Metro Briefs: Aug.21, 2019

MRT 3 unloads 780 passengers as motor malfunctions

MANILA, Philippines — Around 780 passengers on Tuesday were off-loaded from a Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 train after its motor suffered an electrical failure due to worn-out subcomponents.

It was the 17th unloading incident this year despite the ongoing rehabilitation of the MRT system under a massive P21-billion project that started in February.

According to the MRT management, the passengers were forced to disembark at the southbound Ayala station around 1 p.m.

MRT 3 public information officer Rose Anne dela Cruz said it took longer for the next train to arrive (around 11 minutes) because they had to clear the path first and move the defective train. —Krixia Subingsubing

San Juan, GSIS ink pact to save debtors from loan sharks

MANILA, Philippines — Declaring San Juan City “no place for loan sharks,” the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and Mayor Francis Zamora inked an agreement on Tuesday allowing city hall workers and public school teachers to borrow up to P500,000 at drastically reduced interest rates.

The loan refinancing program, known as the GSIS Financial Loan Assistance II (GFAL II), functions as a balance transfer and consolidation facility — essentially permitting beneficiaries to shift their outstanding loans from private lending institutions (PLIs) to the state pension fund.

Under GFAL II, there is a fixed annual interest rate of six percent, with the debt payable over six years.

“Because of how hard things get, sometimes we have no choice but to cling to these loan sharks,” Zamora said at the signing ceremony. “But starting today, that won’t be a problem.”

GSIS chair Rolando Macasaet said GSIS employees would be stationed at city hall every Wednesday to entertain applicants.

The GFAL II was a program piloted in May 2018 by Department of Education employees with a combined debt of at least P319 billion. —Matthew Reysio-Cruz

Over 40 local, foreign firms joining Aug. 24 job fair in QC

MANILA, Philippines — The Lord’s Flock Catholic Charismatic Ministry is inviting everyone to a job fair with over 40 local and overseas companies participating.

The job fair will be held on Saturday, Aug. 24, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 5 Catanduanes St., near the corner of Del Monte Avenue in Quezon City.

Applicants should bring their resumes and photos. For more information,  call 3765780  or 0915-7022145.