LTO Statement on License Plate Procurement

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Amidst the perception that the agency is not moving forward with the supply of license plates, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief, Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante, is on top of the situation and is proceeding with the procurement of license plates with dispatch and in accordance with existing procurement laws.

The matter was raised during the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation meeting on 06 December 2017 which he was unable to attend due to his hospital confinement since Tuesday, 05 December 2017.

It will be recalled that the 2013 procurement of Motor Vehicle (MV) /Motorcycle (MC) plates was questioned before the courts and the Commission on Audit, and these cases remain pending to this day. Said procurement should have covered the supply of license plates from ‎2014-2018.

Moreover, in June 2016, the SC issued a temporary restraining order preventing the LTO and the Department of Transportation and Communication from releasing and distributing 700,000 license plates turned over by the Bureau of Customs after the plates' supplier-importer failed to pay the required customs duties.

Thus, when the present administration came in July 2016, there was no budget allocation for procurement of license plates for 2016, 2017 and 2018. Unconvinced that the procurement of license plates is dependent on the resolution of the cases involving the previous procurement, ASec Galvante then requested for additional funds to be included in the LTO’s 2017 budget in the amount of P400 million in order to proceed with the procurement of license plates.

Sometime in November 2016, DOTr Secretary Arthur P. Tugade approved the request and set aside the amount of P1 billion from DOTr’s budget for LTO’s procurement of license plates.

The LTO clarified that the agency has already issued the notice of award (NOA) to the winning bidder in the procurement of license plate in the amount of P978.8 million on 01 December 2017.

The winning bidder, Trojan Computer Forms Manufacturing Corporation and J.H. Tonnjes E.A.S.T. GmbH & Co. KG Joint Venture, has already been required to provide the performance security. Initial delivery is expected sometime in March 2018.

The LTO assures the public that the agency is doing the best it can, in compliance with existing laws and regulations, to deliver the license plates.

Why Spend Christmas at the Araneta Center

Wazzup Pilipinas!

There are only just a couple of weeks before Christmas day. And while some may already be trapped in a Christmas rush or the “holidaze,” Christmas at the Araneta Center continues to make spirits bright.

Aside from being one of the top destinations for those looking to buy Christmas presents or ornaments, Araneta Center has a full lineup of exciting activities that will make sure spending the Yuletide season here will be worthwhile.

1. Alab ng Puso: Rockers’ carol
“Jingle Bell Rock” may be one of the most popular Christmas songs, but at the Araneta Center, the public can rock with the hits of some of the country’s biggest musical acts in “Alab ng Puso,” a free concert at the Times Square Food Park on Saturday, December 9 at 4 p.m.

The concert, which celebrates human rights, will feature performances from Sandwich, Noel Cabangon, Cookie Chua, Gary Granada, Aia de Leon, Tanya Markova, and spoken word artists Alfonso Manalastas and Juan Miguel Severo.

2. Impossible: Possibly the season’s best show
In a bevy of Christmas shows, is it still possible to find one that is entertaining as it is fresh and new?

Turns out, it is. Impossible, the world’s greatest magic show, comes to Araneta Center for the holidays. The show will run from Christmas day, December 25, 2017 to January 3, 2018 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Ben Hart and Magical Bones, two of the magicians on the show, have earlier visited the country and thrilled Filipinos from all walks of life with their impressive tricks. Hart has earned a reputation for his unorthodox methods, while Bones has built a name as the world’s “best hip hop magician.” Joining the two are Ali Cook, Chris Cox, Josephine Lee and Bello Nock. Tickets are now available. For reservations and more information, visit TicketNet.com.ph or call 911-5555 or 374-9999.



3. Times Square Food Park: Gifting the senses
Dubbed as one of the most “Instagrammable” sites this Yuletide season, the Times Square Food Park serves as the bigger and better location of the iconic Araneta Center giant Christmas tree and the new tunnel of lights.

It also houses stalls that sell various food items and beverages—truly a perfect bonding spot for families, friends and couples.

As an added treat, there are fireworks shows every Fridays and Saturdays of December.

4. Santa Claus (and more) is in town!
Who wants to get stuck in a mall full of restless bargain hunters? Fortunately, this is not the case at the Gateway Mall, Ali Mall and New Farmers Plaza.

Aside from being a top choice for those looking for gifts for their loved ones, the three malls also offer a respite to shoppers with chorale performances every day of December.

Santa Claus also roves around the three malls to spread the Holiday cheer and pose for photo-ops with Christmas shoppers whether they are naughty or nice.

5. Simbang Gabi: Tradition lives on at the Center

While some may be caught up with the hustle and bustle of the Christmas rush, many more make sure that they do not forget the true essence of the season.

The tradition of Simbang Gabi or Dawn Masses lives on at the Araneta Center with Gateway Mall, Ali Mall, New Farmers Plaza and Farmers Market providing the public a convenient venue for the Masses to remember the birth of Jesus Christ.

Whether it is a “silent night” or a season filled with “joy to the world,” Araneta Center’s Christmas activities are a gift to the senses and the spirit.

Azkals Places Second In CTFA Invitational Tournament

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Azkals grabs second place in the recently concluded CTFA Invitational Tournament held in Taipei from December 1 to 5. In spite of an undermanned team, and three-day preparation - the quickly assembled Azkals composed of a few veterans, players from the U22 SEA Games squad and University stand out squeezed a second-place finish ahead of Timor Leste and Laos.

Most of the regular Azkals were not available because they we not released by their Clubs due to the PFL season is in its semi-finals stage. The CTFA Invitational Tournament dates are also outside of the FIFA dates so a number of call ups on foreign based Filipino players were not successful.

Asked about his reaction on Mr. Dan Palami’s description of the Azkals outing in Taipei as the Taiwan ‘debacle”, Mr. Jefferson Cheng, Team Manager says:

“If this is accurate, I am surprised with the comments of Dan (Mr. Palami). We are working for the same organisation which is the PFF, and representing one country, Our Country. I think a more encouraging and supportive stance will do more good for Philippine Football than complaining and maligning the players and coaches who did their best for their country. I think whoever makes these negative statements are being unfair. We ended up second place with 3 days preparation, the players were given the best organisation one can possibly do with the time, and logistics constraints we have plus the conflict that the CTFA Tournament have with the PFL schedule.

My role is temporary as the PFF Secretary General asked for assistance because most of the Clubs with the regular Azkals players including Mr. Palami’s Global FC are in the PFL semi-finals hence the Clubs prioritise the League instead of the National Team that is why they did not release the players. The regular Azkals Coach Thomas Dooley also had a very important previous commitment to speak in an AFC event representing the PFF.

Mr. Palami suggested certain players, we contacted them even bought them airline tickets but they did not come for some reason.

During the Tournament were some calls and red cards that did not go our way which could have changed the complexion of the games and the result of the Tournament. I am not offering any excuses as there are none needed. The Players and Coaches did their best and what is important is they were there on the field fighting. We had three days to prepare and the players coming in from a long hectic PFL schedule, a 2nd place finish is descent under the circumstances.

We should draw our attention to the positives. We may not have won the tournament but the winner here is Philippine Football. The exposure given to our younger players was the right thing to do. Just ask Miyagi from Cebu, who scored his first international goal with the Senior National Team, ask what the Cebuano football fans think about that. Or Gayoso from Ateneo who had his first cap. What about the sight of the younger players playing alongside their Idols! The senior players mentoring and leading the younger ones was a very good and encouraging thing to see. I think this is what team sports are all about. This experience of our younger players will only encourage and bring more fans, supporters and followers to our National Team and Philippine Football. Importante magtulungan tayo.”