By Vince Lopez

MALACAÑANG on

Thursday launched a free newspaper in a bid to dis seminate the latest infor mation on the projects and programs of the Marcos administration.

The first issue of "The Philippine Gazette" focused on the administration's housing projects.

It also featured stories on government initiatives to push for renewable energy, the Kadiwa ng Pangulo centers, and President's recent visit to the United States, among others. Communications Assistant Secretary Francisco Rodriguez III serves as editor-in-chief of the free newspaper.

select LRT-2 stations (Recto, Cubao, at Santolan);

Next tained by agrarian reform beneficiaries is still waiting for the President's signature.

“We are proud of our collective accomplishment - 31 out of 42 and counting. As of today, we have achieved a significant part of our goal in less than a year of session,” Speaker Martin Romualdez said in a statement.

“I thank our colleagues for their hard work, as well as the various political parties in the House which have committed to support the passage tance to areas where Mawar may wreak havoc.

“We made sure that funds and food packs have already been positioned, response teams are on standby, and LGUs are ready to assist the areas that might be hit by the typhoon,” he said.

Mawar has maintained its strength and its “much closer approach” to the Philippines, the 11 a.m. weather bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric,

Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

Mawar was last spotted 2,065 km east of southeastern Luzon, packing maximum winds of up to 185 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph.

Moving west at 10 kph, Mawar may enter PAR by Friday evening or Saturday morning and will be given the local name Betty.