and barangay levels;  and the socioeconomic development, and Com will vote “whether or not a grandparents-in-law,  (4) spouses read

rents-in-law,  (4) spouses read the full story by scanning

t of prohibition on the suc- contributed to poverty.” relative (in) the second degree of the politician’s    siblings and the Qr code with your
on of an incumbent public On the extent of prohibition may be allowed to run for an office their spouses; and step rela- smartphone or by typing the link
The
Nation
<https://goo.gl/LmYRCY>
al by a relative. on holding or running for mul- to be vacated by the incumbent tives:  step brother/sister,    step EDITORS marifi s. jara, RICKY S. TORRE
MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2018

s
#nationataglance
s DoT pushes for ‘alternative destinations’
as Boracay mends
THe dePArTMeNT of Tourism (doT) has called on
ar- sector players and local government units to work
for together in the development and promotion of
“alternative destinations” as Boracay, the country’s
ors. most popular island stop, undergoes an overhaul
gi- from environmental abuse. The multi-department
Mr. group that is overseeing the ongoing shake-up of
rch establishments that are non-compliant to environ-
bo- ment and other laws is proposing a two-month clo-
sure of Boracay. doT Secretary wanda Tulfo-Teo, in
ung a statement released March 9, said she will “person-
ven ally steward the promotion of the country’s count-
us- less islands that similarly possess the qualities that
for earned Boracay its title ‘The world’s Best island.’”
“we are very fortunate that God blessed our country
ike with so many, many places as beautiful as what
iri- Boracay and its coastal waters used to be,” said Ms.
you Teo, “(The) Philippines’ emerging destinations are
so diverse. Many are fast-becoming water sports
red hubs for scuba diving, deep-sea photography and
n to
NATIONWIDE ROUND-UP
Zarate warns against ‘darker times’ with police
subpoena powers
AN oPPoSiTioN lawmaker on Sunday, March 11,
said the administration’s “terror-tagging” and the
granting of subpoena powers to the Philippine
National Police-Criminal investigation and detec-
tion Group (PNP-CidG) is intended to round up
members of left-leaning groups. in a statement,
Bayan Muna representative Carlos isagani T. Zarate
said that tagging at least 600 individuals who are
allegedly connected with the Communist Party of
the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New
People’s Army (NPA), as terrorists “is a prelude to
an intensified crackdown on members and leaders
of the progressive organizations.” — minde Nyl R.
dela Cruz
aricheta takes office as new SC en banc CoC
THe SuPreMe Court (SC) last week appointed law-
yer edgar o. Aricheta as the
Sandiganbayan upholds indictment of pCSO
executive for fund malversation
ANTi-GrAFT CourT Sandiganbayan has
dismissed for lack of merit the appeal of
a Philippine Charity Sweepstakes office
(PCSo) executive who was indicted for fund
malversation last year. in a decision promul-
gated on March 5, Sandiganbayan Fifth division Associate
Justice rafael r. lagos affirmed the 2017 ruling of the
Quezon City regional Trial Court (rTC) indicting Angelica
A. Fajardo, PCSo cashier V and officer-in-charge division
chief of the Prize Payment (Teller) division, for the crime of
malversation of public funds. — minde Nyl R. dela Cruz
De Lima proposes drafting of health plan for
visual impairment
SeNATor leilA M. de lima has proposed for a “National
Sight Strategy Plan Act” through Senate Bill No. 1709
directing the department of Health (doH) to formulate a
comprehensive plan of action in addressing health issues

