Hike in P2P Bus Ridership at MRT-3, An Example of Multi-Sector Cooperation

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The substantial increase in the ridership of point-to-point bus service (P2P) at Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) stations is an example of government agencies and the private sector’s cooperation to achieve a common goal, a transport official today said. 

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said the deployment of the P2P buses to two MRT-3 North Avenue and Quezon Avenue stations during morning rush hour has provided an effective option for MRT-3 passengers while there are still limited train sets running on the train system.

“The bus augmentation program for MRT-3 is a fine example of multi-sector and multi-agency cooperation to realize our common goal of improving public service,” Undersecretary Batan said. 

He lauded the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Land Transportation Office, Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group, DOTr Office of Commuter Affairs, and MRT-3 officials and personnel for their initiatives to further move people faster to their destinations. 

“The best is yet to come for this bus for MRT-3 service,” the transportation official said, citing the expected increase of the number of running trains after the general overhaul of train sets by the DOTr and MRT-3 management after the Holy Week break. 

Assistant Secretary for Road Transport Mark Richmund de Leon, for his part, reported that as of 9 a.m. today, Feb. 14, 2018, 32 buses were deployed to MRT-3 stations going southbound while 13 buses were dispatched to assist northbound commuters. 

“The buses made a total of 59 trips, carrying an average of 56 persons each bus, during the morning rush hour, serving more almost 3,400 passengers,” Assistant Secretary de Leon said. 

Since the start of the MRT-3 bus augmentation program last February 1 up to February 13, 2018, a total of 521 bus trips, which served 28,825 passengers, were made by the P2P buses.

DENR Secretary Receives Love Letter from Environmental Groups on Valentine’s Day

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Drive for Legal Protection of Benham Bank Continues

Led by four dancing shark mascots, environmentalists visited the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to deliver a special Valentine’s Day love letter to DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu.

The content of the card to protect the Philippine Rise was supported by over 50 institutions and leaders nationwide and asked Sec. Cimatu to declare Benham Bank, the shallowest part of the Philippine Rise, as a ‘no-take’ zone. Delivered along with the letter were over 9000 signatures from Oceana’s online petition to protect the Philippine Rise.

“The full protection and management of the entire 24-million hectare Philippine Rise might take months,” explains Oceana Benham Rise Campaign Team Leader Marianne Saniano. “However, there’s something Sec. Cimatu can do right now – and that is to have the 17,000 hectare Benham Bank declared as a ‘no-take’ zone.” Under the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act, RA-7586, the President can declare certain areas as protected with the endorsement of the DENR Secretary.

The declaration of Benham Bank as a ‘no-take’ zone triggers legal protection of the pristine area from human activity. Spanning 17,000 hectares, it occupies less than 1% of the Philippine Rise. ‘No-take’ zones have been proven to work in other coral reefs and protected areas in the Philippines, such as Apo Reef in Mindoro and the famed Tubbataha Reefs in Palawan.

What is Benham Bank?

Benham Bank is the shallowest part of the Philippine Rise. Portions surveyed by marine scientists in 2014 and 2016 revealed mesophotic or deep-sea reefs with 100% live coral cover – practically unheard of in the Philippines. Seaweed such as Halimeda, which resembles underwater cactus – were recorded to thrive in waters over 40 meters deep. It is recognized as part of the known spawning area for Pacific bluefin tuna, one of the most expensive fish on Earth.

“We expect that the pristine Philippine Rise harbors a variety of healthy marine wildlife populations, including sharks and rays, dolphins and whales and marine turtles. With much of the inner Philippine Seas disturbed, overfished and polluted – the Philippine Rise is a sanctuary for these threatened species. Anything we do there should not be detrimental to the existence of its marine wildlife populations,” added Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines Director AA Yaptinchay.

These findings of the uniqueness and richness of the biodiversity in the area persuaded 196 State parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to adopt the Philippine Rise as an ecologically and biologically significant area in December 2016.

“We call on our government to immediately declare Benham Bank as a ‘no-take’ zone for the benefit of the Filipino people,” added Pangisda Natin Gawing Tama (PANAGAT), composed of Greenpeace, Oceana Philippines, the World Wide Fund for Nature, Tambuyog, NGOs for Fisheries Reform, Institute for Social Order, Pangisda and other groups. PANAGAT and other groups are celebrating the 3rd International Year of the Reef (IYOR) with Benham Bank as one of its highlighted reefs.

“Would it not be a perfect gift to the nation and the world if President Duterte issues a Presidential Proclamation declaring Benham Bank as a ‘no-take’ zone during this year’s observance of the International Year of the Reef?” says Oceana Philippines Vice President Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos. “We shall eagerly await this positive development.”

Binibining Pilipinas 2018 Candidates Bring Cheer to Wounded Soldiers

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Proving that they are not just beautiful but also compassionate, the 40 official candidates of Binibining Pilipinas 2018 visited soldiers confined at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Medical Center in Quezon City on Tuesday, February 13.

Proving that they are not just beautiful but also compassionate, the 40 official candidates of Binibining Pilipinas 2018 visited soldiers confined at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Medical Center in Quezon City on Tuesday, February 13. With the help of the Makati Medical Center Foundation, the ladies brought cheer to the soldiers at the hospital’s Heroes Ward. Led by Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. chairwoman Mrs. Stella Marquez Araneta, the Binibinis distributed food, clothes and toiletries. They also took time to interact with the soldiers and their families. “This is an experience the ladies will never forget,” Mrs. Araneta said. This year’s batch features a medical doctor and several registered nurses who got to talk to the soldiers as if they were their own patients. Candidates from different provinces also had an opportunity to bond with soldiers from their hometowns. Some candidates also prayed with the patients for their recovery. AFP Health Service Command’s Brig. Gen Edwin Leo Torrelavega also briefed the candidates about the sacrifices these heroes had to make to serve the country and the threats they faced, particularly those who fought terrorists in Marawi. “The candidates’ visit will boost the morale of the patients. Gagaling sila hindi lamang sa tulong ng magagaling na doktor, gamot o magagandang pasilidad, kailangan din nila ng mataas na morale,” Torrelavega said. This was just the first charity visit for the ladies who are vying for the chance to represent the Philippines in the most prestigious international pageants. Coronation night is set on March 18, when winners of Miss Universe Philippines, Binibining Pilipinas International, Binibining Pilipinas Grand International, Binibining Pilipinas Supranational, Binibining Pilipinas Globe and Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental will be crowned. For tickets to the coronation night, you may visit www.ticketnet.com.ph or call  911-5555.