Good day. Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Sept. 23, 2021.

READ: Isko vows govt of reconciliation

MANILA Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso vowed to be a healing president if he is elected the country's next leader next year. Domagoso, 47, officially declared his candidacy for president on Wednesday. He and his running mate, Dr. Willie Ong, will run under the Aksyon Demokratiko party. The mayor expressed readiness to face the challenges. The former actor pledged to lead a government of "reconstruction and national reconciliation." READ: YORME DRAWS STAR SUPPORT In a related story, Domagoso got the support of a big star on Wednesday when he launched his presidential run. Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said that he and his wife, Batangas Sixth District Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto, will support Domagoso in his next race. Santos-Recto was a big star before she changed careers and became mayor of Lipa City. Domagoso was also a former actor, popularly known as Isko Moreno.

READ: Ease travel restrictions – Concepcion

STRESSING that providing greater mobility to fully vaccinated individuals is now a "global standard," Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Maria "Joey" Concepcion 3rd on Wednesday reiterated his call for the government to ease travel restrictions. Concepcion held a dialogue on safer travel with key tourism industry stakeholders in relation to his recent appeal to help the aviation industry from crashing. Governors and mayors from popular tourist destinations such as Cebu, Bohol, Boracay, Aklan, and Coron and Busuanga in Palawan also engaged with industry representatives, exploring the resumption of tourism activities in their respective areas.

READ: Of pandemic heroes and CEOs

TWO chief executive officers and a lawmaker will grace The Manila Times forum titled "The Pandemic Heroes and CEOs," which will be held today, September 23. Deputy Speaker and 1-Pacman Rep. Michael Romero will lead the other guests - Merle Balicao, owner and CEO of Mer-Nel's Cake House, and Robert Yupangco, vice chairman of the Yupangco Group and president and CEO of Zoomanity Group. The Manila Times' president and CEO Dante "Klink" Ang 2nd will host the forum with Grace Bondad, president of the American Association of the Philippines. The forum will be held at 10 a.m. and will be livestreamed on The Manila Times' Facebook page.

In World

READ: Biden dashes 'cold war' fears in first UN speech

UNITED NATIONS: President Joe Biden summoned the world's nations to forcefully address the festering global issues of the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change and human rights abuses in his first address before the UN General Assembly on Tuesday. He decried military conflict and insisted the US is not seeking "a new Cold War" with China. But while stressing to fellow world leaders the urgency of working together, Biden avoided addressing criticism from allies about the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan and a diplomatic tempest with France. Instead, he used his address before the annual gathering of world leaders to make his case that the United States remains a reliable international partner following four years of President Donald Trump's "America first" foreign policy.

Topping Business


READ: ADB maintains 4.5% PH growth projection

THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) maintained its 2021 and 2022 Philippine economic growth projection on the back of the gradual recovery in the economy. In its Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2021 Update report released on Wednesday, the ADB said the country's gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to grow by 4.5 percent this year and 5.5 percent in 2022. ADB's latest projection is within the government's downwardly adjusted 4- to 5-percent forecast for this year. The 2022 forecast however was lower than the government's 7- to 9- percent outlook for 2022.

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In Sports


READ: Meralco nips NLEX, secures No. 2 spot


DEFENSE-conscious Meralco played its best offensive game at a time it badly needed a victory on Wednesday in the PBA Philippine Cup. Facing an NLEX Road Warriors team that is also looking for a win, the Bolts put premium on offense en route to a 104-101 win at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga. Allein Maliksi led Meralco with 22 points. Alvin Pasaol added 17 markers. Rookie Calvin Oftana had a breakout performance for the Road Warriors as he finished with a career-high 34 points.

READ: Opinion and Editorial



The Manila Times, in its Editorial, called on the Department of Health to stop stalling the Covid-19 vaccines for the youth. Read the full version on print or listen to The Voice of The Times. Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta and Edcel Lagman are the Times columnists featured on the front page. Contreras advises the political opposition on what it would take for them to win in the 2022 elections. Makabenta asks the DoH to clear up the "false positives" mess. Lagman writes a 2-part column on the nexus between human population and development.

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 or Twitter and Keep Up With The Times.

This is Christian Crow Maghanoy reporting.