New rules restricting overloaded trucks to take effect June 1

May 3, 2013 5:34am

 

Starting June 1, the government will enforce new rules restricting overloaded trucks and trailers to minimize the damage they cause on major roads.

The Department of Public Works and Highways said owners of trucks and trailers should abide by the new prescribed gross vehicle weights.

“We have to protect our road pavements from being damaged by these overloaded trucks and haulers. In some heavily traveled national road sections, we have already increased the thickness of the concrete pavement from 230 mm to 280 mm to withstand the allowable load of hauling trucks and trailers,” DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said.

Under the amended resolution, the following maximum allowable gross vehicle weights will apply:

1. Truck with two axles (six wheels), 18,000 kg
2. Truck with tandem rear axle/3 axles (10 wheels), 33,300 kg
3. Truck with tridem rear axle/4 axles (14 wheels), 35,600 kg
4. Truck-trailer with 2 axles at motor vehicle and 1 axle at trailer (10 wheels), 34,000 kg
5. Truck-trailer with 2 axles at motor vehicle and 2 axles at trailer (14 wheels), 40,600 kg
6. Truck-trailer with 2 axles at motor vehicle and 3 axles at trailer (18 wheels), 41,000 kg
7. Truck-semi-trailer with 3 axles at motor vehicle and 1 axle at trailer (14 wheels), 39,700 kg
8. Truck semi-trailer with 3 axles at motor vehicle and 2 axles at trailer (18 wheels), 41,500 kg
9. Truck semi-trailer with 3 axles at motor vehicle and 3 axles at trailer (22 wheels) 42,000 kg
10. Truck-trailer with 2 axles at motor vehicle and 2 axles at trailer (14 wheels), 39,700 kg
11. Truck-trailer with 2 axles at motor vehicle and 3 axles at trailer (18 wheels), 43,500 kg
12. Truck-trailer with 3 axles at motor vehicle and 2 axles at trailer (18 wheels), 43,500 kg
13. Truck-trailer with 3 axles at motor vehicle and 3 axles at trailer (22 wheels), 45,000 kg

Singson said truckers should have enough time to notify their clients and shippers about the new load regulation.

The grace period should also help ensure effective enforcement and strict observance on the anti-overloading provisions, the DPWH said.

The Public Works Department cited studies which demonstrate how overloaded vehicles, particularly trucks and trailers, can damage highways and the heavy toll they take on government's infrastructure investments.

To enforce the anti-overloading provision, the DPWH installed and operates weighbridge stations and portable weighing machines at strategic locations along national roads.

Also, the DPWH may outsource weighbridge and portable weighing machine operations to private contractors.

For its part, the Land Transportation Office will be responsible for imposing penalties on overloaded vehicles.

Special permits

The DPWH reminded truck and trailer owners that they will be responsible for ensuring that their vehicles are not overloaded "from the vehicle’s point of origin up to its final destination."

Also, the vehicle owner shall be responsible for taking measures to ensure the security and safety of its personnel and load.

However, the DPWH said it may issue "Special Permits to Travel" for vehicles "loaded with inseparable/or special cargoes exceeding the corresponding gross vehicle weight and vehicles with configuration different from the above cited."

"Requirement for the issuance of special permit to travel includes copy of registration certificate; copy of official receipt of registration; technical data of the vehicle in the manufacturer’s brochure or vehicle diagram signed by the owner specifying the gross vehicle weight, plan and side elevation with dimensions of the vehicle, number of wheels per axle, and load per axle; and specific route to be taken and bridge(s) to be crossed by the vehicle indicated in a road map signed by the owner," it said. — DVM, GMA News

source:http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/306608/news/nation/new-rules-restricting-overloaded-trucks-to-take-effect-june-1

Brillantes arranging for release of 2010 source code

By:  AMITA LEGASPI, GMA News 

May 3, 2013 6:05pm

Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. is now arranging for the release of the source code used in the 2010 automated elections to disprove allegations that there was none kept at the vault in Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Brillantes went to BSP Friday afternoon but failed to meet with Governor Amado Tetangco, who was in India. He said he instead just checked the vault where the source code was being kept.

