Angkas is back on the road! Royeca thanks Senate, Congress and DOTr

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Angkas is back on the road as the House Transportation Committee announced Wednesday that an agreement has been reached between the DOTr, TWG, and the motorcycle taxi companies participating in the pilot run to continue the test run until March this year.

Aside from getting the green light to proceed with the test run, the riders cap was increased from 30,000 to 45,000 for Metro Manila. 

At the agreement was the inclusion of Cagayan de Oro as one of the areas covered by the pilot run which was originally limited to Metro Manila and Metro Cebu. Metro Cebu and CDO will have a riders cap of 9,000 each.

The announcement was made after the Transport Committee headed by Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento, held an executive session with the committee members, the government regulators, and the three motorcycle taxi companies. The blueprint for the agreement, however, was discussed during a meeting between the DOTr, TWG, LTFRB, and the motorcycle taxi players the previous day.

“Sinigurado naming ang resulta talaga ay para sa kabutihan ng mamamayan, mananakay, at doon po sa tatlong kumpanya na kasama sa pilot testing,” Sarmiento stressed. “By that, siguro nagawa na namin ang aming trabaho, at binigyan natin ng lunas ang mananakay. Wala na po ang paghinto, tuloy na po tayo. Sana’y aanyayahain ko na pumunta tayo sa harap, magkamayan po tayo, kasama ang miyembro ng Kamara to move this country forward,” he added. 

"We are very grateful to Sec. Tugade and Rep. Sarmiento for mediating for the impasse settlement. I am happy that everyone is now involved in the test run and will be working together towards the same goal," Angkas Chief Transport Advocate George Royeca said. 

"The agreement to continue the test run that Angkas and the two other players struck with the DOTr, the LTFRB, and the TWG is an important win for the Philippines, particularly for the commuters and the bikers of all three motorcycle taxi companies,” he added.

“I am thankful to everyone who have been with us in this continued journey — the government agencies and their respective heads, the senators and the congressmen who understood the situation and helped us arrive at a consensus, the civil society representatives who passionately stood their ground, the bikers who were behind us all the way, and the commuters and passengers who prayed with us for a peaceful resolution to all this,” Royeca noted.  

“I would like to particularly thank the Senate Committee on Public Services, led by Committee Chair Sen. Grace Poe, with the support of Sen. Ralph Recto, Sen. Win Gatchalian, Sen. Imee Marcos, Sen. Joel Villanueva and the other senators who have been monitoring this issue from the beginning, for their acknowledgment of the importance of motorcycle taxis in mitigating our commuters’ daily struggles. And, of course, Sen. Bong Go for bringing the matter to the President and recommending the continuation of the pilot,” Royeca declared. 

"This is democracy at work. Everybody stepped in, courts were involved, the secretary, the executive branch, General Gardiola, and the other players in the private sector. So now, everybody's working hand in hand. I think this is a testament to the success of the democratic process. We're very happy with the result," Royeca declared. “Our focus right now is to continue working with the government to make the pilot a success,” he added.

TWG Chair Antonio Gardiola Jr. shared that there is also a new redistribution provision in relation to the riders cap.

“Kung hindi kaya ng isang player to come up with the maximum number of riders, ibibgay sa ibang company na kaya,” he said.

"We are considering all sentiments that's why we came up with this. Even the blacklisting of Angkas is already a closed book," Gardiola stressed.

Kickstart Year 2020 with value friendly, mouth-watering dishes from Teriyaki Boy and Sizzlin’ Steak

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A great start as Teriyaki Boy and Sizzlin’ Steak kickoff 2020 with better and exciting Japanese and Steak options at reasonable prices.

This new year 2020 to try new things and what better way to start it right than having a tasty feast somewhere that is familiar, but now made even better, with Teriyaki Boy and Sizzlin’ Steak! 

To kickstart 2020, the popular Japanese and Steak house introduced its new and improved menu, bolstered to satisfy all your cravings.

