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EDITOR maRIfI s.
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The
Nation
18, 2018 JANUARY 18, 2018 Nation
S1/11
The

#nationataglance NATIONWIDE ROUND-UP

CAGAYAN VALLEY: STA. MARIA AND CABAGAN, ISABELA abas reappointed as Comelec chair
Bridge across Cagayan River set for completion by 2019 PRESIDENT Rodrigo R.
THE 720-lineal meter bridge across Cagayan River, Duterte has renewed the
connecting the towns of Sta. Maria and Cabagan in appointment of Sheriff
Isabela province, is expected to be completed by 2019 M. Abas as chair of the
with construction now under way, according to the De- Commission on Elections
partment of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The (Comelec), subject to the
P639.6-million bridge project will replace the existing confirmation of the Com-
Cabagan-Sta. Maria overflow bridge that is usually mission on Appointments
impassable during heavy rains. DPWH, in a statement, (CA). The nomination of
said the new bridge is seen to significantly reduce DpWh Mr. Abas, who was first interaksyon_philstar
travel time to the Cordillera Administrative Region and benefit about 2,751 motorists per day with the Joy torreJos/the FreeMan
appointed on Nov. 22, COmELEC CHaIR sheriff m.
connection of the Santiago-Tuguegarao Road and the Cagayan Valley Road (Daang Maharlika). “The 2017 after former Comelec abas will again face the
project will spur socioeconomic development and increase productivity in the areas to alleviate the fIRE fIgHTERs battle the ayala Center Cebu blaze that started on jan. 5. chair Andres D. Bautista Commission on appointments.
living condition of the populace as well as improve and provide direct access to and between outlying resigned amid controver-
barangays, municipalities and cities,” said DPWH Region 2 Director Melanio C. Briosos. CENTRAL VISAYAS: CEBU CITY sies and impeachment proceedings, was bypassed by the CA
Cebu City fire station lacks equipment, gear last year. Based on the new appointment papers released by
LACK OF gears and defective equipment are among the reasons why the Palace on Wed., Jan. 17, Mr. Abas, who was among the
the Cebu City Fire Station has “very minimal capability” in addressing Comelec commissioners, will serve Mr. Bautista’s unexpired
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION: TAGUIG CITY fires in medium and high-rise buildings, City Fire Marshall Noel Nelson term until Feb. 2, 2022. The President signed the appointment
Taguig terminal construction to start by 2nd half of 2018 Ababon said during the executive session conducted by the city council papers of Mr. Abas last Tuesday, Jan. 16. — arjay L. Balinbin
CONSTRUCTION OF the Taguig Integrated Terminal Exchange (ITX) on Jan. 16 to discuss the fire that hit the Metro Ayala shopping mall last
will start by the second half of the year, the government announced Jan. 5. “We have very minimal capability,” he told the council. Mr. Aba-
yesterday. The Department of Transportation (DoTr), together with bon said the fire department needs additional equipment like fire hoses, sereno impeachment:
partner Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI), held a groundbreaking ceremony water tanks, thermal imaging camera, and breathing apparatus. “We House committee tackles controversial car
yesterday, Jan. 17, for the project that is expected to be operational have to complete the inventory of all THE HEAD of the Supreme Court’s (SC) procurement office
by the first half of 2020. The DoTr also announced that ALI has our equipment (so we can ask the yesterday said they asked the “end-user” for preference in a
agreed to forgo the P277-million annual grantor payment (AGP), Bureau of Fire central office for what vehicle purchase, which has been cited as one of the grounds
which is supposed to be paid by the government on a yearly basis is lacking and what we need). We for the impeachment case filed against Chief Justice Maria
for 35 years. — Patrizia Paola C. marcelo will also provide a copy of the inven- Lourdes P.A. Sereno. “We had to ask the office of the end-us-
>> See full story on https://goo.gl/74czUe tory to the city government,” he er what vehicle she would prefer in the event that we would
said. Mr. Ababon added that there is procure a vehicle. So it was them who said Land Cruiser po,”
a need to improve coordination with lawyer Ma. Carina M. Cunanan of the SC procurement office
volunteer fire-fighting groups in said during the continuation of the House committee on
EASTERN VISAYAS: TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE positioning the gears. justice’s proceedings on the impeachment case on Jan. 17. —
Tacloban airport closed for runway repairs minde Nyl R. dela Cruz
THE CIVIL Aviation Authority of the Philippines ayaLa maLL REOPENs >> See full story on https://goo.gl/zmqp3t
(CAAP) announced yesterday afternoon the tem- Meanwhile, the fire chief reported to
porary closure of the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport the council that Metro Ayala com-
in Tacloban City for emergency repairs due to the plied with the fire code. The shop- There are 48 foreign terrorists in mindanao — military
“degradation of runway surface caused by con- ping mall is reopening today, Jan. 18. THE GOVERNMENT has monitored 48 foreign terrorists
tinuous rain in the past weeks.” CAAP issued a In a tweet posted yesterday, Ayala operating and recruiting in Mindanao, the military told the
Notice to Airmen on the airport’s closure starting Center Cebu said: “We are thankful Supreme Court on Wednesday. Maj. Gen. Fernando Trinidad,
5:30 p.m on Jan. 17, to 9 p.m. today. Cebu Pacific, to be able to welcome and celebrate Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) deputy chief of staff
in a separate statement, said six flights, including with the community in time for the for Intelligence, said that there has been an “influx” of for-
those of Cebgo, to and from the Tacloban airport fiesta Señor,” referring to the Sinu- eign terrorists, “in the guise of tourists and businessmen,”
were cancelled and those scheduled today are also log, Cebu’s biggest annual festival.-- in the southern Philippines. At the resumption of oral argu-
expected to be affected. The Freeman ments on the extension of martial law, Mr. Trinidad made
a presentation to justify the AFP’s request for a yearlong
extension of martial law in Mindanao. — philstar
>> See full story on https://goo.gl/559WG2

DAVAO: DAVAO CITY “My name has been unfairly dragged in

Davao City council approves tax incentives for parking space investors
LAND OWNERS and property developers who will invest in parking facilities in Davao City will now be
this issue. I am not privy to the frigate
able to avail of tax incentives after the city council approved the ordinance that seeks to address the transaction of the DND (Department of
traffic congestion in the city. “We want to encourage property owners in the city to develop parking
facilities that will help decongest traffic and address the increasing number of vehicles in the city,” said
National Defense)… In fact, I will resign if
Vice-Mayor Bernard E. Al-ag, who chairs the council. Mr. Al-ag said the ordinance is aligned with the it can be proven that I intervened.”
proposed resolution that will prohibit car parking along certain streets. He also noted that there are still — Special Assistant to the President
numerous properties at the city’s commercial district that have remained unused, which could be devel-
oped into car parks. Under the ordinance, the city will provide a two-year exemption from the payment Christopher Lawrence “Bong” T. Go on
of real property tax for all the lands qualified as a preferred area for the car park investment. The con- the allegation that he intervened in a
struction of a parking building or facility on the qualified land will also have a five-year tax exemption DaVao Cio
for the structure and business taxes. The ordinance, however, excludes from the incentives parking DavaO CITy aims to fully implement a no-parking policy along warship deal, Jan. 17 statement
spaces required under the National Building Code of the Philippines. — Carmencita a. Carillo busy streets.

SWS: Q4 self-rated poverty 3 points down