(Zaldy Comanda / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Bilang parte ng government, dapat ‘anniver-sorry’ po tayong lahat sa publiko (As part of of the government, we should be saying ‘anniver-sorry’ to the public),” Villanueva said in a text message to reporters Monday, March 5.
Authorities, he said, should have learned from their gaps and not repeat their mistakes in addressing the health crisis. “Sa lagay po natin ngayon, parang bumalik po tayo sa square one (With our situation right now, it seems like we are back to square one),” he lamented anew.
“Split na po tayo sa COVID, makipag-break na tayong tuluyan. Kase gusto na po natin makipagbalikan sa trabaho at maayos na kabuhayan (Let’s split from COVID-19, let’s break up with it. Because we want to get back to jobs and stable livelihood),” said the Senate labor committee chairman.
(Photo By Zaldy Comanda / FILE PHOTO)
Dubbed as the SHIELD (Strengthening Institutions and Empowering Localities against Disasters and Climate Change) Program, the six-year initiative aims to work with local governments as the first responders to emergencies, by building their institutional and community resilience capacities against natural hazards and climate change.
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), which signed a memorandum of agreement with Australia, will implement SHIELD, along with consortium partners UN-Habitat, Philippine Business for Social Progress, National Resilience Council, and the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society.
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven J. Robinson AO said this new investment affirms Australia’s continued commitment to the Philippines as a dependable partner in building the long-term disaster and climate resilience of its institutions and its people.
Local tourists may now include Baguio City to their travel options this "love month" as the city reopens its borders to visitors despite being under a stricter community quarantine status.
(Zaldy Comanda / MANILA BULLETIN)
Mayor Benjamin Magalong, however, appealed to Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat to allow them to accept a certain percentage of leisure travelers in order to help revive their economy ,especially this February, which is “Love Month”
“During general community quarantine (GCQ), talagang bawal ang tourists (tourists are really not allowed) but you can appeal, you can request the DOT. We just wrote to Secretary Berna, they are now deliberating on it,” Magalong said in an interview.
“Hihinitayin muna namin ang approval ng DOT. They will endorse that to the IATF kung pwede kaming tumanggap ng tourists such the case na ginawa sa Batangas (We will wait for the approval of the DOT. They will endorse that to the IATF if we can accept tourists just like the case in Batangas),” the city’s top executive added.