Railway line connector to be built smack dab in shopping mall area

A friend once related his aversion to riding either the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) or the Light Rail Transit (LRT). This friend is not rich by any stretch of the imagination. He prefers to spend hours stuck in traffic while riding in a bus, rather than have to line up at any MRT or LRT station. The aversion was such that he expected other people to take an extra trip, to practically fetch him if they wish to meet with him.

This friend is not unlike many other commuters, who no longer believe in the MRT/LRT system of transportation. The glitches that result in trains stopping, the long lines during rush hour, maybe even a fear of being pushed to the train tracks – the reasons for disliking the MRT/LRT are many and varied. One thing is certain, though, the MRT and LRT are here to stay despite unbelievers.

A common station for three railway lines will soon rise in the heart of the nation’s capital. The groundbreaking for the common station was led by the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

The station will link LRT-1, a line going from Roosevelt in Quezon City to Baclaran, Pasay City, with MRT-3, from North Avenue, Quezon City to Taft Avenue, Pasay City, and MRT-7, stretching from North Avenue to San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. Even your friends who hate the sight of an MRT station will not be able to avoid seeing the common station – that is, if they like going to the malls that are Trinoma and SM North. Costing the government some PhP2.8 billion to build, the 13,700 square-meter railway-line connector will be built between the two popular malls.

You may be the kind of shopper who likes having your fish fillet at one of those malls, but hates having to look for vacant tables to eat at. When the time comes, maybe you will just order take-out and eat in your car. Just think of the increase in diners that the new infrastructure will bring – even though the project will take until April 2019 to complete.

Legal obstacles had to be hurdled before DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade could announce the start of the project. As early as 2009, the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) and SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPHI) were co-parties to an agreement for the project to start somewhere near SM North. The DOTr, however, tried to change the location to a site across Trinoma in May 2013. A Temporary Restraining Order was then sought by the SMPHI from the Supreme Court, which granted it in August 2014.

That same Supreme Court Order has now been addressed with a joint manifestation advising the Court of a Memorandum of Agreement among concerned parties. These parties, referred to by Tugade, as “people that matter,” include himself, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) administrator Reynaldo Berroya, and representatives from SMPHI, LRT-1 operator Light Rail Manila Corporation, and San Miguel Corporation.

The common station will be named by the mall owners, the government will finance and build it, while operation and maintenance will be handled by Light Rail Manila Corp., and the DOTr. The effects of the project will be felt by commuters and shoppers alike.

Quezon City govt backs common station linking Metro rail lines

The Quezon City government has pledged to provide proponents of the Grand Central or Common Station Project all the support necessary to ensure the orderly implementation of the project, which is designed to connect LRT-1, MRT-3, MRT-7 and the recently approved Metro Manila Subway.

Mayor Herbert Bautista said Quezon City’s support would come in the form of traffic management and the provision of security measures.

“With the project expected to serve nearly 500,000 rail passengers on a daily basis once completed, it is imperative that appropriate security measures shall be adopted by Quezon City to ensure the safety of the riding public,” said Bautista during Friday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the project, which is expected to be completed by 2019.

The mayor said the city’s Department of Public Order and Safety will be coordinating closely with project proponents to ensure the orderly movement of traffic during the construction of the project, which is also expected to provide a significant boost to the city’s economy, especially in the areas of trade and commerce.

“This will be very significant for us since this will known as the Quezon City Grand Central Station,” Bautista said.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade were among those present during the groundbreaking ceremony.

According to the Department of Transportation, the grand central or common station, to be built between The Annex at SM City North Edsa and in front of Trinoma mall, is expected to serve approximately 478,000 rail passengers daily by 2020.

Aside from the Grand Central or Common Station, also underway is the construction of the MRT Line 7 Project with 11 of the railway project’s 14 stations to be built within Quezon City.

The Japanese are coming to build first PH subway

Japanese companies are now lining up to win construction contracts for the first subway in the Philippines, and one of them—Hitachi Ltd.—came to Manila to present its engineering capability to undertake what will be the country’s most expensive infrastructure project to date.

“We are explaining our capability to the government and stakeholders,” said Shinya Mitsudomi, corporate officer, group head of sales and managing director of Hitachi Ltd. Japan/Asia Pacific.

Hitachi Ltd. and regional unit Hitachi Asia Ltd. hosted Hitachi Social Innovation Forum 2017 at Makati Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City on Sept. 29 where top executives discussed Hitachi’s contribution towards social innovation for over 100 years, its full product range, turnkey, operations, maintenance solutions and international footprint.

