FOR FIRST TIME AS PRESIDENT, MARCOS JR. RETURNS TO CEBU TO LAUNCH MULTIPLE PROJECTS

CEBU CITY — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday returned to Cebu for the first time after the 2022 national elections, bringing with him a slew of projects for one of the most populous and vote-rich areas in the country.

Marcos Jr. launched the “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” market — a program similar to the “Kadiwa ng Pasko” bazaars — at the Provincial Capitol Grounds, and thanked Cebuanos for their support.

“Ito na ang unang pagkakataon na magpasalamat ako sa Cebu sa pagbibigay ng suporta ninyo sa amin ni Inday Sara,” the President said in his speech.

“It was history making, you were part of that history and for that I will always be grateful for the rest of my life,” he said.

Like other Kadiwa markets, the bazaar in Cebu sold products from micro, small and medium enterprises at cheaper prices.

“Gagawa pa kami ng Kadiwa para sa mga Manggagawa para sila din ay magkaroon ng pagkakataon,” he said.

“Patuloy naming gagawin ito, pararamihin natin, palalakihin natin lalo na sa mga lugar na hirap ang tao at hindi pa kaya ang presyuhan sa mga palengke,” he said.

At least 30,000 housing units will be built for Cebu City residents under the flagship project of the current administration, the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program (4PH), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Monday.

During the groundbreaking ceremony of a housing project in Cebu, he challenged the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DSHUD) to build around 1 million housing units each year during his term of office.

The President also led the groundbreaking ceremony of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project, which aims to decongest traffic in Cebu City and give commuters a faster and safer mode of transportation.

The ceremony officially kicked off the civil works for the four stations under Package I of the project, which involves the construction of a 2.38-kilometer segregated bus lane with four bus stations.

It will also include a 1.15-kilometer pedestrian improvement, which will link the CBRT System to the Port of Cebu.

The President said he was confident that such a target was attainable.

Cebu delivered some 1 million votes for Marcos Jr. in May 2022.

MARCOS JR. TELLS AFP: PROTECT PH INTERESTS IN SOUTH CHINA SEA

CEBU CITY — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday ordered government troops to continue protecting the Philippines’ interests in the South China Sea as tensions continue to arise in the strategic waters.

The Philippines needs the commitment and service of its Armed Forces now that the country is confronted by a “more complex foreign situation,” he told the Air Force in Cebu.

“Kung dati ay mayroon tayong sinasabi na maliwanag na boundaries sa ating bansa, ngayon ay kinukwestiyon ‘yan at maraming nangyayari kaya’t napakalaking mission ang ginagawa ngayon ng Air Force para tuluyang bantayan ang Pilipinas,” he said.

“Alam naman natin na ang Pilipinas ay maliit lamang na bansa ngunit kailangan pa rin natin panindigan ang ating teritoryo, kailangan pa rin natin ipaglaban ang karapatan ng bawat Pilipino dahil tayo naman, the Philippines is a sovereign nation, the Philippines has a functioning government and that functioning government includes the members of the military and that is why it remains to be our duty to protect the country, to protect our citizens,” he said.

“Kaya’t sinasabi ko ‘yung mission ng AFP, ‘yung mission ninyo ay nagbago na. At kailangan natin bantayan nang mabuti ‘yung ating dating hindi kailangan masyadong isipin,” he said.

MORE COPS, TOUGHER LAWS: DILG SEEKS STOP TO SLAY TRIES VS POLITICOS

MANILA – The Department of the Interior and Local Government is seeking a bigger budget for more police recruits and tougher laws on vehicle purchases to stop high profile slay attempts on politicians.

The Inquirer reported that Speaker Martin Romualdez called for a meeting with DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos and PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. after Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr. was wounded in an ambush last February 17.

Two days later, Aparri, Cagayan Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda and 5 others were killed in an attack in Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya.

Another local official, Mayor Ohto Montawal, was also wounded in an ambush last February 22.

Speaking with TeleRadyo, Abalos said the PNP is now revising its threat assessments for local officials nationwide.

“Nirerebisa nila lahat ng mga politikong may pananakot para makatulong ang kapulisan dito at ma-preempt ang mga bagay na ito,” he said.

