SWS: Filipinos hopeful about next 12 months

THE

death toll in the single day intense anti-drug operations in Bulacan province has risen to 32, police said Wednesday.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat, Bulacan police director, said the 66 anti-narcotics operations they conducted from 12 midnight Tuesday until 12 midnight Wednesday had left 32 killed and 107 arrested.

Caramat said that they conducted 44 drug busts, served 14 search warrants and one arrest warrant, and installed two check points.

Five drug personalities were killed in Malolos City, while Norzagaray and Sta. Maria towns had three each. Casualties were also reported in the towns of Balagtas (1), Baliwag (1), Bulakan (1), Calumpit (1), Guiguinto (2), Obando (2), Pandi (1), Plaridel (2), Pulilan (1), San Ildefonso (1), and San Miguel (1).

Caramat said of the 32 drug suspects killed, 16 were listed on the Philippine National Police (PNP) drugs watch-list, two were former surrenderees in the PNP's Oplan Tokhang, while 14 others were newly identified drug peddlers.

"Some quarters of the society (they are questioning) bakit ganoon kadami 'yung namatay my answer is we don't have the control of the situation. As much as possible we wanted to remove those elements that would lead us to bloody encounter," Caramat said.

The anti-drug operations resulted in the arrest of 107 suspected drug personalities and the recovery of P1.174 million worth of shabu, 765 grams of marijuana leaves, 34 assorted firearms, two grenades and 114 live ammunitions.

Caramat confirmed that it is the highest death toll in a single day since President Rodrigo Duterte launched his war on drug last year.

The Bulacan police chief said they will cooperate in any investigation that will be conducted in connection with the simultaneous raids.

"I have nothing to worry, alam naman namin wala kaming ginawang masama. We are confident on the legality of our operations," he said.

"We know that we have done nothing wrong but of course there are some sectors that might investigate us but we are ready and open for any investigation," he added.

He said personnel of the PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS) are conducting their investigation in Bulacan.

Earlier in the day, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the PNP would investigate the simultaneous anti-drug operations in Bulacan to ensure that there is no foul play. (Third Anne PeraltaMalonzo/ SunStar Philippines) FOUR out of 10 Filipinos believe that the quality of their life will improve in the next 12 months, based on the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results.

In the nationwide survey conducted on June 23 to 26, it found that 44 percent of Filipino adults are "optimists" about their life improvement while only four percent are "pessimists" as they expect their life to get worse in the next 12 months.

The poll results yielded a net personal optimism score of "excellent" + 40, one grade higher than "very high" + 36 (43 percent optimists, six percent pessimists) recorded in March 2017.

Net personal optimism rose in all geographical areas.

The SWS recorded "excellent" + 42 from "very high" + 37 in Balance Luzon; "excellent" + 6 from + 43 in Manila; "very high" + 36 from "+ 34 in Visayas; and "very high" + 37 from + 33 in Mindanao.

The survey showed that 39 percent are optimistic that the Philippine economy would "get better" next year while 12 percent believed it would "deteriorate." The results posted an "excellent" + 27 net score on optimism about the country's economy.

The net rating was 11-percentage points down from March's "excellent" + 37 (47 percent optimistic about economy, nine percent pessimistic about economy), and the lowest since the "very high" + 15 in June 2015.

Net optimism about economy stayed excellent but declined in all areas, posting "excellent" + 23 from + 33 in Balance Luzon; "excellent" + 27 from + 39 in Metro Manila; "excellent" + 27 from + 34 in Visayas; and "excellent" + 34 from + 49 in Mindanao.

The SWS also found that there are 37 percent "gainers" as their lives improved while 19 percent are "losers" as their lives w or sened. AMID

THE avian flu outbreak, Malacañang urged Tuesday the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agency Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to expedite the culling of 200,000 fowls in Pampanga province for the fast recovery of the poultry industry.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the military can augment additional troops to speed up the clearing of six poultry farms affected by avian flu in Pampanga's San Luis town.

"We sympathize with the plight of our farmers and other sectors in the poultry industry, which are burdened by the drastic measures

Net gainers rating in the second quarter of 2017 was "very high" +17, just a percentage point up from "very high" + 16 in the previous quarter of the same year.

SWS said the net gainer in Balance Luzon was at "record-high" as it rose from "very high" 11 in March to "excellent" + 20 in June.

Net gainer score also stayed "very high" inVisayas,from+14inMarchto+19in June.

It, however, fell by 12-percentage points from "excellent" + 26 to "very high" + 14 in Metro Manila.

It was also down by eight-percentage points from "excellent"+ 21 to "very high" + 13.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella welcomed the poll results showing the administration's "significant strides in the first year to ensure the inclusion of the marginalized and disadvantaged sectors."

Abella said the government would continue to push for programs, such as the tax reform package, that would make the economy robust.

He said the current administration would ensure that the proposed tax reform measure would be passed as it would lay down "a strong foundation for inclusive and sustainable growth."

"Much more needs to be done, such as implementing institutional changes," Abella said in a statement.

"The government has thus certified as urgent a comprehensive tax reform package to boost the economy and accelerate infrastructure development while raising spending for the poor," he added.

The survey interviewed 1,200 respondents using sampling error margins of ± 3 percentage points for national percentages, ± 4 percentage points for Balance Luzon, and ± 6 percentage points each for Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao. (Ruth Abbey Gita/SunStar Philippines) needed to contain and eradicate our first ever avian flu outbreak," Abella said in a press conference.

"Despite their lack of personnel, we urge DA and BAI (Bureau of Animal Industry) to expedite the various clearing to minimize the losses and hasten the recovery of the poultry industry," he added.

The DA is now in the process of culling around 200,000 poultry heads, including chicken, within San Luis town to avert the possible spread of the virus.

Last Friday, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol confirmed the outbreak of bird flu in Pampanga, the first case recorded in the country that placed the province under a state of calamity.

The BAI and the University of the Philippines - Los Baños found that close to 40,000 birds have died from avian influenza subtype H5.

On Monday, Abella assured the public that the avian flu strain is not harmful to humans.

"Our first concern is the safety of our consumers and citizens. So far, there is no indication that this strain of avian flu is harmful to humans, but we will continue to validate this and take all precautions needed," he said.