Another 10 beautiful Philippine Islands that aren't BORACAY

Top 10 most famous and most beautiful islands in the Philippines that aren't Boracay- Overnight Camping Experience

Just because Boracay is closed for 6 months, doesn't mean that your trip to the Philippines should be cancelled

The Philippines has just closed its best-known holiday island Boracay to tourists for six months over concerns that the once idyllic white-sand resort has become a "cesspool" tainted by dumped sewage.

Here are 10 other islands you can explore instead.

Caramoan Island is a rugged piece of land. It is very rich in greenery and has a large diversity of flora and fauna. It boasts perfect white sand beaches, tranquil lakes, deep caves, coves and rich marine life.

El Nido Palawan is famous for its white sandy beaches as well as coral reefs. A perfect paradise to snorkel and see hundreds of fish species.

Panglao Island, Bohol used to be a very sleepy area. Very quiet. It has now been awakened by travellers looking for amazing beaches. The island offers a diverse array of water activities, like dolphin watching, snorkelling and whale watching just to name a few.

Malapascua Island, Cebu is a charming and small isolated beach paradise. Their resorts are mostly beach bungalows, making you feel like you’ve left the whole world behind.

Malamawi Beach, Basilan Island, Western Mindanao. off Basilan Island, is dubbed a “hidden paradise” of  the ancient settler the Subanen Tribes is no longer hidden today. This is where you can find silky fine, white powdery sand (and a shade of pink sand too, according to CNN). From Zamboanga city you can reach this beautiful island in a 30-minute speed boat.  From Isabela City on the island province of Basilan (nearly twice bigger than Singapore) the resort can be reached in 10 minutes via boat at less than $1 per person. There’s a zip-line adventure and island-hopping adventures, too. There’s a rubber tree plantation on the island too.

Animasola Island, Masbate is one of the most beautiful islands of Burias. The small island is located at the north eastern side of  San Pascual. It’s a remarkable destination for travelers.

Guyam island, Siargao. This island is so tiny, that it takes you about 3 minutes to walk along the entire circumference. It’s not usually an island that you stay on, rather island hop to from a nearby larger island. Siargao Island is a Surfing Capital of Asia.

Malcapuya island, Coron, Palawan. Beautiful beige sand, clear waters and corals reefs. The beaches are home to a long line of coconut palm trees. It is just picturesque and beautiful.

Cambugahay Falls, Siquijor. Siquijor is a beautiful yet tiny island province famous for waterfalls, diving, caves and forest walks. Most areas of Siquijor are great for snorkeling, so all you have to do is find the nearest beach and dive in.

Linapacan  Island, is a stunning medium sized island which rarely sees a tourist, because it’s pretty tough to get to. There is no public ferry or air travel. You will have complete tranquillity and peace if you ever end up there.

Read more in: The Gulf News

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FINALLY: LTFRB asks UBER to pay discounted ₱190 Million to lift the remaining 2 weeks Suspension

Drivers and operators of UBER System Inc., gather and meet outside its main office in Mandaluyong City, August 15 2017, a day after the Land Transportation and Franchising and Regulatory Board suspended its accreditation and operation. Photo: Manila Bulletin 

The LTFRB late Friday night (25th August 2017) announced granting Uber’s appeal to lift the one-month suspension and pay instead a fine to make up for repeatedly violating the regulatory body’s order not to accept new drivers.

Rejecting the suggestion of the Kilusan sa Pagbabago ng Industriya ng Transportasyon (KAPIT) chairman Vigor Mendoza II that UBER should pay ₱6 Billion pesos, LTFRB finally decided a discounted amount that UBER should pay to lift the remaining 2 weeks of suspension.

“The Board thus rule to grant the prayer of respondent (Uber) to lift the suspension imposed in its order of 14 August 2017; in lieu thereof, imposes a fine of ₱190 million Philippine pesos,” the order, signed August 25, 2017, read.

In addition to the fine, Uber was told to remit ₱20 million as assistance to its 36,367 transport vehicle network service (TNVS) operators who were active in the last 28 days before the suspension order was issued. The ride-sharing company should show the LTFRB a certification from its depository bank as proof of its compliance.

