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NTC ISSUES RULES ON SIM REGISTRATION, TAKES EFFECT DEC. 27
By Darwin G. Amojelar
TELECOMMUNICATIONS companies are set to roll out online SIM registration and start selling new SIMs in deactivated mode after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the SIM Registration Act. The IRR, drafted by the NTC in consultation with the industry, has also gone through public hearings. It is expected to lay down the SIM registration
procedure and guidelines that all public telecommunications entities (PTEs) must follow in creating their respective registration platforms. The IRR is expected to take effect on Dec. 27, 2022. In compliance with the law, Globe will launch its online SIM registration platform and start selling new SIMs in deactivated mode, the company said. All new SIMs must be registered immediately to enjoy Globe services while Next page
VOL. XXXVI • NO. 302 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
PBBM backs wealth fund bill Says MWF beneficial for PH, asks critics to wait for Congress’ final draft
President to tackle country’s trade privileges with EU PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will raise the status of the Philippines’ European Union (EU) Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) in his meetings with EU leaders as he arrived in Belgium on Monday for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)European Union (EU) Commemorative Summit from Dec. 12 to 14.
By Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz
P
RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday expressed his support for the creation of a multibillionpeso Maharlika Wealth Fund (MWF) and urged the public to let lawmakers come up with a “perfect” version of the bill before debating its features.
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HELLO BRUSSELS. The Filipino community in Belgium gets ready to meet President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who walks down the ladder with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos (inset) as they arrive in Brussels on Monday for the Commemorative Summit between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the European Union. OPS Photo
“For sure. I wouldn’t have brought it up otherwise,” Marcos said in an interview with reporters aboard a plane bound for Brussels, Belgium when asked if he thinks the fund will be beneficial for the country. The creation of the MWF, a sovereign wealth fund, would provide additional investments for the country, the President said in a speech before going to Belgium to attend the ASEAN-EU Summit. “It’s very clear that we need added investment. This is another way to get that,” the President said when asked if the start-up fund would be advantageous for the government. This was the first time the President spoke in public about the fund, which some business groups and academics have criticized. Mr. Marcos also allayed public fears over the possible misuse of government funds in the MWF. He said Congress was going through “the regular process” of working on the bill to create the fund. Next page
DOJ: No US bid House passport measure grants discount to senior citizens, PWDs yet to extradite Pastor Quiboloy THE Department of Justice has not received any information thus far on the sanctions imposed by the US Treasury Department on Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. “None yet, none yet. We’re waiting by the sidelines what their action would be,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla told reporters Monday. On Friday, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Quiboloy and some 40 other individuals and entities in nine countries for alleged involvement in corruption and human rights abuses. The press release specifically mentioned the televangelist’s involvement in an alleged “pattern of systemic and pervasive rape of girls as young as 11 years old, as well as other physical abuse.” Quiboloy’s lawyers on Sunday cried foul over the sanctions, claiming his rights to due process and presumption of innocence were violated because sanctions were already imposed before the scheduled hearings in the cases he is facing next year. US prosecutors indicted Quiboloy in November 2021 on sex trafficking, fraud, and cash smuggling charges. Next page
VOTING 252-0, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading House Bill 6510 or the New Passport Law, which gives a discount to senior citizens and persons with disabilities getting a passport, among other changes.
The congressional fact sheet said the bill will harmonize the provisions of the existing Passport Law with current domestic laws and international agreements. The bill mandates the issuance of passports using the latest tamper-proof
and data-management technologies. It also simplifies the passport documentation requirements of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Office of Consular Affairs in conformity with relevant laws such as the Domestic Adoption Act of 1998 and the Citizenship and
Reacquisition Act of 2003 and existing standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It also directs the DFA to allow senior citizens to renew their passports through available technology without Next page
Price rollbacks anew for diesel, gas, kerosene By Alena Mae S. Flores THE country’s oil firms implemented a big-time rollback effective Tuesday, greater than forecasts predicted last week, to reflect the movement of prices in the world oil market. The oil firms cut the price of kerosene by P4.40 per liter, diesel by P3.40 per liter, and gasoline by P1.70 per liter. Next page
SMC CITES $1.2B PNOC DEAL FOR MALAMPAYA GAS POLL REGISTRATION. Toni Lombos Paranaque Comelec election assistant II , validates the Comelec fill-up form by the registrant at SM Sucat in Paranaque City for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections next year. The registration at SM Sucat will end on Dec. 17. but will run nationwide until January 31. Joseph Muego
NEWS / A2
CA bypasses Tulfo for second time Ex-town mayor takes over NIA helm vice Antiporda Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo
SOCIAL Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo must be reappointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as the powerful Commission on Appointments, which is adjourning session this week, will bypass his appointment for the second time for lack of material time, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Monday. Next page
NIA administrator Benny Antiporda
Piddig Mayor Eddie Guillen
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed a new chief of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) replacing Benny Antiporda, who was suspended for six months after being accused by employees of the agency of grave misconduct, harassment, oppression, and igno-
rance of the law. Replacing Antiporda is former Piddig, Ilocos Norte mayor Eduardo “Eddie” Guillen, whose appointment papers as acting administrator were signed on Dec. 9. The replacement of Antiporda Next page