PBBM confirms Catapang vice BuCor’s Bantag

GREGORIO Catapang Jr. was formally appointed Director-General of the Bureau of Corrections by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on March 23, the Department of Justice said Friday.

“The Department would like to express its full support to the new director general in his endeavors. Together, we will pursue the planned projects and programs for the betterment of the bureau and thewelfare of our PDL (persons deprived of liberty),” said DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano in a statement.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the appointment paper on Thursday, March 23.

“By virtue hereof, you may qualify and perform the duties of the office,” the appointment paper read.

Catapang replaced suspended BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag, who has been tagged in the murder of journalist Percival Mabasa, popularly known as Percy Lapid. Vince Lopez (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Gov’t gears up to secure nation for Holy Week

By Joel E. Zurbano, Vito Barcelo, and Charles Dantes

THE government will set up a Multi-Agency Command Center (MACC) at the Metrobase office of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on April 3 to ensure a peaceful and meaningful observance of the coming Holy Week or Semana Santa. MACC will be composed of personnel from the MMDA, Department ofTransportation, Department of Public Works and Highways, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Inter-Agency Council for Traffic, Land Transportation Office, Philippine National Police, and local government units.

The number-coding scheme in the National Capital Region will also be suspended from April 6 to 10, which are declared holidays, the MMDA said on Friday. April 6 and 7 are Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, respectively. April10, meanwhile, has been declared as the Day of Valor, a regular holiday. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Speaker:...

From A1 such a proposal to members of the House," Romualdez said.

“This was what I relayed to Rep. Richard Gomez when he informed me that senators are amenable to economic amendments but through a constituent assembly (Con-Ass).”

Romualdez commended the efforts of Gomez and Senator Robinhood Padilla in trying to forge an agreement between the House and the Senate on this issue.

Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian admitted that the ultimate reason some senators have misgivings about Charter change is the fear that the Senate may be abolished.

Gatchalian also said there were concerns over a possible change from the current form of government to a federal system, which could cost the government P300 billion.

He added that a change in the form of government would also disrupt economic activity as businesses would have to adjust to the new system.

He said while he doesn’t know if there is an attempt to abolish the Senate, this could happen. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

At least...

From A1 gasoline, diesel, and kerosene by next week," Rodela Romero, DOE director for the Oil Industry Management Bureau, said.

She said the price rollback was "primarily due to the concerns that risks in the global banking sector and the potential increase in the US interest rates could spark recession thereby cutting fuel demand."

"Another one is the build-up in US crude inventories and the slide of dollar," Romero said.

On March 21, the oil companies also cut pump prices of P1.20 per liter for gasoline, P1.85 per liter for diesel, and P2 per liter for kerosene. These resulted in a year-to-date net decrease for diesel at P2.85 per liter and kerosene at P3.65 per liter. Gasoline, on the other hand, has a net increase of P5.50 per liter.

MINDORO

OIL SPILL

UPDATE. A Greenpeace satellite photo indicating an update of the massive oil spill in Oriental Mindoro shows the day-to-day movement of the oil slick that endangers the province’s coastal ecosystem, including the biodiversityrich Verde Island between Mindoro and Batangas provinces.