Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Tuesday, July 5, 2022.
READ: Visayas, Mindanao internet to get boost
THE Marcos administration plans to improve the internet connection in Visayas and Mindanao with the help of mega-billionaire Elon Musk's Starlink satellite communications network. Information and Communications Secretary Ivan John Uy on Monday said Starlink is ideal for such an upgrade because it uses low-orbit satellites. He said telecommunications companies or telcos usually find it hard to set up in "missionary routes" or areas that have few users. A network of low-orbit satellites like Starlink's is ideal for such a venture, he said. Starlink already provides satellite internet access coverage to 33 countries.
READ: Covid rise in NCR to peak in 2 weeks
THE rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) and surrounding regions is expected to peak within the next one to two weeks, the independent monitoring group OCTA Research said on Monday. OCTA said the current increase in Covid-19 cases has exceeded projections, with infections going above the 1,000 mark for the fourth straight day. The Department of Health recorded 7,398 cases from June 27 to July 3, or a daily average of 1,057 cases. This is higher than the figure from June 20 to June 26. The NCR or Metro Manila still has the highest number of cases as of July 3 with 663, with 142 cases in Quezon City alone. Cavite, Iloilo, Laguna, Rizal and Cebu all recorded more than 50 cases. OCTA Research fellow Guido David also predicted the Covid positivity rate in NCR and Calabarzon, particularly Cavite, Laguna and Rizal, to climb.In Metro Manila, the positivity rate went up from 6 percent on June 25 to 8.3 percent on July 2. The positivity rate in Laguna and Cavite rose past 10 percent during the same period. An increase in positivity rate was also recorded in Batangas, Benguet, Iloilo and Pampanga. David attributed the slight increases to the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. He said these subvariants are also responsible for the increase in cases and positivity rate in Western Visayas. David expects a slight increase in the hospitalization rate in Metro Manila as well as in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon).
READ: 'Upbeat' Marcos hits the ground running
LESS than a week after assuming office, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has been "upbeat" about his job. Press Secretary Rose Beatrix "Trixie" Cruz-Angeles said the 64-year-old Marcos hit the ground running in the first few days of his presidency. She said Marcos has been "well-received" everywhere he went so far, including Monday's flag-raising ceremony at the Palace. Briefly addressing those attending the ceremony, the President expressed elation over their enthusiasm and encouraged them to always give their best since that is what the people expect of them. From Malacañang, the President proceeded to the Department of Agriculture's main office in Quezon City where he presided over his first meeting as the agency's temporary head.
READ: DILG chief to join police drug raids
DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. will join the anti-narcotics operations of the Philippine National Police to motivate the police force to do better in battling social ills such as illegal drugs. Abalos made the announcement during a press briefing on Monday, his first day on the job as DILG chief. He also laid out his plans for his first 100 days.
READ: PNP prepares for Marcos SONA
WITH a few weeks before the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. slated this month, the Philippine National Police (PNP) had started making security preparations at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City. MGen. Valeriano de Leon, director for Operations of the PNP, said on Sunday they want to come up with the security plan in order to cover every situation outside and inside the Batasang Pambansa, where President Marcos will deliver his speech to reveal his plan for the country. Banking on the success of the security during the May 9, 2022 national and local elections, which were declared as the most peaceful and the fastest, as well as the inaugurations of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio and Marcos, de Leon expressed confidence that it would be the same for the SONA.
BUSINESS: Govt to focus on job creation - Balisacan
Topping business, socioeconomic planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the Marcos administration will focus on bringing back the Philippine economy to pre-pandemic levels and undertake proactive engagement with stakeholders. According to him, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and the economic team are in "substantial agreement" on the overall goal of the new administration.
SPORTS: Arellano shoots for Final Four berth
Over to sports, defending champion Arellano University looks to make its eight straight Final Four appearance when it faces Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 97 women's volleyball tournament at the Paco Arena today, July 5. Game time is 2:30 p.m. Riding on a four-game winning streak and sporting a 6-1 record, the four-peat seeking Lady Chiefs are out to make it five in a row and clinch a semis berth in the process. Led by Kristine Adante, Nicole Sasuman, Princess Robles, and Trina Abaya, the second-running Arellano executed a 25-12, 25-13, 25-23 sweep of the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta last Saturday. Lady Chiefs head coach Obet Javier wants his players to treat every game like a championship game and not take the Lady Generals lightly, especially with the latter winning their last game against Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras and Yen Makabenta are today's front page columnists. Contreras dissects Pres. Marcos' governance philosophy while Makabenta shares three views of a Filipino.
Today's editorial discusses democracy in action. Read a full version on the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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On behalf of The Manila Times, this is Aric John Sy Cua reporting. Have a safe Tuesday ahead.