Basilan fully supports government’s peace efforts

 The elected city and barangay officials of Isabela City, Basilan led by Mayor Sitti Djalia Hataman vowed support to the Small Arms and Light Weapons program of the government.

 According to Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., Commander of Western Mindanao Command, the signing of Memorandum of Understanding of the local government of Isabela City seals the reputation of Basilan as the pioneer in the implementation of the SALW program.

 The signing of MOU was held at the Basketball Court of Infirmary Building in Barangay Sunrise, Isabela City on July 22, 2021.

 This was facilitated by Joint Task Force Basilan Commander, Brig. Gen. Domingo Gobway, Basilan Provincial Administrator Manny Muarip, Police Lt. Col. Dennies Gemina of the Provincial Police Office, and 4th Special Forces Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Alex Ampati.

 “We appreciate the gestures of support of the local government officials of Basilan in the campaign against the proliferation of loose firearms,” said Brig. Gen. Gobway.

 “This exemplifies our strong interagency collaboration in eliminating the menaces of society,” he added.

 During the activity, Cpt. Mark Christian Sta. Ana of the 9th Special Forces Company presented to Brig. Gen. Gobway and Mr. Muarip a total of 40 assorted loose firearms which include three cal. 30 Garand rifles, one M203 Grenade Launcher, five shotguns, nine cal. 45 pistols, 18 cal. 38 pistols, three cal. 22 pistols, and one cal. Magnum 357 pistol.

 Said firearms were voluntarily surrendered by residents from the different barangays of Isabela City. “I commend the troops of the Joint Task Force Basilan for the huge number of firearms recovered through the SALW program. 244 firearms all in all is a great accomplishment that is worthy of praise and accolade,” said Lt. Gen. Vinluan, Jr.

 Of the 244, 54 were turned over in Isabela City, 40 in Isabela City, 34 in Sumisip, 23 in Hadji Mohammad Adjul, 19 in Maluso, 15 in Ungkaya Pukan, 12 in Tuburan, 11 Hadji Muhtamad, nine in Al-Barka, nine in Akbar, seven in Tabuan-Lasa, seven in Tipo-Tipo, and four in Lantawan.-  Press Release

 

 

Children not allowed outside anew due to Delta threat

By Ma. Teresa Montemayor 

july 23, 2021

 

MANILA – Children would have to stay at home as the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) suspended its earlier resolution allowing them outdoors due to the threat of the highly contagious Delta variant, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Friday.

(PNA photo by Oliver Marquez)

“Ang latest natin diyan ay hindi muna natin papayagan sa ngayon para lang makasiguro tayo…dahil nagkaroon na tayo ng Delta variant, nagkaisa ang IATF na iatras muna itong resolution na ito (The latest is we won’t allow [kids outdoors] just to make sure…because there’s Delta variant [in the country], the IATF decided to recall this resolution),” Duque said in a television interview.

Starting July 23, the quarantine status in Metro Manila and four other provinces has been upgraded to stricter general community quarantine (GCQ) “with heightened restrictions”.

This, after President Rodrigo Duterte approved the IATF-EID recommendation to place Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Davao de Oro, and Davao del Norte under a more restrictive GCQ from July 23 to 31.

Earlier, children ages five years old and above living in areas under general community quarantine and modified general community quarantine could go outdoors wearing masks and face shields through IATF Resolution No. 5.

On Thursday, the Department of Health reported that health authorities have detected local transmission of the Delta variant in the country following a stringent phylogenetic analysis and case investigation.

So far, the country’s total number of Delta cases is 47 – 36 are recovered cases, eight are active cases and three are deaths.

"Kung makita naman na hindi hindi naman patuloy na tumataas, lalo na dun sa NCR, baka puwedeng ibalik natin ‘yung Resolution 125 kung saan pinahihintulutan na puwedeng lumabas ang mga bata (If an increase [in Delta variant cases] is not seen, especially in the NCR [National Capital Region], we may implement Resolution 125 again allowing kids outdoors)," Duque said.

