Good day.
Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.
READ: 'Manila, Jakarta deals to build Asean peace'
AFTER his "very productive" state visit to Jakarta, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. expressed confidence that the agreements entered into by the Philippines and Indonesia will build "a peaceful and more united" Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). In a Facebook post, Marcos thanked President Joko Widodo, first lady Iriana Widodo, government ministries and the Indonesian people for their "kindness and hospitality." Marcos' three-day state visit to Indonesia yielded at least four agreements in defense, cultural cooperation and economy. The signed deals were presented to Marcos and Widodo on Monday after their bilateral meeting at the Teratai Hall of the Bogor Presidential Palace in West Java, Indonesia. Other highlights of the President's visit was a state state banquet hosted by Widodo and a roundtable with Indonesian business leaders from various sectors, including energy, transportation, agriculture and defense.
READ: Rodriguez: BBM didn't want to import 600K MT of sugar
EXECUTIVE Secretary Victor Rodriguez has denied the insinuation that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. had mentioned about the possibility of importing 600,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar. Rodriguez made the remark on Tuesday when senators asked him to confirm or deny the claim of resigned Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) chief Hermenegildo Serafica that Marcos brought the idea of importing 600,000 MT of sugar.The Senate blue ribbon committee, led by Sen. Francis Tolentino, conducted its third hybrid hearing on the alleged questionable sugar importation scandal under Sugar Order 4. Serafica, who attended virtually, explained that he did not say explicitly that Marcos "suggested" to import 600,000 MT of sugar. Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri deplored that the President's name was dragged into the controversy and asked Rodriguez to confirm or deny Serafica's statement about the President asking for 600,000 MT. Rodriguez, who was forced to attend the probe of the sugar importation scandal after the panel issued a subpoena compelling him to attend — whether physically or virtually — the hybrid hearing. It was Sen. Ana Theresia "Risa" Hontiveros, who motioned to compel Rodriguez to attend the probe after he failed to face the inquiry for two consecutive hearings.
READ: Vaccines with extended shelf life safe – expert
COVID-19 vaccines continue to remain safe and effective even if their shelf life is extended by manufacturers, an infectious disease expert said. The assurance comes after the Public Attorney's Office claimed that the Department of Health (DoH) uses "expired" vaccines in its Covid-19 booster vaccination program. In a briefing on Tuesday, Dr. Rontgene Solante said the DoH would not use these vaccines if the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did not give its approval for the extension of their shelf life. Health Officer in Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said in her media briefing on Monday there was no truth to the assertions that the vaccines being used in the booster vaccination program were expired, as their shelf life had already been extended. She added that manufacturers had made stability studies on the batches of vaccines in the country that was used as a basis for the FDA to extend their shelf life.
READ: Public warned vs Legionnaires' disease
AN infectious disease expert said pipes and air-conditioning units in buildings should be checked to prevent the presence of the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease. The disease, caused by the Legionella strain of bacteria, was said to be the cause of a pneumonia-like outbreak that sickened 11 persons and caused four deaths in Argentina last August. Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease include persistent coughing, fever, myalgia or body pain that could lead to severe infection and death among immunocompromised individuals, and those with chronic lung disease if not given immediate and proper treatment. In a briefing on Tuesday, Dr. Rontgene Solante said the Legionella virus thrives in water systems in buildings such as ventilation and cooling systems, as well as hot tubs and even swimming pools. He added that tests for Legionnaire's disease are available in the country. The disease can be treated using antibiotics. To prevent the disease, Solante urged those high-risk individuals to maintain a healthy lifestyle and take their maintenance medicine for those with hypertension and other conditions.
READ: Times' forum takes on learning recovery amid Covid pandemic
THOUSANDS of schools nationwide reopened their doors in August for in-person classes after two years of distance learning and learning losses from the Covid-19 pandemic with unreliable internet connectivity and a lack of funds for gadgets for students and teachers. Today, September 7, The Manila Times Online Education Forum will discuss strategies for education learning recovery in "After Modules and Modems: Education Revolution" to address low scores in international assessments in math, science and reading, and other concerns affecting learning such as bullying and malnutrition among the youth. Joining the forum are Rhodora "Doris" Fernandez-Ferrer, Private Education Assistance Committee executive director; Joseph Noel Estrada, a lawyer and managing director of the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (Cocopea); and lawyer Michael Wesley Poa, spokesman for the Department of Education (DepEd).
