The

Nation friday-saturday, november 10-11, 2017

EDITOR marifi s. jara

#nationataglance BAN Toxics reminds Duterte on vow over Canada trash

N ENVIRONMENTAL group has called
A
on President Rodrigo R. Duterte anew
to demand from Canada that it haul
back the garbage which it transported
Tropical depression Salome on its way out and t o this day remains at the port of
TROPICAL DEPRESSION Salome will no longer be over the Central Manila. Nongovernment organization
Luzon landmass by today, Nov. 10, and is expected to be out of the BAN Toxics said Mr. Duterte must initi-
Philippine area by Saturday, according to the Philippine Atmospher- ate the talks with his Canadian coun-
ic, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). terpart, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,
In its 5 p.m. bulletin yesterday, PAGASA still had storm warning sig- when they meet in Manila during the
nal #1 raised over several areas: Metro Manila, Rizal, Bataan, Cama- Association of Southeast Asian Nations
rines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate Summit next week. We are waiting
including Ticao and Burias Islands, Romblon, Marinduque, Quezon, on the President to make good on his BAN TOXICS PHOTO
Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro. campaign promise to hold Canada and President Rodrigo R. Duterteand BAN Toxics
The rainfall amount was estimated to be moderate to heavy within (Mr.) Trudeau accountable for their Campaign and Advocacy Specialist Anna A.
the 250-kilometer diameter of Salome, the 19th storm to hit the trash, Anna A. Kapunan, BAN Toxics Kapunan, in this photo takenin Davao where Mr.
Philippines this year. Campaign and Advocacy Specialist said Duterte was still mayor onNov. 8,2015, hold a
in a statement yesterday. Canadian message to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
trash has been rotting in the Port of
Manila for several years. (Mr.) Trudeau should take it back with him home to Canada, Ms. Kapu-
nan added. Janina C. Lim

Uson blasted over ignorance of essence of press freedom

NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION
Manila Bay patrol
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officers conduct patrol operations at the Manila Bay, parts
of which have been declared as No sail zones from Nov. 5 to 16 for the 31st Association of
Southeast Asian Nations Summit. The restricted area spans from H2O Hotel to Okada Hotel.
PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO
PRESSING ON with her offensive against a registered online news organization and its reporter
assigned to cover Malacaang and the President, Communications Assistant Secretary Esther
Margaux Mocha J. Uson has come under fire for her actions that are deemed to undermine press
freedom. On Wednesday, reporters covering the Malacaang beat asserted in a statement that
the longstanding Malacaang Press Corps (MPC) is an independent organization and not under
the control of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) or any other govern-
ment agencies. The MPC and its affairs, governed by bylaws in accordance with the constitutional
provision on press freedom, MPC said. The MPC deplores any attempt to curtail press freedom
and will continue to ensure a strong free press, keep the public informed and the government in
check, it added. Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares, in a statement yesterday, also blasted Ms. Uson.
The move to marginalize Rappler in its coverage of the Palace and to demand the legal authority
of the Malacaang Press Corps to cover the President are both misplaced and inconsistent with
the essence of press freedom and the peoples right to be informed of the Presidents activities
and pronouncements, the senator said. A strong and independent press can only help build a
vibrant democracy. As part of an organization that prides itself of passing the first FOI (Freedom
of Information) executive order, the PCCO should welcome objective and fair coverage from the
PCG PHOTO press. We must remember that even criticism is necessary if we want an open and transparent
government. Rosemarie A. Zamora
WESTERN VISAYAS: CARLES
AND CONCEPCION, ILOILO
Yolanda victims in 2 Iloilo
towns get boat materials

