Good day. Here are the stories of The Manila Times for Friday, December 2, 2022.
READ: Marcos pushes joint exploration of WPS
PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Thursday said the Philippine government will find "other ways" to proceed with the joint exploration with China of the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) if government-to-government talks do not work out. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Kadiwa ng Pasko Caravan in Quezon City, Marcos said oil exploration is a "small thing" for China but something significant for the Philippines. The President said the constitutional problems delaying the joint exploration must be resolved. Marcos' predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, had terminated joint-exploration discussions with Beijing. The two countries signed the memorandum of understanding in 2018, but the Philippine government said the goal of developing the oil and gas resources was not achieved.
READ: Ban on imported fish enforced on Dec 4
AN official of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Thursday said the ban on the imported pompano, salmon and other unauthorized imported fish will be implemented as scheduled on Sunday, December 4. In an interview with The Manila Times, BFAR Information and Fisherfolk Coordination Unit chief Nazario Briguera said the talks with stakeholders are ongoing and their feedback together with the recommendation from lawmakers, are being considered.
READ: Palanca Awards returns, honors 60 writers
THE Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature ended its two-year hiatus on Wednesday night with its 70th edition honoring nearly 60 writers, including a broadcast journalist, a prizewinning independent filmmaker and a Bacolod-based poet-lawyer. On the sidelines of the awarding ceremony in Taguig City, Criselda "Dang" Cecilio-Palanca of awards sponsor Carlos Palanca Foundation told The Manila Times that seeing Filipino writers at the annual literary gathering "happy to be here, to see each other again" was "really heartwarming."
READ: Role of MSMEs, OFWs as growth drivers lauded
GO Negosyo founder Jose Maria "Joey" Concepcion 3rd on Thursday recognized the role of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as drivers of the country's economic growth, ahead of the nonprofit organization's celebration of its 17th anniversary. Go Negosyo will mark the event with Kabaya 2022, an entrepreneurship forum and mentoring event specially organized for OFWs and their families, at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
READ: Smuggled white onions flooding local markets
FARMERS' group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) president Rosendo So on Thursday said that smuggled white onions flood the local wet markets, saying confiscated bulbs of the Department of Agriculture (DA) only represent 10 percent of the illegal products. So was referring to the 105 sacks of smuggled white onions recently intercepted in three public markets in Metro Manila. The smuggled white onions totaling 744 kilos and valued at P225,000 were seized at Divisoria Market in Manila, Mutya ng Pasig Public Market in Pasig City and Balintawak Market in Quezon City.
READ: Marcos to meet with hog raisers on pork situation in Philippines
Meanwhile, So on Thursday said that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will meet with hog raisers to discuss the current pork situation in the country. In a radio interview, So also questioned the statement of the Department of Agriculture (DA) on the supposed shortage of pork supply when the local pig raisers have yet to submit figures to the agency. During a Laging Handa briefing, Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Livestock Research and Development Supervising Science Research Specialist Lani Plata Cerna said that there is a slight shortage in the pork supply in the last quarter. She said the country is 95 percent sufficient compared to 121 percent sufficient in the third quarter.
READ: 24/7 free bus rides roll out on EDSA
THE monthlong 24/7 free ride on the Edsa Busway rolled out on Thursday, December 1, as the government's gift to commuters this Christmas season. According to the Department of Transportation (DoTr), the free ride scheme will last until December 31. The DoTr increased the number of buses traveling the Edsa Busway in anticipation of the influx of passengers this coming Christmas season as malls in Metro Manila begin to operate until 11 pm. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the initiative is a way to ensure that all commuters will have a ride beyond the usual operating hours on the Edsa Busway.
BUSINESS: PH manufacturing extends growth run
Topping business, factory output expanded at a faster pace in November on the back of greater domestic demand, S&P Global said on Thursday. At 52.7, the country's latest purchasing managers' index (PMI) was up slightly from October's 52.6. Readings above 50 indicate gains while those below point to a decline. In particular, manufacturing output and factory orders grew for a third consecutive month, were the fastest since June, and "were strong in context of historical data," S&P Global said. This was despite export conditions remaining weak during November, with new export orders continuing contractions that began in March.
SPORTS: Hotshots gun for QF bonus
In sports, with its eyes on the twice-to/beat incentive, Magnolia Chicken Timplados shoots for no less than a victory against Rain or Shine when they collide today, December 2, at the close of the single-round elimination round playdate of the 2022-23 PBA Commissioner's Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig. The Hotshots tote a 9-2 card entering their 5:45 p.m. match against the Elasto Painters (5- 6). A win automatically grants Magnolia the last disputed twiceto-beat advantage heading to the quarterfinals. A Magnolia win also relegates Barangay Ginebra to a best-ofthree series since the Gin Kings closed out their elims assignment with a 9-3 record. Bay Area will head to the playoffs as the top seed owing to its 10-2 card. The Dragons also beat the Hotshots over a week ago.
Rigoberto Tiglao, Stephen CuUnjieng and Francisco Tatad are today's front page columnists. Tiglao said President Marcos should take advantage of his high approval ratings, CuUnjieng discusses structural deficits and disasters, while Tatad discusses political talking points.
Today's editorial discusses what could be the second part of the so-called "Pastillas scheme" involving the Bureau of Immigration. 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.