Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Sunday, September 10, 2023.
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READ: 2 PH ships acquire anti-torpedo system
TWO Philippine Navy frigates have received much-needed upgrades, considered a milestone in the country's efforts to modernize its defense capabilities amid the escalating tension in the West Philippine Sea, a source privy to the information told The Manila Times on Saturday. This was confirmed in a statement by the Naval Group, a major French industrial company specializing in naval defense design, development, and construction which said that it had equipped two Jose Rizal-class frigates of the Philippine Navy with its Contralto anti-torpedo reaction module. The Naval Group said its Contralto anti-torpedo reaction module was successfully installed into the C-Guard decoy launching system of the two frigates on August 31. The upgrades are part of the contract, the first entered into by the Naval Group with the Department of National Defense for the Philippine Navy on Dec. 1, 2021. Under the agreement, Naval Group is to provide an anti-torpedo defense system based on the company's Canto/Contralto countermeasures solution to equip the two Jose Rizal-class frigates. The setting up and testing of Contralto were performed at Subic Agila Bay in the Philippines in the presence of representatives from the Defense department, Philippine Navy, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Ministry of Defense, and industrials responsible for anti-submarine warfare systems. The commissioning of the A.S.W. Module and Contralto anti-torpedo reaction module completes the armament of the two Jose Rizal-class frigates acquired as part of the modernization of the Philippine fleet
READ: Small rice retailers get cash aid
AS ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the distribution of the 15,000 peso-cash grant to micro retailers affected by the implementation of the rice price ceiling has started, Malacañang said Saturday. Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian led the distribution of cash grants at the Commonwealth Market in Quezon City with Mayor Josefina "Joy" Belmonte. Simultaneous payout centers were also opened at the Agora Market in San Juan City with Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual and Mayor Francisco Javier Zamora present, and at the Maypajo Market in Caloocan City with Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr., Caloocan Rep. Oscar Malapitan and Mayor Dale Malapitan present.
READ: 600 dead in Morocco quake; Pinoys told to call embassy
NO Filipino has been reported hurt so far in the magnitude 6.8 that struck Morocco late Friday night (Saturday in Manila), although the Philippine Embassy has urged those in the affected areas to make contact or get whatever help and assistance they need. More than 600 people were killed, as of press time, in the powerful quake that struck a mountainous area 72 kilometers (45 miles) southwest of tourist hotspot Marrakesh at 11:11 p.m. local time on Friday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Terrified residents fled their homes in the middle of the night as strong tremors were also felt in the coastal cities of Rabat, Casablanca and Essaouira. Moroccan media reported it was the most powerful quake to ever hit the country.
READ: Germany, Serbia dispute FIBA World Cup crown
GERMANY looks to complete its history-making ways as it guns for the gold when it clashes with European rival Serbia in the winner-take-all 2023 FIBA World Cup gold medal match Sunday night, September 10, at the Mall of Asia Arena. Buoyed up by their stunning 113-111 win over the NBA-powered USA in their semifinal collision last Friday, the Germans shoot for the gold and an eight-game sweep of the tournament in their 8:40 p.m. match.
SPORTS: Steve Kerr: 'It's not 1992 anymore'
FOR the second straight FIBA Basketball World Cup edition, the United States men's basketball team failed to capture the gold medal. This, after the Americans bowed to the Germans, 111-113, in the semifinals at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday night, September 8. USA head coach Steve Kerr had a simple explanation for another unsuccessful gold medal bid of the powerhouse country — it's not 1992 anymore. The days when the U.S.A. just came in and bulldozed the competition are long gone.
BUSINESS: Approved projects in ecozones hit P111B
PROJECT approvals in various economic zones (ecozones) nationwide hit 111.2 billion pesos as of September 7, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Tereso Panga reported on Friday. In a statement, Panga said the latest investment approval figures are higher by 180.6 percent compared to the same period a year ago. The PEZA Board approved 27 projects, amounting to 14 billion pesos, during its meeting on September 7. Data shared by PEZA showed that 11 of these projects are export enterprises that will be located in Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Davao del Norte and Cebu. The board also approved five information technology enterprises projects to be located in Makati, Cebu, Laguna and Pasay; five facilities enterprises in Batangas and Laguna; two ecozone projects in Occidental Mindoro and Cavite; two domestic enterprise projects in Batangas and Laguna; and two logistics enterprise projects in Batangas and Cavite.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Marlen Ronquillo is today's front page columnist, as he weighs in on the issues of the Rice Tariffication Law.
Today's editorial believes the Association of Southeast Asian Nations should boost intra-regional trade. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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