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VOL. XXXVI • NO. 310• 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
PBBM brings X’mas cheers to poor in gift-giving event By Vince Lopez
17 local government units (LGUs) of Metro Manila. Child beneficiaries PRESIDENT Ferdi-received food packs and nand R. Marcos Jr. gift packs containing on Thursday assured toys and books while Filipinos that the adult beneficiaries each Department of So-received six kilograms cial Welfare and De-of rice, grocery items, velopment (DSWD) hygiene kits, and cash and other concerned assistance amounting agencies were work-to P10,000 from the ing hard to respond PRESIDENT Ferdinand DSWD's Assistance to to the needs of the Marcos Jr. on Thursday issued Individuals in Crisis poor, vulnerable, a proclamation declaring Dec. Situation (AICS) proand disadvantaged 26, 2022, as an additional spegram. during and beyond cial non-working day throughIn his speech, Mr. the holidays. out the country. Marcos lauded the Mr. Marcos is-Proclamation No. 115 was DSWD for assisting sued the statement issued to “give the people the Filipinos, especially during a gift-giving full opportunity to celebrate during disasters. activity where he the holiday with their families “In the past six distributed Christ-and loved ones.” Next page months, these people mas gifts to at least have been busy. A lot 400 children and of disasters struck the 574 individuals and families, including several members of Philippines, typhoons, an earthquake in indigenous people (IP) groups and street Abra--that’s why perhaps we can say it’s children adopted by communities from all Next page
Palace declares Monday, Dec. 26, a special holiday
X'MAS PRESENTS. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. distributes Christmas gifts to some 400 children and 574 individuals and families during the Pangkabuhayan at Pamaskong Handog ng Pangulo at Unang Ginang sa Sambayanang Pilipino at the open amphitheater in Rizal Park in Manila on Dec. 22, 2022. Alfred Frias
Gov’t to boost troops in WPS
DND says China's activities near Pag-asa Is. threaten PH sovereignty
By Rey Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta
T
HE government has ordered the military to beef up its presence in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) following Chinese activities monitored near Pagasa Island.
In a statement Thursday, the Department of National Defense (DND) said any encroachment or reclamation on the features in the WPS is a threatto the security of Pag-asa Island, which is part of the country's sovereign territory. The DND said such actions also
endanger the marine environment and undermine the stability of the region. "We strongly urge China to uphold the prevailing rules-based international order and refrain from acts that will exacerbate tensions in the WPS and the larger South China Sea,” the statement read.
Earlier, DND officer-in-charge Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr. expressed alarm over the reported swarming of Chinese ships off Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal in the WPS and maintained that they will not give up any part of the country's Next page
DBP prexy bats for MIF, solon hails Speaker for bill push Marcos urges shared areas Ex-SC justice named DBP chairman for fireworks
recently approved on third and final reading in the House of Representatives. DBP president and chief executive THE head of the state-run Development Emmanuel Herbosa said Thursday that Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is pushing he fully supports the establishment of the for the swift passage into law of the Ma- pioneering sovereign wealth fund (SWF), harlika Investment Fund Bill, which was Next page
By Julito G. Rada and Maricel V. Cruz
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Bank of the Philippines. Jr. has appointed former Supreme Tiñga took his oath of office before Court Associate Justice Dante Ti- Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin at Next page ñga as chairman of the Development the Palace yesterday.
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged various local government units (LGUs) to create common areas for the community fireworks display for the New Year. "I will enjoin the LGU's instead of allowing our people to have their own firecrackers, better to make a beautiful fireworks display for your constituents." President Marcos said in an interview after leading a gift distribution activity. President Marcos warned Filipinos about the dangers of firecracker use. "Let us not use firecrackers as of now because we know sometimes it is very hazardous especially now that there are firecrackers which were illegally manufactured," the President said.
Local millers buck sugar importation By Vito Barcelo THE order of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to expedite the importation of over 64,000 metric tons of sugar is untimely since local millers are in full swing, which means there is enough supply, a group of sugar producers said Thursday. Importation should be done by March or April when the estimates of production yield are known, Butch Lozande, Secretary General of the Philippine National Federation of Sugar Workers, said. “Our position is no importation this year, if there's a need, let's determine next year by March or April, when we know the approximate yield of the year 20222023," he said in Filipino. Next page File photo of Boracay, one of three top domestic destinations for balikbayans and their families during the holidays, along with Cebu and Palawan. Danny Pata
By Vince Lopez
Next page
MERMAID SANTA. A diver wearing a Christmas mermaid costume performs for visitors at the oceanarium of Ocean Park in Manila on Dec. 22, 2022. AFP
Top trip points: Boracay, Cebu, Palawan BORACAY, Cebu, and Palawan are the country’s top domestic destinations for balikbayans and their families this holiday season, a group of travel agencies said Thursday. The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) said many overseas Filipino workers are choosing to travel to these destinations after two years of coronavirus restrictions. "Now that the restrictions are lifted, these OFWs and families are planning to go to Boracay and it is being manifested
in the record of the travel agencies," JB Bernal Formilleza, PTAA executive vice-president, said. Airlines have added more flights to Boracay this week and next week due to a large number of travelers, he added. Formilleza said many travelers prefer Boracay since from there, it is easy to travel by land to other destinations such as Iloilo and Aklan. In a separate interview, Bureau of Immigration spokesperson Dana Next page
Court sets free Nasino, 2 other activists on bail DETAINED activist Reina Mae Nasino, who lost her baby River while under detention, was released Thursday on orders of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 47 after she and a fellow activist posted bail. Nasino and her fellow activists Alma Moran and Ram Carlo Bautista gained their release orders after they posted bail, over three years since they were arrested in Tondo, Manila in November 2019 for alleged illegal possession of firearms and a grenade. While under detention, Nasino gave birth to River and was separated from her newborn baby at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her lawyers had tried to keep them together, but Baby River, only 5.5 pounds Next page