By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Cognizant of the existential anguish that some personnel of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) could be experiencing with the upcoming turnover of the operations and maintenance of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to the private sector, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista has reassured that none of them will be displaced.

The DOTr released the statement on Saturday (09 March 2024) after the DOTr chief reiterated to the MIAA staff that no employee will be displaced during the agency’s 42nd anniversary on Friday (08 March 2024).

“Part of the concession agreement is for the concessionaire to offer positions to existing employees of Manila International Airport Authority,” Bautista said.

DOTr Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development Timothy John Batan had earlier said that the private group that bagged the concession deal to take over NAIA’s operations is required to offer jobs to the current workers of the airport to ensure no job losses would result from the privatization initiative.

“Be it regular employees, contract of service or job order. Ibig sabihin, walang mawawalan ng trabaho dito,” Bautista vowed.

To recall, last February, the DOTr announced that SMC-SAP & Company Consortium won the 15-year concession deal to rehabilitate, operate, and expand NAIA, with an option for a 10-year extension depending on the performance of the concessionaire.

The winning group is made up of San Miguel Holdings Corp., RMM Asian Logistics Inc., RLW Aviation Development Inc., and Incheon International Airport Corp.

During the announcement of the winning bidder, Bautista had also promised that no jobs would be lost when SMC-SAP group takes over NAIA as “employees will be absorbed” and some will be retained by the MIAA, which will remain as the regulator of the airport.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

WHAT’S WRONG with cooperatives?

This question was raised by no other than Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista on Wednesday as he said the government is willing to address the demands of transport groups currently on strike but the formation of transport cooperatives remains “non-negotiable.”

Bautista stressed that the government is open to discussing the demands of the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON), but the consolidation requirement for jeepney operators and drivers will remain a key aspect of the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP).

“There were demands and sabi nga namin (we said), we are ready to address all these but one very important issue that sabi namin (we said), non-negotiable ‘yung industry consolidation because we need the players to consolidate to a cooperative or corporation,” the DOTr chief said.

On the other hand, PISTON is demanding that the new vehicles will be granted a five-year franchise.

It also wanted the fast-tracking of the transfer of the franchises should vehicles be sold.

PISTON argued that this then leads to the operators not being granted fuel subsidies even if they already acquired the vehicles.

“‘Yung subsidy na ‘yan ay mababayaran dun sa registered owner and one of the issue daw diyan ay dahil naibenta na sa kanila pero hindi pa nalilipat ay hindi nila makukuha ‘yung fuel subsidy,” Bautista retorted.

He added: “Actually, halos naman lahat (ng demands pwedeng pagbigyan). Ang kailangan lang, konting oras, pero ang sabi ko ang hindi naman talaga pwedeng pagbigyan is ‘yung ayaw nilang mag-consolidate.”

(ai/mnm)

On Tuesday, October 17, 2023, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista filed cybercrime complaints with the Department of Justice against journalist Ira Panganiban and MANIBELA Transport group Chairman Mar Valbuena.

The complaints alleged a violation of Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act 10175, also known as the Cyber Crime Prevention Act.

These complaints arose from accusations of corruption within Bautista’s department, with Valbuena and Panganiban accusing him of accepting bribes.

Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty of the DOJ officially received Bautista’s complaint. Images captured at the Department of Justice reflect Bautista’s reaction to the media’s allegations of corruption made against him by Valbuena.

(Report & Photos by Benjamin Cuaresma/ai/mnm)

Ni Liezelle Soriano

MARIING itinanggi ni Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista nitong Miyerkoles ang mga alegasyon na sangkot siya sa katiwalian.

Ayon kay Bautista, plano niyang magsampa ng kaso laban sa mga nag-aakusa sa kanya.

Sinabi ni Bautista na walang basehan ang mga akusasyon sa kanya at iginiit na hindi siya tumanggap ng anumang pabor o pera mula nang maupo siya bilang kalihim ng Department of Transportation.

“When I took the helm of the Department of Transportation, I vowed to serve the country and the Filipino people with integrity, which to me is more precious than any material wealth,” wika ni Bautista.

“While these allegations may have distracted us from our work, I vehemently deny involvement in any corruption or inappropriate activities,” dagdag pa niya.

Noong Lunes, inanunsiyo ng tanggapan ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang pagsususpinde kay Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chair Teofilo Guadiz III matapos itong masangkot sa katiwalian.

Leynes itinalagang LTFRB OIC

Ang board member na si Atty. Mercy Paras Leynes ay itinalagang officer in charge at chairperson ng LTFRB, matapos masuspinde si Guadiz.

Sinabi ni Bautista na inutusan niya si Guadiz na ipaliwanag ang mga alegasyon at iba pang iregularidad sa LTFRB, lalo na sa PUV modernization program.

Walang namang binanggit si Bautista kung anong transport group ang kakasuhan niya.

Sa isang Facebook post ng grupong MANIBELA, sinabi nito na: “PINAGBABANTAAN TAYONG KAKASUHAN NI SECRETARY BAUTISTA!

LABAN MGA KA MANIBELA.”

(ai/mnm)