‘Effective efforts led to Speaker’s higher trust rate’

By Rio N. Araja

ALBAY Rep. Joey Salceda on Sunday credited the double-digit jump in the trust ratings of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez in the Tugon ng Masa Q1 2023 survey of Octa Research to Congress’ “obvious and effective efforts to be responsive to what affects the lives of working Filipinos.”

He said Romualdez “has shown the House to be a more dynamic partner of the Executive in getting things done.”

“We’ve been a dynamic partner, in the sense that we tackle more priority legislation faster, and we practice our oversight functions more often and with greater intent. That means we partner with the executive in crafting better rules and regulations to existing legislation, and we work to implement programs better,” he said.

“Our hearings are also not grandstanding for the media. We produce results,” he added.

He mentioned the House of Representatives’ work to lower food prices through hearings with the Department of Agriculture and economic agencies to produce better rules and enforcement and fight cartels.

“Onion prices are down from a high of P700 per kilo to just around P125175. At one point, farmgate went down to the P50 level. We caught the cartels and had them detained in the House,” he said.

7 NPA rebels killed in clash in Northern Samar

By Ronald O. Reyes

TACLOBAN City—At least seven suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in an early morning clash with government troops in the mountainous area of Barangay Santander, Bobon, Northern Samar on Sunday, April 30, 2023.

Army Maj. Gen. Camilo Ligayo, commander of 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan City, said that the success of the operation “was made possible through the recent efforts to clear the barangays [where NPAs move around] which hindered the communist rebels [from getting] logistical and operational support.” cost of the unused portion of the lifeline customers’ 10 cu.m. minimum consumption for the month of March 2023.

“Last year, we were able to clear the areas where member of the NPA Front Committee 2 operate. That prompted their dismantling, and with the help of our local chief executives, our residents in Northern Samar understood their responsibility in resolving the insurgency problem,” Ligayo said.

This means that if these customers only consumed 1 cu.m. in March but had to pay the P136 minimum charge for 10 cu.m., they will be entitled to a rebate of 9 cu.m., or P121.98. The rebate amount will vary depending on the customers’ actual March 2023 consumption below 10 cu.m.

“Lifeline” accounts located residing in Pasay, parts of Makati, Parañaque, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, and Cavite are eligible for rebate.

Maynilad is giving the rebate in consideration of “lifeline” customers who were constrained to pay a minimum charge though they were not able to consume a full 10 cu.m. given the service interruptions affecting their area.

The total rebate to be given amounts to P10.81 million.

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System – Regulatory Office (MWSS RO) said it supports the rebate program of Maynilad.

Japan fetes 4 Pinoys, including ex-DND, DFA chiefs

TOKYO announced the conferment of Japanese decorations on four Filipinos, including former Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, for helping strengthen Philippine-Japan relations.

In a statement, the Japanese Embassy in Manila said the four will receive the following decoration:

- Alberto G. Romulo, Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun;

- Delfin N. Lorenzana, The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star;

- Gamaliel A. Cordoba, The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon; and

- Dr. Cynthia Neri Zayas, The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette. “The government of Japan warmly congratulates these four outstanding Filipinos and appreciates their significant contributions to forging stronger ties between Japan and the Philippines,” the Embassy said.