Metrobriefs

QC approves probreastfeeding ordinance

A newly approved ordinance now requires establishments in Quezon City with at least 50 female employees to provide a lactation station, a private space where nursing mothers can breastfeed or express breast milk for storage. Councilor Jessica Castelo Daza, author of Ordinance No. 2396, said mothers and health care providers should be encouraged to breastfeed newborn children because of breast milk’s nutritional, immunological and psychological benefits. The measure signed by Mayor Herbert Bautista covers offices and businesses with branches in Quezon City regardless of their female workers’ employment status. The lactation station must have an accessible lavatory, a refrigeration or cooling system to store expressed breast milk and electrical outlets for breast pumps. The ladies’ room cannot be considered a lactation station, according to the ordinance. The Business Permits and Licensing Office, upon the recommendation of the Quezon City Health Department, will not issue a business permit to establishments that do not comply with the ordinance. On the other hand, establishments with less than 50 female employees are also encouraged to promote breastfeeding. Erika Sauler

LTFRB suspends cab in Edsa accident

A taxi cab that flipped over on Edsa two weeks ago has been suspended by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) following the accident that injured its three passengers. The cab belonging to MGE Transport Corp. ended up upside down and even rammed the center island on the southbound lane of Edsa when the driver tried to avoid hitting a passenger bus at 1:10 a.m. on April 13, the LTFRB said in a statement yesterday. “We continue to remind drivers of public utility vehicles to drive carefully, especially at dawn, to avoid accidents. We need to immediately act on this road accident by suspending the unit and its taxi driver for 30 days,” LTFRB Chair Winston Ginez announced. According to him, MGE must surrender the cab’s license plate (UVF 262) to the LTFRB legal division and bring the unit to the Motor Vehicle Inspection Service of the Land Transportation Office for road worthiness tests before it can be allowed to operate again. The LTFRB also required the taxi operator to submit a report on its hiring system and supervision of authorized drivers. On top of this, the taxi driver and an MGE representative should appear at the hearing set at 9 a.m. on May 13 at the LTFRB main office in Quezon City. Erika Sauler

Man faces raps for car theft, homicide

A 25-year-old man faces charges of attempted homicide and car theft for firing at patrolling police officers who caught him robbing a couple of their motorcycle in Caloocan City on Wednesday afternoon. Basari Bunsalangan, a native of Lanao del Sur, was chased by seven policemen from the city’s Special Rection Unit (SRU) after he pointed a gun at Eduardo Evangelio and his wife and took their motorcycle at 3:45 p.m. on Rizal Avenue Extension in Barangay 91, the police said. But Bunsalangan was not able to start the vehicle. “When we were running after Bunsalangan, he tried to shoot me. Luckily, I was able to evade the bullet,” PO2 Jomar Pillos, one of the members of the SRU team, recounted. The suspect kept firing at the cops but his handgun malfunctioned, Pillos said in an interview. To avoid hurting civilians, the policemen did not retaliate,he said. Bunsalangan ran toward the crowded PhilHealth office at the ground floor of Remcor building on Rizal Avenue Extension and was eventually arrested inside the toilet where he had tried to hide. Seized from him were a 9 mm revolver and a six-inch knife. Case investigator PO2 Ferdinand Orbeta said attempted homicide and car theft charges were scheduled to be filed against the suspect in the Caloocan City prosecutor’s office yesterday. Rima Granali