NATIONAL NEWS

Sang-ayon ang commuters group sa hirit na taas-pasahe ng mga provincial bus sa gitna ng mataas na presyo ng krudo.

 Ayon kay Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection President Atty. Ariel Inton, bukas ang kanilang grupo sa 30 centavos hanggang 40 centavos na kada kilometrong dagdag-pasahe ng mga provincial bus.

 Sinabi ni Inton, na handa silang pag-usapan ang naturang isyu dahil taong 2018 pa ang huling pag-apruba sa taas-pasahe ng mga bus kung saan, 40 pesos hanggang 45 pesos pa lamang ang kada litro ng petrolyo noon.

 Iginiit ni Inton na hindi lamang commuter ang naaapektuhan sa pabago-bagong presyo ng langis kundi maging ang ekonomiya ng bansa.

 Dagdag pa ni Inton, nasa 30% na lang ang bilang ng mga bumibiyaheng bus at hindi umano ito sapat para sa dumaraming bilang ng mga pasahero.

 Muli namang umapela ang commuters group na suspendehin ang excise tax sa harap ng sunod-sunod na pagsirit sa presyo ng produktong petrolyo.

 Sa ngayon, planong maghain ng petisyon ang naturang grupo hinggil sa hirit na taas-pasahe.

Dapat umanong ipagpatuloy ang pamamahagi ng subsidiya sa ilang piling sektor sa gitna ng patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis sa bansa.

 Ito ang inirekomenda ni Senate Committee on Economic Affairs Chairman Senator Imee Marcos sa bagong administrasyon na pamumunuan ng kanyang kapatid na si President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

 Ayon sa senadora, dapat na matutukan o bigyang pansin at tulong ang sektor ng transportasyon at agrikultura na kabilang sa mga naghihikahos dahil sa epekto ng taas-singil sa langis.

 Inirekomenda din ng senadora sa kaniyang kapatid ang pakikipag-usap ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas sa mga karatig bansa sa asya para makabili ng mas murang petrolyo at pagpapatupad ng hybrid work setup para makatipid sa pamasahe ang bawat manggagawa.

Bukod pa diyan, dapat ding pag-aralan ang bioethanol component ng mga petrolyo na una nang ginagawa at ginagamit sa Amerika.

 Kahit ipinatupad na ang umento sa sahod sa National Capital Region (NCR) at iba pang lugar sa bansa, hindi pa rin sapat para sa mga manggagawa ang kanilang kinikita dahil sa mataas na bilihin bunsod narin ng mataas na presyo ng langis at patuloy na bakbakan sa pagitan ng Russia at Ukraine.

 Ayon sa mga manggagawa, napipilitan na silang pagkasyahin ang kanilang kita sa pambili ng bigas, ulam at gastos para sa kanilang pamasahe.

 Aminado ang mga manggagawa na hirap silang dumiskarte para mapunan pang araw-araw nilang pangangailangan.

 Matatandaang sa ilalim ng bagong wage order nito lamang mayo, P33 ang madaragdag sa arawang sahod ng mga minimum wage earner sa Metro Manila.

 Dahil dito, nasa P570 na ang minimum wage kada araw ng mga nagtatrabaho sa non-agriculture sector, habang P533 naman sa mga manggagawa sa agriculture sector.

 Samantala, iginiit naman ng mga manggagawa na kahit pa tumaas ang kanilang arawang sahod ay wala silang ligtas sa patuloy na pagsirit ng presyo ng produktong petrolyo at mga pangunahing bilihin sa bansa.

Handang tumulong sa Pilipinas ang lima pang ambassador sa pagbili ng langis sa ibang bansa.

 Kasunod ito ng kanilang pagbisita kay president elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. para batiin sa kaniyang pagkapanalo bilang bagong pangulo ng Pilipinas.

 Bukod pa dito, nais din nilang mag-alok ng oportunidad sa mas maraming Pilipino na gustong makapagtrabaho sa ibang bansa.

 Nabatid na posibleng umabot sa 50,000 trabaho na may mataas na sweldo ang maaaring malikha at makuha ng mga Pinoy workers kung mahihikayat nito ang ilang may-ari ng renewable energy companies na mamuhunan sa bansa.

 Kabilang sa mga nais tumulong sina Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Bjorn Jahnsen; Hungarian Ambassador to the Philippines Titanilla Toth; Finnish Ambassador Juha Markus Pyykko; Romanian Ambassador Raduta Dana Matache; at South African Ambassador Bartinah Radebe-Netshitenzhe.

 Nais ng limang ambassador na palawakin ang mga investment sa renewable energy sector ng bansa kung saan, magiging malaking pabor para sa Pilipinas kung dadami ang bilang ng power producers sa bansa dahil patuloy pa ring tumataas ang presyo ng krudo sa buong mundo.

Naantala kahapon ang biyahe ng LRT line 1 makaraang itigil pansamantala ng Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) ang operasyon dahil sa nasirang tren sa Tayuman Station.

 Ayon sa Light Rail Manila Corporation, matapos tumigil ang tren sa northbound track ng Tayuman ay mabilis na naglatag ng speed restriction sa mga biyahe mula Baclaran papuntang Balintawak ang pamunuan ng LRT-1.

