Statement Of Secretary Abaya On Action’s Graft Charges Regarding The New MRT-3 Maintenance Provider

Wazzup Pilipinas!

We at the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) always strive to promote the ideals of good governance with our policy of open and transparent bidding. We have nothing to fear because we maintain that the procurement process of the three-year Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) maintenance service provider was completely aboveboard.

According to news reports, the complaint was filed by Vito Gaspar Silo, the Secretary General of the Alliance for Consumerism and Transparency or ACTION.

We will review the complaint once we receive an official copy, but rest assured that we will fully cooperate with the investigation, just as we always have with institutions established to fight corruption in the government. We have faith that the impartiality and courage of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales will lead to fair proceedings that will shed light on this matter.

Due to the urgency of the system’s need for a maintenance provider and in order to restore vital public services, as many passengers rely on the service every day, the DOTC resorted to an alternative mode of procurement under the Government Procurement Reform Act, which the Department of Justice (DOJ) opined to be justified and was unanimously approved by the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB).

The Indigo Project: Reviving the Art of Traditional Dye Weaving

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Indigo was once widely favored by the local weaving industry as a traditional way of adding color to fabrics due to its excellent resistance from fading or running. Yet, over the years, this natural dye was pushed to the sidelines by the emergence of cheaper and easier to obtain synthetic dyes which were quick to be embraced by textile manufacturers.

But not all is lost. A collaborative network of non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations in South and Southeast Asia called Non-Timber Forest Products – Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP) has started working on The Indigo Project which reaches out to indigenous populations in upland and rural communities in the Philippines and Indonesia. These artisans include members of Mangyan Alangan, Mangyan Hanunoo and Mangyan Iraya of the island of Mindoro; Higaonon of Bukidnon, Palaw'anon and Tagbanua of Palawan, T'boli of South Cotabato, Maguindanao weavers and those of Negros.

The Indigo Project promotes the development and implementation of environmental and social standards in hand-woven textiles production. It supports production and sourcing of environmentally friendly natural dyes and fibers, establishes eco-friendly product standards, and scales production of eco-textiles. 

Ekotek's Rock of Sages Promo

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Ekotek is bringing the classics back with the Rock of Sages promo! The Ekophone Sages take center stage and for the warmup: their whopping discount for the Ekophone Sage 2:

Get a 64 bit quad core LTE phone for just 3499!

The Ekophone Sage 2 LTE is on a massive discount (from 6099, that's almost 50% off!) and you wouldn't want to miss it. Grab one now while the promo lasts!

And the hits just keep on coming, because they have another track to their playlist:

Their Rock of Sages continue with the sleek Ekophone Sage Lite! Have a blast with your favorite tunes as the Sage Lite comes with FREE headphones. Not only that, but for and additional 100 pesos you can have opt in for a duet with:

THE DOUBLE BUNDLE: Get a phone for just 100 pesos! The Ekophone Atlas is a feature phone that packs a lot of punch!

THE POWER BUNDLE: Power up with an Ekopack 3000 mAh for just 100 pesos! The perfect companion for your new Sage Lite.

Grab them while they're on tour!


*Online prices are subject to change
**Available in SM Megamall, SM North EDSA, SM Sangandaan, SM Muntinlupa, SM Las Piñas, SM Southmall, SM City Pampanga, SM City Clark, SM San Fernando Downtown, SM San Mateo, SM Valenzuela, SM Manila, and Victory Mall Pasay