Day: July 29, 2023

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) on Friday formally turned over PHP1.44 billion worth of road projects to various towns in four provinces of the Caraga Region. The completed projects, which were funded under the national government’s PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) Program in 2017 and 2018, consisted of two farm-to-market (FMR) roads, five roads with bridges, two roads, and one road rehabilitation. Five of the projects are in Agusan del Sur – the PHP135-million FMR in Barangay Tagabase, Esperanza; the PHP207-million road in Binucayan and PHP197-million road in Sto. Tomas, both in Loreto; and a road project with a bridge worth PHP147.75 million in Agdawan, and PHP147.75 million worth of road rehabilitation in Binicalan, both in San Luis. Two of the completed projects are in Surigao del Sur – a PHP177.30-million road in Marihatag, and an FMR in Maitum, Tandag City worth PHP78.80 million. One project is situated in Puting Bato, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte worth PHP130 million, and the road in Bugsukan, Taligaman, Butuan City worth PHP50 million. Another road project with a bridge was completed in Mahan-ub, Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte worth PHP220 million. The formal turnover was facilitated in a ceremony in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, led by Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., along with Director J. Anthony Peña of the PAMANA National Program, and Director Elisa Evangelista-Lapiña of the Area Management Unit of OPAPRU in Eastern Mindanao. ‘Residents in the Caraga Region will reap the benefits of the completed infrastructure projects, especially those living in hard-to-reach areas,’ Galvez said in the OPAPRU statement issued on Saturday. The enhanced connectivity through the new projects, he added, would also improve the quality of life of the residents by providing them better access to much-needed basic services and ensuring the timely delivery of goods. Meanwhile, Lapiña said the completion of the projects was made possible with the support of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 13 (Caraga). ‘By enhancing accessible roads and accelerating mobility in critical sectors like health, education, agriculture, and economic activity, this endeavor significantly enhances public safety, ensuring a sustainable and peaceful environment for all. Together, we are building pathways to progress and prosperity, leaving a lasting positive impact on the lives of the communities we serve,’ she said. The turnover of the projects was also witnessed by Agusan del Norte Governor Maria Angelica Rosedell Amante, Cabadbaran City Mayor Judy Amante, and DPWH-13 Assistant Regional Director Alex Ramos

Source: Philippines News Agency

Residents of storm-hit areas in Northern Luzon were boosted by the visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday, including in this city. Typhoon Egay left more than PHP3.2 billion in estimated damage in Ilocos Norte, the hardest hit in the Ilocos Region. After the distribution of various government assistance to typhoon victims, including in Abra, which he visited before coming here, Marcos sat down with officials to get an update on the actual status of Northern Luzon provinces and assured them of the national government’s expedited help. He instructed all affected provinces to submit their reports to better plan the allocation of emergency assistance. ‘For us to respond quickly, send us your report, even if it’s not complete yet so we know what to do,’ he said during the briefing at the Ilocos Norte Capitol. Because many schools and houses suffered significant damage, the President assured housing assistance in the form of cash and construction materials while roving medical teams will be sent to affected areas. Health care workers from the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital were deployed to Batac City; Bangui District Hospital to the northern towns; Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital to Laoag, Bacarra and Pasuquin; and the Provincial Health Office to Sarrat, Vintar, and Piddig. In anticipation of food and waterborne diseases, Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc enjoined all municipalities and cities to organize cleanup teams that would get rid of stagnant water. Senator Imee Marcos joined the President and pledged education assistance in cash and in kind. ‘We will not allow the grave damage wrought by Egay to prevent a single Ilokano student from going to school,’ she said. La Union damage Also at the briefing, La Union Governor Raphaelle Veronica Ortega-David requested recovery assistance for agriculture and infrastructure. She said they need more subsidies for damaged harvests, repair of agri-infrastructures, housing for typhoon victims, and additional relief packs. “Priority is housing for typhoon victims but I also appeal to the Department of Social Welfare and Development to help us for the emergency shelter assistance for cash assistance for victims,” David said. She said they recorded PHP37.3 million in damage to agriculture and PHP295,000 in damage to infrastructure, while 845 houses were destroyed. “There were two damaged health facilities in the province. One is in Caba town worth PHP2 million and one health center in Rosario town worth PHP736,000,” she said. Only three of the 17 affected road sections are passable. “Mostly are inner roads and caused by erosion,” David said. She said the provincial government, local government units, and national government agencies have extended assistance amounting to PHP4.3 million. Affected Egay, which reached super typhoon category, and the southwest monsoon have affected 582,288 persons or 164,430 families, in 1,752 villages in different regions, according to the Office of Civil Defense on Saturday. Among those preemptively evacuated were 17,179 persons or 3,398 families in 102 villages in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and the National Capital Region. There are also about 312 evacuation centers in different regions which are sheltering 15,851 persons or 4,531 families while 89 roads in the Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and Soccsksargen regions were damaged due to flooding, landslides and soil erosions.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Summary dismissal proceedings will be initiated against a police officer arrested in Oas town, Albay province during a drug buy-bust, an official of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 5 (Bicol) said Saturday. In an interview, PRO-5 spokesperson Lt. Col. Malu Calubaquib said the administrative case is separate from the criminal case for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 filed against Staff Sgt. Gregg Redoblado, an active member of the Oas Municipal Police Station. “Redoblado is now under custody. The criminal charges against him were filed on Thursday by Oas Municipal Police Station, and administrative charges against him will be filed by either the Albay Provincial Police Office or the PRO-5 headquarters since a summary hearing officer will be designated to hear the case. He will still undergo the due process,” Calubaquib said. The suspect was arrested at the Masaraga Lodge in Barangay Calzada in Oas on Thursday for allegedly being involved in the sale of drugs. He had been under surveillance before the operation. Seized from him were more or less 30 grams of suspected shabu sealed in plastic sachets, which has an estimated street value of PHP204,000, as well as his service firearm with 16 live ammunitions. PRO-5 Director, Brig. Gen. Westrimundo Obinque, assured the public that law enforcement agencies would persistently continue their pursuit of a drug-free community, and the intensified enforcement of the disciplinary machinery among the ranks of PRO-5. He warned that they would not tolerate any misfits within their organization.

