Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Saturday, August 19, 2023.
Today's episode is brought to you by Wilcon Depot, The Philippines' leading home improvement and construction supplies retailer—your Trusted Building Partner.
Marcos assures price of rice will stabilize
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has assured the public that the price of rice will stabilize soon, as harvest starts in major palay-producing regions in the country. In a video message posted by the Presidential Communications Office on Friday, Marcos said the government is closely monitoring the supply and price of rice. He said he has been informed that the rice harvest has begun in Nueva Ecija, Isabela and North Cotabato. Marcos, who also heads the Department of Agriculture, said the government is looking closely at the farmgate price, but expressed confidence that the price of rice will stabilize once there is an abundant supply and enough reserve of the staple. Last week, Marcos said the country's rice stock could last even after the El Niño episode next year.
PH seeks to boost trade, security ties with Australia
Meanwhile, the President will meet with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on September 8 in a move aimed at reinforcing the two countries' defense and trade relations, Presidential Communications Cheloy Garafil said on Friday. Albanese will be in the Philippines from September 7 to 8 in what will be the first visit by an Australian prime minister to the country since 2003.
Sara: Natl book board helps students hone reading, writing skills
VICE President Sara Duterte on Friday lauded the National Book Development Board for being instrumental in improving writing and reading skills, as well as helping expand the reach of the local book publishing industry. In her keynote speech at the Philippine Book Festival in Davao City, Duterte stressed the importance of the work the N.B.D.B. has done in promoting books whose authors have "dedicated their lives to the profession and advocacy of sharing their expert or academic knowledge with others." The Philippine Book Festival is a threeday event organized by the NBDB that celebrates Filipino books and Philippine literature and culture. During the festival, it was also announced that the Philippines will be a "Guest of Honor" at the 77th Frankfurter Buchmesse, or Frankfurt Book Fair, the world's largest trade fair for books. Duterte said that rekindling the interest of learners in writing and reading will be a cornerstone of the recently launched Matatag K-10 curriculum. The new curriculum will correct the flaws that stunted writing and reading skills and contributed to learning losses.
PH, US-Asean Business Council eye defense tie-up
THE United States-Asean Business Council is eyeing a collaborative effort to strengthen the defense posture of the Philippines amid the growing tensions in the West Philippine Sea. On a recent visit to the Philippines, the group met with Defense Secretary Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. to explore potential areas of cooperation between Manila and Washington in the defense and security sectors. The U.S.-A.B.C. delegation, led by President and C.E.O. Ted Osius, presented a wide range of projects aligned with the Defense department's strategic goals to enhance its capabilities. The U.S.-A.B.C. delegation is composed of representatives from multiple corporations that are united in their commitment to fostering collaboration between the U.S. and Asean countries.
Muntinlupa, Parañaque in land dispute, too
THE City of Muntinlupa has taken another move in a bid to resolve a long-standing land dispute with the City of Parañaque over parcels of land in Barangay Sucat, while a similar jurisdiction controversy continues to rage between the cities of Makati and Taguig, all in Metro Manila. Muntinlupa's city council (Sangguniang Panlungsod) has already approved Resolution 2023-298 authorizing Mayor Ruffy Biazon to convene a technical working group to resolve the jurisdiction dispute with Parañaque over what is now Sitio Bagong Silang in Sucat, Muntinlupa. The property the resolution is referring to is the 4.1-hectare parcel in Barangay Sucat that originally belonged to the National Power Corp. (Napocor). With the decommissioning of the Gardner Power Station and the disposition of its assets in Sucat, former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued Executive Order 68 (s. 2002) directing Napocor to dispose of the said property "to its bona fide occupants" — the residents of what is now known as Sitio Bagong Silang. Parañaque has since challenged territorial jurisdiction over the sitio, claiming it to be within its boundary. Muntinlupa had taken steps to resolve the dispute, but to no avail.
Remolona: BSP still has room to hike rates
Topping business, monetary authorities still have room to tighten policy without causing an economic contraction, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona said on Friday. The central bank's policy rate currently stands at a 16-year high of 6.25 percent after successive rate hikes totaling 425 basis points beginning May last year in response to surging inflation. Consumer price growth peaked at a 14-year high of 8.7 percent in January. The Monetary Board started pausing in May and decided to extend this in June and last Thursday. As rate adjustments do not immediately make their way through the economy, gross domestic product growth was a stronger-than-expected 6.4 percent in the first quarter, albeit down from 7.1 percent in the last three months of 2022. Things turned in the April-June period, during which G.D.P. growth markedly slowed to 4.3 percent, much lower than the consensus forecast of 6.0 percent. Despite the threat of inflation once again rising due to renewed supply issues and the likely impact of the El Niño weather pattern, the growth slowdown had analysts predicting that the B.S.P. would again pause from hiking rates.
Gilas Pilipinas enters final phase of training
In sports, the last three tune-up matches of the Philippine men's basketball team that started on Friday night, August 18, against Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) will give Jordan Clarkson the opportunity he needs to adjust to the Gilas Pilipinas system and his teammates just over a week after arriving in Manila. The 6-foot-5 Clarkson will be spearheading Gilas' friendly matches that also include the Nic Vučević-led Montenegro team on Sunday, August 20, and the Mexican team on Monday, August 21. All three tune-up games will be held behind closed doors and will serve as the final phase of the Philippine team's preparation for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. National coach Chot Reyes said in a recent interview that he expects the 31-year-old Clarkson to get into the scheme of things easily given his N.B.A. pedigree and high basketball I.Q.
Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta, Danton Remoto, and Leonor Briones are today's front page columnists. Contreras talks about academic inbreeding, Makabenta believes statecraft can present conclusively the Philippines' legal claim in the South China Sea, Remoto discusses the character of Mando Plaridel from The Preying Birds, and Briones expounds on the "maiden aunt".
Today's editorial believes a long term plan is needed to unwind fuel subsidies. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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