For years, Teriyaki Boy has set the bar high for its quick service and high-end dishes that appeal to fans of Japanese cuisine.

Teriyaki Boy Chicken (PHP349)

And this new year proves no different with its roll-out of time-tested dishes starting with the original crowd favorite, Teriyaki Boy Chicken (PHP349) – meticulously marinated from the inside out to add more flavor to the meat, then sautéed with its classic Teriyaki Boy sauce, and served with a drizzle of sesame dressing over a fresh bed of cabbage salad.

Beef Teriyaki (PHP399) 

If you’re craving for some well-seasoned beef, you can never go wrong with Beef Teriyaki (PHP399) – now more tender, flavorful, and affordable than ever before. Generously smothered with the signature Teriyaki Boy sauce, you can taste the flavor with every bite.

Teriyaki Boy’s Tonkatsu (PHP289)

If you fancy some deep-fried dishes, check out Teriyaki Boy’s Tonkatsu (PHP289) – made from imported US pork battered with a Japanese style breadcrumb, deep-fried until golden brown, and served with cabbage salad and a drizzle of sesame dressing. Juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside, the new Tonkatsu will give you an exceptional tingle.

Teriyaki Boy has exciting dishes for seafood lovers as well, such as Ebi Tempura (PHP269) – one order gives you 3 pieces of succulent, fresh prawns that are significantly bigger and crunchier than ever. 

Ebi Tempura (PHP269) 

Each is fully coated with authentic Japanese tempura batter, fried until lightly crisp, and then served with special tempura sauce. Additionally, diners can avail of this crunchy dish at PHP199 only (PHP70 less from its regular price) from January 15 to 31, in celebration of Tempura month.

Sizzlin’ Steak has also put forth a variety of mouth-watering and premium beef dishes that are modern, hot, fast, and definitely worth the money!

Sizzlin' Beef Belly Rice (PHP269) 

Start-off with its best-seller that will keep you coming back for more, the Sizzlin' Beef Belly Rice (PHP269) – thin, tender slices of beef served with your choice of sauce (Teriyaki Sauce, Steak Sauce, Gravy, Teri-Mayo, Garlic Basil Sauce, or Cheese Sauce), to give a delightful mix of sweet and salty flavors, best paired with plain rice.

Want it done your way? Now you can with the Create Your Own Sizzlin’ Meal – choose and surprise your taste buds with a delightful range of high-quality meats to pair with rice, your choice of side dish, and sauce.

The sky is the limit to create a scrumptious Sizzlin’ Steak meal!

“Looking forward to 2020, Teriyaki Boy and Sizzlin’ Steak promises to continue offering customers a delicious and valuable dining experience unlike any other. With the start of a new decade, we are excited for our customers to come back and try all their favorite Japanese and Steak dishes, now made with even better ingredients,” said Teriyaki Boy and Sizzlin Steak Senior Marketing Manager, Cherry Hernandez.

For more information, please visit facebook.com/SizzlinSteak and facebook.com/TeriyakiBoyPh.

For orders and inquiries, visit www.sizzlinsteak.com and www.teriyakiboy.com.ph.

Competitive Bidding is the key for DOH Vaccine Procurement to strenghten prevention on vaccine scare

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A  discussion on lessons on vaccine scare and how the Philippines is taking a second look at vaccination  with  Dr. Lulu Bravo, Executive Director of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination; and lawyer Tom Syquia, former Executive Director of PS-PhilGEPS, was held at the Samahang Plaridel, Kapihan sa Manila Hotel on January 22.

During the public health forum, the experts said that a stronger push towards more competitive bidding is key to regaining public confidence in vaccines from both the public and private sector.

Tom Syquija, former Executive Director of Procurement Service- Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PS-PhilGEPS), said that It's always best to have a public bidding, because competition will give the best price. 

"It is transparent. You get the same quality but at the lowest price. It's always best for the public if you have competition,” he added.

