Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Thursday, October 19, 2023.
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BANNER: Marcos stops Maharlika
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has suspended the implementation of the Maharlika Investment Fund, citing the need for further study, Malacañang said on Wednesday. The President, through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, issued a memorandum dated Oct. 12, 2023, directing the Bureau of the Treasury, Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines to suspend the implementation of the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 11954 or the "Maharlika Investment Fund Act of 2023." The I.R.R., a prelude to the M.I.F.'s operationalization, was released in August.
The 10-day campaign period for the October 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) starts today. A total of 672,016 positions are at stake in this year's polls — 42,001 for barangay (village) captains and 294,007 for members of Sangguniang Barangay (village council). The same number of positions are at stake for the SK chairman and SK Council members.
1st batch of Pinoys arrives from Israel
THE first batch of 16 Filipinos — 15 caregivers and a month-old infant — arrived from war-troubled Israel on Wednesday. Etihad Airlines flight E.Y.594 carrying the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) touched down at 3:55 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Various government agencies, including the Department of Migrant Workers, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Justice and Technical Education Skills and Development Authority vowed to provide assistance to the repatriates.
X starts charging new users in PH, New Zealand
The social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, said Tuesday it has started charging new users in New Zealand and the Philippines for basic features such as posting messages in a trial aimed at reducing spam. Tech billionaire Elon Musk, who bought Twitter last year for $44 billion, has long complained about fake accounts, bots and spam on the platform, introducing a number of controversial changes that have been sharply criticized by users around the world. Under the trial, named "Not A Bot," new users in New Zealand and the Philippines will have to pay an annual fee for the ability to write on X, like and reply to posts, and bookmark content.
BUSINESS: India allows rice exports to PH, six other countries
Over to business, after imposing an export ban in July, India has allowed exports of non-basmati white rice to seven countries including the Philippines, which has been given the largest allocation of 295,000 metric tons. In an October 18 notice, India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade announced that exports would be allowed for Nepal, Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, Guinea, Malaysia, the Philippines and Seychelles. The shipments will be coursed through India's National Cooperative Exports Ltd.
SPORTS: Blue Eagles tame Tigers for 3rd win
In sports, defending champion Ateneo de Manila University clobbered University of Santo Tomas (UST), 97-77, in the U.A.A.P. Season 86 men's basketball tournament on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena. The Blue Eagles continued their roller-coaster ride this season, improving their record to 3-3 for solo fifth in the standings heading to this weekend's Battle of Katipunan. Ateneo and University of the Philippines, which crossed paths in the last two Finals, meet on Sunday at the same Pasay venue. For coach Tab Baldwin, this victory was a good way for the Blue Eagles to warm up for their weekend clash against the Fighting Maroons.
Antonio Contreras and Yen Makabenta are today's front page columnists. Contreras looks into a proposal to solve the Masungi crisis, while Makabenta believes former president Rodrigo Duterte could land in the International Criminal Court.
Today's editorial looks into an agreement with Canada over sea monitoring and security. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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