During their visit to the Western Leyte Provincial Hospital in Baybay City last Good Friday, April 15, President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Bong Go checked on Steven Lumanta, a boy celebrating his 12th birthday. He and his younger sibling recently lost both their parents to a landslide in Brgy. Kantagnos in Baybay City due to the Tropical Storm Agaton.
Steven is recovering from his injuries at the hospital which also houses a Malasakit Center that Go opened in August of last year. During their visit to the Western Leyte Provincial Hospital in Baybay City
President Duterte gave the boy a birthday cake and committed to gifting him with a necklace. Steven cried and was grateful after Go also gave him a rosary and a mobile device to help him in his studies.
They also provided other forms of assistance to the injured boy and vowed to support his other needs.
Costumes of Roman centurions with brightly colored tunics and fierce, painted masks make up the popular Moriones Lenten Tradition of Marinduque.
Since 1880, penitents have been participating in the Holy Week-long tradition by reenacting the biblical story of Longinus the Centurion, a well-known character in the Via Crucis celebration. and parading through the streets in their garb. Longinus was the one eye-blind Roma Centurion known to be the one who pierced the lower rib of the Lord Jesus Christ when he was crucified at the Calvary cross when he asked for water. Then the blood of Christ was sprinkled on his blind eye he eventually gets cured. After which he run around the streets and pronounce the miracle and praised the power of the blood. That makes him the target of the Pharisees and Sadducees to stop him and the order to catch him and beheaded him. That scene of the beheading of Longinus is the culmination of the celebration which is held every dawn of Black Saturday in the capital of the province.
The word “Moriones” came from the word “morion”, which referred to the mask or visor that Roman soldiers used to hide their identities.
Participate in the province’s Holy Week events like the Lenten Parade, Via Crucis, the Marinduque Expo 2022, and more.
Marcos will revive Pag-IBIG’s stalled “7-day Takeout Policy” to solve the housing shortage in the country by expediting the application process of those qualified for low-cost housing loans.
The length of loan approval currently ranges from three to four months, even longer.
Pag-IBIG was founded by former president Ferdinand Marcos to address the need for a national savings program and financing for affordable housing for Filipino workers.
TINGNAN: Nakibahagi ang Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Station Iloilo at PCG Auxiliary (PCGA) 601st Squadron sa paglikas ng mga na-trap na residente ng Barangay Sigangao, Zarraga, Iloilo kahapon, ika-12 ng Abril 2022.
Isinakay ng mga rescuers sa kanilang likuran ang mga senior citizen at kabataan, habang sa isang batya naman na nagsilbing “improvised floater” isinakay ang ilang bata para ligtas na maihatid sa pinakamalapit na evacuation center.
Naging mabilis ang pagtaas ng tubig-baha sa naturang barangay dulot ng bagyong Agaton
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Imee Marcos on Monday called for an extension of voting hours in Philippine embassies and consulates to ensure all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) can cast their votes for the 2022 polls.
In a statement, Marcos, chairperson of the Senate committee on electoral reforms and people’s participation, warned that “setbacks” reported on the first day of voting in parts of Hong Kong, the United States, Italy, and New Zealand may also happen in other areas where large OFW populations are located.
“Let’s not wait for a last-minute scramble to implement remedies. Thousands of OFWs will end up being disenfranchised,” she said.
“The immediate solution is to extend voting hours at our embassies and consulates, while the logistical challenges of setting up more voting precincts still have to be sorted out by the Comelec (Commission on Elections),” she added.
Marcos noted that government offices abroad “did not have consistent voting hours, with some ending mid-afternoon and others extending into the night.”
Long lines as well as the delayed shipment of election materials are preventing many OFWs from voting, according to Marcos.
She also cited reports reaching her office from Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom that some OFWs still did not know where to vote or that the deadline for voter registration was already over.
“The Comelec and DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) must review the math of accommodating OFWs in different areas daily and within the one-month voting period allotted. It’s also not too late to ramp up an information campaign so that OFWs know their precinct assignments,” Marcos said.
Earlier, the Comelec said the start of the overseas absentee voting in five Philippine foreign posts was delayed due to “logistical difficulties encountered in the shipment of the election materials.”
