Month: July 2023

Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and its development partners to ensure the timely completion of the three other segments of the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road Project. Marcos made the call as he congratulated the DPWH, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and all stakeholders for the inauguration of the first phase of the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road Project. ‘Despite the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, we have witnessed this project slowly progress. Six years now, since the project has begun, we now stand in front of the first completed segment,’ he said during the inauguration ceremony held in Davao City. ‘I call on the DPWH and everyone involved in this and all the other infrastructure projects, the work needs to be done. Strive to finish the remaining segments and let us do it within schedule so that our people may reap and will truly enjoy the maximum benefits of your hard work,’ Marcos added. The President cited his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, for being instrumental in introducing ‘high-impact’ infrastructure projects such as the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road Project. Marcos said the completion of the first phase of the project is expected to ease traffic congestion and spur economic growth in Davao City. ‘We expect this already to provide some relief to Mindanaoans, especially those who wish access to downtown Davao (City). This will help in transporting goods in and out of the city, making access to basic necessities easier for communities, for businesses, and for consumers,’ he said. He also emphasized that the road project which features walkways, bicycle lanes, and linear parks would address people’s need for ‘comfort, happiness and well-being.’ ‘I can imagine the locals and especially our tourists taking a stroll while looking at the view, feeling the breeze coming in from the coast, and taking with them the energy and peace they need to go about with their daily lives, with memories of Davao City and the Philippines,’ he said. He also noted that the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road Project was anchored on ‘well-thought-out master plans,’ stressing that it also aims to protect the city from storm surges. Marcos said closer cooperation and collaboration between the government and its partners from the private sector are vital in making the Philippines an ‘interconnected and thriving’ nation. ‘Everything that we have done so far and everything that we will do from this point onwards will all be instrumental in our collective leap forward and upward,’ he said. Meanwhile, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, who was also present during the inauguration, thanked the national government for the timely completion of the first and longest segment of the project. ‘It is a testament to our shared commitment to promote suburban development and reduce traffic congestion in Davao City. With the opening of Segment A, we now have a road network projected to facilitate economic growth and ease traffic conditions in the heavily residential southern part of the city,’ he said. The completion of the project would strengthen the overall reliability of the city’s infrastructure and transportation systems in preparation for population growth and increased economic activity in the years ahead, he said. ‘We thank all the individuals who gave their time and talent for the completion of this segment and all the officials to make this project possible,’ he added. Earlier this month, the DPWH-11 said it is targeting the completion of all phases of the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road Project by 2025. The Philippine government, with JICA’s assistance, has pursued the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road Project, one of the major road projects included in the Infrastructure Modernization for Davao City (IM4 Davao) that will provide support in the city’s urban infrastructure development plan. Before delivering a speech, Marcos conducted an inaugural drive-through along a part of the coastal bypass road. The road project’s Segment A inaugurated Saturday covers the coastal lines of Bago Aplaya- Times Beach Section (Talomo-Matina). The Davao City Coastal Bypass Road Project stretches from the Davao-Cotabato junction, passing through the coastal lines of Bago Aplaya, Talomo, Matina Aplaya (Times Beach), Roxas Avenue Section to Santa Ana Wharf, then R. Castillo. It aims to strengthen Davao City’s road network in meeting traffic demands, promote suburban development and decongest the city center. It will serve as an alternative route to Davao-Cotabato Road and ABS-CBN Diversion Road to ease traffic congestion from the Central Business District in the area. Once completed, travel time from the Toril area going to the city proper will be reduced from one hour and 45 minutes to just 30 minutes, and urbanization will be dispersed outside the Davao City urban center. The coastal shore protection and breakwater that will be incorporated into the project will also protect Davao City from sea wave actions, water surges and soil erosion. (With a report from Che Palicte/

