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DA EXEC RESIGNS OVER SUGAR IMPORT MESS, PALACE EXPANDS PROBE By Vince Lopez AN UNDERSECRETARY in the Department of Agriculture who authorized the importation of 300,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar without the President’s
approval has resigned, the Palace said late Friday evening. Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said Leocadio Sebastian has resigned as DA undersecretary for operations and chief of staff to Marcos as the concur-
rent DA Secretary. In a letter to the President dated August 11, Sebastian apologized to the chief executive for having approved Sugar Order No. 4 without the expressed approval of Marcos, who, as
DA secretary, is also chairman of the Sugar Regulatory Board. “I sincerely offer my apologies, Your Excellency, for my having approved Sugar Order no.4 on your behalf, and through the authority you have vested
upon me…I take accountability and responsibility for its consequences,” Sebastian said in his one-page letter. Cruz-Angeles has earlier described Sugar Order No. 4 as “illegal." Next page
SRP for school supplies out
Over 100 modified PUV routes to open • MMDA to man school areas By Othel V. Campos
T
HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) released Friday the revised suggested retail prices for basic school supplies in time for school opening on August 22. Trade secretary Alfredo Pascual said the SRP aims to provide guidance to consumers on the proper price range for school supplies and to deter sellers from overpricing now that the academic school year is just around the corner. “We provided specific details on the make and quality of school products. They can check on the website how we managed to classify the products and the suggested pricing for each category,” he said. There are about 159 stock keeping units ( SKUs) from 15 categories of
school supplies ranging from rulers, sharpeners, crayons, ballpens and pencils to writing, pads and 4 categories of notebooks. For Mongol products, price adjustments were to take effect on September 1, 2023 and October 1, 2022. Among the products with upward price adjustments are pencil trio #2 (P10.67), pencil XL #2 (P16.33), junior sharpener (P22), regular pencils (P10.67) and pencil trio XL #2 (P16.33. This is the first time in two years
VOL. XXXVI • NO. 178 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
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GETTING READY FOR IN-PERSON CLASSES. A mother tries to find a well-fitting school uniform for her son at a stall in Divisoria in Manila on Aug. 12, 2022, ten days before the start of the classes for this school year. The Department of Trade and Industry has revised its Suggested Retail Price for school supplies to make it more specific to include brands and specifications, among others. Norman Cruz
PH still low-risk Ebrahim retains lead post in reorganized BTA for COVID even if ICU cases rise By Vince Lopez
BANGSAMORO Transition Authority interim chief minister Murad Ebrahim has retained his position as President Fer Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the oath-taking of the new BTA members on Friday.
By Willie Casas THE Philippines is still at low risk for COVID-19 despite the slight increase in admissions in intensive care units (ICU) nationwide, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday. This as the independent OCTA Research Group said COVID-19 infections in Metro Manila may have already peaked amid a slower growth rate. Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, officer-in-charge at the DOH, said the country’s ICU utilization rate climbed to 28 percent from the previous 26 percent. As of Aug. 10, Vergeire said there were a total of 871 severe and critical COVID-19 cases, making up 9.27 percent of total admissions. Majority of hospital admissions—40.98 percent—were asymptomatic, while 40.77 percent were mild cases. Vergeire said the Philippines remains at low risk classification as it currently Next page
Marcos pledged his full support to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as he recognized the important work that the interim government needs to complete in three years, from the enactment of basic laws and fiscal policy to the conduct of
elections. "Such important laws to be passed in three years is not an easy task, and that's why I will be here as head of the national government to support BARMM," he said. "We are given another chance because Next page
MYLENE GARCIAALBANO
NEW BTA OFFICERS. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. poses with the new members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority. With him are BTA interim chief minister Murad Ebrahim (second from right), House Speaker Martin Romualdez (right), Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez (left) and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri (second from left). Facebook page of Zia Alonto Adiong
Taal Volcano acts up anew, emits significant ’vog’ CAUGHT ON CAMERA.
A CCTV of the Lipa Archdiocesan Social Action Commission (LASAC) captures the Taal Volcano as it emits steam-rich plumes that reached 2,800 meters high Friday.
RENATO SOLIDUM
TAAL Volcano emitted plumes that rose up to 2,800 meters on Friday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said. Five volcanic tremors and a low-level background tremor were also recorded in the past 24 hours, lasting for three to eight minutes. Alert Level 1 was maintained over the volcano, which means sudden steamdriven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and expulsions of volcanic gas could threaten areas within Taal's permanent danger zone. A high volcanic sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission reaching 13,572 tons was Next page
Solidum heads DOST, ex-solon envoy to Japan By Vince Lopez
MARYKAY CLARKSON
US AMBASSADOR TO PH POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 NEWS / A3
GEOLOGIST Renato Solidum will head the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Malacañang announced on Friday. Solidum, who has worked with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PhiVolcs) since 1984 and who has led it since 2003, was also DOST Undersecretary for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation before his new appointment. The Office of the Press Secretary released a copy of the letter containing Solidum's appointment, dated Next page