PBBM creates water mgmt. office

By Vito Barcelo, Vince Lopez

and

Macon Ramos-Araneta

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued an executive order (EO) creating the Office of Water Management, tasked to manage the country’s water resources.

Senator Grace Poe said the creation of a water management office was most welcome even as pertinent bills in Congress were still being threshed out.

“I just signed an executive order wherein we have created the Office of Water Management. There are many agencies that are involved in water supply and water management and it has

Palace excludes docs on terror probe from right to information

MALACANANG has updated the inventory of exceptions to the right to information, which now includes documents on the surveillance of suspects under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

Memorandum Circular No. 15 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin stated that among the latest exceptions to the right to information were the records of surveillance on suspects and interception and recording of communications acquired by a law enforcement agent or military personnel pursuant to the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

The anti-terrorism bill was signed into law in July 2020 by then-President Rodrigo Duterte.

Also on the list of exceptions were records or information in connection with any investigation conducted by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) when such disclosure will deprive the respondent of the right to a fair and impartial investigation.

The PACC, however, was abolished under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order No. 1 and its powers and functions were transferred to the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs. Vince Lopez

In Brief

PBBM names ex-CA justice to CHR panel

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Monina Arevalo-Zenarosa as commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin administered on Thursday the oath of office to Arevalo-Zenarosa, a retired justice of the Court of Appeals.

The Presidential Communications Office expressed confidence that, given Zenarosa’s expertise in the fields of law and human rights, she will ensure that the rights of citizens are upheld, especially those in the marginalized sector.

“Thanks to her extensive legal experience and championing human rights, CHR Commissioner Zenarosa will be responsible for ensuring that Filipinos, particularly marginalized ones, will enjoy their rights,” Bersamin said.

Zenarosa worked in the Quezon City regional trial court in the ‘90s before she was appointed to the CA during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Romualdez pays tribute to BBM-Sara youth leader just evolved that way,” Mr. Marcos Jr. said in his speech during the opening of the 6th Edition of the Water Philippines Conference and Exposition at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. The President said he wants to employ modern technology and strategies in the management of water resources in the country to ensure adequate water supply that meets the needs of the people.

The President said there are technologies available to efficiently manage the water resources in an area to provide the people with clean and affordable water.

“I happened to – have been given the opportunity to walk around a little bit and see some of the exhibitors. And it is very gratifying to note that in fact the technologies that are being used, that are being employed in terms of water treatment, in terms of water management are wellknown technologies,” he said

“And so I am very optimistic that the solutions that we need to formulate are out there, the technologies are out there. What has continued to change in the light of climate change is the management, the stratagems on how we manage our water,” the President said.

The Chief Executive also said the flood control projects have evolved through the years along with the changing times.

“When we used to talk a few years ago, when I was still governor, when you said water management, it generally meant flood control. And we would put dikes, we would put dams so as to be able to control the flooding,” Marcos said.

HOUSE Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos and Agimat party-list Rep. Bryan Revilla spent the first day of their congressional Lenten break condoling with the family of John Paul “JP” Espiritu Pabalan, a former youth leader of the BBM-Sara campaign, who died March 17 after a bout with chronic illnesses.

Marcos and Revilla visited Pabalan’s wake at Governor’s Drive in Bancal, Carmona, Cavite Thursday and handed over to the youth leader’s parents, Melchor and Mayumi Pabalan a financial aid from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. and Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

“Nakikiramay po tayo sa pamilya ni John Paul Pabalan, a 25-year-old leader ng BBM-Sara Campaign sa Cavite, na namayapa kamakailan matapos ang pakikipagbuno sa matagal nang karamdaman,” Speaker Romualdez said in a message to the grieving parents.

P48.9m counterfeit goods seized in CDO

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized smuggled counterfeit goods worth P48.9 million at the Mindanao Container Terminal Port (MCTP) in Cagayan de Oro.

District collector Alexandra YapLumontad said the seized contraband was declared as “garments,trousers” from Bangladesh with an appraised value of P 48.9 million .

Subsequent examinations showed that the shipment contained 288 cartons of pants bearing the brand “Zara” and 342 cartons of shirts branded as “Guess.”

A warrant of seizure and detention (WSD) was issued against the subject shipment for violation of R.A. 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

“These counterfeit products do not have the required documentation, and they endanger the safety of those who use them,” according to Commissioner Beinvenido Rubio.