Good day. Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Monday, Oct. 2, 2023.
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READ: Comelec pushes internet voting
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is keen on implementing internet voting for Filipinos overseas Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said during a roundtable interview with The Manila Times that the commission wants overseas internet voting in place for the 2025 elections. He said the Comelec conducted a study and determined that there is no need for a law to implement a new mode of voting. Under Section 28 of Republic Act 10590, the Comelec "may explore other more efficient, reliable, and secure modes or systems, ensuring the secrecy and sanctity of the entire process, whether paper-based, electronic-based, or Internet-based technology or such other latest technology available." Voting via the internet seeks to increase overseas voter turnout. In the 2022 polls, only 34 percent of the 1.697 million Filipino voters abroad cast ballots, slightly higher than 31 percent in the 2019 polls. For the 2022 elections, Comelec spent almost P418 million for overseas voting, which is regrettable, considering that the per capita is huge as against those who actually voted, said Garcia. He said internet voting would require a smaller budget. Using the internet, Filipino seafarers can vote even if they are in the middle of the sea. He said the agency has been poring over the internet-voting plan and preparing for the allocation of a budget as a matter of policy direction.
READ: Brawner: Unity crucial in defending sovereignty
ARMED Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr. on Sunday said Ukrainian citizens defending their nation from a Russian invasion could serve as a role model for Filipinos in forging unity to deter Chinese intrusion in the West Philippine Sea. He echoed the call for Filipinos to show patriotism and nationalism as the government asserts its sovereign rights in the disputed waters. Chinese coast guard and maritime militia have been trying to drive away Filipino fishermen from rich fishing areas in Scarborough Shoal and other areas in the West Philippine Sea. Like Ukrainians, the Filipinos' unified stance against foreign elements wanting to trample the country's sovereignty would be a vital factor, Brawner said. The Philippines has blamed China for the massive destruction of marine life, including coral reefs in the Rozul and Escoda Shoals. Piles of dead corals were also seen in Sandy Cay 2, just two miles off the Philippine-occupied Pag-asa Island. The AFP has drawn up a new strategy to address security concerns in the disputed region. Brawner, however, denied that reservists would be called up.
READ: Making Metro Manila a smart city difficult
AN urban development specialist said transforming Metro Manila into a smart city requires a lot of redevelopment, a certain degree of creativity and political will on the part of government officials. Dr. Nathaniel von Einsiedel described a smart city as an urban area that adopts certain ICT technologies to improve the delivery of services such as waste or traffic management or land use planning. More and more Philippine cities are adopting smart technologies, but in so far as becoming a smart city in the true sense of the word, "we are still really far off," said von Einsiedel on Saturday night on "Business and Politics," a weekly program on SMNI hosted by The Manila Times Chairman Dante "Klink" Ang 2nd. One of the major components of a smart city is addressing the quality of life of the residents. In the case of Metro Manila, housing is an important aspect of that, said von Einsiedel. The problem, von Einsiedel said, is that housing cannot be disassociated with another issue: land. What makes housing too expensive to many, especially in Metro Manila, is that land is included in the pricing. Smart technology can help in this aspect by finding out who needs housing, said von Einsiedel, who is also a registered architect, urban planner and environmental planner.
READ: Sexual well-being industry revels in swelling sales
From creams and oils promising to take the user to seventh heaven to multisensory vibration devices and erotic lingerie, the sex accessory market has become more feminine over the years, even feminist. In doing so, it has managed to broaden its market and is reaping the dividends, enjoying impressive growth. The global market was estimated to be worth around $19 billion in 2021, with the United States leading the way ($4.4 billion), according to a study by consultancy firm PwC. Further growth is predicted to reach $27 billion by 2026. The repositioning of the market toward "sexual well-being," with more playful and refined designs and discreet packaging, has helped attract women who would otherwise be turned off by products with more "hardcore" connotations. Although the shift began way back in the 1970s with feminists who wanted to emancipate women and their sexuality, it gathered pace at the turn of the century.
BUSINESS: Inflation likely hit 5.4% in Sept – poll
INFLATION is expected to have picked up in September due to high electricity and food prices, analysts polled by The Manila Times said. The median forecast in a survey of 11 economists was 5.4 percent, within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' (BSP) 5.3- to 6.1-percent projection for the month. A 5.3-percent result would match August's outturn while one at the upper end would be identical to the rate seen in May. Official data for September will be released on Thursday, October 5.
SPORTS: Obiena relishes winning first PH gold in Asiad
FILIPINO pole vault ace Ernest John "EJ" Obiena is grateful to not have cracked under pressure to deliver the Philippines' first gold medal in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on Saturday. Obiena clinched the gold by setting a new Asiad record of 5.90-m clearance in front of a huge crowd at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium. Ranked as the No. 2 pole vaulter in the world and being the Asian record holder of 6.0 m, expectations for Obiena to rule this Asiad is actually reasonable. The pride of Tondo, however, still felt the weight of the expectations, discussing subtly that it actually took a little bit of toll on him to live up to those expectations but he's grateful that he did. Obiena reset the Asian Games records twice, topping the previous standard of 5.70 m with a 5.75-m clearance and then the 5.90-m mark. The 27-year-old was already satisfied with a 5.90-m clearance but he tried to set a new personal best and Asian record of 6.02 m to grant the request of his Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov whom he said will be celebrating his birthday soon. Obiena, though, could not clear the said height.
SPORTS: Yulo misses all-around final in World Championships
FILIPINO top gymnast Carlos Yulo could not make the men's all-around final in the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships at Sportpaleis in Antwerp, Belgium. Yulo failed to finish as one of the top eight athletes — outside those who already qualified for the Paris Games through team events last year — as he placed 59th with a total score of 67.765 points early Sunday. Missing the all-around final, Yulo thus botched his first chance of qualifying for the Paris Olympics as the slots went to those top eight eligible gymnasts. Yulo, a two-time World Champion, still has a chance to make the Olympics through this World Championships, needing to be the highest-ranked eligible gymnast in floor exercise where he is currently third with 14.600 points. Athletes who might be ahead of Yulo in floor exercise but have already clinched their Olympic spots through the team event last year or through making the top eight of the all-around are not included in the rankings. It was a tough outing for the 4-foot-11 Yulo, who was competing for the first time without long-time coach in Japanese Kugumiya Munehiro whom he parted ways months ago. Aldrin Castañeda is coaching him in this world meet.
SPORTS: US cuts Europe lead in Ryder Cup
The United States gave themselves a glimmer of hope of retaining the Ryder Cup as Patrick Cantlay holed a 30-foot putt on the final green on Saturday to reduce Europe's lead to 10.5-5.5 ahead of the closing singles. Cantlay and Wyndham Clark won the last two holes to beat Rory McIlroy and Matthew Fitzpatrick 1-up in the gathering gloom as the Americans grabbed the afternoon fourballs session 3-1. But the visitors will still need the biggest Sunday comeback in Ryder Cup history to lift the trophy on European soil for the first time since 1993.
READ: Opinion/Editorial
Today's editorial is on the big push toward digitalization. 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 says before defending territory, you got to recover it first; Aquino on Filipino philosophy; and Tatad on a crown of thorns.
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