Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Friday, November 3, 2023.
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READ: 'No need for PH allies to join resupply trips'
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines said there is no need for its allies, including the United States, to escort Philippine vessels delivering provisions to Filipino soldiers stationed on Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal amid the growing number of maritime confrontations between China and Manila. In August, Philippine officials were forced to abort one rotation and resupply mission after a Chinese Coast Guard ship fired a water cannon at one of the supply boats. The US and countries like Japan and Australia have offered to conduct joint patrols with the Philippines or join supply missions to Ayungin to deter further provocations by the Chinese.
READ: PH 'not obliged' to seek navigation approval
THE Department of Foreign Affairs has reiterated that the Philippines is under "no obligation" to seek approval from any country to navigate its own territorial sea, including the area around Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal. In a statement on Thursday, the D.F.A. debunked the claim of China's People's Liberation Army that the Philippine Navy ship B.R.P. Conrado Yap sailed illegally into the waters near Bajo de Masinloc last October 30, and the claim only serves "to raise tensions in the West Philippine Sea." Beijing has long asserted that the shoal lies within its territorial waters.
READ: 2 Filipino doctors cross into Egypt
TWO Filipino doctors were among the 22 staff of the Doctors Without Borders who crossed into Egypt from Gaza, as 115 other Filipinos wait their turn to leave the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. Information provided by the Philippine Ambassador in Amman, Jordan, indicated there are 115 other Filipinos in Gaza who are "waiting for the signal to cross the border," Daza said. Only 19 Filipinos, including a nun, were still undecided whether to leave or stay, she said. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said in a virtual interview that the D.W.B. facilitated the release of the Filipino doctors at the Rafah border crossing.
READ: Marcos, Kishida to tackle WPS
ISSUES concerning the West Philippine Sea will be discussed when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida today, November 3. The Presidential Communications Office on Thursday said the two leaders "are expected to discuss the two countries' multifaceted and dynamic cooperation on political and security cooperation" as well as Japan's Official Development Assistance to the Philippines. Kishida will arrive in Manila for a two-day official visit.
BUSINESS: Inflation seen staying above target until 2024
Over to business, inflation is seen staying above the target range until July of next year, Michael Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said in a report. Ricafort stated that inflation will briefly dip to the target range and then rise again, emphasizing that it will stay above 4.0 percent until July 2024. He reiterated that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is prepared to take further action if needed to get inflation back on track. Inflation surged to 6.1 percent in September, rising for a second month in a row from August's 5.3 percent due to higher food and transport costs. Figures for October will be released on November 7. Monthly consumer price growth, B.S.P. Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said, was now unlikely to return to the 2- to 4-percent target this year. A revised forecast for 2023 — the projection was 5.8 percent in September — was not announced, but the B.S.P. said that 2024 inflation was now likely to breach the target at 4.7 percent. The official estimate last month was 3.5 percent.
SPORTS: Nueva Ecija seeks equalizer
In sports, defending champion Nueva Ecija looks to prolong its reign in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League for at least one more game. The Rice Vanguards seek to equalize the series at 1-all as they face the San Juan Knights in Game 2 of their North Division bestof-three semifinal series at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum on Friday, November 3. Nueva Ecija found itself on the brink of elimination after bowing to San Juan, 82-86, last Friday at the Bren Guiao Convention Center in Pampanga.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Rigoberto Tiglao and Francisco Tatad are today's front page columnists. Tiglao asks if it is now the start of a Third World War, while Tatad asks if former president Rodrigo Duterte will return to the political spectrum.
Today's editorial discusses on the usage of artificial intelligence. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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