Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Friday, November 19, 2021.
READ: Octa sees Alert Level 1 in December
THE independent research group tracking the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) situation in the country believes the National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila could shift to the most lenient Alert Level 1 beginning December. OCTA Research said NCR's one-week growth rate has dropped by 7 percent, to 379 cases per day, while the test positivity rate has reached 3 percent. Provinces outside Metro Manila like Rizal, Cavite, Bulacan and Laguna are also classified as very low risk, with cases falling by as much as 44 percent and positivity rates reaching as low as 1 percent. OCTA Senior Research Fellow Dr. Guido David said that with the encouraging numbers, it is possible for Metro Manila to shift down to Alert Level 1.
READ: Chinese ships harass PH boats in Ayungin Shoal
CHINESE coast guard vessels blocked and fired water cannon at two civilian boats resupplying Filipino troops stationed in the Ayungin Shoal, Philippine government officials reported. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) denounced the action of the Chinese ships as illegal, saying they were intruding in waters inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ). In an interview Thursday, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said the two boats, Unaiza Mae 1 and Unaiza Mae 3, were on their way last Tuesday to Ayungin Shoal, where the grounded Philippine Navy ship BRP Sierra Madre serves as a Philippine Marine outpost.
READ: Robredo vows to 'build smarter' as president
VICE President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo vowed to "build smarter" if elected president, saying that traditional infrastructure projects are not enough to make the economy resilient. In a prerecorded question and answer during the Philippine Business Conference and Expo forum for presidential candidates, Robredo said under her presidency, she will focus on putting greater emphasis on building and expanding infrastructure to support our current and emerging communities and industries.
READ: Duterte vows support for Bong Go
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte reaffirmed that he is not supporting or endorsing any presidential candidate other than Sen. Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, his long-time aide. In an online interview, the President said he was the one who pushed Go into running for president after Go withdrew his vice presidential bid. The senator backed out of the vice presidential race after Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio decided to seek the same position. Duterte said Go's concern for the people, his honesty and humility makes him an ideal candidate for the presidency. Duterte accompanied Go to the Commission on Elections office in Manila last Saturday where he filed his candidacy for president under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS), an allied party of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). He said he knows that Go gave up his bid for the vice presidency because of his friendship with the Duterte family.
BUSINESS: BSP keeps key rates unchanged
Over to business, key interest rates were kept at record lows on Thursday, with central bank officials saying that inflation remained manageable despite the likelihood that this year's target would be breached. Overnight borrowing, lending, and deposit rates were maintained at 2.00 percent, 1.50 percent, and 2.50 percent, respectively, following the policymaking Monetary Board's seventh rate-setting meeting for 2021.
SPORTS: GAB receives WBC recognition
In sports, for the second time under the leadership of chairman Abraham Kahlil "Baham" Mitra, the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) has been cited as Commission of the Year by the World Boxing Council (WBC). The award was given to the country's regulatory body for professional sports at the ongoing 59th Convention of the WBC in Mexico City. WBC and California State Athletic Commission medical head Dr. Paul Wallace also singled out the Philippines from the 161 participating countries, saying that the country is "ahead of the game."
READ: Opinion and editorial
Rigoberto Tiglao and Ruben Torres are today's front page columnists. Tiglao gives a teaser for his new book while Torres discusses the tension between President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Today's editorial discusses what the recent COP26 climate summit in the United Kingdom had accomplished, or lack thereof. Read a full version on the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
READ: Times forum to track car industry's recovery
The motoring industry's recovery plan and growth prospects this year will be showcased during The Manila Times' virtual forum "Turbocharging the Local Motoring Trade," today, November 19. Board of Investments (BOI) Executive Director of Industry and Development Services Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichosa is one of the speakers at the forum. Halili-Dichosa will be joined by Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) President and Isuzu Philippines Corp. Sales Division Head Joseph Bautista, and Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (Campi) President and Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. First Vice President Rommel Gutierrez. Broadcast live on The Times' Facebook page and YouTube channel, and Dailymotion from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, the forum will be moderated by Times Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dante "Klink" Ang 2nd and editor Arnold Belleza. See you there.
For more news and information, get a copy of The Manila Times on print, subscribe to its digital edition or log on to www.manilatimes.net. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and Keep Up With The Times.
On behalf of The Manila Times, this is Aric John Sy Cua reporting. Have a safe Friday ahead.