The budget for pneumonia vaccines alone is P4.9 billion, allotted for Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines (PCVs), which aim to guard against Invasive Pneumococcal Diseases (IPDs), the largest cause of death for Filipino children under five. 

There are two vaccines currently available for the government to procure during the next budget allocation, PCV 10 and PCV 13, two vaccines that global health experts claim are comparable in performance.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reaffirmed an earlier position saying that the two available PCVs are equally effective in preventing overall pneumococcal diseases in children. In February 2019, the position paper also states that there is at present insufficient evidence of a difference in the net impact of the two available PCVs on overall disease burden.

Dr. Lulu Bravo, Executive Director of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, when discussing the efficacy of the two PCVs. “Many developing countries have already procured PCV 10.”

Similarly, the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) in its own study said that available evidence to date indicates significant impact of both PCV10 and PCV13 in the outcomes studied, with no evidence of the superiority of one vaccine over the other on pneumonia, Invasive Pneumococcal Diseases (IPD), or meningitis hospitalization reduction in children under 5 years old.

The International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC), in their 2017 PCV product assessment which was based on a comprehensive review of published data, also declared that current evidence does not indicate an added benefit with one vaccine over the other.

Syquija highlighted that the competitive bidding process should be accompanied by the scrutiny and recommendation of legitimate health experts, which would help allay concerns over whether the procured vaccine has carefully been studied or not.

“The first thing to ask is, what is appropriate for the Philippines? How many manufacturers make PCV13? How many PCV10?” said Syquija.  

“You need a decision on an expert level. What product do we need? Then it will dictate the modality of the procurement.”

Even when the procurement process is transparent, there is a danger in the way it is implemented, claimed Syquija. The bid posted by the government is required to list specifications regarding the item to be procured. It is possible to “tailor-fit” the bid by listing specifications that unnecessarily cut other options out, making it difficult to protect the sanctity of the contract.

“Do we need a PCV10? If that is sufficient, and has multiple suppliers, why would you go for 13 if there is only one (supplier)?” he said.

There is also a concern among health experts that the resurgence of diseases and the potential exacerbation of currently prominent sicknesses, like pneumonia and meningitis, will become a larger problem should the public's fear towards vaccines continues to persist.

Experts believe that vaccine confidence is a critical issue, especially since pneumonia is a very common disease in children here and abroad. Of the hundreds of countries in the world, the Philippines is included in the top 15 countries in terms of pneumonia deaths, and those 15 countries are responsible for 75% of all deaths from pneumonia.

“In the last year or so we had so many outbreaks. Since 2018, nawala ang vaccine confidence ng Pilipinas. Isa tayong country na naging number one anti-vaccine country in the world,” said Dr. Bravo.

“The vaccine confidence of 93% in 2015 plunged to 30 percent in 2018.”

“Patients, people, and the community, would drive away the healthcare workers. They were being stoned, they were being driven away, and were even called child-killers,” she added.

In an earlier statement, the DOH pointed to vaccine hesitancy, or the refusal of vaccines despite availability, as one of the reasons for the recent measles outbreak in some regions of the country.

Senate shoots down LTFRB -TWG : Angkas presents comprehensive data from 1st pilot run

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In a public hearing on Motorcycle Taxis Legalization last Monday, January 20, the Senate Committee on Public Services chaired by Senator Grace Poe called on the technical working group (TWG) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to suspend their earlier pronouncement to discontinue the three-month extension of the motorcycle taxi test run which was still supposed to end in March and lift the riders cap.

Sen. Poe urged the TWG to continue the pilot run in order to aid the Senate in getting data to craft the proper legislation that regulates motorcycle taxis in the country. 

“In this panel, we are unanimous in our opinion that the study must continue. Isuspend niyo muna ang pagbuwag sa pilot run. We won’t come up with a meaningful and effective law without the pertinent studies,” Poe stressed. 

