02:14.7
We told stories about crisis, but also about opportunities that came with it.
02:30.0
This is the Philippines.
02:37.5
And we are Gansi.
02:40.0
The views and opinions expressed in the following program do not necessarily reflect the policies and position of this network.
03:01.0
Hello everyone! It's Friday, May 10 here in Mandela.
03:11.9
I'm Mix Bustos giving you the head start for the day.
03:14.6
These big stories, Malacanang clarifies the Marcos administration's stand of not operating with the International Criminal Court's drug war foe remains.
03:59.7
modernization program.
04:01.4
Andrea Paguides, TataSport.
04:04.2
A new player has entered
04:06.2
the Philippine ride-hailing industry,
04:08.1
a market dominated by regional
04:09.9
player Grab. During the launch of the
04:12.0
app on Wednesday, Filipino-owned
04:14.0
Unified Transport Operations League
04:16.1
or UTOL said it aims to provide
04:18.3
the riding public with a more affordable
04:20.1
four-wheel ride-sharing option
04:22.1
by charging a lower surge rate.
04:26.3
may tinatadhana na
04:30.1
Masama kasi na sumubara ka doon.
04:32.3
Pero kung mas mababa ka doon, mas maganda
04:34.2
para sa mga mananakay.
04:37.9
UTOL has started operations in select
04:40.1
areas in Metro Manila, namely
04:41.9
Quezon City, Makati City, Paranaque
04:44.3
City, and Alabang in Muntinlupa
04:46.0
after having enrolled 600 drivers
04:48.5
and operators. It plans
04:50.2
to cover the rest of the National Capital Region
04:52.3
by June and expand to nearby
04:54.1
provinces after three months.
04:56.1
To do this, it will be on
04:57.7
boarding more drivers. It's particularly
04:59.9
eyeing to tap the jeepney operators
05:01.7
and drivers who failed to consolidate
05:03.8
under the Public Utility Vehicle
05:05.6
Modernization Program and are about
05:07.9
to lose their franchise.
05:10.0
Isang malaking opportunity yan sa UTOL
05:12.0
na makatulong sa ating mga kawabayan
05:13.6
ng mga jeepney drivers. Welcome sila
05:16.0
sa UTOL. Despite the growing
05:18.0
number of transport network companies
05:19.7
in the country, UTOL believes there is still
05:21.9
room for it amid rising demand.
05:24.3
Apart from training and other incentives
05:26.0
it provides to drivers,
05:27.7
UTOL said it will also shoulder the
05:29.4
discounts given to senior citizens,
05:31.6
students, and persons with disabilities.
05:36.6
ano ng transportasyon
05:39.4
dahil nga sa dami ng mananakay.
05:41.7
Minsan, mahirap mag-book
05:43.8
dun sa app, mahirap
05:46.0
makakuha ng driver.
05:48.2
Doon kasi sa two-wheel,
05:49.9
sinihintay pa natin magkaroon ng batas.
05:52.6
Kasi hanggang ngayon,
05:57.7
Ang gobyerno natin.
06:00.1
Makakadagdag ni sakita namin
06:01.7
sa laki ng mga gasusan ngayon.
06:09.7
bahay buwan-buwan.
06:14.5
Other ride-sharing drivers
06:15.8
have previously complained about having
06:17.9
these discounts deducted from
06:19.8
their earnings. Andrea Taguines,
06:27.7
Joining us now on Hot Copy,
06:31.5
Automobility Philippines Director, Ira Cruz.
06:33.9
Ira, good morning. Welcome to Head Start.
06:35.8
Hi, good morning, Megs. How are you?
06:38.3
Alright, so doing good, Ira. Hope you're doing
06:40.1
well also on this
06:42.2
Friday. Ira, combination of factors
06:44.1
when we get to have conversations
06:48.2
it seems like a conundrum.
06:50.4
It seems like a maze.
06:52.4
Make that maze, rather.
06:54.5
But when you talk about
06:57.7
at first, when we talk about the
06:59.4
consolidation program, 81%
07:01.7
of jeepney drivers, you know, operators
07:03.5
have complied with the consolidation
07:05.7
and will be in the transition
07:07.5
process, more or less, to modern PUVs.
07:10.1
From your data, from your
07:11.8
studies, is this rate enough
07:13.7
to fulfill the demand of
07:17.5
You know, unfortunately, Megs, the government
07:21.5
transparent about the
07:23.5
information that they've gathered.
07:25.5
What we need to understand,
07:27.7
from government now, is where is
07:33.5
Quite recently, there was an article that
07:35.6
came out, just enumerating
07:38.0
which areas would be affected.
07:39.9
And I think out of all the areas,
07:41.6
metromonital will be the hardest hit in terms of
07:43.7
the number of routes that would
07:45.6
be affected by the PUV
07:47.8
modernization program,
07:49.4
consolidation program. So in all
07:51.5
honesty, there is no data
07:53.6
out there because the LTFRB and the government
07:55.7
in general hasn't really been very
07:57.7
transparent with the information.
07:59.7
So it's very hard to gauge.
08:01.4
There will be areas that would result
08:05.6
and there will be areas that would result in
08:07.5
undersupply. And we need to be
08:09.7
able to get information from the government
08:11.7
to make sure that despite
08:13.8
the consolidation deadline, no commuters
08:15.9
will continue to suffer.
08:17.6
And that's something that we've always asked the government
08:19.6
to share with us, the data. And this is
08:21.4
across all issues in transportation.
08:24.7
We've always been
08:25.7
calling for government to be a little bit more transparent.
08:27.7
When it comes to data.
08:29.7
Now, when they release numbers like 81%
08:32.1
and so on and so forth,
08:33.5
we really don't understand how this
08:35.7
number is distributed, what areas would be
08:37.6
affected, what specific routes would
08:39.6
have oversupply or no supply at all.
08:41.9
Well, when you talk about
08:43.6
concrete data, 10,000 jeepneys
08:45.9
have not complied. More or less
08:47.9
10,000 units have not
08:49.7
complied. Will this have a dent in the commuting
08:51.6
public? Well, when you talk
08:53.7
about estimates, right? 10,000
08:57.6
they're distributed all across the Philippines.
09:01.4
to estimate. What do you think?
