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PBBM to bill PH potential at WEF
Pitch centers on enticing investment, promoting country as growth hub By Vince Lopez
P
RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. hopes to drum up more investments in the Philippines and promote the country's readiness to play a leading role in the regional and global expansion plans of companies as he arrives in Davos, Switzerland today for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF).
The President is attending the Forum’s Country Strategy Dialogue, “where we are given the opportunity to promote the Philippines as leader and driver of growth and a gateway to the Asia-Pacific region —one that is open for business,” he said in his departure statement at the Maharlika Hall of Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Sunday morning. Mr. Marcos is also slated to speak in a special 30-minute “conversation” with the Forum attendees scheduled on January 18, Wednesday at 5 p.m. (midnight
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DAVOS-BOUND. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Lisa Araneta Marcos wave to the crowd at the Villamor Air Base before boarding the plane taking them at 70 others to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum starting Monday. Rey Baniquet VOL. XXXVI • NO. 334• 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 MONDAY, MONDAY JANUARY 16 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
27 people died amid heavy rains, flooding AT least 27 people have died in heavy rains and flooding across the Philippines this month, authorities said Sunday, as forecasters warned of continued downpours in the disaster-prone country. Calbayog City in Samar was the latest area to declare a state of calamity owing to extensive flooding, following eight cities and towns and a province
across the southern half of the country. Heavy downpours and flooding have plagued the Visayas and Mindanao since Christmas weekend, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee their homes. The forecast for this week isn’t any drier, as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astro-
nomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Southern Luzon including the National Capital Region, Visayas, and Mindanao will have cloudy skies until Friday, with rain showers and thunderstorms becoming frequent rains over Bicol region. Since the start of the year, at least three storms Next page
FLOOD RESCUE.
Firefighters from the Taft Fire Station of Taft, Samar assist motorists on Sunday stranded along the border of Barangay Malinao and Binalo-an due to flooding caused by heavy rains over the weekend. Calbayog City declared a state of calamity owing to the floods that have hit the Bicol Region, Visayas and Mindanao. BFP Photo
Fil-Am US bet DA, Customs to intensify intel crowned 71st sharing to curb agri smuggling Miss Universe By Eton Concepcion and Patricia Taculao
FIL-AM QUEEN. Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel celebrates after winning the 71st Miss Universe competition at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. AFP
FILIPINO-AMERICAN Miss USA R’Bonney Gabriel was crowned Miss Universe during the finals of the 71st edition of the pageant held at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in Louisiana on Sunday (Manila time). The beauty queen, who was named after her Filipino father– Remigio Next page
THE Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Customs will beef up intelligence sharing and profiling to address the smuggling of agricultural products, Customs spokesman Arnaldo dela Torre Jr. said yesterday. Dela Torre said the BOC has already
carried out 709 seizures as of early January, confiscating smuggled goods with an estimated value of P24.28 billion. Of the amount, P12 billion in illegal drugs were seized, P7.69 billion in counterfeit goods, and P1.87 billion in Next page
Sinulog grand parade in Cebu draws 2m devotees, revelers AN ESTIMATED two million devotees and revelers alike on Sunday celebrated the Sinulog for the feast of the Santo Niño at the South Road Properties in Cebu City, after a two-year hiatus and unmindful of the sweltering heat of the
sun—and almost a week of controversy over the change of venue of the festival. Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama opened the One Cebu Island Sinulog 2023 grand parade that gathered contingents from the city and different barangays. Next page
25 top cops yet to file courtesy resignation TWENTY-FIVE high-ranking police officials have yet to submit their courtesy resignations over a week since Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. made his appeal to the senior police officials, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Sunday.
About 928 or 97 percent of the total 953 full colonels and generals across the country have tendered their resignations, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said. The police headquarters in Camp Crame received 24 more resignations on Saturday. Next page
AT LEAST 67 PEOPLE DIE IN NEPAL PLANE CRASH
CONGRESS VOWS FOCUS ON NEEDS OF THE POOR
WORLD / B2
NEWS / A4
STO. NINO FIESTA. Catholic devotees lift up images of the infant Jesus to be blessed by a priest during the Feast of the Sto. Nino at the Pandacan parish church in Manila, while in Cebu City, groups of performers among an estimated 2 million revelers and devotees participate in the Sinulog Festival on Sunday. Norman Cruz and Carcar City PIO