Good day. Here are the stories of The Manila Times for Tuesday, December 10, 2024.
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PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday signed into law bills aimed at improving agriculture, tourism and education. They are the Amendments to the Agricultural Tariffication Act (RA 12078), the Value-Added Tax (VAT) Refund for Non-Resident Tourists (RA 12079), and the Basic Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act (RA 12080). Malacañang said Republic Act (RA) 12078 "is a crucial response to the country's rice supply shortage." It amends the Agricultural Tariffication Act to extend the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) for six years, with an increased budget of 30 billion pesos.
Senators deny coup to unseat Escudero
SENATORS on Monday dismissed rumors of an impending coup against Senate President Francis Escudero and plans to replace him with Sen. Cynthia Villar. Escudero declined to acknowledge the rumor. Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada and Sens. JV Ejercito and Ronald Dela Rosa described the rumor as "mere gossip." In separate interviews, they said they have not signed any resolution seeking Escudero's removal.
Ombudsman awards tricycle driver, others for honesty
THE Office of the Ombudsman on Monday recognized 21 Filipinos in its Honesty, Integrity and Public Accountability Awards as part of the celebration of International Anti-Corruption Day. Nine of them received their awards on Monday in Quezon City. Among them was tricycle driver Wilfredo Pascual Jr. of Laoag City, who had returned a bag that contained 170,000 pesos to its owner. Awardee Rosalinda Celero, a cleaner at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay, found a pair of socks that contained dollars worth about 1 million pesos at the departure area in June 2024. Celero brought the socks — and the dollars — to the lost and found section of the terminal. The awardees also included Olivia Ivory Ojeda and Jay Manansala, both of the Bureau of Immigration.
KANLAON Volcano in Negros Island erupted Monday, sending a huge ash column into the sky, prompting offi cials to order the evacuation of residents living in danger zones. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said an explosive eruption occurred at the summit vent of Kanlaon Volcano at 3:03 p.m.
THE Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading Senate Bill (SB) 2871 or the proposed Chemical Weapons Prohibition Act, which seeks to outlaw the production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons. SB 2871 establishes a verification mechanism for chemical industries to control toxic chemicals that can be diverted for the production of chemical weapons. It also bans and prohibits the transfer, possession, production, and use of chemical weapons in the country amid concerns that dual-use chemicals can be developed into chemical weapons. Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, chairman of the Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, on Nov. 6 sought bipartisan support for SB 2871. He said the bill's passage is obligated by the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), signed by the Philippines in January 1993.
BUSINESS: PH now 2nd in green energy market ranking
Headlining business, the Philippines has been ranked the second most attractive emerging market for renewable energy (RE) by a Bloomberg research unit, gaining two places in this year's Climatescope report from fourth place in 2023. Its score of 2.65 out 5 was better than the Asia-Pacific average of 1.94 and was also second in the region, Bloomberg New Energy Finance (Bloomberg-NEF) said. The result, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said on Monday, highlighted the country's attractiveness as a green energy investment destination. The Philippines also ranked higher than China, which was third at 2.60, and was outscored only by India, which was in first place at 2.73. Rounding out the top five were Kenya (2.60) and Romania (2.56). A total of 105 developing economies comprised the 2024 list. India, China and the Philippines were also the top three in the Asia-Pacific list of 25 countries. The fourth and fifth places in the region were taken up, respectively, by Kazakhstan (2.47) and Taiwan (2.28).
SPORTS: La Salle vows to bounce back
Over to sports, the De La Salle Green Archers are no strangers to having their backs against the wall in the biggest stage at the UAAP men's basketball tournament. Last year, La Salle fell to University of the Philippines in Game 1 of the Season 86 Finals but won the last two matches to win the crown. Now, the Archers are in familiar territory after yielding to the Fighting Maroons in Game 1 of the Season 87 Finals, 65-73, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday. The cagers from Taft, now more than ever, need to exude that optimism and championship poise if they are to recreate the magic that they did last year.
Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta, and Orlando Mercado are today's front page columnists. Contreras discusses impeachment as a constitutional duty, Makabenta talks about Magellan's discovery of the Philippine archipelago, while Mercado weighs in on the social media ban in Australia.
Today's editorial talks about the implementation of the Anti-Bullying Act of 2003 by the Department of Education. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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