Good day. Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Monday, Sept. 11, 2023.
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READ: US-donated ships to boost PH patrols
THE commissioning today, September 11, of two ships donated by the United States will enable the Philippine Navy to step up patrols in the tension-filled West Philippine Sea, defense officials said. The former USS Monsoon (PC4) and USS Chinook (PC 9) will be christened BRP Valentin Diaz (PC-177) and BRP Ladislao Diwa (PS-178), after two founding fathers of the Katipunan, at the Philippine Navy Headquarters. The two ships were the last two of the US Navy's 14 Cyclone-class ships used in littoral or shallow-water operations. The Monsoon and Chinook served the US Navy for nearly 30 years. They were last assigned to the 5th Fleet based in Bahrain before they were decommissioned last March 28. The ships were brought to the country last May under the Philippine Excess Defense Article (EDA) program. Philippine Navy Chief Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci said Defense Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. will be the guest of honor at the christening and commissioning of the two ships. The Valentin Diaz and Ladislao Diwa will join Philippine Coast Guard vessels in missions that could include escorting chartered boats delivering supplies to the Philippine Navy outpost in Ayungin Shoal. A flotilla of Chinese coast guard and maritime militia vessels has been trying to prevent the resupply of the Ayungin station.
READ: Morocco mourns as quake toll passes 2,000
Moroccans on Sunday mourned the victims of a devastating earthquake that killed more than 2,000 people as rescue teams raced to find survivors trapped in the rubble of flattened villages. The strongest-ever quake to hit the country has killed at least 2,012 people and injured over 2,059, many of them critically, based on the latest official figures. Friday's 6.8-magnitude quake struck 72 kilometers (45 miles) southwest of the tourist hub of Marrakesh, wiping out entire villages in rural areas. Troops and emergency services have scrambled to reach remote mountain villages where victims are still feared trapped. Al-Haouz province, where the epicenter of the earthquake was located, suffered the most deaths with 1,293, followed by the province of Taroudant with 452.
READ: US, Vietnam expand ties as China worries grow
US President Joe Biden arrived in Vietnam Sunday to deepen cooperation between the two nations, with semiconductors and rare earth minerals expected to be a key focus for talks. Biden flew from the G20 summit in New Delhi to meet the leader of Vietnam's ruling Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong, on Sunday to sign off on a "comprehensive strategic partnership," Hanoi's highest level of diplomatic ties. The goal of the short visit mirrors Biden's time at the G20 gathering — shoring up support against Beijing's increasing diplomatic influence, while securing supplies of strategically important resources from friendly countries. The two sides are expected to announce new cooperation on semiconductors, Jon Finer, the US deputy national security advisor, told reporters. They will also hold detailed talks on supplies of rare earth minerals used in the manufacture of high-tech devices such as smartphones and electric car batteries. The United States has said Vietnam — with the world's second-largest deposits of rare earths after China — has a key role to play as it looks to source less from China after supply chain shocks rocked the global economy in recent years.
READ: Electric cars gain traction in PH
THE head of a group of electric vehicle manufacturers sees a bright future for e-vehicles in the Philippines. Rommel Juan, president of the Electronic Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) told "Business and Politics," a weekly program hosted by The Manila Times Chairman and CEO Dante "Klink" Ang 2nd, which aired Saturday night on SMNI, that the government has been promoting electric vehicles, and sales of electric or hybrid cars are up. He said this was not the case 15 years ago, when even obtaining a license plate for an electric vehicle was a huge problem. He said the first EVAP summit where e-vehicles were exhibited was held at the Meralco basketball gym in Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City. Electric cars made by multinational automotive manufacturers are already available in the Philippines.
BUSINESS: Finance wants rice tariffs cut to 0-10%
THE Finance department will seek the temporary reduction of rice import tariffs to either zero or 10 percent at most, among other measures, to address rising prices of the staple.In a fact sheet, the department said it was "proposing to reduce the 35 percent rice import tariff rates, both Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and MFN (most favored nation) rates, temporarily to 0 percent or maximum of 10 percent to arrest the surge in rice prices." The government last week capped domestic rice prices for an indefinite period, which Diokno indicated would be temporary given possible supply shortages. Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno acknowledged criticism that price caps would discourage farmers from planting and importers from shipping in the grain, indicating that the limits would only stay in effect until upcoming harvests came in. Executive Order 39, signed by President Marcos Jr. on August 31, mandated price ceilings of P41 per kilo for regular milled rice and P45 per kilo for well-milled rice.
SPORTS: Gauff grabs 1st Grand Slam, rules US Open
American teenager Coco Gauff came from behind to win the US Open on Saturday (Sunday in Manila), clinching her first Grand Slam title with a battling win over Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus. Gauff, 19, produced a gutsy performance on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court to win 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in 2hr 6min to complete a fairytale transformation in her season's fortunes. The sixth seed from Florida had gone into the final as the underdog against the hard-hitting second seed Sabalenka, who will become world No. 1 in next week's rankings. But with both players making a slew of mistakes throughout an error-strewn final watched by a star-studded record crowd of 28,143 it was Gauff who held her nerve when it mattered to seal a deserved victory.
SPORTS: Chot willing to help Cone in Asiad
CHOT Reyes may no longer be the Gilas Pilipinas head coach, but the fiery Filipino mentor said he's very much willing to help interim national bench tactician Tim Cone in preparing for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Reyes has officially stepped down from Gilas coaching, just eight days after the Philippines closed its 2023 FIBA World Cup campaign with a 96-75 rout of China. With Gilas suddenly in search for a coach, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, in partnership with the PBA, talked to Cone, Reyes' deputy in the World Cup, and eventually, said "yes" to handle the national team for the Asian Games. The Asian Games officially opens on September 23, with host China, expected to come out with a strong performance, following an underwhelming effort in the FIBA World Cup that saw the many-time Asian cage champion win just once in five games under seasoned international coach Sasha Dordevic. The men's basketball competition kicks off on September 26 with the Philippine men's squad taking on Bahrain on opening day.
READ: Opinion/Editorial
Today's editorial tackles the landmark security and economic alliance between the Philippines and Australia that firms up their cooperation in bringing about "an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region." 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 writes about how Vietnam shames our ruling class; Aquino on a synodal Church and a monarchical episcopate ; and Tatad on China in the new cold war.
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