Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Sunday, February 5, 2023.
206 big-ticket infra projects in pipeline
FOLLOWING the approval of seven highimpact projects this week, the government is eyeing at least 206 "big-ticket" projects for 2023 to expand President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s infrastructure pipeline, Malacañang said on Saturday. Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), headed by the President, "would come up with a final list of major projects under the Marcos administration at the end of the first quarter of 2023." Garafil made the statement following the initial release of seven high-impact projects, which include the establishment of a 300-bed capacity University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital Cancer Center, the first Public Private Partnership (PPP) project under the Marcos administration.
PH, US to 'jointly' run facilities in bases
THE Philippines and the United States will "jointly operate" four new locations under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) that was agreed upon by the two governments during the visit of US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin 3rd this week, a spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Saturday. Col. Medel Aguilar said, however, that the establishment or enhancement of these facilities will be funded by the US and these will be turned over to the Philippine government after their use. The AFP statement comes as the US Defense Department announced that the Philippines has agreed to restart joint patrols in the South China Sea to counter China's military rise. The two countries had suspended maritime patrols in the hotly contested area under the rule of former president Rodrigo Duterte. During a visit to Manila by Austin, he and Philippine counterpart Carlito Galvez Jr. "agreed to restart joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea to help address [security] challenges," the statement said Thursday (Friday in Manila).
'Farmers feel the brunt of onion importation'
A FARMERS' group on Saturday said that the onion farmers feel the brunt of importation as flooding of imported bulbs failed to bring down the retail prices of onions in the local markets. In a radio interview, Onion Farmers Philippines Administrator James Ramos added that the depressed prices of onions are felt in Nueva Ecija. Ramos noted that the farmgate price of white onions ranged between P70 and P80 per kilo and red onions between P160 and P180 per kilo.
MMDA warns against endangering children
THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is imposing hefty penalties for motorcycle riders who violate the law imposing rules that ensure children's safety. MMDA spokesman Melissa Carunungan disclosed to The Manila Times in a video interview on Friday that the matter was among those discussed by a technical working group tasked to fine-tune the Single Ticketing System which was recently approved for implementation by the Metro Manila Mayors' Council.
LTFRB to OK 100K Grab franchises
THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Saturday said it will allow 100,000 vehicles registered with Grab Philippines to obtain franchises to meet the passenger transport needs in Metro Manila. According to LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz 3rd, the number may increase depending on the demand. This statement follows the reported "investment pledge" from Grab that could result in 500,000 more jobs for Filipinos.
SC rules set for offended parties in criminal process
THE Supreme Court on Saturday released a case decision that in effect lays down guidelines on the legal standing of private offended parties when questioning judgments or orders in criminal proceedings. In a 36-page decision penned by Justice Mario Lopez, the Supreme Court en banc denied the petition for certiorari of Mamerto Austria, a public school teacher who was initially convicted by a regional trial court of five counts of acts of lasciviousness in 2006. The ruling was reversed when a new presiding judge granted Austria's motion for reconsideration. The private complainants elevated the decision to the Court of Appeals and succeeded in getting a favorable decision. The CA ruled that the RTC disregarded the constitutional requirement that a decision must express clearly and distinctly the facts and the law on which it is based. The CA also held that the assailed RTC orders were void. This prompted Austria to challenge the appellate court's ruling before the Supreme Court, invoking his right against double jeopardy and claiming that the private complainants had no legal personality to question his acquittal. In denying Austria's petition, the high court reviewed existing jurisprudence on the issue of the legal personality of a private offended party in criminal proceedings.
Manila Water launches P5.6-B NBAQ4 aqueduct
Over to business, East Zone concessionaire Manila Water on Friday said its recently inaugurated flagship project is expected to boost water security and service reliability for its more than 7.4 million customers in eastern Metro Manila and Rizal province. In a statement, the company said that the P5.6-billion Novaliches-Balara Aqueduct 4 (NBAQ4) project consists of laying a 7.3-kilometer aqueduct underneath Commonwealth Avenue via a tunnel boring machine, a first in an urban setting in the country. Other components of the project include the construction of an intake facility at the La Mesa Reservoir, an outlet structure at the Balara Treatment Plant 2, and the downstream network system. Currently, there are three aqueducts connecting the La Mesa Reservoir to the Balara Treatment Plants 1 and 2.
Gin Kings debut versus Painters
In sports, Barangay Ginebra makes its much-awaited debut when the league's most popular squad collides with winless Rain or Shine in the main game of the 2022-2023 PBA Governors' Cup on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Just over two weeks back since capturing the Commissioner's Cup crown in front of a new PBA record crowd of 54,589 in their Game Seven win over Bay Area Dragons, the Gin Kings try to begin the conference strong against the Elasto Painters in their 6:45 p.m. match. The Gin Kings have dominated the season-ending conference after winning four out of the last five editions, all with import Justin Brownlee in tow. The 34-year-old Brownlee, in fact, has shown no signs of slowing down considering he averaged 29.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.8 blocks in leading Ginebra to its first Commissioner's Cup title since 2018.
Marlen Ronquillo is today's front page columnist, as he wants the agriculture sector to have a historic turning point.
Today's editorial calls for a review of a deployment of overseas Filipino workers to the Middle East. 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 Paulo Dimaapi.