“The good old police work, kasama na po dyan ang intelligence work ay kumpleto tungkol po rito,” he added.

The official also said they have reshuffled some cops to places where their tactical skills are more needed.

Abalos said the DILG is seeking a bigger budget for more police recruits.

TRANSPORT STRIKE SET VS. SECTOR’S MODERNIZATION

Transport groups on Monday announced they will hold a week-long transport holiday in the National Capital Region and Region 3 from March 6 to 12 to protest the government’s Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista immediately appealed to transport groups to hold a dialog first with concerned officials before holding the strike.

“You know, we should seriously think about stopping operations. There should be a dialogue first,” Bautista said in a statement.

“Let’s understand what the issues are because we might just be misunderstanding each other. I think the problem is that the DOTr had no representative during the discussions to clarify the issues,” he added.

The PUV modernization program aims to replace traditional jeepneys with vehicles powered by more environment-friendly fuels.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said the franchise of most traditional jeepneys will expire on June 30.

Operators and drivers can apply for new franchises but as part of transport cooperatives.

Bautista said he has directed the Undersecretary for Road Sector to coordinate with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and with the PUV operators.

He said the government is “giving ample time to transport groups to muster enough funds to buy new units for their operations in line with the government’s PUV modernization program.”

LAWMAKERS OK HYBRID CON-CON FOR CHARTER EDIT

Voting 17-2 with zero abstention, the House of Representatives committee on constitutional amendments on Monday approved a committee report that calls for a “hybrid” Constitutional convention to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Charter.

At the same time, the committee chaired by Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez adopted the committee report containing the substitute bill that includes amendments such as the P10,000 per day salary for Con-con delegates.

Under the measure, the Con-con will be composed of at least 304 delegates, the majority of which will be elected by the public.

Of the said number, 20 percent will be reserved for qualified sectoral representatives to be appointed by the President.

Rodriguez said the committee report would then be referred to the House committee on appropriations chaired by Ako-Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co for budget-related deliberations.

MARCOS JR TO HOST MALAYSIAN PM ON WEDNESDAY

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will hold talks with the Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the Malacañan Palace during the latter’s one-day official visit to the country on Wednesday.

Mr. Marcos and his Malaysian counterpart will discuss strengthening bilateral relations between Manila and Kuala Lumpur.

This will be Anwar’s first visit to the Philippines in his current capacity since he was sworn in as Malaysia’s 10th prime minister on November 24, 2022.

He is also scheduled to deliver a public lecture and have other engagements during his visit.

Prime Minister Anwar will leave Manila on March 2, Thursday.

Mr. Marcos was among the first to congratulate Anwar in a telephone call last year, expressing his hope to work with the neighboring nation’s new leader particularly as the Southeast Asian region tackles various challenges.

“I am sure this will make Malaysia and the Philippines even closer because we will be in touch with one another,” President Marcos said.

JAPAN, AUSTRALIA MAY CONDUCT SOUTH CHINA SEA PATROLS WITH U.S., PHILIPPINES – AMBASSADOR

MANILA — The Philippines is in talks to possibly include Australia and Japan in planned joint South China Sea patrols with the United States, a senior diplomat said on Monday, in another sign of concern over Beijing’s activities in the strategic waters.

“Meetings have already been set and probably we may have the Japanese and the Australians join in,” Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez told Reuters.

“They would like to join in for joint patrols to make sure that there’s the code of conduct and there’s freedom of navigation,” adding it was still “an idea under discussion”.

If the plan materializes, it will be the first time the Philippines has joined multilateral maritime patrols in the South China Sea, a move that would likely anger Beijing, which claims most of the sea as its territory.

The foreign ministries of Australia and Japan and the embassies of the United States and China in Manila did not immediately respond to separate requests for comment.

Australia and the United States have separately been discussing joint patrols with the Philippines, amid concerns about China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea, through which about $3.4 trillion of commerce passes each year.

The United States, Japan and Australia have been conducting trilateral naval exercises, and joint patrols with those countries would be “good for the Philippines and for the entire area”, Romualdez said, adding: “We want to have freedom of navigation.”