09:03.4
Sure. Sure, absolutely. You know,
09:07.6
as pre-pandemic, we've already
09:13.5
transportation in general is insufficient.
09:16.3
And then the pandemic
09:17.3
happened and the government suspended
09:19.1
all franchises. And then as the
09:21.5
pandemic was starting to ease out,
09:23.4
the government took its time in activating
09:25.5
in reactivating the franchisees.
09:27.6
Little by little. So you can
09:29.3
already imagine how
09:37.3
of those that weren't able to consolidate
09:39.6
to operate would really impact
09:41.7
the supply of public transportation.
09:44.4
This would greatly affect
09:46.0
of course the welfare
09:47.8
of ordinary commuters,
09:49.2
majority of which around 88%
09:54.7
problems getting to work or getting to work.
09:56.2
would be having problems getting to work or getting to work.
09:56.3
would be having problems getting to work or getting to work.
09:56.4
would be having problems getting to work or getting to school.
10:00.5
just for context, just to take a step
10:02.5
back and for our viewers,
10:04.2
really trying to understand because
10:06.1
there have been so many
10:10.8
strikes, transport
10:15.9
It has been a tug of war
10:18.1
between the government
10:20.1
and the POV groups like Manabela
10:23.5
Just to contextualize,
10:26.4
when you talk about the effect of these jeepneys going modern,
10:30.7
just take us through the pros of these things.
10:35.1
And then when we go to the other side as well,
10:38.0
what Manabela and Piston is fighting for.
10:40.5
But make that for the modern first.
10:42.8
Going modern, the pros on why the government is really doing this.
10:47.2
First of all, the objectives of the POV modernization program is great.
10:51.5
What it aims to deliver is to be able to improve the commuting experience,
10:56.4
the transportation of ordinary Filipinos.
10:58.9
It will ensure that there's sufficient supply,
11:02.5
that public transportation will be reliable and safe.
11:05.7
However, it's in the implementation where we find the problem.
11:10.0
For instance, the government continues to lack the completion of the LPTRP
11:16.7
or the Local Public Transportation Route Plan.
11:20.3
The LPTRP is what local government units are supposed to deliver.
11:25.0
And what this would answer,
11:26.4
is the specific need of each of the local government units
11:31.4
in terms of the number of jeepney supplies
11:33.6
and in the routes that are needed to be serviced.
11:36.3
When all of these LPTRPs are submitted and approved by the government,
11:41.5
it would then have to be translated into a route rationalization plan.
11:45.1
Which to simplify, would number one,
11:47.7
make sure that there's no overlapping of services.
11:52.7
And number two, would make sure that all areas are serviced.
11:56.4
Now, this is supposed to be steps one and two of the PUV modernization program.
12:02.8
After this, should then be the consolidation deadline.
12:06.2
So that the different jeepney groups would know then into how many franchises,
12:11.5
into how many routes they're supposed to consolidate under.
12:13.9
Unfortunately, the government flipped the order.
12:17.4
They've prioritized consolidation deadline.
12:20.4
Yes, consolidation first, right.
12:22.4
And up until now, we have yet to hear from the government in terms of the completion,
12:26.2
or the status of the LPTRP, the route rationalization plan.
12:29.4
Now, this is very important, Migs, because a proper route rationalization
12:33.7
and a proper consolidation is what will create profitability for the jeepney operators.
12:38.8
And only then and only then can we discuss the purchasing of new units.
12:43.2
Because then you'd need to make sure that the jeepney operators
12:46.4
are at a certain level of profitability before they can afford the brand new units.
12:51.3
Mind you, that the cost of each of the units vary from 2.5 to 3 million.
12:56.2
And the government support is no more than 200,000 pesos.
12:59.8
So these two things are there.
13:02.0
Yeah, it's an arm and a leg.
13:03.7
It's an arm and a leg for most jeepney drivers.
13:07.0
And at the level or the state at which they operate,
13:12.5
it's very impossible and very difficult for them to make enough money
13:16.5
to cover for the amortization of the brand new jeepneys.
13:20.0
So that's issue number one.
13:21.3
It needs to be implemented.
13:22.9
So while the objectives of the PUB modernization plan,
13:26.2
is good, it's the implementation that's very problematic.
13:29.5
And this is probably where pushback on the program is coming from.
13:34.2
Which is why it's very important, and we've been asking the government to do this,
13:37.8
to have an earnest discussion between themselves, the operators,
13:42.5
the industry members, and also for civil society organizations and academia like ourselves.
13:47.3
So that we can create a new plan that makes sure that all concerns are met.
13:53.7
Which is why in the statement that we released,
13:56.0
we were drilling on three main points.
13:59.1
One is that no commuter should suffer because of the consolidation deadline.
14:03.9
No one should lose their source of livelihood.
14:06.4
And that they should meet with all the stakeholders to make sure that we are able to design a good program.
14:12.3
Now, Ira, when you talk about the route to rationalization plan,
14:16.9
it's like a route, it's like a train route, right?
14:19.7
It's like a subway route.
14:21.1
It's like, you know, bus routes.
14:22.7
Like, let's say when you go to other Southeast Asian countries,
14:26.0
where it's just like a code, that's where you go.
14:29.5
And then that's where you should expect from the bus stop, et cetera.
14:32.9
So that gives a clear picture on why maybe the pushback is happening.
14:37.5
It's because when you are the GP driver, you're going to consolidate.
14:41.7
And then what happens, right?
14:43.5
So, and the cost of a unit is around, you mentioned, around seven digits, right?
14:49.9
And then, so you wouldn't know what would happen next.
14:55.5
If the government is unable to...
14:56.9
So if the government continues with this order of things,
14:59.8
what might happen down the line is the government might end up having to ask
15:03.3
the GP drivers to reconsolidate, which is not efficient,
15:06.6
which is a redundant, which is a redundant process.
15:10.3
That's very important that as early as now, the government thinks about this.
15:14.0
But that deadline has passed.
15:15.4
April 30 has passed.
15:16.5
And I mentioned around 10,000 plus units have not complied.
15:20.6
When you talk about number one, no commuter shall suffer.
15:26.4
With this number, do you think, will this have a dent?
15:30.5
Will now the public be forced to go on different modes of transportation?
