Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024.
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READ: Chinese bullying triggers PH protest
THE Philippines said Thursday it would file a diplomatic protest against China for the harassment of a fisheries ship, saying the incident on Wednesday was the first documented instance of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy directly participating alongside the China Coast Guard (CCG) to confront Philippine vessels. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said Thursday that the government move came after a CCG ship fired a water cannon at a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) boat, the BRP Paguaya, near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) while it was on a resupply mission to support Filipino fishers in the area. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that under the Marcos administration, the Philippines has filed 193 protests against China's bullying of Philippine vessels from July 1, 2022 to Dec. 5, 2024. Meanwhile, the National Maritime Council described as alarming the involvement of the PLA Navy in Wednesday's incident. National Maritime Council spokesman Undersecretary Alexander Lopez said on Thursday that PLA Navy vessels, which traditionally stayed in the background during such encounters, actively engaged in aggressive maneuvers against Philippine ships for the first time. According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), several of its ships, along with the BFAR, were conducting a routine maritime patrol to support Filipino fishermen in the contested waters when the confrontations unfolded.
READ: Japan extends P611M in military aid
TOKYO extended to Manila a second Official Security Assistance (OSA) amounting to 1.6 billion yen, or about P611 million, to further support the Philippines' efforts to deter external threats and contribute to peace in the Indo-Pacific region. The assistance will cover the provision of coastal radar systems, automatic rigid hull inflatable boats, and other equipment. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippines "is one of the first recipients of Japan's OSA, launched in 2023." Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya on Thursday signed and exchanged the diplomatic notes on Japan's assistance to the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. witnessed the event. The assistance further solidifies the strong and growing collaboration between the Philippines and Japan in promoting peace, stability and cooperation, bilaterally and regionally, Manalo said. Endo, writing on the social media platform X, said Japan's commitment to peace and stability in the Philippines further deepens with the second Official Security Assistance project.
READ: New office to speed up Marawi rehab
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has created the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Marawi Rehabilitation and Development (OPAMRD) for the rebuilding of Marawi City and nearby localities, Malacañang announced Thursday. Executive Order 78 establishes the OPAMRD, which will be headed by the Presidential Adviser for Marawi Rehabilitation (PAMR) under the control and supervision of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP). The OPAMRD's functions include advising the president on all matters regarding rehabilitation, development, and restoration of peace in Marawi City; overseeing, monitoring, coordinating, and harmonizing all strategies, programs and projects; and coordinating with concerned local government units in the implementation of programs, activities, and projects related to Marawi City rehabilitation and development. The OPAMRD will also oversee the implementation of presidential directives or priorities for the rehabilitation, development, and restoration of peace in Marawi City, and submit a bi-annual report to the president, through the Office of the Executive Secretary and OSAP, on the status of the implementation of the president's order. Through the EO, Marcos enjoined all relevant departments, agencies, bureaus, offices, and concerned LGUs and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to provide full and timely assistance and cooperation to the OPAMRD to ensure its effective implementation.
READ: 11 high schools join Go Negosyo event
ELEVEN senior high schools from the National Capital Region (NCR) participated in Go Negosyo's entrepreneurship mentoring event specifically designed for Filipino youths. Speaking before some 500 senior high school students at the Rizal High School in Pasig City on Thursday, Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion encouraged the students to explore entrepreneurship as part of several options after they leave school. Concepcion also encouraged the students to take advantage of digital technology and social media to build businesses by becoming content creators. He emphasized the importance of mentorship, as he told the students that he himself was mentored by more experienced businessmen w hen he started his businesses.Concepcion was joined by Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara to lead Youthpreneur, the nonprofit's school-based entrepreneurship mentoring program for senior high school students in public schools. The school-based entrepreneurship mentoring program aims "to promote an entrepreneurial mindset and increase financial literacy."
