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Lacson: Sara Duterte ‘potential national leader’

By Camille A. Aguinaldo, Reporter
SENATOR Panfilo M. Lacson sees Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio as a “potential national leader” among the new and fresh faces in politics.
At the Kapihan sa Senado media briefing Thursday, the senator said Ms. Duterte was his “top choice” among the young leaders in politics and described the presidential daughter as “strong-willed, stern, vibrant, and progressive-minded.”
“Based on whatever political sense I have accumulated after my long years in government service, Mayor Sara stands out and is right in front of the pack,” he said.
Before expressing support for Ms. Duterte, the senator cautioned against “influence-peddling” in government matters due to kinship.
“Only because of what the Filipinos have experienced in the past administrations involving presidential relatives, we should reject any interference and influence-peddling by somebody outside the official chain of the government bureaucracy, but who projects closeness to the president due to kinship,” he said
“It doesn’t matter if it’s an Imelda Marcos, or a Peping Cojuangco, or a Mike Arroyo, or any presidential relative. It is not about them. It is about undue intrusion in some major state affairs in which they have no business interfering,” he added.
Ms. Duterte, a known rival of ousted House speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez, has been widely linked to the changes in the House leadership last July 23.
Mr. Lacson also clarified that he was not endorsing Ms. Duterte but noting that her track record as Davao City mayor speaks for itself.
“I’m not endorsing, I’m just saying that among the known, young leaders, if we choose from young and fresh faces in national politics, we’re really looking at Sara Duterte,” he said.
“What I’m only saying is based on my own personal opinion and observation, she’s among the present crop of young leaders, she emerges as a potential national leader,” he added.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte earlier said his daughter would not seek a national position in the upcoming midterm 2019 elections. The presidential daughter has gained high ratings on surveys on possible senatorial candidates.

New officials appointed to DoT

By Arjay L. Balinbin, Reporter
MALACAÑANG on Thursday announced President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s new appointments, including new officials of the Department of Tourism (DoT).
Mr. Duterte on July 30 signed the appointment papers of Maria Rica C. Bueno as Assistant Secretary of DoT replacing Maria Lourdes F. Japson.
“By virtue hereof, you may qualify and enter upon the performance of the duties of the office, furnishing this Office and the Civil Service Commission with copies of your oath of office,” Ms. Bueno’s appointment letter read.
New Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, who replaced embattled Wanda T. Teo, had asked all undersecretaries and assistant secretaries of the agency last May to tender their courtesy resignations for her to have a free hand in selecting new officials.
The President also signed the appointment of Myra P. Valderrosa-Abubakar as Director IV of DoT.
On July 12, Mr. Duterte signed the appointment of Ricardo P. Bernabe III as member, in an ex-officio capacity, of the Career Executive Service Board (CESB).
“Please note that, as member of the CESB, you shall be under the supervision of the Executive Secretary, and shall be required to consult the latter before voting or deciding on matters that require Presidential attention, and on such matters that affect the rules, regulations, and other guidelines of the CESB,” Mr. Bernabe’s appointment letter read.

Improved production, efficiency to ease wage hike impact, says MCCI exec

BUSINESSES MUST increase their productivity and improve operations efficiency to soften the impact of the wage hike that takes effect today, Aug. 3, in Central Visayas, said Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice-president Steven Yu. “The business sector will comply with the newly approved minimum wage rates starting Aug. 3 and is encouraged to look into efficiency and productivity measures to soften its effect to the bottomline,” Mr. Yu told The Freeman. Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) President Carlo Suarez, on the other hand, said the wage hike might affect the operations of some businesses. “Actually, we have no issues with the direction of giving better lives for our people. And if it is thru increase in wages, it’s a direct solution. But our concern as business owners is the manner it is implemented,” Mr. Suarez told The Freeman in a separate interview. “Like is it still fair and apt to increase more than twice or thrice a year the minimum wage? The pace of implementation is too drastic that we, employers and business owners, didn’t project this increase,” said Mr. Suarez, who is general manager of Cebu Grand Hotel. The new daily minimum wage hike approved by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in Central Visayas is P20. — The Freeman
>> See full story on https://goo.gl/stc6o5

CAVITEx Phase 1 enhancements seen end-August

CAVITEX INFRASTRUCTURE Corp. (CIC) is looking to finish within the month the first phase of the P1.1-billion road enhancements being undertaken on the Cavite Expressway.
After partially opening on Wednesday two out of four lanes of the Marina flyover, CIC of the Metro Pacific group said it is confident the road widening and the southbound flyover of the toll road will both be completed in August.
“We are still confident that we will be able to finish the lane widening of R1 by the end of this month. And the full completion of MLT (Marina left-turn) facility will also be completed end of this month, so expect the lane widening and the MLT facility to really contribute to the decongestion of the expressway,” CIC President Luigi L. Bautista told reporters in Parañaque City on Thursday.
He previously said the road widening will increase road capacity by 25%, which is now hitting a daily traffic of 145,000 vehicles.
The road widening and the construction of the Marina flyover cost P800 million, while the remaining P300 million is allocated for phase 2 of the enhancements.
Phase 2 will cover the widening of the three bridges in Wawa, Las Piñas and Parañaque, with construction targeted to begin in September.
“There is a CAVITEx enhancement Phase 2 which will consist of the widening of three bridges…. At the moment it’s three lanes in each direction. So by the time that we finish the widening, it will become four lanes in each direction,” Mr. Bautista said.
The Phase 2 components are targeted to be operational by May next year.
“We have to complete it before or during the dry season next year…. So by the time that classes start next year, maluwag na maluwag na (the road would be decongested),” Mr. Bautista noted.
CIC, which is part of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), is the private concessionaire for the CAVITEx project.
MPIC is one of three Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., others being PLDT, Inc. and Philex Mining Corp. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Denise A. Valdez

