OFW, WALA NG BABAYARANG TERMINAL FEE SA NAIA!

Good News for the OFW's!

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) are now exempted in paying P550 worth of terminal fee at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.  The exemption covers only the OFW's booking their tickets through Cebu Pacific mobile application. 

It is in accordance with the agreement signed by the Department of transportation, Manila Airport Authority and all airlines designated in NAIA, March this year.

This April 2017, the exemption was only valid when booking via Cebu Pacific's hotline and website. Cebu Pacific has made an update with their system to assure that the exemption is implemented even in their mobile app.  

Aside from OFW's, passengers with authorization from the government, such as the representative of Philippine Sports Commission are also covered with the terminal fee exemption. 

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SEN. BAM AQUINO: NO FREE TUITION PARA SA MGA ESTUDYANTENG MAY BAGSAK!

In accordance with the free tuition law in State Universities and Colleges which was signed by President Duterte last August 4, 2017 , Senator Bam Aquino professed that students with failing grades should not be given the free tuition privilege next school year.

According to the senator, who is one of the author of the free tuition law, students who are availing the privilege should give something in return such as maintaining good grades. 

Aquino reiterated  that if the student have gotten a failing grade this semester, the student could not avail the free tuition privilege semester. Whereas, once the student have recovered his good grades, he can then avail the free tuition next term. 

He also stated that everything will be clarified and polished once the implementing rules and regulations related to free tuition law will be released. 

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KONSTRUKSYON NG MINDANAO RAILWAY, MAGSISIMULA NA SA 2018

On one of President Rodrigo Duterte's speech on last year's campaign, he promised to keep an eye on Mindanao's economic development. That includes building a railway connecting the main cities of Mindanao such as Cagayan de Oro, Iligan City, Butuan, Surigao, Davao and General Santos. 

On a report submitted by Department of Transportation, the said railway project in Mindanao will be starting to be constructed on the second quarter of 2018. It has a total budget of P35B and has a length of 20,000 kilometers. 

The first part of the railway which is 102 kilometers will be built from Davao del Norte to Digos City in Davao Del Sur. The Department f Transportation is now polishing the land site where the railway is going to be constructed.

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PRESIDENT DUTERTE, NATAWA SA KABOBOHAN NI HONTIVEROS KAUGNAY NG KANYANG PAHAYAG TUNGKOL SA TERORISMO

June 17, 2017, Butuan City

In accordance with Risa Hontiveros and judges' arguments regarding the act of Maute Group whether it's an act of terrorism or rebellion, President Duterte cannot hide his scoffing reaction while explaining terrorism and rebellion.

"Terrorists are committing rebellion. The rebels are commiting rebellion. What do you want? That they burn half of Mindanao before we can call it a true-blue rebellion? It's crazy. Rebellion na yon." 

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DISMAYADONG MENSAHE NI DUTERTE SA MGA MARANAO NA GUSTONG IPATIGIL ANG AIRSTRIKE, PANOORIN!

June 17, 2017, Butuan City

After days of not showing to the public, President Duterte finally gave the media a chance to interview him regarding the serious issues that out nation is dealing with. 

He also gave a statement about the opposition of  some Maranaos about the airstrike as an attack of the government to the Maute Group which causes their City to breakdown. 

“Yung mga traditional political leaders at yung mga moderate. Yung mga taga Marawi na ayaw nila, yung lugar nila maging waste land, yun yung mga desperate." President Duterte stated.

He then added that the Maranaos knew about the continuous foreign trade in Marawi but failed to report to the pre-eminent leaders about the suspicious incident.

"But I am not apologizing for anything there because they brought the problem to themselves. Bakit hindi nila sinabi sa akin, sa pulis o sa armed forces na may mga foreign trade na pabalik balik na jan. And I will not (negotiate). If they go to the Maute to talk about what? surrender? o areglo, ganun na lang? I will not. Paano yung patay ko? How about the murderous rampage of.. yung mga natamaan ng snipers nila." He emphasized with vexation.

President Duterte also gave a word about the ongoing discussion whether the attack of Maute Group a ground for declaring Martial Law.

"They committed the crime of rebellion and there is a flag of ISIS. If that is not enough, then what is it?”"