15:34.5
And what would be that effect?
15:35.6
Let's say we're just going through the numbers, right?
15:37.7
We're just, it's just the linear data.
15:40.4
And then most likely the 10,000 units will not service this amount of commuters.
15:45.6
What happens next?
15:47.2
I mean, absolutely.
15:48.8
There's definitely going to be a problem for a lot of commuters because as I mentioned, as it is,
15:55.5
even before the consolidation deadline, we already have a problem in terms of supply.
16:01.0
You need to be able to rationalize that supply to make sure that the needs of commuters are met.
16:07.4
Not only is it a matter of there being units flying the routes, but that there should be units
16:15.0
flying across throughout the entire day.
16:19.0
And this spills over into other problems, such as if there is a lack of supply of public utility,
16:25.5
vehicles, are people then able to choose other modes of transportation?
16:31.0
Like for instance, biking or say light electric vehicles and personal mobility devices.
16:37.5
But as you can see, Migs, on the other hand, another group of, another government agency is
16:42.8
restricting the use of public utility, of light electric vehicles, personal mobility devices,
16:48.5
and electric, and electric bikes and bikes.
16:51.9
And so you've got this problem where it's very obvious that
16:55.5
the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing.
16:59.6
And so while the public is looking for alternatives to an unreliable public transportation system,
17:06.2
you have another government agency that's making it difficult for people to resort to
17:10.6
other forms of transportation.
17:12.4
So that's like a mind-boggling maze, as I mentioned.
17:16.4
And well, I'll go now to that issue where, you know, you have bike lanes in EDSA, right?
17:23.9
Then suddenly, you're taking
17:25.5
on the bike lanes.
17:26.8
What happens next?
17:29.6
So that's exactly what I'm trying to point out.
17:33.1
While we are unable to fix our public, our road-based public transportation,
17:39.9
people are now resorting to other modes of transportation, such as light electric vehicles,
17:44.5
personal mobility devices, and bikes, which is now being considered to be removed or banned
17:50.3
from national roads.
17:52.3
You know, Migs, there are, if we base it on the state,
17:55.5
there's a study conducted by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, or ICSC,
18:00.7
the Mobility Awards, and Bilang Bisikleta.
18:03.5
There are at least 8,000 bikers on EDSA on a daily basis.
18:07.5
So these are people that would be affected by this policy.
18:11.8
And the only reason, and the only way for us to be able to address, so I'm going to zoom out now.
18:17.2
Our goal here, and I'm sure the goal of government agencies, is to be able to improve the mobility of everybody.
18:24.6
And if you have policies such as the PUBMP, that does not seem to be well thought out of,
18:32.5
and policies that ban other modes of transportation, then you are not able to address people's mobility.
18:40.4
This is where the President's call comes in, which we are starting to wonder what's happening to it.
18:48.8
Because if you recall, about a month ago, the President called for a comprehensive plan to address our transportation.
18:54.6
And we've yet to hear some solid steps taken in that direction.
18:59.7
Now, if you ban the bike lanes, just, you know, thinking from a practical approach,
19:04.2
if they want to get from point A to point B, like let's say Magallanes, Magallanes to North EDSA,
19:10.4
then suddenly, you have to take alternate modes of transportation.
19:14.1
You may need for jeepneys now, but did they have a lack of jeepneys and undersupply in some areas?
19:21.4
So that's a problem that we're seeing.
19:24.5
The government is, so this is all symptoms of the government's inability to address the core issue,
19:33.4
that there is a lack of an ecosystem that coordinates all of these systems of transportation.
19:40.4
And that's where we need to start.
19:42.3
We need to sit back, we need to take a step back, I'm sorry, and come up with a comprehensive plan
19:47.8
to really understand the needs of ordinary Filipinos, how they get to work, what is that journey like for people?
19:54.3
And you start off with a very basic thing like sidewalks.
19:57.8
When people step out of their house, the first mode of transportation is, of course, walking.
20:02.1
And then they walk to the nearest public transport stop where there has to be a sufficient supply of
20:07.6
public utility vehicles that would then take them, perhaps, for example, to a rail station
20:12.9
that would take them on to work and so on and so forth.
20:16.7
So this is the kind of thinking that we've been trying to convince the government to do,
20:20.3
to have a comprehensive, to have a bigger
20:24.3
solution for all of these issues.
20:26.8
Yes, Ira, I'd just like to shift the gear.
20:28.9
We've been seeing some, although not all, maybe cities or some municipalities that have Euro 4 modern jeepneys.
20:38.3
What have been the benefits of that so far?
20:40.7
You know, it makes the problem, again, we're not really supposed to, at this point,
20:46.7
we're not supposed to be focusing on the type of unit just yet, up until we get to a point
20:52.8
where the drivers and the GTO operators are at a level of profitability where they can afford to pay for these units.
20:59.8
Now, it also makes Euro 4, it's actually outdated.
21:03.1
In other countries, we're already looking at Euro 6 or even maybe Euro 7, if I'm not mistaken.
21:08.0
So we shouldn't even be talking about the type of vehicles because the prescribed vehicle,
21:13.7
as we know it, is already outdated in a lot of other countries.
21:17.3
So that's number one.
21:19.1
Number two, the consolidation that's happened,
21:22.4
for some, does not really reflect the type of consolidation that we need.
21:28.9
All the majority has done is that they've grouped themselves together in a cooperative.
21:34.8
But a functional consolidation should also reflect in the type of fleet management.
21:40.7
For instance, if you have a lot of members, there should be a proper dispatch system
21:46.0
to make sure that the right amount of units are out in the streets.
21:49.7
So for non-peak hours,
21:52.3
You have less units and for peak hours, you have more units.
21:55.3
So this is how they're supposed to operate.
21:58.5
But there has to be a system to make sure that whether or not you're operating,
22:02.7
you're also receiving the same amount of salary.
22:04.8
So that's the kind of solution, that's the kind of consolidation that we mean.
22:08.7
So when the government talks about consolidation,
22:12.3
all it really means is that operators and GT drivers have grouped themselves into cooperatives.
22:17.9
But there's another conversation of making sure that they do operate
22:21.3
efficiently using a proper fleet management and a proper dispatch system.
