More loopholes were uncovered in the implementation of cashless transactions in toll ways, according to Senator Win Gatchalian, which prompted Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade to accede to the overall impression of failure of leadership and failure of enforcement of regulatory officials manning the expressways.
After the dismal results of the Philippines in the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) in 2019 and the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2018, another global assessment shows that the country’s basic education learners have failed.
A recently-released Southeast Asia-wide study on the learning outcomes of Grade 5 learners in 2019 revealed that around 20 percent of learners in the Philippines share Mathematics or Reading textbooks.
Senator Win Gatchalian formally asked the Senate to review the minimum performance standards compliance of toll operators stipulated in their concession agreements as well as the powers and functions of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), the government agency that regulates all toll roads in the country.
Senator Win Gatchalian is pushing for a measure that will remove barriers to the development of the microgrid system in the country and help realize the government’s key energy policy thrust of providing electricity access to all Filipino households by 2022.
Senator Win Gatchalian is calling for the review of the concession agreement between the government and toll operators over issues of non-performance and other possible violations committed in the implementation of the Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) program and warns toll road companies that their concessions can be revoked.
A Southeast Asia-wide study on the learning outcomes of Grade 5 students showed that a large number of Filipino learners are not proficient enough in Reading, Writing, and Math to advance to secondary school. For Senator Win Gatchalian, this reiterates the urgency of rolling out basic education curriculum reforms that would boost Filipino learners’ basic competencies.
Senator Win Gatchalian urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and toll operators to address the traffic jams along expressways brought about by those queuing for the Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) sticker installation.
Amid the celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Senator Win Gatchalian reiterated the need to institutionalize accessible and disability-responsive education services nationwide.
