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PBBM TOUTS $9.8B INVESTMENT PLEDGES FROM BRUSSELS TRIP officials, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Thursday night as he arrived in Manila from Belgium, where he attended an Association of Southeast Asian THE Philippines has garnered an esti- Nations (ASEAN) and the European mated $9.8 billion in investment pledg- Union (EU) business summit. During his arrival speech, Marcos es from European leaders and business
By Vince Lopez and Vito Barcelo
said a business roundtable served as an “important catalyst for the renewed relations” between the Philippines and European business communities. He also said that leaders of the ASEAN and EU member-states have Next page
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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his arrival speech Thursday at the international airport lounge upon his return to the country following a three-day trip to Belgium. OPS photo VOL. XXXVI • NO. 303• 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
House okays wealth fund bill Final version garners 279 votes after Mr. Marcos certifies it as 'urgent' By Maricel V. Cruz and Julito G. Rada
HE House of Representatives on Thursday night approved the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) bill, which had earned the solid support of 90 percent or 282 out of the 312 members of the chamber who were officially named as coauthors of the measure.
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Voting 279 against six, the House approved House Bill (HB) 6608 on third and final reading, after it was certified as urgent by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Exhaustive floor deliberations on the measure—including nearly three hours Next page
MAHARLIKA APPLAUSE. Speaker Martin Romualdez applauds members of the House of Representatives who, in a plenary session, approved on third and final reading House Bill 6608 or the Maharlika Investment Fund bill on Thursday, after it was certified as urgent by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier in the day. Ver Noveno
Palace says President to sign PH looks at EU to strengthen law Mon Tulfo prods P5.268-T national budget today of the sea amid tensions in SCS brother Erwin to
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to sign the P5.268 trillion proposed national appropriations for 2023 on Friday afternoon, the first budget under his administration. Mr. Marcos will attend the ceremonial signing of the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA) at
Malacañang at around 3 p.m., according to a Palace advisory issued last night. The House of Representatives approved and turned over copies of the national spending plan for next year to the Presidential Legislative
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PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said the enforcement of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) will be strengthened if the ASEAN and the European Union will join voices amid the tensions in the South China Sea. Speaking at the press conference of the EU-ASEAN Commemorative Summit in Brussels Thursday, the President said the commitment of the two blocs provides a "very strong position to be
able to negotiate" on issues surrounding the disputed waters. "One of the reasons that we have these conferences is to map out any possible actions that might be jointly taken because every action that might be taken that objects or brings a light to a possible violation of the UNCLOS is much stronger when it is brought about by a group of nations such as ASEAN," the Philippine leader said. Next page
22 cops relieved over Bilibid death cases inmates at the New Bilibid Prison, which were originally passed off as COVID-19 THE National Capital Region Police Of- casualties in 2020. NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Jonnel Esfice (NCRPO) on Thursday put 22 officers in restrictive custody over their alleged tomo said the police officers were relieved Next page involvement in the deaths of high-profile
By Rey E. Requejo
SIGNED AND SEALED. Speaker Martin G. Romualdez (center) turns over Thursday copies of the proposed 2023 national budget to Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) Secretary Mark Llandro "Dong" L. Mendoza (2nd left). Witnessing are House committee on appropriations chairman and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co (right), House Majority Leader Manuel Jose "Mannix" M. Dalipe (2nd right), and PLLO USec. Agapito Guanlao (left). Ver Noveno
SC rules gov’t loan for Kaliwa Dam legal By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court has declared as “valid and not unconstitutional” the controversial $62.08 million and the $211.21 million loans secured by the Philippine government from the Export-Import Bank of China in 2018 to bankroll, respectively, the construction of the Chico River Pump Irrigation project and the Kaliwa Dam project. “The Loan Agreements have suf-
ficiently complied with the applicable procurement laws and conform with the pertinent provisions of the Constitution,” the SC held, in ruling for the validity and constitutionality of the two projects. “Wherefore, the consolidated petitions for prohibition in G.R. Nos. 24598 l and 246594 are denied. The Court declares valid and not unconstitutional the Preferential Buyer ’s Credit Loan Next page
NIGHT OF LIGHTS.
The Christmas season is going to be an experience like no other as SM Mall of Asia brings back the much-loved MOA Night of Lights in partnership with Disney Philippines' From Our Family to Yours holiday campaign, and powered by Hyundai Motor Philippines. #MOAChristmasNightofLights
SIMBANG GABI BEGINS, POLICE ON FULL ALERT NEWS / A2
quit DSWD post
By Joel E. Zurbano VETERAN journalist Ramon Tulfo is discouraging his younger brother Erwin to pursue his appointment as Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “Tits, give up your post as secretary of the DSWD. There is no reason for you to stay longer in your place. The buggers are ungrateful. If they don’t appreciate what you’ve been doing at the DSWD, why stick to your post like a ship barnacle?” said Ramon in his Facebook account—in a mix of English, Cebuano, and Tagalog – and calling his brother by his nickname. Ramon, at 76, 18 years Erwin's senior, Next page