CAAP Employees in 16 PH Airports Drug-free

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) employees from 16 major airports around the country tested negative to drugs.

In line with the Duterte administration’s anti-drug efforts and as part of DOTr and CAAP’s campaign for a drug-free workplace, the agency’s Office of the Flight Surgeon and Aviation Medicine (OFSAM) conducted random drug testing from February 7 to May 4 this year where 2,187 employees from the 16 airports took part.

The drug tests are done yearly in accordance to Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, as well as the Civil Service Commission’s memorandum circular 13 (series of 2010), calling for a drug-free workplace, and the Philippine Civil Aviation Regulation on Psychoactive Testing and Reporting that requires drug testing on airport personnel.

Among the major airports tested were Davao International Airport and Laguindingan Airport in which 298 and 264 CAAP employees respectively, tested negative to illegal drugs.

The rest of the 16 participating airports include: Tuguegarao Airport (86), Laoag International Airport (107), Cebu-Mactan International Airport (93), Kalibo International Airport (136), Dumaguete Airport (83), General Santos International Airport (136), Puerto Princesa International Airport (153), Zamboanga International Airport (127), Iloilo International Airport (260), Tagbilaran Airport (108), Plaridel Airport (52), Tacloban Airport (121), Roxas Airport (72), and Surigao Airport (91).

The random drug tests are also in accordance to CAAP’s mission of ensuring a safe, secure, and green Philippine skies.

“We remain true to our commitment to rid our workplace of people not only involved in corruption, but also in drugs. Ayaw ng Pangulo ‘yan. Ayaw natin yan. Such illegal activities shall not be tolerated under our watch. Pasensyahan tayo kung mahuli kayo,” DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

The aviation regulator manages 86 airports nationwide while four others are controlled by other airport authorities—the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Subic Bay International Airport, Clark International Airport and Cebu-Mactan International Airport.

As the Philippines’ aviation safety oversight mechanism, CAAP is responsible for providing safe and efficient air transport and regulatory services in the country. Stationed at the Old MIA Road in Pasay City and in 12 area centers around the Philippines, CAAP employs approximately 6000 employees.

Tugade Suspends DOTr-CAR Top Officials for Alleged Corruption

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Transportation (DOTr), through Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Procurement Reinier Paul Yebra, yesterday served a ninety (90) day suspension order against two (2) top officials of the DOTr-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), who have allegedly committed grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service and gross neglect of duty.

In separate letters served through Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Tim Orbos, LTFRB Chairman Martin B. Delgra III, and LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante, the DOTr filed formal charges and imposed preventive suspension against DOTr-CAR Regional Director Atty. Jesus Eduardo Natividad and Assistant Regional Director Datu Mohammad Abbas. 

According to reports evaluated by DOTr, Natividad allegedly demanded and accepted money in exchange for a favorable decision relative to applications for the issuance of Certificates of Public Convenience (CPC). He is also being investigated for purportedly requiring district heads for monthly remittances.

Complaints say that apart from his frequent absences, the Regional Director likewise failed to perform his duty in the conduct of operations against colorum vehicles. 

Meanwhile, Abbas apparently extorted money in exchange of the release of impounded vehicles. A complaint was also filed against him by a certain Regina Migano for gun brandishing and toting.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade emphasizes his “ZERO TOLERANCE” for corruption in the Department.

“Hahaba at hahaba ang listahan ng mga masisibak sa Departamentong ito hangga’t hindi niyo itinitigil ang mga iligal na aktibidad. Maraming ulo na ang gumulong. Hindi ko kayo panghihinayangan lalo’t anay kayo na sumisira sa imahe ng mga tapat na naglilingkod sa gobyerno,” said Tugade.

Since the Transportation Chief assumed office, a number of officials were dismissed and others are being thoroughly investigated for involvement in corruption and other illegal activities.

“Opisyal o ordinaryong empleyado, kung magnanakaw sa taong bayan o sisira sa imahe ng buong departamento, pasensyahan talaga tayo,” Sec. Tugade added.

The respondents were given seventy two (72) hours to submit verified answer pending formal investigation. Further, the alleged violations of the two officials, if found guilty, will merit the penalty of dismissal from service.

In the interim, the DOTr Management shall designate Officers-In-Charge (OICs) to ensure that the responsibilities of the vacated offices will be efficiently performed.

