Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Tuesday, December 13, 2022.
READ: Give Maharlika bill a chance – Marcos
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. voiced his support for the Maharlika Wealth Fund (MWF), saying the controversial proposal will benefit the country through the added investments it will bring. The administration's economic managers — Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Felipe Medalla — are strongly backing the MWF, insisting it would fast-track the government's efforts to reach inclusive and sustainable economic growth outlined in the President's Medium Term Fiscal Framework, 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda and 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan. Among the direct benefits they cited are increased investments in and funding of big-ticket infrastructure projects through Marcos' "Build Better More" initiative, high-return green and blue projects, and countryside development.
READ: NCR positivity rate up slightly
THE Covid-19 positivity rates in the National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila and several provinces have risen over the past week, OCTA Research said. An infographic shared by OCTA senior research fellow Dr. Guido David showed that NCR's positivity rate increased from 12.4 percent last December 3 to 14.4 percent on December 10. Nearby provinces Bulacan, Cavite, and Rizal posted rate increases as high as 2 percent, while the rate in Laguna is down from 19.2 percent to 16.7 percent. Other areas with positivity rate increases are Albay, Batangas, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Kalinga, La Union, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, Tarlac and Zambales. Albay, Benguet, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Kalinga, La Union, Nueva Ecija, Rizal and Tarlac are now classified by OCTA as moderate risk areas, while Kalinga is high risk. The Department of Health (DoH) has stopped using the positivity rate as a barometer of case increases due to many people resorting to antigen testing. Meanwhile, the DoH said it remains hopeful that the law on the creation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be passed within the year so that it could continue its key programs such as Covid-19 vaccination and retain price regulation of essential pandemic items. The state of public health emergency covering the Covid-19 pandemic is expected to lapse at the end of the year.
READ: Marcos pushes all-out support for seamen
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. put on notice government agencies concerned with the training, certification and deployment of Filipino seafarers to prevent at least 50,000 of them employed by Europe-based shipping companies from losing their jobs. The agencies include the Departments of Transportation (DoTr), Labor and Employment (DoLE), Migrant Workers (DMW), and Foreign Affairs (DFA); the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd); and the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina). The Philippines has been flagged by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) for deficiencies in seafarer training and education, and risks being banned if they are not immediately addressed. Marcos has ordered the creation of a body to ensure that the country complies with EMSA evaluation and passes the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). He reiterated that steps must be taken now to ensure employment will continue for seafarers, who contribute around $6 billion to the Philippine economy.
READ: I'm not a rights abuser – Quiboloy
PASTOR Apollo Quiboloy, Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Name Above Every Name founder, denied on Monday that he is a human rights abuser and claimed that it was his human rights that have been abused. Quiboloy made the statement after the United States government slapped financial sanctions against him for alleged involvement in human rights abuse. He said he had been "tarred and feathered in the face of the whole world before even going to trial."
READ: 'DoH abandoned dengvaxia children'
ENRAGED parents whose children have been continuously suffering from the alleged serious adverse effects of the anti-dengue Dengvaxia vaccine have assailed the Department of Health (DoH) for abandoning them when it reportedly failed to renew its memorandum of agreement (MoA) with private hospitals for a special lane for their kids. The Samahan ng mga Magulang ang mga Anak ay Biktima ng Dengvaxia (SMABD) led by its president, Sumachen Dominguez, accused the DoH officials of being remiss in their duties.
READ: NTC releases IRR of SIM card registration law
THE National Telecommunication Commission has released the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the SIM Card Registration Law which is expected to be implemented on Dec. 27, 2022. Under the IRR, telco subscribers who will not comply with the rules will have their SIM cards deactivated. The operators or public telecommunications entities (PTE) who do not register a subscriber's SIM card may be fined up to P1 million. Subscribers need only to submit any valid government-issued ID with their photo to register their SIM. Subscribers are given 180 days from the effectivity of the law to register their SIM cards. Registration will be done electronically using a secure platform or website provided by the telcos.
READ: DILG backs unified ticketing system
THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) backed the implementation of a unified ticketing system, with Interior Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. saying the system will lead to better enforcement of traffic rules and regulations for the benefit of motorists and commuters in Metro Manila. He said it will also put to rest the issues on the confiscation of drivers' licenses.
BUSINESS: Foreign investments drop to $626M in Sept
Topping business, net foreign direct investments (FDI) shrank to $626 million in September, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Monday, 7.9 percent lower compared to the $680 million posted a year earlier. September's equity capital placements came mostly from Singapore, Japan, and the United States, with the money channeled primarily to the financial and insurance, manufacturing, and real estate sectors. Year to date, net FDI inflows were also lower — by 10 percent — at $6.7 billion from $7.5 billion in 2021.
SPORTS: Lucero keys UP Game 1 win in UAAP finals
Over to sports, game one of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 men's basketball finals saw University of the Philippines (UP) taking control, especially in the first half, where the Fighting Maroons led by as many as 12 points. Ateneo de Manila University rallied repeatedly and ultimately pulled within two, 56-58, following an Angelo Kouame triple with 7:24 left in the final canto. After a defensive stop, the Blue Eagles got the chance to tie the count and Chris Koon was looking to slam it home. However, Zavier Lucero met him at the summit for the denial. Lucero's rejection of Koon then led to a Harold Alarcon trey, starting a 10-2 run that gave UP a 68-58 lead inside the Mall of Asia Arena that housed 18,211 boisterous fans. Once more, Ateneo fought back and had a chance to pull within two in a Kouame inside incursion but Lucero rose anew for the rejection in the last 32 seconds. UP then forced Kouame to miss his three point attempt, setting up JD Cagulangan's two made free throws with 5.8 ticks left that served as the dagger to the Blue Eagles' hearts. Lucero said he was simply being at the right place at the right time in UP's 72-66 win.
Antonio Contreras and Yen Makabenta are today's front page columnists. Contreras discusses on when partisan political prejudice threatens rational thinking, while Makabenta asks if electric vehicles ensure the transition to renewable energy.
Today's editorial tackles Filipinos' English proficiency improvement. 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.