TRB gives green light for toll free trips starting July 01, 2024

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We will fully implement a 30-day toll holiday in all CAVITEX exits - CIC

“We will fully implement a 30-day toll holiday in all exits of the Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) for all vehicle classes, supporting the decision of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB). This will help our motorists with the rising cost of fuel and inflation.” Thus declared Raul L. Ignacio, president and general manager of the Cavite Infrastructure Corporation (CIC). 

CIC received the decision of TRB after prior consultation with the joint venture partners of the Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) -- namely CIC and the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA). 

Implementing President Marcos’s directive. It will be recalled that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced the granting of a toll holiday for all expressway segments under the stewardship and management of the Cavitex joint venture firm, in his speech at the recent inauguration of the CAVITEX C5 Link Segment 2,

“We welcome TRB’s policy and operational decision guided by the general directive of the President – which was arrived at after considering all the implementation details and systems preparation that must be in place,” Ignacio pointed out. “

We commend TRB for the due deliberation that had taken place as part of our Regulator’s decision-making process,” he added.

Tollway segments covered. The tollway segments which will enjoy toll-free journeys for all vehicle classes are expressway exits in Kawit, Paranaque, C5 Link segment Merville and Taguig exits, and newly inaugurated Segment 2 (Sucat Interchange).

Transport industry sources say this suspension of toll collections covering all the exits will result in foregone toll revenues amounting to hundreds of millions of pesos. Transport experts said that, as industry logic dictates, expressway firms need toll receipts to pay lenders, recoup huge investments, assure road safety at all times, and pay operational and administrative personnel.

Aware of such effect on toll receipts, Ignacio nevertheless said: “We support the President’s decision and that of the TRB, so our motorists can enjoy the seamless expressway journeys brought about by modern tollway structures and systems.”

TRB commended amidst criticisms. TRB was earlier criticized by some quarters for a few days’ delay in issuing the directive for a toll holiday. CIC’s Ignacio cited the deliberateness and sober approach of TRB in finally arriving at a major decision. “There is no place for hasty decision making and action-taking for major policies and moves like this,” he added.

CIC is the private developer, builder, and financier of CAVITEX, in partnership with the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement.

Prior consultation among partners. PPP advocates said that prior consultation among partners in a joint venture is essential to maintaining goodwill between and among these partners, citing productive results from various infrastructure projects.

Under this partnership concept, private firms continue to provide financing and expertise, while the government counterpart lends moral and administrative support. It would be ill-advised for one partner to take action unilaterally, without prior consultation with the other partner.

These industry experts also cited the crucial role of a regulator – like the TRB – in assuring that the PPP investment scheme works over the long term, and in safeguarding the well-being and welfare of stakeholders – specifically motorists and riders –benefiting from the joint venture.

BAN Toxics joins poison prevention week awareness activity, highlights need to protect children

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"Poison prevention should start at home and in the community.” This was the main message of environmental NGO BAN Toxics as they joined the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) Toxicology Referral and Training Center’s lecture-forum in celebration of National Poison Prevention Week.

Titled “Community and Collaboration: Uniting to Prevent Poisoning,” the lecture forum was held in Brgy. Sto Niño, Galas, Quezon City, and was attended by about 70 households from the barangay. National Poison Prevention Week is observed every 4th week of June by virtue of Proclamation No. 1777 issued in 2009.

BAN Toxics’ advocacy and campaign officer Thony Dizon spoke at the event about their efforts to protect children from exposure to toxic chemicals, as well as sharing tips on how to prevent poisoning at home and in school.

“Aside from common household items that are explicitly hazardous, there are also everyday children’s items such as toys, school supplies, and care products that may seem harmless but actually contain toxic chemicals,” Dizon said.

Dizon was referring to children’s products available in the market, especially in bargain shops, that are found to contain hazardous chemicals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as phthalates, triclosan, and parabens, among others.

“First and foremost, when buying children’s products, check the product label and information to verify that no hazardous substances are used. Do not buy products that have no label or information. Also, check if the product has been notified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) via https://verification.fda.gov.ph. As much as possible, buy from reputable stores that are duly registered,” Dizon added.

