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China: Avoid troubled waters CHINA has hit the United States for its "zero-sum game mentality" and warned the Philippines against allowing itself to be "dragged into trouble waters." The Chinese embassy in Manila issued the statement Thursday hours after visiting US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III said reaffirming commitment to the 1951 PH-US Mutual Defense Treaty was important as, “China continues to advance their illegitimate claims in the
West Philippines Sea.” “The United States, out of its self interests and zero-sum game mentality, continues to step up military posture in this region. Its actions escalate regional tension and undermine regional peace and stability,” the embassy said. “It is hoped that the Philippine side stays vigilant and resists from being taken advantage of and dragged into trouble Next page waters,” it added.
VOL. XXXVI • NO. 354 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
US expands access to PH bases Adds 4 unnamed military sites as highlight of Defense Sec. Austin's visit By Rey Requejo, Vito Barcelo and Vince Lopez
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HE Philippines on Thursday said it has agreed to let the United States expand its military presence here, giving American troops access to four new sites in the country against the backdrop of saggressive Chinese actions in the West Philippine Sea.
In a joint statement issued during the visit of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III, both sides announced plans to accelerate the full implementation of the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), including designating four new locations in strategic areas of the country and the substantial completion of projects in the existing five locations. EDCA enables US forces to have access to designated Philippine military camps, where they can be indefinitely stationed on a rotational basis. In October, the US sought access for a larger number of its troops and weapons. “The EDCA is a key pillar of the US-Philippines alliance, which supports combined training, exercises, and interoperability between our forces,” said the statement released by the US and Next page
STEADFAST ALLIANCE. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomes visiting United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III during a courtesy call in Malacañan Palace on Thursday, February 2, 2023. Rey Baniquet
DA told to eliminate middlemen in food chain DSWD eyes food stamp PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of Agriculture (DA) to directly connect food producers to consumers and institutional buyers, and remove the middle men in the system. In compliance with the President’s directive, the DA enhanced its initia-
tive to help farmers cooperatives and associations (FCAs) across the country. Under the initiative, spearheaded by the department’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS), about P2.589 million worth of onions have been sold by the FCAs to institutional buyers from Septem-
ber 2022 to Jan. 24, 2023, composed of 3,478 kilos of red onions worth P755,455 and 5,106.38 kilos of white onions worth P1.833 million. The DA-awarded Kadiwa trucks and vans also helped the FCAs with their hauling and delivery to markets and big buyers. Next page
revival to address hunger SOCIAL Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said he is looking at reviving the food stamps program to address the hunger problem among poor Filipinos. “It doesn’t seem [like] we’re denting [hunger],” Gatchalian said in a television interview in response to a recent survey showing that an estimated three million Filipino families or 11.8% experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months. The SWS survey showed the number
of families facing hunger from October to December 2022 was highest in Mindanao at 12.7 percent, followed by the Visayas at 12 percent, Metro Manila at 11.7 percent, and Balance Luzon — or Luzon outside Metro Manila — at 11.3 percent. “Poverty is intergenerational – you cannot solve that overnight. But apoor family's immediate need is to have something to eat. I want to bring back the food coupons or food stamps,” he added. Next page
Grab commits to invest in local transport with 500k job potential By Vince Lopez PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has secured an investment commitment from ride-hailing service Grab, which could create 500,000 new jobs. The President met with officials of Grab Holdings Inc. on Feb. 2, Thursday,
in Malacañang Palace to discuss Grab’s recommendations on possible ways to modernize transportation in the Philippines. During the meeting, Anthony Tan, Grab CEO and co-founder, promised to create jobs in the country, assuring the President Next page that his company will deliver.
BASIC COMMODITIES AT AFFORDABLE PRICES. Residents of San Andres Street in Malate, Manila and employees of Bureau of Plant Industry located in the area avail themselves of eggs and other basic agricultural products from Nueva Vizcaya offered at affordable prices by the local Kadiwa store every Thursday and Friday. Danny Pata
Gov’t okays construction of cancer center Medalla assures MIF won’t dent By Vince Lopez BSP finances THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board has approved the construction of a P6billion cancer center at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital in Manila—the first publicprivate partnership (PPP) project under the Marcos administration. This developed as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. presided over the 3rd NEDA Board Meeting at Malacañan Palace
in Manila on Thursday, Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement. "The NEDA Board gave its nod for the construction of a P6-billion, 300-bed capacity hospital, the administration’s first PPP project," Garafil said. The project, Garafil said, will provide a full range of cancer treatments, including radio oncology (radiotherapy), imaging, medical oncology and support for the UPPGH’s teaching and research activities. Next page
By Julito G. Rada and Macon Ramos-Araneta BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Felipe Medalla assured senators Thursday that the regulator’s financial strength would not be affected even if it extends 100 percent of its dividends to Next page
FEAST OF CANDELARIA. Devotees attended a mass at the Jaro Cathedral, the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Candles (Santuario Nacional de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria) in Iloilo City. Arnold Almacen