DOTr ready to defend it's recommendation to.increase passenger capacity in public transportation

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The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is ready to defend its recommendation to increase passenger capacity in public transportation, road, and rail, with pilot implementation in Metro Manila, before the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on Thursday, 28 October 2021.

During the Public hearing of the Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Finance on the Proposed 2022 Budget of the DOTr and its attached agencies yesterday, 26 October 2021, Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Steve Pastor said the Department has submitted to the IATF its formal position paper on the increase in passenger capacity for public transport.

The recommendation to increase passenger capacity in public transport is one of the measures being considered by the DOTr to help drivers and operators amid the pandemic and the continued increase of fuel prices. Pilot implementation will be in Metro Manila.

“Nakapag-submit na po ang road sector ng formal position paper na i-increase ang seating capacity from 50% na para po sa amin, kung masusunod ang Kagawaran, ay pwedeng maging 100% based on medical literature that is available. At the same time, we are ready to defend our position to IATF this Thursday. Alam naman natin na mayroon pa rin tayong dapat idulog sa IATF dahil this is not only a matter of public transportation but also a matter of public health,” Asec. Pastor said.

The DOTr's proposed passenger capacity increase in public transport, with a pilot run in Metro Manila, is anchored on the following arguments:

1. Metro Manila is now under Alert Level 3, which allows for more businesses to open, and more people going out, which resulted to greater demand for public transport. Studies have shown that reliance on complete face mask use and partial hand sanitizer use were proven enough to contain three very modest COVID-19 waves while preserving normal bus services. Other studies have also revealed that passengers in the high-risk zones (seats in the same row with an infected passenger and within 3 rows) had moderate but not significantly higher risk, and that “rigid” safe distancing rules are an oversimplification based on outdated science and experiences of past viruses.

2. The livelihood of public transport drivers and operators were severely affected with passenger capacity in public transport maintained at 50%. Increasing passenger capacity will mean a higher revenue for the public transport sector. This will be a welcome development considering the increase in expenses brought by increasing fuel prices.

3. Metro Manila is the ideal place to test the proposal considering that 81.4% of its population is now fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In addition, public utility jeepneys and buses operating in Metro Manila are well-ventilated.

4. The DOTr had also conducted a rapid analysis of available data on COVID-19 cases (7-day average cases per 1 million population) and public transport capacity, which covered 10 countries (Philippine, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, China, Australia, Vietnam, and Malaysia). It was found out that public transport capacity has no significant correlation with the number of COVID-19 cases

5. Evidence also suggest that high vaccination rate prompts an increase in allowed PUV capacity.

Provision of Fuel Subsidy, Service Contracting instead of Fare Hike

In line with the position of DOTr, led by Sec. Tugade, against any fare increase as well as to balance the need of drivers and operators and the commuting public, Asec. Pastor also emphasized that hikes in fuel prices should not be shouldered by the passengers.

“Ayaw po namin sa Kagawaran na tumaas ang pamasahe dahil para po sa amin walang kinalaman ang commuting public sa pagtaas ng presyo ng krudo kaya ayaw namin na sila ang pumasan dito,” Asec. Pastor said.

Earlier this month, the DOTr requested the Department of Energy (DOE) to grant fuel subsidy to public transport drivers. The Department likewise welcomes the announcement of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) for the release of P1.0 billion to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) as fuel subsidies.

Meanwhile, the DOTr previously implemented the Service Contracting Program where drivers and operators of public utility vehicles (PUVs) are paid on a per kilometer run basis. As of the latest data, the (LTFRB) has P4.7 billion of payouts and incentives to PUV drivers and operators for the Service Contracting under Republic Act 11494 or Bayanihan to Recover as One Act and the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

“Noong June 30, 2021, umabot sa P1,907,192,708, ang naipamahagi natin sa mga tsuper at operator under Service Contracting. P2,289,506,007 naman ang naibahagi natin mula September 13 hanggang October 23 mula sa Bayanihan 2, habang P539,672,859 naman mula September 13 hanggang October 23 sa ilalim ng GAA,” LTFRB Chairman Delgra said.

In line with Service Contracting, a 53,226,651 total ridership was already recorded for the “Libreng Sakay” Program for medical frontliners, APOR, and essential workers.

