Napocor says giving LGUs more lead time on dam water release | ABS-CBN

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Napocor says giving LGUs more lead time on dam water release

Napocor says giving LGUs more lead time on dam water release

Pia Gutierrez,

ABS-CBN News

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Updated Oct 24, 2024 03:11 PM PHT

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La Mesa Dam, Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN NewsLa Mesa Dam. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA - The National Power Corporation on Thursday assured that new protocols on the release of dam water will prevent massive flooding of downstream communities during typhoons. 

NAPOCOR’s Flood Operation Manager Maria Teresa Sierra in a press briefing said that the new protocols will do away with the old practice of releasing water only when the dams are full, which doesn't give communities enough time to prepare. 

“The past protocol kasi, we usually release water kapag puno na po iyong dam. So, as much as possible, we would like to maintain the water elevation of Angat Dam so that it can provide a sufficient water supply for Metro Manila [and] also for the irrigation requirements of Bulacan and Pampanga,” Sierra said.

She said the agency has learned lessons from past dam releases. Dam operators previously gave local government units a lead time of at least 4 hours before releasing water. But Napocor said it is now increasing this lead time to at least 24 hours to give LGUs more time to prepare and alert communities that may be affected.

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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier ordered dam operators to release dam water ahead of the expected heavy rainfall brought by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine to prevent flooding in low-lying communities.

According to weather bureau Pagasa's flood warning website, which monitors 18 major river basins, only 4 areas are currently on flood watch, namely the Pampanga, Agno, Bicol and Cagayan river basins.

The Angat, Ipo and La Mesa Dams have not yet reached their normal high water levels.

As of 6 a.m. Thursday, Angat Dam's water level was at 198.45 meters, up from 197.63 meters on Wednesday, but still far from its normal high water level of 210 meters.

Ipo Dam's water level meanwhile actually fell to 100.79 meters on Thursday morning from 100.8 meters on Wednesday, as one gate was opened.

La Mesa dam's water level was also at 79.66 meters on Thursday morning, which was still below its 80.15 meters high water level.  

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TNVS drivers call on LTFRB anew to enforce rule on mandatory discounts

TNVS drivers call on LTFRB anew to enforce rule on mandatory discounts

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

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Grab signs in a mall in Pasig City. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/FileGrab signs in a mall in Pasig City. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — A group of Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) drivers appealed to regulators anew on Wednesday to make ride-hailing firms shoulder the full cost of the mandatory 20-percent discount for senior citizens, Persons with Disabilities (PWD), and students.

“Ang mga driver/operator po, maliit lang ang kinikita nyan. Bakit kailangan pang ipapasan ang mga discount na ito?” said Laban TNVS President Jun De Leon during a rally outside the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) office in Quezon City.

“Non-negotiable na po sa atin ang mandatory discounts. Dapat po, 100 percent, sagutin ito ng Transport Network Company (TNC),” he added.

LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz earlier said that based on Memorandum Circular 2015-016-A, TNCs should absorb these passenger discounts as part of the conditions of acquiring a franchise.

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But some TNCs continue to pass it on to their partner drivers, or at least split the cost with them in the case of dominant player Grab Philippines— on the basis of a different LTFRB memo issued in 2018 which states that public utility operators and drivers should grant the discount.

In a previous interview with ABS-CBN News in December, Guadiz said that provision only applies to public utility jeepneys and buses.

In an effort to clear up the confusion, he said the LTFRB would issue a new order that would also lay down standards on how these discounts should be applied so as not to inconvenience passengers from vulnerable groups.

Up to now, though, the LTFRB has yet to issue any order.

“The issue boils down to sino ang magkukuha or aako nung discount na yan, is it the TNC like Grab? Or is it the operator, yung may-ari ng sasakyan, or is it the driver?” said Guadiz during his latest press conference on Tuesday.

Laban TNVS expressed frustration over this, saying the LTFRB is seemingly changing its initial stance.

“Hindi ko alam kung bakit biglang nagbago ang ihip ng hangin sa sinasabi ni Chairman Guadiz… Ang sinasabi po nila ay pag-aaralan nila ito. Ano pa ba ang dapat pag-aralan? Maliwanag po sa Memorandum Circular, hindi na po dapat palitan,” insisted De Leon.

New entrants in the four-wheeled ride-hailing market, Lalamove and Pure Ride, are also waiting for an LTFRB memo so they can ensure proper compliance.

Lalamove, which launched Lalamove Ride in early February, told ABS-CBN News that, at least for now, it is shouldering majority of the passenger discount while implementing a lower commission rate for drivers.

“In the absence of a memorandum circular, minabuti na po naming magtake ng initiative na majority share si Lalamove, 60% ng discounts are shouldered by Lalamove and then 40% are shouldered by the drivers,” said Lalamove Philippines Managing Director Djon Nacario.

“But please take note, 2% commission lang yung ino-offer namin… At the end of the day, 98% nung fare yung maiuuwi ng ating partner drivers,” he added, saying the firm has one of, if not, the lowest commission rate in the industry.

Nacario also said that should the LTFRB order them to absorb the full cost of the discount, Lalamove would also be prepared to comply.

Meanwhile, Pure Ride, which began operations last February 14, is proposing a 50-50 share with drivers once its 10 percent commission rate takes effect.

“Kunyari sa start we got 0 commission. Ibig sabihin, wala naman kaming nakuha, so the entire 20% would be on the driver which is fair enough. Now when we start getting 10%, dapat 10% lang din yung magiging cover namin (sa discount),” said Pure Ride Chief Operating Officer Edison Go Tan during the firm’s pre-launch media briefing in Makati last February 11.

“Pero siyempre kung sasabihin ng LTFRB talagang icha-charge nila sa TNC, wala kaming magagawa,” assured Tan.

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