TURKEY, SYRIA TAP PHILIPPINE RED CROSS FOR QUAKE DONATIONS

MANILA — Turkey and Syria have tapped the Philippine Red Cross to collect donations for survivors of a devastating earthquake that struck both countries.

The non-profit humanitarian organization has sent $200,000 to Turkey and Syria following the massive Feb. 6 tremor, its chairman and CEO Richard Gordon said.

"The Turkish government and the Syrian government have asked us if we could collect donations as early as last week," he told ANC's "Rundown".

The overall death toll from the earthquakes is now 42,310 in Turkey and 3,688 in Syria, according to authorities.

Gordon said the PRC sent tents and blankets. The group is now preparing 200 generators and 150 portable toilets, he said.

But Gordon noted there was a problem in transporting the items.

"Unfortunately, hindi sila makasiguro kung ano ang isasakay nila sa eroplano," he said.

THE REST

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PHILIPPINES ADDS 832 COVID-19 CASES, 78 DEATHS IN PAST WEEK

MANILA — The Philippines logged 832 COVID-19 cases in the past week, the Department of Health said Monday.

From February 20 to 26, an average of 119 daily infections were recorded in the country, which is 7 percent higher compared to the previous week.

Of the new infections during the week, no case was considered severe or critical, according to the DOH's latest bulletin.

As of Sunday, 370 cases or 9.1 percent of total COVID-19 admissions were in severe and critical condition, the agency said.

VP SARA RATED ‘EXCELLENT’ IN SURVEY

Majority of the Filipinos are satisfied with the performance of Vice President Sara Duterte, who received an “excellent” overall grade, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) net satisfaction survey.

The Dec. 10-14, 2022 survey showed that 83 percent of the respondents said they were satisfied with the performance of Duterte against 5 percent dissatisfied, resulting in a net satisfaction rating of +77.

The December 2022 rating of the Vice President is higher than the October 2022 rating of +73, but it is also “excellent”.

The SWS noted that Duterte’s net satisfaction rating was excellent in all areas.

It was highest in Mindanao at +96, followed by the Visayas at +74, Metro Manila at +73 and Balance Luzon at +71.

Meanwhile, the performance rating of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri slightly rose from “good” +44 (56 percent satisfied, 12 percent dissatisfied) in October 2022 to “good” +47 (58 percent satisfied, 10 percent dissatisfied) in December 2022.

Speaker Martin Romualdez also obtained a performance rating of “good” +37 (49 percent satisfied, 12 percent dissatisfied), up from “good” +35 (50 percent satisfied, 15 percent dissatisfied) in October 2022.

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo’s rating dropped from a “moderate” +28 (43 percent satisfied, 15 percent dissatisfied) to a “moderate” +24 (37 percent satisfied, 13 percent dissatisfied) in the recent survey.

The Fourth Quarter 2022 Social Weather Survey was conducted using face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide.

SWS interviewed 300 respondents each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

5 NAIA SCREENERS SUSPENDED FOR EXTORTION

MANILA — Five screening officers of the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) have been relieved from duty after videos showing them allegedly extorting money from a departing Thai tourist at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) went viral on social media.

OTS administrator Ma.O Aplasca withheld the identities of the personnel who were placed under preventive suspension following the incident.

Aplasca said four of the screening officers were job order personnel hired last year. The other was a contractual employee who had been working at the OTS for five years.

Criminal and administrative cases would be filed against them, Aplasca said.

The victim, Piyawat Gunlayaprasit, posted videos on Facebook on Feb. 22, which recorded the alleged extortion by OTS personnel at the NAIA Terminal 2.

The first video showed two OTS employees inserting something in their pockets after a security checkpoint.

A second video recorded the Thai tourist requesting the screening officers to return the 20,000 yen or about P8,000 taken from him.

OTS personnel were seen handing back the money to Gunlayaprasit as the screening officers were heard pleading to delete the video.

“This illegal act will not be tolerated. We will apply the full force of the law to penalize corrupt OTS officers as we send a strong message that we are serious in cleansing our ranks,” Aplasca said.

“The President and the government have been inviting tourists and investors to come to the Philippines. But these corrupt personnel tarnish the reputation and integrity not only of the OTS but the country in general,” he added.

