Quezon City News March 2019

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Quezon City - Archived News

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The Founder Manuel Quezon
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Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.



Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

PNP-HPG to deploy 300 personnel for traffic enforcement

By Aerol John Pateña (With reports from Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)

MANILA -- The Philippine National Police- Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) will deploy some 300 personnel in Metro Manila and other nearby regions to support the operation of the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (I-ACT) against illegally-franchised or “colorum” public utility vehicles (PUVs) and illegally parked vehicles.

This, as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) signed a commitment with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to designate the PNP-HPG as its enforcement arm on Monday.

The commitment, which was signed by DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade and DILG Secretary Eduardo Año, authorizes the PNP-HPG to enforce traffic rules and regulations in Metro Manila and surrounding regions in support of the operations of I-ACT.

“I am pleased to announce the signing of Memorandum of Agreement by and between the Philippine National Police, Department of Transportation, MMDA, Metro Manila Council, LTO, LTFRB and Coast Guard to further strengthen the enforcement capabilities of the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic or I-ACT, through the support of the Department of the Interior and Local Government,” said PNP chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde, in his address during the signing ceremony held at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

The PNP-HPG personnel will be deployed to the National Capital Region and Regional Units that will provide logistical mobility support to the enforcement operations of I-ACT.

The HPG will coordinate with the DOTr and its attached agencies, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), in ensuring the effective implementation of the agreement.

It will likewise provide 24 mobile cars and 82 motorcycle units, while personnel - as well as all mobile cars and motorcycle units of I-ACT's member agencies namely the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and its secretariat - will likewise be deployed.

PNP-HPG chief, Brig. Gen. Roberto Fajardo, warned that it will clear major thoroughfares of illegally parked vehicles in coordination with I-ACT and issue citation tickets to motorists for illegal parking.

"Ito kasi ang problema, this needs the help of the LGUs (local government units). Kasi kapag nag-operate kami with i-ACT pag-alis namin nandiyan yung barangay captain bumabalik kasi pinagkakakitaan ng LGUs (local government units). (The problem is, this needs the help of the LGUs. Because after we have conducted our operations with I-ACT there is the barangay captain they only come back because the LGUs are profiting from these)," said Fajardo in an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the event.

"Now it's time to put a stop and we will do it together with your help. Pagtulungan natin, we need the report, we need your help," he added.

Meanwhile, Tugade said utilizing the resources of the PNP-HPG in traffic enforcement will help instill discipline on the roads.

"The President said: Give us a comfortable life. We are here today to serve the Filipino and ensure that they will have a comfortable life. And we will inculcate that comfortable life through enforcement and discipline on the road, and through proper compliance of the law," according to Tugade.

The DOTr will designate an I-ACT Task Force Chief who will be responsible for the deployment of PNP-HPG personnel and logistical support in their respective posts.

An Inter-Agency Technical Working Group shall be established within 30 days upon the effectivity of the Commitment to draft the implementing guidelines.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it will deploy 25 personnel to support the enforcement operations of I-ACT upon the directive of Tugade.

The PCG personnel graduated from their LTO training in preparation for their field assignment just this month while another batch of PCG personnel is set to undergo training within the next few weeks.

The I-ACT has apprehended more than 846 illegally operating PUVs and issued citation tickets to more than 8,346 motorists for various traffic violations last year.

QC exec inks pact for women's welfare

By Perfecto Raymundo, Jr. (PNA)

MANILA -- Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte signed on Friday a covenant pledging to uphold women's rights and welfare in time for Women's Month.

“Maaasahan po ninyo ako na ako ang unang titindig para sa mga programang kailangan ng kababaihan sa ating lungsod (You can rely on me that I will be the first to stand for the programs needed by women in our city),” Belmonte said during the Quezon City Women Convention.

The vice mayor vowed to implement the programs listed on the Quezon City Community Women Leaders Federation’s 10-point agenda which includes district hospitals with specialty clinic for women illnesses and mental health; district colleges or technical vocational center with state-of-the-art facilities; and a livelihood training and showcase center for the women entrepreneurs.

Belmonte also pledged to create shelters and homes for abandoned senior citizens; special discount and privileges for solo parents and persons with disabilities; a health and wellness center; free maintenance medicines; scholarship and financial grants; child-minding centers; a 24-hour emergency hotline; and a holistic anti-drug education campaign.