“Kaya pag kinansela ang programa, mas lalo nating di makukuha ang datos ng Angkas. Kung tinatamad kayo kumuha ng datos, pwede naman kayog pumunta sa PNP, HPG, at kumuha ng datos sa kanila,” she added.

Poe also called out TWG chairman Antonio Gardiola Jr., who announced the decision to halt the pilot run immediately prior to the Senate hearing, for the arbitrary pronouncement. 

“Naglabas kayo ng desisyon bago patayo nagkaroon ng konsultasyon. Hindi na ninyo kinonsidera ang talagang importanteng bagay dito na wala tayong alternatibo,” Poe stressed.

Poe also decried the riders cap that the TWG recently implemented.

"We are rewarding them (Angkas) negatively by putting the cap,” Poe declared. “Naintindihan ko yung frustration ng Angkas dahil kayo ang nagtanim, kayo ang nagsaing, pero ni hindi kayo pinakain,” she added.

The senate hearing was also attended by other senators Ralph Recto, Win Gatchalian, Bong Go, Imee Marcos, Joel Villanueva, Koko Pimentel, and Bato Dela Rosa.

Senator Ralph Recto, who also has a motorcycle taxi bill pending in the senate, also called out Gardiola for the summary changing of the TWG’s composition.

“I want an explanation from Secretary Tugade bakit binago ang TWG,” Recto demanded. “At bakit maraming natanggal sa TWG at ni walang representasyon ang Senado?”

Recto also decried the apparent inefficiency of the TWG. “Bakit parang wala namang meetings ang TWG? At parang isa lang ang nagdidikta,” Recto asked. "Kaya na-TRO kayo kasi wala kayong public consultation," he added.

Recto also disagreed with the plan of the TWG to blacklist Angkas as a motorcycle taxi service. 

"If you think the presentation of Angkas is good and promotes safety, why are you blacklisting them?" he questioned. 

Recto then asked for a copy of all the minutes of the meetings the TWG, the data they were able to gather in the first test run, and all department orders and memos pertinent to the issues at hand.

Senator Win Gatchalian, in turn, asked Gardiola why the TWG made decisions without a comprehensive data as reference. 

 “Ano nga ba ang basehan ng riders cap?” Gatchalian asked. “Patang legalized cartel ito. Dahil kung ako yung bagong player matutuwa ako na kabago-bago ko, may 10,000 agad ako na bikers,” he added.

“Paghihiganti po ito, dahil walang basehan ang lahat,” Gatchalian also noted.

Senator Bong Go, for his part, expressed his support for motorcycle taxis.

“Motorcycle taxis like Angkas provide cheaper and faster services, helps previously unregulated habal habal drivers, we also recognize the high safety standards, helmets and reflectors being provided to bikers,” Go declared.

Go later said that there will be no arrest yet of motorcycle taxis despite the government’s move to terminate its pilot run study and declare them illegal. He claimed that Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III had agreed to his request not to enforce the arrest starting next week.

“I will recommend to President Duterte the continuation of the extension of the pilot program for motorcycle taxis, provided that the players will abide and care for the safety of the passengers,” Go promised. 

“Kami naman dito Senado ayaw naman namin na habang nagaantay kami na i-amend yung batas, e mawawalan po silang ng trabaho kaya pinakusapan namin kung pwedeng pagpatuloy muna yung kanilang operation,” he added.

Senator Imee Marcos, addressing Senator Poe as chair of the committee, said, 

“Madam Chair, maybe we can ask Gardiola what the basis was. Kasi parang ang mga napili nila ay yung mga walang track record. 

“Ang akin lang, nakakapagtaka. Kapag may pasyente na maraming sakit, di naman natin pinapatay kasi give up na tayo. Wag natin patayin (ang ride hailing apps) kundi gamutin,”Marcos stressed.

Senator Joel Villanueva, in turn, labelled the riders cap as unconstitutional. 

