Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Monday, November 29, 2022.
READ: Create natl maritime agenda, BBM urged
THE Philippines is an archipelagic country with a good seafaring status, but it lacks a national maritime agenda, Brenda Pimentel, former regional coordinator of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in East Asia, said. In an interview on Saturday with SMNI News Channel's "Business and Politics" program host Dante "Klink" Ang 2nd, the chairman and CEO of The Manila Times, she urged President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to create a maritime agenda that will align industry objectives and support his administration's plan to develop infrastructure.
READ: PNP warns public vs crypto scam
THE Philippine National PoliceAnti Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) warned the public not to fall prey to scammers who offer fake crypto investments. PNP-ACG director BGen. Joel Doria said online scammers are working double time to "rob people of their money with only a few days before Christmas and employees starting to receive their Christmas bonuses." Doria said the police received reports that fraudsters have been enticing potential victims by offering "fake" crypto investments. Potential investors are asked to download an app which when installed will require them to cash in their investments in digital wallets listed in the application.
READ: PH, Australia promote regional peace
MANILA and Canberra share a commitment to a region that is peaceful, prosperous and "respectful of sovereignty," a ranking Australian foreign affairs and trade official said. Michelle Chan, Australia's Foreign Affairs and Trade deputy secretary for Southeast Asia and Global Partners, gave the assurance on Saturday when senior Philippine and Australian foreign affairs and defense officials convened for the 6th Philippines-Australia Strategic Dialogue (PASD). Last held virtually in 2020, the PASD is the main forum for the two countries to discuss and coordinate on strategic priorities and matters of mutual importance, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
READ: RITM to stay if CDC is created – lawmaker
THE Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) will not be abolished if the country establishes a Center for Disease Control (CDC), Albay Second District Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente "Joey" Salceda said. Earlier this month, the House Committee on Health approved the substitute bill that seeks to create the said center. The pertinent provisions of the proposed center's charter have been approved by the House Committee on Appropriations and the House Committee on Ways and Means. Salceda, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, said that "the CDC will be primarily a national health emergency management, public policy and research center."
READ: Zamora elected as Metro council head
SAN Juan City Mayor Francisco Javier "Francis" Zamora was elected president of the Metro Manila Council (MMC) during a meeting with the Regional Development Council (RDC) on Saturday. The MMC plans, supervises and monitors the delivery of services in Metro Manila. Zamora was also named as the vice chairman for RDC. Present during the meeting were Manila City Mayor Maria Sheilah "Honey" Lacuna-Pangan, Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin Abalos Sr., Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian, Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Ng-Sandoval, Pateros Mayor Mike Ponce 3rd, Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano, and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose "Jerry" Acuzar.
BUSINESS: Yields hit by rate hikes
Topping business, East Asian economies, the Philippines included, saw bond yields rise and financial conditions worsen further as major advanced economies tightened monetary policy, the Asia Development Bank (ADB) said last week. Rising inflation forced the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank to embark on a rate hike spree this year, which prompted almost all of East Asia's central banks to also tighten policy in response.
SPORTS: PBA shortens Govs' Cup sched for Gilas
In sports, the PBA Board of Governors has agreed to shorten the season-ending Governors' Cup as Asia's oldest play-for-pay cage loop intends to throw its 100 percent support behind Gilas Pilipinas' preparation for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. League commissioner Willie Marcial bared the latest adjustments the PBA will be making following the latest board meeting held before the weekend. Marcial explained that the national squad, which will still be composed of players from the pro league, will again take the lead in the country's quest to regain the men's basketball gold in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia. Bannered predominantly by PBA players, and mentored by Chot Reyes, Gilas Pilipinas failed to defend the country's SEA Games gold medal after bowing to Indonesia last June, snapping the Philippines' 32-year domination of the sport in the region.
Rigoberto Tiglao and Francisco Tatad are today's front page columnists. Tiglao discusses territorial disputes, while Tatad praises an American pro-life leader.
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For The Manila Times, this is Kim Isabelle Dignadice.