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Brazilian Superior Electoral Court (TSE) ruled Friday that former President Jair Bolsonaro is ineligible to run for the presidency for the next eight years. The ruling comes in response to allegations of abuses of political power and media manipulation, which will bar him from running for office until 2030. The court secured a majority to politically incapacitate the 68-year-old right-winger for three elections, including the 2026 presidential elections. With four out of seven votes, court judges acknowledged that Bolsonaro had abused his political power and exploited the media to undermine confidence in Brazil’s electronic voting system. The trial, presided over by TSE President Alexandre de Moraes, commenced on June 22 last week. The charges arise from a televised address that took place at the Alvorada Palace, attended by a dozen foreign diplomats. During the address, Bolsonaro made unfounded allegations regarding Brazil’s electronic voting system in the lead-up to his democratic competition with current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in October 2022. The lawsuit, initiated by The Democratic Labour Party (PDT), accuses Bolsonaro of attempting to undermine democracy in Brazil and seeking to undermine Lula’s victory in the presidential elections held last October. During the trial, the TSE presented a draft decree that was discovered in the residence of Anderson Torres, former Minister of Justice, during a raid conducted by the federal police in January. The document, labeled as an attempt to subvert the October 2022 election result, was included as evidence in the proceedings. According to the federal police, the document aimed to seize control of the TSE offices after Lula’s victory and overturn the outcome of the election.

Source: Philippines News Agency

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday called on Davao del Sur’s government to remain determined in promoting peace and development in the province and make it a ‘beacon of progress for Mindanao and for the rest of the country.’ In his keynote speech during the celebration of the 56th Araw ng Davao del Sur in Digos City, Marcos acknowledged the provincial government’s hard work to transform Davao del Sur into a ‘peaceful and progressive place,’ and praised the local officials for the 56 years of peace and progress in the province’s many communities. ‘To all the local leaders, thank you for your service to the province and to your people. It is very encouraging to see you working hand in hand and to know that the provincial government’s projects are all aligned with my administration’s eight-point socio-economic agenda,’ he said. ‘With the local government focusing on all aspects of your daily life that we have identified in the national agenda, you can look forward to a boost in local businesses, improved daily transactions, and an overall better quality of life.’ The President also lauded the local officials for their efforts to fight insurgency, as well as the province’s diligence and compassion to help former rebels reintegrate into society to take part in nation-building. ‘Let me acknowledge that this is the first province in the Davao region to be declared insurgency-free and for doing your best to continue to maintain that status right up to this day. Hindi maliit na bagay (That is no small feat),’ he said. Marcos also recognized the provincial government’s dedication to improving the province’s health system and facilities to provide better services to its people and neighboring provinces. ‘We have experienced enough of the Covid pandemic and natural disasters. We must continue to fortify our health facilities to ensure our people’s health,’ he said. He likewise acknowledged the province’s ongoing digitalization and streamlining of government processes to achieve fiscal management and bureaucratic efficiency. Thankful for Davao del Sur’s support for his presidential bid in the May 9, 2022 national elections, Marcos assured the province of his administration’s support. ‘Rest assured that the national government fully supports in ensuring the success of your initiatives and the success of the people of the province of Davao del Sur,’ he said. The 56th Araw ng Davao del Sur carries the theme, ‘Lig-Ong Probinsya, Lig-Ong Katawhan Alang sa Maanyag Nga Kaugmaon Ug Malungtarong Kalambuan’ (Strong Province, Strong People for a Beautiful Future and Sustainable Development) to celebrate its rich history, vibrant culture, and resilient spirit.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The head of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) said he believes the country is ready to address the El Niño phenomenon in the coming months with the convergence of national government agencies. At a press conference on Friday, NIA administrator Eduardo Guillen said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s message on unity starts with the national government to remove parochial thinking. “Lahat tulong-tulong ngayon. Ang gusto ng ating Pangulo, hindi na lang flood control ang ginagawa ng highways, kundi water management. So in his mind, the best flood control project is water management. Pag umulan, bakit tayo kailangan bahain. Eh di maglagay na kayo ng retarding basin para siya na ang mag-ipon ng tubig at irelease natin pag tag-araw. So wala nang baha, meron tayong magamit na tubig (Everyone helps one another now. What our President wants is not just flood control for the highways, but water management. So in his mind the best flood control project is water management. When it rains, why do we