NEWS UPDATE: Sinabi ni presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos’ Spokesperson Atty. Vic Rodriguez kahapon (Abril 12) na hindi na kayang linlangin ngayon ang mga mamayang Pilipino matapos ang pahayag ni presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo na ang mga malisyosong ulat tungkol sa isa sa kanyang mga anak na babae ay nagmula sa panig ni Marcos.
“Presidential frontrunner Bongbong Marcos’ net trust rating of 53% provides us with the motivation to continue with our positive way of campaigning,” ani Rodriguez.
“Presidential frontrunner Bongbong Marcos has based his campaign solely on his call for unity anchored on the strengths and merits of his vision and platform for the future of our country, especially the youth that has resonated throughout the land and we shall keep it that way until the very end. Enough of your deceptions,” dagdag pa ni Rodriguez.
(: Atty. Vic Rodriguez FB page) | via Daniel Manalastas
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go commended concerned national agencies and local government units for their preparations for the implementation of the Balik Probinsya Bagong Pag-asa Program.
He said that through the efforts of these agencies and local government units, the Balik Probinsya Program can be ready for its pilot testing. He stressed that the BPP is an important initiative as the country prepares itself for the “new normal” after the country overcomes the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Senator said that the BPP is being prioritized after President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order 114, “Institutionalizing the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program as a Pillar of Balanced Regional Development, Creating a Council Therefor, and for Other Purposes,” which instructs concerned agencies to prepare and implement the “Balik Probinsya” program.
“Ngayon ay isa sa priorities na ang BPP, natutuwa ako na may mga provinces na po na nagsabing handa na para sa pilot testing. May na-identify na rin daw ang Department of Social Welfare and Development na around 3,000 individuals na pasok sa basic criteria ng programa,”
Go said.
Senator Go was informed by National Housing Authority General Manager Jun Escalada and Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Manny Piñol that six provinces are ready to participate in the testing phase. These provinces who have expressed their readiness include Leyte, Zamboanga del Norte, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon, North Cotabato, and Camarines Sur.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga gobernador ng mga probinsya sa paghanda ng kanilang mga lugar upang magtanggap ng kanilang mga kababayan na gusto nang umuwi. Ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno ay nakikipag-coordinate sa LGUs para malatag na ang mga protocols at proseso sa pagbalik nila,”
Sen. Bong Go utters
According to the DSWD, the agency has identified more than 3,000 individuals living in Metro Manila who want to go home to their respective provinces. The agency added that workers stranded in Metro Manila will also be assisted for their return to their home provinces.
“Para sa mga gustong umuwi na ngayon, may nakahanda nang protocols daw ang gobyerno para siguraduhin na ligtas ang pagbyahe at hindi ito magdudulot ng lalong pagkalat ng sakit. May transportation assistance at transitory package na ipapamahagi,” Go said, reiterating that agencies will conduct necessary quarantine measures, COVID-19 testing and health certifications prior to travel of these identified individuals and families.
The DSWD will be doing a rapid assessment of these individuals as they make travel arrangements and provide transportation, transitory assistance packages as well as livelihood assistance upon their return to the region.
“Doon sa mga identified individuals natin, i-verify ng DSWD kung taga saan sila originally para mabigyan agad ng tulong at makakauwi na sila,” Go said, adding that national agencies will check the readiness of provinces to accept the returnees.
In an online interview with Anthony Taberna, on May 7, Thursday, Senator Go said that it is important for local governments to be fully prepared to accept returning locals. Go also said that he was pleased that more provinces expressed their interest in joining the pilot testing and were offering resources, such as land and organic farming to complement the BPP’s sustainable livelihood and housing components.
“Marami pa pong probinsya ang gustong sumali sa pilot testing. Hindi lang ito national government. Dapat ‘yung local government maghanda rin sila,”
Go said.
“Mabuti na merong BPP para malaman ng ating mga mamamayan na may tulong ang pamahalaan sa kanila para maayos ang kanilang pagbalik at makapagsimula sila ng maayos at mas mabuting buhay,”
he added.
Based on a virtual meeting conducted this Friday, the DSWD will extend help to identified beneficiary families by providing transportation assistance, food packs, hygiene kits, family kits, and other non-food items for the immediate phase of the program.
The Department of Labor and Employment will also aid grantees through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged or Displaced Workers Program and Government Internship Program or TUPAD-GIP to help those who have lost their jobs upon their return to their provinces. DOLE will also be conducting job fairs to match individuals with potential employers.
