Malacanang defers MRT, LRT fare increase
The government’s plan to increase the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) fares has been deferred for another month pending the conduct of public consultations.
Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte, in a press briefing at Malacanang on Wednesday, however, said the fare increase is long overdue.
She, nonetheless, assured that the move will benefit the riding public in terms of improved services, new coaches and more trains.
The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) had earlier proposed to slash the government subsidy for the transportation system by hiking fares starting this month.
The MRT line transports some 450,000 passengers daily while the LRT Line 1, running from EDSA to Baclaran in Pasay City, carries over 400,000 passengers daily. Line 2, running from Recto in Manila to Santolan in Pasig, carries some 170,000 commuters daily.(PCOO)
Aquino to highlight significant accomplishments in first 100 days
President Benigno S. Aquino III is finalizing today his report to the nation on the significant accomplishments under the first 100 days of his administration.
The Chief Executive made this statement after gracing Rhett Eala’s 20th anniversary show which showcased the Filipino designer’s world-class talent and ingenuity in costume and jewellery fashion at the White Space along Pasong Tamo Extension in Makati City on Tuesday night.
With the voluminous documents submitted, the President said, they will just be selecting the items which need to be highlighted.
“So we want to take only the most significant and demonstrative of what we are trying to do,” the President said.
The President said the report will include improvements on the country’s growth, jobs creation “and look at what has been achieved so far.”
While his recent US trip netted at least 43,000 jobs, the President stressed that, at present, the business process outsourcing industry (BPO) also signified “that they will double again the number of people they have.”
“So, we are pleased that the things we were expecting in the first quarter of next year are already starting to happen now. So, again, we will highlight it,” the President said.
Hopefully, the President noted that his 100-day accomplishment report will be digested to not more than 10 pages. (PCOO)
Palace elated over Aquino’s net satisfaction rating
Malacañang expressed elation over the recent Social Weather Stations survey showing President Benigno S. Aquino III’s initial net satisfaction rating hitting +66.
In an interview, Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte said this “very good” rating heralded the Filipino people’s favorable acceptance of President Aquino’s programs to alleviate poverty by stamping out corruption.
“So today we are happy to announce that according to the recent SWS survey, the President has achieved an overall net satisfaction rating of plus 66 percent which we believe is one the highest in recent history,” Valte said.
“We are very happy primarily because if you look at the breakdown of the figures, you will see that the President achieved very high numbers among all classes particularly class D and E which to us means that they are responding well to the programs of the President primarily to reduce poverty and in the fight against corruption,” she added.
In its survey of 1,200 adults nationwide from Sept. 24-27, the SWS said President Aquino received "very good" ratings in all geographical areas, with a net score of +66 (76% satisfied, 10% dissatisfied) in Metro Manila, +65 in the Balance of Luzon (73% satisfied, 8% dissatisfied), +54 in the Visayas (68% satisfied, 14% dissatisfied) and +52 in Mindanao (67% satisfied, 15% dissatisfied).
President Aquino III’s “starting score” matched that of Fidel V. Ramos’ whose initial satisfaction rating was pegged at +66 in September 1992.
The President’s mother, Corazon C. Aquino garnered +53 in May 1986, while Joseph Ejercito Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo got +60 (Sept. 1998) and +24 (March 2001), respectively.
For his part, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said, “the President’s social contract with the Filipino people is being implemented in ways our fellow citizens see and feel in their daily lives.”
He stressed that the latest SWS survey should serve as a “reminder” to the Cabinet “to stay focused on reforms needed to make opportunities for fighting corruption and lowering poverty a reality." (PCOO)