Iloilo transport groups express support to PUV modernization program

SEVERAL TRANSPORT groups in Iloilo, including Iloilo City, expressed readiness to participate in the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program as the first fleet of modernized jeepneys was launched last Tuesday. “We do not have any choice. We have to modernize as everyone is into modernization to serve the commuters and counter climate change. We need to support this because this is for the good of the majority,” Rizalito Alido, secretary general of the Iloilo City Alliance of Operators and Drivers Transport Cooperative, told the press during the launching ceremony. Mr. Alido said the Office of Transport Cooperative endorsed their group for the program. The modern jeepneys, owned by MetroExpress Connect Inc. (MCI), started plying three new routes on July 31. Mr. Alido admitted that they still have difficulty adapting to the modernization program, but they are hopeful that the government will provide subsidy and alternatives. Among their pending requests are a P2,000 to P5,000 monthly fuel subsidy and authority to keep using the old jeepneys for private trips. Another transport group leader, Val Casipong of the United Drivers Transport Cooperative, said they also support the shift to modern units. Mr. Casipong, who was among the first passengers during the test drive of the modernized jeepneys on July 30, said the new vehicles do provide a more comfortable ride for commuters. — Louine Hope U. Conserva

Davao City council passes expanded work anti-discrimination law to include health

THE LOCAL council of Davao gave final approval this week on the amendment to the Anti-Discrimination Ordinance of Davao City, which is expected to discourage employers from refusing to hire workers on account of their health status, such as having Hepatitis B. The original 2012 ordinance declares unlawful “the act of discriminating against workers based on sex, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnic origin and religious affiliation and beliefs.” The amendment added a person’s health status as an additional basis for penalizing discrimination. “No one should discriminate anybody or stop accepting employment based on health status, there are companies making Hepa b testing mandatory, it has to stop,” Councilor Mary Joselle D. Villafuerte, chair of the committee on health, said earlier. Majority Floor Leader Melchor J. Quitain, Jr. said it took time for the council to pass the amendment as they had to check if it would be compatible with the guidelines of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) considering that the labor code provides that disease can be a ground for termination. There is an existing DOLE guideline on the implementation of a workplace policy and program on Hepatitis B. Under the city’s anti-discriminatory ordinance, employers caught in violation will be fined P1,000 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second time, and P5,000 and 15 days imprisonment at the discretion of the court on the third offense. — Carmencita A. Carillo

P76M allocated for water system project in Marawi

A WATER system project in Marawi City with a P76 million budget is under way through the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig para sa Lahat (Salintubig) program. DILG OIC-Secretary Eduardo M. Año, in a statement on Aug. 2, said the system will provide water supply to more than 2,156 households upon completion by December 2019. The Salintubig project covers seven priority barangays: Sagonsongan, Mipaga, Emie Punod, Basak Malutlut, East Basak, Poblacion, and Moriatao Loksadato. The Salintubig program is part of the P10-billion Marawi rehabilitation program under the 2018 General Appropriations Act. A tripartite agreement has been signed between the DILG Region 10, DILG Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and Marawi City government for the implementation arrangements.

ARMM governor prepares for infra turnover to new Bangsamoro gov’t

GOVERNOR MUJIV S. Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has asked the regional office of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH-ARMM) to fast-track pending infrastructure projects and prepare for the transition into the new Bangsamoro government. Mr. Hataman, speaking during the Governor’s Initiative for Systems Assessment held on July 31 in Cotabato City, said the goal is to check the status of all projects and lay out a database on what can be accomplished up to end-2018. The governor said they are anticipating the transition process to start by Jan. 2019. “All our energies are focused on this to ensure that we are ready and prepared for the turnover to the Bangsamoro,” he said in mixed English and Filipino. The ARMM information bureau said DPWH-ARMM has so far reported the following completed projects: 1,547 kilometers of paved roads; 83 bridges; 210 units of water supply systems; 30 flood control structures; 60 drainage structures; 89 seaports; and 51 shore protection and other infrastructure. The Bangsamoro Organic Law was ratified and signed last week.
>> See related story on ARMM-DepEd prepares for transition as it anticipates BBL approval https://goo.gl/LNw9oz

Nation at a Glance — (08/03/18)

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

Investing in infrastructure: Which areas is the government focusing on?