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NBI, Minomonitor ang Online Accounts ng Maute Supporters para Tugisin

National Bureau of Investigation are now monitoring online accounts of potential Maute supporters and sympathizers.  NBI cyber crime division are now gathering evidences to file a case against the supporters of the terrorist group.

Department of Information and Communications Technology or DICT is one of the corresponding department which helps the fulfillment of the investigation. 

DICT Secretary Rodolfo Salalima said that they will be arresting the list of violators in the next days. 

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Sol. Gen. Calida Hinamon ang mga Martial Law Petitioners na Pumunta sa Marawi

General Solicitor Jose Calida challenged the petitioners group especially Cong. Edcel Lagman and Atty. Ephraim Cortez to head their way to Marawi City and experience firsthand the rebellion in the said area. 

"Tell him. Tell him to come here. And i'll tell to his face he's a liar.", said Sol. Gen. Calida in a interview to Cong. Edcel Lagman. 

"Kung maprubahan ng solicitor general na may rebellion at threat to public safety sa Marawi. Ang hinihingi namin sa petition, wag naman idamay ang buong Mindanao." plead Atty. Cortez. 

Sol. Gen. then answered "There's an actual rebellion now in Marawi. But this can spread very quickly spread to the other parts of Mindanao, so instead of declaring of Martial Law every now and then when there are rebels, why not the entire Mindanao?" 

He even defended President Duterte for basing the Declaration of Martial Law to fake news such us the take over of Maute Group on one of the hospitals in Marawi. 

And in order to clarify information to Supreme Court, he promised to invite and keep into company our defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana and AFP chief Eduardo Año on thursday, the last day of the oral arguments in regards with the binding Martial Law in Mindanao. 

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GOBYERNO, MAGLALAAN NG 10 BILYONG PISO PARA SA MARAWI RECOVERY

May 23, 2017, Maute group started the rebellion and invasion of Marawi city which caused the land to lose it's people, peace and even resulted to the destruction of the city.

For three weeks of war and battling of our soldiers with the Maute group, a lot of blood have streamed down all over the said city, infrastructures were destroyed, houses were burned down and the city itself is lifeless.

Looking forward to the successful operations of our military, a proposal was then submitted for the rehabilitation and recovery of Marawi City which will be worth 10 billion pesos. This aims to rebuild the city and help the people bring their life back and survive the tragic incident of Marawi.

This program will be called "BANGON MARAWI" which is proposed to be reconstructed for the whole six months after the successful clearing operations of our military. 

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Philippine flag raised on Panguan Island (Abu Sayyaf 'island paradise')

The flag-raising ceremony took place on Saturday in Panguan Island in Tawi-Tawi.

The Philippine Marines has raised the Philippine flag in the country's southernmost island that used to be a hiding place for members of the Abu Sayyaf to signify that the island is in government control.

Panguan Island is located in Sibutu Channel, an international shipping lane, where the Abu Sayyaf  conduct its kidnapping activities.

"Dati, like this island yung Panguan, dinadanaan ito ng mga Abu Sayyaf. Dito sila nagtatago, dito sila nagpapahinga, dito sila kumakain. Dito sila naga-gas-up kumbaga," Parcon said.

one of the  female resident said that most of the island's residents now feel safer upon the arrival of the Phil Marines. "Mas kampante sila ngayon kaysa dati kasi mayroon ng pagpapatrolya," she said.

However, due to the location of Panguan Island this gave logistical problems in providing enough supply of food and potable water for the soldiers. The island also has no source of electricity.

Lt. Francis Ramirez, nonetheless, said the challenges in  being assigned to the island do not affect the performance of their mission as soldiers.

"Pag may namo-monitor kami na papalapit na o papasok na bangka nilalapitan namin gamit yung asset po dito na speedboat," Ramirez said.

Patrol ships from the Philippine Navy have started their constant surveillance missions to Sibutu Channel.

Furthermore,the United States government also helped the Armed Forces in building a ship monitoring center and radar system to better monitor vessels that enter the territory.

The US supported the construction of permanent barracks and monitoring facility at Turtle Islands to ensure the security at Celebes Sea.

The Phil Coast Guard also aims to build a lighthouse and radar station at Panguan Island, which is very close to Malaysia in the near future.

The local government hopes that the heightened security measures in Panguan Island and its nearby territories can help the small community in promoting its white sand beaches and clear waters to hopefully attract tourists in the near future.

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