Mabini, Batangas-PINASINAYAAN ngayon June 30, 2021 ang pantalan ng Talaga sa bayan na ito. Kasama ang Philippine Ports Authority ng Department of Transportation.

Pinasinayaan ang Port Operations Building at Back Up area, kasama sa nasabing aktibidad si DOTr ASec. Goddess Hope Libiran at si DOTr. Sec. Art Tugade bilang speaker.

Ang nasabing port ay dating pinamamahalaan ng munisipalidad ng Mabini, at nirehab lamang ng Philippine Ports Authority. Nagkakahalaga ng 67 Milyong piso ang ginugol sa rehabilitasyon ng nasabing pantalan na kinakitaan ng kakaibang ganda at laki.

Nagke cater lamang ang nasabing pantalan sa mga maliliit na sasakyang pandagat buhat sa mga kalapit na pulo at hindi kasing laki ng Batangas Port. Ang PPA ay pinangungunahan ng kanilang General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago.

Auxiliary Office ng LTO sa Talaga port bago matapos ang termino ni President Duterte at in a period of 6 months magkakaroon ng RORO sa Talaga port ayon kay DOTr Sec. Art Tugade./

Bago matapos ang termino ng Pangulong Duterte magkakaroon ng port sa isla ng Tingloy patungo sa port of Talaga dagdag pa ni Tugade. //Michael Balaguer, 09262261791, konekted@diaryongtagalog.net

29 June 2021

TUGADE TO INAUGURATE REHABILITATED, UPGRADED, BETTER SECURED TALAGA PORT IN MABINI, BATANGAS

From its previous old, damaged, and unsafe seaport facilities, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Art Tugade, together with Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Santiago, is set to inaugurate a rehabilitated and upgraded Port of Talaga in Mabini, Batangas tomorrow, 30 June 2021.

Secretary Tugade will be joined Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas, and other local government and transport officials in the inauguration of the port which had its rehabilitation works completed in April 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the completed rehabilitation works at the port are the construction of a back-up area, the construction of a Port Operations Building (PBO), and the installation of a lighting system.

“Upang mabigyan ng mas maganda, maginhawa, at ligtas na daungan ang ating mga kababayang Batangueño, pinagsumikapan ‘ho ng Department of Transportation at Philippine Ports Authority, na agarang simulan ang rehabilitation project sa Talaga Port. Ngayon, tapos na ‘ho ang rehabilitasyon ng Talaga Port,” Sec. Tugade said.

Sec. Tugade has assured port users of a safe and secure sea travel to and from Mabini, Batangas. With the rehabilitation of the Port of Talaga, travelers can now enjoy a more comfortable and convenient sea travel experience as well as improved port services.

Meanwhile, according to the PPA, 30 local residents were given jobs during the construction phase of the port project. Additional employment is also expected to be generated with the opening of more business and tourism opportunities following the port’s start of operations.

The Talaga Port is one of 14 completed social tourism and commercial projects in the province of Batangas. Ongoing are improvement works at Subukin Port in San Juan, Batangas.

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21 June 2021

*TUGADE TO PUV DRIVERS: JOIN SERVICE CONTRACTING, TSUPER ISKOLAR PROGRAM*

BULACAN – Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Art Tugade reiterated his call for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and conductors to join the Service Contracting and the Tsuper Iskolar Program as part of the agency’s assistance to road transport stakeholders who are among the hardest hit sectors by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Nandito po tayo para magbigay ng inspirasyon, encouragement para sa lahat sa inyo na kung maaari sumama, sumanib sa mga programang inihanda upang maka-benepisyo hindi lang ‘ho ang mga kapatid nating tsuper, kasama na rin ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay,” Sec. Tugade said as he also announced the expansion of the Libreng Sakay Program in Bulacan.

Under the DOTr’s Service Contracting Program, participating PUV drivers will receive an onboarding incentive and a per kilometer fee to ferry medical front liners, authorized persons outside of residence (APORs), and essential employees through the “Libreng Sakay” Program.

For those joining the Free Ride initiative under the Service Contracting Program, the DOTr and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) have increased the amount of payouts from P46.80 to P82.50 per kilometer for buses, and P52.50 for jeepneys.

PUV drivers also stand to receive an additional P7,000 if they log-in via the LTFRB’s Driver mobile application (app) for five days a week.

In coordination with Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando and on the recommendation of LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III, the expanded Libreng Sakay Program will open additional routes in Meycauayan via Malolos going to McArthur Highway; Bocaue via Norzagaray or Angat via national road; and Malolos via San Miguel going to Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija.

_TSUPER ISKOLAR_

Meanwhile, PUV drivers and conductors may also enroll in the DOTr-TESDA’s Tsuper Iskolar Program for them to be capacitated as well as have their skills enhanced through the free skills training, Sec. Tugade said.

“Ito ‘ho ay programa ng DOTr kasama ang TESDA at katuwang din ang LTFRB na kung saan magbibigay na kaalaman—skills and talents—sa mga tsuper, sa mga driver kung gusto nilang magmekaniko, o magtroubleshoot na tinatawag ukol sa pagmamaneho, pwede silang mag-apply,” he explained.

In partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and in mutual cooperation with the LTFRB and the Office of the Transportation Cooperatives (OTC), the Tsuper Iskolar program aims to provide PUV drivers and conductors, and their families with free skills training, skills assessment, and entrepreneurship training.

Sec. Tugade said that apart from the free skills training and assessment, Tsuper Iskolar beneficiaries and their dependents will receive a regular stipend of P350 for the duration of the training sessions.

The transportation chief also stressed that should PUV drivers opt to find work elsewhere, PUV drivers and conductors may apply for various jobs in the DOTR’s Rail sector for several Build, Build, Build infrastructure projects in Bulacan.

In his recent visits to the Valenzuela and Bulacan segments of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Clark Phase 1 project, Tugade reiterated that the agency will prioritize the hiring of displaced PUV drivers and conductors, including former Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) under DOTr projects.

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