MINDANAO DAILY TRUTH. JUSTICE. PROGRESS.
S ince
Volume IX, No. 182
www.mindanaodailynews.com
Mon-Tue, December 30-31, 2019
1923
P15.00
Comfortable life for all Pinoys still Pres. Duterte’s top priority M
President Rodrigo Duterte
By AZER PARROCHA, PNA
ANILA -- From the signing of anti-poverty laws to chastising water concessionaires, President Rodrigo Duterte marked the year fulfilling his campaign promise to bring a “comfortable life” to all Filipinos with only over two years left until he steps down in 2022.
Siargao gets int’l praise as 8th best 2020 holiday destination By JOYCE ANN L. ROCAMORA
MANILA -- Philippine destinations are on a roll this
year, with Siargao earning the latest international praise from luxury travel magazine Condé Nast Trav-
MORE FUN IN PH. A Department of Tourism crowd-sourced photo of Siargao by @avelovin used as part of the country’s “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign. Siargao earned recognition as one of the best holiday destinations for 2020 from Conde Nast Traveler magazine. (Photo courtesy of DOT and @avelovin)
eler, which named it eighth among 20 best holiday destinations for 2020. Described as a tiny Philippine island giving Bali a run for its money, Condé Nast Traveler hailed the teardrop-shaped tropical island for “its gnarly surf breaks, including the legendary Cloud 9 barreling wave.” “Siargao is fringed with pristine beaches, tree froggreen mangrove forests, and sweeping groves of coconut palms, and it’s little wonder tourism here is gathering pace,” CNT writers Lizzie See SIARGAO, page 9
The Duterte administration’s efforts to significantly cut down poverty rates are moving full steam with the signing of laws such as the Magna Carta of the Poor. B efore the law was signed, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that some 5.9 million Filipinos were pulled out of poverty in
2018, as poverty incidence fell to 16.6 percent from 23.3 percent in 2015. At this rate of development, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said it is “possible for poverty incidence to further drop to “10 to 12 percent” by 2022, which is slightly lower compared to the current administration’s
target to bring it down by 14 percent by the end of Duterte’s term. “With the continued adoption of the DutertEnomics and socio-economic reforms, the poverty rate will be continuously reduced,” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin See PRIORITY, page 9
The 21 candidates of the Search for 7th Kuyamis Festival 2020 strike a pose with Misamis Oriental Governor Bambi Emano during the swimsuit competition held at a hotel in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental on December 27. Beside Emano is 2020 Best in Swimsuit Attire, Ms Isobel Teaño of Opol, Misamis Oriental. photo by gerry lee gorit