22:25.9
Now, I'm just wondering just from your studies or maybe from your opinion,
22:31.5
let's say, you know, this modernization program pushes through three years from now.
22:35.9
So by three years from now, we should be at least expecting Euro 6, Euro 7 vehicles, right?
22:40.3
Because you're saying now that it's outdated, three years from now, that's 2027,
22:44.9
it should get these from that caliber.
22:46.7
Let's see from that theory, right?
22:48.7
A jeepney driver or jeepney operator, right?
22:50.7
or jeepney operator, undergoes
22:52.8
a modernization program,
22:54.6
he goes through the loan, 2 to 3 million,
22:56.8
he charges 13 to 15 pesos
22:58.7
jeepney fare, gets more passengers,
23:01.1
etc. But there's one school of thought.
23:02.8
I could say, I may be earning more,
23:04.9
but that goes to the loan.
23:07.4
Right? I'm paying off my debt.
23:09.6
But what's an ideal
23:10.6
situation now for a jeepney driver?
23:12.6
To, you know, at least save.
23:15.2
Right? And have a
23:16.7
more comfortable, lead to a more comfortable
23:18.8
situation, despite
23:20.6
paying off some debt.
23:22.4
Sure. And that's where the government should come in.
23:24.9
You know, what makes it funny here is that government
23:26.8
seems to be very good at removing themselves
23:28.7
from the equation.
23:30.7
So, there's a level
23:33.0
that the jeepney drivers
23:34.7
have to be able to make in order
23:36.7
for them to operate properly. And then
23:38.7
there's also that level where
23:40.7
the consumers or the commuters
23:42.6
can afford to pay. And the gap in between
23:44.9
is a subsidy that the government
23:48.7
care of. And that should cover
23:50.4
to make sure that jeepney drivers
23:52.8
and operators have sufficient funds
23:54.9
or sufficient earnings
23:56.3
to, number one, pay off the loans.
23:58.5
And number two, live a very comfortable life.
24:01.4
Yeah. Alright. So,
24:05.0
it's like a gridlock. It's like a traffic
24:06.7
that we still can't get out of.
24:08.6
Because when you solve one thing,
24:10.9
it creates another thing.
24:12.7
Right? Which is why it's
24:16.1
the government to really come up.
24:18.7
With a comprehensive plan. As the president
24:20.5
has said, what he wants are less
24:22.6
of piecemeal solutions, but a
24:24.5
comprehensive plan. But it
24:26.6
also needs, and I'm going to go back and
24:28.3
join your narrative there, there has to
24:30.6
be a driver. There has to be
24:32.6
a government agency that's in charge
24:34.6
of leading this discussion. And
24:36.5
the way we see it,
24:38.0
two to four government
24:40.5
agencies are all playing a role
24:44.7
In our mobility. And there
24:46.6
needs to be now a lead government agency.
24:50.1
the discussions to make sure that
24:52.4
piecemeal problems, or symptoms of
24:54.5
these problems, like, you know, lately
24:56.5
we've been talking about the PNR suspension,
24:58.5
now we're talking about
24:59.4
PUVMP, there was the popularity
25:02.6
of e-trikes and e-bikes. All of these are just
25:04.5
symptoms that the government is unable to
25:06.5
deal with the core issues at hand.
25:09.0
And so, a comprehensive plan is
25:10.5
really what we recommend. And there has to
25:12.5
be a lead agency that would
25:14.6
lead all of the other agencies
25:16.5
in coming up with a solution.
25:18.7
Lastly, Ira, when you talk about
25:20.2
symptoms, and we talk about managing
25:22.5
those symptoms now, because when you mentioned
25:24.4
about the plan, it's a
25:26.5
macro perspective, right?
25:28.4
But now, for the daily
25:30.5
commuter, for us citizens,
25:32.9
what are the practical ways
25:34.4
where we can contribute, you know,
25:36.5
to the ease in traffic,
25:38.4
to be able to make our lives better in terms
25:40.6
of commuting, not just for
25:42.5
the commuters, but also for
25:44.6
the transportation
25:45.6
stakeholders as well, like the jeepney
25:48.2
operators, the drivers, the TNVS
25:52.4
Well, number one, we need to do our part
25:54.5
in pressuring government to
25:56.5
come up with a comprehensive plan that
25:58.5
would really solve our problems once and for all.
26:00.8
The current situation makes everyone
26:02.5
is losing in this
26:04.4
current situation. Whether you're in a car, you're
26:06.4
in a bike, or taking a public utility
26:08.4
vehicle, everyone is losing.
26:10.4
And so, we need to really force the government
26:12.1
to come up with a comprehensive plan, a real
26:14.5
solution that will once and for all
26:18.2
transportation, our mobility needs.
26:20.6
And number two, I guess, as ordinary
26:22.0
citizens, we just need to be
26:23.7
nicer to each other on the road.
26:26.2
Alright, so there you have it.
26:27.6
Out Mobility Philippines
26:30.0
Director, Ira Cruz. Nice talking to you
26:32.7
again, Ira, and happy weekend.
26:34.6
Yep, good speaking with you. Thank you, Migs.
26:36.4
Thank you, Ira. We will take
26:38.2
a quick break. Head Start will be
26:48.2
Out Mobility Philippines
27:18.2
Out Mobility Philippines
28:14.2
key to recovery because
28:16.3
we have relaxed some
28:18.2
of our quarantine methods
28:20.2
and we have allowed
28:22.0
more transportation to come
28:24.2
out. That's going to prove to be
28:26.3
better for demand. If we do
28:28.2
follow the health protocols,
28:30.5
the ability of people to move around will
28:32.2
likely contribute better to growth.
28:48.2
Out Mobility Philippines
29:18.2
Out Mobility Philippines
29:48.2
Out Mobility Philippines
30:18.2
Out Mobility Philippines
30:19.4
Out Mobility Philippines
30:22.0
Out Mobility Philippines
30:24.3
Because with continuous
30:26.2
inflation, the Filipinos have been
30:28.1
seeking more value now in what they purchased.
30:32.1
So they're now carefully reviewing
30:34.0
the pack sizes, the brands
30:36.3
that they buy, that it's going to be worth their budget.
30:48.2
Welcome back to Head Start.
