LTFRB warns jeepney drivers staging 2nd strike this month
An official of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has issued a warning to jeepney drivers who will take part in the planned transport strike on Monday. Board member Aileen Lizada said they would receive show cause orders if they push through, like the drivers who participated in the last strike on Feb. 6. At least three transport groups are mounting the nationwide strike, banding together as the “No to Jeepney Phaseout Coalition,” to oppose the government’s reported plan to replace gas-powered jeepneys with electric or low-emission vehicles. George San Mateo, the coalition’s convener and national president of the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston), warned that the phaseout would result in higher jeepney fares and hurt the masses who regularly use this mode of transport. The earlier strike this month was led by the Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator ng Pilipinas Genuine Organization (Stop & Go). Mateo said Monday’s strike would again involve members of Stop & Go and the United Transport Federation of Makati, and that he expected 80 percent of jeepney drivers will join the protest action in Metro Manila alone. The LTFRB earlier warned jeepney drivers that their franchise to operate may be suspended or canceled should they resort to “cessation of service as a sign or demonstration of protest against any government decision or action.”—JOVIC YEE
FDA: Keep an eye out for fake mascara
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reissued warnings against the use of a beauty product labelled “Max Factor Eye Brightening Mascara.” The FDA said the market authorization holder for Max Factor cosmetic products had confirmed that the item being sold locally was a fake since it didn’t import or distribute that particular product in the Philippine market. Its safety, therefore, could not be guaranteed, the agency said in a public advisory posted on its website. Counterfeit cosmetics may contain ingredients not allowed for such products and are susceptible to lead or mercury contamination. In the case of a mascara, it may cause eye redness, irritation, swelling and discharge, the FDA said. The illegal sale of such products may be reported to the FDA through info@fda.gov.ph or www.fda.gov.ph/ereport, or through the Facebook account @MaxFactorPH.—JULIE M. AURELIO
Firm doing Edsa works draws MMDA’s ire
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is considering filing charges against the construction company that conducted drainage works along the southbound lane of Edsa in Pasay City last week without first coordinating with the agency, thus causing heavy traffic. MMDA officer in charge and general manager Tim Orbos on Saturday said C&F Construction had a permit from the agency to do drainage improvements along Edsa-Cabrera, but the company failed to notify the MMDA when it decided to resume work Thursday morning. In November last year, the MMDA suspended all roadworks in the capital for two months to alleviate holiday traffic. “If we were informed that they will resume construction, we would have prepared a traffic management plan in the area and at least augmented the number of enforcers there,” Orbos said. The resulting bottleneck, he noted, slowed traffic on the southbound lane all the way to Balintawak. Orbos appealed to the public for more patience as the roadworks would continue till Monday. Meanwhile, the MMDA has suspended all road reblocking projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways in the capital “until further notice,” and required DPWH contractors to submit their schedule for the completion of pending projects.—JOVIC YEE