Canopy by Hilton Makes UK Debut In The Heart Of London’s East End

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Complete with panoramic views over the City of London, Canopy by Hilton London City echoes the spirit of one of the capital’s most vibrant, eclectic neighbourhoods

Hilton celebrates the opening of Canopy by Hilton London City, the UK’s first Canopy by Hilton hotel. Set within the multi-million-pound Minories development close to Aldgate station, the eco-conscious 340-room hotel provides the perfect base for design conscious travellers looking to immerse themselves in London’s lively East End. 

Following the opening of Canopy by Hilton Paris Trocadero earlier this year and the arrival of Canopy by Hilton Madrid Castellana, the hotel joins a growing portfolio of more than 30 lifestyle hotels across the globe – a number which is set to double in the coming years. Each hotel is inspired by its local neighbourhood and designed to give guests an authentic experience, steeped in the culture of the surrounding area.

Simon Vincent, executive vice president and president, EMEA, Hilton, said: “Canopy by Hilton continues to expand its presence across Europe with recent openings in Paris and Madrid, and we’re thrilled to be bringing the brand to London – one of the most dynamic cities in the world. With Hilton set to open 30 hotels in the UK in the next five years, Canopy by Hilton London City is a stunning new addition to Hilton’s lifestyle portfolio and symbolises our commitment to providing exceptional accommodation in the very best global destinations.”

Phil Cordell, global head, Canopy by Hilton said: “Canopy by Hilton is all about championing local neighbourhoods – and what better place for its UK debut than the vibrant East End of London. With its rich textile history and thriving arts scene, the surrounding area provides no end of inspiration for this incredible hotel, and we can’t wait to welcome guests to experience everything it has to offer.”

Neil Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, 4C Hotel Group said: “We are pleased to expand our portfolio with Hilton to open the first Canopy by Hilton hotel in the UK. Convenience and quality are at the core of our business, we carefully select hotels that are perfectly located in major key cities, so our customers have easy access to major tourist attractions. For our business travellers we ensure that our hotels are always located near key transport links. This hotel is the perfect collaboration for us, with an incredible location right in the heart of London’s buzzing East End.”

 

Locally Inspired Design

The hotel’s interior design reflects the rich culture of the area’s historic textile industry. Inspired by the Huguenot silk weavers who settled in Spitalfields in the 17th century, thoughtfully decorated guest rooms and dining spaces feature floral patterns and woven fabrics reminiscent of the techniques employed by the Huguenots. In celebration of Whitechapel’s contemporary arts scene, artwork created by neighbourhood artists adorns the public spaces throughout the hotel.

Eat. Drink. Smile.

Local inspiration continues throughout the hotel’s dining outlets. East End inspired dishes made with local, sustainable ingredients are served at the hotel's specialty restaurant Penny Squares, which takes its design inspiration from the quilting technique popular in the textile industry. Meanwhile Freedom Café, named after Freedom Press Publishing House in Whitechapel High Street, provides the perfect place to relax, work or socialise over a craft coffee or East End inspired cocktail at the heart of the hotel. Guests can also enjoy daily tastings at Freedom Café, featuring appetisers and drinks from local distilleries, craft brewers and wineries.

A must-visit, the hotel’s stunning rooftop terrace Florattica, due to open early next year, boasts uninterrupted views of St Paul’s Cathedral and the City of London, serving elegant, refined small plates and a selection of drinks against a vibrant backdrop inspired by the floral patterns of the Huguenots. 

 

Sustainably Canopy

In support of Hilton’s Travel with Purpose 2030 Goals to double its investment in social impact and cut its environmental footprint in half by 2030, the hotel, which opens with a BREEAM VERY GOOD rating – the highest possible rating for the building category – is committed to operating sustainably. Initiatives include:

• Building re-use: for both sustainable and economic benefit, two of the three buildings that comprise this hotel have been reused in construction.
• Green thinking: a green roof not only supports the City of London’s drive to create more green spaces, but also helps with passive heating, allowing the property to conserve heat without using additional energy.
• Efficient operations: a proportion of the hotel’s energy will be derived from solar panels adorning another of its rooftop spaces, whilst an intelligent Building Management System controls the use of lighting and air conditioning throughout the building, significantly reducing waste energy.
• Sustainable sleeping: guests will sleep easy on beds made from post-industrial recycled steel and wood from sustainable forests, waking up to sustainably produced bath amenities featuring recyclable packaging and filtered water served in reusable glass bottles.
• Leading with local: part of the fabric of its local neighbourhood, the hotel proudly sources the majority of food and beverage from local suppliers, celebrating community farms, craft breweries and artisanal bakeries.