She gave assurances to the members of the federation that the 10-point agenda signed are already in her platforms of governance while some are already included in the ordinances passed by the Quezon City Council.

“To all may fellow women, keep the faith and keep up the good work. Let’s maintain our being champion and spread even more our advocacy to our neighbors for as long as there are women being abused, women not provided with service, and their problems are not addressed. It’s all our right so let’s fight for it,” Belmonte said in her message to all the Filipino women struggling for their rights.

The Quezon City local government has lined up programs for the women’s month celebration, including a month-long free breast and cervical cancer screening and a dance competition for women with the theme: “We Can Make Change for Women.”

QC promotes early detection of breast, cervical cancer

By Perfecto Raymundo, Jr. (PNA)

MANILA -- The Quezon City local government launched on Wednesday a free breast and cervical cancer screening caravan, together with the Philippine Cancer Society, that will provide services in different barangays in the city as part of the celebration of National Women’s Month.

Quezon City has 142 barangays (villages) with some three million residents.

“The Quezon City local government has a partnership with the Philippine Cancer Society and they will help us to make sure that those who will be detected positive will receive the care and treatment they need until they are fully healed,” Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

“Take advantage of this program by our city, and have your selves checked and examined. And we assure you that if you show symptoms or if you have these illnesses, we will take care of you until you totally recover,” she added.

Belmonte said it is her personal advocacy to promote women health care, citing that, her late mother, Betty Go-Belmonte had breast cancer which led to various complications and her death in 1994.

“Alam ko maraming kababaihan na takot magpakonsulta sa doctor dahil baka positive sa cancer. Pero iyon nga ang importanteng diyan, malaman agad kung positive dahil almost 99 percent naman ang survival rate nito kung matutukoy lang kaagad (I know many women are afraid to consult with a doctor because they may be positive of cancer. But that’s what’s important there, to immediately know if they are positive because the survival rate is almost 99 percent if it’s immediately detected),” Belmonte said.

She also bared plans of founding a special center for women in the hospitals in the city that will specifically address different health concerns of women.

Democracy Museum opens in QC

By Susan G. De Leon (PIA InfoComm)

QUEZON CITY (PIA) — A new museum that emphasizes the ordinary Filipinos’ contribution in achieving freedom and democracy was recently opened in this city.

Aptly named ‘Museo ng Demokrasyang Pilipino’, the museum which is located at the Quezon Memorial Circle, focuses on the role of ordinary citizens in historic revolutions and wars that eventually led to the establishment of the Philippine republic.

It showcases the strength of “people power” over the last two centuries, including women and labor groups as well as indigenous movements.

“This museum is indeed the symbol of democracy that emanated in Quezon City,” Herbert Bautista, Quezon City mayor said.

The museum provides a timeline that begins with the Basi Revolt in 1807 to the ‘Million People March’ in 2013.

It also demonstrates the variety of people power uprisings in the last two centuries, including the beginning of women movements, labor unions, indigenous religion-driven rebellions, and events like the walk-out of Commission on Elections tabulators in protest of election manipulation in 1986.

The museum also exhibits collections of images, documents, and objects relevant to the Philippine democracy such as sets of wooden printing press equipment used by Katipunan revolutionaries and World War 2 guerillas, EDSA People Power memorabilia, documents of the Sakdal Movement, and the Philippine Independent Church’s early materials.

Bautista said, the Museo ng Demokrasyang Pilipino is envisioned as a multiple site museum to be developed in several locations within QC.

“There are various places in QC that we can’t just put marker on, but must be commemorated with community museums,” Bautista added, referring to several barangays in the city that took part in achieving freedom and democracy.

The museum structure is a replica of the home of Presidents Corazon Aquino and Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and their immediate family in Times Street, Quezon City.

DND, AFP, PEZA ink pact on reserve corps training

By Priam Nepomuceno (PNA)

MANILA -- Ranking defense and military officials on Tuesday inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) on the conduct of reserve corps training for the agency's personnel, in line with the ongoing efforts to beef up the country's reserve force.

The MOA was signed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Rozzano Briguez and PEZA chair Charito Plaza, who is also a reservist brigadier general at the Social Hall, DND main building, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

The agreement provides that the Armed Forces of the Philippines will facilitate the conduct of Special Basic Citizen Military Training and allow the enlistment of PEZA employees into the Reserve Force, AFP public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato said.

