DOTC, winning bidder set Monday marking of agreement for LRT, MRT normal ticket venture

MANILA - The gathering that sacked the P1.7-billion Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS) Project of Metro Manila's three overhead rail administrations will sign on Monday its agreement with the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC). 

"I comprehend it has been declared," Transport Undersecretary Perpetuo Lotilla, said, alluding to the planned marking of the agreement. 

The AF Consortium, which offered the most elevated premium offer of P1,088,103,900 for the AFCS undertaking, proposed a transaction expense of P800 million and accessibility installment of P279 million. 

The AF Consortium is made out of AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp, BPI Card Finance Corp, Globe Telecom Inc, Meralco Financial Services Corp, Metro Pacific Investments Corp (MPIC) and Smart Communications Inc. 

The second-most astounding bidder, SM Consortium, had said its proposal was "better" than that of AF Consortium. The SM Consortium proposed to pay the administration everything of P1.008 billion forthright. 

MPIC president Jose Ma. K. Lim had said the consortium will use $40 million on the AFCS venture. 

"We will overhaul 44 stations over the line and we will destroy it year and a half. We won't charge the travelers a solitary centavo. The sum of the capex, we will recuperate this through the utilization of the cards in different spots like the accommodation store, transport and espresso joint," Lim said. 

The AF Consortium's new savvy card ticketing framework will displace the existing attractive stripe framework. The new framework can likewise serve as an electronic micropayment result in normal installments, or as identifier for dedication plans, office access and area based administrations. 

Ayala and MPIC are cooperating with MSI Global, a world-class rail, transport and retail installments supplier utilizing comparative innovation. It has executed comparable installment results around the world, including the EZ connection card in Singapore. 

Under the task terms, the winning bidder will have the choice to extend the contactless card framework to different organizations good and done with the transportation part, for example, in retail transactions. 

Like Hong Kong's "Octopus" card, the Philippine rendition might permit every day workers to utilize a solitary ticket when they ride the LRT Lines 1 and 2, and the MRT Line 3. The three rail administrations have a joined together ridership of a million a day. 

One of the Aquino organization's open private association (PPP) ventures, the proposed tap-and-go framework, which the winning bidder will work for 10 years, will additionally improve passage gathering productivity by lessening spillage and misrepresentation. 

Later on, the framework might be stretched to incorporate other transport modes, for example, transports, toll streets and the Philippine National Railways (PNR).

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China avoids PH case, summons int'l law

MANILA, Philippines – China shielded itself from the memorable arguing recorded by the Philippines on Sunday, March 30, by utilizing the same weapon Manila wielded against Beijing. 

The climbing superpower covered up under the Philippines' "extraordinary equalizer." 

Dismissing the Philippines' almost 4,000-page composed arguing, China said its position on the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) question "is decidedly dependent upon global law." 

China said the arbitral tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration has no right to hear the Philippines' case. Attempting to demonstrate it is not a global fugitive, it raised two focuses on Sunday: 

The question include land, which is not secured by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); and 

The question include the delimitation of sea limits, over which it dismisses arbitral transactions in a statement under UNCLOS in 2006 

Chinese Foreign Ministry representative Hong Lei said in a proclamation: "Regardless of how the Philippine dedication is bundled, the immediate reason for the debate between China and the Philippines is the recent's illicit occupation of some of China's islands and reefs in the South China Sea." 

"At the heart of the matter are the question between the two sides on the sway over islands and reefs, and delimitation of oceanic limits. Yet debate, for example, these have as of recently been avoided from discretion systems through an affirmation made by China in 2006 according to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea," Hong said. 

"In this setting, China's dismissal of the Philippines' docility for intervention is determinedly dependent upon universal law, and China's legal rights as a gathering to UNCLOS ought to be sincerely regarded," he included. 

China's contentions against the tribunal's purview remain a significant obstruction for the Philippine

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Bong Revilla off to Holy Land 'to look for awesome intervention'

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr – one of the officials embroiled in the multi-billion-peso pork barrel trick – left the nation with his and his family Saturday, March 29, to use Holy Week in Israel. 

Their depature was gone before by content impacts from obscure numbers, cautioning that the congressperson was escaping, reckoning "the arrival of his capture warrant for his part in the PDAF trick." The sender gave the wrong flight number – Philippine Airlines flight Pr312 at 9:25 pm – deluding a few writers who were staking out at the airstrip. 

Revilla's media relations officer Amy Manzo denied the talk. Manzo advised journalists the congressperson is setting off to the Holy Land, a mainstream journey site, "to look for celestial mediation on his present problem." 