“Kasi maraming nagsasabi na walang 2010 source code, so gusto naming ilabas para masabing meron. To disprove lang 'yung sinasabi nila na wala naman daw nilagay dun sa Central Bank,” the poll chief told reporters upon his return to the Comelec office.

Asked if he would allow the 2010 source code to be reviewed, he replied in the affirmative, but added he is not sure if it can be brought somewhere as requested by interested groups three years ago. The request was rejected by Comelec then due to security reasons.

“Wala pa namang naka-review nun nung 2010. Kung gusto nilang reviewhin, open na naman sa akin. Anyway, hindi na gagamitin sa eleksyon. Ewan ko lang kung papayag ang Smartmatic na iuwi 'yun for security reasons. Pero ngayon since hindi na gagamitin, pwede na siguro ibigay,” he said.

The source code was not reviewed in the May 2010 elections. The Comelec, then headed by Jose Melo, deposited the source code with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for safekeeping.

The source code was certified then by international software testing company SysTest Labs, now SLI Global Solutions Inc., in their facility in Colorado, USA, for P75 million. It was brought to the country and formally turned over to the Comelec on February 1, 2010.

Encoded in two compact discs, the source code was placed in a small black safety box with the hash codes, locked, and sealed with four Comelec stickers.

The BSP then placed the small safety box in a fire and waterproof vault inside a caged room at the BSP facility in Manila. The Comelec was entrusted with the keys to the padlocks of the cage, the key to the safety box, and the combination of the vault.

Asked for the significance of making public the 2010 source code, Brillantes said there is none except “it will show and disprove 'yung statements ng aking mga kaibigan sa labas na nagsasabing wala daw source code nung 2010.”

“Gusto ko lang i-arrange, makukuha namin yung source code,” he added.

He said not everyone can get near the vault where the 2010 source code is being kept as the area is “very secured.”

Brillantes said the 2010 source code is different from the one to be used in 2013 as the latter “has the enhancements and improvements.”

The 2013 source code is with international certifier SLI Global Solutions in Denver, which concluded, after reviewing it, that it is “functionally capable of operating properly, securely and accurately.”

Dominion refuses to release the source code until Smartmatic pays it $10 million for the supposed use of the former’s technology.

Asked on the chance of getting the 2013 source code, Brillantes suddenly became optimistic and said: “Tignan natin baka dumating pa rin.”

“Baka dumating. Ngayon pagkatapos kong makausap 'yung mga bisita ko dyan baka tumaas taas nang kaunti,” he said.

Smartmatic’s Cesar Flores was seen entering the office of Brillantes before the poll chief arrived from BSP. — KBK, GMA News

SC asked to compel Comelec to show source code to political parties

May 3, 2013 5:37pm

Tags: Richard Gordon

 

Senatorial candidate Richard Gordon on Friday asked the Supreme Court to compel the Comelec to allow political groups to open and review the source code in the counting machines to be used for the coming polls.

 

In a 15-page petition for mandamus, Gordon, author of Republic Act No. 9369 which amended the Automated Election Law, also asked the high court to conduct oral arguments on the issue before the May 13 elections.
A mandamus compels someone to perform a specific public duty.

 

Apart from Gordon, he also named his political party Bagumbayan-Volunteers for a New Philippines as another petitioner.

 

"The law is clear. Section 14 of the Automated Election Law says that the Comelec shall promptly make the source code of that technology available and open to any interested political party or groups which may conduct their own review thereof,” said Gordon.

 

Gordon expressed concern about Comelec's refusal to give parties access to the codes.

 

“As I stated in the Petition, it pains me to file this case because as principal author of RA 9369, I and my colleagues intended to safeguard the sovereign will of the people in electing their leaders,” Gordon said in a statement.

 

“Placed in the wrong hands, the source code could be manipulated and used to systematically subvert and frustrate the people’s will,” he added.