It further states that future PEZA reservists will be utilized primarily for security and disaster response during calamities and for community services and development.

QC kicks off fire prevention caravan

By Perfecto Raymundo, Jr. (PNA)

MANILA -- Amid the several fire incidents in Quezon City, including a huge fire that affected 450 families in Barangay San Antonio, the Quezon City local government launched Tuesday the community-based fire awareness program that aims to educate residents on basic fire prevention measures.

Together with the Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Red Cross, Bureau of Fire Protection, Meralco, and Quezon City Social Services Development Department, the city government will hold weekly seminars on fire awareness and electrical safety tips in various barangays.

During the launching, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte expressed her frustration on the number of fire cases happening in Quezon City since January this year.

"Naisip nating isagawa ito dahil halos araw-araw simula Enero lagi tayong may sunog sa ating lungsod. Kakaiba ang dami ng sunog na nararanasan natin mula nang mga nagdaang buwan (We thought to conduct this because almost every day since January we always have fire incident in our city. The number of fires which we have been experiencing in the past months is different)," Belmonte said in an interview.

"Nagtataka ako bakit ganoon na sa isang maliit na pagkakamali tulad ng electrical connection, naiwang kalan, at kandila ang dami-dami nang naapektuhang buhay, damay-damay ang lahat. Nakakalungkot (I’m wondering why in such a small fault such as electrical connection, unattended gas stove and candle, the extent of damage is too much. It's just sad)," she said.

Belmonte stressed the importance of awareness on fire prevention measures, saying fire incidents could be avoided if the people know the danger of illegal electrical connections and the different fire hazards.

Meanwhile, Belmonte bared the internal administrative challenges of the city where the financial assistance for fire victims takes at least six months before it can be distributed.

"May nakarating sa akin na 16 na signatures daw ang kailangan bago makarating 'yung financial assistance sa mga nasunugan. Dapat alisin 'yung 15 doon nang sa gayon maibigay agad ang kailangang tulong (Information that reached me said 16 signatures are needed before the financial assistance reaches the fire victims. Those 15 signatures should be removed so that the needed assistance will be immediately given)," Belmonte said.

DMCI bets big on QC's real estate potential

(PR)

MANILA -- Convinced that Quezon City is still the next big thing in the real estate industry, DMCI Homes is poised invest even more in the former Philippine capital this year to expand its presence in the area.

Dennis Yap, DMCI Homes assistant vice president for project development, said the company is planning to launch at least two more residential condominium projects in Quezon City this year in anticipation of a robust housing demand spurred by upcoming government infrastructure projects.

“Strong reservation sales of our ongoing projects indicate immense interest in the Quezon City property market and we are optimistic that the trend will continue in the coming years,” Yap said.

One of DMCI Homes’ planned new developments is a single-tower resort-inspired development in Mapalad Street, Roosevelt Avenue called Cameron Residences.

Located right in the middle of Quezon City, the 45-story residential tower is intended to offer strategic takeoff point going to top universities, business districts, leisure zones, medical facilities, government institutions, and nature parks in the former Philippine capital.

“At present, we have three ongoing residential condominium projects in Quezon City, all of which are almost sold-out. All in all, we have 12 projects in the city which makes it the biggest host of our projects in Metro Manila,” Yap said.

Property consultancy firms have urged developers to explore the residential potential of Quezon City which is seen to be the biggest recipient of the potential opportunities arising from the “Build, Build, Build” program of the national government.

Colliers International, for one, named the Metro Manila Subway project as the undertaking that would benefit the city the most since it will host seven of the 13 proposed stations namely Mindanao Avenue, Tandang Sora, North Avenue, Quezon Avenue, East Avenue, Anonas, and Katipunan.

Aside from the subway project, also anticipated to improve foot traffic in the largest and most populated city in Metro Manila is the ongoing construction of the MRT-7 railway system which travels from San Jose del Monte, Bulacan to North Avenue in Quezon City as well as the Skyway extension project which is anticipated to cut travel time to Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati from two hours to less than 30 minutes.

