Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Wednesday, December 21, 2022.
READ: US to China: Respect intl law of the sea
THE United States on Tuesday said it supports the Philippines' continued calls on China to "respect" the international law of the sea in the South China Sea (SCS) amid the reported swarming of Chinese vessels there. In a statement shared by the US Embassy in Manila, State Department spokesman Ned Price voiced concern over the reported swarming particularly on the Spratly Islands.
READ: Remulla: Missing 'sabungeros' presumably dead
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla believes there is no hope for missing sabungeros to return home alive. In an interview on Tuesday, Remulla said to continue describing the sabungeros as "missing" is inaccurate. The sabungeros have been missing since 2021.
READ: Ex-DA chief beefs up Go Negosyo
TO further enhance the mentorship program between medium and large corporations and micro and small enterprises, former Agriculture secretary William Dar has joined Go Negosyo's Kapatid Angat Lahat initiative as head of its agriculture program, founder Jose Maria "Joey" Concepcion 3rd announced on Tuesday. Dar served as DA chief during the Duterte administration.
READ: Daphne Oseña Paez appointed as Palace 'press briefer'
TELEVISION personality and The Manila Times columnist Daphne Oseña Paez has been appointed as the official "press briefer" of the Palace. Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) Officer in Charge Cheloy Garafil formally introduced Paez to the Malacañang Press Corps in a briefing on Tuesday. Garafil said that Paez's main role will be to give the press briefer on "every activity, program of President [Ferdinand] Marcos Jr." Paez, who earned her degrees in Fine Arts and History from the University of Toronto, began her career in media in the country in ABS-CBN as a news reporter in the 1990s. She was also the weather presenter of the late night English newscast, "The World Tonight." As Malacañang's "explainer," Paez will "regularly be the source of updates from the Palace."
READ: PNP ramps up security ahead of CPP anniversary
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) intensified security measures in key areas in the country ahead of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) anniversary on December 26. PNP spokesman Col. Jean Fajardo said in a television interview on Tuesday that they have yet to monitor any serious threat.
READ: Share satellite data, Marcos orders PhilSA
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) to share satellite data with other national government agencies in "readily available and usable form" to allow the mapping of the country's "bio-assets." The President met for the first time on Monday with the Philippine Space Council (PSC) where he serves as chairman. Marcos said that he was impressed with how the country's space technologies and capabilities have contributed to the work of other government agencies in the environment, agriculture and national security sectors, among others.
BUSINESS: Debt payments push BoP back into deficit
Topping business, the country's balance of payments (BoP) position returned to a deficit in November, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported late on Monday. The BoP — a measure of the country's transactions with the rest of the world — registered a shortfall of $756 million, more than six times the $123 million recorded a year ago. Monthly BoP deficits have now been recorded nine times this year. A $2.34-billion high in September was followed by a surplus of P711 million the following month.
SPORTS: Ginebra, Bay Area look to finish foes
Over to sports, Barangay Ginebra and Bay Area look to finish off their respective foes as the 2022- 23 PBA Commissioner's Cup best-of-five semifinals shift to the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City today, December 21. The Gin Kings moved at the cusp of the Finals after scoring a masterful 103-80 demolition of the Paul Lee-less Magnolia Hotshots Sunday night to grab a 2-1 series lead. On the other hand, the Dragons saw their series lead cut to 2-1 after succumbing to the Beermen on Sunday, 98-96, behind SMB guard Simon Enciso's game-winning triple in the dying seconds of the game. A win by both Ginebra and Bay Area today will vault both squads to the best-of-seven championship series. Ginebra coach Tim Cone admitted the hardest thing to do for any team during the playoffs is to close out a series, especially against Magnolia that remains to be a dangerous foe, with or without Lee.
Rigoberto Tiglao, Fr. Ranhilio Aquino and Francisco Tatad are today's front page columnists. Tiglao looks to two sovereign funds that the Philippines can emulate, Fr. Aquino reflects on Christmas and time, and Tatad discusses re-arming Japan.
Today's editorial believes that the Marcos administration's tariff cut extension can ease economic pressure. 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.