Senator Francis Tolentino backs DOTr’s ‘no vaccination, no ride’ policy; says policy is legal, contained in laws and franchises of public utility vehicles

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Senator Francis Tolentino, who formerly served as chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), expressed support for the “no vaccination, no ride” policy that has become fully effective in Metro Manila starting today, Monday, 17 January 2022.

In an interview on 15 January 2022 which was later posted in Senator Tolentino’s Facebook page, the solon said “there is no issue” in the DOTr Department Order signed by Transportation Secretary Art Tugade which bars people unvaccinated against COVID-19 from boarding public utility vehicles going out, inside and within Metro Manila. The DO was issued by the DOTr in response to the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases in the metropolis, and the Metro Manila Council and MMDA Resolution, as well as ordinances issued by local government ordinances, prohibiting unvaccinated peopl from using public transport.

“Wala po akong nakikitang issue dito sa panukala ng DOTr,” said Senator Tolentino.

A lawyer by profession, Sen. Tolentino said the DOTr DO is rooted in the Constitution of the Philippines, which states that the state has the right to protect the health of the people.

“Sa ating Saligang Batas, nakalagay doon na karapatan ng estado ang protektahan ang kalusugan ng mamamayan. So pasok po ‘yun doon,” he said.

Sen. Tolentino added that the DOTr department order is also anchored on Proclamation 922 which was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on March 8, 2020. Proclamation 922 placed the entire Philippines under a state of public health emergency.

Tolentino added that the franchise to operate given by the government to operators of public utility vehicles (PUVs) is not a right, but a privilege subject to laws. These laws he said, include the Constitution and Proclamation 922.

“‘Yun pong operator, ‘yung pong nagpapasada, ibig sabihin po, meron kayong prangkisa. ‘Yung prangkisa po ay hindi isang karapatan, kundi isang pribiliheyo. At bilang isang pribiliheyo, nakaangkop po sa prangkisa ang mga batas na angkop sa ating sitwasyon,” he said.

Sen. Tolentino said that as franchise holder, PUV operators must uphold laws which concern the health of the people, such as the local ordinances passed by local government units (LGUs) restricting the movements of people unvaccinated against COVID-19.

According to Tolentino, as franchise holders, PUV operators must help enforce the “no vaccination, no ride” policy as laws supporting it were already passed by a majority of local government units in Metro Manila where they have operating routes.

“So dahil po ang DOTr department order ay para sa NCR po lamang, pasok din po ang mga ordinansa ng mg LGUs, doon sa mga ibinigay sa inyong mga prangkisa. So ibig sabihin po, bilang isang franchise holder, katungkulan ninyo na ipatupad ang Saligang Batas, ang Presidential Proclamation 922. At katungkulan nyo rin po na ipatupad ang mga ordinansa ng mga lugar na kung saan meron kayong mga ruta, at eto nga po yung mga ordinansa ng mga pamahalaang lokal ng National Capital Region na limitado ang paglabas ng mga hindi bakunado,” he said.

“Kahit na isyuhan kayo ng prangkisa noong 2019 pa, napaloob po rin yun din doon. Kasi yung prangkisa n’yo po, kasama po dapat ang batas. Halos lahat po ng NCR LGUs, ay may mga ordinansa, na bawal, limitado ang paglabas. Kaya lahat po ‘yan ay legal,” Tolentino added.

Meanwhile, Tolentino added that he sees no discrimination in the enforcement of the “no vaccination, no ride” policy in Metro Manila.

To recall, Tolentino was the one who introduced the anti-discriminatory amendment during the Senate deliberations on Republic Act 11525 or the law that establishes the COVID-19 vaccination program. The Tolentino amendment of the law safeguards students, regular employees, overseas Filipino workers, and others from discrimination resulting from their non-vaccination against COVID-19.

Tolentino said there is no discrimination in the enforcement of the “no vaccination, no ride policy” as unvaccinated persons who will be barred from availing of public transportation are still given options.

“Wala pong diskriminasyon sa pagpapatupad ng batas dahil ipapatupad po ito sa lahat, at tungkol naman po sa issue ng freedom of mobility, hindi naman po totally o absolute ang pagpigil doon sa hindi bakunado,” he said.

“Sa aking pananaw, ang diskriminasyon ay kapag wala nang option yung tao na sinasabing na discriminate. Dito po may option. Pwede naman pong lumabas ang bibili ng essential items. Pwede rin pong lumabas gamit ang pribadong sasakyan. At pwede rin pong lumabas yung may mga medical reasons, halimbawa po, yung pupunta ng ospital, ” he added.

