Good day. Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023.
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PH, Australia to hold joint patrols
THE Philippines and Australia will hold joint maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea, The Manila Times learned Wednesday, a day after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the start of joint patrols between the country and the US.The maritime operation with Australia was tentatively scheduled for November 25 to 27. The Armed Forces of the Philippines has yet to provide details on the naval assets that will be deployed for the exercise that will cover waters off Palawan and extend to the Ayungin Shoal. Earlier, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong manifested her country's commitment to the holding of joint sail in the West Philippine Sea with Philippine armed forces. Wong reaffirmed Australia's desire to continue helping the Philippines in enhancing its maritime capabilities in the form of technical training, monitoring and protection of the oceans, and provisions of new equipment to the Philippine Coast Guard.
17 Filipino seafarers abducted in Yemen
THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) gave assurances that the Philippine government is doing everything to secure the release of 17 Filipino seafarers kidnapped in Yemen. DFA spokesman Ma. Teresita Daza on Wednesday said concerned agencies have "been making diplomatic representations with governments." Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian urged the DFA and DMW "to work for the safe release of the hostages as soon as possible, for their repatriation if necessary, and the overall resolution of this distressing situation." DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said Manila is concerned over the hijacking as this may be connected with the Israel-Hamas war. The official said the captors have said they would not hurt the foreign crewmembers. The official said the DFA is already making representation with foreign governments in the area.
CONTROVERSIAL contractor Datem Inc. is running low on cash and may go bankrupt if it loses in the multi-billion lawsuit to be filed by property giant Megaworld Corp. for gross negligence and abandonment of commitment. Based on a 2022 audit report, a copy of which was obtained by The Manila Times, Datem has cash on hand and in banks of P1,770,844,017 and cash equivalents of P302,966,176 or a total of P2,073,810,193. Based on the report, cash in banks earns annual interest at the prevailing deposit rates, Cash equivalents are short-term deposits, highly liquid investments that are made for varying periods up to three months depending on the immediate cash requirements of the Group and earn interest at the respective short-term deposit rates. For 2022, records show that interest income earned by Datem in its cash in bank and cash equivalents amounted to P5.64 million. Megaworld said that it had given all the chances to Datem to fulfill its obligation and complete the projects contracted to them but repeatedly failed.
Lawmaker to Meralco: Refund customers
A LAWMAKER urged the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) to return around P200 billion in overcharges to its subscribers, noting that the utility has been overcharging customers since 2012. Sta. Rosa City Rep. Danilo Ramon Fernandez said during the hearing of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises on Wednesday that based on his computations, the amount to be refunded could reach P160 billion. The hearing was conducted after Fernandez, in a privileged speech on November 7, proposed that Meralco's franchise be divided into three to make it more efficient to manage. Based on Fernandez's computation, Meralco needs to refund its 7.7 million subscribers around P26,000 to P30,000 for overcharging.
Covid-19 variant maintains threat – WHO
Covid-19 remains a threat as a virus variant has been spreading steadily around the globe, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila). WHO expert Maria Van Kerkhove said virus, SARS-CoV-2, is circulating in every country right now, and it still poses a threat. Van Kerkhove was the WHO's technical lead during the coronavirus pandemic that struck in 2019 and is now the UN health agency's interim director for epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention. There are currently three variants of interest (XBB.1.5, XXB.1.16 and EG.5) and six variants under monitoring — a lower level of concern. One of the six, BA.2.86, is being moved up to become a variant of interest.
In Business
Palace order to hasten infra projects out soon
AN executive order (EO) that will fast-track implementation of critical infrastructure projects is expected to be issued before the year ends, a senior socioeconomic planning official said on Wednesday. Undersecretary Joseph Capuno told reporters at the sidelines of the Pilipinas Conference 2023 in Makati, that the proposed directive was already being vetted by the Office of the President. The directive will require all government offices, agencies and instrumentalities, including local government units, to streamline procedures and requirements for infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs). The simplified requirements will apply to both pending and new applications in the NEDA Board-approved IFP list as well as any additions. In September, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the proposed EO would speed up the processing of licenses, clearances, permits, certifications and authorizations for IFPs.
Topping Sports
LeBron scores 39,000th point as Lakers win
LeBron James scored his 39,000th point on the way to 17 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers completed an unbeaten run through group play in the NBA In-Season Tournament with a 131-99 victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila). Anthony Davis had 26 points and 16 rebounds for the Lakers, who are likely to host a quarterfinal game early next month to begin the knockout stages of the league's first in-season tournament. Los Angeles beat Phoenix, Memphis, Portland and Utah by a combined 74 points, capped by this blowout of the Jazz for the Lakers' sixth victory in seven games overall. The 38-year-old James became the first player in league history to top 39,000 points early in the first quarter. The milestone was another stop in James' steamrolling of the world's previous standards for basketball longevity.
Finland stuns defending champion Canada
Feeling at home, Finland upset defending champion Canada to reach the semifinals of the Davis Cup for the first time on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila). Otto Virtanen and Harri Heliovaara defeated Alexis Galarneau and Vasek Pospisil, 7-5, 6-3, in the decisive doubles match to give the 14th-ranked Finns the victory over No. 1 Canada in the first of the quarterfinals in southern Spain. Virtanen had kept Finland alive by defeating Gabriel Diallo, 6-4, 7-5, in the second singles match after Milos Raonic had given Canada the first point with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Patrick Kaukovalta.
The Times, in its editorial, says enough is enough and that the jeepney modernization must push through. Read the full version on print or digital or listen to the Voice of the Times. Featured columnists on the front page are Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta and Danton Remoto. Contreras writes about the fallacy of degrees, Makabenta on the Xi-Biden summit meeting low expectations, and Remoto on a modern Beowulf.
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