Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
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READ: 2 more drug suspects dead
Two more drug suspects were killed in Davao City in separate incidents Tuesday, March 26, bringing the death toll to seven since Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte declared war on illegal drugs on March 22. Four days after Duterte warned drug dealers and users that they should leave the city or he would kill them, the Davao City Police Office recorded seven suspects killed in police operations after they allegedly fought back. All of them were said to be armed with .38 revolvers. The Commission on Human Rights expressed "deep concern" over the recent drug-related deaths, saying that every person has the right to life, "even if they are arrested for an alleged criminal offense."
READ: US supports pushback vs Chinese aggression
THE United States will continue to stand with the Philippines in the face of what it called China's aggression in the South China Sea that needs to be "pushed back appropriately." In a meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who led the U.S. congressional delegation, assured President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of Washington's support for Manila.
READ: Pag-IBIG okays P20B worth of housing loans
THE Pag-IBIG Fund (Home Development Mutual Fund) has so far approved nearly 20 billion pesos worth of housing loans as part of its commitment to support the government's Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) projects. During Wednesday's Kapihan sa Manila Hotel, Pag-IBIG Chief Executive Officer Marilene Acosta said the approved loans will help build 18,000 housing units. Acosta, who has been with PagIBIG Fund for 41 years, said that 4PH projects are ongoing in Bacolod, Palayan City, Pampanga and Bulacan.
READ: PAO chief receives public service awards
TWO award-giving bodies have recognized Public Attorney's Office (PAO) chief Persida Rueda-Acosta for excellence in public service. Crystal International Women's Awards honored Acosta for her "Leadership Excellence in Delivering Proficient Legal Services" at ceremonies at the Okada Manila in Parañaque City on Friday, March 22.
READ: PH secures P93-B JICA loan for infra
THE Philippines has secured a 250-billion-yen (or roughly 93 billion pesos) loan package from Japan for a road enhancement project in Luzon and implementation of Phase 1 of the Metro Manila Subway Project aimed to ease traffic in the metropolis. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) office in Manila said the funding would contribute to reducing traffic congestion in Metro Manila and enhancing connectivity with the North and Central Luzon regions by utilizing Japanese technology.
READ: Marcos wants more dams built
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants more dams to be constructed to ensure the country's water supply, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) said Tuesday. NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen said building additional dams would address several issues simultaneously.
BUSINESS: Changes to LandBank, DBP charters readied
Over to business, proposed laws amending the charters of Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines will be filed once Congress returns to work next month or during its third regular session in July, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate are currently on a break that began last Saturday. Legislators are scheduled to return to work on April 29 before adjourning anew from May 25 to July 21. Last month, Recto said the government was looking to revise the laws that established the two state-owned banks with a view to eventually taking both public. This followed an announcement that plans to merge the two — a move heavily criticized by the D.B.P. — had been abandoned.
SPORTS: PSC, PHI-NADO hope to strengthen anti-doping program in PH
In sports, as the issue of the Philippines with the World Anti-Doping Agency has been finally resolved, the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine National Anti-Doping Organization hope to solidify the program in dope testing for national athletes for international competitions. In a decision dated March 13, WADA has declared the doping issue in the Philippines as case closed, which will allow the country to carry the flag in this year's Paris Olympics, as well as other international tournaments moving forward. The goal now for PHI-NADO is to have a solid anti-doping program. P.S.C. Chairman Richard Bachmann cited Malacañang's "total support" in the bid to create an independent PHI-NADO that can fully cater to the high demands of Filipino athletes and become fully compliant with the WADA code, with members of the Senate and Lower House supporting the cause.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Rigoberto Tiglao, Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, and Francisco Tatad are today's front page columnists. Tiglao claims that the 2016 arbitral ruling supported what China committed at the Ayungin Shoal, Fr. Aquino shares his Lenten Season thoughts and Tatad discusses the modernization of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Today's editorial talks about laws on drunk driving. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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