 Nagsagawa na rin ng technical intervention ang engineering team ng LRT-1 para sa nasirang tren.

 Mabilis namang naayos ang problema sa tren at agad na naibalik sa normal na operasyon ang 19 na istasyon kabilang na diyan ang Carriedo, Doroteo Jose, Bambang, at Tayuman.

Kinumpirma ni Senator Imee Marcos na muling nagpositibo sa COVID-19 ang kaniyang anak na si Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc.

Ayon sa senadora, nagpapagaling na ang kaniyang anak habang naka-isolate upang maiwasan ang hawaan ng naturang sakit.

Matatandaang noong Enero, unang tinamaan ng virus ang gobernador kahit ito ay asymptomatic.

 Samantala, iminungkahi naman ni Marcos sa pamahalaan na manatili muna ang kasalukuyang health protocols na ipinatutupad sa bansa dahil nananatili parin ang banta ng COVID-19 kung saan, mataas pa rin ang aktibong kasong naitatala ng Department of Health (DOH) sa nakalipas na linggo.

 Bukod pa diyan, nanawagan din ang senadora na huwag nang magpatupad ng lockdown sakaling muling isailalim sa alert level 2 ang National Capital Region (NCR), dahil posible lamang dumami ang bilang ng mga nagugutom sa Pilipinas.

Patay ang isang batang lalaki matapos makuryente sa isang live wire sa Barangay Molino 2, Bacoor City, Cavite.

 Kinilala ang biktima na si Jalani Asum, 10 taong gulang, isang grade 3 students sa nasabing lugar.

 Ayon kay Investigator-on-Case Corporal Fidel Querijero III, isang residente ang nakakita sa biktima na wala nang malay sa isang bakanteng lote.

Agad itong nilapitan ng hindi na pinangalanang residente at nakita na may gusot umano na live wire sa kamay ni Asum.

 Dinala pa ang biktima sa Southeast Asian Medical Center pero idineklara na itong dead on arrival ng sumuring doktor.

 Iniimbestigahan na ng mga otoridad kung mayroong dapat na managot sa pagkamatay ng biktima.

 Patuloy na makakaranas ng maaliwalas na panahon ang bahagi ng Luzon pero may tiyansa ng isolated rain showers o thunderstorm lalo na sa hapon hanggang sa gabi.

 Ayon kay PAGASA Weather Specialist Chris Perez, posibleng umabot sa 34 degrees celsius ang pinaka mataas na temperatura sa Tuguegarao habang aabot naman sa 33 degrees celsius ang agwat ng temperatura sa Legazpi, Kalayaan Island, at Puerto Princessa, Palawan.

 Magiging mainit at mas maalinsangan naman ang panahon na mararanasan sa buong bahagi ng Visayas at Mindanao dahil yan sa umiiral na easterlies o yung hangin na nagmumula sa silangang bahagi ng pacific ocean.

 Wala namang nakataas na gale warning ang pagasa kaya’t malayang makakapalaot ang mga kababayan nating mangingisda maging ang mga maliliit na sasakyang pandagat.

 Agwat ng temperatura sa Metro Manila ay maglalaro sa 26 hanggang 33 degrees celsius habang sisikat naman ang haring araw mamayang 5:27 ng umaga at lulubog naman ito mamayang 6:26 ng hapon.

TACLOBAN CITY – FILIPINOS can look forward to a better life under the leadership of President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and incoming Vice President Sara Duterte, House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez said Wednesday morning.

 “My kasimanwas (countrymen), a brighter future awaits all of us. Our new President and Vice President share with us our dream of a better generation for our children. Not only here in Tacloban and Eastern Visayas, but in all parts of the country,” Romualdez said in his inaugural address witnessed by Duterte.

 Romualdez made the remarks after his ceremonial oath-taking at the Remedios T. Romualdez Medical Foundation Gymnasium in Calanipawan Road here as representative of Leyte’s first district.

 He took his oath before Brgy. 109-A Chairman Rodolfo Padillo. Romualdez had no opponent in the recent elections.

 Tingog Representatives-elect Yedda Marie K. Romualdez and Jude Acidre and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez also took their ceremonial oath-taking here.

 In his speech, Romualdez highlighted the challenges the Marcos administration would face.

 Romualdez said the biggest challenge would be reducing poverty through the attainment of inclusive growth.

 “Inclusive growth. Dapat pakinabangan ng lahat ang biyaya ng pag-unlad. That is what we aim for in Tacloban and even in the whole of Eastern Visayas in the next three years under my next term as your Representative in the 19th Congress,” Romualdez said.

 He added that achieving such a goal may be a “tall order,” given that inflation is rising, the budget deficit is widening and the global economic outlook is bleak.

“But the election of dynamic and compassionate leaders at the highest levels of government gives us all hope of a brighter future,” Romualdez stressed.

 “For the first time since 1986, we have elected a majority President in the person of Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. The overwhelming mandate that he received from the Filipino voters will surely help him steer the nation in the direction that we all desire – one that is anchored on his message of unity and his vision of Filipino nationhood,” he added.