The group also said that while the government should intensify its efforts in preventing the production and importation of children’s products that contain hazardous chemicals, households and communities also have an obligation to exercise vigilance when purchasing these items and ensure a safe environment for children.

In a statement earlier this week, BAN Toxics urged the government to pursue the “Safe and Non-Hazardous Children's Products Act,” a bill that was unanimously passed by the 18th Congress in 2017 but was never enacted as law by the Duterte Administration.



“Children are the most vulnerable members of our society, and it is everyone’s duty to safeguard them from toxic and poisonous chemicals,” Dizon said.

Unleash Your Creativity with These Must-Try Newspaper Fonts

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Picking the right font for your newspaper goes beyond aesthetics. Typography can influence perception and set the overall tone, making it a crucial part of your newspaper's design and branding. We've curated popular newspaper serif fonts and discussed their potential as a headline or newspaper title font. Whether you're diving into fonts or simply curious about typographic terminology, our concise guide will help you make the best choice in the end.

Newspapers have been a part of our culture for centuries, almost since Gutenberg invented his groundbreaking printing press. Selecting the right newspaper font for your project or graphic design is a significant part of the process. A well-chosen newspaper font can stylize your project, making it reminiscent of a broadsheet newspaper. Whether you're a publisher looking to find the perfect font for your digital newspaper or simply interested in what kind of font pairing to use on your next editorial project, continue reading to discover the ideal newspaper fonts.

Times New Roman:

One of the most iconic fonts ever, Times New Roman, was designed for The Times of London newspaper. While it has many classic attributes, it remains highly readable and is widely used in books, magazines, reports, professional use, and, of course, in newspapers. Its narrow shape is narrower than most other newspaper fonts, even when bolded, making it ideal for documents that need to fit more text on a single line. Due to its popularity, Times New Roman has become the default font for many platforms and professions.

However, due to its ubiquity, it can sometimes seem overused. Nevertheless, Times New Roman remains a popular choice and has one of the widest ranges of international and scientific printing characters. For a safe and professional choice, Times New Roman could be perfect for you.

Helvetica:

Helvetica is a highly versatile and popular sans-serif font created by Swiss designer Max Miedinger in 1957. Originally designed for the Haas Type Foundry in Switzerland, the font's name comes from the Latin name for Switzerland, Helvetia. One of the most accessible neutral newspaper fonts, Helvetica can be used in various settings and easily adapts to modern and classic designs. It's simple and clean lines made it a popular choice for graphic designers; Helvetica quickly became a global sensation and debuted in the US in 1960. It has become the most common font in graphic design and is often compared to Arial, another popular sans-serif font.

Lobster:

Lobster is a bold, eye-catching font that makes a statement in any design. This font, created by designer Pablo Impallari, has strong contrast areas and a chunky appearance that gives it a unique and distinctive look. While Lobster may not be the ideal choice forzx sentences and paragraphs due to its condensed nature and muscular styling, it is a popular choice for a variety of other design projects. Its thick and bold letters make it a great choice for creating headlines,titles, and logos that need to stand out and make an impact.

Built Titling:

Built Titling is a font designed specifically to create bold and compact headlines on-screen. Its wraparound shapes lend a newsy voice to your headlines, and the subtle curves add a hint of nostalgia without appearing outdated. This clean, versatile slab-serif font family will give your newspaper a professional and polished look.

Franklin Gothic:

Franklin Gothic is a san-serif typeface that provides a modern focus for your newspaper. The term 'Gothic' was used to describe fonts that are sans-serif in the past, but it has yet to be used.

Due to its fuller and bold look, it's most considered commonly found as a newspaper title font or in advertisements. Franklin Gothic is less suitable for longer text since it's extra bolded and doesn't save space. It helps users remember a classic newspaper look, so it's used even for digital newspapers now.

Conclusion:

Fonts ideal for newspapers generally have a large x-height, are not overly ornate to have high readability and legibility, and have heavy serifs. Some fonts work well for newspaper titles and should be paired with another font for the body, while options like Nimrod, Perfect World, and Exceptionally Old Style can be used for both.