ROCKY IGNACIO/PTV: Good morning, Malacañang Press Corps. Welcome sa press briefing ni Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.
SEC. ROQUE: Good morning, Malacañang Press Corps. Good morning, Philippines. Let’s begin with good news.
The Philippines and ADB signed a 380 million loan for Mindanao infrastructure ‘no. This was signed last week, and this will fund the improving growth corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project ‘no. Now this is ADB’s first Mindanao specific loan in 16 years, and its biggest infrastructure investment in the Philippines approved in 2017. This will involve the construction of 380 kilometers of primary, secondary and tertiary roads in the Zamboanga Peninsula and Tawi-Tawi. Modernizing the infrastructure of Mindanao will not only develop and contribute to the growth potentials of the region, but will also help in achieving peace and prosperity in Southern Philippines.
Another piece of good news – BCDA remitted 5.220 billion in 2017 to the Bureau of Treasury. This is the highest amount generated since 2012. The Bureau of Treasury noted that 2017 local remittances of the BCDA is higher than the 3.93 billion in 2016. As part of its mandate, the BCDA will allocate 4.839 billion disposed assets to the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program and other beneficiary agencies. In addition, BCDA has also raised a total of 36.6 billion for the purchase of military equipment and maintenance of military facilities ‘no.
Another piece of good news – On ‘Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok’ drive. We are pleased with the results of the ‘Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok’ drive of the Inter-agency Council on Traffic under the Department of Transportation, PUV Modernization Program which began last week. As of 4 P.M. yesterday, January 15, we had a thousand public utility and private vehicles which were so far flagged down, ticketed, issued summons and apprehended for various road safety and road worthiness issues. Of this number, 80% are public utility vehicles with most cases having defective parts such as, kalbo ang gulong, defective or no headlight, and the likes… smoke belching and other violations.
I’d like to reiterate what we had mentioned yesterday, that today’s increase in fuel prices is brought about the movement in prices in the international market and not just because of TRAIN. Our Energy officials are closely monitoring the oil depots and gas stations to ensure fairness and utmost protection to the consumers in the implementation of the law. The DOE came out with consumer advisories last December 31. It met with oil companies last January 3; it asked for submission of notarized documents in relation to the determination of old and new stocks with December 31 as the tipping point. DOE will continuously conduct random checks on the depots and gas stations to ensure alignment of operations with data submitted.
On the Sanofi refund – We welcome that refund, but the position of the Department of Health is for a full refund. Now nonetheless, we view this latest step of the pharmaceutical company as a step in the right direction. We highlight that the refund will in no way affect ongoing investigations which will ultimately determine whether or not there is criminal culpability on the part of Sanofi.
I issued yesterday a statement on the decision of the SEC on Rappler. In reply to the press conference conducted by executives of Rappler, we would like deny first and foremost that the State has infringed on freedom of the press of Rappler or any of its reporters. Truth is, the reporter of Rappler is still in our press briefing. She is not being prevented from exercising her profession as a journalist, none of the individuals behind Rappler will be prevented from performing their duties as journalists. The decision ruled that the Rappler Inc. and Rappler Holder Inc. violated the constitutional prohibition limiting ownership of mass media exclusively to Filipino corporations.
I’d like to highlight that, of the Commissioners and the Chairman of the SEC, President Digong only appointed one of the Commissioners – Commissioner Aquino. All the other Commissioners including its Chairpersons are appointees of President Noynoy Aquino ‘no.
Now, the SEC decision has been made available to the public. And to summarize the decision, it said that the Philippine Depositary Receipt it had issued in favor of a foreign investor violates the constitutional prohibition against foreign ownership in media because it gave it negative control – two thirds vote of the PDR holders was required under the agreement before Rappler Holdings can amend its articles or bylaws. You see under the corporation code for existing corporations under the Philippines ‘no, before you can for instance sell any and all or substantially all of the assets of the corporation, a two third vote is required ‘no.
So you see here an instance where although they are not shareholders, nonetheless, the holders of the PDRs are given the same right to control the company in terms of amending the articles and the bylaws. There is no affront to freedom of the press, because there is no censorship. There is no facial censorship, since there is no facial censorship, then there is no presumption of unconstitutionality. On the contrary, because this upholds the constitutional provision on limiting ownership of mass media to Filipinos, it enjoys the overwhelming presumption of constitutionality, plus the fact that it was rendered by the body with legal jurisdiction to decide on these matters, it enjoys the overwhelming presumption of validity.