Courtesy seats await PWDs, pregnant women, elderly in QC

By Perfecto Raymundo, Jr. (PNA)

MANILA -- Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista on Tuesday approved an ordinance that orders courtesy seats for persons with disability (PWDs), pregnant women and senior citizens in all private and public establishments.

Authored by Councilors Donato Matias and Franz Pumaren, Ordinance 2804 series of 2018, states that courtesy seats in all establishments in Quezon City must be provided to give PWDs, pregnant women, and senior citizens more comfort and safety.

“Despite the existence of national laws and other ordinances establishing special lanes and other privileges for the said sectors, there is still a need to extend additional reasonable accommodation in all private and public establishments in keeping up with their special needs and concerns,” the measure said.

“All establishments will also have to provide courtesy seat signage,” it added. When the designated seats are occupied by other persons, they are to give up their seats, the new ordinance provides.

Owners, managers, and operators of private establishments who fail to implement the new policy shall receive a notice of warning for the first offense.

A PHP5,000 fine and/or a six-month suspension of business permit on the second offense and a PHP5,000 fine and/or revocation of business permit on the third offense shall be meted out to establishments found in violation of the ordinance.

All government institutions within the city shall also receive a warning from the Quezon City Office for Senior Citizens Affairs, Persons with Disability Affairs Office and the Social Services Development Department for the first offense and corresponding penalties for subsequent offenses.

SSS chief eyes members' contribution hike by Q2

By Joann Villanueva (PNA)

MANILA – Social Security System (SSS) President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Emmanuel Dooc expects the increase in members contribution to be implemented by April or May, once the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) are put in place.

In an interview at the sidelines of the public consultation on the Social Security Act of 2018 at the SSS office along East Avenue in Quezon City Monday, Dooc explained that increase in the contribution rates “will require further discussion” as well as resolution of the Social Security Commission.

He said the next meeting of the Commission is scheduled on March 14, 2019.

The agenda for the said meeting has yet to be determined, he said, but expressed hope that the contribution rate increase will be taken up.

“I hope it will be within the first half of the year…maybe April or May,” he said when asked when he thinks the adjustment will transpire.

IRR of the Social Security Act is now in the final stage. It is required to be in place 90 days after the effectivity of the law, which falls on Tuesday, March 5, 2019.

Under the said law, the SSS can increase the contribution by one percentage point every other year until it becomes 15 percent. To date, the contribution rate is 11 percent.

Seminar for MSMEs in QC on March 6

By Ma. Cristina Arayata (PNA)

MANILA -- The Department of Science and Technology-National Capital Region (DOST-NCR) will conduct a seminar for micro, small, medium enterprises (MSMEs) on Wednesday (March 6) in Quezon City, which is aimed at helping them have a more organized and efficient workplace.

The seminar, dubbed as the "Japanese 5S Workshop," seeks to address the MSMEs' needs in maintaining and sustaining an organized workplace for improved efficiency, a DOST-NCR staff told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) through email on Monday.

In this seminar, participants will be taught five organization methods that use five Japanese words namely seiri (sort), seiton (set in order), seiso (shine), seiketsu (standardize) and shitsuke (sustain).

This is not the first time that the DOST-NCR will conduct this kind of seminar.

Seminars are being facilitated by the DOST-NCR staff and trained in-house experts.

According to DOST-NCR, it would accommodate as many participants as it can.

This seminar is open to any interested MSMEs, although priority will be given to those from the NCR.

"DOST regional offices have similar activities and programs to cater to MSMEs in their respective regions," the staff explained.

Meanwhile, interested MSMEs may visit eventbrite.com to register for the seminar.

DILG now ISO 9001:2015, PRIME-HRM Bronze Awardee

By Jerome Carlo R. Paunan (PIA InfoComm)

QUEZON CITY (PIA) -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has been conferred the ISO 9001:2015 standard certification for its Quality Management System (QMS), as well as the Bronze Award for the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management (PRIME-HRM).

“The ISO re-certification and the CSC Bronze Award are rewards for the DILG Central Office which have worked so hard to gain these recognitions. We remain committed to continuously raise the bar of quality services and to promote people excellence. My challenge to all of you as your SILG is to not let your excellence stop here. Be proactive, be bold, be dynamic, be patriotic,” DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said during an awarding ceremony held at the DILG-Napolcom Center recently.

