News Briefs: July 3, 2019
P25-B Boracay Medium-Term Action Plan OK’d
MANILA, Philippines — The government has approved the P25-billion Boracay Medium-Term Action Plan which lays out the programs for the continuing rehabilitation of the popular tourist destination.
Malacañang announced the approval of the blueprint following President Rodrigo Duterte’s meeting with his Cabinet on Monday night.
“We announce the approval of the Boracay Medium-Term Action Plan which will sustain the efforts of the government after its closure,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.
In April last year, the President ordered the closure of Boracay to tourists for six months to allow its massive cleanup and rehabilitation.
It reopened in October 2018. Of the 25.27-billion proposed investment, P16.21 billion will be allocated to infrastructure. —Julie M. Aurelio
CBCP warns Catholics vs Irish preacher
MANILA, Philippines — The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has warned the faithful against a preacher called Maria Divine Mercy.
In a letter to dioceses, CBCP president Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles said Maria Divine Mercy, the name assumed by self-proclaimed Irish seer called Mary Carberry, was bringing confusion and propagating erroneous, false and distorted teachings to the Catholic faithful.
Valles’ letter stemmed from complaints raised by Divine Mercy devotees, through Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga.
Santos, who is also the World Apostolic Congress on Mercy Asia episcopal coordinator, said the group’s activities in the country were “a cause for alarm.”
“They bring confusion and propagate erroneous, false and distorted teachings to our Catholic faithful,” he said. —Tina G. Santos
Deadline for Tofil Awards nominations set
MANILA, Philippines — The deadline for submission of nominees to this year’s search for The Outstanding Filipinos (Tofil) Awards has been set on July 15 without extension.
This was announced by JCI Senate Philippines and its institutional partners Ansa Foundation and Tofil Foundation headed by JCI Senate president Jun Roque, Tofil national chair and JCI senator Melandrew Velasco, Ansa Foundation president Philip Nocom, and JCISP Tofil Foundation chair and JCI senator Rogelio Garcia.
“We are flooded with queries with regards to this year’s Tofil search under a banner theme ‘Nation Builders and Heroes in Our Midst,’” Velasco said.
The Tofil awards recognize outstanding Filipinos who made great contribution to nation-building. It is open to all Filipinos 41 years of age and above.
