After ‘avoiding’ public eye, Duterte holds Cabinet meeting

MANILA, Philippines — After being away from the public eye over the past few days, President Duterte held a Cabinet meeting yesterday to thresh out certain issues.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the meeting would focus on issues of land conversion, common tower, national ID system and updates on the immunization program of the Department of Health (DOH).

Nograles said the agenda also included how to streamline procedures in the Department of Agrarian Reform, particularly on boosting the access of farmers and fisherfolk to credit and loan facilities.

He said the President wanted updates on the agricultural productivity program of farmers.

“(We) will also discuss the national ID system and the immunization program of DOH,” Nograles said.

Duterte skipped an activity in Leyte last Friday, saying he was not feeling well. 

While he was out of the public eye, Duterte had private engagements in two Mindanao cities and in Taguig. 

Last Monday, Duterte met with the families of five soldiers who died during a clash with the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu last Saturday and the family of a soldier who was killed during the Jan. 27 Jolo blast. The meeting took place at the Matina Enclaves in Davao City. 

Duterte condoled with the bereaved families and honored the slain soldiers by conferring on them the Order of Lapu Lapu with the rank of Kalasag. He also vowed to provide them housing, livelihood, employment and educational assistance.

On the same day, the President visited the grave of his mother Soledad at the Roman Catholic cemetery also in Davao City to commemorate her seventh death anniversary.

Duterte paid his last respects to Solona Canoy, wife of former Cagayan de Oro City mayor Reuben Canoy. Solona passed away last Feb. 3 because of cardiac arrest. She was 94.

Duterte also visited the wake of Olivia Paras, wife of Labor Undersecretary Jacinto Paras at the Heritage Park in Taguig City.

Duterte was last seen in public last Jan. 29 when he attended the premiere of the movie about former national police chief Ronald dela Rosa in Mandaluyong City. – With Alexis Romero