READ: MRT, LRT operating hours extended
THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced on Thursday the revised operating schedules for major train lines in Metro Manila to address the expected surge in passengers during the holiday season. The adjustments, which include earlier start times and extended evening operations, aim to provide greater convenience to commuters. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said on select days, trains will operate earlier in the morning and later into the night to offer greater convenience to passengers during the holiday season. He advised passengers to consult the revised train schedules to ensure smooth travel during the holiday period. The MRT Line 3, which runs between North Avenue and Taft Avenue stations, will begin its new schedule on Dec.16. From Dec. 16 to 24, and on Dec. 31, the first train from North Avenue will depart at 4:30 a.m. From Dec. 16-23, the last train will leave North Avenue at 10:34 p.m. and Taft Avenue at 11:08 p.m., offering extended service hours for commuters. For the LRT Line 2, which connects Antipolo and Recto, revised schedules will be in effect on Dec. 17-23, Dec. 24, and Dec. 31, with the first train departing at 5 a.m. Regular operating hours will resume from Dec. 25-30 and Jan. 1 onwards. The LRT Line 1, operating from Dr. Santos Station (formerly Sucat) in Parañaque to Fernando Poe Jr. Station in Quezon City, will implement its adjusted schedule starting Dec. 20. On Dec. 20, 23, and 26-27, trains will begin operating as early as 4:30 a.m. Extended evening hours will also be in place on Dec. 20 and 23, with the last train leaving Dr. Santos Station at 10:30 p.m. and FPJ Station at 10:45 p.m.
Topping Business
READ: Inflation rises anew as storms lift prices
INFLATION rose for a second straight month in November as food prices increased in the wake of a series of storms that battered the country, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Thursday. Consumer price growth picked up to 2.5 percent last month from 2.3 percent in October, hitting the median forecast in a Manila Times poll of economists and falling within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' (BSP) 2.2- to 3.0-percent estimate. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy items, rose to 2.5 percent from 2.4 percent. Year to date, headline inflation and core inflation averaged 3.2 percent and 3.0 percent, respectively, within the BSP's 2.0- to 4.0-percent target. The central bank said the latest data aligned with its assessment that inflation would trend closer to the lower end of the target range in the near term, driven by easing supply pressures on key food items, particularly rice. However, it also said that the balance of risks for 2025 and 2026 remained tilted toward the upside, with pressures likely to come from higher power rates and wage hikes in areas outside Metro Manila. The impact of lower rice import tariffs, on the other hand, is the main downside risk.
In Sports
READ: Philippines claims overall crown in BIMP-EAGA
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — The Philippines Team A claimed the overall crown at the 2024 Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines – East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Friendship Games which ended on Wednesday here. The six-day event's closing ceremony was held Thursday afternoon at the Balayong Basketball Covered Court. Philippines A harvested 30 gold medals on top of 37 silvers and 32 bronzes to become the runaway champion of the event with a total of 99 medals. Malaysia B racked up 17 golds, 16 silvers and 17 bronzes to finish second while Indonesia claimed 14 golds, eight silvers and five bronzes for a third place finish. Philippines E grabbed 13 golds, eight silvers and 11 bronzes to rank fourth and Philippines B collected six golds, six silvers and 10 bronzes to round out the top five in the 9-team multisport event.
READ: Wagner, Suggs power Magic over short-handed 76ers
PHILADELPHIA — Franz Wagner scored 35 points and Jalen Suggs had 17 to lead the Orlando Magic to a 106-102 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila). Wagner made 12 of 23 shots from the floor with a 3-pointer and converted all 10 free throws to lead the Magic past the short-handed Sixers. Philadelphia was not at full strength. Joel Embiid, Paul George, Andre Drummond and Kyle Lowry sat out due to injuries or rest. An expected Eastern Conference favorite in the preseason, the Sixers dropped to 5-15. Coach Nick Nurse said there was a chance Embiid, who has played only four games this season, could play Friday when the teams play again in Philadelphia. Wagner scored 25 points through three quarters before snapping a tie game in the fourth and helping the Magic stretch the lead. Suggs hit four of Orlando's eight 3-pointers. Jared McCain, Philadelphia's first-round pick who has emerged as an early Rookie of the Year candidate, scored 24 points. Tyrese Maxey had 16. The Magic, an emerging team out of the Eastern Conference, played only four players off the bench but three of them scored in double digits.
READ: Opinion/ Editorial
In today's editorial, the Times says peace in the Middle East remains a mirage. Read the full version on print or digital or listen to the Voice of the Times. Rigoberto Tiglao and Van Ybiernas are the featured columnists on the front page. Tiglao claims that the communists are President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s ally in impeachment to oust Sara; Ybiernas on the unhinged articles of impeachment.
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