20170606 Press Realease: RWM

Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas joined other lawmakers in calling for a legislative inquiry on the alleged security lapses and other failed safety protocols in the Resorts World Manila (RWM), that resulted to the untimely death of 38 people, including the lone assailant.

In filing House Resolution 1064 or directing appropriate House committees to investigate in aid of legislation, Vargas aimed at preventing similar incidents and improving security protocols on every establishments particularly public places.

“Incidents of this magnitude may have been prevented if there were no lapses in security,” Vargas said.

According to Vargas, among the pertinent issues that need to look into are: 1. Resorts World Manila shortcomings; 2. Failure of the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) to inspect the establishment; 3. Philippine National Police (PNP) Southern Police District delayed intervention and 4. The funeral services holding up of remains.

 “Casualties may have been minimized if adequate security and safety protocols were in place,” Vargas stressed.

Vargas wants to determine the veracity of the reports that security personnel at the RWM abandoned the building while a lone gunman was torching the casino area.

He proposed inviting BFP officials to explain why life-saving devices like sprinkler system or  emergency oxygen defibrillators did not function when fire started to spread inside a casino room.

“Did BFP make proper inspection on the installation and maintenance of automatic fire sprinklers? These help save lives because fire sprinkler systems react so quickly, they can dramatically reduce the heat, flames and smoke produced in a fire,” Vargas stressed.

Likewise, Vargas wants to get explanation from the PNP for the alleged delayed intervention when security personnel of RWM failed to accomplish they duties.

Meanwhile families of the victims keep on complaining on the slow delayed of the cadaver.

On June 2, at around 12 a.m. a man, armed with M4 armalite stormed the casino area of Resorts World Manila. He torched gaming tables and some slot machines.

After snatching chips, equivalent to $2 million, the attacker holed up in one of the hotel rooms on the fifth floor, where he set himself on fire  and shot his mouth.

Most of the victims died of smoke inhalation while some due to stampede.

The police later on identified the gunman as Jesse Carlos, a dismissed employee of  Department of Finance (DoF) who was a heavy gambler with huge debts. (END)

No fee for use of transport terminals sanitary facilities

The House of Representatives, prior to adjournment, approved on third and final reading a proposal to prohibit the collection of fees from passengers for the use of sanitary facilities located in the Land Transportation Office (LTO) terminals, stations, stops and rest areas.

The proposal is embodied in House Bill 725 principally authored by Rep. Maximo Dalog (Lone District, Mountain Province).

The bill declares that the right of every establishment to a fair return of investment carries with it a corresponding social responsibility to provide adequate facilities for the comfort of its clientele.

Towards this end, the State shall require the owners, operators and administrators of land transport terminals, stations, stops and rest areas to provide and maintain suitable and clean sanitary facilities, free of charge to passengers and travelers.

Section 3 of the bill provides it shall be unlawful for the owner, operator or administrator of land transport terminals, stations, stops and rest areas to collect fees from passengers for the use of regular sanitary facilities therein.

The concerned passenger must show the paid bus ticket for the day in order to avail of the free use of the sanitary facility.

The provisions of the Act shall not apply to separate, well-appointed or deluxe sanitary facilities that are operated solely for commercial purposes and for the convenience of passengers who require and prefer such facilities within land transport terminals, stations, stops or rest areas.

Section 4 of the bill provides that any owner, operator or administrator of land transport terminals, stations, stops and rest areas who violates the prohibition in Section 3 shall be liable for a fine amounting to P5,000.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) shall, after five years from the effectivity of the Act and once every five years thereafter, review the applicability and enforcement of the fine and the necessary adjustments on the amount of fine imposed subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

The LTFRB and the DOTr shall, within 60 days from the effectivity of the Act, jointly promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of the Act.

Dalog said that for the benefit of the riding public who patronize common carriers, the collection of fees from the passengers using comfort rooms and service facilities in the bus terminals or stations, bus stops, and rest areas should be stopped immediately.

Dalog cited that Presidential Decree 856, otherwise known as the “Code on Sanitation,” states as one of its basis, the need to provide for an adequate number of rest areas for passengers of private and public conveyances plying the highways to cater to the comfort and personal convenience and needs of travelers.

Moreover, Dalog said Article 1755 of the New Civil Code of the Philippines states that a common carrier is bound to carry the passengers safely as far as human care and foresight can provide, using the utmost diligence of very cautious persons, with a due regard for all the circumstances.

