Red tape at LTFRB

Public land transport operators are suffering from untold hardships due to the inefficiency / incompetence of the government agency tasked to regulate them.

Ever since the President appointed Engr. Ronaldo Franco Corpuz and Atty. Al Parreno as members of the 3-man Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board last July, practically all transactions even routine ones have come to a grinding halt.

Routine applications for dropping and substitution of units in a franchise are not being released although all documentary requirements are complied with. This is due to the fact that the new board members are only now learning the ropes and are going over every transaction with a fine-toothed comb. Insiders are saying that there seems to be a deliberate attempt on the part of the new members to find fault or loopholes in the applications, betraying a presumption of IRREGULARITY in the performance of official work by the two new members.

Vital applications like those for extension of validity of franchises as well as those for approval of sale and transfer were likewise put on hold. During his tenure at DOTC, Sec. Roxas floated the idea of having these franchises bid out at public auction for transparency as well as to generate revenue for the government.

POLITICAL UPDATE . . Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Cong. Bernie Vergara have been proclaimed by Vice President Binay as the UNA candidates in Baguio City.

Dr. R.J. Valdez, son of Dean Amado Valdez is an UNA candidate for Councilor in the 6th district of Manila.

Former NPC Cong. Anthony Dequina is running against Cong. Jesus Sakdalan in the 1st district of North Cotabato.

Cong. Manny Paquiao is running for reelection, not for Governor of Sarangani.

Ex Cong. Luis “Baby” Asistio is running for Congress in the 2nd District of Caloocan, Ex Cong. Conrad Estrella is running for a party-list seat.

Cavite 7th District Cong. Jesus Crispin Remulla is running for Mayor of Tagaytay City as an NP candidate. His running mate is Vice Mayor Arnel Taruc.

DILG Sec. Mar Roxas filed a leave of absence as President of the Liberal Party.

The LP Senate slate was proclaimed by President Aquino at Club Filipino yesterday.

UNA SENATORS FILE COCs . . The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial slate filed its certificate of candidacy (COC) yesterday at Comelec at 1 p.m. (ala UNA).

Filing COCs were Sen. Gregorio Honasan, Sen. Dick Gordon, Sen. Migz Zubiri, your columnist, Congressmen J.V. Ejercito Estrada, Jack Enrile and Mitos Magsaysay. Also filing were Gov. Tingting Cojuangco and Sen. Loren Legarda who filed at 3 p.m.

The UNA Senators were accompanied by 5,000 supporters who gathered at the Plaza de Roma in front of Comelec.

UNA also adopted as guest candidates Grace Poe and Chiz Escudero.

400 UNA CANDIDATES . . Vice President Jojo Binay and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile swore into UNA and proclaimed 400 UNA candidates for Iloilo province and Iloilo City last Saturday.

Heading the group were Cong. Ferjenel Biron, candidate for Governor and former Cong. Rolex Suplico for Vice Governor. Also proclaimed were Congressional candidates Juliet Flores, Buboy Syjuco, Hernan Biron Jr., Jeff Roxas and Raul Gonzales Jr.

For Iloilo City, the UNA will field Mel Ynion for Mayor and Jeffrey Ganzon for Vice Mayor.

Witnessing the grand oathtaking at the Grand Hotel were Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Sen. Dick Gordon, Congressmen Jack Enrile, JV Ejercito, Mitos Magsaysay and your columnist.

Biron will have a face off with incumbent Arthur Defensor, the LP candidate with Raul Tupas as Vice Governor.

Dropped by the LP is former Niel Tupas Sr. who will run for Congress.

JUN YNARES FOR MAYOR . . At the big proclamation rally and concert attended by 20,000 at the Ynares Coliseum in Antipolo, Gov. Junjun Ynares announced he was running for Mayor of Antipolo. His father Ito Ynares will return to governorship.

The star studded affair was attended by President Erap Estrada, Sen. Bong Revilla and wife, Congw. Lani Mercado Revilla, former DILG Sec. Ronnie Puno, former Cong. Gilbert Duavit, Sen. Robert Jaworski, Congressmen Romeo Acop, Robbie Puno and Joel Duavit, former Cong. Lito Gatlabayan.

Vice Mayor Susan Garcia Say will be Junjun Ynares’ Vice Mayor; 14 out of 16 Barangay chairmen of Antipolo were present together with the municipal mayors of Rizal.

Antipolo City has 2 congressional districts with a 3rd one pending approval in congress.

Actress Marian Rivera, the Hitmakers composed of Rico J. Puno, Marco Sison and Nonoy Zuñiga provided the entertainment. Sen. Bong Revilla and wife Lani also sang a duet. The trio of Junjun Ynares, Cong. JV Ejercito and Cong. Joel Duavit also gave a song number.

BACKTRACK . . When Mujiv Hataman was appointed Governor of ARMM, Malacañang made it clear that the new appointees to ARMM posts would not run for election on 2013.

But that seems to be forgotten, Hataman is set to file his candidacy for Governor of ARMM with the support of House Majority leader Neptali Gonzales, Rep. Mohammed Pangandaman, Rep. Walden Bello and many ARMM leaders.

TIDBITS . . . Philippine imports dropped in July. Standard and Poor predicts a 4.9% GDP rate for this year.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales filed a criminal charge against Roberto Ongpin and 22 DBP officers for granting 2 behest loans totaling P660 million which was used to buy Philex shares.

Also indicted were former DBP Chairman Patricia Sto. Tomas, former DBP President Reynaldo David and all former members of the DBP Board of Governors.

Singer Andy Williams died at age 84.

The gun licenses of Allan Bantiles who poked a gun at a student at Colegio de San Agustin and Robert Blair Carabuena who assaulted as MMDA officer have been revoked.