‘Puerto Galera tourism losses to hit P5.

3 million daily’
Puerto Galera will lose P5.3 million per day if the island is closed to tourists due to the oil spill from the sunken tanker
Princess Empress, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT).
The DOT said around 11,000 tourism workers and 139 DOT-accredited businesses would be displaced.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources had earlier reported that only nine of the 35 water sampling
stations in Puerto Galera passed the DENR’s criteria for water quality on oil and grease.
The DENR and Department of Health (DOH) warned the public against doing activities in areas where oil and grease
were detected.
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco clarified that there is no ban on swimming and other recreational activities in Puerto
Galera despite the joint statement issued by the DENR and DOH.
“Our perception of this joint statement is that Puerto Galera tourism continues to be open...There has been no direct
attribution in terms of the direct source of the findings, considering the presence of other human and economic activities in Puerto
Galera,” she said.
The DOT said Puerto Galera contributes 85 percent of tourism income in the entire province of Oriental Mindoro.
During peak seasons, the island had earned more than P1.2 billion.
Last year, 56,194 foreigners visisted the town, resulting in tourism revenues of more than P590 million.

'Papel na muna': LTO to issue temporary driver's license amid low supply of plastic cards
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) confirmed an ongoing "shortage" in plastic driver's license cards in the Philippines
— a situation which has lead them to decide on simply issuing temporary licenses printed on a mere piece of paper.
LTO chief Jay Art Tugade informed the media of the problem on Thursday. According to him, this was a result of a
department order they recieved in January, stating that all procurement involving P50 million and above should be conducted by
the Derpartment of Transportation central office.
"To those who will renew their driver's license, [if] there's no supply of plastic cards in a certain office, they will be given a
print out of the [official receipt] of their driver's license. At the back of it will bear the driver's license that should have been printed
out on a plastic card for them," said Tugade in a press briefing in Filipino.
"Drivers will hold this for the meantime while no plastic cards are available."
The OR shall bear a unique QR code that law enforcers will use to authenticate and validate the receipt. Motorists are
ordered to present the said OR to authorities should they be apprehended in the road.
Tugade said the inventory of plastic card licenses is forecast to completely run out by the last week of April 2023.
"The lack of supply of license cards, right now it is a nationwide problem. So right now, there are still [LTO] offices in the
[National Capital Region] who still have available plastic cards," he continued.
"However, there are already NCR offices that have completely ran out of plastic cards."
An inventory of existing plastic licenses and license plates was said to be one of Tugade's first course of action when he
started heading the LTO, a situation which later alerted him of its critical level of suppply.
The office informed the public that they are as anxious as everyone when it comes to the predicament, while assuring
all that they will print the licenses as soon as they receive the provision of cards.
This is not the first time that something like this has happened. In 2016, it could be remembered that thousands of drivers
were handed out their plastic licence cards after years of delays.
PNP appeals for public patience on shabu probe
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has appealed for patience as it tries to unmask the people behind the 990 kilos of
shabu worth P6.7 billion seized in Tondo, Manila in October last year.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo maintained that the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) 990, which is looking
into the large cache of illegal drugs, has just completed its probe on the pilferage by rogue police officers of 42 kilos of shabu that
were part of the drugs found in a lending firm allegedly by owned by dismissed anti-narcotics officer Rodolfo Mayo Jr.
“We are asking for more understanding and patience from our fellow citizens if the investigation is lasting longer,” Fajardo
told reporters.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, who earlier claimed that police officials were involved in a massive cover-up to shield
Mayo from prosecution, stressed that the public deserves to know the truth not only on the issue of the 42 kilos of shabu, but also
the nearly one ton of shabu at Mayo’s lending firm.
Fajardo said the SITG, headed by PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management director Maj. Gen. Eliseo
Cruz, has started the probe on circumstances surrounding the 990 kilos of shabu.
“I understand that this investigation on the 990 kilos of shabu is already moving. Let’s allow it to take its course,” she
added.
During a press conference last Monday, PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said they should be left alone on how they
would conduct their investigation instead of requiring them to give blow-by-blow updates on its progress.
“For as long as I know the direction that it is heading to, please, let’s not inquire, let’s not be hot about it because we are
getting into it,” Azuin said.
 _________________________________