FISHERFOLK in two Iloilo

towns will receive materials
for boat-building today, Nov.
10, as part of the rehabilitation
program for communities affected
by typhoon Yolanda (international
name: Haiyan) four years ago. It took
us time to distribute the boat materials
because there were no bidders and it is
hard to find the needed wooden hulls,
said Iloilo Provincial Administrator
Raul N. Banias. The 180 sets of boat
materials, coming from the provincial
government and the Bureau of Fisher-
ies and Aquatic Resources-Region
6, will be distributed in the towns of
Carles, with 100 beneficiaries, and
Concepcion, 80. Yolanda, which swept
through central Philippines and made
CENTRAL LUZON: NUEVA ECIJA six landfalls, affected 962 barangays
Palace supports conversion of rehab center into anti-drug enforcement academy in 31 towns in Iloilo. Records show
MALACAANG HAS expressed support to the proposal of converting the Mega Drug 87,064 houses were destroyed while
Treatment and Rehabilitation Center inside Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija into an anti- 86,004 homes were partially dam-
drug enforcement academy for various agencies. We welcome the suggestion of Sena- aged. About 200 people were killed,
tor Vicente Sotto III on the mega drug rehabilitation and treatment center, Presidential while 192,906 families, consisting of
Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said in a statement yesterday. Mr. Sotto said on Wednes- 917, 238 individuals, were displaced.
day that the facility, which has barely been used for its purpose, should also be utilized Mr. Banias said the construction of the
as a learning center for officers of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Bureau of resettlement area for some parts of
Customs, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Immigration, and the National Bureau of northern Iloilo, which is under the Na-
Investigation. Retired military chief Dionisio R. Santiago, who was appointed to lead the tional Housing Authority (NHA), has
Dangerous Drugs Board in July, resigned on Monday after President Rodrigo R. Duterte yet to start. He said the NHA is still in
took offense on his statement that the 10,000-bed rehab center was a mistake and a the process of completing the bidding
waste of money. The facility was built in 2016 through funding from Chinese real estate and procurement stage. Louine
billionaire Huang Rulun. Rosemarie A. Zamora Hope U. Conserva

DAVAO: DAVAO CITY

Davao 1st half investments down,
but recovery seen in 2nd half
APPROVED INVESTMENTS in Davao City
in the first six month of the year reached
P11.973 billion, lower by 4% from P12.48
billion in the first half of 2016. Lemuel G.
Ortonio, Davao City Investment Promo-
tion Center chief, said they expect a re-
covery from the drop for the rest of 2017
with the expected approval of at least
NORTHERN MINDANAO: CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY P348 million in new projects within this
ZAMBOANGA CITY MAYOR FB PAGE
CDO coastal bypass inauguration today month. Among the investments up for
A traditional dance performance during Mondays opening of the five-day National Youth Day T HE 12.77-kilometer Cagayan de Oro (CDO) Coastal Road which is expected to approval are a P166.887-million low-cost
2017 hosted by Zamboanga City. divert heavy-loaded trucks from neighboring provinces going to the port and thus subdivision and a P181.250-million feed
decongest traffic in the city proper is scheduled for inauguration today, Nov. 10, mill. Hopefully, these will be approved
ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA: ZAMBOANGA CITY according to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Northern Min- by the board, said Mr. Ortonio, referring
Ex-DENR chief eyes green project in Zamboanga City danao Regional Director Virgilio C. Eduarte. The road spans from Barangay Gusa to the Davao City Investment Incen-
ENVIRONMENTAL activist Regina Paz L. Lopez, who previously served as secretary of the Department in the eastern side to Barangay Igpit, Opol in Misamis Oriental. The Gusa-Agora tive Board, a multi-sectoral body that
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), is planning to invest in a project in Zamboanga City that section of the coastal road will be opened this month, while the construction of the assesses and certifies applications for
would help towards developing a green economy. I want to do something in Zamboanga, Ms. Lopez Agora-PPA-Corrales section is also in progress. The project has faced delays due perks such as tax breaks. Carmelito
told the local media here in a press conference on the sidelines of the ongoing National Youth Day 2017. mainly to road right-of-way issues (RROW). Mr. Eduarte said Task Force Hapsay Q. Francisco
If a place has the potential, it just needs a little marketing then it will boom, she said, adding that as Dalan, the Cagayan de Oro City government and other line agencies assisted in >> See full story on
long as the community commits to value the environment. Ms. Lopez also said that she can lobby busi- addressing the obstruction problems, while four RROW issues are still awaiting the https://goo.gl/dU9EHc
ness groups to consider environment-related investments into the city. Albert F. Arcilla filing of expropriation cases. Mindanao Bureau
businessworld graphics: erka Capili Inciong