Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Wednesday, January 25, 2023.

READ: PH to file protest vs China – Marcos

PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said the Philippines will file a protest against China over reports that the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) drove away Filipino fishermen off the Ayungin Shoal. Marcos made the remark after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) bared that it is investigating an incident involving a CCG vessel that allegedly shooed away a Filipino fishing boat earlier this month. The incident happened just weeks after Marcos and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to a "compromise" during the former's trip to Beijing from Jan. 3 to 5, 2023. During the President's visit, the two countries signed an agreement establishing a joint direct communication mechanism.

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READ: Bright future awaits OFWs in Hong Kong

OVERSEAS Filipino workers (OFWs) can expect a rosy job market in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) as the city opens up its economy to revive its status as an international financial hub, resulting in increased demand for manpower and talents from across the world. Chris Sun Yuk-Han, Hong Kong Labor and Welfare secretary, in an interview with The Manila Times, disclosed that the HKSAR is home to 190,000 foreign domestic workers, majority of whom or 57 percent are Filipinos. Records show that there are more than 300,000 Filipino workers in Hong Kong, majority of them household service workers or domestic helpers. Sun said the number of Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong is comparable in number to that in the United Kingdom, which has a much larger population at 60 million while Hong Kong has only more than 7 million. He said that they are also opening their labor market to foreign caregivers and health care workers, but pointed out that Filipinos have a considerable advantage because their training is comparable to Hong Kong's standard in caregiving. Sun said he had seen how future caregivers are trained at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority that he noted is similar to Hong Kong's training of its own caregivers.

READ: Marcos rejects sourcing wealth fund from GOCCs

PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has rejected a proposal to use dividends coming from government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) to fund the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund. Speaking to reporters in Malacañang, Marcos said he agreed with lawmakers saying the use of GOCC for the proposed sovereign fund is not allowed under the law.

READ: Fil-Am among those killed in California shooting

THE Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Los Angeles reported that a Filipino American was among those killed in the January 21 mass shooting in Monterey Park in California. The PCG on Facebook identified the fatality as Valentino Alvero, 68, a US citizen of Filipino descent. He was killed when a gunman opened fire at a dance studio in Monterey Park. The suspect in the mass shooting, Huu Can Tran, 72, was later found dead in a strip mall parking lot Sunday. Initial reports showed that he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The consulate has expressed "shock and great sadness over the mass shooting incident that took place in Monterey Park, California late in the night of January 21" or during the celebration of the Lunar Year.

READ: DMW rules out deployment ban to Kuwait

DEPARTMENT of Migrant Workers (DMW) secretary Susan "Toots" Ople confirmed on Tuesday that another Filipino household service worker (HSW) or domestic helper died in Kuwait, but ruled out the declaration of a deployment ban to the oil-rich state. Ople identified the victim as Jullebee Ranara, 35, a mother of four. Based on the initial report, Ople said the suspect was identified as the 17-year-old son of Ranara's employer. The victim's remains were found in the desert, burned beyond recognition. They were confirmed to be Ranera's following a DNA test. She said that Ranara's family talked to the victim two days before her body was discovered.

READ: It's a go for single ticketing system

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday said it will procure handheld devices for the implementation in February 2023 of a single ticketing system for Metro Manila. These devices will be connected with traffic management offices of local government units (LGUs) and Land Transportation Office (LTO) systems based on the final draft of the Metro Manila Traffic Code, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said in an interview with The Manila Times. The single ticketing system's draft will have to be approved by a technical working group that will then be endorsed to the Metro Manila Council for implementation, he added. The LTO's central database will handle the inter-connectivity of the LGUs' traffic control agencies where all traffic violations will be reflected in the LTO systems.

BUSINESS: Maynilad penalized P27M for disruptions

Topping business, Maynilad Water Services Inc. (Maynilad) has been ordered to pay P27.4 million to customers affected by water service interruptions caused by problems at its Putatan Water Treatment Plant in Muntinlupa City. Lee Robert Britanico, deputy administrator of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System's Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO), told reporters on Tuesday that regulators had determined a total rebate of P27,477,617.12 for customers deprived of uninterrupted 24- hour water services from December 2022 to January 2023. Maynilad provides water and wastewater services for Metro Manila's West Zone, which includes parts of Manila, Quezon City, Makati, Caloocan, Las Piñas, Malabon, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Pasay, Parañaque and Valenzuela. It also services parts of Cavite province. The areas affected by the service interruptions are in Pasay, Parañaque and Cavite. Britanico said the MWSS-RO found that firm had violated its service obligations, and has instructed Maynilad to address the issue and provide 24/7 water to their customers.

SPORTS: Jarin, Lastimosa make coaching debut

In sports, Jamike Jarin and Jojo Lastimosa make their respective coaching debuts as Phoenix and TNT face off in the main game of the 2022-23 PBA Governors' Cup today, January 25, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Jarin, who served as assistant coach in his three years with Phoenix, was elevated to interim coach after Topex Robinson accepted the head coaching post for De La Salle University in the UAAP.

READ: Opinion and editorial

Rigoberto Tiglao, Fr. Ranhilio Aquino and Francisco Tatad are today's front page columnists. Tiglao tackles the misunderstanding of the VIP club of countries in Southeast Asia, Fr. Aquino shares his view on the release of Gigi Reyes and Tatad discusses the country's national purpose.

Today's editorial believes an increase in digital lending use is a warning sign. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.

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For The Manila Times, this is Kim Isabelle Dignadice.