GOVERNANCE/POLITICS

COTABATO CITY – Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia is expecting an 80 percent turnout of voters for the September 17 plebiscite on the division of Maguindanao province.

“I came over to ensure we will have orderly political exercises, even if it is just a plebiscite,” he said in an interview on Friday.

Garcia attended the coordinating conference on the Maguindanao plebiscite held at the AlNor convention center here on Thursday afternoon.

KIDAPAWAN CITY – Pinaplantsa na lamang ngayon ng Department of Education ang kanilang paghahanda para sa ipapatupad muli na in person classes sa Region 12.

Batay sa tala ng DepEd, nasa halos 800,000 na mga mag-aaral mula sa ibat-ibang division ng rehiyon dose ang nakapagpatala pa para sa pasukan habang inaasahan pa ang dagdag na 300,000 na mga kabataan o mag-aaral.

Sinabi ni Regional Director Carlito Rocafort, nasa 80 percent ng handa ang kagawaran ng edukasyon para sa Lunes, kabilang ang mga paaralan, pagsunod sa health protocols ng mga kabataan at maging ng mga guro.

Highlights: 

► Brig. Gen. John Guyguyon is new PRO-BAR regional director 

► Brig. Gen. Jamili Macaraeg now heads Soccsksargen PNP

► Brig. Gen. Arthur Cabalona moves to Area Police Command-Western Mindanao as deputy chief 

► Brig. Gen. Alexander Tagum was transferred to PNP Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will soon start the training of teachers in connection with the holding of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Dec. 5, 2022.

In an interview Monday, Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said teachers, most of whom will be serving as members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs), will be trained on how to implement manual polls again.

MANILA – A lawmaker wants to require motor vehicle buyers in metropolitan areas to have their own garage or parking space as a prerequisite for the purchase to reduce traffic congestion and ensure uncluttered pathways.

Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco filed House Bill 31, otherwise known as the proposed No Garage, No Registration Act, which would also require the Land Transportation Office to verify the document submitted by the registrant or purchaser attesting to the existence of an adequate parking facility for the vehicle.

MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. as the new chief of the Philippine National Police, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said on Monday.

A graduate of Philippine Military Academy (‘Makatao’ Class of 1989), Azurin is currently the commander of the Northern Luzon Police Area composed of the regions of Ilocos (Region 1), Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Central Luzon (Region 3) and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

COTABATO CITY – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has laid down the foundation of his administration development agenda in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) Monday, a college dean and political analyst in Soccsksargen’s state-run university in North Cotabato said.

“He has set the tone for the country’s sustainable development goals,” said Professor Marcos Monderin, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) based in Kabacan, North Cotabato.

MANILA – President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Monday expressed hope that Congress would heed his call to pass at least 19 priority measures of his administration. 

This, as Marcos enumerated his administration's priority legislative measures in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA). 

"As I am here today addressing the legislature, let me propose legislation that we would like for you to pass," he said in his SONA delivered before lawmakers at the plenary of the House of Representatives. 

Better government services 

MANILA – Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Loren Legarda on Monday assumed their new posts as Senate President and Senate President Pro Tempore, respectively, as the first regular session of the 19th Congress opened.

Zubiri assured they will be productive in addressing the needs of the nation.

"As SP, I will do my utmost best to uphold the dignity, integrity, and independence of the Senate. We have 24 senators, 24 voices, 24 votes — pantay-pantay po kami diyan (We are equals)," Zubiri said in a statement

MANILA - Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez was elected and installed as Speaker of the House of Representatives during the opening of the 19th Congress Session on Monday afternoon.

Rep. Romuladez earned 282 votes from colleagues while four lawmakers abstained and one voted “No.” Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, was the lone solon who voted against Romualdez.

Twenty-two other lawmakers failed to vote.

The four who abstained were members of the “Makabayan bloc.”