Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Thursday, July 6, 2023.
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READ: Marcos to smugglers: Your days are numbered
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday vowed to bring to justice hoarders and smugglers of agricultural products. The President had earlier tasked the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation to probe groups behind the smuggling and hoarding of onions that resulted in a stiff increase in the product's price. The D.o.J. said it would collaborate with the Bureau of Customs, the Department of Agriculture and other concerned government agencies in conducting the probe.
READ: Maharlika bill for Marcos' signature
THE bill seeking to create a Maharlika Investment Fund has been transmitted to Malacañang for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s signature. Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a text message that the bill was received Tuesday by the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs, but no date was indicated when Marcos would sign it.
READ: Chinese boats block PCG vessels
THE Philippine Coast Guard on Wednesday said Chinese patrol vessels blocked two of its boats from entering Ayungin Shoal in the disputed West Philippine Sea, describing their actions as "very dangerous." National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said the incident, involving P.C.G. vessels B.R.P. Malabrigo and B.R.P. Malapascua, transpired on June 30 while escorting two supply ships to Ayungin Shoal.
READ: Visitor arrivals in 2022 reached more than 2M
VISITORS arriving in the Philippines increased in 2022, reaching 2,653,858, which is higher compared to the 163,879 recorded in 2021, the Department of Tourism said on Wednesday. The low tourist arrivals in 2021 were caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The increase accounted for 1,519.40 percent. Based on the 2022 Tourism Industry Report, 56.49 percent of the main reasons people visit the country are for pleasure and vacation, 25.46 percent to visit friends and relatives, and 8.75 percent for business and work. The biggest number of visitors came from the United States — 505,089. They were followed by South Korea with 428,014 visitors and Australia with 137,974. With the surge of tourists in the country, employment in the tourism sector also increased to 9.3 percent, with 5.3 million individuals being employed in 2022, as presented by the Philippine Statistics Authority. This number is higher than the 4.9 million employed in 2021.
BUSINESS: Inflation drops to 5.4% in June
Topping business, inflation slowed for a fifth consecutive month in June as transportation and food prices fell, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported on Wednesday. The 5.4-percent result, down from 6.1 percent in May and a year earlier, fell within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' 5.3- to 6.1-percent forecast for the month. It also matched the 5.4-percent median in a Manila Times poll of economists. It was the lowest recorded inflation in the past 13 months, the P.S.A. said. Core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy items, also declined to 7.4 percent from 7.7 percent. Year to date, headline inflation stood at 7.2 percent while core inflation was at 7.7 percent. It remained well over the central bank's 2.0- to 4.0-percent target.
SPORTS: Gilas falls to Lithuania in tune-up game
Over to sports, Gilas Pilipinas got off to a slow start, falling behind by a huge margin early but managed to fight valiantly before bowing to a selection team from Lithuania, 90-80, in a tune-up match in Kausas, Lithuania. The Filipinos gave up 36 points in the opening period as they trailed by 17. Lithuanian forward Tomas Zdanavicius proved to be the thorn on Gilas' side as he went perfect from three-point zone with his 6-of-6 shooting clip in the opening half en route to a 20-point first-half explosion. The Lithuania Selection squad took a 56-45 halftime advantage. The national squad struggled from the field throughout the game, while the Lithuanians had a field day from the outside, peppering Gilas with 12 threes in the process. Gilas shot just 39.7 percent from the floor and got outrebounded, 46-39, as Lithuanian League Most Valuable Player Vytautas Šulskis scored 19 points and collaring nine boards.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras and Danton Remoto are today's front page columnists. Contreras continues his commentary on the controversial new tourism slogan, while Remoto recalls his first day in the United States.
Today's editorial calls on the government to solve the crisis on deforestation. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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