CAAP, MIAA to defer charges for take-off, landing, and parking fees of local airlines amid COVID-19 threat

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade has instructed the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to defer payment for take-off, landing, and parking fees of local airlines to cushion the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the airline industry.

“We are in a situation that is not of our own liking nor of our own making. There is an emergency. Can the government not do things that can assuage the emergency? We need to extend our arm to all. Let it not be said that we did not do a thing,” Secretary Tugade said.

In a press briefing held earlier today, 09 March 2020, both MIAA and CAAP have stressed that the decision was made to extend help to airlines amid the decrease of airline passengers, and flights due to COVID-19.

CAAP Director General Jim Sydiongco shared: "Sa CAAP, we have considered deferring payment on parking and landing while there is a threat of COVID-19."

Local airlines operating in MIAA, and under CAAP are covered by the order.

MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal said deferred charges for local carriers total about P58-million a month. Local airlines operating under CAAP will save P37-million a month in terms of deferred take-off, landing, and parking fees. The airlines will pay the deferred charges once the COVID-19 threat in the country is lifted.

"We're seeing about P58-million a month in terms of expenses that will cover take-off, landing, parking sa NAIA. Deferred payment lang po muna ang ie-extend natin. Hangga't nandyan po ang COVID-19 ipapatupad po natin 'yan."

"Mayroon kaming scheme na ipapatupad. Magkakaroon kami ng time to revisit and evaluate on how we can recover," GM Monreal added.

When asked on the length of the deferment, DG Sydiongco said, "Tinitingnan natin kung paano silang makaka-recover that's why we're talking about over a year of deferment and over a year of payment."

Aside from the deferment of fees, the aviation and airports sector is also encouraging airlines to help boost local tourism.

Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla said the CAB will be encouraging airlines to servive local destinations to promote local tourism and "at least cut the losses of the airlines."

Meanwhile, GM Monreal also assured airline passengers that the NAIA is being sanitized and disinfected round the clock.

"Every 30-minutes meron pong naglilinis, sa domestic nagdagdag pa po tayo ng thermal scanner," he said.

This was echoed by DOTr Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Atty. Reinier Paul Yebra who said the DOTr has taken a holistic approach in disinfecting all transportation hubs in the country.

For the maritime sector, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has given its directives to ports under its jurisdiction to closely-coordinate with the respective quarantine office and strictly implement passenger screening at arrival areas.

PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said that stringent security measures have been in place especially in areas frequently visited by tourists. Face masks and sanitizers are being distributed to frontline employees.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) likewise advised all medical units in its 13 Coast Guard Districts to be on high alert to block the possible spread of COVID-19.

For the road sector, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), through Memorandum Circular (MC) 2020-005 has mandated all public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and conductors to wear face masks at all times while on duty, and for all franchise holders to ensure compliance.

All terminals have been ensuring proper sanitation and cleanliness in their premises, and have been providing face masks as well as disinfectants or sanitizers for their passengers.

For its part, the railways sector has instructed its station and security frontline personnel to wear appropriate face masks, and ensure that hand sanitizers and soaps are available for use in restrooms as well as in other strategic areas inside stations.

Train interiors and station premises, specifically those that are frequently touched by commuters, are being disinfected on a regular basis.

Periodic announcements of reminders for preventive actions that could help prevent transmission of the virus are being projected in strategic locations.

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a State of Public Health Emergency yesterday, 08 March 2020, following confirmation by the Department of Health of a 10th COVID-19 case in the Philippines.

Under the said declaration, all government agencies and local government units are enjoined to render full assistance and cooperation in the mobilization of necessary resources to contain the COVID-19 threat.

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Fighting Maroons starts preparations, eyes overseas training and tournaments

Wazzup Pilipinas!


The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons look to leverage on the remaining six months before the tip-off to Season 83 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) with scorching off season action.

Fifth year head coach Bo Perasol acknowledged that the off season is key to having a good run in the regular season as players hone their skills and build the all-important chemistry and camaraderie.

“Off-season training is going to be the baseline of how you will do in the regular season. So, whatever it is that you do in the off-season is going to dictate what your season is going to be,” said Perasol, who led the Maroons to back-to-back Final Four appearances in Seasons 81 and 82.

Thanks to staunch UPMBT supporter JJ Atencio of STATS Performance Apparel, the Diliman-based squad has benefited greatly from training camps they’ve attended in Las Vegas and Serbia. UP’s consistent attendance in the skills honing, character building sessions the past two years has helped whip them into competitive shape the past two seasons.