30:57.0
The Philippine Justice Department criticized for revealing its move to prepare for the possible arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte with the International Criminal Court.
31:09.3
Some Senators flagged the Department of Justice's announcement that it is preparing to brief President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on his options should the International Criminal Court order the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte over his war on drugs.
31:24.6
Sen. Francis Escudero doesn't see why the DOJ even had to call a press conference over a routine job, adding it doesn't help mend tensions between the Dutertes and the Marcoses.
31:34.8
Duterte's Chief Legal Counsel, Salvador Panelo, meantime thinks the DOJ may be pretentious.
31:39.3
Panelo insists an ICC arrest warrant is an assault on the Philippine sovereignty.
31:50.2
He also asserts it won't be good for the DOJ to make the President look like he's reneging on his word.
31:55.9
The Palace maintains that the President's position isn't changed.
31:59.2
Sen. Sani Angara calls for a truce between the Marcoses and the Dutertes for the good of the country.
32:03.8
I don't want to get into the merits or the actions of both camps.
32:08.1
It's enough to fire him first.
32:09.3
Let's focus on Philippine interests rather than just more parochial interests.
32:16.6
Amid the perception that the Marcos administration could be shifting its position on the ICC,
32:21.4
there's also speculation that allies of the former President are trying to destabilize the Marcos administration.
32:27.3
I hope this is not true because it's time for all Filipinos who love the country to rally behind the President
32:35.9
because we have enemies outside.
32:39.3
I hope that instead of fighting, which is our history, we can learn from the past and join forces because we are common enemies.
32:52.5
Who else will help us if not us?
32:56.5
The President's sister, Sen. Aimee Marcos, also shrugged off the rumors.
33:01.4
I'm getting tired of these chiswis.
33:04.1
They're already playing, right?
33:05.5
I'm getting tired of them.
33:07.7
Unless there's a truth.
33:09.3
A house leader, meanwhile, maintains there are advantages if the country decides to rejoin the ICC.
33:26.0
The ICC is a good mechanism where a country has already had a failure.
33:33.9
We're not saying just the Philippines.
33:35.9
We're not just saying in today's time.
33:38.1
But in the future.
33:39.3
I think there's some value of having this.
33:42.8
RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News.
33:47.9
Human rights groups call for an end to the National Task Force to end local communist armed conflict
33:54.0
and for red tagging to be criminalized.
33:56.3
More from Adrian Ayalin.
33:59.6
Human rights groups, left and right, cheered as the Supreme Court released its decision
34:03.9
which not only defined red tagging but also raised red flags.
34:07.9
On the practice of linking individuals and groups to the communist movement.
34:12.1
In the decision promulgated last July 4, 2023 but released Wednesday,
34:16.8
the High Court said red tagging as well as vilification, labeling, and guilt by association
34:21.8
constitute threats to a person's right to life, liberty, or security.
34:26.8
While the court issued a writ of amparo,
34:29.2
the case was remanded back to the Iloilo City Regional Trial Court Branch 24
34:33.2
for summary hearings for the granting of the writ.
34:37.9
former Bayan Muna Rep. Siegfried
34:40.0
Deduro against Major General
34:41.9
Eric Vinoya, the commanding officer
34:44.0
of the Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division
34:47.8
Deduro alleged that military officers
34:49.7
in Iloilo City under Vinoya
34:51.7
red-tagged and accused him and
34:53.8
other individuals of being ranking
34:55.9
members of the Communist Party of the
34:57.9
Philippines New People's Army.
35:00.0
Then came posters in Iloilo
35:01.8
referring to Deduro and others as
35:03.8
criminals, extortionists, and
35:05.8
terrorists. Two of those
35:07.7
red-tagged, Jose Reynaldo Porquilla
35:09.9
of Bayan Muna and Cara Alvarez
35:11.6
of Carapatan, met violent deaths.
35:14.6
The court further said in the
35:15.7
decision that being associated with
35:17.5
terrorists makes the red-tagged person
35:19.8
a target of vigilantes
35:21.3
as well as government authorities.
35:23.9
In the statement, Deduro said he is glad
35:25.7
the Supreme Court decided in favor
35:27.6
of his petition. He hopes the ruling
35:29.7
will benefit other activists as he
35:31.7
himself still fears for his life.
35:34.1
The Macabayan bloc thanked the Supreme
35:35.7
Court and echoed its call for the
35:37.5
government to abolish the National Task
35:39.6
Force to end local communist armed
35:41.2
conflict which often links activists
35:43.4
to the communist movement. The group
35:45.4
also calls Congress to enact a
35:47.5
law to criminalize red-tagging.
35:51.4
nagpalabas ng ganito ang Supreme Court
35:57.7
ng gobyerno, sumabay ang
36:00.6
sinasabi nating panawagan, natanggalan
36:03.6
ng budget or at the
36:05.7
very least, tanggalan ng
36:07.6
budget. At the most,
36:09.7
talagang i-abolish na.
36:11.1
Dapat makriminalize na ang red-tagging.
36:14.5
Dapat lamang talaga
36:17.8
magkaroon ng mga mekanismo
36:20.0
para mapanagot ang mga
36:21.7
red-tagger at makita nila
36:26.1
sila untouchable.
36:27.3
The National Union of People's Lawyers said the decision
36:29.6
is not just a legal victory but a
36:31.7
strong slap on red-taggers.
36:33.9
Human Rights Watch also called on the
36:35.7
Marcos administration to abandon
36:37.7
the practice of red-tagging in government.
36:40.8
The Free Legal Assistance
36:41.7
Group likewise told the government to direct
36:43.7
all public servants not to
36:45.7
engage in red-tagging.
36:47.6
The Armed Forces of the Philippines meantime assured
36:49.7
the public that they have always followed
36:52.1
Ang ating AFP po ay sumusunod po
36:56.0
nakasaad sa batas.
36:58.1
We leave this po to our high-level
37:00.2
ministerial level
37:05.5
guidance nila down the line.
37:07.1
So ang Armed Forces of the Philippines po will abide
37:09.4
with the laws stated by our nation.