 

A source code is the set of instructions to be followed by the computerized voting machine, and is written by computer programmers in a readable symbolic language.

 

Elections chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. recently said the poll body already has the source code which will be used for the polls, but will not be made available to political parties and other interested groups for their own review.

 

But Brillantes assured that the codes have been properly reviewed by a third-party information technology firm, SLI Global Solutions, though its certification papers have yet to be released by the code's owner, Dominion Voting Systems.

 

Dominion is asking Smartmatic to pay it $10 million for the latter's alleged use of the former's technology.

 

When the negotiations started, the chance of getting the source code was 50 percent, later rising to 96 and 97 percent early this month when a draft agreement was sent to the owners of Smartmatic and Dominion abroad.

 

Earlier, Brillantes had said he was giving up on getting the source code for the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines.

 

Without a certified source code, the same cannot be opened for review by political parties and other interest groups which is a requirement under Republic Act 9369. — Mark Merueñas/RSJ, GMA News

Tags: Richard Gordon

source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/306719/news/nation/sc-asked-to-compel-comelec-to-show-source-code-to-political-parties

Complaint filed vs. Comelec before UN body

By:   GIAN GERONIMO, GMA News 

May 3, 2013 5:07pm

 

 

(Updated 6:10 p.m.) A group of individuals has filed a complaint with a United Nations body accusing the Commission on Elections (Comelec) of depriving them of their right to suffrage.

At a press briefing Friday, lawyer Harry Roque Jr., who is representing the complainants, said the move was their last-ditch effort to “remedy” what he described as a “hopeless” situation regarding the country's electoral system.

“Kaya po kami nagpunta sa UN, wala na pong pag-asa rito sa Pilipinas,” Roque said. “Ako po ay nagtuturo ng constitutional law at international law... at ang palagi kong sinasabi, kapag mayroong paglabag ng karapatan, mayroon pong remedyo.”

The complaint was filed with the UN Human Rights Committee (UNRC).

“Kung ang ating mga hukuman po ay hindi magbibigay ng remedyo, asahan po natin sa larangan ng international law, mayroon po tayong kahit papaanong remedyong makukuha,” Roque said.

Publicity stunt?

Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. was unfazed, as he described the filing of the complaint as a publicity stunt.

“It is a publicity stunt on their part, whoever they are. Kasi hindi na sila manalo rito sa Supreme Court, kung saan-saan na sila nagpupupunta,” he told reporters.

At the same time, Brillantes said he cannot understand how a foreign association or organization can interfere with local elections.

 

“Ok na rin sa akin yung tumakbo sila sa UN, maski saan sa buong mundo. Hindi ko lang maintindihan kung paano makikialam ang foreign association, organization in a local election,” he said.

 

Asked what he will do with the complaint, Brillantes said he will just ignore it because [Election Day] is too close for the poll pody to be sidetracked.

 

“Officially wala (ng gagawin). Hindi na lang namin pansinin. We are too close to elections para pansinin and AES Watch, yung reklamo nila sa abroad,” he said.

Brillantes had previously dared his detractors to file an impeachment case against him.

Among the complainants were members of self-described anti-fraud groups like Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) and the Automated Election System (AES) Watch.

ICCPR

Their complaint was based on Article 25 of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), in which the Philippines is party to.

According to that Article, “Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity, without any of the distinctions mentioned in Article 2 and without unreasonable restrictions:

a. To take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives;

b. To vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors;

c. To have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in his country.”

According to the complainants, their right to free expression of their will as electors was violated by the Philippine government when it relinquished control of the automated elections’ technical aspects and gave control of public and private keys to all precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines to technology provider Smartmatic.

The absence of a review of source codes used in the May 2010 elections was also a violation raised by the complainants.

Intimidation, threats

In a statement, AES Watch said one of the “most compelling reasons” the case was raised to the UN was because of “veiled threats and irresponsible accusations by the Comelec.”

