monDAY, jAnuArY 8, 2018
The
#nationataglance
NATIONWIDE ROUND-UP
TuCP calls for fire safety inspection of malls nationwide
Labor group Trade union Congress of the philippines (TuCp)
in a statement on Sunday called for a joint fire safety audit of
malls nationwide by the Department of Labor and Employment
(DoLE) and the bureau of Fire protection (bFp). “The ongo-
ing Metro ayala Mall and the gaisano mall and the NCCC Mall
fires are symptoms of the wanton disregard of department
store owners to go around our building safety laws and ignore
workplace policy on workers’ health and safety. We have to find
out other malls nationwide how safe or how fire-risks these
are,” TuCp president raymond Mendoza said. according to as-
sociated Labor unions-Trade union Congress of the philippines
(aLu-TuCp) spokesman alan Tanjusay, they envision the joint
DoLE-bFp safety audit inspections to be conducted immediately
to coincide with the forthcoming dry season when most fire
incidents happen. (related story also on this page.)
Free tertiary education funding assured
Davao CiTy representative and House appropriations commit-
tee chairman Karlo alexei b. Nograles said there would be con-
tinued funding for free higher education beginning this year and
in the succeeding years. “We allocated p40 billion for the imple-
mentation of the free higher education law and we are happy
that the Senate did not touch it,” Mr. Nograles said, in connection
with republic act 10931 or the universal access to Quality Tertia-
ry Education act, which president rodrigo r. Duterte signed into
law before the end of 2017. The law guarantees free tuition and
miscellaneous fees next schoolyear for students who will enroll
in the almost 112 state universities and colleges (SuCs) in various
locations in the philippines. This year’s budget will also pave the
way for the implementation of free wi-fi for SuCs nationwide.
“The next budget for free education is on 2019. We will try every
year to put budget for higher education,” Mr. Nograles said. He
said the SuCs already have a capital outlay for the construction
of buildings and other infrastructure requirement. on top of that,
an additional p10 million for each of the SuCs will be allotted for
HANDOUT PHOTO, WESTMINCOM
the construction of new buildings. Mr. Nograles said teachers are
also set to get an additional p1,000 cash allowance every month
which means an increase from p2,500 to p3,500 cash allowance
per month. — Carmencita A. Carillo
House seeks creation of EnT Center
THE HouSE committee on health is set to tackle a proposal by
Speaker pantaleon D. alvarez to create a medical center that
will provide affordable treatment for ear, nose, throat, head and
neck (ENTHN) disorders. House bill (Hb) 6720 establishing the
philippine ENT Center (pEC) will be in the agenda of the com-
mittee when Congress resumes session next week. under Hb
6720, the number of beds in pEC allocated for indigent patients
shall not be less than 40% of the total number of hospital beds.
“respiratory tract infections which include colds, sinusitis, na-
sopharyngitis, and laryngitis are among the leading causes of
morbidity in the country,” Mr. alvarez said about the timeliness
of his measure. under the bill, the pEC shall be under the super-
vision of the Department of Health (DoH) and administered by a
board of trustees composed of seven members to be appointed
by the president of the philippines upon the health secretary’s
recommendation. among other functions, the board shall enter
into agreements or arrangements with other medical institu-
tions in attaining the purpose and objectives of the pEC.
pHL, indonesia to meet on maritime security
MiMaropa: paLaWaN
“our family is still recovering from
the shock of yesterday’s (jan. 5)
CA decision ordering the release
of former Palawan governor joel
reyes, the known mastermind for
the murder of radio broadcaster,
environmentalist, and anti-
corruption advocate Dr. Gerry
ortega. This decision comes a
few weeks before the 7th year
anniversary of Doc Gerry’s murder.
seven years of fighting for justice
and press freedom. We have not
received the copy of the decision
yet. We will need time with our
lawyers to study it and plan our
next move. until then, we ask
everyone to remain vigilant.”
— ortega family’s statement
in response to the junking of
murder raps against former
Palawan governor joel reyes
in connection with broadcaster
Gerry ortega’s killing in 2011.
THE FirEArms seized by WestminCom units on
a clearing operation in a Lanao del sur village
ridden by a clan war.
arMM: LaNao DEL Sur
Troops seize 9 firearms
from warring clans to stop ‘rido’
SoLDiErS oF the Joint Task Force Zampelan, mo-
bilized in the wake of a clan war in Lanao del Sur,
seized nine assorted firearms after a clearing opera-
tion early Saturday morning (Jan. 6), the Western
Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) reported.
Military units were first deployed Friday afternoon
to barangay Madanding, bacolod Kalawi town,
when two warring factions from the amanodin and
Dipatuan clans of the same village engaged in a
firefight, temporarily disrupting the flow of traffic
along the highway. — News5/interaksyon.com
monDAY, january 8, 2018
Nation
The
Nation
S1/9
REUTERS
runnErs ArE covered in colored powder as they celebrate during a “Color Fun run”
in Pasay City, jan. 7.
NaTioNaL CapiTaL rEgioN: MaNiLa
Court junks raps in P6.4-billion shabu smuggling; Doj appeals ruling
The Department of Justice (DoJ) has asked the valenzuela regional Trial Court (rTC) to
reconsider the dismissal of the criminal case against Chinese businessman richard Tan and
several others in connection with the p6.4-billion shipment of illegal drugs last year. —
PNA/interaksyon.com
>> See full story https://goo.gl/qSEG4x
CENTraL viSayaS: CEbu
Public warned against mall smoke
THE SMoKE from the fire that hit Metro gaisano
at ayala Center Cebu has become an additional
problem to authorities. as of last night, 23 hours
after the fire broke out, the third floor of the
building where the fire originated continued to
emit thick smoke, which has spread to establish-
ments and residences nearby and triggered
coughing and even dizzy spells. yesterday
morning, the area of the ayala business park
where the Metro gaisano wing is located was
engulfed in haze.  people working or living at
the Cebu business park and in nearby areas
were advised to wear protective masks to avoid
inhaling the harmful smoke. — The Freeman
>> See full story on https://goo.gl/BGbViM
Davao rEgioN
road network program pushed
THE proviNCiaL government of Davao oriental has set up a five-year p2.1-billion road network development plan
covering 129.6 kilometers and aimed at providing access both to farm products as well as tourism sites. The provincial
government said it will tap the national government as among the sources of the funding, including the Department
of interior and Local government through its conditional matching grant for provinces for road rehabilitation and im-
provement. The provincial government also said the plan, as already approved by the provincial Development Council,
will have 16 road sections and is part of the provincial Development physical Framework plan 2018-2022. The project
also serves as a civic component of counter-insurgency efforts. The province has been among the few deemed by the
military as peace and development areas. governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang said his goal is to increase farm produc-
tion by about 10% during the period covered by the framework. The total farming area is 97% of its alienable and
disposable land, based on the philippine Statistics authority data. The project is also aimed at boosting the provincial
government’s program of promoting the province’s about 200 tourist attractions and improving on last year’s esti-
mated 700,000 tourist arrivals. — Carmelito Q. Francisco