MANILA, (PIA) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday, Jan. 9, assured that his administration will continue to invest and improve on the transportation sector in the country for the benefit of every Filipino.

“We will continue to invest and improve on our transportation system as well as pursue more projects in the years to come so that Filipinos can gain greater access to places of work, commerce, recreation and other vital areas,” Pres. Marcos said to keynote the launching of the Metro Manila Subway Project’s (MMSP) tunnel boring machine (TBM) in Valenzuela City.

“Having an effective and efficient transportation system will have multiplier effects on employment, the economy, our society. It will bring comfort, convenience, and easier life for all,” he added.

The President led the launching of the TBM at its depot along Mindanao Avenue in Barangay Ugong, an event that ushers the start of the tunneling works in the northern metro for the 17-station MMSP.

Funded by the Government of Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the MMSP will harness the power of the 700-ton TBMs, measuring seven meters in diameter and 95 meters in length, to dig underground and lay tunnels for the 33.1-kilometer project.

Pres. Marcos considers the realization of the MMSP by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) as a milestone in improving both the public transport system in the country and the quality of life within the National Capital Region (NCR) when he witnessed the signing of the project’s two (2) contract packages last November 2022.

Once fully operational, the “Crown Jewel” of the public transport system in the Philippines will be able to serve 519,000 passengers daily and shorten travel time between Quezon City and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from one (1) hour and 30 minutes to only 35 minutes.

The MMSP construction is also projected to generate 18,000 jobs and boost economic activities of communities in Metro Manila.

“This is an apt beginning for the new year,” Pres. Marcos said. (PIA-NCR)

CATARMAN, Northern Samar– Barangay officials in Northern Samar are gathered for their reorientation seminar-workshop on the seal of good local governance barangay (SGLGB) level.

Piloted in 2021, the SGLGB is a recognition-based program that is similar to the seal of good local governance (SGLG) which aims to monitor and give awards to progress, leadership, and improvements in the barangay level, including the public service they provide to their constituents.

Assessment includes governance in public safety, peace and order, financial administration and sustainability, disaster preparedness, social protection and sensitivity, business-friendliness and competitiveness, and environmental management.

In his message, DILG Regional Director Arnel Agabe emphasized the important role of the barangays in local government despite being the smallest political unit.

“Though the smallest political unit, it is the most critical since it is the primary planning and implement unit of the government. Likewise, barangays are the venue for amicable settlements and development fora,” Agabe said.

He added that it is in the barangay where the progress of the provinces depends since they are in the grassroots.

Meanwhile, provincial director Geraldine Maquelabit in her message, said that assessment is necessary and important to determine and ensure the quality of services provided by the local officials and the government to the public and to guarantee that the barangay is doing its mandate.
(EUGENE M. ENANO/ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY-Transportation and commerce are expected to improve for the residents and farmers in Barangay Imelda, Naval, Biliran following the completion of its P24-million farm-market road project.

“The completion of this new road means a cheaper fare and a safer and faster transport of farm-produced products to the market center,” said Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)- Biliran District Engineering Office chief Ferdinand Briones.

The road opening and concreting of a 1.2-kilometer two-lane road with the construction of drainage will also give “faster access for tourists to visit Imelda Falls and residents will also enjoy a convenient travel,” he added.

The project was implemented under its 2021 Department of Agriculture funding which started on June 27, 2021 and was completed on November 08, 2022.

Meanwhile, another road concreting project was also implemented by DPWH-Biliran at Barangay Imelda.

The P23-million construction of the access road leading to Imelda Falls involves the road concreting of a 0.97-kilometer road, including drainage and slope protection.

According to Briones, the project is now ongoing with 72% accomplishment as of November 30, 2022.

From its start date on February 21, 2022, the P23 million project has a target completion date on January 27 of this year.
(RONALD O. REYES)

TACLOBAN CITY– Anti-criminality efforts of the Philippine National Police here in the region are gaining ground as it reported of a 269 decrease in crime incidents in the year 2022 as compared to that of the year 2021.

“These accomplishments are noteworthy that we did our best in serving the public while maintaining the peace and order in our community. With these, I commend all those in the field units who exerted their best efforts in performing their duties and responsibilities,” said B/Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, the police regional director, said in a statement.

“The region achieved 80.80 % in the crime solution efficiency and 97.27 % in the crime clearance efficiency,” he added.

On the campaign against criminality, 827 personalities listed as Top 10 most wanted persons were arrested while 4,534 other wanted persons from the provincial, city, and municipal levels were also apprehended, having a total of 5,361 arrested most/wanted persons for the entire year.

Police units in the region nabbed 650 individuals during the conduct of anti-illegal drugs operations with a total of 4,868.04 grams of confiscated shabu and marijuana, having an estimated total value of P22,802,752.88.

A total of 148 personalities also voluntarily surrendered to police authorities during the conduct of ‘Oplan Tokhang’.

In the campaign against illegal fishing, the police regional command recorded an arrest of 2,479 personalities involved in illegal fishing with confiscated items, including assorted fish and fishing paraphernalia amounting to more than P136,189.

Marbil reported that of the arrested, 114 cases were referred to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources; 111 were filed in court, and 779 personalities were fined.

On illegal logging, 490 individuals were apprehended with P6.36 million worth of confiscated lumber/forest products.

Of the 490 arrested, 102 cases were referred to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and 146 were filed in court.

While on illegal gambling, 3,663 personalities were arrested with a total of P754, 337 bet money confiscated.

The police regional command also recorded an arrest of 214 personalities for illegal possession of firearms recovering 246 assorted firearms and another 2,694 firearms surrendered in the process.

In the campaign against insurgency, a total of 155 members of the communist terrorist group voluntarily surrendered to the authorities, while 47 were arrested and two were captured.

A total of 12 suspected rebels died during police operations with assorted firearms and explosives surrendered, recovered, and confiscated.

“Indeed, the men and women of Police Regional Office 8 worked together in achieving such accomplishment,” Marbil said.
(RONALD O. REYES)

ORMOC CITY-An entire family composed of four persons died after the motorcycle that they were on board was hit by a light truck in Caibiran, Biliran on Sunday night.

Dead on the spot were Jimmy Agosto, his wife Solidad and children Jameson and Jonalyn, report from the regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police said.

The family was on their way home in sitio Tan-ag of Barangay Maurang of the said town when they were hit head-on by the light truck (Fuso canter) driven by Benigno Garcia, a resident of Brgy. Cabibihan of the same town at about 6:20 pm along sitio Taloto which is within the village of Maurang, the police said.

The suspect tried to overtake another motorcycle driven by Anatalia Veruen which resulted for it to hit instead the motorcycle where the victims were on board.

The victims were brought to the Biliran Provincial Hospital but were declared as dead on arrival by their attending physician.

The driver, who was said to be under the influence of intoxicated liquor, is now detained at the Caibiran municipal station.

Charges for reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide is being readied against the suspect who was not injured during the said accident. (ROBERT DEJON)