Good day. Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Monday, April 17, 2023.
READ: 'China wants to be the dominant power'
A RENOWNED political and security expert believes China wants to be the dominant power in the region so it can "drive away" the United States from this part of the world. Renato de Castro, a professor at the De La Salle University's Department of International Studies, offered his take on China's increasingly aggressive posture in the Indo-Pacific stage during an interview with Dante "Klink" Ang 2nd, The Manila Times chairman and chief executive officer, in the "Business and Politics" program of SMNI. De Castro said the US became a superpower "in the western hemisphere by refusing to allow any external power" to challenge it. By becoming the top dog in the region, it can prevent the United States Navy from "conducting its offshore strategic balancing to the region," he said. De Castro said China acknowledges that the US is the leading superpower in the western hemisphere. De Castro said Chinese President Xi Jinping's goals include impressing on the world that China is a power to reckon with.
READ: PH not meddling in Taiwan affairs – DND
THE Department of National Defense (DND) has denied that the Philippine government is meddling in China's dispute with Taiwan. DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong was reacting to the statement of Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian that the safety and welfare of the thousands of Filipinos working in Taiwan could be jeopardized if Manila continues to recognize the independence of the island nation. Beijing has long claimed that Taiwan is a province of China. Andolong also disagreed with Huang that the situation in Taiwan is similar to Manila's security concerns in Mindanao. Andolong stressed that the DND "deems it prudent to prepare for any contingencies to ensure the safety of Filipinos overseas, especially those based in Taiwan."
READ: Cagayan governor blasts govt officials over new EDCA sites
Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba Sr. hit back at critics who branded him as pro-China for speaking against the establishment of two Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in his province. In an exclusive interview with The Manila Times, Mamba brushed aside accusations that he is a protector of illegal Chinese Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators. EDCA sites are Philippine bases where the United States is allowed to pre-position military equipment and rotate troops. The governor has been very vocal in opposing the establishment of EDCA sites in Cagayan's Naval Base Camilo Osias and Lal-lo Airport.
READ: G7 members vow to end plastic pollution by 2040
G7 environment and climate ministers pledged to end new plastic pollution in their countries by 2040, they said in a statement released Sunday after talks in northern Japan. Germany, France, Canada, Britain and the European Union are already part of a multi-national coalition that made the same pledge last year.But this is the first time the remaining Group of Seven members — Japan, the United States and Italy — have made the 2040 commitment. Plastic waste has doubled globally in 20 years and only 9 percent is successfully recycled, according to the OECD group of developed countries. The United Nations says the volume of plastic entering the oceans will nearly triple by 2040. The G7 also pledged to quit fossil fuels faster and urged other countries to follow suit, but failed to agree to any new deadlines on ending polluting power sources like coal.
In Business
READ: NG borrowings surge following RTB offering
THE national government's gross borrowings ballooned in February, surging by 606.4 percent to P375.24 billion from P53.12 billion to P375.24 billion, data from the Bureau of the Treasury showed. Domestic borrowings accounted for the bulk at P359.26 billion in February based on a Treasury cash operations report, significantly higher than the year-earlier P45 billion. Foreign financing, meanwhile, totaled P15.98 billion, also up from P8.12 billion in 2022. The bulk of gross domestic borrowings or P283.71 billion came from retail Treasury bonds (RTBs) with another P70 billion raised from fixed rate T-bonds and P5.55 billion from net T-bill proceeds. Less net amortizations of P31.81 billion, net domestic borrowings for the month came in at P327.447 billion, still substantially higher than the year-earlier P44.666 billion. As for gross foreign borrowings, P15.98 billion came from project loans. Taking P38.14 billion in payments to foreign creditors into account, the government's external financing position for February came in at P305.287 billion, also well over the P50.928 posted a year ago.
Topping Sports
READ: PH BEST captures 5 golds in World Juniors qualifiers
BRENT International School standout Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh dominated her age-group to lead Behrouz Elite Swimming Team (BEST) Philippines to five-gold, three-silver, two-bronze medal haul in the 58th Malaysia Invitational Age Group Swimming Championships held at the National Aquatic Center inside the Kuala Lumpur Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil. Mojdeh, a Philippine national junior record holder, was the most productive bet by winning three gold medals in the girls' 15-17 category. The 2022 World Junior Championships semifinalist topped the 400-m Individual Medley (IM) (5:07.42) on the opening day then won a couple of golds on the second day — 100-m butterfly (1:03.23) and 200-m butterfly (2:19.60). Mojdeh also secured silver medals in the 200-m breaststroke (2:45.44) and 200-m IM (2:25.37) events in the tournament that drew participants from the United States, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Mongolia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar and host Malaysia.
READ: NU sweeps FEU as La Salle enters Final Four
NATIONAL University (NU) bolstered its Final Four bid with a 25-21, 25-14, 25-23 win over Far Eastern University (FEU) on Sunday, April 16, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 women's volleyball tournament at the PhilSports Arena. In the process, the defending champs Lady Bulldogs, who improved to 8-3 and tied Adamson and UST at No. 2, also enabled De La Salle University to advance to the semifinals, its 13th straight Final Four appearance. NU's win also booted out the Ateneo Blue Eagles (4-7) from Final Four contention, as they will not make the Final Four for the first time since Season 71 back in 2009.
READ: US Open champ Fitzpatrick leads at PGA
Reigning US Open champion Matthew Fitzpatrick of England fired a PGA Tour career-low, eight-under par 63 to seize the lead after Saturday's (Sunday in Manila) third round of the Heritage tournament. Fitzpatrick's bogey-free round — highlighted by holing out for eagle from 149 yards in a fairway bunker at the par-4 third hole — gave him the 54-hole lead on 14-under 199 at Harbour Town on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. World number four Patrick Cantlay fired a 66 to stand second on 200, one stroke ahead of fellow American Jordan Spieth.World number two Scottie Scheffler, who could recapture the top spot after losing it to Masters winner Jon Rahm last week, fired a 69 to share fourth with fellow Americans Taylor Moore, Mark Hubbard and Jimmy Walker plus England's Tommy Fleetwood. Spain's Rahm shot 69, fading to a share of 21st on 205.
READ: Opinion/Editorial
Today's Times editorial says that closing down the New Bilibid Prison is a reform 'game changer'. Read the full version on print or digital or listen to the Voice of the Times. Featured columnists on the front page are Rigoberto Tiglao, Fr. Ranhilio Aquino and Francisco Tatad. Tiglao slams the DENR website as it appeared on Sunday, April 16, 2023, for being oblivious to the oil spill; Aquino on peddling misinformation about EDCA; and Tatad on whether there are no threats on EDCA sites.
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This is Pete Llevares reporting.