Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. on Monday, January 29, announced the start of construction of the National Government Administrative Center (NGAC) in New Clark City.
“The first phase of the National Government Administrative Center amounting to P13.6-billion marked the start of its construction in the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac last January 23. It is envisioned to serve as an alternative site for various agencies in case of disaster or national calamities to ensure continuity of operations and services,” Roque said in a Malacañan press briefing.
The site will also serve as a sports center and host venue for the incoming 30th South East Asian Games, Roque added.
Moreover, Roque assured that the ‘Libreng Gamot Para sa Masa’ (Lingap sa Masa) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) still continues.
He said it had been expanded and now called ‘Lingap at Gabay Para sa May Sakit’. Aside from providing free medicines, the program added the assistance for prosthetics, assistive devices, laboratory procedures, and other medical supplies.
“Lingap may be availed in 19 hospitals, including the Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City… As of November 2017, the Department has served 38,407 indigent patients who availed of Lingap program amounting to Php381,113,000 of the 1-billion fund,” Roque reported.
In the same press briefing, the Palace spokesperson disclosed that the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) formally charged Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang for grave misconduct and dishonesty for misuse of confidential information and disclosing false information; violation of Republic Act (RA) No. 3019 that caused undue injury to the government in the discharge of his official function, and disobeying Ombudsman Administrative Order No. 7 concerning public disclosure of information pertaining to an ongoing investigation.
The OES placed Carandang under preventive suspension for 90 days while pending investigation and directed him to reply to the charges within 10 days. (PCO-Content)
