Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Sunday, August 11, 2024.
Today's episode is brought to you by Wilcon Depot, The Philippines' leading home improvement and construction supplies retailer—your Trusted Building Partner.
READ: Chinese jets harass PH patrol aircraft
THE Philippine military on Saturday accused China's air force of "dangerous and provocative actions" against one of its planes patrolling over a disputed South China Sea reef. Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said a Philippine Air Force (PAF) NC-212i aircraft was conducting a routine maritime patrol over Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) on Aug. 8 when two Chinese fighter jets executed a dangerous maneuver at around 9 a.m. and dropped flares in the path of the NC-212i. Brawner said the pilots and crew of the NC-212i were able to safely return to Clark Air Base at 10 a.m. and that all personnel on board were unharmed. However, he said the incident posed a threat to the PAF aircraft and its crew, interfered with lawful flight operations in airspace within Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction, and contravened international law and regulations governing safety of aviation. Brawner said they have reported the incident to the Department of Foreign Affairs and the relevant government agencies.
READ: Lawmakers rap Sara as her ratings plunge
LAWMAKERS blasted Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday for criticizing the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as a new opinion poll showed her net satisfaction rating plunging 19 percentage points. Over the last few days, Duterte criticized the administration for what she called failures in governance and also said she resigned as secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) in June because of budget issues that were holding back reforms. But in separate statements, Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin and Assistant Majority Leader and Taguig 2nd District Rep. Amparo Maria Zamora called out Duterte on these criticisms. Garin said that Duterte finger pointing will not help solve the DepEd's problems, saying that being a leader is about being the "captain of the ship."
READ: Matatag curriculum to be amended – Angara
EDUCATION Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara on Friday said the Matatag curriculum will be amended based on the experience of teachers and students. Angara said that the revised curriculum was a product of several years of study. The Matatag Agenda was launched as the new direction of the Department of Education (DepEd) towards improving the quality of basic education in the country, according to a memorandum issued last year. To help attain the commitments articulated in the Matatag Agenda, the Education Department has adopted DepEd Order 013 (Adoption of the National Learning Recovery Program) issued in 2023. This includes the implementation of the revised curriculum.
READ: Marcos vows to sustain economic growth
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. over the weekend vowed to sustain the country's economic momentum by continuing to invest in job-generating infrastructure, social protection programs, health and education. The President made this commitment as he touted the 6.3 percent growth in the economy in the second quarter, which he attributed to the investments and construction under the Build Better More program.
BUSINESS: Banks' NPL ratio at 3.51% in June
In business, the proportion of nonperforming loans (NPLs) of Philippine banks to their total loans settled at 3.51 percent in June this year, data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Friday showed. The NPL ratio during the month was slightly lower than the 3.57 percent recorded in May this year. It was, however, higher than the 3.43 percent seen in June last year.
SPORTS: Sarno: 'Watch out for me in next Olympics'
Over to sports, Filipino weightlifter Vanessa Sarno said she did not expect to incur a DNF (did not finish) in her Olympic debut, but she's still happy to have competed at the Paris Games women's 71-kilogram (kg) class. Sarno immediately bowed out of medal contention after striking out at 100-kg snatch, unable to raise the weight in three attempts at the South Paris Arena early Saturday (Manila time). It was truly unexpected for Sarno, whose personal best, which also stands as the national record in snatch, is 110 kg. Despite a lowly finish, the 20-year-old Sarno said she fought hard and hopes that the Filipino people are still proud of her.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Marlen Ronquillo is today's front page columnist, as he gives a broader review of the country's disjointed land transport policies.
Today's editorial says there is no reason for suspension of the controversial Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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