PBBM: Enough rice for Kadiwa Mr. Marcos assures P25/kilo NFA supply amid reduced importation
n By VINCE LOPEZ
P
RESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has assured the public the National Food Authority (NFA) has enough rice to supply government-run Kadiwa stores during the holiday season even if the country has supposedly cut the importation of the staple commodity.
This developed as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it would rebrand the Kadiwa program by January to reflect it new status as a year-round endeavor, not just one for Christmas. Also, the draft executive order (EO)
extending the reduced tariff rates on imported pork, rice, corn, and coal from this year to the entire 2023 is now up for Mr. Marcos’ approval, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said Saturday. The President inspected an NFA
warehouse in Valenzuela City on Saturday on the sidelines of his visit to the Kadiwa ng Pasko site at the Malanday Covered Court, one of 350 state-run food markets all over the country.
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AO sets rice, cash bonuses for gov’t workers PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has issued administrative orders (AOs) granting a service recognition incentive (SRI) for employees of the executive department, as well as a one-time rice allowance for all government personnel for this year,
Malacañang announced on Saturday. The President’s AO authorizes the grant of a one-time SRI at a uniform rate not exceeding P20,000 for those working under the executive department, officer in
charge of the Office of the Press Secretary, Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil, said. Garafil said civilian personnel of national government agencies (NGAs), including those in state universities and colleges CONTINUED ON 2A
Vol. 36
No. 305
December 18, 2022
2 SECTIONS 8 PAGES
20 .00
IN MET R MANILAO
‘Joma’ Sison, CPP founder, dies at 83 n By B JOEL E. ZURBANO JOSE Maria “Joma” Sison, who launched one of the world’s longest-running Maoist insurgencies, has died at 83, the Communist Party of the Philippines announced Saturday. The former university professor died in the Netherlands, where he had lived in selfimposed exile since the collapse of peace talks CONTINUED ON 3A
For Simbang Gabi, Palace opens grounds to public
CHRISTMAS TRADITION.
‘Simbang Gabi’ would never be the same without the ‘puto bumbong’ and ‘bibingka’ (rice cakes) to share among families and friends after the dawn masses, as a vendor diligently prepares a batch on Saturday. Avito Dalan
MALACAÑANG Palace is now open to the public for the Misa de Gallo (Dawn Mass) or “Simbang Gabi” leading to Christmas Day, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said. President Marcos made the announcement Friday night during the Christmas party held for the employees of the Office of the President at the Mabini Hall inside the Malacanang compound. CONTINUED ON 3A
DOLE: No MSME exemptions for 13th-month pay NO EMPLOYER is exempted from paying their employees their 13thmonth pay, even if they have only been working for the company for
a month, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) stressed Saturday. Labor Secretary Bienvenido
Laguesma told Super Radyo dzBB in an interview the 13th-month pay must be given on or before December 24, 2022. CONTINUED ON 3A
BSP: Ample coins, Balisacan: Always right time fresh banknotes to establish sovereign fund ready for gifting KADIWA SURVEY. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visits the Kadiwa ng Pasko site at the Malanday Covered Court in Valenzuela City on Saturday. Rey S. Baniquet
PH to reach upper middle class status in 2025, NEDA chief says THE Philippines is likely to achieve its target of becoming an upper middleincome economy by 2025 -- a year later than what the government expected, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said Saturday. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
has said in his first State of the Nation Address in July that his government is looking to bring the Philippines to "upper-middle income status by 2024" with "at least $4,256 income per capita." But owing to the sharp contraction CONTINUED ON 3A
THE supply of fresh banknotes and coins is sufficient to meet the surge of currency demand amid the holiday season, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said Saturday in a statement. The demand for new currency soars during the Christmas season as Filipinos traditionally gave pristine banknotes and coins as gifts or “aguinaldo” to their families and friends, the BSP said. The uptick in currency demand begins in October and continues untilDecember of every year, the central bank said, citing historical bank withdrawal data in the last three months of 2019 to 2021. “Denominations with the highest demand during this period are the 1000-, 100-, and 50-Piso banknotes; and 20-Piso, 1-Piso, and 25-Sentimo coins,” the BSP said. In line with its broader efforts to promote efficient recirculation of fit currency, the BSP advised the public to have their unfit banknotes and coins CONTINUED ON 3A
THE establishment of a sovereign wealth fund is “appropriate” despite the risks of a global recession and high interest rates, Socioeconomic
Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said on Saturday. “It’s always the right time,” CONTINUED ON 3A
WOMEN LEGISLATORS’ DONATION. The Association of Women Legislators Foundation Inc. (AWLFI) led by Bulacan 4th District Rep. Linabelle Ruth Villarica turns over a P200,000 cheque donation to the Pediatric Cancer Ward of the Philippine General Hospital, one of the beneficiaries of their “PamasCONG Handog: Garage Sale for a Cause III” fundraiser. Pictured are Reps. Anna York Bondoc (Pampanga); Laarni Roque (Bukidnon); Milagros Magsaysay (United Senior Citizens Party-list); Lorna Silverio (Bulacan); Jane Castro (Capiz); and Arlene Brosas (Gabriela Party-list), plus Dr. Jorge Ignacio, UP-PGH Cancer Institute Director, and Ma. Louisa Padernilla, PGH Pedia Hemo Onco Child Life Coordinator. Tingog Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez chairs the 86-member AWLFI.