The forum presented Hitachi’s railway solutions, with Mitsudomi discussing the latest trends in the global railway industry, including future technologies on asset monitoring, IOT/analytics and maintenance optimization that Hitachi Rail is spearheading.

“Hitachi has a long history in rail business.  We have a very big global footprint.  That kind of experience is very much important to construct a stable and high-quality railway system in the Philippines.  In addition, we now have a very big and strong turnkey engineering solutions.  We have a lot of experience in the world, including Honolulu, Peru, Taiwan,” Mitsudomi said during a news briefing ahead of the forum.

Hitachi is among the Japanese companies interested in the P355.6-billion  Metro Manila Subway Project and other rail systems that will be implemented by the Philippine government, with the help of Japan International Cooperation Agency, Japan’s main donor agency.

Mitsushiko Shimizu, the barong-clad general manager of Hitachi Asia Ltd. Philippine Branch, said Hitachi would employ more Filipinos once it won the subway project and other infrastructure contracts in the country.  “We have 11 companies here, with 3,000 employees,” Shimizu said.

The subway project, which will run more than 30 kilometers from Mindanao Ave. in Quezon City to FTI in Taguig, before terminating at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Parañaque City, will be funded by an official development assistance loan from Jica.  The loan will have an interest of 0.10 percent per annum payable in 40 years with a grace period of 12 years.  In exchange of the concessional loan, Japanese companies will be prioritized to handle the construction of the project, which is typical of a Japanese ODA loan agreement.

Hitachi Social Innovation Forum introduced Hitachi’s railway solutions and presented how it could contribute to improving the Philippines’ railway systems and infrastructures. “We are able to provide safe, efficient and sustainable railway systems that are also environment-friendly. Railway has been drawing global attention due to its potential as a form of transportation infrastructure that can deal with many challenges faced by rapidly growing economies like the Philippines,” Shimizu said.

“Through the Hitachi Social Innovation Forum and the company’s Social Innovation Business, we aim to contribute to the Philippines’ growth trajectory in an inclusive and sustainable manner,” Shimizu said.

The subway project is a part of the Duterte administration’s P8-trillion ‘Build, Build, Build’ program that aims to decongest Metro Manila and spread out development to other parts of the country.

Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Danilo Lim said the subway project, along with a longer Skyway, Metro Rail Transit Line 7 along Commonwealth Ave., NLEx-SLEx Connector Road and a rail line from Tutuban to Malolos to Clark will help ease traffic congestion in the coming years.

The Cabinet last month approved the first phase of the subway project that will cost at least P355 billion to build. It involves the construction of a 28-hectare training center and depot in Valenzuela City as well as other related facilities. Implementation period is from 2018 to mid-2025.

National Economic and Development Authority director-general Ernesto Pernia said the first phase of the subway project would not only ease traffic in Metro Manila but also improve the quality of life of Filipinos.  “For one, carbon emissions will be reduced. And, with greater mobility, people can spend more time on things that matter to them,” Pernia said in a statement.

Travel time from Mindanao Ave. to FTI complex in Taguig City is expected to take only 31 minutes onboard the subway rail project.  It is expected to serve 365,000 passengers in the first year of operations.

Phase 1 of the project, or the subway central zone, will traverse six cities, including Valenzuela City (for the depot), Quezon City, Pasig City, Makati City, Taguig City and Parañaque City.  It will have underground stations at Mindanao Ave., Tandang Sora, North Ave., Quezon Ave., Kamuning, Cubao, Santolan-Annapolis, Ortigas North, Ortigas South, Kalayaan Ave., Fort Bonifacio, Cayetano Boulevard, FTI and Naia.

Phase 2 will extend the subway to Bahay Pare Road, City of Meycauayan, Bulacan in the north and to City of Dasmariñas, Cavite in the south.

First phase of the subway project was previously designed to end at FTI, but Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, along with other economic managers, pushed to have a spur line extending the subway to Naia to make it easier for airport passengers to get to their destination in Metro Manila.

“In most of our neighboring countries in Asia, you can reach the city without ever leaving the platform. So, economic managers thought we’re going to build a subway anyway. So why not push to extend it to Naia? It just makes perfect sense. The extension will mean greater connectivity and improved passenger comfort and convenience,” Tugade said in a separate statement.

