Good day. Here are the stories of The Manila Times for Sunday, January 19, 2025.
Today's episode is brought to you by Wilcon Depot, The Philippines' leading home improvement and construction supplies retailer—your Trusted Building Partner.
READ: China's 'Monster' ship sails closer to Zambales
SECURITY concerns escalated sharply as China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5901, referred to as the "Monster" ship, ventured into waters 60 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales, well within the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), which has been monitoring the activities of the 165-meter-long CCG 5901 for the past two weeks, described the vessel's presence as unauthorized and a blatant violation of international maritime law. Despite multiple radio challenges issued by the PCG's flagship vessel, the BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301), the Chinese vessel failed to comply.
READ: Comelec says it complied with TROs
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Saturday its compliance with the latest temporary restraining orders (TROs) issued by the Supreme Court. In a statement, the Comelec said the names of Marie Grace David, Mary Dominique Oñate and Aldrin Sta. Ana will now be included in the official ballots, as reprinting begins next week. David is running for vice mayor of Limay, Bataan; Oñate for mayor of Palompon, Leyte; and Sta. Ana for mayor of Bocaue, Bulacan.
READ: Fear mongering on sex education hit
AN alliance of child rights organizations on Friday slammed the "fear-mongering" and "fake news" being spread about a bill aimed at addressing teenage pregnancy by teaching about sex in schools. Child Rights Network (CRN) Philippines said the comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) included in Senate Bill 1979 was being misrepresented by a group whose leaders include ousted Supreme Court justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno. The National Coalition for the Family and the Constitution (NCFC), where Sereno serves as a convenor, said CSE could lead to children being "sexualized" and teach children sexual pleasure.
READ: Food emergency OK seen this week
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) on Saturday said that it was likely that a food security emergency, a measure that is being taken to lower the price of rice, would be declared on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. In a news forum on Saturday, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the proposed food security emergency declaration was due to the "extraordinary increase in rice," noting that despite slashing the tariff rate for imported rice, the price of grain staple has not gone down significantly.
READ: Israeli govt OKs Gaza ceasefire deal
Israel's Cabinet voted to approve a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal on Saturday, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, ending days of uncertainty about whether the truce would go into effect this weekend. The ceasefire, set to begin Sunday, would halt fighting and bombardment in Gaza's deadliest-ever war. It would also enable the release of hostages held in the territory since Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
BUSINESS: PH, SKorea to advance digital transformation
In business, the Philippines, in partnership with the South Korean government, will pursue digital transformation and innovation, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said on Friday. NEDA, in partnership with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (Kotra), kicked off the inaugural meeting of the KoreanPhilippine Economic Innovation Partnership Program (EIPP) on Jan. 16 at the New World Hotel in Makati City. In a statement, NEDA said the meeting outlined comprehensive plans for three digital infrastructure projects to be developed under the EIPP, which aims to improve information and communications technology (ICT) in the Philippines. These projects include the formulation of a National Communications Satellite road map for the Philippines, the establishment of an Implementation Plan for the Philippine E-Government Master Plan and the Establishment of an Implementation Plan for the Philippines for an Integrated Data Center. The National Communications Satellite road map aims to establish a robust industrial ecosystem for the telecommunications satellite sector in the Philippines. The Philippine E-Government Master Plan enhances and expands the government's expertise by promoting technology exchanges to develop an efficient e-government implementation strategy.
SPORTS: PSA pays tribute to Filipino Olympians
Over to sports, a touch of nostalgia shrouds the San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMCPSA) Awards Night as Filipinos who represented flag and country in the Olympics will be given tribute in one of the special highlights of the Jan. 27 presentation at the grand ballroom of the Manila Hotel. Members of the Philippine contingent to both the Paris Olympics and Paralympic Games are going to be recognized for flying the country's red, white and blue proud and mighty during the 2024 edition of the Olympiad in the French capital. And in observance of the country's century of participation in the quadrennial showcase, beloved members of Philippine teams to the Olympics in the last 60 years will join their Paris counterparts in what is the biggest Awards Night ever by the nation's oldest media organization headed by its president Nelson Beltran.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Marlen Ronquillo is today's front page columnist, as he talks about "putting the cart before the horse".
Today's editorial calls for talks between Philippine and Chinese diplomats on the South China Sea disputes. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
For more news and information, read The Manila Times on print, subscribe to its digital edition or log on to www.manilatimes.net. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and LinkedIn; and be part of our communities on Viber, Telegram, and Mastodon.