PH, Japan sign 2nd tranche of loan package for Metro Manila Subway Project

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The country’s first underground railway was brought closer to reality yesterday, 27 July 2021, with the formal signing of an additional JPY253-billion (P116-billion) loan package to finance its construction.

The exchange of notes for the official development assistance (ODA) loan was signed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. and Japan Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko.

The second tranche of the project’s ODA loan has an interest rate of 0.10% per annum, is 40 years to pay, and has a 13-year grace period. This follows the first tranche (JPY104.530 billion) of the ODA loan for the subway project, the formal agreement for which was signed on 13 November 2017.

“The Metro Manila Subway will be a shining monument, better yet a state of the art working system attesting to the deep friendship between the Philippines and Japan. Japan holds a pre-eminent role in our government’s infrastructure development agenda, which is a priority of President Duterte’s administration,” Secretary Locsin said.

“I also laud the hard work put in by various Philippine agencies – the Department of Finance, the National Economic and Development Authority, the Department of Transportation, and Secretary Art Tugade (in my long experience the best, most achievement-laden Cabinet Secretary I’ve ever known) – which ensured the realization of this project,” Sec. Locsin added.

“This year marks the 65th Anniversary of the normalization of Diplomatic Relations and 10th Anniversary of Strategic Partnership between Japan and the Philippines. This signing will deepen and strengthen the cooperation and partnership of both countries, and I am happy to sign this Exchange of Notes today,” Ambassador Koshikawa said.

A Build Build Build flagship infrastructure project of the Duterte Administration, the 33-kilometer Metro Manila Subway Project will have 17 stations and aims to cut travel time from North Avenue in Quezon City to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from 1 hour and 10 minutes to just 35 minutes. It will traverse the cities of Valenzuela, Quezon City, Pasig, Makati, Taguig, Parañaque and Pasay. The line will have an initial capacity of up to 1 million passengers per day.

With the project’s financing in place, the construction of the subway line’s first segment is already ongoing with two (2) out of 25 tunnel boring machines already in Manila. Meanwhile, the line’s trains are also ongoing manufacturing, and with all contracts to be awarded before the end of the term of President Rodrigo Duterte.

PWD Student from Occidental Mindoro

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For a 19-year old child from Occidental Mindoro, with or without disabilities, one should not stop in achieving a dream. He may have taken a break for a while but taking the route to success remains his goal. For him, no gender, social status, age and, most of all, disability, is an excuse in pursuing a better life.

Laurence Bernardo, or Inan to his friends, lives in Sitio Kinarasyawan, Barangay Malpalon, Calintaan, Occidental Mindoro. Their family became a beneficiary of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in 2011. His father, Willian works as a part-time construction worker while her mother looks after him. William takes home Php 200.00 to Php 350.00 every day which should suffice to the daily needs and medications of Inan. His brother Freddie also helped with their family expenses.

Inan was born with a Congenital Genu Recurvatum or backward-bending knee. A rare condition where the knee grows backward resulting in a quadruped-like way of walking. “Kaya po ‘yan putik-putik lagi pag-uwi kasi sumasayad ang uniporme. E kaya ‘yung dalawang uniform n’ya, nilalabhan agad. Sya mismo naglalaba”, said Laura.

Inan was once featured in a TV documentary program in 2016. The 14-year old Inan, at that time, told that some kids in their community call him dog, carabao, cow, and monkey. While some went beyond calling him names. “Minsan may nakaaway s’ya, pinagsabihan ko na bakit naman inihian pa si Laurence sa likod. Sinisipa”, said Laura when asked about how other kids treat Inan. Laura also shared about how dogs chase and bark at him. “‘Yung aso kasing dinadaanan niya pagpumupunta s’ya sakin sa bukid, akala sa kanya aso din s’ya. Kaya tinatahulan, hinahabol pa kung minsan”.

Keeping on track

After Inan was featured in a TV documentary, financial assistance and support from different organizations and private individuals were received by his family. The call for assistance initiated by their school principal Efraim Tejada, also contributed to the medical operation of Inan. The Mabuhay Shiner Foundation responded to the call and sponsored the 4.5 million-worth operation of Inan. The Local Government Unit (LGU) Calintaan, through the Municipal Social Welfare Development Office (MSWDO), provided him with transportation to ensure that Inan’s family will no longer have to worry about travelling to and from the hospital. After months of preparation and with the collective support from different organizations, in 2018, Inan underwent the medical operation. This will enable him to walk just like other kids.

While recovering, Inan has to stay in the hospital. This made him worry about school. Instead of dropping out, through the Pantawid Education Focal in his school, Inan was able to catch up with his lessons. “Hindi po ako tumigil nung nasa hospital po ako. Pagdating po doon, binigyan po ako ng module para po masagutan ko po mga pinag-aralan nila [his classmates]. Para po ito makahabol ako. Binibigyan din po ako ng test.”

