Good day. Here are the stories of The Manila Times for Thursday, February 2, 2023.
READ: Garlic price also shoots up
WHILE consumers are still grappling with the high prices of onions, the retail price of local garlic has increased to P400 per kilo even if there was no shortage of the pungent bulbs. The Bureau of Plant Industry's data said that the country's garlic production in 2022 reached 45,656 metric tons compared to the 93,951 metric tons of imported garlic. Meanwhile, the prices of onions remain high despite the efforts of the DA to make the bulb cheaper. An official of the DA said on Wednesday that no consensus was reached on the price cap of onions during a meeting with stakeholders ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The official, who requested anonymity, blamed the onion farmers and importers for the failure to bring down the prices of onions.
READ: Guests are 'gifts of God' in Georgia
EVERY tourist in Georgia will be treated as a "gift from God," Autonomous Republic of Ajara governor Tornike Rijvadze said on Tuesday during a roundtable forum with The Manila Times led by its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dante "Klink" Ang 2nd. Ajara, he said, is located southwest of Georgia. It shares the border with Turkey. He said the region is a "landmark" for business options. Rijvadze said he considers Georgia as the "gateway" to Europe. He expressed hope that the Philippines will be Georgia's "bridge" to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. He said that there are ongoing talks to improve air travel between Georgia and the Philippines.
READ: Austin in PH to discuss bigger US presence
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was in the Philippines Wednesday for talks about deploying US forces and weapons in more Philippine military camps to ramp up deterrence against China's increasingly aggressive actions toward Taiwan and in the disputed South China Sea. Austin flew Tuesday night to Manila from South Korea, where he met his counterpart. Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) commander Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Andres Centino, and Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr. welcomed Austin in Mindanao. The officials discussed the continued support of Washington to Manila's counterterrorism and humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations, the mechanisms of which are all part of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
READ: DepEd to probe 'overpriced' cameras
THE Department of Education (DepEd) said that it will look into allegations that a certain model of digital singlelens reflex (DSLR) camera that is being used by the department was overpriced by more than five times its market value. The discovery of the alleged overpriced camera raises again questions on the procurement process of DepEd after the Senate blue ribbon committee recommended filing charges against some current and former officials over the procurement of overpriced laptops. A photo circulated by a netizen named Jhun Dantes on his Facebook account showed the camera, describing it as a Canon EOS 1500D, which was bought for P155,929 based on its acquisition cost. But the cost of a Canon 1500D set with a kit lens is only P30,000, according to listings on online shopping sites. Asked for his reaction to the social media post, DepEd spokesman Michael Wesley Poa said that they have to look into the issue first before giving comments.
REGIONS: Fighting erupts in Zamboanga
Security forces clashed with gunmen in the remote southern Philippine town of Sirawai in Zamboanga del Norte, and officials said soldiers and elite police units were pursuing the group. Maj. Shellamie Chang, regional police spokesman, said the fighting, which erupted on Monday, January 30, in the village of Doña Cecilia, lasted an hour. She said members of the 42nd Infantry Battalion and police commandos from the 905th Mobile Company and Regional Mobile Force Battalion engaged the gunmen in fierce clashes. Chang said the fighting broke out after security forces mounted an operation against the members of the Lumarang criminal gang.
BUSINESS: Fernando Zobel makes 'phased return' to work
Topping business, Ayala Corp.'s Fernando Zobel de Ayala has ended a five-month medical leave and resumed some positions within the conglomerate and other companies under a "phased return." Initial news that Zobel de Ayala — who went on leave in August last year for a still-undisclosed condition — would be returning to work came via a disclosure by Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp.
SPORTS: Converge guns for 4th straight victory
In sports, pace-setting Converge guns for its fourth straight win when it collides with winless Rain or Shine in the main game of the 2022-23 PBA Governors' Cup today, February 2, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. The FiberXers won their first three games and will enter the 6:45 p.m. match as favorites. Sweet-shooting American Jamaal Franklin has provided instant offense for Converge behind his solid numbers of 31 points, 12 rebounds and over seven assists per game. He fired 13 of his 26 points in the last period to help Converge shock powerhouse Magnolia 111-109 last Sunday.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras and Danton Remoto are today's front page columnists. Contreras tackles sovereignty, while Remoto discusses stolen valuables at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Today's editorial lays down reasons to hope for lower energy costs. 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 Luden Salinas reporting.