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Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Monday, Aug. 15, 2022.
READ: Covid positivity rate in NCR dips
OCTA Research said the Covid-19 positivity rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) dropped by 1.1 percent from August 6 to August 12. In a tweet on Sunday, OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David noted that the drop from 17.5 to 16.4 percent on August 12 was the first time that the positivity rate had dipped since the cases spiked this year. The number of cases was highest on August 7 at 1,530 and lowest at 828 on August 9. It moved up again from 1,110 on August 10 to 1,489 on August 12. Similarly, the reproduction number, or the number of people who could be infected by someone with Covid, also dropped to 1.17. OCTA had said the decline in the growth rate and reproduction number boosts the hope that the cases could peak by the third week of August.
READ: Imee: What onion shortage?
SEN. Maria Imelda Josefa "Imee" Marcos said she is "unconvinced" there is a shortage of white onions because the Department of Agriculture (DA) has not presented an inventory of the crop. Marcos renewed her tirade against the Agriculture department, this time for its reported plan to import white onions. She earlier blasted the attempt to import sugar under a dubious authority that forced the resignation of a top Agriculture official. The senator noted that at the height of the sugar import fiasco last week, about P36 million worth of onions misdeclared as "spring roll patties" and "plain churros" were confiscated in Misamis Oriental.
READ: US employers struggle to find enough workers
"Help Wanted" ads are proliferating across the United States as companies struggle to deal with a worker shortage caused by the pandemic, a rash of early retirements and restrictive immigration laws. More than 10 million openings went unfilled in June, according to government data, while fewer than 6 million people were seeking work, even as employers desperately try to boost hiring amid a frenzy of consumer spending. Many of those who stopped working as Covid-19 first ravaged the US economy in early 2020 have never returned. And where have all these people gone? Many simply took early retirement.
READ: PCCI head guarded on BBM economic agenda
THE head of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) is "cautiously optimistic" about the economic agenda of the administration of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. During an interview with The Manila Times Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dante "Klink" Ang 2nd on SMNI's television program "Business and Politics," PCCI President George Barcelon said that while he was guarded about the economic agenda, he noted that the administration's economic team is composed of people with impressive track records. By deciding to take over the most challenging Cabinet portfolio, the Department of Agriculture, Marcos is "taking the bull by the horns," Barcelon said. The agriculture sector needs investments in infrastructure, irrigation, post-harvest facilities, harvesters, and making it happen needs political will, he said.
Topping Business
READ: Nomura cuts PH growth forecast
JAPANESE investment firm Nomura has lowered its 2022 Philippine growth forecast, citing a "disappointing" second-quarter result and an expected second-half slowdown. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth not only lost significant momentum in March to April by slowing to 7.4 percent year on year from 8.2 percent three months earlier but also shrank by 0.1 percent quarter on quarter in an indication that total output was still only marginally above pre-Covid levels. As low base effects diminish, the projection also implies a considerable second-half slowdown to 4.9 percent year on year from 7.8 percent in the first half, it continued. Nomura also said that the labor market's recovery was far from complete given that unemployment remained at 6 percent in June compared to its 4.6-percent pre-Covid level.
In Sports
READ: Gilas workout gets underway
TWO-TIME grand slam coach Tim Cone will start joining Gilas Pilipinas' practice today, August 15, as the national squad begins its preparations for the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. Cone confirmed that he'll start joining the practices, although the squad won't be able to do a full scrimmage on the first day of practice pending the arrival of Kai Sotto and NBA star Jordan Clarkson.Sotto, the 7-foot-3 center who has been recalled to join the Adelaide 36ers to play with them in NBL Australia, is scheduled to arrive on August 18 while Clarkson, the star guard from the Utah Jazz, is likely to come here a day after. Aside from the inclusion of these two high caliber players in the much-improved roster of Gilas Pilipinas, the national team has yet to complete its roster for the next window of the World Cup Asian Qualifiers.The Philippines will play Lebanon in Beirut on August 25 (August 26, 2 a.m. in Manila), then return to the country and host Saudi Arabia on August 29.
READ: POC TO IMMORTALIZE DIAY IN MUSEUM
THE Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) will immortalize the late Asian Sprint Queen Lydia de Vega at the soon to rise POC Museum at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. POC President and Cavite Seventh District Rep. Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino made the promise to de Vega's daughter, Stephanie Mercado Koenigswarter, and mother Mary de Vega when he visited de Vega's wake at the Heritage Park in Taguig City on Saturday morning. De Vega dominated track and field in the region in her prime, winning back-to-back Asian Games 100 meters gold medals in New Delhi 1982 and Seoul 1986, two 100 and two 200 meters titles in the Asian championships in Singa pore 1983 and Kuwait 1987 and nine Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medals from 1983 to 1987.
The Times in its editorial talks of tough times driving growth in sea piracy. Read the full version on print and digital editions or listen to the Voice of the Times. Rigoberto Tiglao and Fr. Ranhilio Aquino are the featured columnists on today's front page. Tiglao tackles the fiasco over sugar imports as the Marcos government's first serious controversy; Aquino on philosophy and the law.
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This is Paulo Dimaapi reporting.