luculentus” is a Latin word which directly translates to “brilliant”.  The aim of this event is to gather and find the most brilliant Legal Management/Studies students studying around the metro. But who knows?  Untapped potentials might even be discovered during the event.

Having its pioneer year in 2017, this year’s Luculentus aims to rebrand itself by looking for more participating schools and by challenging them with questions derived from different legal courses. This event will be held on June 30, 2018, Saturday, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Bro. Andrew Gonzalez Hall 20th Floor Multipurpose Hall.

How to Make a Custom Pushpin Travel Map in 10 Steps

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Summer marks the season of travel. Many of us set off on road trips and overseas adventures to explore this wonderful world. We return home with a nice sun tan, passports full of stamps, hundreds of photos and memories to last a lifetime. But when the dust settles and schedules resume, those magical moments from our travels tend to fade. So why not keep your adventures alive with a pushpin travel map. 

A pushpin travel map is the perfect way to showcase your memories, plan for upcoming adventures and map out your dream destinations. There are many options out there to purchase a pre-made map, however, they are often costly and lack the sentiment that goes into creating your own. That’s why Car Rentals created this beautiful step-by-step guide that walks you through how to create your very own map customized to your living space and budget.This guide comes complete with photography examples and a material list to create a travel map that doubles as inspiration and home decor.

To make the project even more budget friendly, they include a selection of pinning legends that match several map aesthetics. In 2-3 hours, you can create your own pushpin travel map and start pinning your favorite locations!

You can find the full guide here.

Kids from Marawi, Metro Streets and Batangas Lakeshore Towns benefit from YKK-Real Madrid Foundation Football Clinics

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The two-day YKK Asia Group Kids Football Clinic came to a close last Sunday with 300 underprivileged kids getting the rare opportunity to learn football the Real Madrid way at the McKinley Hill Stadium in Taguig City.

Two kids from previously war-torn Marawi City were among those who experienced the world-class football training from coaches of the most multi-titled La Liga team in history with 33 Championship titles to its name. Children from Gawad Kalinga communities were first to undergo the clinics on Saturday, followed by children from lakeshore communities in Batangas on Sunday morning. Homeless children who live and sleep on streets and places like Luneta and the Caloocan Monumento who were cared for by Child Hope Asia Philippines had their own exhilarating football experience in the afternoon.

Mohammed Faried Anganto and Alintor Bangote were brought by their coach, Espiridion Paran under the auspices of Gawad Kalinga. “Football was one way for the kids to cope and transcend the experience of the past,” said their coach. “It was special for them to experience the YKK Football Clinic conducted by Real Madrid coaches because they learned new skills and trained with professional football gear. They’re used to playing with makeshift equipment, using tennis balls and playing barefoot,” he added.

Agustin Villarama, AVP for Marketing, YKK Philippines was elated about the outcome of the clinics, the second time that YKK Asia Holdings PTE LTD and YKK Philippines have brought the Real Madrid Foundation coaches to the Philippines to teach football to underprivileged kids.     

"After two days of clinics, we are happy to see that the kids are happy. We can see that these camps will produce positive effects for them in the future. Sports is a good tool to give a chance for these less fortunate kids," said Villarama.

       

Real Madrid Foundation coaches Pablo Gomez Revenga, Santiago Sanchez Martin and Hector Vicente were assisted by 30 local coaches who shared and demonstrated world-class training methodologies and training techniques throughout the sessions.

     

The Real Madrid Foundation coaches also promoted values through sports and education, teaching the kids about commitment, responsibility and teamwork, all while having fun. 

"The coaches were very passionate about the country and about the kids that they taught football to. They also enjoyed themselves throughout. That’s how much they love football,” Villarama added.

    

All participants in the kids clinic received a full set of YKK/Real Madrid Foundation football kits, which include football boots, cap and socks. Everyone received a certificate at the end of the session. The Most Valuable Participants in the morning and afternoon sessions received Real Madrid t-shirts and bags.

Pick the Best Laptop Under Rs20000

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Now everyone can fulfil the dream of having a laptop with a budget that falls below Rupees 20,000. Yes, now the famous brands take every possible step to provide best possible specifications at this price range. These laptops are perfect to handle the work, studies, regular multimedia viewing and even to engage in some normal games. The rates of the laptops are updated with the introduction of new laptops. Hence it is a good idea to check for the competitive rates before taking the final decision to own the best laptop at surprising rates. Laptops have become one of the inevitable devices for everyone who is engaged in work, studies and even to spend free time in a fantastic way with social media platforms. Here are some of the best laptops that you can purchase for a cost under 20,000 Rupees.

