MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is eyeing to launch its ‘Libreng Sakay’ program in Cavite.

During the inauguration of the new district office of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Imus City on Wednesday (May 12), DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said the department is looking into launching free transportation to essential workers, frontliners and authorized persons outside residence (APORs).

He further assured continuous construction works on vital infrastructure projects in Cavite, including the much-anticipated LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project.

“Ipagtutulakan ko na matapos ang mga istraktura at istasyon ng partial operability section ng LRT-1 Cavite Extension bago matapos ang termino ng Pangulo,” Secretary Tugade said.

(I will make sure that the LRT-1 Cavite Extension will be on partial operability before the term of the President [Duterte] ends.)

Meanwhile, The DOTr continues to upgrade and build new LTO offices nationwide to provide better service to the public.

Since 2016, the department has added 132 LTO extension offices, district offices, licensing centers, and driver’s license renewal offices, including the new office in Imus, Cavite.

Former Cavite governor Ayong Maliksi passed away at the age of 82. This was confirmed by his son, Imus City Mayor Emmanuel Maliksi, in a Facebook post.

Maliksi served as governor of Cavite from 2001 to 2010. Prior to that he was elected vice mayor then mayor of his hometown, Imus.

He was also appointed as chairman of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office under the Aquino administration.

The younger Maliksi expressed his gratitude for the help that his father gave in molding him to become a good leader. He also thanked those who supported his father throughout his career in public service. AAC

MANILA, Philippines – The Cavite provincial government has cancelled the joint venture agreement to develop the $10-billion Sangley Airport with China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) and Lucio Tan’s Macroasia Corporation, Governor Jonvic Remulla said on Wednesday.

In a Facebook post, Remulla said the provincial government’s Special Selection Committee has recommended the non-approval of the redevelopment of the former airbase as presented by the applying parties “due to various deficiencies” in the submission of requirements.

His office accepted and approved the recommendation on Tuesday, January 26, he added.

This means that the notice of award issued to Macroasia and CCCC for the project to develop Sangley Airport into an international gateway last February 2020 has been cancelled.

Remulla, however, noted that talks about the project with “any qualified partner” will restart and “hopefully have a successful negotiations” by October 2021.

“I still believe that a new international airport is important for the country in the long run and it must be stressed that cancellation is not in prejudice of anyone applying again,” he said.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Macroasia confirmed it received notification on January 27 about the cancellation of notice of selection and award.

The consortium of Macroasia and CCCC were the sole bidders for the Sangley Airport development project when the bidding opened in December 2019.

In August last year, the CCCC was among the Chinese firms blacklisted by the United States for their involvement in Beijing’s reclamation of maritime features and militarization of the South China Sea islands.

The government, however, gave the go signal for the airport project despite the sanctions imposed by the United States against the company.