Senator Grace Poe, Samar Rep. Edgar Sarmiento as well as the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAP) and various transport groups have also expressed their support for the DOTr order.

White Castle whisky picks LGBT Sassa Gurl as calendar model for 2022

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Is this acceptable?

Whisky brand White Castle picks popular internet personality Sassa Gurl as its calendar model for 2022.

Is it about time ba talaga na magka baklang endorser ang alak dahil majority ng sales are from LGBTQ+ community?!

Papalag ba ang mga "tunay" na kalalakihan dito? Nakakasira ba sa image ng mga "boys" at macho men?

Kudos to White Castle Whisky?

It's okay for us that Sassa Gurl was used for mockery to entertain male drinkers?  Should we contextualize this issue using the marketing history of White Castle--those women models or endorsers who were valued not for laughs, not as caricatures of crude or ugly femininity?

"Let’s be reminded: hindi lang iisa ang mukha at hugis ng trans woman. Trans people are diverse too. 

Sassa isn’t our trans pageant queen. She represents the feisty, the unapologetic, the non-conforming trans woman whose talent is comedy.

She represents those who choose not to transition. "

The fact that this "activist" and "social anthropologist" misconstrues Sassa Gurl's expression as bakla as mockery of trans women says enough for the ways in which Western queer rhetoric erases indigenous bakla narratives and marginalizes this kind of gay.

Just because a bakla does not conform to being either a homosexual man or a transgender woman does not mean they are aiming to be laughing stocks. Have you considered maybe they're just like that? They do not have to conform to either western gay maleness or trans womanhood to exist!

Sassa is said to be fun, funny, and witty! So let’s not take away her moment and let her shine in her own element. In the same manner that we should let everyone be — the  smart, well-read, argumentative critics.

Many have assumed on the basis of our transgression of the Western binary that this kind of gay only exist to be jokers. What if they are simply transgressive by nature under colonial patriarchy? The fact that many assumed they're jokes says more about majority of our fellow Filipinos than these gays. Maybe we're mostly "transphobic".

Many really get offended by people who gatekeep representation?

The mere fact that there are still misconceptions and whatnot with the LGBTQIA+ community speaks largely of how even the slightest representation matters.

That alone speaks of how internalized homophobia/transphobia is still alive in today’s time.

I get where many are coming from, because there have been countless misrepresentations and maltreatment of trans women in the media.

Trans people are not any less dahil lang hindi "passing" sa "standard" representation of the typical. I guess many just so badly want to be right kahit hindi.

PLDT Enterprise extends digital solutions to Digital Edge data center in Greater Manila Area

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PLDT Enterprise has forged a partnership with Digital Edge Philippines Inc. (“Digital Edge”) to provide comprehensive connectivity and IT solutions to future customers of its 10-megawatt data center in Biñan, Laguna, a suburban district adjacent to Manila.

Mitch Locsin, PLDT FVP & Enterprise Revenue Group Head, said that the partnership with Digital Edge will allow both companies to tap into the growing cloud and digital opportunities in the country.

“PLDT has consistently remained at the forefront in offering innovative digital services for enterprises of all sizes, both local and international. It is always our pleasure to extend our expertise to our partners to enable them to reach their goals and open opportunities for their businesses,” he said.

Digital Edge is a new pan-Asia data center platform company that is focused on providing colocation, interconnection, and connectivity solutions to cloud and enterprise customers.

“Digital Edge strives to fulfill its vision to provide our clients with innovative data center services in the industry. Our partnership with the PLDT Group will allow us to present the full suite of PLDT services to our future customers and I am very excited for the future cooperation,” said Victor Barrios, President, and CEO of Digital Edge Philippines Inc.

Meanwhile, Jojo Gendrano, FVP & Head of PLDT and Smart Enterprise said that PLDT Enterprise is taking another step towards powering the digital economy and aiding the local enterprise growth through the newly-forged partnership.

“The combination of Digital Edge’s infrastructure and PLDT’s best-in-class solutions and services will allow our clients to move ahead swiftly on their respective digital initiatives as we all transition to the new business normal. We are excited about this partnership and the prospects of helping build the right digital growth ecosystems for the market to take advantage of,” said Gendrano.

“We are grateful to our partners who continuously recognize PLDT Group’s integrity and excellence for complex network infrastructure projects. As they put their trust and confidence in us, PLDT will continue to invest in technology infrastructure to deliver a wider array of digital services to bring them reliable and high-quality digital solutions,” he added.



For more information, visit pldtenterprise.com and digitaledgedc.com. #