Groundbreaking is currently scheduled in fourth quarter of 2018 while target completion is 2025. Cabinet officials, however, asked Jica to expedite the start of construction so that a portion of the subway can open within the term of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III recently led a Philippine delegation to the 3rd Philippines-Japan High-Level Meeting of the Joint Committee on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation in Tokyo to push for “Fast and Sure” principle.

The Filipino and Japanese officials agreed to streamline their respective approval processes and introduce measures to put in the fast lane the implementation of the subway and other big-ticket infrastructure projects presented by Manila to Tokyo for possible financing.

Dominguez said in a statement that “significant milestones” were reached in the processing of the jointly agreed project list between the two countries.

“Now that our plans have progressed, we intend to lay out specific plans on how to expedite the processing and implementation of the flagship projects,” Dominguez said.

Atsushi Konno, general manager of Hitachi Asia Ltd.’s corporate communications group, said Hitachi has the capability to complete major rail projects on schedule, based on its performance in other countries.

Hitachi focuses on the so-called social innovation business and offers a broad range of information and telecommunication systems, power systems, social infrastructure and industrial systems, electronic systems and equipment, construction machinery, high functional materials and components, automotive systems, home appliances and others.

Hitachi said that under its 2018 mid-term management plan, it targets to increase its overseas sales ratio to more than 55 percent. “The Philippines will play an instrumental role in helping Hitachi achieve this target by focusing on energy management, railway and urban development solutions in addition to its high functional materials and ICT businesses,” the Japanese company said.

Coco gustong humarap sa Gabriela para humingi ng dispensa at malinis ang pangalan

Si Coco Martin ang pinakamatinding nasapol ng intriga sa katatapos lamang na The Naked Truth Bench Fashion Show

dahil sa number nito kung saan ay rumampa siya with a lady model na nakatali sa leeg na parang pet niya.

Ang nasabing number ay nakatawag ng pansin sa women’s rights advocates partikular na ang grupo ng Gabriela at ang Philippine Commission on  Women describing the act as “degrading and dehuma­nizing portrayal of women”.

Nauna nang nagbigay ng apology statement ang may-ari ng Bench na si Ben Chan and as of press time ay may bago na naman silang ini-release na public apology kung saan ay humingi rin sila ng apology kay Coco for involving him in the controversial scene kasabay ng pagklaro sa pangalan ng aktor by saying na naatasan lang daw ito na mag-portray ng karakter para sa nasabing fashion show.

Kahapon ay ang mga abogado naman ni Coco ang humarap sa isang presscon para klaruhin ang pangalan ng aktor. Present were Atty. Lorna Kapunan and her associates, Atty. Sonya Margarita Castillo at Atty. Russel E. Tacla.

Sa press statement na ginawa ng law firm, nakasaad doon na sinserong humihingi ng dispensa at pang-unawa ang aktor at labis din itong nalulungkot sa pangyayaring naka-offend siya ng publiko nang hindi niya kagustuhan.

“Mr. Martin sincerely expresses his apology and requests the public for understanding. Mr. Martin equally feels bad about the incident and saddened at the thought that he unwittingly offended the public.

“While offering no excuse and admits that a mistake has been made, Mr. Martin wants to set the record straight about the incident.

“Mr. Martin has an existing contract with Bench to model its apparels and this same contract obliges him to appear in fashion show for Bench. Nevertheless, Mr. Martin nor his manager or staff, was not involved in the conceptualization of the productions of The Naked Truth Show nor the segment entitled The Animal Within Me (kung saan kabilang ang number ni Coco). He only appeared once for a rehearsal which was a day prior to the show and it was only then that the role as a ring master, was given to him,” parte ng nakasaad sa press statement.

Sa rehearsal daw ay gusto nang i-voice out ni Coco ang kanyang concern partikular na ang leash strapped sa leeg ng babaeng modelong kasama niya sa number pero dahil puro foreigners halos ang staff (including the choreo­grapher), hindi raw nagawa ito ng aktor because of the language barrier.

“Mr. Martin feels extremely sorry for what trans­pired and admitted that the incident taught him a major lesson to be more sensitive and mindful in the repercussions of his portrayals. Let it be clarified however, that Mr. Martin did not have the slightest intention on his mind to insult women by this single unfortunate act. Mr. Martin has high regard for women just as he respects and loves his mother, his grandmother and his three sisters.

