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Pope Francis appeals for end to ‘senseless’ war in Ukraine VATICAN CITY—Pope Francis on Sunday appealed for an end to the “senseless” war in Ukraine, in his traditional Christmas message from St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. The 86-year-old also warned the 10-month-old conflict was aggravating food shortages around the
world, urging an end to the use of “food as a weapon.” The head of the Catholic Church addressed thousands of faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square, some of them holding Ukrainian flags, before de-
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VOL. XXXVI • NO. 315 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
PAPAL MESSAGE. Pope Francis gestures as he delivers his Christmas Urbi et Orbi blessing in St. Peter’s Square at The Vatican on December 25, 2022. AFP
NPA told to bolster mass base CPP reviews strength, weakness on its 54th anniversary today
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HE Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has ordered its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), to “strengthen bonds” with the masses to boost “strategic and tactical attacks” ahead of its 54th anniversary today. But at the same time, the CPP’s ruling Central Committee said all party cadres, revolutionary forces, and its friends and allies should “take stock of our strength and self-critically assess our errors and weaknesses” to set forth its plan “to advance and attain even bigger victories in the coming years.” Previously, in anticipation of the CPP anniversary on December 26, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will stay in “active defense posture” until the New Year, a police spokesman
said on Saturday. Both the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines recently announced they will not have a ceasefire for the holidays, with the police force later saying there was “absolutely no reason” to do so. In a message posted on its website, the CCP Central Committee continued to mourn the death of its founder, Jose Maria Sison, last week, giving him “extraordinary tribute” for his “masterly
2 died in wet X’mas in parts of Visayas, Mindanao TWO people died while six others were rescued in Southern Leyte after their fishing boat capsized on Sunday as several areas in Visayas and Mindanao were flooded on Christmas Day, with heavy rains and strong waves generated by the shear line and the
northeast monsoon or “amihan.” Local police said the sea mishap in Barangay Manglit, Pintuyan, Southern Leyte happened past 3 a.m. on Sunday, claiming the lives of two fishermen. This developed as the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) kicked off relief operations in areas in Visayas and Mindanao affected by flooding. In a news release, Malacañang said the relief operations were ordered by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Next page
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DOF set to reorganize operations, push key tax measures next year THE Department of Finance will begin rightsizing its bureaucracy next year “to streamline its organization and processes to maximize efficiency and use of public funds.” This is aligned with the priority measures listed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his first State of the Nation Address in July where he underscored the need to “rightsize” the government bureaucracy. The national government rightsizing program, which he described as a “reform mechanism that seeks to enhance the government’s institutional capacity to perform its mandate and provide better services, while ensuring optimal
and efficient use of resources,” was the first item cited by the President in his legislative wish list. The DOF, in its year-end report, said it also intends to push key measures, including carrying out Package 3 and 4 of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, an excise tax on single-use plastics, a value added tax on digital service providers, measures to ease the paying of taxes and establishing a mining fiscal regime. It will also target private sector fund mobilization through public-private partnership (PPP) projects and will launch pioneering projects with Project Management
X’MAS DAY FLOODING. Rescuers brave chest-high floodwaters in different barangays in Tudela, Misamis Occidental on Christmas Day on Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022. Misamis Occidental Police Provincial Office Facebook page
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DepEd to extend school calendar, start summer classes next year THE Department of Education will extend the school calendar and conduct summer remedials next year to help students recover from “learning losses” following the closure of schools and the shift to distance learning. In its accomplishment report presented to Malacañang, the DepEd said it will roll out the National Learning Recovery Plan to guide regions, divisions and schools in addressing learning deficiencies due to pan-
demic-related disruptions. DepEd said the proposed policy is anchored on learning remediation and intervention, professional development, health, safety and mental wellness. DepEd Assistant Secretary Ruby Torio earlier said the plan includes extending the school calendar, establishing a learning support center in schools and community-based
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Baguio chills at 12.2°C, Tagaytay at 20°C PRETTY AS A POSTCARD. Tourists flock to the Northern Blossoms Floral Farms in Atok, Benguet to get an early glimpse of the majestic sunrise along the Eastern Benguet Mt. Range amid a flower garden in full bloom. Dave Leprozo
BAGUIO City registered a low of 12.2°C Sunday morning as the northeast monsoon affected Luzon, the state weather bureau said. In an interview over radio dzBB, weather specialist Raymond Ordinario said in Metro Manila, Quezon City logged the lowest temperature within the day so far at 23°C.
In Tagaytay, it was 20°C. Ordinario said people living in the northern parts of the country should prepare for more cold weather ahead, as 17.8°C was already recorded in Tuguegarao City, and 13.2°C in Basco, Batanes. Next page