Revilla is around the respondents in loot and other defilement protests before the Ombudsman. They are blamed for getting gigantic kickbacks from claimed trick genius Janet Lim-Napoles by underwriting her fake Ngos so actualizing offices might discharge the legislators' Priority Development Assistance Fund to them. 

At the stature of the pork barrel trick, the Department of Justice solicited the Department from Foreign Affairs to cross out the travel permits of 37 people, including Revilla. He impacted the move, saying that the DFA had no locale to scratch off his international ID since he has not been indicted any wrongdoing. 

Revilla, and his wife, Cavite Rep Lani Mercado-Revilla had looked for authorization to go from Senate President Franklin Drilon and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr, individually, agreeing Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison. 

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr sent Mison's quick message to columnists Saturday night: "Sir, Sen. Revilla and wife Cong. Lani were cleared for flight a couple of mins back, Ek335 for Dubai. Both administrators had travel power from Senate President and House Speaker. FYI, sir." 

In a meeting with Interaksyon, Manzo of Revilla's office said Justice Secretary Leila de Lima gave the representative verbal consent to travel a prior month the pla

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Watch watercrafts from Japan to begin touching base in 2015

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) anticipates that conveyance of two will three of 10 brand-new multi-part watch watercrafts from Japan by the second from last quarter of 2015, as stated by the PCG representative.

Cmdr. Armand Balilo, PCG open issues office head, told the Inquirer on Sunday the seven other 40-meter (131-foot) vessels might be conveyed the accompanying year.

"The two sides have concurred that each of the 10 watch pontoons will be brand-new and multi-part," Balilo said.

The Coast Guard's momentum armada comprises of nine watercrafts, which are used as hunt and-salvage vessels. At this written work, be that as it may, just seven are operational.

As stated by Balilo, PCG work force likewise man 10 vessels having a place with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

The BFAR pontoons are utilized chiefly within the fight against illicit angling and poaching in the nation's regional waters.

In December, President Aquino advertised in a news meeting that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) might give a $184-million delicate credit for the PCG's obtaining of 10 watch vessels from Tokyo.

The President, who had barely hailed from the Japanese capital for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Japan Commemorative Summit, said the watch watercrafts might support the nation's oceanic security.

As far as it matters for it, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) at Malacañang said that with the buy of the new vessels, "the PCG could overhaul its current armada that will fortify its errand of protecting the nation's selective investment zone."

"The new watch watercrafts will do watches in a few challenged regions in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea)," the PCOO said.

In the mean time, the PCG refered to the Jica for giving a 1.15-billion yen (about P506.5 million) concede that will go to the establishment of VSAT and Inmarsat correspondence frameworks at the PCG base camp in Port Area, Manila, and additionally in its locale work places across the nation and on its vesse

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P2.9-M agricultural tramline set up in Iloilo

An alternate Agricultural Tramline System (ATS) venture worth P2.9 million was executed in the area of Iloilo by the Department of Agriculture- Philippine Center for Postharvest and Mechanization (DA-Philmech) early not long from now.

The San Antonio ATS is a bi-link framework with a pulling limit of 350 kilograms for every outing at the suggested pace of 100 to 150 meters for every moment. ATS is an elective transport framework utilized by agriculturists within pulling their horticultural inputs and items in ranges a long way from way organizes due to gorges, waterways and thick vegetation. In Iloilo, an alternate tramline venture is as of now operational in Brgy.

"Hinikayat po kami ni Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala na lagyan ng upuan ang tramline upang magamit ng mga tao yet for crisis purposes just. Kung might tinuklaw po ng ahas o manganganak, maaaring gamitin ang tramline. Tesorero repeated to ranchers to abstain from over-burdening in utilizing the tramline and this office is not intended for human transport.

He further advised agriculturists to take after the best possible support and working methodology of the tramline undertaking to keep the office running for more than 15 to 20 years.

The San Antonio ATS has a safe bearer outline, programmed motor stop, updated link and meter and twofold track links.

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Duterte for president? Supporters hold rally

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – You must be insane, the leader said. In any case is a national run in 2016 truly an insane thought for Rodrigo Duterte? 

On Saturday, March 29, many Davao inhabitants convey pennants and canvases appeared at the city's Rizal Park to rally help for a Duterte for president development. A band played hit melodies from the 80s, free porridge and shirts were dispersed, and individuals alternated in lauding Duterte and his brand of initiative, which some find questionable. 

Chairman Duterte prior undermined to resign from governmental issues after 2016 if his supporters demanded preparing aggregations to weight him to run for president. President Benigno Aquino III steps down from office in 2016. 

Sources from no less than two political camps said that counselors of no less than one potential presidential wager have been wanting to approach Duterte to run for VP. 

In the event that his supporters had their direction, then again, the point ought to be nothing short of what the presidency. 

