PLDT Enterprise ensures business continuity of TELESCOOP

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

PLDT Enterprise recently expanded its longstanding partnership with TELESCOOP, the PLDT Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative, providing new services that will enhance its operations and strengthen its business continuity to better serve their members. The deployment of DRAAS (Disaster Recovery as a Service) and SSL VPN solutions in their systems will improve TELESCOOP’s IT network making it more reliable and secure.

In their initial partnership, TELESCOOP signed up for PLDT Enterprise’s Microsoft Office 365 licenses and Smart Messaging Suite years back. The successful network-wide implementation of these applications, coupled with continuous scoping and relationship-building between PLDT Enterprise and TELESCOOP, enabled the creation of a digital roadmap for TELESCOOP.

"We are glad to fortify our longstanding partnership and provide additional services to TELESCOOP, who is a vital member of the PLDT Group. This endeavor is part of our commitment in elevating the operations and security of businesses today with digital solutions that will make a positive impact on their employees and customers," says Mitch Locsin, PLDT FVP & Enterprise Revenue Group Head.

DRAAS will be installed as a back-up for TELESCOOP’s Data and Business Continuity. With ePLDT’s Data Protection Suite offering end-to-end business continuity solutions through powerful cloud technology, TELESCOOP’s data will be resiliently protected, secured and monitored. SSL VPN, on the other hand, will be used for TELESCOOP’s current work-from-home setup, so that employees may easily and securely access their system while working remotely. This SSL VPN setup may also be replicated by other PLDT customers with WFH setups. And with the full security of SMS Messaging Suite, SMS Blasts of TELESCOOP’s announcements and ongoing promos will be even more on-target.

Marcos R. De Leon, TELESCOOP Board of Directors Chair, is pleased with this development, saying that “we who work in PLDT know the paramount importance of Communications, Information and Data Security. This is why the latest business operations solutions that PLDT Enterprise has provided us will be of utmost benefit, particularly in the area of business continuity. These solutions will help us greatly as we endeavor to look after the welfare of our co-workers in PLDT, our employees, and cooperative members.”

PLDT Employee Multi-Purpose Cooperative (TELESCOOP) is a PLDT cooperative that offers financial empowerment to members who are stakeholders of the company and its subsidiaries. It aims to provide prompt, efficient, quality and innovative service that complies with the principles of “cooperativism”. Its services include financial loans, non-financial or direct selling loans, business loans and loans for personal purchases such as gadgets, among others.

For more information about PLDT Enterprise, visit pldtenterprise.com.

First 94-meter multi-role response vessels (MMRVs) launched

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The first of two (2) 94-meter multi-role response vessels (MMRVs) acquired by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) under the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project Phase II (MSCIP Phase 2) has been launched at the Shimonoseki Shipyard of Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. in Japan today, 26 July 2021.

The two MRRVs will be the largest vessels of the PCG’s fleet, once delivered. These MRRV's modeled after the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) Kunigami-class vessels are expected to improve the PCG's maritime security and maritime safety capabilities.

Each of the new MRRVs measure approximately 94 meters, has a maximum speed of not less than 24 knots, and an endurance of not less than 4,000 nautical miles. The ships are capable of conducting sustained maritime patrols in the country’s maritime jurisdictions, including the West Philippine Sea and Philippine Rise.

In addition, the two vessels will significantly boost the capabilities of the PCG in conducting maritime search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations.

Through the accelerated construction of the Japanese shipbuilder, the first 94-meter MRRV is expected to arrive in Manila by March 2022, while the second vessel will arrive two months later or by May 2022.

 

The addition of the two new MRRVs to the PCG’s fleet is welcomed by DOTr Secretary Arthur P. Tugade who stressed that the acquisition of new vessels is a breakthrough towards the government's thrust of modernizing and upgrading the country's maritime safety and border protection.

“The modernization of Philippine Coast Guard has been going fast and quick and very meaningful. In fact, in this effort to make it quick, fast, and very meaningful, the government of Japan has contributed very much. And to which I express my appreciation for your continued support,” Secretary Tugade said.

The new vessels, according to the DOTr Secretary, will be of great help in responding to maritime incidents in the country's waters and exclusive economic zone (EEZ), such as in the conduct of search and rescue operations and maritime security patrols, as well as in the enforcement of marine environmental laws, among others.