Since July last year, 14 OTS personnel have been dismissed while three others have been suspended. Six cases remain under investigation by the agency’s legal department.

VALENZUELA LAUNCHES FITNESS PROGRAM FOR OBESE PERSONNEL

MANILA — The Valenzuela City government yesterday launched a fitness program for field personnel, mostly assigned in traffic enforcement and road clearing works.

City hall said 56 out of 324 employees from the public safety division, traffic management office, city transportation office, sidewalk clearing operations group, anti-squatting task force, waste management office, flood control unit, clean and green division as well as motorpool unit were found to be overweight or obese during an assessment last month.

The city health office discovered that obesity, diabetes and hypertension were the common diagnoses among the field personnel.

The program, dubbed “Health Check – Belly Good!,” aims to ensure that the city’s field personnel are aware of the risks brought by these diseases.

City health officer Marthony Basco said the overweight field employees underwent counseling.

“Their weight would be monitored regularly until September, in time for the Obesity Awareness Week,” Basco said.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

JOSHUA, GABBI GARCIA BOND IN ITALY

Joshua Garcia and Gabbi Garcia are currently in Italy for their upcoming series “Unbreak My Heart,” and it seems they are having a great time bonding with each other.

On Sunday, Joshua shared on Instagram a couple of their photos together while visiting a shop of a popular shoe brand.

In the photos, Joshua and Gabbi can be seen enjoying each other's company while exploring the store and checking out different shoes.

“GG Experience,” Joshua captioned his post, which netizens surmise that it pertains to the shoe brand or their similar surnames.

Both Joshua and Gabbi looked casual and relaxed, with big smiles on their faces.

Their followers were quick to notice their onscreen chemistry, with many commenting on how good they looked together.

Here’s a sneak peek of ‘Unbreak My Heart’ shooting in Switzerland

Directed by Emmanuel Q. Palo and Dolly Dulu, the romantic-drama series will air on GMA and will stream in 15 territories outside the Philippines on Viu this year.

It also stars Jodi Sta. Maria and Richard Yap.

SPORTS

FIBA WORLD CUP 2023 ASIAN QUALIFIERS (6TH WINDOW)

Jordan def. Gilas Pilipinas, 91-90

Gilas Pilipinas Men (world #40, Asia #8) put up a gallant fight but fell short against Jordan (world #34, Asia #5), 90-91 in the 6th and last window of the FIBA World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers on Monday, February 27 at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

Jordan leaned on its hot shooting in the first half with 8-of-12 2pts and twelve 3-pointers. Naturalized player Dar Tucker led the Falcons with double-double of 22 points (7/19fg, 2/10 3pts, 6/7ft) along with twelve rebounds and two assists. Freddy Ibrahim scored 19 points with one rebound, eight assists and two steals while Veteran forward Zaid Abbas had a solid game of 10 points, three rebounds and one assist.

Jordan shot 29/73 (39%) from the field, including 15-of-44 shooting from beyond the arc (PHL - 31/75FG, 11/32 3pts), and the Falcons went 18-of-20 from the free throw line (PHL - 17/22 ft). Jordan had 13 turnovers while Gilas had 12. PHL outrebounded JOR 44-43, and Gilas had more assists, 24-15.

Naturalized Filipino Justin Brownlee paced the Gilas in the losing effort with a huge double-double of 41 points on 16-of-26 shooting from the field including 5-of-7 from beyond the arc and 4-of-5 from the line along with twelve rebounds, three assists and a block in 35 minutes of play.

The Scores:

JORDAN 91 – Tucker 22, Ibrahim 19, Z Abbas 10, Bzai 9, Alhamarsheh 8, Hawwas 8, Alhendi 6, Hussein 5, H Abbaas 2, Alnajdawi2, Al Dwairi DNP, Qarmash DNP.

PHILIPPINES 90 - Brownlee 41, Malonzo 11, Thompson 9, Heading 9, Parks 8, Ramos 7, Perez 4, Fajardo 1, K Ravena 0, Amos 0, T Ravena DNP, Quiambao DNP.

Quarters: 33-14, 60-41, 70-64, 91-90

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 55.51

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: the music is nothing if the audience is deaf. - Walter Lippmann