President Aquino inspects Batangas Port as Holy
Week break begins
President Benigno S. Aquino III inspected the
Batangas Port Passenger Terminal on Wednesday as the Holy Week vacation began.
President Aquino arrived at the pier at about 11
a.m. and was received by Batangas Port General Manager Leopoldo Biscocho and
MARINA Administrator Maximo Mejia, Jr.
Upon arrival, the President inspected the
passenger’s help desk, before proceeding to the ticketing booths, passenger and
baggage screening counters, and passenger’s waiting lounge.
He then inspected an outrigger banca docked in the
pier berth located in front of the passenger’s waiting lounge. He also boarded
and inspected a RORO vessel docked at the port.
The President toured both passenger terminals 1
and 2.
In an interview granted to the press following the
inspection, the President expressed his satisfaction over the preparations
being done by port officials and employees.
“So far, wala akong nakikitang dapat bigyan ng
dagdag na pansin,” he said.
He said he was particularly satisfied with the
complete set of life vest he saw at the outrigger banca and the equipment of
the Fastcat ferry.
“Iyong Fastcat, nakaka-impress naman ang kanilang
equipment, tapos ang investments na gagawin, a fleet eventually of 30 that
looked to be very modern. The passengers were all smiling. Nobody approached me
with any complaint,” he said.
Meanwhile, the President said that all concerned
government agencies have also been preparing for the onslaught of Typhoon
Chedeng, which is projected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility on
Wednesday night.
He said National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council Chief Alexander Pama is on top of the situation.
“He (Pama) is a self-starter. Hindi na kailangang
sabihin kung ano ang kailangan niyang gawin. I'm sure he already has the
answers to questions that I am still formulating,” he said. PND (jb)
President Aquino says he will monitor Typhoon
‘Chedeng’ from Bahay Pangarap
President Benigno S. Aquino III said he will check
the progress of Typhoon Chedeng, as it enters the country’s area of
responsibility on Wednesday night or early Thursday.
In an interview in Batangas City on Wednesday, the
President said he would probably stay at Bahay Pangarap in Manila late this
week if the typhoon hits the country.
"But if there is something that needs my
attention, then I will be at the NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council) at Camp Aguinaldo," he told reporters when asked where
he would be monitoring the typhoon.
President Aquino assured that other concerned
government agencies, among them, the Department of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH) and the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), are
closely watching Typhoon Chedeng and are ready to be mobilized once the typhoon
strikes.
The DOTC is keeping an eye on ships leaving the
ports, he said, adding that the department will prevent them from sailing once
Public Storm Warning Signal Number 1 is declared anywhere in the country.
The President further reported that the Department
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has begun prepositioning food packages
and relief goods, especially for Isabela and Quirino.
"The DPWH, I'm sure, will also preposition
equipment, for instance, kung tatamaan ang Cagayan Valley, baka the eye will
pass the area,” he said, noting that Public Works and Highways Secretary
Rogelio Singson and other Cabinet members need not be pushed to do their jobs.
As for Cabinet members who are planning to take
their vacation, the President said he hopes they would think twice and instead
double their efforts in making the necessary preparations as the country gears
up for the typhoon.
On the likelihood of Typhoon Chedeng becoming a
super typhoon, the President said he got word from Science and Technology
Secretary Mario Montejo that it is almost a super typhoon but it is expected to
weaken before entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility and making
landfall between Aurora and Isabela, which is expected on Saturday.
President Aquino said Secretary Montejo has not
yet recommended that a meeting be called regarding the government's response
and preparations, noting that the regular NDRRMC meeting would suffice at the
moment.
He said the DOST chief assured him that he would
get updates on the status of the typhoon. PND (as)
President Aquino makes rounds of seaport, airport,
bus terminals
President Benigno S. Aquino III made the rounds of
seaport, airport and bus terminals on Wednesday to ensure safe travel as
Filipinos trooped to the provinces for the Holy Week break.
After inspecting the Batangas Port Passenger
Terminal on Wednesday morning, the President proceeded to the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport (NAIA) Terminals 1 and 3 to assess preparations for the
influx of people as well as ongoing renovation works in the airport.
