Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Wednesday, December 20, 2023.
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READ: Comelec bidding fails
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has called for a second bidding for a new fully automated election system technology that it will use in the 2025 national and local elections after its first bidding was declared a failure. Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco said on Tuesday that the lone bidder that participated in the bidding held last December 14 for the lease of a full automation system — the joint venture of Miru Systems Co. Ltd., Integrated Computer System, St. Timothy Construction Corp. and Centerpoint Solutions Technology Inc. — was declared ineligible for its failure to comply with the requirements stipulated in the revised implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act (RA) 9184, or the "Government Procurement Reform Act."
READ: PH companies eye agri partnership with Israel firm
SEVERAL Philippine companies have explored partnerships with one of Israel's giant agriculture firms that specializes in farming technologies. Companies which are part of the Kapatid Angat Lahat sa Agri Program (Kalap) of Go Negosyo founder Jose Maria "Joey" Concepcion 3rd met with Israel's Innovative Agro Industry, which aims to establish a "long-term investment" in the Philippines. I.A.I. already has a local project team in place in the country. Israel's Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss and I.A.I. Chief Executive Officer Lior Crystal led the group from Israel. Fluss said that the Philippines "is a country whose potential in agriculture is unbelievable." The I.A.I. specializes in agricultural technologies for rural development, including water, energy, telecom, health and construction. It is an affiliate of the LR Group, which has undertaken over 100 projects worldwide and has over $2.5 billion in capital investments in sustainable project development.
READ: Low hospitalization rate seen amid Covid rise
WHILE spikes in the number of influenzalike illnesses coincide with colder months, and Covid cases are seen to increase further, hospitalization and mortality rates will remain very low, Dr. Rontgene Solante, president of the Philippine College of Physicians, said on Tuesday. In a bi-monthly lay forum organized by the P.C.P., Solante said that influenza-like illnesses occur throughout the year, especially in tropical regions like the Philippines, which cause irregular outbreaks.
READ: Tolentino resigns as blue ribbon head
SEN. Francis Tolentino has resigned as chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee to "honor an agreement" to lead the panel for a limited time. The senator on Tuesday said he had an agreement with the Senate leadership when he assumed the blue ribbon chairmanship that he would limit it to one and a half years. The blue ribbon committee or the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations is tasked to investigate alleged wrongdoings of the government, its officials and its attached agencies, including government-owned corporations.
BUSINESS: Peso falls, touches P56:$1; bourse rallies to 6,500 level
In business, the peso fell further on Tuesday, but the stock market rallied to return to the 6,500 level. The currency, which at one point touched 56 pesos to the dollar, pared the day's loss to eight centavos for a 55.95 pesos to $1 close. It opened trading at the day's low of 56 pesos to the greenback and traded as high as 55.8 pesos to $1. Volume reached 1.306 billion pesos, significantly higher than the 798 million pesos recorded in the previous session.
SPORTS: Mojdeh, White cop golds in Batang Pinoy
Over to sports, World Championships campaigners Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh and Heather White powered the Parañaque swimming team to four-gold medal output on Tuesday in the 2023 Batang Pinoy swimming competition at the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila. Mojdeh, a Brent International School standout, delivered two gold medals in individual events and one mint in relay in the girls' division. The 17-year-old Mojdeh dominated the 200-meters Individual Medley event after submitting an impressive time of two minutes and 28.18 seconds. Mojdeh outclassed Lora Amoguis, who registered 2:31.04 to settle for silver and Aubrey Tom, who submitted 2:34.51 good enough for bronze. Moments later, Mojdeh reigned supreme in the 50-meters butterfly to capture her second gold medal in the tournament organized by the Philippine Sports Commission. Mojdeh then joined forces with White, Julia Ysabelle Basa and Kiera Macaraig in winning the girls' 4-by-50-meters medley relay. Mojdeh and White are fresh from a successful campaign in the Winter Juniors Swimming Championships in Bellevue, California.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Rigoberto Tiglao and Francisco Tatad are today's front page columnists. Tiglao hits out at the Senate's priorities, while Tatad looks into the latest developments on charter change.
Today's editorial believes the war in Gaza has become the world's economic burden. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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