The government’s 2017-2022 Public Investment Program (PIP) contains a rolling list of priority programs and projects that it plans to implement until the end Pres. Rodrigo R. Duterte’s term in 2022.
According to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), there about 4,490 infrastructure projects under the five-year program with a total investment requirement of P7.74 trillion.
As the graphic below shows, the government is focusing heavily on infrastructure related to transportation, which makes up more than half of the government’s total public investment program.  — BusinessWorld Research
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS

Key Game Four today

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE best-of-seven finals series of the ongoing Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup hits the pivotal Game Four today with one team out to create further distance and move a step closer to the championship, and the other looking to pull even and get back in the swing of things.
Having won the last two matches of the series, defending champions San Miguel Beermen have willed themselves to a position of advantage over the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in the championship race.
The Beermen went up 2-1 after an impressive performance on Wednesday night in Game Three that saw them flipping the switch to turn a close game at the end of the first half into a 132-94 rout when the dust settled.
San Miguel turned to their tight defense and balanced offense to mightily frustrate Barangay Ginebra in the second half, leaving the latter and its faithful to utter disbelief.
Import Renaldo Balkman led San Miguel in the Game Three victory with 28 points and 11 rebounds.
Guard Chris Ross, who absorbed a gash on his forehead from an inadvertent elbow from Mr. Balkman, had 23 points, going seven-of-13 from beyond the arc, while reigning league most valuable player June Mar Fajardo had 22 markers.
Marcio Lassiter and Christian Standhardinger each had 12 points for the Beermen with Arwind Santos chipping 11 points of his own.
Barangay Ginebra, for its part, saw only two players in double digits, with import Justin Brownlee finishing with 32 points and veteran Mark Caguioa adding 12.
“I did not expect this outcome as we were expecting a close fight. It has been a weird series so far with three blowouts already. But I have to give credit to my players because they really showed they wanted to win,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria after their Game Three victory.
“But this is just one win. There is still a long way to go. We are up in the series and this big win is a morale boost for us. We have to continue working though,” he added.
LIVING LEGEND SPEAKS
Having seen the Kings struggle in the last two games of the series, Barangay Ginebra legendary player-coach Robert Jaworski, Sr. said the Kings have to do a better job adjusting to the situation, among other things, if they are to come back in the series and top a team like San Miguel.
“If you noticed, they (Kings) don’t talk to each other, you check the score coming from second chance (points) of San Miguel and you’ll be amazed at the percentage (Beermen had 32 second chance points to 10 of Barangay Ginebra). No boxing out — there are so many things that they have to put together. They got to win on Friday,” said Mr. Jaworski in an interview with media after Game Three.
“I think the best way is to take the opportunity when you have it. It’s a lot of adjustments but hey — they played the first game and won by how much? (28 points, 127-99) Actually, they loosened up; they could have won with the same number. I think it’s just a lack of focus on what to do. It’s not realizing that there are only seven games. If they get to step on the gas, they have to step on the gas all the way,” the Living Legend said.
Game Four today is set for 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Prior to the game the awards for best player of the conference and best import will be awarded.

Ceres left to ponder after 1-1 draw with Home Utd

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
PHILIPPINE side Ceres-Negros FC finds itself with some ground to cover if it is to defend its ASEAN Zonal title of the AFC Cup after being held to a 1-1 draw by Singapore’s Home United FC in the first leg of their matchup on Wednesday night at the Panaad Park and Football Stadium in Bacolod City.
Forced to a draw, the defending Philippines Football League champions “Busmen” must now fashion out a convincing victory in the second leg of the final next week in Singapore to be crowned ASEAN Zonal champions anew and advance to the next round of the tournament.
It is a situation that Ceres is pondering over and hoping to succeed at doing that.
The Busmen was first to the scoreboard in the first leg after Australian striker Blake Powell scored off a penalty in the eighth-minute to hand Ceres the early lead.
But the visitors found themselves leveled at 1-1 when forward Isaka Cernak scored at the 23rd minute off a rebound.
The two teams tried to seize the lead for the rest of the opening half but found themselves knotted at 1-1 at halftime.
The nip-and-tuck engagement continued at the start of the second half with both teams having their chances at getting the go-ahead.
As time wound up, Ceres tried hard to find a winner to give itself some cushion in the second leg but none would come, leaving the Bacolod team to settle for the draw.
After the game, Ceres coach Risto Vidakovic shared his assessment of their game and the difficulty they had.
“They played defensively so it was not easy to penetrate. There was no space to play. Maybe we should play more faster but it’s not easy to do so. I think we did what we can at this moment and we have another 90 minutes there so everything is open,” the coach was quoted as saying but the official Ceres website.
“We need to win there (in Singapore) and I think it will be similar to this one. I’m expecting that and I hope we recover all the players that didn’t play today and we will be stronger,” he added.
Ceres is playing without top scorer Bievenido Marañon in the Zonal final due to suspension for being sent off in a match during group play.
The second leg of the ASEAN Zonal Final of the AFC Cup is on Aug. 8 in Singapore.

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