SC
surfing. others offer family-oriented adventures at new en banc Clerk of Court relating to eyesight. “Visual impairment results in lost em-
k of farm resorts and eco-parks, and still others provide (CoC) following the retire- ployment opportunities, decreases productivity, impedes
wellness and spa services.” ment of lawyer Fe- learning and diminishes the general well-being of those
aid lipa B. Anama last who suffer from them,” said Ms. de lima in her bill’s ex-
n is eASTerN ViSAYAS: SAMAr February. — Dane planatory note filed last. Feb. 26. — Camille a. aguinaldo
who Samar ‘sparks’ sustainable tourism campaign angelo m. Enerio
red SAMAr, one of the three provinces in what is little EDgaR O. aRIChETa >> See full stories on https://goo.gl/6T1xkL
heir known as the country’s third-largest island — also
hile named Samar, is
for reigniting inter-
s to est in its tourist
or- attractions as
it launched its NATioNAl CAPiTAl reGioN
Spark Samar BI reshuffles 500 NaIa agents in
campaign with a anti-corruption move
three-day travel THe BureAu of immigration (Bi) last Thursday, March 8,
RY fair over the rotated the postings of nearly 500 of its officers stationed at
weekend at the the Ninoy Aquino international Airport (NAiA), the country’s
SM Megamall in main gateway. The move is in line with a newly adopted
Metro Manila. three-month reshuffling program to discourage fraternization,
The #SparkSa- SPARK SAMAR FB PAGE which studies have identified as a major root of corruption in
mar program is government, as well as improve productivity and service to the
th a collaboration between the local government units international traveling public. “As a result of this latest rotation,
y (provincial, city, municipal), private sector, and the every immigration officer assigned at the NAiA was trans-
academe. Apart from promoting tourism sites such as ferred from his or her presently assigned terminal to any one
b>
the Sohoton Cave, one of the highlights of the fair was of the two other terminals at the airport. Henceworth, we shall
Saturday’s launch of lArA, a project between Spark be doing this every three months instead of every six months
Samar, the artisan banig (mat) weavers of Basey town, as previously practiced,” Bi Port operations division Chief Marc
and a pool of creative consultants. Samar is home red A. Mariñaa said in a statement. Meanwhile, the Bi has also
to more than 2000 artisan banig weavers. “Dati started planning for the temporary deployment of Bi officers
akala ko panaginip lang ito (Before, i thought in other ports to NAiA during the Holy week period, a peak
this would just be a dream), but now this is a season for travel. — Dane angelo m. Enerio
reality,” Samar Governor Sharee Ann T. Tan
said during the Spark Samar launch as she
presented the enhanced travel circuit in the province
r and other developments. Tourism undersecretary Alma
’s rita Jimenez, for her part, said, ”The success of Spark
Samar is the success of the Samarnons.”

par- SoCCSKSArGeN: SArANGANi

acy Sarangani Bay festival back and bigger this year
THe ANNuAl Sarangani Bay Festival (Sarbay), which
e was cancelled last year in consideration of the Marawi
siege and the proclamation of martial law in Mind-
anao, will be back this year with a bigger celebration
  being planned following a commitment of support
from the department of Tourism national office. Sa-
rangani Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon and doT’s
wansa Teo signed last March 8 an agreement for the
ac- promotion of Sarbay 2018, scheduled in end-May. This
ve year’s theme, according to a press statement from the
ng provincial government, is “Sarbay united” as “it will
feature the best of southern Philippines with the big-
gest beach party ever.”
hil-
on
ic
ent
to
ng
of
SARANGANI COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE
n IN 2016, the Sarbay organizers, in cooperation with
barangay officials, hired 150 locals to clean the
Sarbay venue in line with ecologically sustainable
tourism as well as provide livelihood opportunities to
residents of gumasa town, host of the beach site.
e
BiCol: VirAC, CATANduANeS
Doj begins construction of new office in Catanduanes
THe dePArTMeNT
of Justice (doJ),
currently on an
active push to set
up its own regional
buildings around
the country, broke
ground on March
7 for its office in
Virac, Catanduanes.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre ii led the ceremony,
marking the first time an incumbent doJ head has visited
the regional team in nearly 20 years. “This groundbreak-
ing ceremony speaks volume of our earnest desire and
sincere efforts to improve the doJ as a whole and to make
it better,” Mr. Aguirre is quoted in a statement released by
the department. in the last two months, the doJ has bro-
ken ground for six new buildings around the country, in-
cluding the doJ Academy and Training Center in Tagaytay
City. Mr. Aguirre also signed last week an agreement with
the davao City government for the use of a city-owned lot
for a doJ office there. — Dane angelo m. Enerio
@SANFERNANDOCITYLU FB PAGE
iloCoS: SAN FerNANdo CiTY, lA uNioN
Celebrating San fernando City @20
SAN FerNANdo, the capital city of la union, is celebrat-
ing its 20th founding anniversary this month with vari-
ous activities, including the Ti Amianan Street dancing
Parade held March 9. An agri-tourism fair is ongoing in
front of the city hall until March 24.
Drainage canals improvement in San fernando
City, La Union 65% done
PHASe 1 oF the drainage improvement project along
Manila North road that is expected to ease flooding
in San Fernando City, la union is more than halfway
done, according to the department of Public works
and Highways (dPwH). in a statement, dPwH region
1 director ronnel M. Tan said the drainage project,
which covers 1.1 kilometers from Barangays Sevilla to
Catbangen, is now 65% completed. “Soon, the mod-
ernized drainage will be a big help to residents living in
flood-prone areas of San Fernando City,” said Mr. Tan.
The whole drainage improvement project in the city
covers the construction of a 424.9-lineal meter con-
crete flume along Aguila road; 32-lineal meter double
barrel box culvert along Flores Street; 280-lineal single
barrel meter box culvert along Mabini Street; and a
111.8-lineal meter single barrel box culvert along Manila
North road.
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