37:12.0
In a statement, the legal cooperation
37:13.7
cluster of the NTF-ELCAC
37:15.3
stressed that the issuance is different
37:17.5
from the actual grant of the privilege
37:19.6
of the writ. The NTF-ELCAC
37:21.7
says it will participate in the
37:23.6
summary hearing of the RTC
37:25.6
to present their own evidence.
37:29.6
always been in the consciousness of the Supreme Court
37:31.6
as early as 1991.
37:33.0
But the decision of the High Court
37:35.0
this year further gives hope
37:36.8
to human rights advocates, which is
37:38.8
of course expected to face fierce battle
37:40.7
from state authorities.
37:42.9
Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News.
37:48.8
governor, or make that
37:50.2
a local official rather, warrants
37:52.7
the national government of a possible
37:54.8
attack by China. In a report
37:56.8
published by Japan's Kiro News,
37:58.7
Gagayan Governor Manuel Mamba says
38:01.0
China's Vice Foreign Minister
38:02.8
warned him last year, Beijing
38:04.7
will not hesitate to attack
38:06.9
Manila if a war erupted
38:08.6
between China and other forces
38:10.5
being hosted by the Philippines.
38:12.5
Mamba adds the Philippines could still
38:14.5
avoid being involved in any conflict
38:16.7
by eliminating foreign forces
38:21.9
The Philippine Foreign Affairs Department
38:24.1
wants to implement additional measures
38:26.3
aimed at preventing the illegal
38:28.3
entry and overstaying of
38:30.3
Chinese nationals in the country.
38:32.1
The agency says it is crafting
38:34.0
a stricter visa policy that
38:36.2
would require applicants to submit
38:37.9
a social insurance certificate
38:40.1
on top of other documents.
38:42.7
For group visa applications,
38:44.3
the DMA says it may raise
38:46.1
the number of applicants to 10
38:48.1
from the current three.
38:51.7
A major challenge is
38:54.2
the submission of
38:55.9
fraudulent fake documents,
38:58.6
particularly from the
38:59.9
China side, especially
39:02.0
IDs, bank statements,
39:04.0
and certificates of employment.
39:06.7
And fixers brazenly
39:08.2
advertise such things on
39:09.8
WeChat and things like that,
39:11.7
saying it's very easy to obtain a Philippine
39:14.0
visa. But we're also actually
39:17.9
with the Chinese embassy to
39:19.7
stem these abuses.
39:26.1
also comes amid concerns
39:27.8
on the influx of Chinese students
39:29.6
in Gagayan province, which some
39:32.0
officials have described
39:37.7
Filipinos are abuzz over the
39:39.7
wedding of 80-year-old Batangas
39:41.8
Governor Hermilando
39:43.7
Mandanias and his wife,
39:45.6
who's nearly 50 years his junior,
39:48.1
Katrina Domingo, with this story.
39:51.1
May I now ask Hermilando,
39:53.6
you may now kiss Angelica,
39:57.5
Batangas witnessed a celebration of
39:59.6
life, laughter, and love on the 8th of
40:01.8
May, as Governor Hermilando
40:03.4
Mandanias married Angelica Chua
40:05.3
in a church wedding with at least
40:07.5
two presidents and a tycoon
40:09.2
as some of his principal sponsors.
40:11.7
I came here not only with
40:13.4
own free will, but full of love.
40:15.8
We are both ready
40:17.2
to raise as good Christian
40:25.3
And that is really the essence
40:27.7
of our union, of our marriage.
40:31.8
To have children, to be open
40:33.8
to having children,
40:35.5
that we would raise
40:41.4
ready, whether it's going to be for
40:43.6
better or for worse.
40:51.3
Till death do us part.
40:55.7
says their love story started
40:57.6
when the governor asked her to be his
40:59.5
Valentine's date in jest.
41:01.8
Thank you for having
41:03.9
the courage to ask me
41:05.7
to be your Valentine.
41:08.0
And for choosing to spend
41:09.5
the rest of your life with me.
41:11.8
I promise to listen
41:13.8
to you and your suggestions
41:17.7
necessarily follow you.
41:20.4
It's only just part
41:24.0
Mrs. Chua Mandanias hails
41:25.8
from a family of doctors, lawyers,
41:28.0
and politicians from the town
41:29.7
of Ibaan in Batangas.
41:31.8
Her father is a doctor, while her mother
41:33.8
is the executive judge of Batangas
41:35.9
City, who has been described as
41:37.9
the brains behind the Mandanus ruling.
41:40.4
A landmark case the governor
41:41.9
championed, which allowed local governments
41:44.2
to have a share in the revenues
41:46.2
collected by the Bureau of Customs.
41:48.7
While the bride works as
41:50.0
a partner in a law firm in Makati,
41:52.1
she says one of her dreams was
41:53.9
to be married to a politician, and
41:55.8
admits that she has long manifested
41:58.1
to have this kind of wedding.
42:00.1
I always believed in, uh,
42:01.8
the law of attraction.
42:04.8
And believe it or not,
42:06.2
believe it or not,
42:14.0
I've always wanted
42:16.1
and I knew that I'd
42:18.3
marry a politician
42:19.5
because I know I'd make
42:25.7
that my wedding will
42:27.9
be the wedding of the year.
42:29.7
Angelica also explains why she
42:31.8
agreed to spend the rest of her life
42:33.6
with the governor.
42:34.8
I've had my heart broken so many times
42:38.2
that I guarded up
42:40.5
and raised my standards
42:44.5
so high no one was supposed
42:47.9
so I won't get hurt again
42:54.9
that I deserve to be loved
42:58.0
and that with you,
42:59.7
I can put my life
43:01.8
and my guard down.
43:02.8
And if there's one thing
43:06.8
it is for you to promise
43:10.8
for as long as you can
43:12.8
so I can grow old with you.
43:14.8
While Angelica says
43:16.8
the governor has been generous with his time
43:18.8
and always made her feel secure
43:20.8
and loved, she admits
43:22.8
to being intimidated when he said that
43:24.8
it was time to meet his family.
43:26.8
I would like to thank the Mandanas family
43:28.8
for welcoming me with open arms.
43:32.8
when we first met Gov's siblings,
43:35.8
I was really scared.
43:36.8
They were very, very, very, very welcoming.
43:39.8
Thank you very much.
43:41.8
Their church wedding was held
43:43.8
at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
43:45.8
in Batangas City.
