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China sea claim nips oil deal PBBM: Gov't must look beyond Beijing to tap WPS for energy reserves
By Vito Barcelo
HE Philippines is finding ways to explore for oil and gas in the South China Sea even without a deal with China, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Friday, adding that the country has the right to exploit energy reserves in the contested waterway.
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In August, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said Manila was open to new talks with China on oil and gas exploration, but said any deal must comply with Philippine laws. But on Friday, the President said the Philippines could veer away from government-to-government discussions in favor of partnerships with private companies.
“The Philippines was saying that our laws must be followed, while the Chinese were saying, ‘No, that’s ours so our laws are what we must follow,” the President said. “That’s the roadblock, it is hard to see how we can resolve that. I think there might be other ways so it does not have to be [government-to-government].” Next page
Marcos: MDT review looks at PH territorial protection By Vince Lopez and Maricel V. Cruz
under negotiation” and undergoing evolution because the conditions are changing. Mr. Marcos made this remark in an PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on interview on the sidelines of the Kadiwa Thursday said the 1951 Mutual Defense ng Pasko project in Quezon City. Treaty (MDT) between the Philippines The President added that the Americans with the United States is "continuously Next page
VOL. XXXVI • NO. 289• 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Kadiwa stores open beyond X'mas to help stabilize prices KADIWA POP-UP markets will continue beyond Christmas until the country gets to a point when it’s no longer necessary and prices in public markets are the same as in the government-run stores, hopefully by March next year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Thursday. “As it stands right now, in terms of
KEEPING PRICES DOWN. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. takes a look at rice sold at P25 per kilogram at the Kadiwa ng Pasko caravan in Quezon City on Thursday. The Chief Executive said the Kadiwa stalls will continue operating even beyond the holiday season to provide more affordable products to Filipinos. Rey S. Baniquet
NBI to probe ’fake exit’ stamp in human trafficking By Macon Ramos Araneta and Vito Barcelo
(food) supply, we’re okay until at the very least, February, March of next year,” the President said as he graced the Kadiwa sa Pasko stores at the Quezon City Hall. “Hopefully by then, the prices of commodities in the market will have ‘normalized,’ (which) is what I call it, that won’t change so much. Next page
DA warns it may import red onion if prices remain high By Alena Mae S. Flores and Macon Ramos-Araneta
JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe the use of fake stamps at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in facilitating the departure of trafficked individuals. “We’re already investigating that. We’re asking the NBI to investigate it,”
BUYER BEWARE. Officers of the Manila Police District Dagupan outpost wear Santa hats along Ylaya corner Recto streets in Tondo, Manila on Thursday, as they distribute flyers to warn shoppers of criminal elements like snatchers and thieves roaming around Divisoria during the holiday season. Norman Cruz
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OPCOM: Teenage pregnancies nat’l social emergency GSIS, SSS to issue bonus to pensioners By Willie Casas
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said Thursday it might resort to importing red onions if local producers do not cooperate to bring prices down. DA spokesperson Rex Estoperez said the agency is waiting for the cold storage inventory of red onions. "If they won't cooperate, worse comes
to worst, we will import [onions]," Estoperez said, adding that red onion has been priced as high as P280 per kilo. He said the DA had asked the Bureau of Plant Industry to talk to farmer traders who bought red onions in August and September and placed their stock in cold storage. Estoperez said they expect to complete stock inventory by Friday to determine the exact supply situation. Next page
By Rio N. Araja
THE Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) is concerned about the increase of teenage pregnancies in the Philippines, saying it may be considered a national social emergency. Next page
NY, SINGAPORE COSTLIEST CITIES IN WORLD—EIU NEWS / A2
328,000 old-age and disability pensioners starting December 6. President and General Manager Wick STATE pension fund Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Veloso said GSIS pensioners would is set to release a total P3.35 billion receive an amount equivalent to their Next page in Christmas cash gift to more than
PH’S CRUZ WINS MS. COSMOWORLD BEAUTY PAGEANT NEWS / A2
P21-M LOTTERY WINNER BETS ON CHILDREN’S AGES NEWS / A2
TRAINS A-SINGIN’. Juan Alfonso (third from left), Light Rail Manila Corp. president, listens to Light Rail Transit-1 staff sing Christmas carols as the train system’s private operator welcomes the holiday season with the much-awaited LRT-1 Christmas Themed Train. Three-dimensional decals featuring different genres of music will adorn a third-generation LRT-1 train set. Norman Cruz