our perception of this joint statement is that puerto galera tourism continues to be open...there
has been no direct attribution in terms of the direct source of the findings, considering the
presence of other human and economic activities in puerto galera she said
during peak seasons, the island had earned more than p1.2 billion
last year, 56,194 foreigners visisted the town, resulting in tourism revenues of more than p590
million
puerto galera will lose p5.3 million per day if the island is closed to tourists due to the oil spill
from the sunken tanker princess empress, according to the department of tourism (dot)
the denr and department of health (doh) warned the public against doing activities in areas
where oil and grease were detected
the department of environment and natural resources had earlier reported that only nine of the
35 water sampling stations in puerto galera passed the denr’s criteria for water quality on oil and
grease
the dot said around 11,000 tourism workers and 139 dot-accredited businesses would be
displaced
the dot said puerto galera contributes 85 percent of tourism income in the entire province of
oriental mindoro
tourism secretary christina frasco clarified that there is no ban on swimming and other
recreational activities in puerto galera despite the joint statement issued by the denr and doh
 __________________________________

an inventory of existing plastic licenses and license plates

was said to be one of tugade's first course of action when he started heading the lto, a situation which later alerted
him of its critical level of suppply.

lto chief jay art tugade informed the media of the problem on thurs.

according to him, this was a result of a department order they recieved in january, stating that all procurement
involving p50 million and above should be conducted by the derpartment of transportation central office.

lto (lto) confirmed an ongoing "shortage" in plastic driver's license cards in the phil— a situation which has lead
them to decide on simply issuing temporary licenses printed on a mere piece of paper.

the office informed the public that they are as anxious as everyone when it comes to the predicament, while assuring
all that they will print the licenses as soon as they receive the provision of cards.

the or-der shall bear a unique qr-rder code that law enforcers will use to authenticate and validate the receipt.
motorists are ordered to present the said or to authorities should they be apprehended in the road.

this is not the time freeze first that something like this has happened. in 2016, it could be remembered that
thousands of drivers were handed out their plastic licenced cards after years of delays.

tugade said the inventory of plastic card licenses is forecast to completely run out by the last week of april 2023.

"drivers will hold this for the meantime while no plastic cards are available."

"however, there are already ncr offices that have completely ran out of plastic cards."

"the lack of supply of license cards, right now it is a nationwide problem. so right now, there are still [lto] offices in
the [national capital region] who still have available plastic cards," he continued.

"to those who will renew their driver's license, [if] there's no supply of plastic cards in a certain office, they will be
given a print out of the [official receipt] of their driver's license. at the back of it will bear the driver's license that
should have been printed out on a plastic card for them," said tugade in a press briefing in filipino.
 __________________________________

“for as long as i know the direction that it is heading to, please, let’s not inquire, let’s not be hot
about it because we are getting into it,” azuin said.
“i understand that this investigation on the 990 kilos of shabu is already moving. let’s allow it to
take its course,” she added.
“we are asking for more understanding and patience from our fellow citizens if the investigation
is lasting longer,” fajardo told reporters.
during a conference press last mon, pnp chief gen. rodolfo azurin junior.
said they should be left alone on how they would conduct their investment investigation instead
of requiring them to give blow-by-blow updates on its progress.
fajardo said the sitg, headed by pnp directorate for investigation and detective management
director maj. gen. eliseo cruz, has started the probe on circumstances surrounding the 990 kilos
of shabu.
interior secretary benhur abalos, who earlier claimed that police officials were involved in a
massive cover-up to shield mayo from prosecution, stressed that the public deserves to know the
truth not only on the issue of the 42 kilos of shabu, but also the nearly one ton of shabu at
mayo’s lending firm.
pnp spokesperson col. jean fajardo maintained that the special investigation task group (sitg)
990 nine-hundred-ninety, which is looking into the large cache of drugs illegal, has just
completed its probe on the pilferage by rogue police officers of 42 kilos of shabu that were part of
the drugs found in a lending firm allegedly by owned by dismissed anti-narcotics officer rodolfo
mayo jr.
the pnp has appealed for patience as it tries to unmasking the people behind the 990 kilos of
shabu worth p6.7 billion seized in tondo, manila in oct last year year