Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Saturday, November 9, 2024.
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READ: Marcos signs 2 key sea laws
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday signed into law two landmark bills defining the country's maritime zones and archipelagic boundaries in a move designed to further strengthen the nation's rights over the West Philippine Sea. In a ceremony in Malacañang, the President signed Republic Act (RA) 12064, or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, and RA 12065, or the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act. In his speech, Marcos said the two new laws would assert the country's rights as an archipelagic state while fulfilling its obligations under international law. RA 12065 also identifies the liability of ships or aircraft for any loss or damage suffered by the Philippines or any third party as a result of non-compliance with the provisions of the law.
READ: New map redraws maritime boundaries
THE Philippines will release soon a new map that will include the West Philippine Sea within its jurisdiction, the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (Namria) said Friday. Speaking during a press conference in Malacañang, Namria Administrator Peter Tiangco said the map will be published after the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the newly signed Republic Act (RA) 12064, or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, is released.
READ: 'Marce' affects 7,000 families in 3 regions
TYPHOON Marce (international name: Yinxing) affected 7,233 families in three regions during its passage across the tip of Northern Luzon, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Friday. The families were from 239 barangay (villages) in the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, and Cordillera regions, the NDRRMC said. Close to 3,000 families, consisting of 11,476 persons, were sheltering in 186 evacuation centers. Marce has further weakened while proceeding westward in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Friday.
READ: Pinoy 'illegals' in US urged: Go home or risk deportation
PHILIPPINE Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez on Friday advised Filipinos illegally staying or working in the US to go back to the Philippines or risk deportation, following the return of President-elect Donald Trump to the White House. In an online media forum organized by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap), Romualdez said Trump successfully made a comeback to the White House because of his campaign promise to deport all immigrants in the US. He urged Filipino illegals to voluntarily return to the Philippines or start working on their documents. There are less than half a million Filipinos illegally staying in the US, which is smaller in number compared to other immigrants from other countries.
READ: Marcos issues order against offshore gaming
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order (EO) 74, ordering the immediate ban on offshore gaming operations in the Philippines. The prohibition, signed on Tuesday, Nov. 5, by the President through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, covers Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) and internet gaming licensees (IGLs).
READ: Actor Ken Chan evades arrest anew
AUTHORITIES failed to serve a warrant for the arrest of Kapuso actor Ken Chan after he was not found at his Quezon City house on Friday. A businessman, who requested anonymity, filed a syndicated estafa complaint against Chan and seven others over an alleged anomalous investment deal worth P14 million for a restaurant venture in 2022 under a profit-sharing agreement. But the actor had failed to deliver on the sharing deal. In an interview with entertainment media, the complainant's legal counsel, Atty. Joseph Noel Estrada, gave details about the ongoing case.
BUSINESS: Reserves slightly lower at $112.4B
Over to business, the country's gross international reserves (GIR) edged down last month, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported late on Thursday. At $112.43 billion, the October count eased from September's $112.71 billion and was said to be mainly due to government foreign currency withdrawals that were used to pay off debt and cover expenses. The current level remains a more than sufficient external liquidity buffer, the BSP said, enough for 8.1 months' worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income.
SPORTS: PVL kicks off season with new engaging format
Headlining sports, high-octane volleyball action returns as the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) kicks off its All-Filipino Conference today, Nov. 9, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. A thrilling double-header will open the hostilities with the heavily favored Choco Mucho facing the formidable Petro Gazz in the 6 p.m. main game and the rejuvenated Akari team taking on Galeries Tower in the 4 p.m. opening game. Choco Mucho, last year's All-Filipino Conference runner-up, aims to begin its campaign on a high note and score a big win against the two-time Reinforced Conference champions Petro Gazz. The Flying Titans will lean on their star-hitter Sisi Rondina, who missed playing in the previous conference due to her commitment to Alas Pilipinas national team. The purple squad also has more lofty gunners in its lineup as Kat Tolentino is expected to return while Dindin Manabat and Royse Tubino will add more firepower to the team's arsenal.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta and Danton Remoto are today's front page columnists. Contreras discusses the challenge of making people science-literate, Makabenta talks about politics as a vocation, while Remoto analyzes Kamala Harris' electoral loss.
Today's editorial believes the 'Konektadong Pinoy' Bill will improve internet access. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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