Lenovo Idea pad 110

This is one of the fantastic addition the computers introduced by Lenovo, the most loved brand for laptops. This model is introduced to the market to provide the best laptops under 20000. This portable laptop comes with a comfortable keyboard to assure smooth working. Even though multitasking seems to a negative side, Lenovo has given the excellent features for this low budget to provide amazing performance. This is the device suggested by most of the experts in this price range. Never miss the opportunity to own a good laptop for an affordable budget.

The laptop is powered by Intel Braswell processor. The clock speed of 1.6 GHz and it can go up to 2.5 GHz. The performance is well maintained by 4GB DDR3 RAM along with the processor. It is good to be free from multitasking to enjoy the best speed of the laptop. The screen has a display resolution of 1366 x 768 and it doesn't create any notable difference in watching HD videos. But the picture quality is really appreciable for the rate. This portable laptop can be easily carried to anywhere to stay in touch with your work and other favourite activities.

Lenovo provides the best features in laptop for the best price.

HP Imprint Pentium Quad Core 15Q-BU009TU

This laptop is perfect for working and some entertainment for its low cost. At present, you can own a fantastic laptop from the house of HP for the cost that comes around Rupees 20,000. This device is well said by the real users and the market experts for its design, storage, and price. The fantastic design makes it look pretty when you are with the laptop. Aesthetic features are perfectly balanced to make it look like a high-cost laptop. This is one of the best laptops you can get for the students to make their studies really easy.

The device is supported by Intel Quad Core processor. There is no pre-installed operating system and boots DOS. You have the option to install Ubuntu or Windows as per preference. The device comes with 1TB of storage with 4 GB of DDR4 RAM. The 15.6 inch makes the laptop the best one for both fun and work. Even though the speakers come with limited output, it gives nice sound clarity when the volume is kept in medium levels. Battery life is perfectly good when compared with other similar brands and maximum marks are given by the experts for performance, battery, and design.

HP brings the low budget laptop for both work and fun.

Acer Aspire 15.6-inch Laptop with AMD 7th Gen A4-7210

Acer has introduced the ES series laptops with much better specifications to stamp its name in the market for low budget laptops falling below Rupees 20,000. This is the fantastic product from Acer that provides real value for money. The laptop is packed with some amazing features to attract most of the customers with the dream of purchasing a low budget laptop. The laptop is known for its enhanced storage capacity and powerful processor. Now it is the time to enter the online stores to get this best laptop at amazing rates. The laptop is no more a dream, get it and carry it wherever you go to have some real fun and entertainment.

This laptop is powered with AMD 7th Gen A4-7210 processor featured with a with a clock speed of 1.8 GHz. Other important spec includes Radeon R3 series graphics, 4 GB of DDR3 RAM and 1TB storage. This storage is more than enough to meet almost all of the storage needs and the battery provides a backup of up to 5 hours. The price is really affordable and profitable when compared with the features. Now it is your time to make use of the opportunity to own a laptop with the advanced processor for surprising rates.

Acer brings powerful performance at pocket-friendly rates. 

Micromax L1160 Atom Laptop

Micromax is the brand to surprise everyone with its rates. Can you dream a laptop for a price that falls below 9,000 Rupees?

Micromax has made it for you...! Yes, a laptop for the cost of a mobile….! The company has not made any of the compromises with performance and quality for the least price. Display quality is excellent and you can enjoy powerful browser for such a low amount. Everyone has got surprised with the price tag of this laptop and making use of the opportunity to own a laptop at unbelievable rates. This laptop is perfect for everyone from students to professionals who are looking for first-time laptops at bottom level rates. 

The specs of this laptops include an Intel Atom Quad Core processor with a clock speed goes up to 1.83 GHz, 2GB of DDR3 RAM, Intel Integrated HD Graphics, and a Multi-Touch Capacitive Screen. There is no one in the market to beat this specification at this rate.

Micromax gives powerful laptop at unbeatable rate tags. 

These are the best brands in laptops falling under Rupees 20,000 in Indian market based on the reviews and ratings of experts and real users. You can have a detailed check of the features and the rates of the best-branded laptops at reputed online stores like Killerfeatures. The site helps you to find the best deals in the leading brands of laptops.

Why the Apple iPhone X is the Ultimate Travel Device

Wazzup Pilipinas!

When it comes to preparing for a trip, there are just some things that you can’t go without, with your smartphone being one of them. But have you ever thought about what specific smartphone could be considered as the ‘ultimate’ in terms of being a travel device? Here are some reasons why we believe the Apple iPhone X is worthy of that title.

Its impressive camera
Whether you’re a social media hound, a photography enthusiast, or just someone who loves to take pictures, you know that it’s impossible to go on a trip without packing a camera along for the ride, simply because of all those photo opportunities you’re bound to stumble upon. However, if that means lugging along a bulky DSLR system that needs its own luggage, then you might as well leave that behind and purchase an Apple iPhone X instead.

