Smooth turnover expected

The Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC) is turning over today to the Manila Tollway Expressway Systems Inc. (MATES) the operations and maintenance of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

PNCC president Maite Defensor tells us that the decision to turnover was arrived at mainly because the South Luzon Tollway Corp. (SLTC) and MATES have already substantially complied with the requirements set by government.

And of course, PNCC was left with no choice after the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) approved and issued a toll operation permit to the SLTC authorizing the latter’s tollway operation and management company MATES to take over the operation and maintenance of project toll roads 1 and 2 of SLEX.

PNCC owns a 20 percent stake in SLTC while the remainder is owned by MTD Capital Berhad of Malaysia. MTC Capital also owns 30 percent of MATES while PNCC has a 40 percent stake.

SLTC holds the right to rehabilitate, expand, operate and maintain SLEX under a concession obtained in 2006.

The TRB had granted SLTC the authority to operate the SLEX through a toll operation certificate (TOC) dated Nov. 27, 2009

It will be recalled that the TRB first formally served notice to the PNCC to turn over the operation and maintenance of SLEX to SLTC and its tollway operation company MATES last Dec. 4. the board then served a second notice on Dec. 1, giving the company until Dec. 14 to comply with the directive. In response, PNCC applied for a restraining order because as Defensor explains, that the conditions precedent for the turnover have not been complied with.

But she said that after explaining to their Malaysian partners about the implications of a turnover prior to compliance, the latter chose to speed up the works required of them. Though not yet finished, Defensor said they have substantially complied.

As for the cases filed, Defensor said they have not withdrawn them, though it is expected that they will be rendered moot and academic once everything is accomplished.

LPG’s importance

A party-list organization has chosen to fight for the rights of household consumers to reasonably priced liquefied petroleum gas or LPG.

LPG-MA, representing the small, independent players in their industry, is participating in next week’s elections, largely to see to it that households do not have to return to using wood as fuel because LPG prices have gone beyond the reach of the masses.

The price of LPG indeed tolls heavily on the price of cooked food. But in addition, there are also environmental and health issues associated with an increase in the price of LPG.

LPG-MA head Arnel Ty explains that if LPG prices go unchecked, more people will resort to using alternative cooking methods. These include cooking with wood, especially in rural areas, where it contributes to the continued denudation of the forest.

The group also cited studies which showed that one out of five globally suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or Black Lung disease caused by sustained exposure to fumes emitted by alternative cooking fuel or methods.

The price of LPG is a real, serious concern. It is good to know that there is a group that is working to make sure that we do not have to go back to cooking using wood.

Liberty’s 4G

Liberty Broadcasting Network, Incorporated, a subsidiary of San Miguel Corp. and QTel Group, has recently introduced to the country the fourth generation technology (4G) with its wi-tribe brand which showcases the future of multimedia, taking the online lifestyle a step further.

wi-tribe introduces an industry-first, Move More bandwidth on demand, an add-on product feature for post-paid plan holders. With Move More, they will be able to surf more and download more while maintaining their unlimited plan’s speeds even after your monthly usage allowance runs out. For only P200 per one gb, they will have an extra bandwidth on demand service. This feature is available for both plan998 and plan 1998. 

Plan998 provides for unlimited surfing and browsing with consistent speeds of up to one mbps on the first six gb while Plan1998 allows for speeds of up to two mbps on the first 12 gb usage per month. 

While other providers offer unlimited surfing and browsing only with actual speeds that are lower than their claims, wi-tribe claims to be the only one to give consistent high-speed broadband. Those interested to know about wi-tribe can log on to their website www.wi-tribe.ph or call 31-tribe.  

A worthy cause

Like his dad, Nacionalista party senatorial candidate Ramon “Mon-Mon” Mitra is fighting for the rights of millions of poor Filipinos to affordable basic food products.

Food products are rising by at least 15 percent and he believes that it is government’s job to step in to ensure that the quality of life of its citizens remains high.

He says that prices of basic food stuff such as rice, sugar and salt increased by a minimum P5 from their original prices last March. Overall, this translates into a 15 percent increase in the prices of food and basic commodities, a thing which consumers can ill-afford especially with electricity and water rates also increasing.

With an P8,000 a month measly family salary, how can families afford to buy rice at P30 to P40 per kilo?

Mitra has called on the trade department, whose job is to ensure stable food prices, to actively intervene in the market and if needed, impose price controls. Or at least, place some food items on the price watch list.

Once elected, he wants to revive the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) which he said was an ingenuous solution in stabilizing food prices. Active management and control of food prices by the FTI during the time of former President Marcos, was the key in stabilizing food prices, he adds.

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