Service Contracting Program Phase 2 at Libreng Sakay para sa mga healthcare workers at authorized persons outside residence (APORs) sa probinsya ng Camiguin

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Pinangunahan nung 22 Oktubre 2021 ni Transportation Secretary Art Tugade ang paglunsad ng Service Contracting Program Phase 2 at Libreng Sakay para sa mga healthcare workers at authorized persons outside residence (APORs) sa probinsya ng Camiguin matapos pumirma ng kasunduan ang Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) at Camiguin Transport Cooperative (CAMTRANSCO) para sa pagpapatupad ng programa.

Ayon kay Secretary Tugade, layunin ng Service Contracting Program na mabigyan ang mga tsuper ng sapat na kita sa pamamagitan ng insentibo kada kilometrong biyahe at maiwasan ang agawan sa pasahero dahil sa tinatawag na "boundary system."

“Tatakbo at tatakbo—mamamasada kayo on a per kilometer run. Babayaran at babayaran kayo, may sakay man o wala para nang sa ganun hindi na kayo nag-uunahan, hindi na kayo mapeperwisyo, naaburido sa tinatawag na boundary system,” ani Secretary Tugade.

Sinabi ni Secretary Tugade na sa ilalim ng kasunduan sa pagitan ng LTFRB at CAMTRANSCO, 35 na public utility jeepneys (PUJs) na tatahak sa rutang Mambajao to Mambajao (circumferential loop) ang magbibigay ng libreng sakay sa mga healthcare workers, essential workers, at mga Authorized Person Outside Residence (APOR).

“Gagamitin ang inyong mga modernized na sasakyan para nang sa ganun ang ating mga kababayan, ang ating mahal sa buhay dito sa Camiguin ay sasakay na lamang sa inyong jeepney. Hindi magbabayad ng pamasahe kung kayo ay essential worker, kung kayo ay health frontliner, kung kayo ay authorized person outside of residence,” paliwanag pa ni Secretary Tugade.

Ayon pa sa Kalihim, ang magdedetermina ng rutang babaybayin ng Service Contracting Program at Libreng Sakay ay ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Camiguin.

Hinikayat naman ni Secretary Tugade ang mga miyembro ng CAMTRANSCO na magpa-rehistro at makilahok sa ‘Tsuper Iskolar’ Program ng LTFRB kasama ang Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) kung saan papalawakin ng programa ang kaalaman ng mga tsuper at ng kanilang pamilya sa pamamagitan ng skills training sa ilalim ng 30 hanggang 35 na araw.

“Basta tsuper ka at gusto mong mag-aral ng troubleshoot, pagmamaneho—kung gusto nyo matuto ng ibang skills pwede. Mag-enroll at makipag ugnayan kayo sa LTO at LTFRB kasama yung TESDA, mag -uusap kayo [at] bibigyan ka ng scholarship,” ani Secretary Tugade.

Paliwanag pa niya, maaaring mag-enroll ang mga miyembro ng pamilya ng mga kalahok ng tsuper at operator upang matuto ng pagtatayo ng negosyo gaya ng food business at personal care services. Habang sumasailalim sa training, ang mga iskolar ay bibigyan ng P300 hanggang P350 na arawang allowance.

Samantala, pinasalamatan naman ni Camiguin Governor Jurdin Jesus Romualdo si Secretary Tugade at ang buong Kagawaran ng Transportasyon dahil sa mga inisyatibong nakatutulong sa modernisasyon at pagsasa-ayos ng transportasyon sa lalawigan.

"Kami po ay nagpapasalamat at natutuwa na tinulungan ninyo ang probinsya ng Camiguin. On behalf of the province at ng public transport coop, maraming salamat, Secretary, na dinalaw n’yo kami. Natutuwa ako at lahat ng opisyales sa Camiguin, ang buong DOTr family ay nandito po sa probinsya ng Camiguin. Hindi po namin makakalimutan ito, ‘yung pagtulong ninyo sa amin sa hirap at ginhawa,” ani Governor Romualdo.