Source: Philippines News Agency

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday ordered immediate help for 28,666 families affected by Super Typhoon Egay in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) after learning that it sustained PHP 774.24 million in agri-fishery damage. The President, who led a briefing, aerial inspection and distribution of assistance to an initial 300 beneficiaries, noted that highest among those damaged by the typhoon was Cagayan province at PHP419.59-million. Isabela reported PHP 226.06 million in damage; Nueva Vizcaya, PHP111.14 million; and Quirino, PHP17.45 million. Batanes has no available data yet. Marcos ordered the distribution of potable water, food and non-food packs to the typhoon victims. “Tubig ang isa sa mga napaka-importante (Water is one of the most important),” he said, Marcos also ordered immediate power restoration after noting that 16 villages here have no power yet due to fallen electric posts and destroyed cables. “Pabilisin na ang pagsasaayos nito at kung kinakailangan 24/7, para magka-ilaw agad (Let us fast-track the repair and if needed on a 24/7 basis so that the power will be immediately restored),” he said. Due to heavy rains and massive floodings, the calamity affected 250 villages in four provinces, displacing more than 14,000 people. The regional offices of the Department of Agriculture and Department of Public Works and Highways reported losses of PHP340 million and PHP1.15 billion, respectively. Marcos Jr. sought the distribution of rice seeds and corn seeds in Cagayan Valley to make up for the massive agricultural damage. ‘We can provide binhi (seeds). Puwedeng magbigay ng binhi sa palay, sa mais, sa (rice seeds, corn seeds and even for) high-value crops,’ said Marcos, who also serves as Agriculture secretary. Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba briefed Marcos that the estimated cost of damage for rice is P41,730,106.77; PHP327,241,696.49 for corn; and PHP123,272,550 for high-value crops. Kalinga Governor James Edubba reported that agriculture is also their most affected sector, with damage costs at PHP27,053,262 for rice and PHP32,531,376 for corn. Marcos likewise bared his plan to import rice from India to boost the supply of the staple food, in preparation for the possible effects of El Niño in the country. ‘I’m thinking about the national supply for rice,’ he said. ‘Everybody is preparing for El Niño, lahat ng nasa (all of countries from) Southeast Asia. Sabay-sabay nagbibilihan kaya ninenerbiyos ako kahit na mag-import tayo (I’m worried despite the fact that we are importing rice). So, that’s the problem that I see.’ The President visited Ilocos Norte and Abra prior to Cagayan

Source: Philippines News Agency