IN BRIEF

DILG, DND, DOT seal pact on Mindanao dev’t

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has signed an agreement with two other agencies, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of National Defense (DND) to ensure peace and order along with tourism development in Mindanao.

DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr. said his agency’s partnership with the DND and the DOT was a demonstration of the government’s dedication and desire to continue the development of an insurgency-free Mindanao that possesses great potentials through the implementation of community-based tourism programs.

Abalos said the DILG was committed to ensure that the local police were properly deployed in tourist destinations. Joel E. Zurbano

BI holds five outbound Pinoys with fake papers

FIVE outbound overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were stopped from boarding their plane at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for presenting spurious travel documents.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said his operatives intercepted four women bound for Bangkok, Thailand and a male passenger intending to leave for Singapore.

Tansingco said the five prospective OFWs presented dubious employment documents and canceled hotel bookings.

The group reportedly lied about the nature of their jobs here and were very inconsistent in their answers to questions asked by the Immigration agents. Vito Barcelo

BI saves two suspected victims of trafficking

PERHAPS, they don’t realize it, but their failure to leave for abroad may have saved them from unforgettable tragedies or misadventure, at the very least.

Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers at the Clark International Airport (CIA) in Pampanga stopped two women, suspected of being trafficking victims, from leaving for abroad disguised as seafarers.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the two passengers were intercepted as they were about to board a Cebu Pacific flight to Bangkok, Thailand.

Makati revives free movies for the elderlies

SENIOR citizens of Makati City who are Blu Card members and Makatizen Virtual Card holders can watch to their heart’s desire their favorite movies on the big screen free of charge.

The Makati City government on Thursday officially relaunched its free movie program for the elderly Makatizens.

According to Mayor Abigail Binay, some 82,617 senior citizens in the city who are Blu card members and Makatizen Virtual Card holders will benefit from the project.

During the relaunch of the program at Glorietta 4, Binay said the city had to temporarily suspended the program at the height of the pandemic in 2020 for the safety and well-being of senior citizens.

“The past years have been challenging for everyone, particularly our senior citizens who were among the most vulnerable during the health crisis. By reinstating this initiative, we aim to provide them with a much-needed avenue for entertainment, joy, and social engagement,” she said. Joel E. Zurbano