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IN MET R MANILAO
VOL. XXXVII • NO. 137 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES JULY 2, 2023
PRESIDENT MARCOS SEEKS TO ENHANCE TRANSPORT
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NEWS | A3
PBBM VOWS TO PROVIDE ‘BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE’ CABINET EXECS: MARCOS ADMIN’S 1ST YEAR A CRITICAL PIVOT TOWARD FULL ECONOMIC RECOVERY
KNOWING THE VACCINES YOUR PET CAN’T DO WITHOUT PETS | C4
By Charles Dantes
P
RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr., at the start of his second year in office on Saturday, said the government will do its best to give everyone a “better quality of life” so that no one is left hungry. “With the local government focusing on all aspects of your daily life that we have identified in the national agenda, we can look for forward to a boost in local businesses, improved daily transactions and an overall better quality of life,” the president said at the 56th founding anniversary of the province of Davao del Sur. Marcos tasked the National Anti-Poverty Commission during its en banc meeting to locate “depressed and remote communities” and address long-standing issues with poverty. He also ordered other government agencies to “synchronize” their efforts to efficiently use resources in combating poverty. Marcos also reiterated his call for unity to resolve the country’s issues. Meanwhile, an economist said the president’s “biggest achievement” in his initial year is the opening of the economy. “Iyon po ‘yung prinayoritize [prioritize] kasi po iyong ibig sabihin noon galing po tayo sa isa pinakamatagal na nag lockdown sa buong mundo, so may hesitancy. So, isa po iyon kasi sa missing elements ng recovery po ng ating ekonomiya. So iyon po ‘yung una,” said Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort. Ricafort said the country’s population would be a huge asset in turning the Philippines into an economic powerhouse. He said the Philippines has around 115 million people in 2023, with more than 50 million belonging to the working age. Ricafort said the average age in the country is less than 25 years old, which makes the economy productive.
WATTAH! WATTAH FESTIVAL. Participants from different barangays of San Juan City participate in the street dance competition as part of the celebration of the city’s Wattah! Wattah! San Juan Festival and the Feast of St. John the Baptist at the historic Pinaglabanan Shrine on July 1, 2023. The city government prepared an array of activities, including street dance and float competitions, in collaboration with all barangays for the vibrant celebration. Manny Palmero
POLICE ARREST 1,000 IN FRENCH RIOTS WORLD | A4
MAKATI’S FORWARD THINKING WOMAN LGU | B2
NUEVA ECIJA BETTOR WINS OVER P366-M LOTTO PRIZE
MUDJASAN SEEKS PRESIDENT’S HELP, DENIES CRIMES FORMER Maimbung, Sulu vice mayor Pando Mudjasan, who led his group to fight government troops last week, on Saturday sought the help of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., saying he was wrongly accused for his alleged crimes. “I am asking help from Mr. President Bongbong Marcos. You have to help me because I do not want to suffer from my rights being trampled upon. I am wrongfully accused,”
Mudjasan said in a video message, while being surrounded by armed supporters who proclaimed to be part of the Moro National Liberation Front. Mudjasan and his men figured in a gunfight with government troops last week which left five dead, including a policeman, as authorities continued to pursue him, the Philippine National Police said. PNP Public Information Office
chief Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said Mudjasan was reportedly employing armed civilians and keeping loose firearms and explosives in his possession. The former vice mayor has standing warrants of arrest for double murder, multiple murder, two counts of frustrated murder, and violating the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regular Act. The Area Police Command-West-
ern Mindanao said Mudjasan’s group is a potential private armed group that may be utilized in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on Oct. 30. Brigadier General Eugenio Boquio, commander of the 1101st Infantry Brigade, said six Special Action Force members, four PNP personnel, one 41st Infantry Battalion member, two civilians, and two people from Mudjasan’s side were wounded last week.
INSURGENCY-FREE.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (front row, center) pays tribute in a speech to Davao del Sur province’s insurgency-free status and celebration of its 56th anniversary on July 1. The president also thanked the people of the province for the love they have given him since his election and asked for their continued support for the Marcos-Duterte administration.
AN INDIVIDUAL who bought a ticket in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija province won the P366-million jackpot of the Ultra Lotto 6/58 draw Friday night. The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office said in an advisory Saturday the ticket with the winning combination of 43-58-37-4727-17 was purchased in Barangay San Roque, Cabiao. It won an exact prize of P366,687,465.20. The winner will take home about P293 million from the total prize as lottery winnings exceeding P10,000 are subject to a 20-percent tax under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law. This means the winner will pay about P73.33 million in taxes to the government. The winner has one year from the date of the draw to claim the prize from the PCSO main office along Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City. Winners are advised to write their names and signature on the back of the winning tickets and present two government-issued identification cards or documents. The PCSO said 92 other bettors won P120,000 each for guessing five of the six winning digits, and another 3,793 ticket holders will get P2,000 each for four correct digits. About 44,780 will settle for P100 each for three correct digits.