Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Friday, November 22, 2024.
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READ: World's largest solar farm rises in NEcija
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday led the groundbreaking of the Meralco Terra (MTerra) Solar Project, considered the largest integrated solar and battery storage facility in the world. In his speech in Gapan City, Nueva Ecija, Marcos said the landmark project would "put our country on the map as a leader in renewable energy." The president highlighted the importance of the solar project expected to power over 2 million households and reduce carbon emissions significantly once fully operational in three years. He said it would also address the growing demand for electricity and the Philippines' urgent need to transition to sustainable energy.
READ: Marcos says he's open to clemency for Veloso
Meanwhile, Marcos said he is open to granting clemency to Filipina death row inmate Mary Jane Veloso once she returns to the Philippines. Marcos issued the statement after various groups urged the government to grant Veloso "immediate clemency" upon her return to the country. He said the Philippine government has been working on Veloso's case for years, noting that her sentence has been commuted from death to life imprisonment. On Wednesday, Marcos announced that Veloso was "coming home" after Indonesia agreed to the request to transfer her to the Philippines. The now 39-year-old mother of two was arrested and sentenced to death in Indonesia in 2010 for drug trafficking. She made headlines in 2015 when she was given a last minute reprieve from execution following a personal appeal by then-president Benigno Aquino III to the Indonesian government. Details of Veloso's return to the Philippines were still being finalized, but Philippine authorities hope that she may be able to go home in time for Christmas.
READ: DICT eyes policy to subsidize telco tower rollout
THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said on Thursday it is studying a proposal for the government to partially fund the setting up of telecommunications towers in developing areas to improve overall connectivity. In an interview on the sidelines of The Manila Times Digital Innovation and Transformation Forum, DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy said ICT Secretary Ivan John Uy ordered the department to study the possibility of implementing a policy where the government can subsidize the building of towers in isolated areas to encourage the private sector to do the same.
READ: First lady opens Intramuros tourism center, museum
FIRST lady Liza Araneta-Marcos graced the inauguration of the Centro Turismo de Intramuros and the newly refurbished Museo de Intramuros at the Old San Ignacio Church in Manila on Thursday. The event marked a significant milestone in the revitalization of the Walled City's cultural and tourism infrastructure. The first lady, Senate President Francis Escudero, alongside officials from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and the Intramuros Administration, led the inauguration of the Centro Turismo de Intramuros, a new hub designed to provide tourists with seamless access to the historic district's attractions. The center features interactive exhibits, guided tour information, and resources for sustainable tourism development. Following the inauguration of the tourism center, attendees were given an exclusive preview of the Museo de Intramuros. The museum, housed within the restored Old San Ignacio Church, boasts an extensive collection of ecclesiastical art, religious artifacts, and colonial-era treasures. The museum's restoration is part of ongoing efforts to breathe new life into Intramuros, blending historical preservation with modern engagement.
READ: 3 storms leave 12 dead, P2.33B damage
MORE than 3.5 million Filipinos were affected by Typhoons Nika, Ofel and Pepito, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has reported. The death toll has risen to 12, while 14 people were injured and 3 were missing. The agency said 3,507,920 people or 939,936 families were affected by the typhoons. Twenty-nine cities and towns declared a state of calamity. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it has provided about 2 million boxes of family food packs (FFPs) to local government units (LGUs) affected by Typhoons Kristine, Leon, Ofel, Marce, Nika, and Pepito. During a media forum Thursday, DSWD spokesman Irene Dumlao said the agency continued to distribute FFPs for prepositioning while giving more relief aid.
BUSINESS: Peso back at record P59:$1 low
Headlining business, the peso returned to an all-time low of 59 pesos against the dollar on Thursday amid uncertainties over the pace of US Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts and mixed signals from local monetary authorities. The currency weakened by 9 centavos to its lowest close in just over two years. It last hit 59 pesos to a dollar on Oct. 17, 2022 — this close actually occurred four times that month — on concerns that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) had failed to keep up with aggressive Fed rate hikes to combat surging inflation.
SPORTS: Maraguinot finds new home with Galeries
In sports, despite playing for a new environment and a different system, Jho Maraguinot continues to play with the same intensity and power in her debut game with the Galeries Tower Highrisers in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference. Despite training for only two days with her new team, Maraguinot chipped in 10 points along with seven excellent receptions against PLDT last Tuesday. However, Galeries Tower fell short 25-27, 22-25, 23-25 as PLDT displayed more maturity in late-game stretches. The 28-year-old outside hitter said that this may not be a desirable outcome in her debut, but she is happy and grateful for the opportunity to play for the Highrisers.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Rigoberto Tiglao and Francisco Tatad are today's front page columnists. Tiglao analyzes a quote on human rights, while Tatad thinks the country needs a breathing space.
Today's editorial says Philippine offshore gaming operations are morphing into "guerrilla scam operators". Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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