Pink jeepneys roll out for love

MANILA, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will roll out today more pink jeepneys, a project that prioritizes the elderly, women, children and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

LTFRB member Ariel Inton said around 10 to 15 pink jeepneys of the Caloocan Zabarte Nova (Cazanova) Transport Service Cooperative will be deployed not just for today’s Valentine’s Day, but for good.

Cazanova chairman Alberto Antonio said the Valentine’s Day launch of pink jeepneys is their tribute to couples as well as senior citizens, women and PWDs.

Inton said the pink jeepney would accept any passenger, provided the men would gave way to the elderly, women and PWDs, particularly during rush hours from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Students and senior citizens will be given 20 percent discount.

The LTFRB granted the application filed last year by the Cazanova for the rollout of pink jeepneys after the agency launched the “Para sa Interes ng Kababaihan, Katandaan, Kabataan at may Kapansanan” (PINK) project.

The agency last year rolled out 14 pink jeepneys for the Pateros-Guadalupe route, 16 UV express for Trinoma-Tandang Sora, a pink bus for Quiapo-Cainta, and 60 LBR taxis operated by actor and television host Luis Manzano and his friends.

Aside from the vehicles being painted pink, the drivers and fare collectors also wear pink polo shirts.

Toxic-free Valentine’s Day

A group promoting zero waste and chemical safety has warned the public against buying toxic cups and mugs as gifts for Valentine’s Day.

Thony Dizon, coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition’s project “Protect,” said Filipinos should refrain from buying gift items that are harmful to health.

Dizon said love-themed cups and mugs with leaded glaze and paints are available not only during Valentine’s Day but every day.

Based on the website of Australia’s

Department of Environment, the lead used in ceramic glazes or in decorative paints covering the surface of ceramics can be harmful to the health of potters and people using such products.

“This is because the lead can get into food and drink prepared, stored or served in the crockery,” it explained.

Dizon warned that lead is a potent neurotoxin that can interfere with the normal development of the brain and the central

nervous system.

“Lead builds up in the human body and even  low levels of exposure can pose health risks over time,” he said.

The World Health Organization said “there is no known level of lead exposure that is considered safe.”

The EcoWaste issued the warning after finding high levels of lead in 22 of 23 samples of cups and mugs.

The samples, bought at P20 to P108 each from street vendors and retail shops in Manila and Quezon City, were screened for toxic metals using handheld X-ray fluorescence device.

HIV awareness

To drum up awareness about HIV/AIDS, the inter-agency national implementation team of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law yesterday distributed condoms at the flower market in Dangwa, Manila.

Junice Melgar, executive director of Likhaan, said the team met last Friday and decided to distribute condoms on Valentine’s Day to remind the public of the growing problems of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

“Cases continue to grow but it seems we are not seeing the entire picture. It’s scary because it seems that the Department of Health does not have a strategic program yet,” Melgar said.

Likhaan is part of the secretariat of the team.

Melgar said through the campaign, they hoped to put HIV/AIDS back at the center of attention, especially now that Filipinos are going to elect new leaders.

The team is comprised of various civil society organizations and government agencies like the DOH.

Condom distribution at Dangwa was first implemented by the health department in 2010, under the leadership of then Secretary Esperanza Cabral, who also heads the team.

Cabral told The STAR this year’s event aims to remind the public to be careful and practice protected sex.

‘One Billion Rising’

Women’s group Gabriela will stage this morning its “One Billion Rising” (OBR) activity, a campaign that indicts the government for neglecting violence against women (VAW).

Joms Salvador, Gabriela secretary-general and OBR lead convenor, said under the Aquino administration more women have become vulnerable to violence and abuse because of poverty and the still unaddressed culture of impunity. – With Sheila Crisostomo, Rhodina Villanueva