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Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Thursday, June 2, 2022.
READ: Zubiri next Senate chief
SEN. Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri will take the post to be vacated by Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto 3rd on June 30.Zubiri had no competition for the Senate presidency after Sen. Cynthia Villar backed out of the race for the top post in the chamber. Villar on Wednesday said she is "no longer interested" in the position. The Senate adjourns sine die on June 3. Villar said she opted to have Zubiri form a "supermajority" bloc. The senator added that she is not interested in a term-sharing agreement with Zubiri. Villar vowed to continue with her advocacies which are agriculture and environment. The new set of Senate leaders for the 19th Congress was finalized on Wednesday. Zubiri revealed that returning senator Lorna Regina "Loren" Legarda will be the Senate president pro tempore while reelected Sen. Emmanuel Joel Villanueva will be the majority leader. The minority bloc is expected to be led by Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel 3rd with reelected Sen. Ana Theresia "Risa" Hontiveros as member.
READ: Duterte appointees bypassed by Commission on Appointments
THE Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday bypassed, for lack of a quorum, the confirmation of five officials appointed by outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte to three constitutional bodies.These were Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan, Comelec Commissioners George Garcia and Aimee Torrefranca-Neri, Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chairman Karlo Nograles and Commission on Audit (CoA) Chairman Rizalina Justol. All were appointed by Duterte in March. The 18th Congress will adjourn sine die on June 3 and will officially end on June 30. Sen. Cynthia Villar, chairman of the CA's Committee on Constitutional Commissions and Offices, presided over the resumption of the meeting on the ad interim appointments of the heads of the Comelec, CoA and CSC. She said she adjourned the meeting for lack of a quorum in the 24-member committee.
READ: Erwin Tulfo to focus on youth rehab
Incoming Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) secretary Erwin Tulfo said on Wednesday that he will focus on youth rehabilitation, record-cleansing for 4Ps subsidies, being on the ground during disasters and DSWD personnel professionalization. Speaking at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay Forum, Tulfo outlined his top priorities for the department, where he will succeed Secretary Rolando Joselito Bautista. The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is the government's national poverty reduction initiative, as mandated in Republic Act 11310, or "An Act institutionalizing Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)." Tulfo also promised to assess the risk and disaster management systems in place in different areas, in addition to serving efficiently on the ground. He emphasized the need for DSWD personnel to be disciplined in providing the highest level of professional service, citing feedback on certain employees who are unwilling to provide goods to Filipinos in need.
READ: 8 senators bid Senate goodbye
EIGHT senators will bid the Senate farewell today — three ending their terms while the five others failed in their reelection bid. Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto 3rd, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto and Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon were at the end of their second six-year term. Senators in the Philippines are elected to a six-year term. They can serve for not more than two consecutive terms. Sotto ran for vice president in the May 9 national elections but lost. Senators Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao and Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan were all eligible for reelection but opted to run for higher office. Lacson and Pacquiao ran for president while Pangilinan ran for vice president. All three lost. Senators Richard "Dick"Gordon and Leila de Lima sought reelection but failed to secure another fresh mandate.
Topping Business
READ: Group sees 9% growth in 2022
THE Philippine economy is projected to grow by as much as 9 percent this year driven by the continued implementation of reforms started by the Duterte administration. In a statement on Wednesday, Henry Lim Bon Liong, president of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII), said they are optimistic that economic growth could range from 7 to 9 percent this year despite global uncertainties such as the Russia-Ukraine war, rising interest rates and inflationary pressures. He said one of the reasons for the bullish forecast include President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos' move to appoint "exemplary leaders to take charge of the Philippine economy." Recently appointed officials include Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno, who will be the next Finance secretary; Felipe Medalla as the next BSP governor; Arsenio Balicasan as the next secretary of National Economic Development Authority; and Alfredo Pascual as the next Trade secretary.
In Sports,
READ: Nadal tops Djokovic in quarterfinal thriller
Rafael Nadal insists he can't know for sure whether any match might be his very last at a place he loves, a place he is loved. For now, if he keeps winning and keeps performing the way he did during his monumental quarterfinal victory that began in May and ended in June, Nadal will have more chances to play. With a mix of brilliant shot-making and his trademark resilience, Nadal got past the top-seeded defending French Open champion Novak Djokovic 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4) to move a step closer to his 14th championship at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament and what would be a 22nd major trophy overall, adding to records that he already owns.
READ: Warriors, Celtics poised for NBA Finals classic
A resurgent Golden State Warriors are bidding to reclaim their throne at basketball's summit against a Boston Celtics team chasing history when the NBA Finals tip-off on Thursday (Friday in Manila).After a gruelling regular season and a roller coaster playoff campaign, Golden State and Boston will open their best-of-seven finals showdown on Thursday in what has all the makings of a classic between two evenly matched teams. Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson are expected to lead the charge for the Warriors who have been in the NBA Finals five times in a row between 2015 and 2019, winning three championships. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are expected to anchor Boston's offense with Marcus Smart and Robert Williams 3rd providing formidable defense as the Celtics seek their 18th NBA title that would put them one clear of their bitter rivals the Los Angeles Lakers.
READ: Opinion/Editorial
The Times editorial asks govt to encourage flexible work arrangements. Read the full text on print or its Digital edition or listen to The Voice of the Times. The featured columnists on the front page today are Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta and Danton Remoto. Contreras says the opposition needs a political reboot; Makabenta on why the president-elect will be his own spokesman on certain issues and questions; and Remoto on the brink of a new world.
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This is Christian Crow Maghanoy reporting.