With Apple’s top-of-the-line smartphone in your hand, you’ll be able to take photos in stunning and beautiful resolution, and it’s all thanks to its 12 MP sensor camera with 10X zoom. Its built-in Optical Image Stabilization also helps to minimize motion blur due to either a shaky hand or a shaky ride, making it much easier for you to take professional-quality shots. All of this in a gadget that fits easily into your hand or pocket—you’d be crazy to go anywhere without it!

Its increased durability
Let’s face the hard facts here: unless you invest in a properly ruggedized, bulky case for your smartphone, there’s a pretty good chance it’s going to suffer some sort of damage during its lifetime. This is especially true if you’re planning on bringing it along with you on the road. And nothing ruins a trip more than seeing your immaculate smartphone get dinged, scratched, or even bent.

Thankfully, Apple has heard the prayers of its faithful flock all over the world and bestowed the iPhone X with a hardier frame and body, one that’s built out of “surgical-grade stainless steel.” To further prevent against any bending or warping, Apple has also included an additional reinforcing layer in the iPhone X’s construction. Finally, to guard against scratches, the iPhone X is encased in the hardest glass ever put on an iPhone. All this results in a phone that’s hardier than its past iterations, one that is also rated dust- and water-resistant.

Does this mean you should skip on the protector and case, though? Definitely not, you should always invest in protective measures for all your devices—and that goes double if you’re planning on traveling with your iPhone X. Still, it’s reassuring that Apple is improving the build quality of their products without sacrificing their looks and functionality.

Its extended battery life
Another particular feature that makes the iPhone X indispensable during trips is the fact that it has a longer battery life—up to two hours more than its predecessor, the iPhone 7. While battery life may not be too much of a concern with normal, everyday usage, the fact that you’ll be using your iPhone to fulfill all of your electronic and digital needs on the duration of your trip makes battery longevity a must.

If you want some hard figures on just how long the iPhone X’s battery can last, check them out below:

Talk time (wireless): 21 hours
Internet use: 12 hours
Video playback (wireless): 13 hours
Audio playback (wireless): 60 hours

No matter how you’re using your iPhone X, whether it’s to talk to your family and loved ones back home or to browse the net looking for popular tourist spots, you have to admit that this particular piece of kit has enough juice to keep you satisfied. Of course, you’ll still need an external battery or a power pack if you want it lasting longer, but that should already be in your travel bag as a necessity.

Its ability to connect with any cellular carrier or network provider
Being unable to access the internet from your phone, especially if you’re abroad on a trip, can be an absolute nightmare to deal with. In such cases, it’s good to have a smartphone that is not only unlocked but also able to switch cellular frequencies. This gives you the ability to easily switch to a local cellular provider when you need it the most—such as when you’re trying to find directions or even a helpful translation.

The iPhone X comes with this particular feature, ensuring that you’re never off the grid for too long no matter where you are. And before you ask, yes, it does easily connect to any nearby Wi-Fi hotspot, so you can freely browse the internet while keeping your cellular data credits safe.

Conclusion
If you’re a traveler by nature, and one that frequently gets that itch to scour the globe for new sights and sounds, then the iPhone X should make for a perfect companion for you. Its list of features make it superior above every flagship smartphone currently out in the market today, especially when it comes to being suited for travel.

On the Ombudsman’s Decision to Indict Former DOTC Sec. Abaya, 16 Others Over MRT-3 Mess

Wazzup Pilipinas!

REFERENCE: DOTr Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Procurement Atty. Reinier Paul R. Yebra 

The Resolution from the Office of the Ombudsman, which indicts former transport officials and other concerned individuals for graft over the PhP4.2-Billion MRT-3 Maintenance Contract, has reached the Department of Transportation (DOTr) via news reports.

According to a press release posted at the official website of the Office of the Ombudsman, the Ombudsman’s special panel of investigators found that “extended unwarranted benefits, advantage and preference” was given to Busan Universal Rail Inc. of Busan Joint Venture (Busan JV) despite it being “ineligible” and “unqualified” as it was “not technically, legally and financially capable to undertake the MRT3 long-term maintenance contract”.

It further stated that “by allowing the award of the contract to the Busan JV despite the attendant glaring irregularities, Abaya deliberately ignored applicable laws, rules and regulations, and standard operating procedures, falling short of or disregarding the required competence expected of him in the performance of his official functions.” 

Upon receipt of an official copy of the Resolution, the DOTr will consult with the Office of the Solicitor General as it intends to pursue plunder charges against the indicted personalities, as well as include in the case other officials and personalities exculpated from the Resolution, in efforts to promote accountability and transparency.

We assure the public that the DOTr will get to the bottom of these anomalous contracts, and go after the people who sacrificed the welfare of MRT-3 riders in the name of personal interests.