Questions…
LEILA SALAVERRIA/INQUIRER: (off mic) Sir, what’s happening with Rappler sir? Is it just part of a pattern, because the President has complained about them, several… in the past? And every time he complain about an organization, may government body that’s happening to them—
SEC. ROQUE: I think that’s a greatly service to the Chair of the SEC. In the legal profession, if you respect Maria Ressa in the journalism profession, Chair Herbosa enjoys the same kind of respect amongst lawyers. That’s really something that lawyers will find difficult to accept, that Chair Herbosa is a person who can be influenced to making a decision that is contrary to law. Chair Herbosa simply is not capable of that.
LEILA SALAVERRIA/INQUIRER: But sir, this move was prompted by a letter from the Office of the Solicitor General.
SEC. ROQUE: Well according to the decision itself, they were looking into the matter already before the Solicitor General requested the Commission to look into this matter. Moreover, this was in the overall context of the SEC coming up with rulings interpreting our rules on ownership. If you will remember, PLDT had the same kind of controversy on its preferred rights. So it just so happened, that at the time this decision was rendered by the SEC, there were also similar issues that the SEC decided upon which has since been ruled upon also by the Supreme Court.
LEILA SALAVERRIA/INQUIRER: Sir, the President also earlier threatened the franchise of a TV station after he complained about its coverage. So you don’t think it has any effect on press freedom, the environment that the media operating?
SEC. ROQUE: That’s what I’m saying. It was unfair of Maria Ressa to say that they’re victims of an attack on press freedom – because they’re not. She defies this Philippine Depositary Receipt, no one told her to structure in this manner. She probably had more faith in her lawyers than she should have. But no one is exempt from complying with the Constitution and the laws of the land, particularly where you’re talking of a media outfit in the exercise of a public trust criticizing government officials for violating the Constitution and the laws of the land, I would hope that they would be first and foremost compliant with all constitutional and legal requirements themselves.
LEILA SALAVERRIA/INQUIRER: Sir, last na. But if you put it in the context of the President complaining about certain media agencies and threatening them, you don’t think this is…?
SEC. ROQUE: If the President wanted to do that, he could have just sent the Armed Forces to their offices and padlock them, which has been done by other regimes. The President has never done that. The President has never done that.
LEILA SALAVERRIA/INQUIRER: Sir, the only way to shutter a media agency—
SEC. ROQUE: All I’m saying is in this instance, the President had nothing to do with it. It’s by individuals who were not his appointees. He could not control the majority of the commissioners and the chairperson of the SEC itself, and of course you don’t know about the credentials of Chairperson Tess Herbosa, but I’m reiterating it – it is unfair to her to think that she was acting merely as a lackey of the President. She will never do that.
LEILA SALAVERRIA/INQUIRER: So sir, is it just a coincidence that the President had singled out Rappler for criticism earlier?
SEC. ROQUE: Let me put it this way – no one is exempt from complying with the Constitution and the laws of the land, even Rappler, even the media must comply with it.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: So sir, the President’s speech in his—the President mentioning Rappler in the SONA had nothing—it had no effect whatsoever on this case?
SEC. ROQUE: No, because this was a legal decision based on existing jurisprudence and based on interpretation of the Constitution made by an independent body that the President does not control.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir, how about the speed in which this case progressed? It was resolved in 5 months when usually it takes a year, they skipped certain process, and also they are some cases when in similar situations, the SEC just requires the company to strike down that part of the contract instead of completely revoking their registration. How would you then explain this?
SEC. ROQUE: Pia, I think the SEC is looked upon as one of the most efficient agencies of government. Chairman Herbosa is renowned and respected for dedication to the rule of law and for her consistent stand against corruption in government as well.
PIA/RAPPLER: Sir, how about the fact that the papers were accepted by the SEC in 2015 but under a new administration it has been looked upon unfavorably? What’s the missing link here?
SEC. ROQUE: Well let’s put it this way. They will accept it but if there is in fact a controversy on ownership, they have to rule on it. It would be dereliction of duty on their part if they did not rule on a pending issue before them.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: First off sir on the legality. Is it the issue of PDRs per se or the one that you mentioned kanina na condition in the PDR particular to media ano—
SEC. ROQUE: Well the decision was: the PDR was part of an elaborate scheme to circumvent the constitutional prohibition on foreign ownership of media because through the PDR—and you know Rappler was not the only one that has issued PDRs ‘no. Others have but this is unusual because this PDR gave negative control to the foreign investor in the sense that two-thirds of the PDR holders needed to consent before they could amend the articles and by laws of Rappler.
