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China pushes oil probe talks Beijing official hopeful ‘strong will’ to move other joint projects forward By Joyce Pangco Panares
C
HINA has expressed its willingness to resume discussions with the Philippines on “cooperation” in the West Philippine Sea, in particular the talks on oil and gas exploration that were earlier canceled by the Duterte administration.
Visiting Minister Liu Jianchao of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC) said this as he met with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique
Manalo, House Speaker and LakasCMD president Martin Romualdez, and Senate Minority Leader and PDP-Laban chairman Koko Pimentel. Liu, a former Chinese ambassador
to the Philippines, hopes Manila will proceed with projects with Beijing after consensus has been reached, saying a “strong will” is needed to carry on what has been discussed.
He also expressed hope the Philippines will proceed with China-funded railway projects so that Filipinos “will have access to the convenience of railway transportation as soon as possible.” Next page
INSIDE COVID DAILY A 12-PAGE SPECIAL REPORT ON THE AVERAGE CASES Full Reopening: PH Economy Nears Pre-Pandemic Level IN PH DROPS TO BELOW 3K VOL. XXXVI • NO. 194 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
NEWS / A2
SectionS D, e & F
Food processors feel effect of declining sugar prices Full inventory of local white onions urged By Othel V. Campos
Over the weekend, mango exporter Hi-Las Marketing Corp. thanked FOOD processing companies are starting President Marcos for moving to put a to feel the impact of declining sugar stop to the hoarding of sugar by a cartel prices, which they say will make their of millers, traders, and retailers. At the same time, Senator Sherwin products more competitive.
Gatchalian said he suspects collusion among traders to make it appear there is a supply shortage to drive up the price of sugar, as evidenced by a series of raids on warehouses where thousands of metric tons of the
commodity were found. As an active member of the Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Organization, Inc. (Philfoodex), Hi-Las said sugar is an important input in food manufacturing. Next page
Today’s a day to celebrate new heroes By Honor Blanco Cabie THE Philippines, a country of 114 million people, marks today National Heroes’ Day, remembering primarily the Cry of Pugad Lawin, a revolt that kicked off in 1896 the Philippine
Revolution against the Spanish Empire. Historians say the date chosen is intended to mark that first act of insurrection against the Spanish colonizers by the Katipunan, a hitherto secret Filipino revolutionary movement led by Andres Bonifacio. Next page
SENATOR Imee Marcos yesterday pushed for a comprehensive inventory of local white onions to determine if there is really a shortage of the produce or whether these are being hoarded to jack up prices. Marcos made the call as the Department of Agriculture confirmed there was a lack of white onions in the market. “Trace the traders who bought white onions from local farmers and find out if they are hoarding the crop in cold storage,” she said in a statement. “Without a comprehensive inventory, we cannot arrive at a wellcalibrated importation policy that answers consumer demand but also relieves our local growers from low farmgate prices,” she added. Next page
DA ends fund ‘drought’ with outlay up 44% By Rio N. Araja
HEROES REMEMBERED. A mother and daughter rest near the grave of their departed loved one in the military who perished serving the country at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City, as workers arrange bunting to place on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (inset) on Sunday, on the eve of National Heroes Day today. Danny Pata
THE Department of Agriculture will get a budget of P102.15 billion in 2023 – a 44 percent increase from its capital outlay this year of P71 billion. Deputy Speaker and Batangas Rep. Ralph Recto said the DA’s funding drought is now over with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as agriculture chief. “You can say that this is the beginning of the end of a funding drought,” he said, adding that the department will “finally reap a budget increase.” The budget hike should be supported Next page
70 private schools shut down in W. Visayas, 17 permanently OVER 70 private schools in Western Visayas have shut down as the new school year began this week, data released by the Department of Education's (DepEd) regional office on Saturday revealed. In an ABS-CBN report, regional DepEd authorities said a low number of
enrollees and financial constraints were among the factors for the closures. Seventeen of the 76 schools closed permanently while 59 shut temporarily, Hernani Escullar, Regional Information Officer of DepEd estern Visayas said. Next page
PH-CHINA GAB. House Speaker Martin Romualdez (seated center) meets with Minister Liu Jianchao of the International Relations of Communist Party of China (seated, third from left) and some members of Congress and the Chinese Embassy as part of Liu’s three-day working visit to Manila. Walter Palma FB page
PNP to fake video spreaders: ‘We’re watching you’ ILOILO CITY’S 85TH. Vice President Sara Duterte takes a selfie with Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas during the Mayor's Dinner at Iloilo Convention Center in celebration of the city’s 85th Charter Day over the weekend. Arnold Almacen/Iloilo CMO
THE Philippine National Police AntiCybercrime Group on Sunday ordered its commanders to intensify the conduct of cyber patrolling and to validate all videos that have been circulating on social media. PNP ACG chief Brig. Gen. Joel Doria also urged the public to be wary of posting and sharing information on their
respective social media accounts to avoid being charged with violations of the AntiCybercrime Law. Also on Sunday, Senator Jinggoy Estrada pushed his bill to create an interagency service to warn the public— particularly senior citizens who are targeted—against online scams. Under Estrada’s Senate Bill 671, or
the proposed Senior Citizens’ Fraud Education Act, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will be the lead agency and would be supported by the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Health (DOH), and the Philippine Postal Corporation. As more and more fake videos circulate Next page