Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Tuesday, June 28, 2022.
READ: Covid positivity rates climb - OCTA
THE number of Covid 19-positive tests in the National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila and eight other areas has exceeded the threshold set by the World Health Organization (WHO), OCTA Research said Monday. OCTA Research fellow Guido David said the positivity rate in the NCR climbed to 5.9 percent on June 25 from 3.9 percent on June 18. The WHO recommends a rate of 5 percent or lower to ensure that the coronavirus is under control. The positivity rate refers to the percentage of people who were positive for Covid-19 among the total individuals that were tested for the virus. Other areas with rates above the WHO threshold are Batangas (from 1.2 percent to 5.6 percent), Cagayan (from 1.9 percent to 5.8 percent), Cavite (from 3.6 percent to 6 percent), Iloilo (from 4.4 percent to 5.7 percent), Laguna (from 3.1 percent to 7.5 percent), Pampanga (from 3.3 percent to 5.9 percent), and South Cotabato (from 6.3 percent to 7.4 percent). Rizal province recorded the highest rate, jumping from 6.3 percent on June 18 to 11.9 percent on June 25. Amid the rising Covid-19 cases, Dr. Tony Leachon said the government should seriously consider administering second booster shots to economic frontliners and people with comorbidities. For now, Leachon said, the priority must be to ramp up the first booster shots to the general public.
READ: Next press secretary sees herself as a 'problem solver'
PRESS secretary-designate Rose Beatrix "Trixie" Cruz-Angeles will lean on her years of experience as a lawyer in performing her job as the incoming administration's chief communicator. Describing herself as a "problem solver," the next chief of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) said one of her priorities will be plugging the holes in the PCOO and its attached agencies.
READ: Tulfo eager to have mentors at Senate
SENATOR-ELECT Rafael "Raffy" Tulfo on Monday said he hopes to learn the ropes from the old hands in the Senate. Tulfo attended the Executive Mentoring on Legislative Governance: Setting the tone for the first 100 Days in the 19th Congress.The 18th Congress ends on June 30 and the next one starts on July 25.Deputy Secretary for Legislation Edwin Bellen briefed Tulfo, who placed third in the senatorial race during the May elections, on plenary procedures and committee level processes. Tulfo also had a short tour inside the Senate building. He said he already assembled his staff who are mostly legal experts.
READ: BoC chief tagged as smugglers' protector
CUSTOMS Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero and nine other government officials have been identified as alleged protectors of agricultural smugglers, based on an intelligence report submitted to the Senate. The list was included in the 63-page report of the Senate Committee of the Whole released on Monday on the alleged proliferation of smuggled vegetables and agri-fishery products worth P667.5 million from 2019 to 2022. Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto 3rd, chairman of the Committee of the Whole, on May 17 received a "validated" list that identified customs and agricultural officials allegedly protecting smugglers of agricultural products. They were former mayor and incoming Navotas Rep. Tobias "Toby" Tiangco; Agriculture Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan; Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Director George Culaste; Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Director Eduardo Gongona; Laarni Roxas of BPI's Plant Quarantine Services Division; Customs Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Raniel Ramiro; Customs Deputy Commissioner Vener Baquiran, Director Geofrey Tacio of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service; Yasser Abbas from Import and Assessment; and Guerrero. The same list also contained names of alleged smugglers of agricultural products operating in major ports nationwide such as Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Subic, Batangas and Manila International Container Port in the Port of Manila. They were David Tan also known as David Bangayan, Gerry Teves, Manuel Tan, Jude Logarta, Leah Cruz also known as Luz Cruz and Lilia Matabang Cruz (tagged as "onion queen"), Andy Chua, George Tan, Paul Teves, Tommy Go, Wilson Chua and a certain Mayor Jun Diamante. Agriculture Secretary William Dar has issued a statement on the inclusion of Department of Agriculture officials in the list of alleged agri-smuggling protectors.
BUSINESS: Fitch sees higher borrowing rate
Over to business, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' (BSP) overnight borrowing rate could rise to 3.25 percent by the end of the year, Fitch Solutions said on Monday. The BSP's overnight borrowing rate currently stands at 2.5 percent following successive 25-basis-point adjustments in May and June that also raised the lending and deposit rates to 2.0 percent and 3.0 percent, respectively. Inflation soared to a three-year high of 5.4 percent in May.Fitch Solutions expects the rate to settle at 5.0 percent, higher than the 4.5 percent previously forecast. Inflation is expected to remain elevated over the coming months due to high energy and grains prices as well as a weaker exchange rate that will "drive up imported inflation."
SPORTS: Pinay cagers rout Samoa, enter FIBA semis
Topping sports, THE Gilas Women under 16 squad blasted Samoa, 94-65, to secure a semifinals berth in the FIBA Women's U16 Asian Championship Division B at the Prince Hamza Sporting Hall in Amman, Jordan on Sunday night (Philippine time). Kristan Yumul, who fired a tournament all-time tying record of 33 points built on 9-of-14 three-point shooting last timeout, scored 22 albeit on a 5-of-21 shooting clip this time to lead the Filipinos. Naomi Panganiban put up 14 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals for Gilas, which also swept the Group A, 3-0, of the tournament where the champion will be promoted to Division A. Princess Villarin contributed 13 points and seven boards while Samantha Medina got nine points and seven rebounds.Dianne Nolasco and Kailah Oani chipped in nine points apiece for the Philippines, which seized a 49-34 lead at halftime.The Filipino lady dribblers did not let up in the second half as they led by as many as 31 points, 94-63, following a Sierra Jade Patricio trey with 52.1 seconds to spare in the contest. Gilas will face the winner of the game between Syria and the third seed of Group B on Wednesday.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras and Yen Makabenta are today's front page columnists. Contreras talks about defending the country from rebels, while Makabenta weighs in on abortion.
Today's editorial discusses the profile of incoming National Security Adviser Dr. Clarita Carlos. Read a full version on the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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On behalf of The Manila Times, this is Christian Crow Maghanoy reporting.