BAWAL SUMAKAY DITO. Drivers or MMDA?

This is the usual site on the corner of EDSA and Quezon Avenue every morning. I don't know whose attention should I be calling on: MMDA or LTO for issuing license to these (whatshouldicallthem) drivers.

The sign is very obvious and written in tagalog. Don't they understand it?

Now, who should be arrested by whom?

Another line at the MRT

September 3, 2007. South Shaw Boulevard Station. 5:55PM, On the picture are crowd of more than a couple of hundred of people lining for the turnstile, the worst thing is, it's the line GOING OUT OF THE STATION. The cause -only one turnstile designated for outgoing passengers.

More and more people add up as trains arrive. I approach the guard and ask what could be done or is there any other option to address the situation? Wala daw order galing sa station supervisor and the supervisor is on the Northern side of the station.

Don't they have any procedure or whatsoever for cases like these that they couldn't do anything without the order of the station supervisor? Aren't there any other officers inside the ticket booth?

It all boils down to one thing - MRT HAS THE WORST MANAGEMENT EVER!

Infant Formula or Tobacco?

I am just wondrin' if the government is really after the health of the public particularly of the infants when they created Philippine Code of Marketing for Breastmilk Substitute (Executive Order 51, dated October 10, 1986 by the then president Corazon C. Aquino). This was done to ensure safe and adequate nutrition for infants. Well, thanks for taking care for us and for our babies. Well, at least somebody out there looks after our health. If I may ask, has there been death directly associated with breastmilk substitute?

However, there are thousands of death directly associated with tobacco smoking. And the legislative department has done its part by creating Republic Act 9211 known as Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003. It is an Act regulating the packaging, use, sale, distribution and advertisements of tobacco products and for other purpose.

But why they seem to be more strict at implementing those that deals with infant formula than with the deadly tobacco? Is it because tax from tobacco products comprises 11% of the total tax collection?

Now I ask, health or tax?

A Call to the Smoking Public

Dear Friend,

FCAP is a non-governmental alliance of health and socio-civic groups and individuals whose primary interest is the protection of all Filipinos from the ravages of the tobacco scourge. This includes both smokers and non-smokers, while highlighting protection of non-smokers from second-hand smoke. For hotels, bars, and restaurants, this also means protecting employees and workers from second-hand smoke.

In this light, we bring to your attention the following details of Republic Act 9211 (RA 9211), otherwise known as the Tobacco Regulations Act of 2003.

Section 5 of RA 9211 and Title II, Rule I, Sections 1-3 of its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) prohibit smoking in all public facilities including airport and ship terminals, train and bus stations, recreational places, shopping malls, movie houses, hotels, restaurants, schools, offices, conference halls, and in all enclosed or confined places that are open to the general public, except for designated separate smoking areas.

Section 6 of RA 9211 and Title II, Rule I, Sections 3-5 of its IRR require that designated smoking areas shall:

- not be located within the same room that has been designated as a non-smoking area;

- be completely enclosed or physically separated from the rest of the premises and equipped with adequate ventilation in conformity with the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1096, otherwise known as the “National Building Code”, and the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers Code;

- be fully separated from smoke-free areas by continuous floor-to-ceiling or floor-to-floor solid partitions which are interrupted only by doors equipped with door closers, and which must be constantly closed except when a person is entering or exiting the area; and

- have at least one (1) legible and visible sign posted saying “SMOKING AREA”, in English or Filipino, which shall be placed conspicuously at the entrance to the designated smoking area and include a warning in English or Filipino about the ill effects of both direct and secondary exposure to tobacco smoke.

If you wish to obtain a copy, the entire text of RA 9211, including penalties for non-compliance, is available online (www.fcap.globalink.org) for you to download and print.

Thank you for your time and cooperation.

Mabuhay ang Pilipino!

Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance, Philippines
2/F Philippine Heart Center Medical Arts Bldg., East Avenue, Quezon City
E-group: nosmokingRP @yahoogroups.com

Website: www.fcap.globalink.org / E-mail: FCAP@globalink.org

The Inefficient Metrostar Express (MRT) in Manila, Philippines

I guess I should change the name of this blog from "Reklamo" to INEFFICIENT MRT". Not because I hate this only means of government controlled transport service along EDSA, but because I am a witness to their inefficiency.

I will say it first in Tagalog for me to express my disappointment with their service every time I took the train.

Sa hagdan pa lang, magagalit kana kung kelangan mo pang pumila para makarating sa escalators, para lang mainis na hindi pala umaandar ang naturang escalators.

Pag dating mo sa taas, bubulagain ka naman ng dami ng tao na nakapila para sa inspection ng guard. Sinabi ko sa guard na dapat tatlo sila or beter yet apat pa, para mas marami ang ma-search nila at hindi mapuno ang hagdan at para mabilis na makapasok ang tao. Sinagot ako ng "Ok lang sir, wala din naman kayong pupuntahan sa loob kasi puno din eh!" Di ba napaka bobong sagot nun?

Sa madaling salita, na-inspect na ako at nakapasok, pero di naman ako nakakilos... kasi puno nga ang ticket vending area. E pano ba naman, lima ang ticket window, e dalawa lang ang nagbebenta ng ticket. Tapos makikita mo ang mga employee sa loob na nagkukwentuhan lang! Ang kakapal ng mukha! nagawa pang magpakita sa tao na nandun sila, tapos dalawa lang ang nagbebenta ng ticket e rush periods un. Sana man lang ipinakita nila na busy sila, better yet, umalis na lang sana sila dun sa loob at nagkunyaring mga customer din.

Hay, nang nakabili na ako ng ticket, at nakapasok sa turnstile at nagaabang na ng tren, di na naman ako nakakilos, e bakit kanyo? e puno na din sa platform area! Puno ng mga tao na nagaabang naman ng tren! Eto na naman! Bakit walang tren e rush hour nga ung time na un? Kulang ba ang coach ng MRT? o talagang di lang sila marunong mag manage ng mga customer nila?

Mas maraming mga magagaling na manager galing sa private sector, bakit di sila ang kunin to run the company? Yung mga tao ng trained sa Customer Service at sa Management. Kailangan pa bang hintayin natin ang pagpapalit ng administrasyon bago matapos ang paghihirap nating mga commuters ng MRT?

Now, who has to be served? Sila ba?

Utang na loob ko ba bilang mamamayan na ngayon ay may sinasakyan akong MRT? Of course not, because I believe, from what the government have forcefully been collected as my tax monthly from my salary and for everything that I buy and for every service that I require, I really deserve more than that. Not to mention that I am, together with hundreds of thousands other, pay for every ride that we make.