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Here’s what you need to know on Thursday, September 28
DOTr chief: 19 OTS personnel fired for stealing from airline passengers
Office for Transportation and Security (OTS) personnel inspect the luggage of passengers at the final check area at the Ninoy Aquino International Terminal 1 in Pasay City on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023. (File photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said that since July 2022, some 19 personnel of the Office of the Transportation Security (OTS), which is an attached agency of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), have been fired after they were caught stealing from airline passengers.
On September 8, an OTS screener at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport was caught on a security camera allegedly swallowing $300 in bills that she supposedly stole from a Chinese tourist. She was among the 19 personnel that were fired.
The viral video was yet another black eye on the country’s main international gateway, which had been tagged before by a vacation rental management firm as among the world’s worst airports.
The latest theft controversy involving some of its security officers prompted the resignation of the OTS Administrator.
Senior citizens in Cebu City to receive financial assistance on September 29
Meanwhile, close to 90,000 eligible senior citizens in Cebu City will receive their cash assistance on Friday, September 29, the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs said on Wednesday.
Vicente Esmeña, former head of OSCA and now the chief of the Barangay Affairs Office confirmed to CDN Digital the cash distribution on Friday.
Esmeña, who remains part of the senior citizens council, said on Wednesday that the eligible senior citizens could claim their P3,000 cash aid for the third quarter this year.
The third quarter covers the months of July, August, and September. However, this quarter’s distribution was delayed since city officials needed clearance from the Comelec because it was covered by the election body’s ban.
BEEP Cebu workers assured of aid if temporary stop of operation move will push through
In other news, the Federation of Cebu Transport Cooperative (FCTC) has pledged assistance to workers affected by the temporary suspension of “Bagong Jeepney” Cebu or BEEP Cebu next week. This assistance comes as 15 transport cooperatives within the federation expressed their willingness to help affected workers and enhance transportation services on affected routes.
During an emergency meeting on September 27, Councilor James Cuenco, Chair of the Transportation Committee in the Cebu City Council, convened members of the transport cooperative and the Traffic Management Coordinating (TMC) group to address the BEEP Cebu issue. Cuenco mentioned that the TMC is preparing for the temporary suspension of the modern jeepney company, which includes finding new job opportunities for displaced drivers and public assistant officers (PAOs), as well as increasing transportation units on affected routes to accommodate passengers.
Asian Games: Cebu’s Didal, with hurting foot, loses skateboard title
Finally, in sports, Cebuana Margielyn Didal lost her title in women’s Street Style Skateboarding of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on Wednesday, September 27, 2023.
Bothered by her foot which required surgery 11 months ago, the 24-year-old Didal tallied 23.39 points in her first run and 12.84 in the next to finish last among eight finalists.
The 2018 Asian Games champion slipped thrice in all of her tries in the trick sequence, putting the famed Filipino skater out of the running for good at the Qiantang Roller Sports Centre here.
China’s Chi Chenxi won the gold while compatriot Zeng Wenhui got the silver. Japan’s Miyu Ito settled for the bronze with 213.00.
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