Palace: Bus tragedies a reminder to common
carriers to practice extraordinary diligence
The deadly bus accidents that killed at least 20
people in the last two days should remind public transport operators of their
duty to practice extraordinary diligence, Malacañang said Monday.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda also
assured the riding public the government is enforcing speed limits and other
measures aimed at ensuring their safety.
"I think tragedies like this fully serve to
remind the common carriers that they have an obligation in transportation law,
extraordinary diligence," he said, adding sanctions are imposed upon them
if an accident occurs.
He said Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio
Abaya ordered the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to order
the immediate automatic suspension of all 78 units of Don Mariano Transport
Corp., whose bus figured in an accident at Skyway early Monday.
During the 30-day suspension, LTFRB Chairman
Winston Ginez was instructed by Abaya to investigate the drivers and have them
undergo drug tests, while reviewing the performance record of Don Mariano
Transport Corporation.
Also, Abaya ordered Toll Regulatory Board
executive director Edmund Reyes to review video footage of the Skyway accident
and draw up measures to avoid a repeat of the bus fall from an elevated
tollway.
Lacierda also said the owner of Don Mariano
Transit had indicated she will comply with the directive.
But he also said the government is bound by law
to follow due process before imposing harsher sanctions on the bus operators
involved in deadly accidents.
"We are bound by law. There are processes
involved which we have to follow," he said.
On the other hand, Lacierda said the Palace will
emphasize to Abaya and Ginez to review the speed limits at major thoroughfares
to avoid a repeat of the accident. PND (jl)
Palace: Government doing part to keep prices in
check
Malacañang on Monday maintained the government
is doing its part to keep prices of basic commodities and services in check,
even as it chided a lawmaker for suggesting that people show their rage against
a power rate hike by the Manila Electric Co.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the
government has also managed to keep inflation and prices of fuel at
"manageable" levels.
"You don't give us due credit when prices
of gasoline go down. You forget gas prices go down. We kept inflation at a
manageable rate," he said.
Besides, he said the agency with the power to
approve power rate adjustments is the Energy Regulatory Commission, which he
said is independent of the Executive Department.
"It's very clear it was a decision made by
ERB which is independent of the Department of Energy," he said.
For now, Lacierda said an investigation is
underway to see if there was supposed collusion in Meralco's power rate hike.
Lacierda also said Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV,
who reportedly called for people to rage against power rate hikes, "should
not be so hasty in making general statements."
"I think he should appreciate the fact this
government has managed to keep our prices within inflation... We also have
monitoring of prices on a weekly basis from the Department of Trade and
Industry. Don't make general statements to that effect, give credit where it is
due," he said.
Meanwhile, Lacierda said the Palace is leaving
it to ERC Chairperson Zenaida Ducut whether to resign out of delicadeza, amid
widespread criticism of Meralco's rate hike.
He said it would be a "personal
decision" for Ducut whether to resign from her post.
"We leave that to her personal decision if
she will take a leave or resign," he said. PND (jl)
Palace: PNP knows what to do in wake of mall
jewelry heist
Malacañang on Monday assured the public the
Philippine National Police knows what to do to ensure peace and order,
following the jewelry heist at a mall in Quezon City Sunday evening.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the
PNP is "fully aware" of the possibility of criminals exploiting the
holiday shopping rush to strike.
"Enforcement measures, they've taken this
as part of their duty (during the) holiday season," he said at a media
briefing.
Robbers struck Sunday evening at a mall in
Quezon City, attacking a jewelry shop and making their escape by mixing into
the crowd.
Lacierda said President Benigno S. Aquino III
personally went to the site because he wanted to see the circumstances of the
heist.
"He decided he wanted to see what the
circumstances in the heist in SM North. And I'm sure there will be a proper
investigation," he said. PND (jl)
Energy department to restore power by December
24, Palace says
The Aquino government expressed confidence that
the Department of Energy (DOE) will be able to restore power in the typhoon
Yolanda-stricken areas in the Central Philippines by December 24, a Palace
official said.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said
during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Monday that Energy Secretary
Carlos Jericho Petilla started implementing necessary measures to bring back
the power in the Visayas.
"May areas na na-energize na... He was very
confident when he made that promise. May kumpyansa kami kay Sec. Petilla,"
Lacierda said.
The DOE, along with its attached agencies,
continuously addresses the problem of the energy facilities amid the massive
effect of the typhoon.
Petilla, together with the officials of the
National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and the National
Electrification Administration, drew out all necessary measures to speed up the
mobilization of the rehabilitation efforts in the affected areas, such as
technical people, construction materials and equipments, among others, reports
said.
The NGCP reported that there were a total of
1,959 transmission facilities that were damaged including backbone transmission
lines, steel poles, and a converter station.
To speed up the repairs, the NGCP has been installing
Emergency Restoration Systems in order to replace the transmission lines along
with the continuous rehabilitation of the damaged facilities.
Emergency Restoration Systems are temporary
transmission poles that can last up to 10 years. Permanent poles will be
erected as soon as the power situation in the affected areas stabilizes. PND
(js)
Palace: Government likely to declare ceasefire
with NPAs
As it has done every year, the government is
likely to declare a unilateral Christmas ceasefire with communist rebels this
year, Malacañang said Monday.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda expressed
hopes the Communist Party of the Philippines, NPA and National Democratic Front
would reciprocate the gesture.
"We hope the NPA-CPP-NDF would reciprocate,
but as far as this government is concerned, we have traditionally declared a
unilateral ceasefire every year," he said.
He added the Palace will announce the dates of
the ceasefire once the matter is finalized.
But he also said the ceasefire does not stop
government troops from taking defensive positions "when something
happens."
"It does not stop us from taking defensive
operations when something happens and we need to protect our people," he
said. PND (jl)