Now ISO 9001:2015 certified, the Department’s ISO certification was conferred after having passed the passed the stage 2 audit carried out by third-party auditors AJA Registrars held recently.

“The ISO re-certification was a good way for DILG-CO to put into perspective not only the Quality Management System (QMS) that defines its services but also our very own values and our best practices. It has taken hard work and teamwork, to sync all the 80 QMS enrolled processes for success. The underlying dedication to our quality policy and to client satisfaction is a testament to how we are here in the DILG – matino, mahusay, at maaasahang kagawaran para sa mapagkalinga at maunlad na pamahalaang lokal,” Año said to the personnel and Top Officials present during the activity.

The DILG-CO was recommended for new certification, which covered 80 QMS enrolled processes composed of 19 core processes, 43 support processes, three management processes, 11 performance evaluation processes, three improvement processes, and 1 control of nonconforming output process, all of which were documented and implemented. The ISO 9001: 2015 standard is valid until 2021.

The DILG CO has established its Quality Management System (QMS) since 2015 and received its first ISO certification in August 2016. The initiative was in compliance with EO 605 directing all government offices to implement QMS that will institutionalize structures, mechanism, and standards in government to ensure quality in systems and processes in government operations.

The establishment, implementation, and certification of QMS is also a condition set for the Support to Operations by the Interagency Task Force on the Harmonization of National Government Performance Monitoring Information and Reporting Systems, for an agency to be eligible for the Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) of government.

“The top management’s commitment to quality policy paved the way for the DILG CO’s effective preparation for the actual third-party certification audit. There are also ongoing efforts for individual ISO certification in all the Regional Offices of the DILG to ensure quality processes and programs within the DILG are documented and synchronized with the processes at the Central Office,” DILG Assistant Secretary Ester A. Aldana, the DILG-CO’s Deputy Quality Management Representative (DQMR) said.

A total of eight (8) DILG Regional Offices have also been conferred the ISO 9001:2015 certification, namely: Regional Offices 1, 2, 7, 9, 10, Calabarzon, MIMAROPA, and the National Capital Region (NCR).

DILG’s HRM has reached Bronze-level maturity

Another achievement is the DILG Central Office’s recent conferment of the CSC PRIME-HRM Maturity Level 2 or the Bronze Award. Aside from the award, a Certificate of Recognition for the human resource excellence from the Civil Service Commission (CSC) as a result of the Department’s efforts to promote human resource or people excellence within its agency.

“I am happy to note that we have also received the Bronze Award in the CSC’s PRIME-HRM Program, making the DILG one of only two national government agencies awarded the CSC Bronze Award Category,” says Secretary Año.

Año says the DILG-CO is grateful to the CSC for recognizing the DILG through its PRIME-HRM program. The DILG will continue to work towards efficient and effective public service delivery.

PRIME-HRM is a mechanism that empowers government agencies by developing and assessing their HR management competencies, systems, and practices towards HR excellence.

The DILG Central Office was recognized in the four pillars of HR, namely, Recruitment, Selection, and Placement; Learning and Development; Performance Management: Rewards and Recognition.

Aside from the Central Office, four (4) DILG Regional Offices namely; Regions 2, 3, 5 and 6, have fully met the PRIME-HRM Maturity Level II indicators in all four (4) HR systems, while Regions 7 & 8 have met two (2) of the 4 HR systems.

On the other hand, other regions have either fully met two (2) of the PRIME-HRM Maturity Level II indicators (regions 7 & 8), undergone the onsite assessment and validation (regions 1, 9 & CAR), submitted evidence requirements (regions Calabarzon, MIMAROPA, NCR & 11), and have conducted online and offline self-assessment (regions 10, 12 & CARAGA).

The DILG CO passed the CSC checklist for Level 2 criteria aside from notable points like availability of recruitment plan, staffing plan, the functionality of committees like Grievance and Merit, among others.

Based on CSC guidelines, PRIME-HRM Maturity level assessment includes competency level or the capabilities of the HRM Office using proficiency indicators, the systems level which involves evaluation of policies, processes, procedures, and tools used by the HRM, and the practices level, where the agency is assessed on the actual implementation of its HR systems.

PDEA to use barcoding system on seized drug evidence

By Susan G. De Leon (PIA InfoComm)

QUEZON CITY (PIA)--The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is set to implement an automated inventory system of confiscated pieces of drug evidence through the use of barcodes.