 “The lifting of suspension will depend on the payment of fine and remittance of financial assistance,” LTFRB spokesperson Aileen Lizada told reporters in a text message..

Lizada said the ₱190 million fines was based on the average ₱7-10 million Uber earns from its 150,000 ridership per day, multiplied by the remaining days of suspension which was supposed to be effective until  September 14, 2017.

After facing off with LTFRB officials in a dialogue at the Senate, Uber on August 17, 2017 filed an appeal to the LTFRB to revoke its suspension, proposing that it pays a fine of greater amount than the ₱5 million earlier imposed on it for continuing to accept and activate TNVS operators under its platform despite the July 26, 2016 moratorium.

The regulator halted Uber’s operations for a month from Aug. 14, 2017 for disregarding a directive to stop accepting new driver applications.

Uber, which said it did not process those applications, later told the LTFRB it could pay a fine of ₱10 million Philippine pesos to get the suspension lifted.

The Uber freeze has attracted public attention because many Philippine commuters regard the ride hailing app as more reliable and competitive than mainstream transport services (TAXIs).

Like and share: Grab, Uber and U-Hop Philippines' Drivers and Operators group

Uber recently said it had nearly 67,000 Philippine drivers.

The dispute with the Philippine regulator is the latest setback this year to Uber (USA based firm), a firm valued at more than $60 billion US Dollars.

Its Philippines suspension caused a spike in demand for rival Grab, and long queues near offices and malls and some disgruntlement about reverting to using regular taxis.

Philippine Senator Grace Poe, a prominent advocate for improving transport services, tried to bring Uber and LTFRB officials together to work out a compromise. An executive of Uber apologized for its "misunderstanding".

Poe on Friday said the hefty fine should "make Uber rethink its actions and re-evaluate its strategy in testing the extent of government regulations."

The LTFRB last year suspended applications for ride-share operators, to work out how best to regulate the industry. It said Uber was "irresponsible" for challenging that order.

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UBER Asked to pay LTFRB ₱6 Billion to avoid 1-month suspension: Too much

Uber Philippines asked to pay ₱6 Billion to avoid 1-month suspension. Photo: Tech Wire Asia

A transport group leader on Wednesday claimed that Transport Network Company (TNC) Uber Systems Inc. should pay a fine of P6 billion—and not ₱10 million as ordered by the government—in place of its one-month suspension.

Kilusan sa Pagbabago ng Industriya ng Transportasyon (KAPIT) chairman Vigor Mendoza II made the suggestion in a hearing before the board members of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Mendoza noted that under the rules, drivers without a 45-day provisional authority (PA), which allows them to accept fares until they are issued a franchise, will have to pay a fine of up to ₱120,000 each if caught.

The lawyer said since Uber has sround 50,000 "colorum" vehicles, or those operating illegally, the company should then pay the government ₱6 billion.

"A ₱ 10-million fine would only mean that Uber is operating 84 colorum vehicles," Mendoza said.

Like and share: Grab, Uber and U-Hop Philippines' Drivers and Operators group

'Too much'

However, LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada said that it would be "too much" for the board to impose a ₱6-billion fine.

"I believe that is too much. I believe billions would be too much. We do listen, reasonable naman tayo," Lizada told reporters.

She added that Uber's appeal to convert the one-month suspension into a fine will be resolved as soon as possible.

"On the part ng board, considering 'yung urgency ng matter, we will do out best to resolve this the soonest as possible time, para we put to rest already itong issue na ito and we will be able to meet our deadline for September namin na technical working group, what we promised Congress and Senate," she said.

"We will be crafting and revising MCs (Memorandum Circulars) and we will be coming for the number of both TNCs if we see na we will be able to renew the respective accreditation," she added.

Uber, on August 17, asked the LTFRB if it could just pay a ₱10-million fine instead of serving its one-month suspension.

The LTFRB suspended the accreditation of Uber after it continued to accept new drivers into their platform. — MDM/BM, GMA News

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