Arriving at NAIA Terminal 3 at about 1:51 p.m.,
President Aquino was met by Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of
the Philippines retired Lt. Gen. William Hotchkiss III, Manila International
Airport Authority General Manager Jose Angel Honrado, and NAIA Terminal 3
Manager Engineer Octavio Lina.
Also there at the terminal’s departure area were
the mascot of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and reigning Mister
International Philippines, Police Officer 2 Mariano Flormata, Jr. of the PNP’s
Aviation Security Group.
As he was being briefed by Honrado, the President
inspected Cebu Pacific Air’s check-in counters for departing passengers, as
well as the X-ray machine at the final security check at the departure area.
President Aquino proceeded to the Dignitaries'
Lounge, where he viewed the runway, and the adjacent Presidential Lounge. Both
rooms were newly constructed.
The President then proceeded to NAIA Terminal 1’s
departure area at about 2 p.m., inspecting the X-ray machine areas, check-in
and immigration counters, the arrival area, and the conveyor system.
He was accompanied by Transportation and
Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Public Works and Highways
Secretary Rogelio Singson, Manila International Airport Authority General
Manager Jose Angel Honrado, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
Chairman Francis Tolentino.
When asked by members of the Malacañang Press
Corps if he was satisfied with the preparations made by both Terminals 1 and 3
for the Holy Week exodus, the President said more could be done.
"Hindi ko puwede sabihin satisfied ako.
Siyempre, we are imperfect beings, we can always strive for perfection,"
he said.
Asked to comment on the ongoing work at Terminal
1, the President said there was a commitment to complete the renovation work in
May or June.
He said destroying the entire building and
building a new one would have taken several years.
"We need it for APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation), especially this year, tapos ‘yung Pope’s visit," the
President said, adding that a new terminal would be a big help in boosting
tourist arrivals from 5 million last year to 10 million next year, as planned.
From the airport, the President Aquino continued
his inspection, visiting the JAM Liner bus terminal along EDSA in Kamuning,
Quezon City, where he was welcomed by JAM Liner Operations Manager Jose Aguilo
and Terminal Manager Noel Tionco.
Aguilo and Tionco informed the President of the
bus company’s iBus technology.
According to the JAM Liner website, the iBus is an
advanced passenger information technology with a Global Positioning System
(GPS) that provides passengers helpful information on their travel, including
up-to-the-minute news, entertainment, and WiFi connectivity.
President Aquino inspected two buses equipped with
the new technology installed by the Land Transportation Franchising and
Regulatory Board and then proceeded to the ticketing office and passenger’s
waiting lounge. He also spoke to some passengers at the terminal. PND
(ag/as/jm)
President Aquino urges vehicle owners to follow
policy on use of license plates
President Benigno S. Aquino III has vowed to
implement the law on the use of license plates, advising car dealers and owners
to release and attach the plates to vehicles to avoid being apprehended.
In an interview in Batangas City on Wednesday, the
President said the government has already been able to remedy the concerns on
the license plate backlog.
"Pero 'yung backlog, ginawang dahilan para
hindi kunin ng mga dealers 'yung plaka sa LTO (Land Transportation Office).
Kapag hindi kinuha 'yung plaka, ‘registered no plate available’ ang ilalagay,
exempted sa ating odd-even scheme," he said.
The implementation of the government policy on car
plates is a way of reminding private car owners to attach their plates on their
vehicles, he said.
The President noted that two weeks ago, vehicle
dealers finally got the plates from the LTO, so there is no reason for car
owners not to have new plates on their cars.
"So wala nang dahilan na dapat hindi mo
ikabit 'yung plaka mo. Siguro kung
lahat may sakripisyo doon sa odd-even scheme, kasama ka rin naman dapat doon sa
nagsasakripisyo," he said.
Motorcycle owners are likewise covered by the
government's strict policy on license plates, he said, adding there is also a
huge backlog on motorcycle plates.
Transportation and Communications Secreatry Joseph
Emilio Abaya clarified that it is not a "no plate, no travel" policy
but a "no registration, no travel" one.
“We are just bringing back the enforcement of the
law. No unregistered vehicle
should be plying our streets," Abaya told reporters who accompanied the
President during his inspection of NAIA Terminal 1. PND (as)
