The

Nation FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1-2, 2017 EDITOR MARIFI S. JARA

#nationataglance NATIONWIDE ROUND-UP

On the commemoration of the Eidl Adha Islamic feast:
Ibrahims admirable act of obedience to the will of Allah is a
reminder to us all of the value of sacrifice necessary in our lives.
It also exemplifies the necessity to surrender personal comfort
for the greater good.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte, Sept. 1 message.
CENTRAL LUZON: TARLAC AND ZAMBALES
Tarlac-Zambales link completed by November
THE DEPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is aiming to
open the entire 81-kilometer road link between Capas in Tarlac and Boto-
lan, Zambales by November. The new paved road will put travel time be-
tween the two provinces, which are separated by mountains, at about
one hour and 20 minutes, the DPWH said in a statement. DPWH
Secretary Mark A. Villar said only five kilometers of the entire
stretch is pending completion. The Capas-Botolan Road,
he said, is expected to boost tourism in both the coastal
province of Zambales and the landlocked Tarlac. It will
also provide faster access from Zambales to the economic ZAMBALES
centers in Tarlac as well as Pampanga, where the Clark Green
City project is located.
BEFORE
AFTER
DPWH PHOTOS
No negotiations yet on return of Marcos wealth Imee
ONE OF the daughters of the late dictator Ferdinand E.
Marcos said on Thursday that there are no negotiations
yet for the return of the familys alleged ill-gotten
wealth. Wala pa, wala pa (There are none yet), Ilocos
Norte Governor Maria Imelda Josefa Imee R. Marcos
told reporters at the House of Representatives, where she
attended a hearing of the continuing inquiry into the alleged
misuse of the provinces share of tobacco taxes. interaksyon.com
>> See full story on https://goo.gl/dpCZPn
Police chief asks P1.8B for body cameras
THE PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) is
asking Congress for P1.8 billion to equip its
personnel with body cameras to wear during
operations. PNP Director-General Ronald M.
dela Rosa said the amount, tucked in the proposed
budget of the Department of Interior and Local Government for 2018,
would be used to purchase 37,540 cameras. He explained that the
equipment would not only ensure transparency but could also serve
as a defense for policemen accused of crimes. interaksyon.com
>> See full story on https://goo.gl/7rp6Qo
TARLAC Lacson to Faeldon: Dont divert the issue
from corruption in BoC
SENATOR PANFILO M. Lacson has shrugged off
accusations against his son made by former Bureau
of Customs Commissioner (BoC) Nicanor E. Faeldon,
who was officially replaced this week amid the contro-
versy over a P6.4-billion shipment of shabu (methamphetamine). Mr.
Faeldon has accused the son of the senator, Panfilo Pampi Lacson, Jr.,
of smuggling cement through the BoC. He said the younger Mr. Lacsons
company, Bonjourno, is the countrys number one smuggler of cement.
Hes diverting from the issue. The issue is, is there corruption in the
BoC? That question should be answered, Mr. Lacson said in a state-
ment issued yesterday. At the same time, the senator pointed out that
Mr. Faeldons accusation that his son has been undervaluing cement
imports has no basis as there is zero tariff for cement under the ASEAN
Free Trade Area and even the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area. What will
you undervalue if there is zero tariff? Mr. Lacson said. The matter on the
illegal drug shipment is currently under investigation by the Senate Blue
Ribbon Committee. Mario M. Banzon

NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION: MANILA

Pasig River rehabilitation
THE ESTERO dela Reina Linear Park in Chinatown, Manila was inau-
gurated yesterday, showcasing private-public partnership in efforts
to rehabilitate the Pasig River. The project is a joint undertaking of
Filinvest Land,
Inc., the Pasig WESTERN VISAYAS
River Rehabilita- DSWD-Western Visayas gears up for
tion Commission validation of cash transfer beneficiaries
(PRRC), Depart- THE DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Develop-
ment of Environ- ment-Western Visayas (DSWD-6) office is preparing
ment and Natural for the validation of beneficiaries under the govern-
Resources, ments Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps),
Metro Manila wherein cash assistance is distributed to the poorest
Development of the poor. Jonathan C. Anteza, DSWD-6 4Ps re-
PRRC PHOTO
Authority, Laguna gional program coordinator, said there are currently
Lake Develop- 315,416 active 4Ps beneficiaries in the region, but
ment Authority, they target to validate 389,928 in the official poor
Department of households list. Two weeks from now, we will start
Public Works and with the validation and we hope to finish it before
Highways, and the end of the year, he said. The validation is part
Barangay 8 and of DSWDs Malawakang Kamustahan Project, which
the city govern- aims to profile, account and validate the status of the
ment of Manila. 4.4 million 4Ps beneficiaries nationwide. Meanwhile,
Mr. Anteza also reported that 772 beneficiaries in
the region have voluntarily withdrawn from the pro-
gram as these households have transitioned to non-
poor status. They have voluntarily waived since
they think they no longer deserve to receive help
from the government, he said. The 4Ps program
was launched in 2008 under former President Gloria
AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO: Macapagal-Arroyo and continued by the succeeding
MAMASAPANO, MAGUINDANAO administrations. Louine Hope Conserva
Troops tracking militant raiders
in Maguindanao
SOLDIERS ARE still running after a group of militants
who tried to intrude on Wednesday into a village in
Mamasapano town to collect food and money from
residents. Personnel of the 40th Infantry Battalion
led by 2nd Lt. Ruel Gecangao had killed one of the
militants and wounded another, said Major Gen.
Arnel B. Dela Vega of the Armys 6th Infantry Divi-
sion on Thursday morning. The hostilities erupted
when members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom
Fighters, led by certain Darco and Bitok, attacked the
army team dispatched to an interior area in Barangay
Tukanalipao, Mamasapano to verify the reported PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO
presence of gunmen there collecting money and food MEMBERS OF the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, a
from villagers. philstar.com breakaway group from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, that has
>> See full story on https://goo.gl/oVMucx signed a peace pact with the government.

DAVAO CITY CIO

WESTERN VISAYAS: ILOILO CITY
Iloilo City mayor: I didnt become rich because of politics
MAYOR JED Patrick E. Mabilog of Iloilo City, who has
been accused by President Rodrigo R. Duterte of being a
narco-politician and his lifestyle reportedly under probe as
ordered by the President himself, again defended himself
saying he has nothing to hide. In a statement released
late Wednesday, Mr. Mabilog said his house, while often
ILOILO CITY GOVT FB PAGE
described as a palace, is not quite a palace. The land or
compound on which our circa 1800s ancestral home stands
was inherited and the house was built on a more or less
200 sq meter portion Last year I opened our doors to the
local media for them to see the inside. He also said that
he can assure the President not a single centavo of dirty
money was spent for this home. The embattled mayor
said he and his wife worked hard and invested wisely to
build up their assets. I was already living a comfortable
DAVAO: DAVAO CITY
Davao council eyes ordinance to compel synchronized construction work
UTILITY COMPANIES and construction agencies continue to carry out separate road dig-
gings for their projects despite a directive last year from Davao Citys executive department
to synchronize their work to minimize the impact on traffic flow. As such Councilor Jesus
Joseph P. Zozobrado, chair of the committee on public works and vice-chair of the com-
mittee on transportation, said the city council is looking at passing an ordinance to force
both private and government agencies to coordinate. Maybe we can pass a guideline or
ordinance to compel all these offices, agencies to coordinate and synchronize their projects
to minimize traffic congestion and related problems, Mr. Zozobrado said. Most of the

life in Manila as an entrepreneur when I came home to run
for city councilor. I didnt become rich because of politics,
much unlike many politicians. During last Tuesdays flag-
raising ceremony, Mr. Mabilog called on city residents to
help the government in its fight against criminality, corrup-
tion and illegal drugs.
time, one agency or company does the digging and after the work is done and the road
is rehabilitated, here comes another agency or company digging again, he added. Mayor
Sara Duterte-Carpio ordered the creation of a special task force in Sept. 2016 to address the
matter. However, the City Engineers Office, which was ordered to lead the group, has no
update on the status of the task force. Mr. Zozobrado said coordination on road diggings is
particularly crucial now with several major infrastructure projects lined up by the local and
national governments. Carmencita A. Carillo

BUSINESSWORLD GRAPHICS: GLORY M. DULLER