Camiguin is now ready to reopen its economy and tourism

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

More than a year after the island province closed its borders for tourists due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Camiguin is now ready to reopen its economy and tourism as Transportation Secretary Art Tugade, together with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) inaugurated the improved and upgraded Camiguin Airport in Northern Mindanao on 22 October 2021.The completed projects include the fire station building, passenger terminal building (PTB), administration building, CAAP Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS) building, and runway asphalt overlay.

Secretary Tugade said that as Camiguin reopens its economy and welcomes tourists starting on 25 October 2021, the completed transport facilities and infrastructure projects will augment the recovery not only of the province but the region as well.

“Sa pagbubukas ng ating paliparan, makikita natin muli ‘yung tamis at pagsigla ng ekonomiya, ‘yung tamis at pagsigla ng ating turismo. Kung sasabihin natin na ang Camiguin ay isang tourism destination, hindi ba nakakalungkot na sabihin na papaanong magiging tourism destination ‘yan kung wala ka namang paliparan na ginagamit? Kung ang isla ng Camiguin ay maganda, at tunay namang maganda, hindi ba dapat lang mabigyan ng mobility at connectivity ang mga mamamayan ng Camiguin para ng sa ganon ‘yung sigla at tamis ng Camiguin ay makita, maramdaman, masubukan muli,” Secretary Tugade said.

With Camiguin island being part of a bigger archipelago, Secretary Tugade added that there is also a need to meet the demands in maritime and road transportation. He also stressed that developments are not exclusive for big provinces but also for small areas like Camiguin.

“Asikasuhin din ‘ho natin ‘yung mga lugar na may malaking potensyal, hindi lang sa lanzones kundi sa beauty ng lugar, at sa katamisan ng hospitality ng mga tao upang sa ganon sasabihin natin sa Pilipino, sa mga biyahero at mga dumadalaw sa Camiguin: Come again to Camiguin,” Secretary Tugade added.

For his part, Camiguin Governor Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo thanked Secretary Tugade for the swift completion of projects in Camiguin Airport, which he said were long-delayed. The governor noted that it is only during the Duterte administration and the strong commitment of the DOTr, under Secretary Tugade, that the asphalt overlay of the runway was completed.

“Tungkol sa asphalt overlay, kayo lang po nakatapos nun. Nag-umpisa ang asphalt overlay noong tatay ko po ay congressman. Namatay na lang tatay ko, ‘yung pumalit ‘yung apo niya. Sa tagal, ngayon lang ‘ho natapos ito, sa apo na. Ganon pala kabagal. Reality ‘ho since 2016 hanggang ngayon, lahat po sa Camiguin lang, nangyayari po in this administration,” Governor Romualdo said.

“In behalf sa probinsya ng Camiguin, maraming maraming salamat po sa DOTr team, na tinitingnan niyo ang Camiguin. Hindi niyo pinapabayaan. Tayo ‘ho ang second smallest province but, sa tulong niyo, nangyari na po ito. Again, una hindi ako makapaniwala na nangyari, lalo na ‘yung runway, pero nangyari po during this administration. So, Secretary Art, DOTr family, Captain Sydiongco, daghan iti (maraming) salamat sa inyong pag-abiabi (pag-welcome) dito sa probinsya ng Camiguin,” the governor added.

Meanwhile, to further develop Camiguin Airport, future projects such as the expansion and improvement of check-in and pre-departure area, the provision of a control tower, and the improvement of the vehicular parking area are also slated for the airport. A feasibility study on the development of the airport to accommodate larger aircraft and jet aircraft operations has also been proposed for next year.

“By next year gagawa tayo ng feasibility study kung saan mayroon bang paglalagyan ng ibang runway or kung papano iimprove itong runway dito sa Camiguin. Ang airport naman ‘ho ay depende sa laki, depende sa lapad so depende rin sa eroplano. Ngayon kung meron flight na international o maliit na eroplano, puwede rin itong gawin na international airport.” CAAP Director General Jim Sydionco said.