“The maintenance of these comfort rooms and service facilities is part of the services for human care of common carriers. Thus, additional payment for maintenance of these facilities should not be imposed on the riding public. In addition, the collection of fees for the use of comfort rooms and service facilities is an added burden to the riding public; hence, making travel within the country more expensive,” said Dalog.

Other authors of the bill are Reps. Strike B. Revilla (2nd District, Cavite), Johnny T. Pimentel (2nd District, Surigao del Sur), Fernando V. Gonzalez (3rd District, Albay), Winston Castelo (2nd District, Quezon City),   Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon (Lone District, Muntinlupa City), Mark Aeron H. Sambar (Party-list, PBA), Cesar V. Sarmiento (Lone District, Catanduanes), and Marlyn L. Primicias-Agabas (6th District, Pangasinan). (30)/ RBB

Statement  of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on midEast diplomatic row

06 June 2017

The Middle East diplomatic crisis sparked by the decision of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates to break off relations with Qatar over its perceived support for terrorism could have serious implications on the safety and welfare of Filipinos living in Qatar.

As the situation unfolds, the Department of Foreign Affairs through our Philippine Embassy in Qatar should remain vigilant and closely monitor the situation and adopt measures to ensure open communication lines with the Filipino community.

Should the situation deteriorate, the embassy must be able to provide timely advisories to avoid possible panic and ensure the safety of our OFWs.

While the situation in Qatar has remained stable, our government as early as now must create a task force to draw up contingency measures for the safety and welfare of the estimated 260,000 Overseas Filipino Workers in the area.

The reported panic-buying could be a prelude to a breakdown of peace and order. This internal strife may lead to a full diplomatic crisis.

The possibility that we might have to repatriate a huge number of OFWs is a daunting task by itself. Even more challenging is the need to provide them with ample financial support.

It is imperative that at this point, our government and the private sector and NGOs should work hand in hand to ensure we can provide our OFWs in Qatar the appropriate assistance when the need arises. We must not wait until it’s too late to act. ##

Phl should mediate MidEast crisi for the sake of OFWs there – Harry Roque

Given the huge number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) currently in the Middle East, the Philippine government should step in and mediate to diffuse the escalating diplomatic tensions in the region, Deputy Minority Leader and Kabayan Party-List Rep. Harry L. Roque said Tuesday.

"We have a stake in the the political and economic stability of the Middle East as almost a million of our kababayans work there. It would be prudent for our government to mediate and try to diffuse the tension, if only for the sake of our OFWs," he said.

Roque said the ongoing row between Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Egypt, Yemen, Maldives, and Qatar is a cause for concern for the thousands of OFWs there.

According to 2015 Philippine Overseas EmploymentAdministration (POEA) data, more than 900,000 OFWs work in the Middle East, with 133,000 in Qatar alone.

“Aside from our OFWs, our interest in peaceful settlement of dispute are our dependence on oil, our trade relations in the region, and the elimination of extremist groups in Mindanao,” Roque said.

“The conflict in the Middle East is proof that we live in a very interdependent word today. We should not wait until the crisis worsens,” he added.

Roque said he filed a resolution in the House of Representatives urging President Rodrigo Duterte to act as intermediary in the conflict.

“The Philippines may be an effective mediator in the conflict due to its genuine interest to resolve the conflict and relative impartiality among the conflicted nations,” Roque said in House Resolution No. 1067.

The lawmaker said Duterte should capitalize on the goodwill he built during his state visit to the region last April.

“He was warmly received during his state visit to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar. I believe he will be an effective mediator,” he said.

Statement on cash and checks recovered by the Marines in Marawi

Ang pera at checks na nakita sa isang bahay sa Marawi ay dapat imbestigahan ng mabuti. Mahirap magbigay ng conclusion kaagad. Ang mga posibilidad ay (1) pera na mula sa supporters ng Maute at ginawang pambayad at pang-akit sa mga nais tumulong sa kanila, (2) ninakaw ng Maute sa mga bangko o mga bahayan sa Marawi, o (3) pera ng isang contractor o negosyante na itinatago lamang sa bahay dahil hindi naman karaniwang gawi ang pagbabangko sa ilang kapatid nating Muslim.

I (Rep Gary Alejano) commend our operating troops in turning over this huge money. I continue to urge them to do this and avoid taking anything from the houses, and to assure the people of Marawi that what was left in their houses when they evacuated in haste are protected by our military and police.##