Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Sunday, June 12, 2022, Independence Day.

READ: Covid cases up in 14 LGUs in Metro Manila

FOURTEEN of the 17 local government units (LGUs) in the National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila have noted slight increases in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases and positivity rate although the Department of Health (DoH) downplayed their impact. The DoH report comes after OCTA Research first cited an increase in the positivity rate or the percentage of the number of people who tested positive for the disease, prompting them to project a "weak surge" in the next few days. In a public briefing on Saturday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that despite the rise in Covid infections and a 1.6 percent positivity rate, the country remains under low risk. Vergeire said hospital admissions for severe and critical cases were stable with total bed utilization steady at 19 percent. Vergeire said the slight increase in cases can be attributed to the detection of the Omicron subvariants such as the BA.2.12.1, BA.4 and BA.5, as well as the waning immunity of those who have only received their first two doses. She also said that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) is still discussing calls to redefine the vaccination status to consider those who received their third dose as "fully-vaccinated" individuals. Vergeire acknowledged that a possible change in the definition of "fully-vaccinated" could lead to confusion in the definition and classifications in the regulations issued by the IATF.

READ: Marcos wants to go to UN Assembly

PRESIDENT-ELECT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. was keen to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City in September, his spokesman said. Marcos' spokesman and incoming Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez said that the presumptive President believes "it would be very important to attend and represent the Philippines in the General Assembly and meet with other world leaders." Rodriguez issued the comment following the courtesy visit of UN Resident Coordinator in the Philippines Gustavo Gonzalez, wherein he discussed with Marcos the preparations for this year's UN General Assembly. UNGA's mandate as a main policy-making organ includes appointing the secretary general, electing the non-permanent members of the Security Council and approving the UN budget.

READ: National Artist 'La Aunor' honored

NORA Aunor is filled with gratitude as she was finally named National Artist for Film — after two failed attempts in the past. In a statement sent by Aunor to the media through veteran scribe Rodel Fernando, the 69-year-old actress thanked everyone for the recognition, especially President Rodrigo Duterte who signed her conferment along with seven other new National Artists.

READ: Independence Day job fair opens nationwide

THOUSANDS of employment opportunities will be up for grabs for jobseekers in Sunday's nationwide job fair. Labor department spokesman Rolly Francia said the job fair, which was organized as part of the 124th Independence Day celebration, will be held in 25 venues nationwide to be participated in by over a thousand local and overseas employers. A total of 111,351 local job positions will be offered to jobseekers while 37,878 are overseas.

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READ: Okada Manila row deepens

THE ousted management of Okada Manila has asked the Supreme Court to void the board of Japanese billionaire Kazuo Okada for violating the status quo ante order (SQAO) it issued in May. In its Extremely Urgent Manifestation with Motion for Ad Cautelam filed before the Supreme Court, Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment Inc. (TRLEI) also asked the high court to clarify that the "violent takeover" of the casino resort and hotel complex on May 31 is not allowed under the SQAO and to direct the group of Okada to refrain from exercising management and board functions and surrender the physical possession of the Okada Manila to TRLEI. The Supreme Court issued the SQAO last month directing Okada's "immediate reinstatement as shareholder, director, chairman and CEO" of TRLEI. Filipino businessman Antonio "Tonyboy" Cojuangco and Dindo Espeleta, on the other hand, were named president and vice chairman in place of the previous board and management. Okada was ousted from his position in 2017 after allegations of financial mismanagement. At the same time, TRLEI also warned the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the "unscrupulous" move of the Okada-led board to update the company's General Information Sheet (GIS).

READ: Philippines, UAE boost economic cooperation

Topping business, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed an investment promotion and protection agreement (IPPA) on Thursday in Dubai. According to Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez Jr. and UAE Ministry of Finance (MOF) Minister of State Hadi Al Hussaini who signed the IPPA, this landmark agreement is set to boost bilateral investments and bolster economic cooperation between the two countries. Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Hjayceelyn Quintana, who witnessed the signing, highlighted the timeliness of the IPPA as the two countries forge stronger relations, expanding the depth and breadth of cooperation across many areas, including trade and investment.

READ: Gin Kings open season campaign vs Bossing

In sports, Barangay Ginebra opened its new season campaign on Independence Day, hoping to carry on its successful run it had in the Governors' Cup of the season just passed, as the Gin Kings take on a rejuvenated Blackwater team in the main game of the scheduled double header of the PBA Philippine Cup. The Gin Kings and the Bossing collide at 6:30 p.m. right after the match between Converge and TNT at 4:30 p.m. Blackwater will continue to miss the services of top overall rookie pick Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, but similarly, Ginebra will also play without its crack rookie for the most part of the season — Jeremiah Gray.

Opinion and editorial

Marlen Ronquillo is today's front page columnist, as he tackles the economic team of the next administration.

Today's editorial discusses that independence and democracy require constant attention. Read a full version on the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.

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.

For The Manila Times, this is Paulo Dimaapi.