And kanina nga sinabi ko Filipino corporations that intend to sell all or substantially all of their assets need to have two-thirds both of all stock holders ‘no. So it’s similar to that kind of a control exercised by stock holders ‘no. That’s why the Court said, this is the circumvention of the prohibition even if without a doubt the shareholders are Filipinos, by entering into this kind of an agreement, they have given control to a foreign entity.
JOSEPH/GMA7: And that is relevant because vis-à-vis the 100% media ownership provision in the Constitution?
SEC. ROQUE: Because the intent behind that is so that no foreigner can control any media business in the Philippines.
JOSEPH/GMA7: Do you think that the SEC was a little more liberal – no pun intended – in the interpretation of what control is?
SEC. ROQUE: No this is according to an established jurisprudence ‘no. I have the name of the jurisprudence. I was going to give you copies of this jurisprudence ‘no. But let me see but there is a established jurisprudence here already and it is the case of Gamboa—
JOSEPH/GMA7: Versus?
SEC. ROQUE: This is the case of Gamboa ‘no. Well its Gamboa ruling ‘no.
JOSEPH/GMA7: Anong year sir?
SEC. ROQUE: I don’t have the exact citation. Yes.
JOSEPH/GMA7: How does the President or the Palace describe Rappler’s reporting on the administration?
SEC. ROQUE: What I can say is that the President found it unfair for Maria Ressa to claim violation of freedom of the press when according to him, Rappler’s has been very active criticizing individuals for violating the Constitution and the laws of the land and it turns out it is by itself violating the Constitution.
In law we have a saying – one should come to Court with clean hands. Because the media industry is a public trust, one should exercise – I guess ‘no – privileges out of this public trust also with clean hands. Before you criticize others look into the mirror. Look at yourself first.
JOSEPH/GMA7: You have talk to the President about this?
SEC. ROQUE: Yes.
JOSEPH/GMA7: When was this?
SEC. ROQUE: Last night.
JOSEPH/GMA7: And what was his—
SEC. ROQUE: Well he just did not like the fact that Rappler was saying this is a result of the President’s dislike for Rappler, of course not. He had nothing to do with this decision. He was not even aware that there was this decision coming up.
Q: Ah sir, still on Rappler. Is it possible that this will create a domino effect where other media companies would be dragged into the same investigation due to PDR issuances?
SEC. ROQUE: Well I can confidently say that other online news agencies like Vera Files, MindaNews don’t have PDRs. I can confidently say not only don’t they have PDRs, they don’t have PDRs with foreign entities given the power of negative control when it comes to amending their articles and bylaws.
LLANESCA PANTI/MANILA TIMES: Good morning, sir. The President last year issued the Memorandum Order 16 asking NEDA to lift investment—foreign investment limits and support legislative initiatives that will bring about this changes loosing this—well changing this 40 percent limitation provided by our Constitution. This is to raise the level of our competitiveness and foster economic growth according to the President. And yet the chief government Solicitor General Calida is prosecuting a media entity for supposed violation of the 40 percent.
So is there—I see disconnect there and how can the Solicitor General prosecute Rappler or any other media entity for that matter for allege violation of the 40 percent when he has issued a Memorandum for liberalization of that 40 percent? What is the President stand really?
SEC. ROQUE: Let me start by saying, with all due respect that your questions are misleading. Number one, the Solicitor General has not said he will prosecute anyone yet. It is the SEC that submitted its decision to the DOJ for its consideration. Now the conclusion that can be derived is possibly because the ruling of the SEC said that they was a violation of the Anti-Dummy Law that perhaps but it has not been decided upon by the DOJ that they maybe an investigation about possible violation of the Anti-Dummy Law.
Second, please don’t talk about the negative list. Because the negative list does not include media ownership. The 60/40 rule is not applicable here, because media entities are supposed to be 100 percent owned by Filipinos or Filipino corporations.
