Good day. Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Sept. 16, 2021
READ: Liong, Galvez clear Go
A former official of the Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) cleared Sen. Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go from allegations that he had a hand in the selection of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. as supplier of medical equipment for pandemic response last year. On Wednesday, the House of Representatives' Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability conducted an inquiry on the government's procurement in 2020 of medical and health equipment. Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force againstCovid-19, who also attended the hearing, said he was not told by Go to favor any supplier.
READ: Envoy: PH helped boost China-Asean relations
CHINA'S Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xiliam on Wednesday heaped praises on Manila for its key role in strengthening Beijing's ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Speaking at the business forum organized by The Manila Times, Huang said the Philippines played a constructive role in advancing relations between China and Asean. He said China-Asean relations have grown stronly over the last 30 years. Huang said China has been Asean's largest trading partner for the last three years.
READ: NBI to probe Tupad irregularities
THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) has asked the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in investigating the reported irregularities in the implementation of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad) program in Districts 1 and 2 of Quezon City. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd said he interviewed some of the supposed Tupad beneficiaries who complained that they received only P1,000 to P2,000 instead of P5,350 for 10 days of work and P8,025 for 15 days of work, alleging their coordinators pocketed the money. But Bello said that he found out that the complainants did not really render any work under Tupad. Bello said that under investigation were Districts 1 and 2, while District 5 has been cleared by the DoLE-NCR due to absence of complainants or pending complaints.
READ: Filipinos worry about financial status – study
FILIPINOS are the most worried about their financial status compared to those in Asia Pacific countries, a study commissioned by a banking software solution provider showed. The study conducted by Forrester Consulting said that Filipino consumers are also more worried and uncertain, and one reason for this concern is debt. Backbase added that the top three financial wellness products, services and experiences that Filipinos are least satisfied with from their main bank are financial management tools, encouragement to build better financial habits, and banking with a financial service provider that helps them identify risks of vulnerability and financial difficulties.
Topping Business
READ: July OFW remittances highest in 7 months
MONEY sent home by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) surged to its highest level in seven months in July, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data, upping the year-to-date total. Central bank numbers issued on Wednesday showed that personal remittances - cash or kind transfers between families- reached $3.16 billion in the seventh month of 2021, up 7.86 percent from $2.93 billion in June and rising 2.65 percent from $3.08 billion a year earlier. The sum is the most since December of the previous year when $3.20 billion was remitted. The boost was attributed to a 1.6-percent increase in remittances from land-based workers on one-year or longer contracts, which expanded to $2.50 billion from $2.46 billion a year ago.
In Sports
READ: Mikey Williams leads TNT past NorthPort
MIKEY Williams, the sensational 6-foot-2 rookie, had another explosive showing for the Tropang Giga as he knocked in 29 points, built around five triples, to tow his team to a 102-92 triumph over the NorthPort Batang Pier in the PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga. The win also rewarded TNT one of the top two berths going into the playoffs. NorthPort absorbed its fourth loss in eight games. Kib Montalbo added 22 points for TNT. Paolo Taha topscored for NorthPort with 20 points.
READ: Opinion and Editorial
Renewable energy is the focus of today's Editorial on The Manila Times. Read the full version on the paper's Opinion Section or listen to the Voice of The Times.
Yen Makabenta, Antonio Contreras and Edcel Lagman are the columnists on the Times' front page. Makabenta writes about how the government will achieve economic recovery faster if it stops indiscriminate testing for Covid. Contreras talks about congressional trespassing. Lagman tackles how non-disclosure agreements violate transparency and accountability.
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This is Christian Crow Maghanoy reporting.