The Department of Trade and Industry will continue generating businesses and employment opportunities in the countryside. DTI’s Negosyo sa Barangay will assist grantees in setting up and sustaining their own businesses in their respective hometowns.
The National Housing Authority and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development will soon be working out a housing development plan to create affordable housing for the beneficiaries.
“Lahat ng agencies po mag-aalign ng kanilang mga programs, activities and projects na pwedeng makatulong sa mga kababayan nating nais umuwi at para rin ma-encourage ang iba na mag-relocate sa mga probinsya sa tamang panahon,” Go said.
“Right now, our priority is to address and overcome this health crisis first. Kino-complement ng BPP ang ating mga existing health measures upang labanan ang COVID-19 para sa future, mas empowered ang ating bansa, lalo na ang mga probinsya, pagdating sa paglutas ng mga problema tulad ng pandemic at mas maging handa sa anumang krisis na darating,” he added.
According to NHA GM Jun Escalada, those who wish to avail of the program may already apply online through the official website of the program (www.balikprobinsya.ph). In the website, applicants can fill up the form which will inquire about their personal details, technical skills, and their intended provincial destination.
Filipinos may also manually sign application forms to be distributed throughout Metro Manila, or through an SMS system that is being set up by the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa inter-agency council.
Senator Imee R. Marcos, chairwoman of the Senate economic affairs committee, on Monday urged the Duterte administration to move quickly to attract manufacturers planning to relocate from China to other Asian countries in the country’s post-quarantine economy.
Senator Imee Marcos (Senator Imee Marcos Official Facebook Page-File Flor Rosales TV)
Marcos cited the emerging trend of factory relocations from China, as Japan, the United States, and the European Union (EU) are planning to transfer production of their crucial imports from the mainland due to supply shortages amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
The lady lawmaker from Ilocos Norte said even Chinese manufacturers are planning to relocate to neighboring countries to evade high tariffs imposed by the United States on China-made goods produced for large American companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft.
“The Philippines has a competent workforce and a command of English that removes language barriers felt in other Asian countries, but our economic managers must study more closely and quickly the incentives offered by Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, which are ahead in the race to attract foreign investors,” Marcos said.
Marcos called on her colleagues in Congress to amend the Foreign Investment Act via Senate Bill 1024 to set up an Investments Promotion Council and add “long-delayed incentives” for foreign investors.
Among the incentives in the Marcos bill are to raise foreign ownership limits, lower the US2.5-million capital requirement to set up operations, and simplify requirements for all national-level permits. The bill also seeks to criminalize wrongdoing related to their procurement.
“The emerging economic trend and opportunity amid Covid-19 also call for a second look at the CITIRA (Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Reform Act),” Marcos said, citing that the proposed 10-year period to scale down corporate income tax from 30 percent to 20 percent may “miss the boat.”
Indonesia is cutting its corporate income tax from 25 percent to 20% by next year, Marcos said.
The government must also take a cue, Marcos added, from other Asian countries like India, a competitor in lower-value manufacturing and business process outsourcing (BPO), which has already cut corporate taxes to as low as 15 percent for the 2019-2020 financial year and has been actively negotiating with potential Japanese investors and foreign chambers of industry.
“The resulting CITIRA bill must keep manufacturing companies and BPOs from leaving our export zones, while being able to take advantage of the impending exodus of factories from China,” Marcos said.
KINUMPIRMA ni Senate President Tito Sotto III na labing-limang kawani ng Senado ang nagpositibo sa rapid covid-19 test.
Agad naman ipinadala ni Sotto ang 18 personnel sa hospital para sumailalim sa swab test at mandatory quarantine sa loob ng 2 linggo.
Sinabi ni Sotto na ang 18 personnel ay kabilang sa 500 staff at ilang Senador na sumailalim sa rapid test bago ang pagsisimula ng sesyon nitong Lunes.
Kabilang ang dalawang staff ng ilang Senador, 1 waiter, 1 page at karamihan ay mula sa Office of the Senate Sgt-at-Arms(OSAA).
Nauna rito, tatlong senador ang nagpositibo sa virus kabilang na sina Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri at Sonny Angara.
Senate President Vicente Tito Sotto
Matapos ang quarantine, nag-negatibo na ang tatlong Senador pero muling nagpositibo sa virus si Angara.
: Atty. Vic Rodriguez FB page) | via Daniel Manalastas
Flor Rosales TV 