43:46.8
Among those who witnessed their wedding
43:48.8
were President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,
43:50.8
First Lady Liza Marcos,
43:52.8
former President Gloria Magapagal-Arroyo,
43:54.8
and tycoon Ramon Ab.
43:56.8
Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News.
44:01.8
A Filipino-American prodigy
44:03.8
is hailed as the world's best chess player
44:06.8
for girls under 12.
44:07.8
Don Tagala introduces us
44:09.8
to Megan Paragua.
44:14.8
Filipino-American Megan Paragua
44:17.8
has emerged as the world's best chess player
44:20.8
for girls under 12 years old.
44:22.8
The 11-year-old earned her first world title
44:26.8
after winning double gold
44:28.8
at the FIDE World Cadet
44:29.8
Rapid and Blitz Championship
44:31.8
in Durres, Albania.
44:33.8
The International Chess Federation
44:35.8
is a Switzerland-based governing body
44:38.8
for world chess competitions.
44:40.8
The Columbia Grammar and Prep School student
44:43.8
gave Philippine Consul General
44:46.8
a courtesy call on May 8.
44:48.8
This is my first world title.
44:50.8
So, my two world titles.
44:52.8
I'm very proud of this
44:54.8
because I know that this is going to be with me forever.
44:57.8
it's an accomplishment.
44:58.8
It's an accomplishment
45:01.8
that not everyone can do.
45:06.8
and I can continue pursuing my chess career.
45:08.8
We will be very much rooting for you
45:11.8
in your future games.
45:14.8
We hope that you would,
45:16.8
whenever you're in this part of the city,
45:18.8
would consider the Philippine Center
45:21.8
your headquarters.
45:24.8
Paragua and another Team USA chess player,
45:28.8
brought home first place trophies
45:30.8
from the tournament
45:31.8
that drew hundreds of participants
45:33.8
from 43 countries.
45:35.8
The young Philem clinched first place
45:37.8
in both the Rapid and Blitz Championships.
45:40.8
The championship was even attended
45:42.8
by the Albanian President,
45:45.8
at the opening ceremony.
45:47.8
Along with her titles,
45:48.8
Paragua also took home 1,100 euros
45:51.8
in total prize money,
45:53.8
together with a cup,
45:56.8
So she won the Blitz game,
45:58.8
which is like five minutes under.
45:59.8
It's a fast-thinking chess.
46:01.8
And then the Rapid is like a semi-fast
46:03.8
and semi-long game chess.
46:06.8
And then she won it both.
46:07.8
It's a very competitive event.
46:09.8
And winning the gold medal
46:10.8
is very important for her,
46:12.8
very important for us.
46:13.8
The under-12 world chess champion
46:16.8
this game of strategy
46:18.8
changed her life for the better.
46:21.8
it's like a big impact in my life.
46:23.8
It definitely changed, like,
46:24.8
because if I didn't play chess,
46:25.8
I wouldn't have met
46:26.8
any of those people.
46:27.8
I probably wouldn't have gone
46:29.8
I wouldn't probably go
46:31.8
That's why I think chess
46:32.8
is like the reason,
46:33.8
because I'm doing all those things
46:36.8
Paragua, who received
46:37.8
her FIDE Master title last year,
46:39.8
dreams of becoming
46:40.8
a chess grandmaster someday.
46:43.8
She has been training
46:45.8
and even challenges herself
46:47.8
by playing with those
46:48.8
who are much older than her.
46:55.8
Sometimes, Paragua even plays
46:59.8
against with not just one,
47:01.8
but multiple opponents
47:02.8
at the same time.
47:04.8
For the fifth grader,
47:05.8
all these trainings
47:06.8
prepare her to win titles.
47:08.8
I think the training helped a lot
47:10.8
because it helped me
47:13.8
with all the games
47:16.8
and like, oh yeah,
47:18.8
this during training,
47:20.8
to help me a lot.
47:24.8
what I would say is
47:26.8
the training and the confidence
47:30.8
and I guess the talent,
47:33.8
and stuff like that.
47:34.8
Achieving her first world title
47:36.8
is just the beginning
47:39.8
for a middle school
47:40.8
national championship
47:41.8
in Atlanta, Georgia
47:43.8
followed by the Chicago Open
47:45.8
where she will face
47:49.8
is setting her sights
47:51.8
where she was invited
47:52.8
to compete in this year's
47:53.8
U.S. Girls Junior Chess Championship
47:56.8
in St. Louis in July.
47:58.8
Don Tagala, ABS-CBN News, New York.
48:23.8
The TD5 Borough Bike Tour.
48:25.8
The TD5 Borough Bike Tour
48:26.8
is the first of its kind
48:28.8
in the United States.
48:29.8
It's a 40-mile cycling event
48:31.8
that started in downtown Manhattan,
48:33.8
then through the streets
48:38.8
of the Verrazano Bridge
48:39.8
to get to the finish line
48:40.8
on Staten Island.
48:45.8
and Filipino-Americans
48:47.8
for different reasons.
48:50.8
with the Silverios,
48:52.8
who bikes together
48:53.8
at one of the rest stops
48:57.8
the TD5 Borough Bike Tour
48:58.8
challenge for the first time.
49:00.8
My family has always
49:02.8
and so this is our first time.
49:05.8
And it seemed like a lot of fun.
49:06.8
So far, better cardio,
49:08.8
easier lifestyle,
49:09.8
and just easier to get around.
49:13.8
Definitely to keep in shape.
49:14.8
I'm getting older,
49:16.8
we gotta do this.
49:17.8
I've done this with my wife,
49:18.8
my oldest daughter.
49:20.8
This is my youngest boy.
49:22.8
This is his first time out,
49:23.8
so it was nice to get out.
49:25.8
Just for the experience,
49:29.8
also a first-time participant
49:31.8
in the cycling event,
49:32.8
started off the tour
49:34.8
but was separated from them
49:36.8
as they got closer
49:37.8
to the finish line.
49:38.8
My friends are all stuck
49:39.8
at the Verrazano Bridge still,
49:41.8
so I kind of beat them.
49:42.8
It feels great, yeah.
49:46.8
Even though the weather
49:47.8
was a little rainy,
49:50.8
from finishing this race.
