Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Thursday, January 2, 2025.
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READ: Govt targets illegal documents, assets
The government has launched an extensive crackdown on illegal activities linked to the now-banned Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), including the cancellation of fraudulently obtained birth certificates by foreign nationals and the forfeiture of illegally Acquired real estate and other assets. Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra emphasized on Wednesday that these efforts are critical for upholding laws governing immigration and property ownership. He highlighted the broader implications of POGO-related abuses, particularly the exploitation of legal loopholes and threats to national security. The POGO industry, once hailed as a driver of economic growth, has increasingly become a hub for criminal activities, including human trafficking, money laundering, and tax evasion. Despite its initial promise of significant tax revenue and job creation, the sector has faced mounting scrutiny, leading to its gradual phaseout.
READ: FIRECRACKER INJURIES HIT 340
The Department of Health on Wednesday reported over 300 cases of firecraker-related injuries.
In a post on Facebook, the department said that cases of firecracker-related injuries totaled 340 from Dec. 22, 2024 to 6 a.m. of Jan. 1, 2025. The DOH said that 141 of the cases were new on Wednesday.
READ: Pope Francis kicks off yearlong Jubilee
Pope Francis kicked off the 2025 Holy Year on Tuesday, inaugurating a celebration of the Catholic Church that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome in a test of the pope's stamina and the ability of the Eternal City to welcome them. From his wheelchair, Francis knocked a few times and the great Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica swung open. He was wheeled across the threshold as bells tolled across Rome and the choir inside the basilica began Christmas Eve Mass. In his homily, Francis said the Holy Year is an opportunity to relieve the debt of poor countries and commit to protecting the planet. The aim of the Jubilee, he said, is to bring hope to the interminable, dreary days of prisoners, to the cold and dismal lodgings of the poor and to all those places desecrated by war and violence.
READ: Fix power crisis in key tourist spots, govt urged
The country's key tourist destinations are grappling with an escalating power crisis, prompting calls for urgent action from stakeholders. Prolonged power outages have disrupted businesses, tourism, and daily life in areas like Siargao, Boracay and Tacloban, underscoring the vulnerability of the country's electricity infrastructure. Energy consumer advocacy group ILAW urged stakeholders to prioritize consumers who bear the brunt of these outages. Beng Garcia, ILAW's national convenor, emphasized the pressing need to address the power instability that has caused significant economic losses and disrupted livelihoods.
BUSINESS: Easing seen driving growth up this year
The Philippines stands poised for higher growth in 2025 amid further policy rate cuts by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the research unit of Metrobank said. Metrobank Research said in a 2025 outlook that the the Philippines continues to be one of Asean leading economies in terms of growth in 2024, performing above the global average despite significant headwinds. It expects gross domestic product to grow by 6.2 percent in both 2025 and 2026, as consumption and investment spending receive a boost from the monetary easing of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
SPORTS: Celtics extend Raptors losing streak to 11
In sports, Jayson Tatum scored 18 of his 23 points in Boston's dominant third quarter, and the Celtics routed Toronto, 125-71, extending the Raptors' losing streak to 11 games. The Celtics outscored the Raptors, 45-18, in the third, using an onslaught of three-pointers to pull away and close out 2024 with a blowout. Boston made 10 of 12 shots from beyond the arc in the period. Tatum hit four 3s, and Jrue Holiday and Sam Hauser each hit two as Boston shot 74 percent for the period. Holiday returned after missing three games with a right shoulder injury, finishing with 14 points. Payton Pritchard scored 19, Derrick White had 16 and Hauser finished with 12 points. Jaylen Brown added 12 points and nine rebounds in the win.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras, Danton Remoto and Yen Makabenta are today's front page columnists. Contreras' column talks about the inauthenticity of the movie The Kingdom while Remoto's column discusses holidays around the world. Makabenta, meanwhile, hopes that 2025 will be a year of reform and renewal for the nation.
Today's editorial is about climate change creating an insurance crisis.
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