Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Thursday, August 4, 2022.
READ: Go vows probe of expired vaccines
SEN. Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go on Tuesday, August 3, vowed to immediately call for a public hearing once a resolution filed to investigate reports of unused and expired Covid-19 vaccines is referred to his committee. He was referring to the resolution filed by Deputy Minority Leader Ana Theresia "Risa" Hontiveros seeking an investigation, in aid of legislation, of the unused and expired vaccines, saying this large-scale wastage should never be tolerated.
READ: Private hospitals ready for monkeypox surge
THE Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPi) said on Tuesday its members are ready to handle a surge in monkeypox cases in the country. The Philippines recorded its first monkeypox case on July 28 in a 31-year-old Filipino that arrived in the country on July 19. The patient is currently completing his quarantine period at an undisclosed hospital.
READ: PEZA leadership strife deepens
PHILIPPINE Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Charito Plaza said on Wednesday that she will not recognize the order of Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual extending the term of PEZA Deputy Director Tereso Panga as officer in charge (OIC). Plaza said Pascual had a different interpretation of Malacañang Memorandum Circular (MC) 3, extending the term of officers in charge of government agencies until December "to ensure the continuous and effective delivery of government services." MC 3 was issued by the Palace last week, supplementing MC 1 issued on June 30, declaring all positions vacant.
READ: FVR to be accorded state funeral
A STATE funeral with full military honors will be held for former president Fidel V. Ramos on August 9, Malacañang said Wednesday. A state funeral is a public ceremony that honors heads of state or other people of national significance. It returns a former leader for the last time to Malacañang, where he or she used to live. Palace spokesman and press secretary Rose Beatrix "Trixie" Cruz-Angeles, however, said the Palace cannot confirm yet if President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will visit Ramos' wake due to "security reasons." Earlier, Marcos declared July 31 to August 9 as a period of national mourning for Ramos, and directed all government buildings and installations across the country and abroad to place the Philippine flag at half-mast during the period. The 94-year-old Ramos died last Sunday reportedly due to complications from Covid-19.
REGIONS: Taal Volcano gas emission up again - Phivolcs
THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Wednesday issued a notice of increased volcanic sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas emission from Taal Volcano in Batangas. In a 2 p.m. advisory, Phivolcs said 12,125 tons/day of SO2 gas emission from the volcano's main crater was recorded on Wednesday morning. Since July 15, Phivolcs said the gas emission of the volcano has averaged 4,952 tons/day, an increase from the average of 1,289 tons/day between May and mid-July 2022.
BUSINESS: P4.1-B subsidy to mitigate inflation
In business, a little over P4 billion in subsidies can now be delivered to poor Filipino households amid rising prices, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) announced on Wednesday. In a statement, the NEDA said the Department of Budget and Management had approved the release of a P4.1-billion Special Allotment Release Order for the government's Targeted Cash Transfer (TCT) program. The NEDA has been tasked to flesh out the agenda via the 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan, which it has promised to deliver by the end of the year.
SPORTS: PBA teams begin EASL campaign on October 12
In sports, the champion and runner-up of the ongoing Philippine Cup will begin their campaign in the East Asia Super League (EASL) on October 12 as the top two PBA teams are set to compete against the crack club teams in Asia. On Wednesday, the EASL released its schedule where the teams play on a home and away format.The champion team of the PBA all-Filipino tournament will travel to South Korea to face Anyang KGC, runner-up of the Korean Basketball League, at 7 p.m. NCAA Rookie/MVP Rhenz Abando, who previously played for Letran and saw action for Gilas Pilipinas in the previous window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifier and the Asia Cup, is set to play for Anyang KGC, his first professional team.
Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta, and Danton Remoto are today's front page columnists. Contreras discusses the Angat Buhay non-government organization, Makabenta compares Sen. Loren Legarda to former US Vice President Al Gore, and Remoto talks about a Naga-based publishing house.
Today's editorial tackles a proposal on establishing a Department of Disaster Resilience. 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.