Latest news with #EDSA
GMA Network
2 days ago
- GMA Network
Motorist may be fined P150k for using EDSA busway 309 times — MMDA
A motorist may be fined up to P150,000 for the unauthorized use of the EDSA busway 309 times, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). In Vonne Aquino's Wednesday report on 'Saksi,' MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said the motorist kept using the EDSA busway at night, where it is dark and no traffic enforcers were deployed from August 2024 to last Friday. 'Irereklamo na po namin siya sa LTO for suspension ng license [at] kung ano pa pwedeng penalty ipataw sa kanya,' Artes said. (We will file a complaint before the LTO (Land Transportation Office) for the suspension of his license and other penalties.) The MMDA showed CCTV footage of the motorist to underscore the importance of the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) to discipline motorists even without the presence of traffic enforcers. The MMDA is also looking into endorsing to the Metro Manila Council the move to oblige NCAP violators engage in community services as a penalty. 'Sinsabi po kasi na negosyo ang NCAP. Hindi po. Ito po ay para disiplinahin ang tao at bantayan ang kalsada. Tamang tama po may mga programa kami gaya ng paglilinis ng estero at kanal para malabanan ang pagbaha, maalis ng mga basura,' Artes said. (Some say NCAP is a business. It's not true. The policy is implemented to discipline motorists and monitor the road. We have programs like cleaning drive of drainages and canals to combat flood and dispose garbage.) Some motorists approved the idea since they don't have to pay a fine, while others said paying a fine is better since the process is faster. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BAP, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
DOTr studying busway for España-Quezon Ave. route
The Department of Transportation is studying a possible busway for the España Boulevard to Quezon Avenue route similar to the EDSA model. In a Saksi report on Tuesday, DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon acknowledged there is a lack of buses, particularly for students, in the approximately 8-kilometer stretch from Manila to Quezon City and vice versa. He said the DOTr is conducting a feasibility study that is expected to be completed in 2026. Dizon expressed confidence that up to three operational stations of the Metro Manila Subway Project will be operational by the end of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 's term. Three of the five major right-of-way issues have been resolved while the remaining two are under discussion. DOTr has also accepted three proposals for the planned Integrated Terminal Exchange for Northern Metro Manila which is expected to be finished in 2028. —RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
DOTr eyes España-Quezon Avenue busway system
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is eyeing to replicate the EDSA Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System or EDSA Busway model in other major thoroughfares in Metro Manila, particularly España Boulevard in Manila and Quezon Avenue in Quezon City. 'We need more of those (BRTs),' Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said at the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) Infrastructure Forum in Makati City. 'To me, the most viable and the most needed one is España to Quezon Avenue. That is very important. Busway [at] España, Quezon Avenue. That is going to be very viable…That's wide enough for a busway,' Dizon said. The Transportation chief said there are currently no buses serving commuters, especially students, in the España-Quezon Avenue stretch. 'We're doing FS (feasibility study) now,' he said, adding tthat the completion of the study would be 'hopefully next year.' Asked if the España-Quezon Avenue Busway will be operates by the private sector, Dizon said, 'I think we have to do it government muna…then we'll privatize the O&M (operations and maintenance).' 'It is not difficult to build. Kita mo naman [EDSA] Busway, pandemic lang ginawa nun,' he added. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
The Star
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Second 'people power' lessons for Sara Duterte trial from Joseph Estrada's fall
MANILA: As Joseph 'Erap' Estrada's presidency fell in 2001, the government that was brought to power by the protest of millions of people on EDSA started to exact accountability from the one who once promised to lift the poor out of poverty. But while it ended well, Estrada eventually walked out of prison, only a few weeks after his conviction for two counts of plunder, and for a UP Diliman professor of political science, it was a clear indication that 'the powerful have advantages.' The 'revolution' on Jan 16 to 20, 2001 was a show of dissent — people believed that the trial in the Senate, marked by the refusal of 11 senators to open an envelope that could serve as the smoking gun to convict Estrada, will not hold him liable. Like the one in 1986 that ended a 20-year dictatorship, millions of people crowded the streets and called on Estrada to resign. It was a protest against corruption, a display of power that will always be greater than the presidency and any one in government. With the refusal of 11 senators, Aquilino 'Nene' Pimentel Jr. resigned as Senate president and walked out of the session hall, together with nine other senators who voted to open the 'second envelope.' This triggered Filipinos to converge on EDSA on the night of Jan 16. The next day, Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, as he did in 1986, called on the people to take part in the protest, which grew immensely. ALSO READ PART ONE: The rise and fall of Joseph Estrada: From people's champion to disgraced Philippine president As more people came, a kilometres-long human chain was formed from Ayala Avenue in Makati City to the EDSA Shrine on Jan 18, signalling to Estrada that millions of Filipinos were already demanding his resignation. But even as the police and the military withdrew their support and eventually took part in the protest, Estrada asserted that he will not resign, calling on TV for a snap presidential election on May 14 but without him as candidate. This, however, was only viewed as his way to still hold on to the presidency. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who was then the vice president, took her oath of office as president before Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide on Jan 20, the same day Estrada left Malacanang without making an official resignation. A few months after his ouster, the Ombudsman filed two charges against Estrada before the Sandiganbayan: one for plunder and one for perjury, which is a case he was later cleared from. The plunder charge consisted of four cases: > Receiving P545 million worth of payoffs from illegal gambling > Diverting P130 million in excise tobacco taxes to his own use > Bagging P189 million worth of commission from the sale of the shares of Belle Corporation to government pension funds > Maintaining a P3 billion bank account with the name 'Jose Velarde' Republic Act No. 7080, as amended, penalises public officials who 'amass immense wealth through a series or combination of overt or criminal acts described in the statute in violation of the public trust.' Estrada and his son, Jinggoy Estrada, were eventually arrested. They were both initially detained at the Veteran's Memorial Medical Center, but when the younger Estrada posted a P500,000 bail, his father was moved to Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. He was placed on house arrest at his rest house in Tanay, Rizal, close to a military camp. It was where Estrada stayed until and even after the Sandiganbayan rendered its decision on the case. It took over six years for the Sandiganbayan to reach a decision. Estrada, in 2007, was convicted of two counts of plunder — the acceptance of 'protection money' from illegal gambling and bagging commission in the sale of shares of a real estate company to government pension funds. He was cleared of the other two. His son, Jinggoy, was acquitted. As a result of the conviction, Estrada was sentenced to reclusion perpetua. The verdict likewise barred him from holding public office again, while millions worth of resources were ordered forfeited. > Over P545 million, with interest and income earned, inclusive of the amount of P200 million deposited in the name and account of the Erap Muslim Youth Foundation >P189 million, inclusive of interests and income earned, deposited in the 'Jose Velarde' account >The real property 'Boracay Mansion' located in New Manila, Quezon City The period within which Estrada has been in detention was credited to him. For political analyst Maria Ela Atienza, there was 'moral and legal victory in the fact that Estrada was impeached, forced out of the presidency, and convicted in court.' But his eventual release proved how powerful the elite are. Not even a year had passed when Arroyo, who rose to the presidency in the same 'revolution' that ousted Estrada, gave the latter an executive clemency through a pardon, which Estrada accepted on Oct 26 of the same year. It was believed that Arroyo's move was made for her to get advantage from the opposition and to deflect the charges of corruption within her own administration, as stated in a report by Reuters. But the pardon and his eventual release from detention paved the way for his political resurrection, even when his conviction carried a penalty of perpetual disqualification from public office. This, as he initiated a bid for the presidency in the 2010 elections, having then Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay as his candidate for vice president. While he lost to Benigno Aquino III, he received over nine million votes. Estrada, three years later, won as mayor of Manila. While his win was met with opposition, considering that he was barred from holding public office again, the Supreme Court said he was eligible. While Associate Justice Marvic Leonen pointed out that Estrada 'continues to suffer the penalty of perpetual absolute disqualification,' the Supreme Court, in an 11-3 vote, stressed that Estrada had the right to seek public office. Estrada was mayor of Manila for six years until 2019, when he lost his reelection bid to Isko Moreno-Domagoso, who was once his candidate for vice mayor back in 2013, the year that marked his political comeback. For Atienza, this is the reason that 'we have to impress upon presidents who have the power to pardon that it is not in their interest to pardon officials who commit high crimes.' - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
YouTube loosens content rules, says freedom of expression can outweigh harm—controversial videos may return
YouTube Relaxes Moderation Rules The New Violation Threshold Why Did YouTube Change Its Rules? Live Events YouTube Says This Will Affect a Small Number of Videos FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel YouTube has updated its moderation policies, allowing videos that previously would have been removed, if they are considered to be in the 'public interest,' as per a report. This shift in content moderation is similar to Meta's recent moves to relax its content policies, according to to The New York Times, the Google-owned platform has rolled out new guidelines and training for its content reviewers, encouraging them to leave up content that might technically break YouTube's rules, especially if the material touches on topics like elections, race, gender, sexuality, abortion, immigration, or the update, videos were typically taken down if 25% or more of the content violated policy and now that threshold has doubled to 50%, as per the report. Moderators are also instructed to check in with their managers for borderline cases, instead of removing the content immediately, as per READ: Internet goes wild over mysterious bulges in Trump's suit — catheter, leg braces, or just bad tailoring? YouTube explained the change builds on an earlier policy adjustment made ahead of the 2024 US election, which allowed certain rule-breaking political content to remain online under the platform's "educational, documentary, scientific, and artistic" (EDSA) exemption, according to the example cited by The New York Times of videos that are now allowed following the policy change is a video titled "RFK Jr. Delivers SLEDGEHAMMER Blows to Gene-Altering JABS", as per TechSpot. Previously flagged for medical misinformation, it's now allowed under the argument that its public interest value outweighs the potential harm, according to the YouTube emphasised that the new change would only apply to a small fraction of videos that are published on the platform and pointed out that its introduction ensures that important content remains available, as per TechSpot. The online video-sharing platform cited an example of the exceptions preventing "an hours-long news podcast from being removed for showing one short clip of violence," reported says it wants to better protect discussions that matter to the public, even if some parts of those discussions break the on politics, gender, race, and even controversial health claims may stay up if deemed to serve public interest.