LLANESCA/MANILA TIMES: Iyon nga sir. I mean, the President is—what is the President stand. Is he for lifting that 40 percent for coming—for public utilities or otherwise—
SEC. ROQUE: Again, that’s misleading because the President has not made any stand on media companies being required by the Constitution to be owned by 100 percent Filipinos. That’s not covered by the negative list because it’s an absolute rule that it can only be owned by Filipinos or Filipino corporations and associations.
LLANESCA/MANILA TIMES: Ano nga sir ang position ni Presidente—because Pernia already said NEDA—
SEC. ROQUE: Wala pong posisyon ang Presidente ‘pagdating sa media ownership. Hindi po siya kasama sa negative list, doon sa listahan na pinapa-lift from the negative list. I think I distributed copies of that list about a month ago. Hindi po kasama doon ang media companies.
LLANESCA/MANILA TIMES: These are regardless nga po doon sa negative list, under the Constitution sir?
SEC. ROQUE: It depends kasi eh, mayroong 60/40 rule which is applied to everyone—
LLANESCA/MANILA TIMES: Yes so—
SEC. ROQUE: Including retail trade. Pero may special rule ‘pagdating sa media, hundred percent.
LLANESCA/MANILA TIMES: So is the President also—
SEC. ROQUE: Hindi siya kasama doon sa proposal ni Presidente na i-relax. Okay, in other words, he is still for retention of the hundred percent rule as far as media ownership is concerned.
LLANESCA/MANILA TIMES: He is for 100 pa rin for mass media?
SEC. ROQUE: Oo kasi hindi nga pupuwede siyang—iyong sinasabi mo kasi ay iyong may mga leeways nga ang executive. Oo.
LLANESCA/MANILA TIMES: Sir but he is pushing for the amendment of the Constitution eh. So kahit i-amend iyong Constitution, gusto niya 100 percent pa rin pag sa mass media?
SEC. ROQUE: Pagdating sa media hindi naman siya kasama, hindi siya priority na ma-liberalize. Do we really need foreign investors for media. Eh iyon nga hundred percent, we have a thriving media business. Ito ba iyong area na kinakailangan natin ng foreign investors? Hindi, ‘di ba?
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Sir, iyong sa isyu naman ng mga passports. Kasi libo-libo iyong mga backlog and ang pinakatinatamaan dito iyong mga kaawa-awang mga Overseas Filipino Workers na they are travelling from the provinces going to the Metro Manila para mag-apply. And yet pila-pila at minsan mag-apply sila ngayon and after three months pa sila makakakuha ng schedule sa DFA.
Sir, can we do something to fast track at maayos itong libo-libong backlog na mga passports application?
SEC. ROQUE: Eh kahapon po sinabi ko kung ano iyong ginagawa ng Department of Foreign Affairs ‘no. In-increase na po nila iyong intake nila sa kanilang main office dito sa ASEANA. ‘Pagkatapos po diyan mayroon silang mobile passport vans; at sa Las Piñas kahapon po nandoon iyong van ‘no. So iyan po iyong ilan sa mga hakbang na ginagawa ng ating Department of Foreign Affairs ‘no.
Pero tama po matagal pa rin iyong proseso, ako po mismo maraming binibigyan na mga request of courteously lane dahil hindi sila makakuha ng appointments. Ang mapapangako ko na lang po sa inyo, siguro Ipaparating ko po ito kay Secretary Cayetano dahil parang wala rin pong hupa talaga iyong pagdating sa akin ng mga request for courteously lanes at ngayong naitanong ninyo na po, its only but proper that I sit down with them and relay to them what the people through the media has been—have been demanding ‘no, which is quicker appointments and faster passport issuances.
REYMUND/BOMBO RADYO: At saka iyong bagong desisyon ng DFA na-implement na ba effectively? Kasi iyong mga travel agencies pinapakyaw nila iyong mga slots supposedly for the individual applicants.
SEC. ROQUE: Well ang sabi po ng Secretary ng DFA kahapon din ‘no eh in-invalidate na raw po nila iyong mga slots intended for travel agencies ‘no. Bagama’t marami rin po akong natatanggap na mga reklamo one of them from a physician whose niece apparently paid a lot to a travel agency, 11,000 ‘no, ipararating po natin ito.
But the DFA is on top of the situation. It is investigating possible syndicates, it will prosecute syndicates and it is coming up with ways and means to facilitate the process.
REYMUND/BOMBO RADYO: Thank you sir.