We’ve Got You Covered

Guests can enjoy an array of additional amenities available at the hotel, including:

• Fully flexible meetings and events space, perfect for hosting exclusive events, high-profile meetings and intimate dinners against a stunning backdrop
• Complimentary Canopy bikes to explore the local area in the most sustainable way possible
• 24-hour fitness centre equipped with a comprehensive range of TechnoGym® cardio and strength equipment

The hotel is part of Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest-loyalty programme for Hilton’s 18 distinct hotel brands. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, exclusive member discounts, free standard WiFi and access to the Hilton Honors mobile app.

Nightly room rates start from £249 or Hilton Honors members can redeem Points using the Points Explorer tool. All hotels offer fully flexible booking options with free changes and cancellations, with many rates giving guests flexibility to change or cancel up to 24 hours before their arrival day*.

New global treaty can spur innovations for managing plastic pollution across Asia

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·        Landmark global treaty will establish a level playing field, remove trade barriers that can pave the way for stronger legislation and implementation against plastic pollution, according to ten countries in Asia

·        Asian countries lead in plastic pollution and are critical to ensure the adoption of a negotiation mandate at UN Environment Assembly's upcoming session in February 2022

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Singapore today released its report ‘A New Treaty on Plastic Pollution: Perspectives from Asia’ that shows how a new global treaty on marine plastic pollution will benefit people, ecosystems and economies in the region, offering viable solutions for Asian countries to tackle the global plastic pollution crisis which is having pernicious impacts on the region.

The report highlights that an international framework, by establishing a level playing field and removing trade barriers, would enable Asian countries to better implement solutions such as adopting national reduction targets, introducing legislation to phase out single-use plastic products and implementing extended producer responsibility schemes.

The report, based on consultations with governments in ten countries in the region, further reveals how countries across Asia, particularly developing countries, can benefit from a new global treaty through improved access to financial resources, technical assistance, access to know-how on plastic waste management, and knowledge sharing on the methodologies for monitoring and reporting.

“Marine plastic pollution remains high despite regional efforts to address the issue. A global treaty could overcome Asia’s challenges such as a lack of data along the plastics life-cycle, knowledge gaps, insufficient monitoring, ineffective plastic waste management and lack of access to financial resources and technology. With the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA5.2) taking place in 2022, it is critical for Asian countries to actively engage in the international debate and ensure the adoption of a negotiation mandate at UNEA 5.2”, says Dr Alison Budden, Senior Policy Advisor at WWF-Singapore.

The world currently produces more than 200 million tonnes of plastic annually, with 41% of plastic waste being mismanaged as countries burn or dump their plastic trash into the environment. The top five countries that dump the most plastic in the ocean are from Asia and their share is more than half of the world’s marine plastic waste pollution.

Failure to understand and remediate the true cost of plastic will result in plastic production doubling and plastic pollution tripling by 2040.

Support is growing for a global treaty on plastic pollution with several Asian countries such as Japan, Maldives, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam already endorsing the need for the establishment of a new UN treaty on plastic pollution to be negotiated at the fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly in February 2022.

They join more than two thirds of UN member states, over 75 businesses and 2.1 million people who have called for the same. 

"Tragically, Asia as a region is severely impacted by the plastic crisis but has an important role in the global plastic pollution crisis. While some countries across the region are still developing their position regarding a necessary global response, the report signals that many are converging on collective efforts to tackle the plastic pollution crisis, with increasing support for a new global agreement to drive innovations and systemic change throughout the life cycle of plastics,"  says Marilyn Quizon-Mercado, Regional Plastic Policy Coordinator for a WWF-Philippines-hosted initiative, ‘Asia, No Plastic in Nature’.

WWF calls on all governments to come together and endorse a globally binding agreement on plastic pollution.