Good day. Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022.

READ: Marcos pushes for more PPP projects

PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday pushed for more public-private partnerships (PPP) as he called on investors to take part in the Philippines' economic resurgence. In his speech during the opening of the new terminal building of the Clark International Airport (CRK) in Mabalacat City, Pampanga, Marcos renewed his commitment to ensuring that the government would do everything so that partnerships would benefit the public sector, the private sector and the people. This is as he expressed confidence that the CRK's new passenger terminal building and other PPP projects would encourage investors to do business in the Philippines. Citing his working visit to the United States last week, Marcos recalled how he invited American businessmen to invest in the Philippines. The President cited the CRK's new passenger terminal building, which he said, is a "strong signal" to the world that the Philippines is open for business.

READ: PH asked: Open economy 'as much as possible'

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GO Negosyo founder Jose Maria "Joey" Concepcion 3rd on Wednesday said the Philippines should open up its economy "as much as possible" even with the slight increase in Covid-19 cases in the country.Concepcion, who is part of the Marcos administration's Private Sector Advisory Council, said that we cannot restrict mobility as "the lesser mobility we have, the lesser consumer spending will be." The Go Negosyo founder said the country has to continue moving forward and urged Filipinos to take their booster shots to maintain their level of immunity against the virus.

READ: 'Karding' crop damage balloons to P1.97B

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday said that Super Typhoon "Karding's" damage to the agriculture sector has ballooned to P1.97 billion. In its latest report, the DA said that at least 1,489,091 hectares of farmlands with a combined volume of production of 114,446 metric tons were destroyed in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and Bicol Region. According to the DA, at least 88,520 farmers and fisherfolk were affected by the onslaught of Karding. The DA added that at least P170.34 million worth of rice seeds, P23.16 million worth of corn seeds, and P13.55 million of assorted vegetable seeds will be distributed to the affected farmers. Moreover, P2.45 million worth of animals, drugs and biologics will be provided to the affected hog and poultry farmers. It said that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources will also distribute fingerlings and fishing paraphernalia to the affected fishermen. The DA will also offer a P25,000-loan assistance under the Survival and Recovery (SURE) loan program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, which will be payable in three years at zero interest.

READ: CA okays appointments of Manalo, Pangandaman

THE Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday, has confirmed the ad interim appointments of Enrique Manalo as Foreign Affairs secretary and Amenah Pangandaman as Budget secretary. The CA also confirmed the appointment and promotion of 23 senior officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) including 14 ambassadors. It also approved the appointment of lawyer Nesauro Firme as a member of the Judicial and Bar Council, representing the academe. But due to time constraints, the CA was not able to deliberate on the ad interim appointments of Erwin Tulfo as Social Work secretary and Manuel Bonoan as Public Works secretary. To continue their mandate, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will have to reappoint Tulfo and Bonoan.

Topping Business

READ: ADB to 'mitigate' climate impact

THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday said it would continue its support in mitigating the climate change-related crisis in the Asia-Pacific region. The regional development bank made the commitment after it released its inaugural climate-related financial disclosures report outlining the progress in implementing the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) recommendations. ADB also expressed its commitment to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa said the report underscored ADB's commitment to strengthening climate action and business operations while increasing transparency on ADB's exposure to climate-related opportunities and risks through enhanced disclosures. The new report discloses ADB's internal greenhouse gas emissions and includes a first heatmap of ADB's portfolio of projects against a preliminary assessment of physical and carbon-transition risks. The report also details future activities, some of which are already underway, including developing a climate change action plan.

In Sports

READ: Lyceum extends win streak to four

LYCEUM of the Philippines University extended its winning run to four games following a 82-77 conquest of University of Perpetual Help System Dalta on Wednesday in the NCAA men's basketball tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Centre. Enoch Valdez had 13 points, three rebounds and two steals, Mac Guadaña chipped in 12 points while Shawn Umali added 10 points, eight boards and two steals for the Pirates. Lyceum head coach Gilbert Malabanan is happy to see the improvement of Valdez, one of the team's seniors. He helped provide leadership and posted a +9 efficiency rating inside the court. Renzo Navarro also keyed the Pirates win, drilling in four pressure-packed free throws in the final stretch of the game to seal the win. The Pirates raised their win-loss record to 4-1 while the Altas fell to 2-3.

READ: Messi scores 100th international win

Lionel Messi marked his 100th international victory with two goals as Argentina edged closer to Italy's world record unbeaten streak with a 3-0 defeat of Jamaica in a World Cup warm-up friendly in New Jersey on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).Paris Saint-Germain superstar Messi took his international goals tally to 90 in 164 appearances after coming on as a second-half substitute at the Red Bull Arena. Messi's goals capped an emphatic win for the South Americans, who have now gone 35 games unbeaten in a streak stretching back to 2019 — just two shy of Italy's world record unbeaten run of 37 set between 2018 and 2012.

READ: Opinion/Editorial

In Wednesday's editorial, the Times makes the connection between corruption and entrepreneurship. Read the full version on print, subscribe to its digital edition or listen to The Voice fof the Times. Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta and Danton Remoto are the featured columnists on the front page. Contreras talks about empty seats and the wages of bitterness; Makabenta tackles President Marcos Jr.'s interview with the Associated Press and his statement on 'reintroducing' the Philippines to the world; and Remoto on learning English in a hybrid world.

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This is Pete Llevares reporting.