Congressman Hector Sanchez is in town for a much longer stretch than usual: 20 days to be exact.
A day after he arrived, he went with officials of the DPWH Catanduanes Engineering District to visit infrastructure projects he had funded in Congress.
Last weekend, he was with the other members of the Bagong Timpla – Gov. Joseph Cua and San Andres Mayor Peter Cua – as well as the SP and municipal slates in Caramoran, visiting the crucial villages of Hitoma, Inalmasinan, Guiamlong, Bulalacao, Iyao, Obi and Salvacion.
The congressman is possibly a bit bothered by the early barnstorming of a close rival, Leo Rodriguez, who has been spotted together with Virac Mayor Sinforoso Sarmiento Jr. also in the Caramoran area.
Aside from Virac’s chief executive, the former Bato mayor has reportedly secured the backing of Gigmoto Mayor At-At Tayam.
It may be recalled that during the filing of the CoCs last year, his erstwhile rival in Bato – incumbent Mayor Johnny Rodulfo – gave his support to Rodriguez.
However, the vote in Bato has been split between him and the mayor’s brother, Atty. Oliver Rodulfo, who also filed his candidacy for congressman.
There is no indication that the other mayors who are firmly in the Cua camp would shift their support to Rodriguez, along with the few mayoral candidates who get guidance from TGP partylist Rep. Jose Teves Jr.
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The declaration of Alert Level 2 in Catanduanes has not only allowed people to an almost normal life – save for the masks and the logbook entries in establishments and offices – but also led to the scrapping of the S-PaSS system as a requirement in entering the province.
Restaurants and bars are admitting patrons to the maximum 70% allowed.
Cockfighting is back with aficionados reportedly filling cockpits although fewer “sultadas” mean the day ends early.
On the other hand, e-sabong is drawing in bettors, with one station at the White House ground floor operating up to the early hours of the next day.
Already, some residents of Virac are wondering why the municipal government, as well as the local church, is not a bit bothered by the deleterious effect gambling addiction on the bettors’ families and their livelihood.
Most of the e-sabong fans are daily wage earners, from office employees to tricycle drivers who gamble a large portion of their earning hoping for a big payday.
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Last week, the DILG issued Memorandum Circular N. 2022-017 directing all Social Welfare and Development Offices (SWDOs) and Persons with Disability Affairs Offices (PDAOs) to implement the provisions of RA 11215 (An Act Institutionalizing A National Integrated Cancer Program) and RA 10747 (Rare Diseases Act of the Philippines) with regards to the inclusion of cancer and rare diseases under the type of disability.
Provisions of the two laws state that persons with rare diseases such as inherited metabolic diseases as well as cancer patients, persons living with cancer, and cancer survivors are considered as persons with disabilities (PWDs) in accordance with the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.
Sec. Eduardo Año said the DILG, together with the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) and the Department of Health – National Integrated Cancer Control Council (DOH-NICCC) recognizes the need to ensure that rare disease sufferers, cancer patients and survivors receive the necessary care and support, including the rights and privileges accorded PWDs.
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A HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION GETS AN ANSWER. A husband and wife were golfing when suddenly the wife asked, “Honey, if I died would you get married again?”
The husband said, “No sweetie.”
The woman said, “I’m sure you would.”
So the man said, “Okay, I would”
Then the woman asked, “Would you let her sleep in our bed?”
And the man replied, “Ya, I guess so.”
Then the wife asked, “Would you let her use my golf clubs?”
And the husband replied, “No, she’s lefthanded.”