Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Saturday, December 23, 2023.
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READ: Sara stands firm: No to peace talks
THE death of a soldier during a recent clash between the military and communist rebels has strengthened Vice President Sara Duterte's stand against any form of peace talks with the insurgents. In a statement issued Thursday night, Duterte recognized the heroism of Army Sgt. Jernell Ramillano, who died during an encounter with the New People's Army on December 17. The vice president said Ramillano is just one of the victims of the "heinous crime" committed by communist rebels. She also related the story of the mother of another soldier, Army 1Lt Jaren Relota, who was killed while fighting the N.P.A. in Davao City in 2018.
READ: Fil-Am comedian to host Golden Globes awards show
Filipino American comedian and actor Jo Koy will host the newly revamped Golden Globes, organizers announced on Thursday, as the American awards show seeks a clean slate. The stand-up comic, who starred in "Easter Sunday" and Disney's "Haunted Mansion," said he was excited to be overseeing the party that kicks off three months of movie industry ceremonies.
READ: Fewer poor Filipinos in first half of 2023
THE number of poor Filipinos in the first half of this year was lower than the figure in 2021, the Philippines Statistics Authority said on Friday. The number dropped to 22.4 percent from 23.7 percent, or from 26.14 million to 25.14 million Filipinos, the P.S.A. said. This means that about 900,000 Filipinos climbed over the poverty line, which was set at 13,797 pesos for a family of five, said National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa during a news briefing. The poverty line in the same period in 2021 was 12,082 pesos.
READ: Marcos vetoes 2 budget provisions
TWO days after signing the 2024 General Appropriations Act, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vetoed two of its provisions, one involving the Department of Justice (DoJ) revolving fund and the other the implementation of the government's Career Executive Service Development Program, Malacañang said Friday. The Palace said that in a letter to Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez dated December 20, the President said there is no law that authorizes the DoJ to establish a revolving fund "for the purpose indicated therein." The fund was supposed to be derived from the service fees charged when filing complaints and affidavits filed with the National Prosecution Service. Marcos further pointed out that the fees charged are clearly not from business-type activities allowed under the budget law. Citing an earlier pronouncement by the Supreme Court, the President said "inappropriate provisions" are unconstitutional provisions and provisions that are intended to amend other laws "because clearly, these kind[s] of laws have no place in an appropriations bill."
BUSINESS: FMIC, UA&P trim GDP forecast
Over to business, private sector economists have lowered their outlook for full-year growth but remain optimistic about the country's prospects given factors such as lower inflation, higher government spending and increased manufacturing activity. First Metro Investment Corp. and the University of Asia and the Pacific, in the December edition of their joint Market Call report, said 2023 gross domestic product growth was likely to average 5.5 percent, down from the forecast of 5.8 percent a month earlier. The revised outlook, which FMIC and UA&P economists said came with "an upward bias," falls short of the government's 6.0- to 7.0-percent target for this year. Year-to-date growth currently stands at 5.5 percent as of end-September following a better-than-expected 5.9-percent expansion in the third quarter, which partially offset the April-June slowdown to 4.3 percent. Government officials remain optimistic that the lower end of this year's target will be met, which will require a fourth-quarter acceleration to 7.5 percent.
SPORTS: White earns sixth gold in Batang Pinoy
Heading to sports, Filipino British swimmer Heather White of Parañaque City earned her sixth gold medal in the final day of competitions in the 2023 Batang Pinoy on Friday, December 22. Following her conquest of the 400-meter freestyle female 16- to 17-year-old category on Thursday evening, White dominated in the 200-meter freestyle with a time of 2:07.67 to win the gold at the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta, and Danton Remoto are today's front page columnists. Contreras talks about "artificial ignorance", Makabenta looks into the climate change movement following COP28, and Remoto discusses a cruise chaos at the Port of Manila.
Today's editorial looks into the season of scams. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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