Leon Gallery Announces the Spectacular Mid-Year Auction 2018

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Leon Gallery set the date for its much-awaited, scintillating Spectacular Mid-Year Auction 2018 on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at its Eurovilla I showrooms on Legaspi Street, Legaspi Village.

Headlining the must-have masterpieces are an exquisite Lorenzo Guerrero of life along the Pasig River. Guerrero, who became most famous as the mentor of the brilliant and internationally-celebrated Juan Luna, was also a wonderful painter in his own right. He was educated by the foremost Spanish instructors at the Manila academia : Manuel de la Cortina, who was himself a graduate of the Madrid art academy and his successor Nicolas Valdez. Guerrero, in fact, was to become the teacher of Manila’s finest artists, from Simon de la Rosa Flores and his nephew Fabian de la Rosa, Felix Martinez and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, Telesforo Sucgang, Felix Pardo de Tavera, and Jorge Pineda to name a few stellar painters who passed through the portals of the legendary art school.

A 1917 work by one of Guerrero’s star pupils, Fabian de la Rosa, of a charming pair of ponies in a stableyard, provides an interesting behind-the-scenes look of a Manila home, at a time when horses were more common than automobiles.

Fernando Amorsolo — who happened to be Fabian de la Rosa’s nephew — is also in the spotlight with several riveting and early works : A post-war procession outside the ruins of the Antipolo church; works from the Thirties, Forties and Fifties, from an orange-streaked sunset scene by the water to glorious country scenes “Under the Mango Tree”  and by a waterfall. The works are all the collections of several distinguished Manila families. A rare urban scene of the massive Ynchausti Rope Factory is a unique view of Manila in the 1920s.

Scintillating Jose Joyas, one ante-dating his historic participation in the Venice Biennale (the Philippines’ first in that august art fair); others from his halcyon years in the 1970s.

Other mid-century moderns include Vicente Manansala with a superb work dated 1949 that speaks allegorical almost in a style more typical of Carlos “Botong” Francisco : a trio of women pound rice, in a variety of Filipino costumes, while men pile grain in tall mountains. In the background, a sunlit landscape which suggests the Benguet rice terraces and in the foreground, a large carabao. Another work, datelined Paris, portrays a grieving mother at a child’s bier.
Arturo Luz, Ang Kiukok, and Romeo Tabuena are likewise represented, as are Juvenal Sanso, Oscar Zalameda, Lao Lianben, Malang, and Federico Aguilar Alcuaz.

An finely-proportioned ‘comoda’ with original marquetry in a floral design, an imposing Sheraton sideboard, and a ‘Mariposa’ butterfly sofa are just some of the impressive furniture to be included in the June sale.

Among the collectible memorabilia, the country’s most iconic heroes are represented. There is a bread-and-butter note (dated 1891) from the Philippine National Hero Jose Rizal to the Scottish millionaire Don Alejandro S. Macleod who had thrived in Manila.

Letters from various historical personalities to Teodora Alonso are also available in a single lot, including a Rizal family recipe, and more piquantly, the court documents of the suit brought against Rizal’s mother and her brother. Her unjust persecution greatly influenced Rizal’s nationalism.

Most explosive is the narration of Gregoria de Jesus of the last days of Andres Bonifacio as well as a dagger bearing the markings of the Katipunan. This document, while having been featured in works on the Philippine Revolution has never been revealed in full previously and is certainly one of a kind. A rare autographed photograph of the Lakambini of the KKK (dedicated to the journalist  Jose P. Santos) and a letter to Emilio Jacinto complete the historical offerings that will fascinate the collector and every patriot.

Apropos, a BenCab of Rizal’s last days in Fort Santiago — and featuring excerpts of his “Ultimo Adios” is also a highlight, alongside an appealing work from his “Larawan” series, inspired by turn-of-the-century Philippine photographs.

From the contemporary artists, exciting works by Ronald Ventura, Marcel Antonio, Jon Jaylo, Danilo Dalena, Emmanuel Garibay, Edwin Wilwayco, Manuel Ocampo (with a grim Christmas work) and Jose John Santos III are also featured. The Santos work echoes the themes in the rest of the auction of women of the Philippine Revolution : The painting juxtaposes ladies in traditional Filipino wear with Cretan friezes, a view of a bahay na bato through an archway, and a fragment of an antique door.