For his part, PCG Commandant, Admiral George V Ursabia Jr noted that the addition of the two MRRVs – the biggest in the fleet – is a big stride in strengthening the country’s maritime security and maritime safety capabilities.

“We are making a milestone, not just for the Department of Transportation and Philippine Coast Guard, but also for the Philippines – acquiring the first-ever biggest ship for the Coast Guard. It is a 94-meter multi-role response vessel. It is a big stride in the development of our country in the context of maritime security and maritime safety,” Admiral Ursabia expressed.

The MSCIP Phase 2 is a Japanese-assisted project funded by an Official Development Assistance (ODA) Loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) amounting to approximately JPY 16,455,000,000 (JPY 16.5 billion).

The contract between the DOTr and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. for the design, construction, and delivery of the two 94-meter MRRVs amounting to JPY 14,550,000,000 (JPY 14.6 billion) was signed on 27 December 2019 and became effective on 08 May 2020.

Inauguration of Metro Manila Bike Lane Network

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The establishment of dedicated, safe, and quality bike lanes is finally complete as the Department of Transportation (DOTr), together with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), formally inaugurated today, 27 July 2021, the Metro Manila Bike Lane Network – the country’s longest bike lane network to date.
The bike lane network in Metro Manila has an overall length of 313 kilometers and cuts through 12 cities: Pasig, Marikina, Quezon City, Caloocan, Manila, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasay, Las Piñas, Parañaque, and Taguig. The lanes also measure between 1.5 to 3 meters in width depending on the road's configuration.

The Metro Manila Bike Lane Network forms part of the completed 497 kilometers of bike lanes created in Metro Cebu and in Metro Davao.

“Ngayon, may lugar na para sa ating mga siklista dito sa ating pangunahing kalsada. Malaking hakbang po ito nang sa ganoon ay mabago natin ang nakagawiang sistema at maitanim natin ang kultura, disiplina at kaayusan sa ating kalsada,” said DOTr Secretary Art Tugade in his message delivered by DOTr Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Mark Steven Pastor.

In his message, the transport chief clarified that no orange traffic cones were used as lane separators on the bike lanes as falsely claimed by critics of the project.

The transportation chief pointed out that the Metro Manila bike lanes use concrete delineators and flexible rubber bollards to separate the bikers from motor vehicles. The bike lanes also make use of white and green pavement markings using thermoplastic paint, bollards bolted to the ground, bike symbols and signages, solar-powered road studs, and bike racks.

Asec. Pastor added that the bike lanes maximize road space as these can accommodate 1,250 cyclists per hour for every meter of road space.

Meanwhile, the transport official also shared that other parts of Metro Manila will also have their own bike lanes soon.

“For the national government, meron pa po tayong tinatawag na South NCR bike lanes, which was recently procured by DPWH together with DOTr. Ito po ay nasa Las Piñas, Muntinlupa at Parañaque. Ang intensyon po natin dito is we will connect these three cities po dito sa existing bike lanes para interconnected po talaga at magamit ng ating mga kababayan, not only for social activities but also as a form of transportation going to and from work,” Asec. Pastor said.

For his part, DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said the bike lanes will be of great help to workers and commuters in Metro Manila who took to active transport in going to their workplaces and other destinations amid the pandemic.

“The role of public transportation is crucial to both the mobility of workers and the economic stability of the country. Born out of the resourcefulness and dedication of workers despite the pandemic, active transportation such as cycling became the obvious solution,” Sec. Villar said in his message read by DPWH-NCR Regional Director Eric Ayapana.

The creation of the bike lanes was also lauded by House Transportation Committee Chairman and Samar First District Representative Edgar Sarmiento.

“Inuna po ng Kamara ang imprastraktura at transportasyon na mapa sa susunod na 30 years na dire-diretso na po sana. Isa pong ehemplo ang bicycle lane at bus na modified lang po dahil may restrictions tayo dahil sa sitwasyon,” said Sarmiento during the inauguration.

Meanwhile, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Metro Manila Council (MMC) likewise expressed their support and commitment to the project as they cited the presence of bike lanes in the National Capital Region as a "game changer."

“Because of this bike lane, it’s a game-changer. It will change everything – the mindset of everything. This is really a great project,” MMDA Chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. said.

“Binabati ko ang DOTr at DPWH for a very great project na pakikinabangan po ng taumbayan for safety. Kaya magkakaroon ng encouragement at mahikayat po silang gumamit ng bike lanes,” MMC Chairman and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez, for his part, said.