Good day. Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for June 17, 2021
READ: Stop teachers' migration, lawmaker urges DepEd
PASIG Rep. Roman Romulo called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to consider offering financial incentives to private school teachers to stop them from transferring in droves to public schools especially during the pandemic. At the virtual forum led by Cocopea or the Coordinating Council of Private Educational.Associations of the Philippines, Romulo pointed out that private school teachers transfer "not because they want to" but because state-run schools offer much higher salaries. Romulo, who heads the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture, proposed offering incentives or to find ways for the private schools to match the bigger salaries. Around 14,000 private schools
READ: Face shields not necessary outdoors – Vega
USING face shields outdoors may no longer be necessary, especially in areas where the risk of infection is low, Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said on Wednesday. However, he stressed that face shields should be worn indoors, especially in malls and other places where people converge. During the Laging Handa briefing on Wednesday, Vega said people can remove their face shields whenever they go out of the house.
READ: ARTA, groups sign deal to fight red tape
THE Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with business organizations and media companies to intensify the fight against red tape. Under the MoU, select personnel of participating entities, dubbed ARTA Champions, will be designated to process complaints. They will be authorized to receive complaints from the private sector for violations of Republic Act 11032 or the "Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018." The MoU, which coincides with ARTA's 3rd anniversary celebration, was signed between ARTA and the Confederation of Filipino Workers (CFW), Junior Chamber International and Out-of-Home Advertising Association of the Philippines as well as The Manila Times and Flash Media.
READ: Manila declared a champion city
The City of Manila made it to the Top 50 Champion Cities in Bloomberg Philanthropies' 2021 Global Mayors Challenge. It earned the distinction of being one of the eight Asia Pacific cities to make it to the second phase of the competition. The 50 cities, which also included Butuan, submitted applications that aim to address the most pressing challenges in these areas during the pandemic.
READ: Venture Securities appeals SEC decision
IN Business, Brokerage firm Venture Securities Inc. (VSI) appealed the penalties imposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the fraudulent acts that led to the collapse of R&L Investments Inc. In a statement published on its website, VSI President Wilfred Racadio said the Eusebio Tanco-led firm has "not committed any fraudulent act" nor are they "the proximate cause of any fraud which may have led to the collapse of R&L Investments." Tanco is currently a director of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) and is being nominated for another term.
READ: IMF cuts 2021 PH growth forecast
THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) slashed its 2021 Philippine economic growth forecast to take into account the slow recovery and stricter quarantine measures imposed in the first half of the year. During the Virtual 2021 Article IV Mission to the Philippines briefing on Wednesday, IMF Asia and Pacific Division Chief Thomas Helbling said the country's economy is now forecast to grow by 5.4 percent this year, significantly lower than the 6.9 percent earlier projection.
READ: Durant's monster game sends Nets to 3-2 lead
TOPPING Sports, Kevin Durant scored 49 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists in one of the most spectacular performances in postseason history, sending the Brooklyn Nets back into the lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals with a 114-108 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5 on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila). The two-time NBA Finals MVP became the first player in NBA history to have at least 45 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a playoff game.
READ: Editorial and Opinion
Yen Makabenta and Antonio Contreras are today's front page's columnists. Makabenta writes about green energy while Contreras discusses 'winnability' and voter transformation.
The Editorial lauds the DoTr action to relieve congestion but warns against whether it will work. Read the full version on the paper's Opinion Section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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This is Currie Cator for The Manila Times reporting.