“Mr. Martin humbly asks for the public’s understanding and assures the public that he will no longer allow himself to be obliged to participate in a similar insensitive portrayal,” saad pa ng statement.

Idinagdag din ni Atty. Kapunan na binabalak din ni Coco na humarap sa grupo ng Gabriela at Philippine Commission on Women para personal na magpaliwanag at klaruhin ang kanyang pangalan.

Hinihiling din ni Atty. Kapunan na alisin ang segment ni Coco sa DVD copy (kung meron man) ng show o anumang video copy ng The Naked Truth na ire-release ng Bench kung sakali.

Samantala, hindi nakarating ang Ikaw Lamang actor sa na­sabing presscon dahil may commitment ito, pero ayon sa kanyang manager na si Biboy Arboleda ay malungkot daw ang aktor.

“Honestly, malungkot si Coco. He’s down. Isa ito sa pinakama­la­king dagok na nadaanan niya,” he said.

Magse-celebrate raw ng 10th anniversary si Coco kasabay ng kaarawan nito sa Nov. 1 at tinatanong niya raw ang alaga kung ano ang gusto nitong gawin.

“He’s never been to Boracay and he dreamt of going to Boracay dahil hindi talaga kaya ng schedule, so sabi ko, “punta tayo ng Boracay, dalhin natin ang pamilya mo”.

“Pero parang wala siyang lakas, para siyang isang gulay na nanlulumo. Malungkot ang anak ko. Hindi niya siguro inaasahan na darating ito at mangyayari ito nang ganito kalaki.

“Kung meron siyang saloobin, may kinakasama ba siya ng loob, may tao ba or grupo ba siya na kinatatampuhan, ang sasabihin ko sa inyo ay oo. Pero huwag n’yo na akong tanungin kung sino o alin kasi pang-ibang presscon iyon,” say pa ni Mother Biboy.

Inamin din ng manager na apektado na ang trabaho ni Coco dahil sa isyung ito at ayaw pa niyang i-divulge kung anu-anong proyekto o endorsements ito pero ‘pag lumala pa raw ang sitwas­yon ay baka raw magpatawag sila ulit ng presscon para i-reveal ito.

KC natameme sa mga hinaing ni Sharon!

Invited pala sa Star Magic Ball ang mga da­ting talent ng Star Magic dahil ipinagdiriwang ngayong 2017 ang 25th anniversary ng talent management agency ng ABS-CBN.

Ang 25th anniversary celebration ang dahilan kaya invited sina Claudine Barretto, Heart Evangelista-Escudero at ang ibang mga former talent ng Star Magic na nag-ober da bakod sa ibang television network, naghanap ng ibang mga mamahala sa career nila, o hindi na active sa showbiz.

Never na naging contract star ng Star Magic si Sharon Cuneta na super emote dahil hindi invited sa Star Magic Ball at hindi rin natuwa nang makatanggap siya ng last-minute invite.

Habang open sa paglalabas ng saloobin ang nanay niya, tahimik lang si KC Concepcion na ex-talent ng Star Magic at naimbitahan sa mga nakaraang Star Magic Ball.

Ayaw pakabog sa ex, Rocco handa na rin sa hubaran

Excited na si Rocco Nacino na rumampa sa underwear show ng Bench sa November 18.

Pinaghahandaang mabuti ni Rocco ang kanyang paghuhubad kaya super diet at super exercise ang inaatupag niya.

May isang buwan at kalahati pa ang preparasyon ni Rocco na ready nang maging daring sa mga sexy pictorial, gaya ng kanyang ex-dyowa na si Lovi Poe na celebrity endorser din ng Bench.

Nalaman ng madlang-bayan ang pagrampa ni Rocco sa underwear show ng Bench dahil ito ang ibi-nalita niya sa mga reporter na dumalaw noon sa taping ng Haplos, ang afternoon drama series ng GMA 7 na pinagbibidahan nila ni Sanya Lopez.

Louise ginawang sinungaling ni Aljur

Wondering ang fans sa reaksyon at sa-sabihin ni Louise delos Reyes sa pag-amin ni Aljur Abrenica na naging magdyowa sila noon.

Super deny pa naman si Louise sa mga reporter na nakausap niya sa kanyang contract signing noon sa Viva Artists Agency.

Tapos biglang umamin si Aljur dahil magkasama sila sa isang show ng ABS-CBN.

