IN BRIEF

MMDA orders road closure of Roxas Blvd.

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has announced it will temporarily close Roxas Boulevard to vehicular traffic in connection with the country’s 125th Independence Day celebration on June 12.

The road closure from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. will be implemented along both lanes of the boulevard from T.M. Kalaw to P. Burgos Street.

Meanwhile, Katigbak Parkway, South Rd, and Independence Road will be temporarily closed from 12 midnight to 10 p.m. of the same day to give way to a civic-military parade.

Affected trucks going to North Harbor are advised to reroute from South Luzon Expressway straight ahead to Osmeña Highway then right turn to Quirino Avenue, straight to Nagtahan Street, going to Lacson Avenue, left turn to Yuseco Street, and straight ahead to Capulong Street then right turn or turn left to R10 road to destination. Joel E. Zurbano

Bishop Santos is new Antipolo shepherd

BISHOP Ruperto Santos will be the new shepherd of the Diocese of Antipolo starting in July.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines news website reported on Monday that the 65-year-old prelate will be installed at 10 a.m. on July 22 at the International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, more popularly known as Antipolo Cathedral, in Rizal province. Santos will oversee one of the Church’s fast-growing dioceses in the country, covering not just the city of Antipolo but also Marikina City and the entire province of Rizal.

“Please help me with your prayers. Remember me always at the altar of our Lord. Intercede for me to our Blessed Mother Mary that my episcopal ministry be like her: peace, good and full of grace,” Santos said in a statement.

Before being named to the post, Santos has been serving the Diocese of Balanga in Bataan province since July 2010. Santos will succeed Bishop Francisco de Leon, whose resignation from the pastoral governance of the diocese was accepted by Pope Francis on May 24.

3,000 Davaoeños get aid from TUPAD

MORE than 3,000 Davaoeños received their payout from the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) in Davao City.

According to the office of Rep. Paolo Z. Duterte, 5,430 individuals were identified beneficiaries after they applied for the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) program. The latter conducts the assessment after profiling the applicants completed by the First Congressional District Office.

Meanwhile, 3,422 individuals have already received their payout. The distribution is ongoing, as thousands of recipients have yet to receive their payout in upcoming weeks. Among the recipients are carpenters, laborers, shine boys, street vendors, and fire victims. Duterte said the First Congressional District Office and the DOLE–Davao have been working together to assist thousands of impoverished residents through the TUPAD program. Maricel V. Cruz