Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Friday, April 22, 2022.
READ: 'Window' bus plan triggers confusion
HUNDREDS of commuters were left without rides amid the confusion over the "window hour" bus scheme being implemented by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). In a statement Thursday, MMDA Chairman Romando "Don" Artes tried to sort out the mess, saying all provincial buses must end their trips either at the North Luzon Express Terminal in Bocaue, Bulacan, or the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange in Parañaque City. Artes said it was the MMDA who requested the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to limit the entry of provincial buses into Metro Manila to avoid congestion. He said provincial bus operators appealed to the MMDA to allow their units to ply EDSA during the so-called window period from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., a scheme that is being tried out for two weeks starting in the last week of March.
READ: Online quiz for Pinoys helps to spot fake news
A NEW online quiz helps sharpen the ability of Filipinos to differentiate between fake and real news. The What the Fake?!: Ang Fake News Challenge ng Bayan, is the brainchild of the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) through the Boses, Opinyon, Siyasat at Siyensya para sa Pilipinas (BOSES Pilipinas). The quiz, which was launched in November 2021, may be accessed through inclusivedemocracy.ph/fakenewschallenge. The test taker is asked to identify if the quotes or infographics of public officials are real or not. Those who have taken the test are encouraged to share it with others to help fight disinformation and misinformation online.
READ: 2nd booster for healthy individuals 'far off'
THE chairman of the country's vaccine expert panel (VEP) believes approval for a second booster shot for healthy individuals will be a long time coming. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the administration of a second booster dose for high-risk groups such as health care workers, senior citizens and persons with immune conditions last week, and is up for approval with the independent Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC). Speaking at a briefing Wednesday, VEP Chairman Dr. Nina Gloriani said a second booster dose for the generally healthy population needs more study. Gloriani also said that while the panel included in its recommendations a second booster shot for persons with chronic medical conditions, such as those with hypertension, diabetes and related co-morbidities, it is still unclear if they will be included in the final guidelines to be issued by the National Vaccination Operations Center. The guidelines for the booster will be implemented as soon as the HTAC approves the Emergency Use Authorization issued by the FDA.
READ: Transport group backs BBM-Sotto tandem
A NATIONAL transport organization on Thursday announced its support for what it called "MarSo" — combining the names of presidential hopeful Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and vice presidential candidate Sen. Vicente "Tito" Sotto 3rd. Led by Mario "Aio" Bautista Jr., national chairman of the Philippine Transport Monitor (PhilTraM), the group, made up of food delivery riders, tricycle and jeepney drivers, said they "will aggressively campaign for 'MarSo' because we believe these two leading national candidates will be the best among other aspirants that will gear our country towards real progress and peace." Bautista said the platforms of the two fit perfectly into their group's advocacy of a better life for low-income earners like food delivery riders as well as jeepney, tricycle and hailing service drivers.
READ: PH tops world list in Catholic baptisms
THE Philippines continues to have the highest number of Catholic baptisms compared to other places in the world, according to data released in the 2020 Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae or the Statistical Yearbook of the Church. According to the Church's statistical yearbook, the Philippines had 1.6 million newly baptized Catholics in 2020, followed by Mexico with 1.53 million and Brazil with 1.12 million. The Philippines also topped the list in 2019. The yearbook also gives detailed figures on the Church's workforce, sacramental life, dioceses and parishes.
BUSINESS: To pay off debt: 6% growth needed
Over to business, economic growth should top 6.0 percent over the next five years for the Philippines to pay off pandemic-related debt, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd said on Thursday. Dominguez went on to say that the next administration, which will take office on June 30 this year, would have to establish requisite policies and adhere to tight budgetary discipline.
SPORTS: Baucas, Norada lead PH wrestlers in SEAG
In sports, the Wrestling Association of the Philippines will send 13 athletes to the 2022 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) scheduled in Vietnam from May 12 to 23. The Nationals will be spearheaded by Jason Baucas and Noel Norada, who respectively ruled the men's Greco-Roman 72kg and 63kg categories during the 2019 SEAG held in the country. The Philippines also pocketed 10 silvers and a bronze to finish second overall behind Vietnam, which collected 12 golds and two silvers in 2019.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Rigoberto Tiglao and Ruben Torres are today's front page columnists. Tiglao projects a 60 to 70 percent victory of presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. in the upcoming elections, while Torres discusses the wages of war in Ukraine and who profits from it.
Today's editorial calls on the Commission on Elections and Smartmatic to part ways. Read a full version on the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
For more news and information, get a copy of The Manila Times on print, subscribe to its digital edition or log on to www.manilatimes.net.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and Keep Up With The Times.
On behalf of The Manila Times, this is Aric John Sy Cua reporting. Have a safe Earth Day Friday.