Suzuki Helps Typhoon Lawin Victims

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Suzuki, together with ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya Foundation once again extended their helping hand to our countrymen affected by Typhoon Lawin. This is the 3rd time that Suzuki is working with the foundation in this endeavour – the first two were during typhoons Yolanda and Lando. Suzuki, which is the only integrated motorcycle, automobile and outboard motors company in the country, has been consistent in providing aid to our fellowmen who were stricken by natural disasters. This time, residents of the affected areas will be receiving aid from Suzuki and ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya.

Suzuki Philippines Inc. (SPH) President Mr. Hiroshi Suzuki and Suzuki Foundation Inc. President Mr. Norminio Mojica were present for the turnover of the donation. The donation also includes a collective monetary contribution of SPH employees. Accepting the pledge was ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya’s Program Director Mr. Higino Dungo who in turn handed over the Certificate of Donation from the donee.

Mr. Hiroshi Suzuki shared during the turnover, “We have been distributing automobile, motorcycle and outboard motor products in the Philippines and it is time to give back to the community. We would like to ensure that we help those who are in need especially during these hard times.”

Suzuki Foundation, Inc. President and concurrent Managing Director of Suzuki Philippines, Inc. Mr. Norminio Mojica also conveyed his gratitude towards ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya, “Our partnership with ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya can be traced back in 2013 during typhoon Yolanda and this is our third time in doing this deed. We share the same passion and advocacy of lending a hand to those who are affected by calamities and so here we are fulfilling our commitment to our countrymen. We are also encouraging everyone to extend help. Your contribution will go a long way to rebuild the lives of typhoon affected communities.”

Even before the donation to ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya, Suzuki has already initiated its efforts to address the needs of the motorists affected by Typhoon Lawin through its SHARE Program. SHARE also known as Suzuki Helps Aids and REbuilds is the umbrella program of Suzuki Philippines’ Motorcycle Division in its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. Part of this program is the FREE Service Campaign wherein Free Check-Up, Tune-Up, Oil and Oil Filter are offered to all Suzuki motorcycle owners affected by typhoons. Free snack and limited edition keychain are also provided for participating motorists. The main objective is to ensure that our countrymen commuting ride is working well to aid them recover faster from the onslaught of the typhoon. For Typhoon Lawin, Suzuki tapped the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra and La Union through its 111 dealer branches.

Cash Cab Season 2 Philippines Hits the Road with Celebrity Guests this November on AXN

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Get ready for the ride of your life as Ryan Agoncillo gets back on the road in Season 2 of Cash Cab Philippines premiering November 17, Thursday at 8.30pm.

Cab Cab Season 2 takes you on a wild and exciting journey with celebrity guests including Marc Nelson, Rovilson Fernandez, Epy and Ronnie Quizon, Iza Calzado and Ben Wintle and the Philippine teams from The Amazing Race Asia Season 5 – beauty queens Maggie Wilson-Consunhi and Parul Shah, and married couple Eric and Rona Samson-Tai.

Ryan Agoncillo takes on the role as a cabbie as he picks up unsuspecting passengers and drives them to their destination while asking them trivia questions. Passengers stand a chance to win generous cash rewards but they might be left on the curb if they get too many incorrect answers.

Cash Cab Philippines Season 2, is an AXN original production presented by Petron and Cebuana Lhuillier, premieres November 17, every Thursday at 8:30 pm right before The Amazing Race Asia Season 5.

AXN is seen on Sky Cable Channel 49, Cable Link Channel 38, Cignal Digital TV Channel 61, Global Destiny Cable Channel 61, Dream Channel 20, and GSat Channel 51.

AXN HD is seen on Sky Cable Channel 247.

Senator Risa Hontiveros Pushes for Debt Audit in 2017 Budget

Wazzup Pilipinas!

An audit of loan agreements challenged as illegitimate, fraudulent and/or wasteful was pushed in the proposed P1.9 trillion 2017 national government budget by Senator Risa Hontiveros.

In her maiden budget interpellation on Tuesday, Hontiveros proposed the inclusion in the said budget of a special provision to “hold in trust” interest payments for at least 20 loan agreements pending a thorough review through a congressional debt audit.

Hontiveros assured that debts validated to be aboveboard will continue to be serviced. However, those proven to be illegitimate or riddled with questionable processes, contractual obligations, purposes and use will be subjected to renegotiation and/or repudiation. Subsequently, funds allotted for their payments will be re-channeled to augment the government’s spending for important social services.

“It is only apt that the Duterte government’s first proposed appropriation law dubbed as ‘a budget for real change,' has a specific policy language to safeguard the nation’s coffers from illegitimate loan agreements. It is only common sense that we should not pay what we don’t owe. A congressional debt audit is a step in the right direction to scrutinize these debts and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past,” Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros explained that the country endured paying for illegitimate debts in the past like the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) and the defunct Austrian Medical Waste Incinerator Project. She cited a study by the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) which has identified 20 questionable loan agreements amounting to P 900 million (please see attached) in the proposed 2017 budget. The debt watchdog said that many of the loans came from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the World Bank (WB).

Senator Loren Legarda, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, and principal sponsor of the proposed budget, agreed to a congressional debt audit.

 

“BNPP revival a public health risk”

Meanwhile, Hontiveros opposed the government’s plan to revive BNNP, saying it poses a serious risk to public health. She said that one of the primary consequences of radiation exposure is DNA damage while long term risks include an increased probability of contracting thyroid cancer and leukemia. The senator also argued that nuclear experts couldn’t provide a fail-safe measure to dispose of nuclear waste.

Hontiveros added that the proposed revival of the BNPP runs contrary to the prevailing attitudes of more experienced nations regarding the future of nuclear energy.

“In the wake of the Fukushima disaster, Germany, through its Energiewnede program, has pledged to fully close all of its nuclear energy plants by 2022. The risks to human health and the environment cannot be overstated. We live in an age where our actions directly shape the natural world. Our existing laws such as the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 represents our commitment to renewable energy and increase its share in our energy mix.”