However, he added, these children must be with their parents or guardians and must adhere to minimum public health standards when outdoors. (PNA) 

 

Lorenzana gives PRRD 90% rating in protecting PH peace, security

 By Priam Nepomuceno 

July 21, 2021

 MANILA – Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana gave President Rodrigo R. Duterte a rating of "90 percent" in terms of his administration's accomplishments in preserving peace and security in the country.

 "As far as (the) DND is concerned, ang rating ni Presidente ay 90 percent dahil nadagdagan niya 'yung equipment ng ating mga sundalo at maganda yung direktiba niya sa amin na puksain 'yung insurgency (the President's rating is 90 percent because he managed to acquire and procure additional equipment for our soldiers and his directive to us to totally neutralize (local communist) insurgency is also good)," he said during the pre-State of the Nation Address (SONA) forum of the Security, Justice, and Peace Cluster on Wednesday.

 Guided by the President's order to defend what rightfully belongs to the country without going to war, Lorenzana also said they have consistently asserted the Philippines' sovereignty and sovereign rights.

 "Patuloy ang pagpapaunlad ng imprastraktura sa Kalayaan at Mavulis Islands. Pinaigting natin ang pagpapatrolya at pagbabantay sa ating himpapawid at karagatan (Improvements in the infrastructure in Kalayaan and Mavulis Islands are ongoing even as we intensified our patrols guarding our airspace and seas). We also intensified our deterrence activities and deployed more personnel in our borders, especially in the West Philippine Sea and the Sulu-Celebes Seas," he added.

 As of last year, Lorenzana said the country has conducted 186 air and 575 maritime patrols.

 "We now have more littoral monitoring stations and detachments in strategic locations to monitor vessels transiting within Philippine waters and key sea lanes of communication," he added.

 Lorenzana also cited the benefits of the country's defense cooperation with other countries, inside and outside the region.

 "Dahil sa Trilateral Cooperative Arrangement natin sa Indonesia at Malaysia, mabilis nating napababa ang mga insidente ng kidnapping-for-ransom at iba pang krimen sa karagatan ng Sulu (Due to our Trilateral Cooperative Agreement with Indonesia and Malaysia, we quickly reduced kidnapping-for-ransom incidents and other crimes in Sulu waters)," he added.

 Aside from this, Lorenzana said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) also invested in climate change and disaster resilience efforts.

"More importantly, member states have committed to asserting the Asean centrality in dealing with other countries in the Indo-Asia Pacific region, especially towards the peaceful and amicable resolution of territorial disputes in accordance with international laws," he added.

 Lorenzana also cited the milestones reached by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in enhancing its capacity and capability.

This includes the upgrading of systems, doctrines, and the acquisition of capital assets and equipment.

 Some of these newly acquired assets include the two newly-acquired Jose Rizal-class missile frigates, the six-newly delivered Embraer A-29B "Super Tucano" close-air support aircraft and a number of combat utility helicopters.

Lorenzana was referring to the Polish-made S-70i "Black Hawk" helicopters, of which 10 units are now in the country while the remaining five are to be delivered within the year.

 "Ginagamit na natin ang mga ito sa (we are now using these equipment in) territorial defense, counter-insurgency, peacekeeping, at humanitarian assistance at disaster response operations. Though we still have a long way to go to achieve our desired level of defense posture, we can now proudly say that the AFP is definitely stronger than it was before," he said.

 Lorenzana added that he hopes that more ships and aircraft would be acquired for the military in the remaining months of the Duterte administration.

 "Ngayon, siguro ang dapat pa nating magawa sa kanyang administrasyon, ay dagdagan natin ang ating mga nabiling equipment dahil kailangan natin yan lalong lalo na yung mga barko at mga eroplano, so, yun lang kasagutan ko (Now, in regards to what the administration can do more, I would want to add on to the equipment that we had already acquired especially ships and aircraft which we urgently need. That is my answer)," Lorenzana said.

 Despite the July 4 crash of the Lockheed C-130 transport aircraft in Patikul, Sulu which claimed the lives of 50 military personnel and injured 46 others along with three civilians killed and four others wounded, Lorenzana said the "One Defense Team" remains committed to serving the nation and its people. (PNA)

 

President Duterte leads inspection of newly completed Clark International Airport terminal building

By BCDA, TOTr, LIPAD

July 17,2021    

QUEZON CITY -- President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Saturday, July 17, led the inspection of the newly completed 110,000-square meter Clark International Airport New Passenger Terminal Building, which now awaits the green light to operate from aviation regulators.