 The House leader pointed out that the nation also elected “a young Vice President, Sara Duterte, who is known for her strong conviction and compassionate leadership.”

 “Her tenacity in demanding quality service from public servants of Davao City is known— a legend of its own— not only in the region but in other parts of the country. Her concern for the welfare of the poor and the marginalized lies at the core of her character, guiding all her decisions as the city’s top executive. I have no doubt that she will serve as the best Vice President we will ever have,” he said.

 For the first time in more than three decades, the country would have a President and Vice President working as a team, Romualdez, one of the campaign managers of Duterte, said.

 “I am fortunate to have seen, up close, the dynamics between President-elect Bongbong Marcos and Vice-President-elect Inday Sara Duterte. Their relationship is one of mutual respect and one guided by the duty to serve the Filipino. This energetic tandem, I am sure, will work hand-in-hand to help improve the living condition of our people,” he said.

 He emphasized that the May 9 elections were a “triumph of democracy, the power of one’s vote and the voice of the majority.”

 He thanked all those who participated in the electoral exercise, including teachers and policemen, barangay officials, volunteers, campaign staff, the media, watchdog groups, and “millions of nameless and faceless Filipinos who made sure that the voice of the people reigns supreme.”

 Romualdez cited the victors for their “magnanimity” and their opponents for their “graciousness.”

 “Their conduct and demeanor in the campaign as well as their acceptance of the will of the people made the just concluded election one of most peaceful and orderly ever,” Romualdez said.

 Romualdez said he was happy that after two years of community quarantine and lockdowns, Filipinos could gather again – “to see old and new friends, to hug family and loved ones, to commune as one people.”

 He urged them to praise and thank the Lord for the “gift of life.”

 “Each one of us here today is a survivor of the worst pandemic in modern times. We never thought that we will make it through this far. Salamat sa Panginoon sa pagbibigay sa atin ng panibagong buhay.

We have lost loved ones, though, along the way,” he said.

 The House leader then called for a minute of silent prayer for those who lost their lives to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

TACLOBAN CITY – THE top two incoming leaders of the country, President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and incoming Vice President Sara Duterte, gave warm congratulatory remarks to House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez Wednesday morning during the occasion of the latter’s oath-taking as the reelected Leyte 1st District congressman.

 The oath-taking ceremony took place at the Remedios T. Romualdez Medical Foundation Gymnasium in Calanipawan Road here and was personally attended by Duterte, who is Romualdez’s party-mate at the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD).

Romualdez sits as party president while Dutere is the chairperson.

 Marcos, on the other hand, greeted Romualdez and other Leyte poll winners via video message.

 “I would just like to add my congratulations to the officers and officials taking their oath today, namely of course the honorable Ferdinand Martin Gomez Romualdez who is taking his oath as congressman, the first district, and is the incoming Speaker of the House of Representatives,” Marcos said.

 The incoming chief executive likewise greeted Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez and Tingog Party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre, who also took their oath during the same event.

 “I look forward to working with you all very, very closely. As I say to all our number, is that the problems we are facing now and post-pandemic are going to be serious challenges and that is why I ask all of you for your help in making the country better and making the lives of our people better,”

Marcos said.

“But today, let us celebrate the oath-taking of our officials, and congratulations from me. Looking forward to working with you in the next six years. Congratulations sa inyong lahat,” said Marcos, who was all smiles in his video.

 For her part, Duterte, in her speech thanked Romualdez for taking her in Lakas-CMD, which is among the oldest and most respected political parties in the country.

 The presidential daughter also had words of appreciation for Romualdez in connection with his role as one of her two campaign managers during this year’s election.

 “I’d like to personally thank publicly thank Cong. Martin Romualdez for taking me in, in Lakas-CMD and accepting the challenge to be my campaign manager, one of my two, campaign managers during the last election. It was not without…and challenges but you did very well.. 32.2 miillion votes,” Duterte said.

 Duterte said Romualdez “did it all” for her, covering for even her meals during the grueling campaign season.

 “You did it all and alam niyo, pagod, puyat, luha, lahat ‘yon ni Cong. Martin Romualdez and as a candidate I’m truly appreciative of how he took care of me, actually silang dalawa, dalawang campaign managers ko, I was always with food, I was always full and lagi silang nagpapalitan na nagpapadal ng pagkain sa akin, so one campaign manager will send today, the next day, the other campaign manager will send food,” Duterte narrated.

 “In fact, noong kinwento ko ‘yun kay Pres. Marcos, sabi ko sir, napakaswerte ko talaga dahil busog ako lagi dahil lagi akong pinapadalhan. Sabi niya, ‘Nasaan na ba mga campaign managers ko, bakit hindi ganito ang nangyayari sa akin?'” Duterte said.

 “So I truly thankful for all that happened because, a learning experience from me, and I am appreciative of all that you have taught me, kayong lahat, mga kababayan ko, and I commit to be beside you in the service of our country,” Duterte added.

Her other campaign manager is Davao Occidental Gov. Claude Bautista.