twitter.com/ MlaStandard
facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH
manilastandard.net
Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net
PRESIDENT SUSPENDS PHILHEALTH PREMIUM RATE HIKE, INCOME CEILING By Vince Lopez PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday ordered the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to suspend the increase of its premium rate and income ceiling for the calendar year 2023, the Palace announced on the eve of Mr. Marcos’ trip to China. This was confirmed by the Office of the Press Secretary and the Office of the Executive Secretary. The memorandum, signed by Execu-
tive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, refers to the “scheduled increase of the premium rate from 4 percent to 4.5 percent, and income ceiling from P80,000 to P90,000 for CY (Calendar Year) 2023 under Section 10 of Republic Act No. 11223.” “In light of the prevailing socioeconomic challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to provide financial relief to our countrymen amidst these difficult times, please be informed that the President has directed Next page
VOL. XXXVI • NO. 323 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
New Year airport mess probed NAIA admits 72 hours needed before flight situation returns to normal By Joel E. Zurbano, Darwin G. Amojelar, Vito Barcelo, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz
M
ALACAÑANG on Monday said concerned agencies are conducting a thorough investigation following the temporary shutdown of the country’s airspace on New Year’s Day.
STILL JAMPACKED. Passengers fill the check-in area at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 as they wait for further announcements after flights were cancelled due to technical issues with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) air navigation facilities on Sunday. Meanwhile, workers of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) give emergency aid, food and water to those stranded at the airport over the last two days (inset photos). Norman Cruz
“A thorough investigation is being conducted by appropriate agencies,” Office of the Press Secretary officerin-charge Cheloy Garafil told reporters in a message. The Philippines will need at least 72 hours to normalize incoming and outgoing flights, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Cesar Chiong said. “[NAIA is] not really fully (operational). Prior to yesterday, we accept about 20 arrivals per hour. Right now, we are only accepting 15 arrivals per hour, but there are no limits on the departures,” Chiong said in a television interview. Aviation authorities are now investigating the air traffic management system glitch from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Next page
PBBM off to China for three-day trip, Tighten border controls urged as China COVID surged sea issues up in talks with Xi Jinping By Vince Lopez PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to raise important issues affecting bilateral ties between the Philippines and China -- including maritime concerns in the West Philippine Sea -- as he leaves at 1 p.m. today (Tuesday) for a
Chinese President Xi Jinping
three-day state visit to Beijing. Mr. Marcos, who will have a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, will also witness the signing of 14 bilateral agreements on trade and investments, agriculture, renewable energy, infrastructure, development cooperation,
that imposing additional restrictions or revising travel protocols should be science- and evidence-based. This developed as reports surfaced that hospitals in Metro Manila have or-
dered their staffs to resume wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect against the anticipated surge of COVID cases after the holidays amid Next page
Next page
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Dozen countries set heightened restrictions for Chinese travelers BEIJING—Travelers from China now face restrictions when entering more than a dozen countries as concern grows over its surge in Covid-19 cases, with Australia the latest to demand a negative test before arrival. Last month, Beijing abruptly began dismantling its “zero-Covid” containment policy of lockdowns and mass
THE country must tighten border controls and require negative COVID-19 tests for travelers from China, a public health advocate said, even as the Department of Health insisted Monday
testing, three years after the coronavirus first emerged in the city of Wuhan. As Covid overwhelms Chinese hospitals and crematoriums, officials have insisted that the wave is “under control” despite acknowledging that the true scale of infections is “impossible” to track. Next page
NEW YEAR CHARMS. People a look at lucky charms being sold in a store on Ongpin St. in Binondo, Manila, on Monday. Many believe that having these charms inside their houses could bring abundant life for the rest of the year. Danny Pata
DA banks on coming harvest for P170/kilo of onions By Macon Ramos-Araneta
a kilo in some markets, to fall below P170 a kilo later this year as the supTHE Department of Agriculture (DA) ply of the commodity stabilizes with said Monday it expects onion prices, the coming harvest. Agriculture Assistant Secretary and which have shot up to more than P700
DA spokesperson Kristine Evangelista also said cold storage facilities put up in strategic areas would extend the shelf life of the onions that are harvested. Next page
Kerosene leads new fuel price hikes at P3.05/l, gas P2.90/l, diesel P2.10/l By Alena Mae S. Flores
NOT FREE ANYMORE. Passenger queue at a waiting shed at the EDSA Bus Carousel Taft-EDSA station on Monday, as a poster an-
nounced that the buses under the Libreng Sakay program of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will now charge passengers. Danny Pata
HIGHER pump prices will kick off the new year for motorists today (Tuesday) with oil firms implementing a price hike of as much as P3.05 per liter for kerosene. Gasoline prices will go up by P2.90
per liter while diesel will go up by P2.10 per liter, according to Petron Corp., the country’s biggest oil company. Aside from Petron, Seaoil Philippines and PTT Philippines also issued their latest price advisories, while other companies are expected to follow. Next page