Dahil sa admission ni Aljur, nalagay sa alanganin ang credibility ni Louise. In all fairness sa mga reporter na nakausap niya, hindi nila pinaniwalaan ang denial ni Louise dahil ang staff ng ABS-CBN ang nagkuwento na na-sight nila ang dalawa na nag-check in sa isang hotel sa Subic. Hindi naman magsisinungaling ang staff na nagkataon na nasa Subic din noon. Ang Subic ang location ng taping ng Kambal Sirena, ang telefantasya ng GMA 7 na pinagtambalan nina Louise at Aljur noong 2014.

Ang tsismis na may secret relationship sina Aljur at Louise ang dahilan ng break-up nito kay Enzo Pineda.

Ngayon, magkakasama na ang tatlo sa ABS-CBN pero past is past. Knowing Enzo na isang mabait at marespeto na bata, naka-move on na siya sa heartaches na naranasan niya sa pakikipagrelasyon kay Louise.

May iba nang girlfriend si Enzo na walang kinalaman sa showbiz at going strong ang kanilang love affair. Boyfriend pa rin ni Louise si Champ Lui Pio samantalang live in partners at may isa nang anak sina Aljur at Kylie Padilla.

Hope for commuters

A member of my city hall staff shared with me a Facebook post from one of Antipolo City’s most distinguished pioneer residents – Mr. Frank Padilla, an international Catholic lay spiritual leader and the son of the revered Filipino lawmaker, Senator Ambrosio Padilla.

The Padillas were among the first “Antipoleños-by-choice” who opted to make the city their home. Even before there was a concrete four-lane Sumulong Highway connecting the city proper at the summit to Marikina Valley, the Padillas had already built a residential haven which people have long referred to as “Alpadi.”

“Alpadi” has one of the best locations on the road leading up to Antipolo proper. It was built on a site many call the “overlooking” – a term used by many generations to describe the breathtaking view of Metro Manila and environs one gets to appreciate when one stands are that part of Sumulong Highway.

Recent rapid modernization and the phenomenon of the urban sprawl may have taken away from Alpadi the tranquility that it used to enjoy.

From the 50s to the late 80s, Alpadi had few neighbors. There was the imposing white building which once housed the Redemptorist Minor Seminary. There was the Nipa Hut, the rest-house of the Lopez Family. There once was Sarmiento Farms which was then one of the country’s biggest poultry and livestock plants.

Other than those early “settlers” the stretch where Alpadi sits was nothing more than a deserted road in the evening where hardly any vehicle passed.

Things have changed.

Frank Padilla and the many others who made Rizal and Antipolo home are experiencing the byproducts of the rapid change.

In his Facebook post, Frank said, “2 hours & 15 minutes from Antipolo to Greenmeadows. 20 minutes going back.”

Frank must have left Alpadi during the morning rush and returned during the part of the day when the whole-day number coding rule was in effect in the areas along his route that are within the jurisdiction of Metro Manila.

Frank’s experience and woes are not unique. They are shared by the many other daily commuters and motorists who traverse the two major routes to the areas east of Metro Manila: Marcos Highway and Ortigas Avenue Extension. The trip to and from these areas become even more difficult when there is a heavy afternoon downfall and at the onset of the Christmas season.

There’s hope.

Part of the reason for the rather heavy vehicular traffic along Marcos Highway is the ongoing construction of the extension of LRT Line 2. Just in case we may have forgotten, that project is expected to be completed by 2019 – barring any major glitch.

Once that project is completed, the LRT Line 2 will have an additional capacity of some 75,000 passengers per day, or a total capacity of 315,000 passengers per day from the current capacity of 240,000.

The trains will run from Masinag in Antipolo. If plans are carried out based on original intent, the other end of the line will also be extended from CM Recto to Pier 4 in the City of Manila.

We can also hope that with the completion of the project in 2019, Marcos Highway will be free from major construction activities. We can also hope that there will be fewer cars as more residents of Rizal and Antipolo may opt to leave their private vehicles behind and use the extended light rail transport system instead.

By the way, the traffic situation along Ortigas extension worsened starting last month because of the road improvement being done by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) right in front of SM Ortigas East. DPWH said it would be completed come October.

Second, the real C6 hasn’t been bidded out but it will be soon. People got used to calling the road dike (by Laguna Lake) connecting Taguig to Taytay C6, but in reality, the real C6 is yet to be constructed.