 

The inspection included testing of check-in kiosks, bag drops, and other contactless features of the new terminal building. President Duterte was joined by Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and CEO Vince Dizon, Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corporation (LIPAD) Chief Executive Officer Bi Yong Chungunco, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) officials, and private sector partners. 

 

Once operational, Secretary Tugade said the new terminal building will not only provide a modern air travel experience, but will help the economy recover from the pandemic and equip Northern and Central Luzon with transportation infrastructure for the future.

 

"Clark International Airport will clearly showcase the best of Northern and Central Luzon; from the world-class service this new terminal will offer and to the thousands of job opportunities it will further open for many of our kababayans, it is no doubt that the Clark International Airport will cement its position as the next premier gateway of Asia. This will prove that the Duterte Administration’s Build, Build, Build is not just a dream … it is REAL, it is TRUE, and it is HERE,” Secretary Tugade said.

 

Secretary Dizon said the modernization and expansion of Clark International Airport is needed more than ever as it will help the Philippines “bounce back better,” not just by the jobs it creates, but also through the supply chain it supports and the trade it facilitates. 

 

Clark International Airport is expected to create 150,000 new jobs, equating to 0.4% of the total employed population in the Philippines. Through production links, supporting industries such as tourism, food and beverage, services, infrastructure, agriculture and manufacturing are expected to benefit from the modernized and expanded Clark airport.

 

“Thank you to the more than 3,000 workers, engineers, architects, and designers, who built this world-class airport for all of us. This is truly a testament to the skill and talent of the Filipino... Today, despite the challenges of the pandemic, despite the scourge of COVID-19, this truly world-class airport is now here for every Filipino to enjoy,” said Secretary Dizon, who also serves as Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs and Projects. “We hope and we pray that this unprecedented infrastructure program will be continued by the administrations to come.”

 

LIPAD, the operator and manager of the Clark International Airport, assured that the new terminal building was designed to be a space of safety, ease, and quiet, with peace of mind of travelers high in its priority, especially in this time of global health crisis.

 

Asia’s next premiere gateway: quiet, contactless

 

Chungunco said her group equipped the new terminal building with state-of-the-art technology and vital contactless solutions for smooth and safe operations. 

 

"Intuitive and inclusive – this will be our mantra for the new Clark International Airport. LIPAD designed CRK to be the airport of choice for travelers flying in or out of the Philippines. Top priority is to fulfil the mission of giving passengers a world-class travel experience, through new technologies that support a seamless process and commercial offerings that constantly cater to passengers’ needs while still maintaining that signature Filipino, and of course, Pampango experience." said Chungunco.

 

The new terminal building, which caters to domestic and international passengers, is located 1.5 kilometers from the existing Clark passenger terminal. It has four-floor levels, 18 aero bridges and a floor area of 110,000 square meters, and has a design capacity of 8 million passengers per year.

 

Chungunco said LIPAD takes all necessary steps to ensure that passengers, both inbound and outbound, go through strict safety measures. “LIPAD remains flexible and adaptable to the needs of travel and assures the public that Clark International Airport is steadfast in prioritizing public health and is well-equipped for it.”

 

LIPAD is composed of Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings, Inc., Philippine Airport Ground Support Services, Inc., and Changi Airports Philippines (I) Pte. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Changi Airports International. 

 

The Clark International Airport New Passenger Terminal Building is the first hybrid public-private partnership (PPP) project completed under the Build Build Build program of the Duterte administration. The construction of the structure was handled by a consortium of Megawide Construction Corporation and GMR Infrastructure Limited, while the fit out, operations and maintenance were later auctioned off and awarded to LIPAD.

 

A total of 212 airport projects, 446 seaport projects, 10,376 flood mitigation structures, 26,494 kilometers of road, and 5,555 bridges have already been completed under the Build, Build, Build program.  (BCDA/DOTR/LIPAD)