“Training plays a vital part in preparing the players for the season. I personally targeted to come in and sponsor training abroad to help mould the mentality of the group. This is not only for their physical development but also for their mental fortitude; and for them to realize that there is much more to achieve if they set their mind properly,” said JJ Atencio who is also CEO and Chairman of Januarius Holdings Inc.







“The countries we go to are usually places where basketball is big. The development there is way ahead of us, so that is where we benefit from new technologies, new advancements, new ideas, new ways to train,” Bo Perasol said. “Besides looking for training opportunities, we also look to compete in pocket tournaments here and abroad to give us different points of view, a different experience and different kinds of play”.

This time, the Maroons have their sights set on training in other countries. There’s training scheduled in Auckland, New Zealand for a start. But Coach Bo is open to other possibilities.



“The plans are already in place, but they all depend on how fast this (Covid19) virus thing is going to go away. We are going to train and play in Melbourne, Australia as well and we’re also supposed to go to Taiwan. But we’re still on the lookout for more training opportunities that will make us experience a highly competitive tournament before the UAAP starts,” Coach Bo said.


Being the only public school in the UAAP, Perasol admits that UP does not have a big budget to fund the team’s training camps abroad. “That’s why we’re really thankful that JJ Atencio, despite being an alumnus of the Ateneo de Manila University, chose to help UP to the point of being known hereabouts as the “UPMBT’s Training Dude”. He has been supporting and sponsoring the various activities and training camps of the UP Fighting Maroons since UAAP Season 80,” Coach Bo revealed.

Atencio, for his part, looks forward to seeing a more mature and cohesive UPMBT on and off the court. “I expect a team that wouldn’t succumb to the pressure and the unnecessary noise from outsiders – especially those coming from social media.”

He has a wish for this team, Atencio said, “A championship, as the ultimate goal. And to get there, it wouldn’t hurt if they take it one game at a time.”

The UP Fighting Maroons plan to take part in the Fil-Oil Pre-Season Tournament in May and defend their title in the upcoming BLIA Cup in Taiwan this July.

DOTr maps out transportation projects with House lawmakers prior to submission of 2021 proposed budget

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade met with House lawmakers yesterday, 10 March 2020, at the House of Representatives (HoR) to map out transportation projects under the department's 2021 proposed budget appropriations.

This initiative was the result of Secretary Tugade and Majority Leader Martin Romualdez's dialogue last 11 February 2020, with the guidance of House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.

The meeting aims to hear lawmakers' concerns on transportation projects, as well as to discuss with DOTr their transport plans within their districts. In this way, as Secretary Tugade noted, the DOTr can efficiently formulate solutions and strategies to expedite implementation of projects prior to submission of budget proposal to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

“Ngayon, eto, pumunta kami ng buong DOTr dito sa Batasan para makipag-usap sa bawat kongresista. Ilatag natin at i-reconcile ang budget requirement at project. Asahan n’yo, katuwang n’yo kami sa DOTr na maisusulong na ang mga proyekto at pangangailangan ng inyong distrito. Kasi, wala naman ibang mas nakakaalam ng pangangailangan ng lugar nyo kundi kayo mismo,” Sec. Tugade said.

The DBM has asked national government agencies to coordinate with local government units in ensuring that regional plans are aligned with national priorities for next year's proposed budget.

"Sa ganitong sistema na open, transparent, at direct coordination, hindi tayo nagsusulong ng kanya-kanyang interest, kundi ang interest ng mga probinsya, at antimano, ang interest ng bayan,” Secretary Tugade added.

The Transportation chief brought along his team of officials and heads of agencies in the meeting, in order to directly address the queries or points of clarification, as well as to establish rapport with the legislators.

The DBM has issued National Budget Memorandum 133 last 04 December 2019, advising government agencies to start preparing their budget proposals for fiscal year 2021.

The Budget department adds, the call was released earlier to allow agencies to have more time in drafting their programs for next fiscal year which are anchored in the socioeconomic agenda and the Philippine Development Plan (PDP).

It can be recalled that the DOTr received a significantly higher allotment of P100.6-billion (45% higher than the previous fiscal year) in 2020 in order to accelerate the Duterte administration’s massive infrastructure program.

DOTr officials and agency heads were in full force, including Undersecretary for Finance Garry De Guzman, Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Reinier Paul Yebra, Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan, Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Skee Tamayo, Assistant Secretary for Procurement and Project Implementation Giovanni Lopez, Assistant Secretary for Maritime Lino Dabi, Assistant Secretary for Project Implementation for Mindanao Eymard Eje, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Commuter Affairs Goddes Hope Libiran, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Santiago, Office of Transportation Security (OTS) Administrator Raul Del Rosario, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) GM Ed Monreal, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Martin Delgra III, Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla, and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) OIC Administrator Narciso Vingson.