Known as PDEA Evidence Inventory and Information System, or PEIIS, the project is nationwide in scope and will be put in place in forensic laboratories of PDEA National and Regional Offices.

“The PEIIS aims to provide additional security features and preserve the integrity and evidentiary value of seized drug evidence received in its custody during legitimate anti-drug operations. The system also lays a framework in achieving an organized data collection program for speedy and accurate documentation and accounting of evidence,” said PDEA Director General Aaron N Aquino.

The PDEA Laboratory Service under Director Derrick Arnold Carreon and Information and Technology Management Division (ITMD) of the Plans and Operations Service (POS) under Director Maharani Gadaoni-Tosoc, are the driving forces behind the PEIIS project, which started in July 2017 and completed in January 31, 2019.

According to Aquino, chief chemists and evidence custodians of laboratory facilities in 17 PDEA Regional Offices across the country, are presently undergoing a three-day familiarization training under Filmetrics Corporation, the same company that developed the online drug inventory system.

“This is the first time in the history of the country that a system was developed to barcode confiscated drug evidence. This makes PDEA the first government agency to utilize such system of tagging of evidence,” he added.

The PEIIS, Aquino said, will address questions on the integrity of drug evidence, issues on recycling, and the manner of safekeeping, quantity and destruction of evidence.

“PEIIS is only a part of our continuing capability enhancement program for safekeeping of drug evidence. As the lead agency in the country’s anti-drug campaign, the integrity of

PDEA in safekeeping of all pieces of drug evidence is of paramount importance,” the PDEA chief said.

Globe, Smart, Mislatel back DICT’s common tower policy

By Ma. Alaine P. Allanigue (PIA)

QUEZON CITY (PIA) -- Two of the country's incumbent telecommunication companies and an incoming telco operator have expressed support to a market-driven common and shared passive infrastructure policy, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said.

This, following a recent consultation meeting with representatives from Smart, Globe, and Mislatel Consortium, and some interested tower providers, which already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the DICT.

These are the ISOC Infrastructures, Singapore’s ISON ECP Tower, IHS Towers, Edotco Group, RT Telecom of Malaysia, China Energy Engineering Corp., Aboitiz InfraCapital, MGS Construction, American Tower Corp. (ATC), Frontier Tower Associates Management, Phil Tower Consortium (Global Networks Inc. and JTower Inc.), and the J.S. Cruz Construction and Development, Inc.

The tower firms are required to secure a business contract from the telcos before the government could provide assistance through facilitation of permits, right of way, and other government permits for infrastructure.

The common tower policy, targeted to be finalized within the second quarter of 2019, shall guide the government-led initiative of establishing around 50,000 additional towers across the country to improve the quality of communication services in the Philippines.

There are only 16,000 towers in the country in around 8000 location.

In his editorial piece titled, "Solusyon sa serbisyo ng telco maliwanag na" (The solution for the telco service is now clear), Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the number of existing towers built within the past 20 years is less than half of the estimated 50,000 towers the country needs to provide consumers with dependable telco services.

For his part, DICT Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. said our country has the smallest number of towers considering its land area and population compared to other countries in the region.

The DICT also said having common towers will be more cost-efficient for the telcos.

“We are now telling the telcos: We now have tower companies that are willing to put up the infrastructures for you. They will be the ones to invest in the capex; they will be operating and maintaining these towers. All you have to do is rent from them,” Rio said.

“Shared [passive] facilities through this policy would cut back unnecessary expenses from the telco operators and subscribers will benefit from this. The support of telco operators will be pivotal to the smooth implementation of the common tower policy, which is expected to improve telecommunication services while lowering down its cost,” he added.

Nograles said the goal of the Duterte administration has always been to encourage the construction of more telecommunications towers so that telco services are made more reliable and more secure.

The DICT, meanwhile, requested the telephone companies to submit a list of areas and number of cell sites that their respective operations will need as guide for the policy.

The DICT also notified Common Tower Providers (CTPs) and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to submit their comments, proposals and recommendations for the Common Tower Policy until March 5, 2019.

Aside from the upgrade in communication services, DICT estimates that the common tower initiative would also generate about USD 4.4 billion in new investments, and shall provide additional jobs in the country.