However, months after the operation, even with a heavy heart, Inan has to stop school and focus on his recovery. Because of this, he was also tagged as Not Attending School (NAS) from 2018 to 2019. But Inan’s mother Laura was concerned about how Inan worried too much about school instead of focusing on his recovery. “Matapang po si Inan. Hinarap po nya ang operasyon at desidido po syang gumaling upang makabalik uli s’ya sa paaralan. Ng nasa normal na syang kalagayan.”

Walking ‘extra’

According to Inan, with his condition, it is hard to keep up with his dream. There are days where he no longer sees school as a way to reach his goal of becoming a teacher. Not being able to attend school for a year also adds up in discouraging him to stop taking his route to success. But the ‘cheer’ from the people who believe in him was made louder. His parents and brother showed their support to Inan. “Pagkagaling nya sa opera ay nagplano po agad syang bumalik sa pag-aaral. Grabe ‘yung suporta ng magulang nya at kapatid kaya ibinili nila agad sya ng gamit sa paaralan. Kaya rin po siguro ang daming tumulong”,said Jonalyn D. Hitchon, Pantawid Pamilya Municipal Link.

A year after the operation, Inan went back to school as he believes that through education, a better future lies ahead of every Pantawid child – a future where opportunities are for all and poverty will no longer be inherited. “Tatapusin ko muna ang pag-aaral ko. Kasi pag sumuko ako, nag-asawa agad ako, kawawa magiging anak ko. Gagapang din sya sa hirap. Ayokong matulad siya sa akin. Mahirap. Sayang”.

With the support and encouragement from everyone, Inan was able to go back to school. He is also now getting himself used to walking and standing up through his feet without using his hands. “Minsan po nadadapa ako. Pero ano po ba ginagawa natin pag nadadapa, ‘di ba po tumatayo?”

For Inan, aside from his determination to finish school, he was able to move forward because he walked ‘extra’. The ‘extra’ is his real feet – the people who cheer and walk with him towards his goal. He believes that he is just a torch that carries inspiration to all and unites everyone. Inan proved that indeed reaching a goal is not just for those who can walk and run but also for those who dream.

PLDT Enterprise powers #PASIG hotline, aids city’s COVID response

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Complementing the initiatives of local government units (LGUs) in fortifying digital technology to manage the pandemic, PLDT Enterprise announced its partnership with the City of Pasig that will extensively interconnect the city and aid in its COVID-19 response initiatives with digital services in a brief partnership launching program last May 2021.

Pasig City has been lauded as one of the model cities in terms of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. To further amplify its efforts, Pasig City has recently availed of PLDT Enterprise’s extensive connectivity and communication services to be used in its offices, vaccination sites, and buses. PLDT Enterprise is also powering #PASIG MyNumber hotline #72744, which will allow its citizens to reach the LGU for emergency and other concerns.

"The City of Pasig was among the first to rise above this COVID situation, with solutions and responses that are innovative yet simple and inclusive - same principles that we uphold at PLDT and Smart. Our network services being a crucial component in our country's COVID-19 response is something that we really take to heart. Working with our government to deliver fast and reliable connectivity that is easily accessible where it is needed such as in your COVID isolation facilities, hospitals, health centers, public offices, is top priority," said Alfredo S. Panlilio, PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications President and CEO.

"This collaboration is important and will remain so even post-pandemic - that is our commitment. We want to sustain this partnership with the goal of economic recovery and a shared vision of the future," Panlilio added.

Vico Sotto, Mayor of Pasig City conveyed his gratitude for the partnership. "It has been a pleasure working with PLDT and Smart. Thank you so much for your partnership and we're looking forward to an even better and more fruitful partnership with you. ‘Yung mga naging proyekto natin talagang malaking tulong po, yung ating internet connectivity sa ating vaccination sites, hindi natin magagawa nang maayos yung vaccination kung hindi dahil sa ating internet connectivity."

“#PASIG and the internet connectivity have been very helpful for us. We're very happy with our partnership. Thank you for your invaluable support," Sotto added.

During the onset of the community quarantine last year, PLDT Enterprise has provided Pasig City with free mobile phones, tracking devices with apps, prepaid loads, and connectivity to help the city manage its COVID response.

"We at PLDT Enterprise are thankful for the trust given to us by the City of Pasig in powering their vaccination sites with our digital solutions. Not only are we able to help the City of Pasig share the latest updates on their COVID response, but citizens are also given easier access to the latest news on public health concerns. Thank you for trusting us in providing you with solutions that can help Pasigueños get information in a fast and reliable way," said Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT President & CEO and SVP & Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups.

As part of its continuing efforts, Pasig City created PasigPass, its QR code-based contact tracing solution. It was the first LGU to have a DOH- and WHO-approved COVID-19 Vaccination Plan, one feature of which is the expanded use of the PasigPass for its vaccination program.

For more information, go to pldtenterprise.com.