Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Friday, October 7, 2022.
READ: Inflation Filipinos' biggest concern
NEARLY seven out of ten Filipinos are worried about the rising prices of basic goods, according to the latest survey by Pulse Asia. In Pulse Asia's September 17 to 21 poll, 66 percent of respondents said the government must focus on controlling inflation. Nearly half, or 44 percent, believe that increasing workers' pay is the prime national concern. The level of concern regarding inflation is 9 percentage points higher than in the last Pulse Asia survey in June. Job creation and poverty reaction followed with 35 and 34 percent, respectively, while 22 percent said corruption must be addressed. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Wednesday that inflation accelerated to 6.9 percent in September, the highest in four years, mainly driven by higher food prices. PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis Mapa said that food prices went up in different regions.
READ: PH ready to take lead in Asean peacekeeping
PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said that the Philippines is ready to take the role of peacekeeper in Southeast Asia, emphasizing it is good for the country's interest and regional security. During a media forum, Marcos said the Philippines has a vital role in keeping peace, particularly amid geopolitical tensions in the region. Marcos also stressed the need to strengthen the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to make it more responsive to future challenges and enable the regional bloc to do more than it has accomplished, suggesting he will raise the issue at Asean meetings in November.
READ: Marcos boasts of 'functional' govt
Meanwhile, the President claimed that he has successfully assembled a "functional" government composed of "the best and brightest" officials during his first 100 days in office. In a press conference during the President's Night organized by the Manila Overseas Press Club in Pasay City on Wednesday, Marcos said he was very grateful to his Cabinet members, particularly his economic managers, for their efforts to put in place plans to "transform" the postpandemic economy. He will mark his 100 days in office on October 8.
READ: Marcos sees PH as top agri resource hub
President Marcos is confident the Philippines will become the "leading agricultural resource hub" in the world as his administration stepped up efforts to develop the country's agricultural industry. In his speech during the opening ceremonies of the Agrilink/ Foodlink/Aqualink 2022 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, the President, who is also the secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), stressed that "the strengthening of the agricultural sector is the strengthening of survival, the strengthening of life." He cited the need to continue to create more opportunities for farmers and fisherfolk, whom he described as the "bedrock of strength and of sustenance."
READ: Half of Pinoys believe PH on right track – PUBLiCUS survey
HALF of Filipinos believe the country is headed in the right direction under President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., according to the latest PUBLiCUS Asia Survey released on Thursday. The Pahayag Third Quarter poll conducted from Sept. 16-20, 2022, said 51 percent of the citizenry are optimistic that the Philippines' current state is strong, while 71 percent believe the Philippines is in the right direction, and 65 percent remain hopeful that things will pick up for the remainder of the year. The figures are slightly lower compared to the second quarter numbers, but the "outlook remains positive" due to the government's projection that the "economic and financial situations will improve," PUBLiCUS noted. The 1,500 respondents listed the Philippine economy, corruption, poverty, high prices/inflation, and jobs creation as the most pressing issues they hope the Chief Executive will address. Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio is the most trusted government official with a 66 percent approval rating followed by Marcos who garnered 62 percent. Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri came in third with 50 percent, followed by House Speaker Martin Romualdez with 46 percent and Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo with 41 percent. They had the same rankings in the trust ratings with Duterte getting 62 percent, Marcos with 58 percent, Zubiri with 41 percent, Romualdez with 39 percent and Gesmundo with 35 percent.
BUSINESS: Govt raises $2B from dollar bond sale
Over to business, the Marcos government raised a total of $2 billion from its first foray into the offshore debt market, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) reported on Thursday. New five- and 10.5-year offerings raised $500 million and $750 million, respectively, while 25-year green bonds accounted for the remaining $750 million. Pricing was set at 5.17 percent, 5.609 percent and 6.1 percent, respectively, for the five-, 10.5- and 25-year papers.
SPORTS: Bay Area Dragons gun for 4-0 start
In sports, guest team Bay Area tries to continue its strong start when it faces the Aldin Ayo-coached Converge team in the main game of the 2022-23 PBA Commissioner's Cup today, October 7, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. The Dragons opened the mid-season conference with three straight victories, with their latest coming off a comefrom-behind 101-91 decision over Phoenix last week. Mentored by decorated international coach Brian Goorjian, Bay Area began the import-spiced conference with a 46-point beating of Blackwater, but faced tough oppositions against NorthPort and Phoenix, although the guest team managed to pull off the wins in the end. Goorjian said having seen the competition during the recent Philippine Cup ruled by San Miguel Beer, they simply need to respect every PBA opponent coming their way.
Rigoberto Tiglao and Charlie Manalo are today's front page columnists. Tiglao says he was a communist because there was no red-tagging back then, while Torres weighs in on last Saturday's Grand Lotto 6/55 draw, which drew 433 winners of its jackpot that day.
Today's editorial believes the Mutual Defense Treaty between the US and the Philippines is badly in need of an overhaul. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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For The Manila Times, this is Kim Isabelle Dignadice.