FDCP’s Funding Program Awards PHP 17.3 Million to 28 Filipino Film Projects

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

To show its continued support for the production and development of Filipino films, the CreatePHFilms, the public funding initiative of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), has selected 28 Filipino film projects as recipients of CreatePHFilms funding program amounting to a total of PHP 17.3 million of selective funds.

Under the CreatePHFilm Funds for Development, the 10 chosen projects will each receive a selective, non-refundable fund of PHP 100,000 for Scriptwriting:

 

●      “6th Finger” by Sheron Dayoc

●      “Posthouse” by Nikolas Red

●      "Safari Paraiso” by Glenn Barit

●      “At the Break of Dawn” by Janice Perez

●      “Mga Banggi nin Pantomina” by Arjanmar Rebeta

●      “Symphonies from the River” by Arvin Belarmino

●      “The Gospel of the Beast” by Sheron Dayoc

●      “Ms. Mama Mary” by Sonny Calvento

●      “Dalisay” by Joseph Mangat

●      “The Merman in Koh Sichang” by Arden Rod Condez

 

The CreatePHFilm Fund for Project Development is a selective and nonrefundable fund of PHP 200,000 for production companies. These are the six selected projects that will each be given PHP 200,000:

 

●      “Pony Boys” by Daluyong Studios

●      “After Autumn” by Southern Lantern Studios

●      “The Underneath” by TEN17P

●      “Makapili” by Voyage Film Studios

●      “Stray Cats” by Southern Lantern Studios

●      “The Black Dog Which Causes Cholera” by Jim Jasper Lumbera and Joey Alexis Singh

 

The CreatePHFilm Fund for Small Budget Production is a selective recoupable fund of PHP 1 million for production companies. The three films selected to receive the PHP 1 million fund are:

 

●      “People of the Lake” by Shirin Bhandari

●      “Retirada” by Milo Alto Paz and Cynthia Cruz-Paz

●      “Yellowfin” by E del Mundo

 

Two films will receive a selective equity investment fund of PHP 5 million from the CreatePHFilm Fund for Large Budget Production:

 

●      “Topakk” by Richard Somes

●      “Boldstar” by Antoinette Jadaone

 

Five projects will be granted the CreatePHFilms Fund for Post-Production of PHP 300,000, a selective fund granted to its engaged post-production company:

 

●      “Alimungaw: The Ominous Wind of Uncertainty” by Bagane Fiola

●      “Balaan: Sacred Voices, Sacred Lands” by Bagane Fiola

●      “Bukal” by Jeffrey “Epy” Quizon

●      “Ginhawa” by Christian Paolo Lat

●      “Rangtay Papan Idjaybangir” by Ferdie Balanag, Kawayan de Guia, and Padma Perez

 

The CreatePHFilms Fund for Distribution has selected two films to receive a selective fund of P300,000 for its local and overseas distribution:

 

●      “Ang Pagbabalik ng Kwago” by Martika  Escobar

●      “Whether the Weather is Fine (Kun Maupay Man It Panahon)” by Carlo Francisco Manatad

 

“Despite the major setbacks brought by the pandemic, I hope our programs to support our Filipino filmmakers will further inspire and encourage them to keep creating and honing their masterpieces. The Agency will continuously give its best to discover and develop creative talents equipped for the future of Philippine Cinema,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño.

CreatePHFilms 2021 Cycle 2 will soon open later in the month. Eligible applicants must be Filipino filmmakers and companies accredited by the FDCP’s National Registry, while eligible projects must have a Filipino director. Additionally, 100 percent of the funds must be spent in the Philippines for eligible expenses.

For inquiries on how to apply for the CreatePHFilm Funds for Development (Script Development and Project Development), Production (Small Budget and Large Budget), Post-Production, and Distribution, visit fdcp.ph/createphfilms.