HENRY URI/DZMM: Secretary, sundan ko lang po iyong tanong ni Reymund. Naayos na ba iyong mga anomalya sa pag imprenta ng passports? Sapagkat panahon po ni Secretary Yasay may binabanggit na anomaly between APO and DFA sa pag-i-imprenta—may kakayanan na ho ba ang APO na mag-imprenta ng passport para maiwasan iyong backlog?
SEC. ROQUE: Okay, thank you for that question. I know, a little about that, because I was in Congress, we conducted an investigation in this regard.
Now, like you I heard that supposedly Secretary Yasay and supposedly Presidential Legal Counsel find that the contract between APO and a private company, I believe it is UGEC (United Graphic Expression Corp) is contrary to law, but I have not seen a copy of the legal opinion myself.
I will inquire now from Secretary Panelo if there is a copy of this legal opinion. And I will also – after this press conference – talk to Secretary Andanar because APO is under his office, under the PCOO. I promise to relay your concerns to Secretary Andanar.
HENRY/DZMM: Opo. Kasi baka iyon ang cause ng backlog kung wala pang kakayahan ang APO na mag-imprenta ng mga passport.
SEC. ROQUE: Well, we had some findings in the House then, including a COA statement that on the basis of financial reports mukhang the liabilities exceed the assets of…doon sa UGEC ‘no. And that was an observation raised by COA in the House hearing. But I will really your concern to Secretary Andanar.
HENRY/DZMM: Lastly ho kasi iyong kontrata batay po dito sa binabasa ko na artikulo, pinasok pa ho ito nung previous administration. Matututukan n’yo ba ito sapagkat marami po ang naapektuhan na mga kababayan nating mga OFW?
SEC. ROQUE: Sige po. Nung kongresista po kami, ako, ang naging posisyon daw po nila ay pagde-desisyunan daw ni Executive Secretary itong isyu ng legalidad ng UGEC at saka ng APO. Tatanungin ko po ngayon si Executive Secretary kung ano ang desisyon niya diyan. Itatanong ko po kay Secretary Andanar kung ano ang feedback niya diyan at hihingin ko rin po iyong formal report ng COA on the financial soundness of the contractor UGEC.
Unfortunately, I cannot give you answers now. I can only verify from people in the Palace.
PIA/RAPPLER: Sir, there are papers from the DND which show that the office of SAP Bong Go meddled into the bidding or iyong preference of supplier for the combat management system of the DND. So apparently based on the documents, his office expressed preference for a South Korean supplier and the DND or the Navy wanted another supplier. So, parang may debate on which… parang that’s what led to the firing of the Navy Chief. So this runs contrary to statement by the President that his office never intervenes in government contracts. Can you explain this contradiction?
SEC. ROQUE: I have no idea of what you are asking about. I will have to inquire. I will inquire from SAP if it’s true that he intervened. I will inquire from DND if it’s true that there is such a bidding and I will get back to you. I will refer to you after I have talked to them. I have no idea.
PIA/RAPPLER: Sir, but just to clarify such contract do in fact reached the Office of the President. ‘Cause he always says, it never reaches his desk.
SEC. ROQUE: I do not know what specific contract you are talking about. You can imagine that there are hundreds, if not thousands of contracts. I do not know. You have to specify which contract it is so that I can make the proper inquiry.
PIA/RAPPLER: Sir, this is the preference for Thales to provide critical combat management system for two warships that were being built by the winning bidder, Hyundai Heavy Industries.
SEC. ROQUE: I will inquire. Okay, I will inquire, because I do not know.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Sir, may napag-usapan na po kayo ni Presidente kung sino ang papalit kay Chairman Licuanan sa CHED?
SEC. ROQUE: Wala pa po.
ROSE/HATAW: Itutuloy po kaya iyong pag-i-imbestiga sa umano’y alingasngas doon sa CHED ayon doon sa proposal ni Congressman Nograles, susuportahan po ito ng Palasyo?
SEC. ROQUE: Meron na pong komisyon na—iyong Chairman at Commissioners ng Presidential Anti-Graft Commission siguro po sila na ang magi-imbestiga nito.
I know Liela, you have been asking about why there has not been any Commissioners and Chair appointed to that presidential anti-graft commission. He did yesterday. Presidential prerogative.
