ESTRADA: PEOPLE WANT ME AS MAYOR AGAIN

MANILA Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada is confident that citizens want him for three more years as mayor of the city. “I hear our citizens saying they want [ me for] three more years as mayor of Manila. And I know, [ I] will get three more years,” Estrada said on Tuesday. The mayor added that he is confident that Manila voters are satisfied with his performance and accomplishments as mayor for five years. Earlier, Estrada announced that he would seek a third and last term in the 2019 mid- term elections. “Nobody can change my inspiration, no one can divert me on my mission, on my dream in Manila. I had already laid down my program of government to regain the lost pride and glory of Manila. I will fulfill my promises and with your help, with the support of the people of Manila, I know, we will win on my third run,” he said. Estrada laughed off rumors that his son, former senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, would run for mayor of Manila after he was seen frequently seen visiting City Hall. “I will [ be the one to] run again in the 2019 elections,” he said. The mayor added that the issue of his health was another campaign tool of his political adversaries. “I will not [ renege] on my promise . . . With the help of God, with the trust given to me by our people, we can make Manila a great city again,” Estrada said. In 2014, after his first year as mayor, he was able to pay the millions of debt supposedly left by his predecessor, Alfredo Lim, and has reorganized the many offices allegedly tainted with corruption. Manileños are now enjoying free medical services in the city’s six hospitals that underwent renovations and modernization of facilities; salaries and allowances of city government officials, the police and the teachers were increased; Manila youth are enjoying free high school and college education; and many infrastructure projects have been completed during Estrada’s incumbency.

BANK DRIVE NOW OPEN TO PRIVATE CARS

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday announced that Bank Drive in Ortigas Center in Pasig City is now open to private vehicles to ease traffic congestion in the commercial district. MMDA’s Traffic Engineering Center ( TEC) said vehicles traversing Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) northbound and heading to Ortigas area can now access Bank Drive--road between Asian Development Bank (ADB) and SM Megamall--from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. daily. Formerly, motorists going to the Ortigas area pass through Guadix Drive. But the long queue of vehicles entering the ADB compound that undergo inspection at the Guadix gate causes bottlenecks along the road, affecting north-bound lane of EDSA. “Guadix Road is an identified chokepoint. With this road opening, we can somehow ease traffic flow in the busy area,” Jojo Garcia, assistant general manager of the MMDA, said. The road opening, in coordination with various stakeholders, aims to reduce traffic build-up along the Edsa- Ortigas area during morning rush hour. Prior to enforcement, TEC’s comparative analysis based on simulation showed that travel time on Edsa-northbound service road along Ortigas Avenue and Megamall to Meralco Avenue decreased by 19 percent. From seven-minutes and 41 seconds, average travel time on the routes was reduced to six minutes and seven seconds. The same data showed that travel speed along Edsa-northbound service road along Ortigas Avenue and Megamall to Meralco Avenue increased by 25 percent. From 12 kilometers per hour, average travel speed on the same routes increased to 14 kph.

NBI TO TRANSFER CUSTOMS ‘ FIXER’ TO CAMP CRAME

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Customs broker Mark Ruben Taguba 2nd will be transferred to Camp Crame in Quezon City on Tuesday. “In compliance with the order of commitment issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 46, Manila, Mark Ruben Taguba Jr., a high profile detainee of the NBI, will be transferred today to the PNP Headquarters Support Service Custodial Center, Camp Crame, Quezon City,” Nick Suarez, public information chief, said in a Viber message. Earlier, the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) ordered the NBI to immediately transfer of Taguba to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame. Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa of Branch 46 of the Manila RTC has allowed the transfer, citing security reasons. The court has reset the arraignment of Taguba and Eirene Mae Tatad to April 6 because of their pending motions to quash. The motions to quash sought dismissal of information or charge sheet against them. Tatad, who was arrested early this month, is detained at the Manila City Jail for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, specifically for importing dangerous drugs. Taguba and Tatad are among the accused in the controversial P6.4-billion shabu shipment from China.