For commuters and motorists using the Ortigas Avenue Extension route on their way to Makati and the areas south of Metro Manila, the completion of two major roads should provide a breather. The first is the road dike that connects Taytay to Taguig City. This is what many have been used to calling the C-6 Road. The fact is the real C-6 construction project is yet to take off. That would further ease up traffic when it becomes a reality.

The other one are the two other planned road dikes that will run on the shorelines of Laguna de bay. One is the Laguna Lake Expressway Dike (LLED) Project and the other, the Rizal Eastlake Development (RED) Project.

The expansion of options for commuters and motorists may not be sufficient to solve the jam in our roadways. We hope that two other things come about: greater road discipline and patience among all road users.

The expansion of roadways and route options follow the law of physics: there is going to be an opposite reaction. As the options expand, so will the population. The improving means of transportation will merely serve as an encouragement for more people to build their homes in areas farther from the center of the metropolis.

We foresee that as these options expand and as the light rail transit system expansion is completed, more families will choose to reside in the towns of Rizal that lie along the backdoor route towards Laguna.

We miss the days when going up and down Antipolo along Sumulong Highway was a breeze.

That’s probably how life is. Populations grow. Spaces become smaller. We will have to learn to share that ever-contracting space with one another.



*For feedback, please email it to antipolocitygov@gmail.com or send it to #4 Horse Shoe Drive, Beverly Hills Subdivision, Bgy. Beverly Hills, Antipolo City, Rizal.

Joe Taruc, pillar of broadcasting industry, signs off at 70

Veteran broadcast journalist Jose Malgapo Taruc Jr., widely known as Joe Taruc, passed away at around 3 a.m. on Saturday, his family confirmed.

He was 70.

“Our father, Jose M. Malgapo, Jr. or, Joe Taruc to many of us, has gone to join  his Creator, early morning of September 30, 2017,” Taruc’s son, GMA broadcaster and television host Jay Taruc, said in a statement.

“He died in his sleep. At this point, our family would like to request some time to mourn his death and celebrate his life in private,” he added.

Announcements will soon be made regarding the details for Taruc’s wake and interment, Jay said.

Taruc’s colleagues and politicians mourned his passing, whom they described as the “voice of the truth.”

“Para sa maraming kababayan natin na nakikinig ng radyo, si Joe Taruc ang boses ng katotohanan,” Sen. Grace Poe said in a statement.

(For many of our fellow men who listen to the radio, Joe Taruc is the voice of the truth.)

“Ang kanyang matalim na komentaryo at malinaw na pag-uulat ang sandigan ng paniniwala ng ating mga kababayan. Ang kanyang pagpanaw ay mag-iiwan ng malaking kahungkagan sa pamamahayag sa himpapawid,” she added.

(His sharp commentaries and clear reportage was the anchor of our people’s belief. His death left a huge void in broadcasting.)

Senator Sonny Angara, in a tweet, also expressed his grief over Taruc’s passing.

Malacañang also paid tribute to Taruc and condoled with his family on his passing.

“We offer our deepest condolences to the family of news anchor Jose ‘Joe’ Taruc Jr.,” presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said.

“Manong Joe was an institution in the radio broadcast industry,” he added. “A multi-awarded journalist, Mr. Taruc became the pillar of DZRH where he held several key positions. The nation mourns the passing of radio broadcast giant Joe Taruc. He will be missed.”

“I will never forget the lively interviews and discussions with Manong JT,” said Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, referring to Taruc’s initials.

Senator Joel Villanueva praised Taruc for his sense of professionalism and integrity.

“Can truly be considered a legend as he competently served in the broadcast industry for four decades. Indeed, his voice is something we would like to hear on a daily basis,” he said. “We will always remember him not only as a respected and credible journalist but also as a good man.”

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar paid tribute to Taruc on his Facebook page.

“To the legendary Manong Joe Taruc, thank you for everything! I will forever be grateful,” Andanar said in his post that accompanied a photo of him with the late broadcaster at a dzRH studio.

Born Jose M. Malgapo Jr., the veteran radio host was a respected and multiawarded broadcast journalist with four decades of work over the radio and contributions to the media industry.

An accounting graduate of Jose Rizal College, he was involved with different broadcast networks as a reporter before becoming part of Manila Broadcasting Co. (MBC) in 1986, where he also became a board director.
In 2001, Taruc became the vice president of dzRH, the radio unit of MBC. He also served as station manager.

At dzRH, he anchored public affairs programs like “Liberty in Action” and “Damdaming Bayan,” where he tackled and made in-depth analyses of important national issues. /atm


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