Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Sunday, May 29, 2022.
READ: BBM economic 'A-team' reassures businessmen
PRESIDENT-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s economic "A-team" has gotten a stamp of approval from the business community which believes that it will work to push for the country's recovery and sustainable economic growth. Marcos recently announced the nomination of Arsenio Balisacan as head of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), while outgoing Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno was nominated as his next Finance secretary. Diokno will be replaced by Felipe Medalla as BSP governor while Alfredo Pascual has also accepted his nomination as head of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). George Barcelon, head of the country's biggest business group Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, lauded the appointment of economic managers who will have a crucial role in the next six years as they face fiscal woes amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
READ: Covid cases up but hospital admissions 'manageable'
THE head of an association of local private hospitals said on Saturday that the rate of admission was manageable despite the recent increase in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the country. The Department of Health (DoH) announced on Tuesday that there was an uptick in the one-week growth rate of Covid-19 but added that what was observed were "sporadic" swells, which cannot be attributed to a singular factor such as the entry of variants of concern or mass gatherings. Independent OCTA Research group has issued a forecast that a "weak surge" of around 2,000 to 3,000 cases per day across the country might be experienced if a variant of concern managed to get through Philippine borders. So far, the country has detected one case of BA.4, 17 cases of BA.2.12.1 and one case of BA.2.12 — sublineages of the highly-infectious Omicron variant of Covid-19. De Grano said that Phapi health workers are taking precaution by taking a second booster shot. He added that the country's hospitals are ready in the event monkeypox arrived, noting that the treatment procedure for the disease is nearly the same as that used for Covid-19.
READ: 'No favors from Marcos despite support'
KINGDOM of Jesus Christ (KJC), The Name Above Every Name, founder and Executive Pastor Apollo Quiboloy said he is not expecting anything in return for supporting the campaign of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. He added that he endorsed the president-elect because his family has long been "avid loyalists." During an exclusive one-on-one interview with The Manila Times Chairman and CEO Dante "Klink" Ang 2nd Friday night, he said it is but natural that during the campaign, candidates would ask for his congregation's support.
READ: Zubiri looms as top bet for Senate president post
SENATE Majority Leader Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri was now perceived as the most formidable contender for the Senate president post. Zubiri will be battling for the position against closest rival Sen. Cynthia Villar and Senator-elect Francis "Chiz" Escudero. A reliable source, who requested anonymity, said Zubiri has now 12 senators committed to electing him to the Senate's top post. The known supporters of Zubiri include Senators Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara, Maria Lourdes "Nancy" Binay, Sherwin Gatchalian, Emmanuel "Joel" Villanueva and Senator-elect JV Ejercito, dubbed as the "seatmates bloc." Senators Mary Grace Poe, Manuel "Lito" Lapid and Senator-elect Loren Legarda were also identified as Zubiri allies. Zubiri, however, said that Escudero is not an enemy, noting that they are in the same group that would decide who will lead the "supermajority" bloc in the chamber, and "leave it at that." A source said that Villar will be supported by the loyalists of President Rodrigo Duterte, including Senators Ronald "Bato" de la Rosa, Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, Francis Tolentino, as well as Senators-elect Robin Padilla and Mark Villar. Sen. Pilar Juliana "Pia" Cayetano and her brother Senator-elect Alan Peter Cayetano are yet to decide on whether to join the supermajority or remain independent. Sen. Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada and Senator-elect Raphael "Raffy" Tulfo are yet to make their choices public. Sen. Maria Imelda Josefa "Imee" Marcos said in a radio interview on Saturday that it is not good for the executive branch to meddle with the internal affairs of the Senate, a co-equal branch. Marcos made the comment when asked if his younger brother, President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, should make known his choice for Senate president. The lady senator also brushed off insinuations that she is eyeing the Senate presidency.
READ: Duterte's remaining nominees face scrutiny
BEFORE the current 18th Congress goes on a sine die adjournment on June 3, the Committee on Constitutional Commissions and the Commission on Appointments (CA) have to decide whether to recommend the confirmation or the disapproval of the remaining nominees of President Rodrigo Duterte to key government posts. The committee chaired by Sen. Cynthia Villar will determine the fitness of President Duterte's nominees to hold key government positions. They will consider the sworn opposition to the appointments of Saidamen Pangarungan as chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) until Feb. 2, 2029 vice Sheriff Abas and Aimee Torrefranca-Neri as Comelec commissioner until Feb. 2, 2029. Those who opposed Pangarungan's confirmation as Comelec chief are Mauyag Papandayan Jr. and Khaledyassin Papandayan, Fr. Enrico V. Montano, and lawyer Dino de Leon. Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio opposed Neri's confirmation.
READ: Pope names Fil-Am to Vatican finance unit
The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis has appointed a Filipino American economist to the Holy See's financial intelligence and anti-money laundering unit. Dr. Roberto Mariano will also serve as board member of the Supervisory and Financial Information Authority. One key task of ASIF is to enforce regulatory measures that will prevent and counter money laundering aimed at channeling finances to terrorism. ASIF is a member of the Egmont Group, the global forum that brings together the financial intelligence units of 152 countries and jurisdictions, and in the context of which rules and best practices for international collaboration and information exchange are shared. According to Vatican News, Mariano is "renowned for many of the econometric models he has helped create that are used today as planning and forecasting tools." Dr. Mariano was born in the province of Rizal in 1944. He moved to the United States in the 1960s and became a naturalized citizen in 1980. He is a professor emeritus of economics at the University of Pennsylvania, where he has been with the faculty since 1971. He also once served as undergraduate chairman in the Department of Economics in the said educational institution.
READ: More robust economy eyed for Davao Region
In business, Davao Region is poised for a more robust economic growth and development this year, thanks to the passage of the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority (MDDA), government and industry officials said. Speaking at the 5th General Membership Meeting of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) on Friday, House Deputy Speaker and Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab highlighted the expected outcomes once the various programs are rolled out following the creation of MDDA. He said that the region may expect a stronger coordination among its component cities and municipalities, in the planning, implementation and monitoring of priority programs and projects, thus paving the way for a synchronized and unified development.
READ: PH wushu bets vie in Global Taijiquan
In sports, the Wushu Federation of the Philippines is participating in the 2022 Global Taijiquan virtual competition. Athletes have to upload their videos from May 11 to June 1 while the judging is scheduled on June 11. The results will be known on June 21. The individual events are Chen, Yang, Wu, Wuu and Sun styles Taijiquan; 24 Simplified Forms Taijiquan, 32 Forms Taijiquan, 42 Forms Taijiquan, 42 Forms Taijijian; and Taijishan. The team events are Taijishan, Taiji (Eight Methods and Five Steps routine), and 24 Simplified Forms Taijiquan. Spearheading the national team are Agatha Chrystenzen Wong and Jones Llabres Inso, both medal winners in the Vietnam SEA Games which concluded on May 23.
Marlen Ronquillo is today's front page columnist, as he believes the current roster of Western leaders is bland to face Russia over its invasion in Ukraine.
Today's editorial discusses the foreign policy of the second Marcos administration. Read a full version on the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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For The Manila Times, this is Paulo Dimaapi.