Topping Business
READ: Inflation slightly eases to 6.3% in Aug
THE inflation rate eased to 6.3 percent in August from 6.4 percent in July, data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Tuesday showed. Although August's inflation rate exceeded the government's target of 2 to 4 percent, it was within the 5.9- to 6.7-percent range of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). National Statistician Dennis Mapa attributed the slight decrease of the inflation rate to the slower price increase in transport and selected food and beverage items. He pointed out that the lower annual increment recorded in the index for transport eased to 14.6 percent from 18.1 percent in the previous month. Mapa added that food and non-alcoholic beverages posted an inflation rate of 6.3 percent in August 2022 and contributed 41.5 percent to the nation's total inflation decrease. The inflation for food at the national level decreased from 7.1 percent last month to 6.5 percent this month. It was lower at 5.9 percent in August 2021.
READ: Peso closes at 57 vs US dollar
THE Philippine peso closed at a record low of P57 against the United States dollar at the Philippine Dealing System on Tuesday, the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) said. According to BAP, the local currency opened slightly weaker at P56.888. The Philippine peso hit an intraday high of P56.86 before losing steam to touch an intraday low of P57 to a dollar. Tuesday's weighted average exchange rate was P56.95, slightly weaker than Monday's P56.941. Volume reached $812.19 million on Tuesday, lower than the $976.45 million in the previous session. The dollar's value continued to appreciate against most regional counterparts after US Federal Reserve officials maintained their hawkish stance.
In Sports
READ: Nadal stunned by Tiafoe at US Open
Rafael Nadal fell to his earliest US Open loss in six years on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) when he was knocked out by Frances Tiafoe while Iga Swiatek became the first Polish woman to reach the quarterfinals. Four-time US Open champion Nadal, bidding for a 23rd Grand Slam title, lost 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the last-16 to 26th-ranked Tiafoe. The American's free-swinging performance conjured up 18 aces and 49 winners past a sluggish Nadal. For Australian and French Open champion Nadal, it was a first Grand Slam loss of 2022 after an abdominal strain forced him to forfeit his Wimbledon semifinal. His defeat came just a day after world number one and defending champion Daniil Medvedev was knocked out in the fourth round by Nick Kyrgios.
READ: Yankees' Judge belts 54th home run of year
New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge continued his march toward Roger Maris' American League record of 61 home runs in a season on Monday (Tuesday in Manila), pounding his 54th in a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. Judge's two-run blast off Twins reliever Trevor Megill in the sixth inning broke a 2-2 tie, soaring 404 feet down the left field line and into the second level of stands at Yankee Stadium. Judge's Major League Baseball leading 54th homer, in his 131st game of the season, has him on pace to surpass the 61 homers the Yankees' Maris delivered in 1961 — when he broke the then single-season record of 60 set by Babe Ruth in 1927. Barry Bonds now holds the MLB single-season record of 73 home runs, but Judge looks poised to surpass Maris for the AL and Yankees franchise record.
In its Editorial today, the Times takes the cudgels for the Philippine General Hospital whose budget, it says, needs to be increased and not cut. Read the full version on print, on the paper's digital edition or listen to The Voice of the Times. Featured columnists on the front page are Marlen Ronquillo and Fr. Ranhilio Aquino. Ronquillo writes about 'Distribution,' the word that's missing from the elite's keyboards; Aquino on the objections raised against House Bill 991 or a measure that seeks to strengthen the Commission on Higher Education.
For more news and information, get a copy of The Manila Times on print, subscribe to its digital edition or log on to www.manilatimes.net. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and Keep Up With The Times.
This is Kim Dignadice reporting.