Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Tuesday, September 27, 2022.
THE strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year left at least six people dead, authorities said Monday. Typhoon "Karding" (international name: "Noru") toppled trees, knocked out power and flooded low-lying communities as it swept across Luzon on Sunday and Monday. Five rescuers were killed after they were sent to help flooded residents in San Miguel town in Bulacan. LtCol. Romualdo Andres, San Miguel chief of police, said the rescuers were wading through floodwaters when a wall beside them collapsed, sending them into the fast current. An elderly man died after he was hit by a landslide in Burdeos municipality on the Polillo Islands, part of Quezon province, where the storm made landfall, said Garner Jimenez from the local civil defense office.
REGIONS: 5,239 displaced by 'Karding' in Bulacan
THE provincial government of Bulacan has recorded 5,239 Bulakenyos who left their homes and took shelter in various evacuation centers in the province to escape the onslaught of Super Typhoon 'Karding' since Sunday. Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office head Rowena Tiongson said a total of 117 evacuation centers sheltered 1,571 families, including 1,447 children and 231 senior citizens, all over the province. Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando immediately responded and distributed family food packs and nonfood items to the families temporarily sheltered at the Obando Municipal Hall on Monday morning.
READ: New Covid cases in NCR exceed August peak
In other news, the National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila logged 1,600 new Covid-19 cases on September 25, surpassing the peak of 1,502 cases recorded on August 7, OCTA Research reported on Monday. The Covid positivity rate in the region has also gone up, from 15.7 percent on September 15, to 18.5 percent on September 24, exceeding August 5 rate of 17.5 percent, OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said.
READ: Pinoys prioritize hygiene over food during emergencies
FILIPINOS are more likely to buy personal care and hygiene products than food during disasters or emergencies, a study showed. A research on Filipino shopping habits conducted by Packworks Sari IQ and which it shared with The Manila Times on Monday showed that 18 percent of the sales of sari-sari or small convenience stores is made up of haircare products.
READ: Review nuclear power strategies, govt urged
PANGASINAN Second District Rep. Mark Cojuangco and Alpas Pilipinas urged the executive branch to act on President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s desire to reexamine strategies for building nuclear power plants in the Philippines. The President said this in the light of the impending power crisis caused by the high and still-rising prices of coal and gas.
BUSINESS: IMF slashes 2022 GDP growth to 6.5%
Topping in business, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday reduced its growth forecast for the Philippines for 2022 and 2023 due to the economic slowdown and other financial factors. In a press briefing, the IMF said it is projecting the country's gross domestic product (GDP) growth for 2022 to be at 6.5 percent, weaker than its previous forecast of 6.7 percent. It added that the projected growth for next year is at 5 percent, down from 6.3 percent. According to the IMF, the significant downward reduction in 2023 was related to the monetary policy tightening carried out by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) this year.
SPORTS: Knights eye share of lead
In sports, up and down has been the start for defending champion Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 98 men's basketball tournament. Now, the three-peat seeking Knights aim to stay on the up and get a winning run going at the expense of the Mapua University Cardinals, whom they beat in last season's Finals. The Finals rematch is set on Tuesday at 3 p.m. at the FilOil EcoOil Center, as the oldest collegiate basketball league in the country returns to action after suspending its double-header last Sunday due to Typhoon "Karding." Letran has not been its usual dominant self that swept all of last season when the Knights was led by Rookie-MVP awardee Rhenz Abando.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras and Ben Kritz are today's front page columnists. Contreras believes rebellion is not terrorism, while Kritz discusses the future of fuel.
Today's editorial tackles the need of support in the book industry. Read the full version in the paper's opinion or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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On behalf of The Manila Times, this is Aric John Sy Cua reporting.