Duterte definitely running

Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte attended a big rally organized in Davao City by the Duterte for President Movement. Duterte told the 10,000-person crowd to give him more time to decide whether to run for president or not, a change from his previous denials. He also said he will talk to his family to remove their objections to his running. Close associates of Duterte told us he is definitely running for president.

In her youth campaign bandwagon, Senator Grace Poe visited Pangasinan, which has the third biggest youth voting population in the country, and Nueva Ecija and held a dialogue with students of local universities on various issues. Poe proposed the building of an  international airport in Santa Barbara, a central Pangasinan town, to boost tourism in the province. The Poe proposal is supported by officials and businessmen of Pangasinan. They believe this proposal would speed up economic growth in their province.

Vice-President Jejomar Binay made a three-day swing, through Dipolog and Dapitan, in Zamboanga del Norte, Tangub City in Misamis Occidental and Pagadian in Zamboanga del Sur. He received pledges of support from local officials of the three provinces. He is scheduled to visit Bulacan today.

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas has been kept busy in Metro Manila, monitoring the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) peace assembly.  After three days of holding protest, the INC abruptly ended their five-day protest in various parts of the country, citing they have reached an understanding with the government and clarified some issues. People are wondering what prompted the religious group to halt the church’s fight for separation of church and state. What was the agreed resolution?

Senator Bongbong Marcos is being courted by two presidential candidates to run for vice president in their ticket.

The Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) announced they will hold talks with Vice President Binay, Secretary Roxas and Mayor Duterte.

The latest Pulse Asia and Social Weather surveys are ongoing.

Free medicine

The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a measure that establishes a free basic medicine assistance program in all government district hospitals, local health units and barangay health centers nationwide to indigent members of society.

Sponsoring the measure, House Bill No. 5955, were 1-SAGIP Party-List Rep. Erlinda Santiago, author of bill, and La Union Rep. Eufranio Eriguel, a medical doctor.

The amount needed to implement the program will be charged to the Department of Health (DOH) budget.

The bill directs the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the DOH, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations.

This newly approved Free Basic Medicine Assistance Act would lessen the hardships of poor individuals and families who cannot  afford to respond to an immediate medical attention. 

We hope this would not also end in a corrupt environment wherein medical supplies can be stolen and sold on the black market or procurement officials can be bribed by companies to win contracts. Corruption in humanitarian work is among the worst kind.

The richest Filipinos according to Forbes

American business magazine Forbes released its new list of 50 richest Filipinos and their families, which most of them are male business tycoons, who own major shopping malls, airlines, hotels, condominiums, banks, fast-food chains, and power firms. 

Henry Sy remains the country’s richest man with a net worth of $14.4B. The richest man is even richer as his conglomerates, SM Investments and SM Prime Holdings, have increased by 17 percent and 20 percent respectively.

Realizing the significance of education in every family and in nation-building at the same time, Sy shares his blessings and success

By educating and sending one child from a less fortunate family to college through his advocacy arm of the SM group of companies, SM Foundation Inc., now on its 21st year. Sy is a businessman who knows exactly what it takes to make your dreams come true – it is through education.

Completing the top ten richest billionaires are John Gokongwei, $5.5B; Andrew Tan, $4.5B; Lucio Tan, $4.3B; Enrique Razon Jr., $4.1B; George Ty, $4B, Family Aboitiz, $3.6B; Jaime Zobel de Ayala, 3.5B; David Consunji, $3.2B; and Tony Tan Caktiong, $2.2B.

Fund raising

Bayan Muna Reps. Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate assailed the National Food Authority (NFA) for the excessive importation of 2.1 million metric tons (MT) of rice for this year.

The Philippines remains one of the world’s biggest rice buyers despite record-high domestic harvests in recent years.

Colmenares said that the excessive importation of 2.1 million MT of rice is highly irregular and doubtful.

The Aquino administration has not prosecuted NFA and Department of Agriculture (DA) officials who approved the over importation of rice.

Binondo importers claim there is an overpriced of $50 per MT, which some NFA officials claim as fund raising for the 2016 elections.

Tidbits

Imelda Natividad, 45, project manager of Shelter System Development Corp. (SSDC) was found dead inside her car, shot in the head, in Los Baños City.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda is running for Congress in Albay’s second district. Second District Congressman Al Francis Bichara is running for governor.

Happy birthday greetings to Senator Grace Poe.