“Instead of listening to the legitimate complaints and proposals of independent anti-fraud and poll watch groups, the Comelec resorts to undue intimidation and threats,” the group said.

If the UN decides to side with the complainants, Roque said the Philippines, being a party to the ICCPR, has no choice but to heed the international body.

“Sasabihin po (ng UNHRC) sa ating buong pamahalaan, hindi lang sa Comelec, na kinakailangan itigil niyo yang paglabag ninyo sa karapatan na nakasaad sa Article 25. At hindi po sila titigil hanggang di po tumigil ang paglabag ng Pilipinas,” Roque said.

However, he acknowledges that it will take some time for the UNHRC to decide on their complaint.

"Unfortunately matagal 'yan... pero kahit gaano katagal 'yan, dahil sa tingin ko hindi magbabago ang policy ng gobyerno, kinakailangan mayroong nakabinbin, para magkaroon ng pag-asa na magkaroon ng deklarasyon na mayroong paglabag sa karapatang pantao ang paggamit ng PCOS," he added. — with Amita Legaspi/KBK/RSJ, GMA News

 

 

 

Manhunt vs Mancao ongoing, Palace exec insists

By: PATRICIA DENISE CHIU, GMA News 

May 3, 2013 4:45pm

 

Amid insinuations that the government has not been doing enough to recover escaped murder suspect Cezar Mancao II, a Palace spokesperson on Friday assured the public that authorities are doing all they can to recover the fugitive former police officer.

 

“Yes, the manhunt is underway since yesterday. [But] I don’t want [yto] speak. I don’t want to say anything on what the government is doing as to the manner of tracking Cezar Mancao,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said at a briefing.

 

Mancao escaped from NBI [National Bureau of Invstigation] detention early Thursday morning. CCTV video showed him casually walking out of the NBI compound in Manila through an unlocked gate. Since his escape, Mancao has been freely giving media interviews.
On the day that he escaped, Mancao, detained in connection with the November 2000 twin killings of publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito, was to be brought to the Manila City Jail. Mancao said he had feared for such transfer, stressing that his life could be in danger there.
Lacierda said Justice Secretary Leila De Lima is personally taking charge of Mancao’s recovery. The DOJ has supervision over the NBI.

 

“The situation here is that Secretary Leila de Lima even spoke to Mr. Cezar Mancao. She’s given him a day to surrender, and since he refused to surrender, the manhunt is ongoing. And since he’s been giving a lot of media interviews, we expect the forces are out there and searching for him,” Lacierda said.

 

At the same briefing, Lacierda assured the public that those responsible for Mancao’s escape will be held accountable.

 

“There was a video to show how he escaped so I think, that speaks for itself as to who the person is responsible for his escape, and they are being investigated, and proper sanctions will be imposed,” Lacierda said, adding that the government treats Mancao as a fugitive.

 

“We are tracking him down right now, and that’s why this is not something that we will countenance. He’s a fugitive and we will go after him,” Lacierda said.

 

He stopped short of disclosing details of the recovery operations.

 

“We don’t comment on ongoing operations,” he said.

 

For her part, De Lima enjoined the public to let the investigation run its course. 

 

“We will let the course of the investigation determine who will be held accountable for the escape of Mr. Mancao from custody. Up to what level the culpability will reach, we'll let the facts and the evidence that may be gathered decide that," De Lima said in a text message to Lacierda, which was forwarded to reporters.

 

Unfair

 

Meanwhile, Lacierda said Mancao should not be demanding to speak with the President, as he is already receiving special treatment. Instead, Lacierda advised him to let the courts process his case.

 

“It’s unfair for Cesar Mancao to ask the President to be fair. First of all, the case is before the courts, and we respect the independence of the courts. As to fair treatment, Secretary Mar Roxas has already said that he’s getting special treatment; he’s not being placed in the same cell as the others,” Lacierda said. — RSJ, GMA News.

 

Tags: Cezar Mancao , Dacer Corbito case