PHILIP TUBEZA/INQ: Sir, good morning. You mentioned yesterday na the BBL would be prioritized by the administration first even before the cha-cha. Pero as of last month, December, the President was saying na meron itong mga constitutional infirmities na baka mahihirapang ipasa. Why the change in tune now?
SEC. ROQUE: No, there’s no change in tune. You need to pass a BBL that’s consistent with the Philippine Constitution, simple put.
PHILIP/INQ: Are you saying na na-address na po iyong mga Constitutional?
SEC. ROQUE: Well, whatever has to be passed, must comply with the Constitution for it to withstand judicial scrutiny. As we all know, the very first attempt, the MOA-AD was struck down as being unconstitutional and if it will be given priority over charter change, we better make sure it’s compliant to the ’87 Constitution.
PHILIP/INQ: Hindi kaya, sir, dahil charter change is creating a strain in the relationship between the administration and the Senate?
SEC. ROQUE: That’s speculative. I am not going to speculate on that one, because the Senate is also considered as an ally by this administration.
LIELA/INQ: Sir, according to the schedule provided us, the President was supposed to meet with Helen Lim in Davao on Friday. Is this the Helen Lim that’s also the owner of NCC Mall? And if it is, may we know what was the agenda of their meeting?
SEC. ROQUE: When was the meeting?
LIELA/INQ: Friday. Why was the President meeting with the owner of the mall while an investigation is ongoing?
SEC. ROQUE: I do not know if he in fact met. I was here in Manila. I try to be in Davao as often as I could, but I was not there. I was there for the interview; I did not see Helen Lim in Panacan. Maybe—I do not know if it happened because I was there before the President arrived. Now I can probably say, I did not see Helen Lim in the vicinity of Panacan on Friday. I did not see her in Panacan. I was physically in Panacan last Friday.
LIELA/INQ: Was it cancelled, sir? Because it was on the schedule provided to us.
SEC. ROQUE: I do not know, but I can confirm, that I arrived very early in Panacan. I arrived at around 2:30 and I had to wait before Carol Arguelles (?) arrived.
ACE ROMERO/PHIL. STAR: Secretary, was comfort women issue discussed during the President’s meeting with the Japanese Ambassador?
SEC. ROQUE: I think I have answered that before. I’m invoking privilege, because not everything is subject to freedom of information. But I advise you to wait for the Minda News article because the President spoke.
ACE ROMERO/PHIL. STAR: About the comfort women issue?
SEC. ROQUE: Unfortunately, it’s an exclusive interview and I gave my word to the journalist that it will not be divulged ahead of her article on it. I’m sure one installment will be on this.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: I’m checking Minda News, just in case.
SEC. ROQUE: Oo nga, please check.
JOSEPH/GMA7: But first, sir PDRs are not bad per se, right? Because some are using it for investment.
SEC. ROQUE: Yes, especially for capital intensive undertakings.
JOSEPH/GMA7: Can we get out your sound bite if—cause some as saying that you know, it might have an effect on investments?
SEC. ROQUE: PDRs are an acknowledged instrument by which corporations raise funds for their capital requirements. However, the PDR issued by Rappler stands out because it gave it the power to control the company in terms of a 2/3rds vote being necessary on the part of the PDR holders in case there are amendments to the companies Article of Incorporations or bylaws.
JOSEPH/GMA7: Sir what is the policy of the—ano ba ito ano ang posisyon ni Presidente on critical reporting?
SEC. ROQUE: He has said it in our Christmas party you know. It’s your perception, my perception for as long as we do our job, it’s for the public to conclude for themselves.
ROSE/HATAW: Sir, umuusad na po iyong ‘Tanggal-Usok, Tanggal-Bulok’ sa PUV modernization. Kailan naman po magkakaroon ng modernization po sa MRT, LRT dahil araw-araw na lang iyong perwisyong nararamdaman ng mga pasahero?
SEC. ROQUE: Well, ang sabi po ni Secretary Tugade eh pagkatapos daw ng Semana Santa, matatapos na ang ating litanya at magkakaroon na tayo ng substantial improvement po diyan.
ROSE/HATAW: Aasahan po ito ng publiko?
SEC. ROQUE: Iyan po ang sabi ni Secretary Tugade and I have no doubts that he will fulfill his words.
ROCKY/PTV4: Thank you Malacañang Press Corps. Thank you Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.
SEC. ROQUE: Thank you, good day.
#END#
Source: PCOO-NIB (News and Information Bureau)#NIB#