"Yung pag set niyo ng policy to limit the number of riders that are able to work, parang sa ngayon, dapat ireconsider," Villanueva noted, quoting an article in the Constitution. 

"The State shall afford full protection of labor, local and overseas, organized and unorganized, and promote full employment," Villanueva quoted. "Yan po ay pagbibigay ng hanapbuhay o trabaho sa ating mga kababayan kase pag ginawa ho natin 'to (the riders cap), malilimitahan po sila," he added. 

"Will you reconsider now your position? There's a constitutional provision here we already mentioned. This is the highest law of the land," Villanueva noted.

Also during the hearing, Angkas Chief Transport Advocate George Royeca presented a summary of a comprehensive set of data gathered by the pioneering app-based motorcycle taxi service during the initial six-month test run held last year.

Royeca stressed that he has no fight with the LTFRB and the TWG and that what he was fighting for is the well-being of the bikers and the thousands of passengers. He also clarified several allegations made by the TWG, particularly those about the ownership of Angkas and their alleged operations in CDO, among other things.

Royeca ended his presentation by stressing that Angkas will continue to try to work with the government.

“In spite all of these, nandito pa rin kami na gusting makipagtulungan. We are still committed to working with the government to build a better system,” he said.

Tulong Taal: GCash enables users to donate to Taal aid efforts

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With the recent eruption of the Taal Volcano, the spirit of Bayanihan became stronger and much more visible with the outpouring of donations and volunteers from the different sectors of the society to help those in need.

Various groups and individuals launched their own donation drives to collect humanitarian aid and bring them to the people who are currently affected by the volcanic eruption in Batangas.

All over the news and social media, the whole world see how Filipinos of different walks of life -- from government agencies, humanitarian aid groups, foundations, down to individuals -- strengthen one another to help those in need.

“The Filipino spirit of Bayanihan is best displayed during these times, and we at GCash inspired with the outflowing of donations and financial aid to those affected by this calamity. We have since added a new in-app feature to make it more convenient for our users to support relief efforts,” GCash President Anthony Thomas said.

To make it much simpler for individuals to support these causes, GCash, the Philippines’ leading mobile wallet, has partnered with several non-government organizations and foundations to enable its users to contribute any amount to their chosen groups or even individuals via their GCash app.

GCash users simply have to open their apps, click on the “Pay Bills” tile, select “Others,” click on “Tulong Taal,” and input the amount they would like to contribute.

“We at GCash are one with the Filipino people in helping those in need in this time of great need. Through our platform, GCash users now have a more convenient means to aid those who are affected by the Taal Volcano eruption. We have long realized the power of our platform, and we will continue to transform it as a conduit of generosity for the greater good,” Thomas said.

With the advent of financial technology, Filipinos are now more empowered to harness their innate generosity and helpfulness in times of disasters. First launched in mid 2019, GCash for Good enables users to donate monetary assistance to social causes such as disaster relief via their mobile phones. 

Proceeds of the donation drive will go directly to partner organizations such as the Philippine Red Cross, World Vision, Animal Kingdom Foundation, Ayala Foundation, the School of Deaf and Applied Studies, Hope in a Bottle, and ABS-CBN Foundation. These groups are spearheading different humanitarian aid and relief operations for the evacuees.

GCash account holders may also opt to directly send financial assistance to their chosen aid group via their own QR codes posted in social media.

“No amount is too small when it comes to helping others. Each peso is a significant step towards the betterment of the lives of the people in need,” Thomas added.

Aside from the GCash-led donation drive, individuals are also harnessing the power of digital finance to gather donations and launch their own campaigns. Over the past few days, GCash has noted various GCash users receiving money from different people as financial assistance to humanitarian aid.

“It is encouraging for us at GCash to see our platform being used for good causes. This is a huge step for us, as we transform the GCash app to a more socially-significant, responsible and sustainable platform to create an impact on millions of lives in the Philippines,” Thomas said.