have to be flooded? Why don’t you put it in a retarding basin to collect water and let’s release it during summer? So there is no flood and we have usable water),” Guillen said. He said the long-term solution for the El Niño phenomenon is creating high dams. “Pag nagtayo tayo ng high dams, meron na tayo irrigation, meron ka na rin power generation, hindi lang un flood control, aquaculture, the lake can be put up with solar panels, tourism (When we build high dams, we have irrigation, power generation – not just flood control – aquaculture, solar panels can be put up at the lake, tourism). All major river basin(s) must have high dams,” he added. Guillen also said the President wants farmers to value-add and maximize the value chain. “The President wants the help inputs to the farmers must be given right and on-time. He wants before we release water, the farm inputs are already with the farmers,” he said. Guillen added that PHP200 billion in funding per year is needed to boost the country’s agricultural inputs for farmers. Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda, who chairs the House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means, commended the initiatives and programs presented to them by Guillen. “For the first time, in 27 years of my public service, I’ve seen a comprehensive, integrated, and advanced strategy for water. I’ve never seen a convergence that can work. So if there is a convergence, money can be sourced out if the objectives are clear and the outcomes in terms of better lives for the people and more secure food for everyone,” Salceda said. He said the NIA administrator has the ears and eyes of the President. Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co underscored the need for a master plan that would guide the various government agencies in delivering better services. “I think it is good that the regional directors of the different government agencies must have workshops to have a master plan,” said Co, chair of the House Committee on Appropriations. Guillen was in Legazpi City to meet with more than 200 irrigators associations (IA) in the region during the IA Congress at Hotel St. Ellis to relay the message of unity in the national government on how to better deliver services to them. “We want them to form cooperatives per town. Our irrigators associations will have a wider scoop of assistance if they are registered coop,” he said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The national government through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) has released a total of PHP5.5 million in cash assistance to over 100 former communist rebels in Visayas during the first two quarters of the year, an Army official said on Friday. Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, Visayas Command (Viscom) commander, said the cash grant awarded to 109 former rebels include PHP1.6 million immediate cash assistance; PHP1.6 million livelihood aid; and PHP2.2 million integration assistance. These are apart from the educational assistance, health benefits, and other livelihood packages granted by other government agencies as well as the firearms remunerations that were granted to the former rebels who yielded their firearms to the government troops upon their surrender. In a statement, Arevalo underscored the importance of ECLIP in the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ fight to diminish the manpower and armed capability of the NPAs. ‘It is a potent tool that serves as our left-hand approach in encouraging the members of the terrorist-communist group to return to mainstream society,’ he said as he also expressed thanks to other government agencies and groups who also played vital roles in pushing the fight against the Communist Party of the Philippines. He said the effort has a long way to go but with the collective efforts driven by the desire to attain just and lasting peace for the people, ‘it can be assured that the end is near for the CPP-NPA in the region.’ Meanwhile, the Viscom chief urged other local government units, particularly those at the barangay level, to denounce and prohibit the CPP-NPA from entering their locality by declaring them persona non grata.

Source: Philippines News Agency

A lone bettor from Nueva Ecija became an instant millionaire after hitting the PHP366-million jackpot of the Ultra Lotto 6/58 draw on Friday night. In an advisory on Saturday, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said the lucky bettor guessed the winning combination, 43-58-37-47-27-17, and will take the prize money of PHP366,687,465.20. The winning ticket was bought in San Roque, Cabiao, Nueva Ecija. The PCSO reminded that all winners have one year from the date of the draw to claim the prize. All jackpot prizes must be claimed at the PCSO main office in Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City. Winners must write their names and signature on the back of the winning tickets and present two government-issued identification cards or documents. Lotto winnings of more than PHP10,000 are subject to 20 percent tax under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law. Meanwhile, 92 other bettors won PHP120,000 each for guessing five out of the six winning digits, while 3,793 will get PHP2,000 each for four correct digits, and 44,780 will settle for PHP100 each for three correct digits. The Ultra Lotto 6/58 is drawn every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday. The PCSO is urging the public to patronize its games to generate more funds for health programs, medical assistance and services, and charities.

Source: Philippines News Agency