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Here are the top stories of The Manila Times on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022.
READ: Agriculture exec resigns over sugar import row
DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian stepped down from his post over the unauthorized issuance of a resolution for the importation of an additional 300,000 metric tons of sugar, Malacañang announced late Friday. Press Secretary Rose Beatrix "Trixie" Cruz-Angeles said the embattled official submitted his resignation letter last Thursday, August 11, and "profusely apologized" to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. for approving Sugar Order 4 without the prior consent of the Chief Executive who also concurrently sits as DA Secretary and chairman of the Sugar Regulatory Board (SRB). The Palace official has described as "illegal" Sugar Order 4 issued by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) which supposedly directs the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar because the President as SRB chairman neither authorized the board meeting or its resolution.
READ: Outdated, pricey laptops a 'disservice' to teachers
SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday described as "a great disservice to teachers" the Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management's (PS-DBM) purchase of outdated and overpriced laptops. Gatchalian, who chaired the Senate Committee on Basic Education in the past Congress, cited the 2021 report of the Commission on Audit (CoA) on the Department of Education (DepEd) that noted that the laptops were too expensive for an entry-level computer, "resulting in a significant decrease in the number of units provided to intended users." The DepEd budgeted P2.4 billion for the laptops with funding from the "Bayanihan To Recover As One Act" (Republic Act 11494) or Bayanihan 2.
READ: Network rivals' team-up seen as 'non-competitive'
THE buying of erstwhile media giant ABS-CBN into its competitor TV5 Network will not diminish the competition between them, a local think tank, Infrawatch PH, believes. In a statement, Infrawatch PH convenor Terry Ridon said that the partnership of ABS-CBN and TV5 is a testament to the enduring quality of content produced by the "Kapamilya" network, which has remained cutting edge despite its shutdown in 2020. Ridon said it was also a leap forward for TV5, since it can now compete with the country's broadcasting leader, GMA Network, in terms of advertising revenue, talent and programming. He said the deal was not a "franchise issue," because there was no transfer of controlling stakes requiring congressional approval. ABS-CBN acquired a nearly 35 percent share of TV5, owned by business magnate Manuel Pangilinan, for P2.16 billion last Thursday. The flagship of the Lopezes' media conglomerate can raise its share to as much as 49.92 percent after eight years, if it wants to. In return, Cignal Cable, an affiliate of Pangilinan-owned pay television provider Cignal TV, will acquire 38.88 percent of SkyCable from ABS-CBN, Lopez Inc. and Sky Vision Corp. for P2.465 billion, with an option to bump it up to P4.388 billion after eight years.
READ: Covid cases in Metro Manila trending down, says DoH
COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region or Metro Manila are dropping slightly, an indication that the present wave of subvariant-driven infections has reached its peak. In a media briefing on Friday, Department of Health (DoH) Officer in Charge Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that while many areas in the country were still experiencing an uptick in cases, the number of cases in most of Luzon and the Visayas had reached a plateau. Metro Manila remains under a moderate-risk classification, Vergeire said. The national daily average is 4,025 cases, or 9 percent higher than that from the previous week, and the country is still classified as low risk, she said. Cagayan Valley and the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) regions have reached their average daily attack rate (ADAR) thresholds for moderate risk, while the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region's intensive care unit utilization rate is considered high risk, with one severe and one critical case reported. The national positivity rate rose slightly, from 18 percent to 18.5 percent, while ICU, severe and critical case admissions are up but remain below 1,000.
In Business
READ: PPPs to help attain inclusive growth
THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) sees the critical role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in helping the government achieve inclusive and sustained economic growth. In his speech as keynote speaker at a luncheon meeting with the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said that through PPPs, the government seeks to tap the private sector's capacity to provide resources and expertise, as well as ability to undertake projects of significant scale in recognition of the country's fiscal constraints. He also emphasized the crucial role of the private sector in the government's strategy to achieve its medium-term macroeconomic targets. The priorities are outlined in the Marcos administration's eight-point socioeconomic agenda, which is the framework that will anchor the 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan.These sentiments are in line with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s statements during his first State of the Nation Address, wherein the President stated that PPPs provide great potential for expansion, infrastructure development and innovation.
Topping Sports
READ: New-look Gilas Pilipinas shaping up
NBA star Jordan Clarkson and Kai Sotto on board Gilas Pilipinas is probably the much-needed good news local basketball fans want to hear as a step towards shaping up the team's roster for the coming FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifier. It is also a sneak preview of what we can expect for next year's hosting of the World Cup, where all stakeholders of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas had to throw in their full support in putting up not just the best assembled team in the biggest basketball event, but also in showcasing the country's world-class hosting skills. Clarkson is reportedly due next week while Sotto will be here soon, too. They will join the Gilas Pilipinas squad in the coming August window of the World Cup in Beirut when the Philippines takes on Lebanon on August 26 and will play again on August 29 at home, this time, against Saudi Arabia.
READ: EJ Obiena banners PH's top achievers
THE Philippines celebrated amazing achievements in various sporting fronts in the jolly month of July. Pole vault ace Ernest John "EJ" Obiena, the women's football team Filipinas, karate stalwart Junna Tsukii, and new pro boxing champ Dave Apolinario took turns bringing honors to the country, earning the nod from the Philippine Sportswriters Association as the top performers in the glorious month. Obiena vaulted to a new Asian-high mark of 5.94 meters, eclipsing his own 5.93m-standard, on his way to capturing a historic bronze medal in the World Athletics Championships in Oregon. The feat strengthened the 26-year-old's standing among the elite and lifted him to No. 3 in the latest world rankings.
READ: Kim, Spaun share Memphis lead
South Korean Kim Si-woo holed out for eagle from the fairway at the 18th hole on Thursday (Friday in Manila) to grab a share of the first-round lead alongside J.J. Spaun at the US PGA Tour St. Jude Championship.Kim and Spaun both posted eight-under par 62 to open the tour's FedEx Cup playoffs, the three-tournament series that culminates with the Tour Championship where an $18 million winner's prize will be on offer. Kim hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation at TPC Southwind on Thursday, but his most spectacular hole didn't involve a putt. He was on the right side of the fairway at the 453-yard 18th, where his eight-iron from 171 yards out found the hole. Kim followed his birdies at the second and third with a three-putt bogey at the fourth. Feeling uncomfortable on the greens, he said he changed his putting grip and then rolled in a 21-foot birdie from the fringe at the 10th before making four birdies in a row at the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th. Spaun's day also included a run of four straight birdies, from the ninth through the 12th. He started with a 14-foot birdie at the first and a four-footer at the second, rolled in a 17-footer at the ninth and added two more birdies at 16 and 18.
The Times' Editorial takes exception to one of the 110 bills that lapsed into law. It says that Republic Act (RA) 11901, or the "Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development Financing Enhancement Act of 2022" was a win for the economy. Read the full version on the print and DIgital editions or listen to the Voice of the Times. Featured columnists in the front page are Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta and Danton Remoto. Contreras writes about movies and mental health; Makabenta on how President Marcos must build state capacity; and Remoto about Zadie Smith on Covid-19.
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This is Paulo Dimaapi reporting.