Damage Masanguid, barangay skipper and lead convenor of the Pilipinas 2016 Duterte Movement, said they are not stressed in regards to the dangers made by Duterte in light of the fact that they just needed to demonstrate to him that the "individuals' fuss" for him to run is authentic. 

"We are not apprehensive in light of the fact that we are not completing anything wrong," Masanguid said. 

Since its starting in February not long from now, the Pilipinas 2016 Duterte Movement headed by no less than 100 Davao City town chiefs was ready to gather about 4 million marks in the city and the neighboring towns. The marks demonstrate that individuals need him to try it out, Masanguid said. 

A few town leaders and town authorities from different regions are likewise supporting the development, submitting their political apparatuses for his battle. 

Heart and clench hand 

Masanguid portrayed Duterte as an iron-fisted pioneer with a heart, one who orders solid vicinity well and done with government. 

"In the event that we will hope to measure up Duterte and Davao City to alternate urban communities and pioneers in our nation, he is the main government official who was equipped to completely execute the opposition to smoking battle and the sparkler boycott," Masanguid said. He included that Duterte additionally further enhanced teach in the city through the opposition to spitting law, pace limit and the opposition to segregation statute. 

"Issues still exist in the city, however these were minimized contrasted with different urban areas in the nation," Masanguid said. Faultfinders and human rights assemblies have pummeled Duterte for actualizing tenets at the out of pocket of fundamental rights. He has been blamed for administering the vigilante-style executing of suspected culprits and medication pushers. (READ: CHR to Duterte: Act like a leader) 

Simply as of late, he debilitated to "happily slaughter" a suspected rice runner. 

Be that as it may Masanguid said Duterte might be instrumental in building peace in Mindanao as well as in the entire nation, refering to his experience in managing renegade development.

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‎Japanese‬ Naval‬ Squadron‬ coming

#‎MANILA‬, — The Japanese naval training squadron is scheduled to make a goodwill visit to the Philippines, the Japanese embassy in Manila said.

The Escort Division 13 of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) – consisting of two vessels, JS Shirane (DDH143) and JS Asayuki (DD132) – will be at the South Harbor from April 2 to 5.

The ships have about 480 officers and crew members on board, including 48 newly commissioned officers, under the command of Captain Hideto Ikeda.

During the visit, Captain Ikeda will make courtesy calls on ranking Philippine officials and lay a wreath at the Rizal monument.

The Japanese embassy noted that JMSDF ships have visited Manila more than 50 times since 1966, making it one of the most frequent destinations for JMSDF’s training squadron. The embassy said the visits are indications of the strong relations between the Philippine Navy and the JMDSF.

(PHOTO) JMSDF ‪#‎destroyer‬ JS ‪#‎Shirane‬ (DDH 143)

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Philippines to get ‪MULTI-ROLE FIGTER‬ by 2018

‎Manila‬, - With the nation now on its approach to secure its first-ever supersonic plane air ship in 34 years, the Department of National Defense (DND) proclaimed that it will be gaining a "multi-part contender" (MRF) by 2018.

This was uncovered by DND undersecretary for fund, modernization, establishments, and weapons Fernando Manalo.

2018 is the second period of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program.

Throughout this period, the barrier and military foundation will figure out if to procure extra units of the South Korean F/a-50 "Battling Eagle" or run full stream with the procurement of the Mrfs to improve the nation's outside protection competencies.

Studies are presently underway to focus the best MRF plans for the Philippines.

The Philippines and Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd (KAI) marked the P18.9 billion arrangement for 12 units of the F/a-50 last Friday.

Manalo said that the initial two F/a-50 plane airplane will be conveyed year and a half after the opening of the letter of credit, the following two will be conveyed 12 months after the fact and the remaining eight plane planes to be conveyed in stunned support inside eight months.

The F/a-50 has a top velocity of Mach 1.5 or one and half times the pace of sound and is equipped for being fitted aerial rockets, including the AIM-9 "Sidewinder" aerial and hotness looking for rockets aside from light programmed guns.

The F/a-50 will demonstration as the nation's between time warrior until the Philippines get enough knowledge of working quick fly holdings and cash to reserve the securing of additional competent contender airplane.

The F/a-50 configuration is generally determined from the F-16 "Battling Falcon", and they have numerous similitudes: utilization of a solitary motor, rate, size, expense, and the reach of weapons.

KAI's past building knowledge in permit preparing the KF-16 was a beginning stage for the improvement of the F/a-50.

The air ship can convey two pilots in pair seating. The high-mounted shade created by Hankuk Fiber is connected with extended acrylic, furnishing the pilots with great perceivability, and has been tried to offer the overhang with ballistic assurance against four-pound items affecting

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