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BSP sees inflation decline
Forecast Nov. rate to rise further to 8.2%, but decelerate gradually after By Julito G. Rada
HE rate of inflation, which hit an almost 14-year high of 7.7 percent in October, could rise further in November before gradually declining in the succeeding months, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said Wednesday.
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The BSP said November inflation power rates and increases in the prices could go from a range of 7.4 percent to of agricultural products due to the dam8.2 percent, driven mainly by higher age caused by typhoon “Paeng” and
rehigher prices of cooking gas (see re lated story on A1 – Editors). On the other hand, cuts in the price of gasoline and pork, as well as the peso’s appreciation, could ease price pressures for the month, moving inflation toward the lower end of the BSP estimate of 7.4 percent. The BSP’s Department of Economic Research said inflation is expected to Next page
PH’S MADRID, 3 OTHERS RECEIVE MAGSAYSAY PRIZE NEWS / A2 RM AWARDEES. Japanese ophthalmologist Tadashi Hattori, Cambodian psychiatrist
Sotheara Chhim, Filipina pediatrician Bernadette Madrid, and environmental advocate Gary Bencheghib from Indonesia (from left) receive their trophies for the Ramon Magsaysay Awards, the region’s highest honor and version of the Nobel Prize, on Wednesday (see story on A2).
VOL. XXXVI • NO. 290 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
PBBM, VP Sara get high trust, performance marks in OCTA survey
OCTA’s “Tugon ng Masa” survey showed the President registering an A GREAT majority of Filipinos approve 86-percent trust rating and a 78-percent of and trust President Ferdinand Marcos performance rating. Meanwhile, Vice President Sara DuJr., based on the latest survey of the OCTA terte-Carpio also earned majority trust Research firm released on Wednesday.
By Vince Lopez
and approval scores at 86 percent and OCTA Research conducted its latest 80 percent, respectively. survey from Oct. 23 to 27 with 1,200 In terms of awareness, 100 percent adult respondents across the country. of adult Filipinos are aware of Marcos According to the survey, only 4 perand Duterte-Carpio, according to the cent expressed distrust in Mr. Marcos, OCTA survey. Next page
President calls on Filipinos to defend freedom
BONIFACIO DAY RITES.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his speech at the Andres Bonifacio National Monument in Caloocan City on Wednesday to mark the 159th birth anniversary and national holiday in honor of the Katipunan founder. Before that, Mr. Marcos is joined by Speaker Martin G. Romualdez and Caloocan City Mayor Dale Gonzalo Malapitan as he waves to his supporters (inset). Ver Noveno
By Vince Lopez and Maricel V. Cruz PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on Filipinos to remain vigilant in defending the country from societal problems and other dangers to the nation’s liberty, as the country celebrated the 159th birth anniversary of national hero Andres Bonifacio on Wednesday. Mr. Marcos laid a wreath at the Monumento Circle in Caloocan City in honor of the founder of Philippine revolution against Spanish rule. “Today, we cherish the freedoms we Next page
LPG price up by 2.15 to 2.27 per kilo By Alena Mae S. Flores PETRON Corp. and Isla LPG on Wednesday announced a price hike in cooking gas or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by P2.25 to P2.27 per kilo, or P24.75 to P24.97 per 11-kilo tank, effective today. “Petron will implement a P2.25 per kg increase (VAT-inclusive) in LPG prices effective 0001H Dec. 1,” the oil firm said in its advisory. It said AutoLPG prices would likewise increase by P1.26 per liter. “These reflect the international contract price of LPG for the month of December,” Petron said. Isla LPG said its Solane-branded Next page
Bicam to fund pension hike of indigent seniors By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz FUNDING for the increase in social pension for around four million indigent seniors in the 2023 national budget is still being finalized, Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said Wednesday. Angara, chairman of the Senate finance committee, said they were still Next page
Govt probes human traffic modus using ‘fake exit stamp’ at NAIA By Joel E. Zurbano and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE government, through the Department of Migrant Workers, is probing a supposed human trafficking scheme where Chinese companies are allegedly recruiting Filipinos to work in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar for cryptocurrency scams, Secretary Susan Ople said Wednesday. Disclosure of this alleged venture followed a showing by the office of Sen. Risa Hontiveros during a Senate committee hearing Tuesday of what she called a fake exit stamp, allegedly used by traffickers to bypass Immigration officials at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. An alleged human trafficking victim said during the hearing of the Sen-
ate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality that escorts facilitating the departure of trafficked individuals at NAIA gave them fake exit stamps to bypass the Bureau of Immigration (BI). In a related development, the Manila International Airport Authority is conducting its own investigation into the reported human trafficking happening again at the country’s premier gateway. The move came after Hontiveros revealed a new modus of outbound trafficking of Filipinos into Myanmar, which she said was being carried out by individuals allegedly connected with erring officials of the Bureau of Immigration and NAIA. Hontiveros, who did not hide her dismay over the issue, presented an Next page
GOV’T FIRMS BACK PH SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUND
SC TO LAWYERS: DON’T EXPLOIT LAW IGNORANCE
BUSINESS / B4
NEWS / A2
MISS EARTH QUEENS.
Miss Colombia Andrea Aguilera, Miss Korea Mina Sue Choi, Miss Palestine Nadeem Ayoub, and Miss Australia Sheridan Mortlock pose after the coronation night of the 22nd Miss Earth pageant in Manila on Wednesday (see story on A2). Teddy Pelaez
PH bans poultry products from US, Japan, Hungary THE Department of Agriculture has issued a temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products from the United States, Hungary, and Japan. The DA issued three separate memorandums signed by Agriculture Senior
Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban declaring the ban on the importation of poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen from the three countries. The ban calls for the immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of the application, and issuance of sanitary
and phytosanitary import clearance of these commodities. It said shipments coming from affected areas that are in transit, loaded, and accepted unto port before the official communication of the order shall Next page