49:51.8
It was really good, yeah.
49:53.8
Really enjoyed it.
49:54.8
Salaveria picked up cycling
49:55.8
as a hobby in 2020
49:57.8
during the COVID-19 pandemic,
49:59.8
has embraced it since then.
50:06.8
really enjoy the city,
50:08.8
and really see it
50:12.8
after the pandemic,
50:13.8
it gave me like a chance to,
50:16.8
find a new hobby,
50:17.8
and that for me was cycling.
50:19.8
And I've just been cycling
50:20.8
for maybe about four years now,
50:22.8
and it's been really good.
50:23.8
In joining Bike New York,
50:24.8
these Filipinos are advocating
50:26.8
for an active and healthy lifestyle
50:29.8
in the busy streets
50:30.8
of the Big Apple.
50:32.8
I mean, start with a small ride.
50:33.8
It could be like two miles,
50:36.8
and then you work your way up
50:37.8
until you can do this bike tour.
50:40.8
and maybe find a friend
50:41.8
to do it with you,
50:44.8
make sure you're having fun.
50:52.8
And before we go,
50:54.8
the stars of hit Netflix series
50:57.8
gives fans a sneak peek
50:59.8
on the show's much-awaited
51:01.8
Gretchen Folido has more.
51:04.8
I would not be angry
51:05.8
if you found me to be a lost cause.
51:06.8
It's just a few days away
51:07.8
before the much-anticipated release
51:09.8
of Bridgerton Season 3
51:12.8
This season centers
51:13.8
on the love story
51:14.8
of Colin Bridgerton
51:15.8
and Penelope Featherington,
51:17.8
played by Luke Newton
51:18.8
and Nicola Coughlin.
51:21.8
I feel like a running theme
51:22.8
of the show this year
51:24.8
and it really felt like
51:27.8
every time they sort of settle
51:29.8
and find their way
51:31.8
something then changes
51:34.8
throw a curveball
51:35.8
and then we're on
51:36.8
onto the next section.
51:37.8
So it's very romantic.
51:40.8
I think it's very funny also.
51:42.8
I think that's a lot
51:44.8
The books are adapted
51:45.8
from these gorgeous novels
51:47.8
and a thing that I think
51:48.8
a lot of the fans
51:49.8
of the books love
51:50.8
is the rom-com element,
51:51.8
and the writers this season
51:52.8
have interwoven that
51:55.8
into the narrative,
51:56.8
and it was joyful
52:01.8
so it's also very sexy,
52:03.8
and very exciting.
52:06.8
to see Colin and Penelope's
52:07.8
glow-up or major transformation
52:09.8
and their romantic love scenes,
52:11.8
especially their famous
52:13.8
steamy carriage scene,
52:14.8
wherein they even had
52:15.8
an intimacy coordination.
52:19.8
you had an intimacy coach?
52:21.8
What is an intimacy coach?
52:22.8
An intimacy coordinator is,
52:25.8
it's a really interesting job,
52:26.8
and I think some people
52:27.8
misunderstand it.
52:28.8
They think that they give us
52:29.8
like moves to do,
52:30.8
like it's a dance routine
52:32.8
It's not really that.
52:33.8
It's about you feeling safe on set.
52:35.8
you put your hand here
52:36.8
for this amount of time,
52:37.8
you kiss for this long.
52:38.8
That scene was huge for us
52:40.8
because I remember
52:43.8
all those years ago,
52:44.8
and the carriage scene
52:45.8
sticking out so much
52:49.8
neglect to mention
52:51.8
because it gets quite sexy
52:55.8
Like it really just,
52:56.8
I think that's what
52:57.8
this season really excels in
52:58.8
of being so romantic,
53:00.8
like taking your breath away
53:03.8
I wish I felt like that
53:04.8
or I wish someone felt
53:05.8
like that about me.
53:06.8
I love that scene so much.
53:09.8
Poland love story,
53:10.8
the season showcases
53:11.8
the dazzling debut
53:12.8
of Francesca Bridgerton.
53:14.8
Lady Whistledown's
53:15.8
scandalous revelations
53:20.8
to Queen Charlotte
53:22.8
who plays Lady Danbury
53:23.8
shares who their inspiration is
53:25.8
behind their infamous roles.
53:28.8
Queen Charlotte is
53:29.8
based on my mother.
53:32.8
that it came out as well,
53:33.8
so I think it's a
53:36.8
as a human being,
53:42.8
somebody who really
53:47.8
that QC has a lot
53:50.8
as well as the mischief
53:54.8
and all of that stuff.
53:56.8
Yes, my mother was
54:02.8
So, Lady Danbury's hat,
54:03.8
that's my mother.
54:05.8
she loves a bit of schmutter.
54:07.8
She likes to look stush.
54:08.8
She's in her mid-80s
54:09.8
and she still likes a suit.
54:15.8
I think of my aunties
54:16.8
and my grandmothers
54:19.8
I want Lady Danbury
54:22.8
who have found life
54:24.8
and have to find a way
54:26.8
and make the best of it.
54:28.8
banging into life
54:42.8
Regardless of what life
54:45.8
a couple of girls
54:47.8
throwing things at them.
54:49.8
their lust for life
54:51.8
I want to celebrate
54:57.8
We're so grateful
54:58.8
to the Filipino fans
54:59.8
for all they love.
55:00.8
They show the show
55:01.8
and we're very grateful
55:02.8
that they've been
55:06.8
we're super proud of it.
55:08.8
and it's so romantic.
55:10.8
It's so suspenseful.
55:16.8
and we hope you do too.
55:19.8
Bridgerton Season 3
55:20.8
debuts on Netflix
55:43.8
We'll be right back.
56:13.8
We'll be right back.
56:20.8
Mobility will be key
56:26.8
because we have relaxed
56:29.8
quarantine methods, no?
56:30.8
And we have allowed
56:32.8
more transportation
56:35.8
That's going to prove
56:36.8
to be better for demand.
56:39.8
the health protocols,
56:40.8
the ability of people
56:42.8
will likely contribute better to growth.
57:12.8
Thank you for watching!
57:42.8
Thank you for watching!
58:12.8
Thank you for watching!
58:42.8
Thank you for watching!
