Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Saturday, September 23, 2023.
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READ: Smog cloaks Metro Manila
SMOG — a gray cloud of atmospheric pollutants from vehicle emissions — blanketed most of Metro Manila and neighboring communities on Friday, forcing the suspension of classes and prompting authorities to advise the wearing of face masks outdoors. There were initial concerns that the heavy haze was vog — sulfur oxide-laden dust from the restive Taal Volcano in Batangas — but the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said it was not so. Even before the Phivolcs made the clarification, the cities of Manila, Marikina, Valenzuela, Mandaluyong, Quezon, Pasay, Las Piñas and San Juan had already called off classes, and some government offices had sent home their workers. Some of the cities even urged residents to stay indoors or wear face masks when they had to venture outside. Later in the day, Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum said in an interview that the haze that had settled over the National Capital Region, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and some areas in Central Luzon was smog and not vog.
READ: Canada, PH hold joint patrol in WPS
PHILIPPINE and Canadian navy ships on Thursday jointly patrolled the West Philippine Sea in what is seen as a show of solidarity amid the increasing presence of Chinese vessels in the politically turbulent waters. The Armed Forces of the Philippines reported Friday that the Canadian Halifax-class frigate H.M.C.S. Ottawa sailed side by side with the Philippine Navy's guided-missile frigate B.R.P. Antonio Luna. The two vessels had initially established radio contact at 7:23 a.m. in the vicinity of the Malampaya gas field platform, some 65 kilometers northwest of Palawan.
READ: Marcos seeks faster release of seized rice
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants to shorten the 15 days given to rice importers to prove the legitimacy of shipments that have been confiscated by the Bureau of Customs. Marcos made the statement after leading the distribution of seized rice to the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in General Trias city in Cavite on Friday. The President said the shorter grace period would give the government more time to distribute seized smuggled rice to depressed communities.
READ: Ex-MMDA chief Fernando dies
FORMER Marikina City mayor and Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando died after falling from the roof of his house on Friday. He was 77. His wife, former Marikina City mayor Ma. Lourdes "Marides" Fernando, confirmed the passing of the former government official on Super Radyo D.Z.B.B. Earlier reports indicated that the former lawmaker died at the Quirino Memorial Hospital after he was rushed by members of the Rescue 161 Marikina. Many of his supporters were seen gathering at the hospital. The Marikina City government sent condolences to his family, in a Facebook post from their public information office.
READ: Obiena, Didal lead PH athletes as Asiad opens
POLE vaulter Ernest John Obiena and skateboarder Margielyn Didal will lead the 396-strong Philippine delegation at the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games today, September 23, in Hangzhou, China. The Filipino athletes will compete across 40 sports in the games that were delayed for a year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. During the opening ceremony, the Jiangnan culture of the Hangzhou region will be featured in a visual spectacle highlighted by electronic fireworks.
SPORTS: Fredette excited to play in front of Filipino fans
In other sports news, former N.B.A. player and college standout James Taft "Jimmer" Fredette is in the country to play in the 2023 Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3x3 World Tour Cebu Masters. After tasting Filipino hospitality and adulation from basketball fans, Fredette said he is excited to play in front of Filipino fans and show them his wares.The 3x3 Cebu Masters is slated on September 23-24 at the S.M. Seaside Cebu. The 6-foot-2 Fredette was one of top collegiate players during his time with Brigham Young University. He holds the B.Y.U. record for most points in a game (52) and most points in one season (1,068).
BUSINESS: Business optimism dips; consumers less gloomy
Over to business, optimism fell in the third quarter while consumer sentiment became slightly less negative, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported on Friday. At 35.8, the confidence index for businesses declined from 40.8 previously while that for consumers improved slightly to -9.6 percent from -10.5 percent, results of the central bank's latest business and consumer expectations surveys showed. A positive result means that optimists outnumbered pessimists. The reverse applies with regard to negative C.I's. The reduced business confidence for the current quarter, the B.S.P. said, stems from a drop in sales and demand for goods and services due to weather-related disruptions and other seasonal factors, higher prices of raw materials and production costs, elevated inflation and interest rates, and a weaker peso.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras, Saul Hofileña, and Anna Malindog-Uy are today's front page columnists. Contreras hits out at the decorum of Vice President Sara Duterte, Hofileña discusses the issue on the country's withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, and Malindog-Uy talks about the recent case filed by the Philippine government against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Today's editorial believes the informal sector is an overlooked resource. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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