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SBMA CHAIRMAN PAULINO RESIGNS EFFECTIVE APRIL 15
DEMAND FOR PINOY SEAFARERS TO RISE AFTER EU DECISION
NEWS / A3
NEWS / A4 VOL. XXXVII • NO. 51 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Waterless for 19 hours daily
Maynilad warns shortage to persist as it boosts rationing in NCR, Cavite By Othel V. Campos
M
AYNILAD Water Services Inc. over the weekend warned its customers in Metro Manila and Cavite to brace for longer water interruptions that can last from 14 to 19 hours daily.
BRACE FOR LONGER WATER-LESS HOURS. File photo shows a group of women lined up for water tank rations along Olivarez Street in Palanan, Makati City last month following a water interruption that affected customers of Maynilad in parts of Manila, Makati, Pasay, and Parañaque. Danny Pata
While it assured its customers that the possibility of 19 hours of dry faucets is a “worst-case scenario,” Maynilad said it will step up and boost rationing to some 20,000 connections in its service area as a stopgap measure. The water shortage will persist unless the National Water Regulatory Board (NWRB) grants Maynilad’s petition to increase its water allocation from the dams to 52 cubic meters per second (CMS), the firm’s officials said over the weekend. “We’ve received information that the NWRB will maintain the current allocation level at 50 CMS, which is not enough to serve the demand of consumers this summer season. These areas are those that are quite far from the source and mostly
located on elevated areas,” Engr. Zmel Grabillo, Manila Business Area Head for Maynilad, said Sunday. “These are hard to reach areas and have been experiencing difficulties even before the water interruption schedule was announced,” Grabillo added in a TeleRadyo interview. Maynilad currently serves over 9 million people in the cities of Caloocan, Las Piñas, Malabon, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, and Valenzuela, along with most of the City of Manila and portions of Quezon City and Makati west of the Metro Manila Skyway, as well as Cavite. An ABS-CBN report said about 73 Next page
‘Issue El Niño EO to avert water crisis’ By Rio N. Araja ALBAY Rep. Joey Salceda on Sunday called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to issue an executive order directing specific government agencies to initiate measures to mitigate the impact of the El Niño phenomenon, which is expected to persist until 2024 and cause a water crisis. In a statement, Salceda welcomed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s creation of the Office of Water Management, which is tasked to manage the country’s water resources. “The first step is to acknowledge Next page
PBBM: Be agents of change, conveyors of truth during Lent By Vince Lopez and Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. enjoined the predominantly Catholic population on Sunday to “become better agents of change” and "conveyors of truth" by knowing Christ more during the observance of the Holy Week. In his message, the President said while it may be “difficult to comprehend,” the message of salvation and eternal life “remains as timely as ever.”
“I urge all of us now to make this promise personal: Let it stir in each of us the desire to know Jesus Christ more so that we may become better agents of change and conveyors of truth wherever we go,” President Marcos said. “No matter how constant or diverse the occasion is in the Filipino psyche, one thing emerges true each time: That God, in His divine and everlasting wisdom, manifested His immeasurable and incomparable love to us all through the very human person of Jesus Christ,” Mr. Marcos said. Next page
Pope leads Palm Sunday mass one day after leaving hospital POPE Francis thanked those who prayed for him during his illness Sunday, after presiding over mass in St Peter's Square, just a day after leaving hospital following a bout of bronchitis. "I thank you for your participation and also for your prayers, which intensified during these past days. Thank you!" he said. The 86-yearold's admittance to hospital on
Wednesday with breathing difficulties sparked concerns he may not be well enough to attend a series of rites in the most important week in the Christian calendar. But Francis had promised to be present, and he waved briefly to some 30,000 people as he rode in his popepope mobile through the square, which was adorned with over 35,000 plants and flowers. Next page
ANGELIC VOICES. Pupils of St. Joseph College in Las Pinas City—aptly called the angels—sing before the passing entourage of the parish priest commemorating the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Joseph Muego
PCG: Sealing of leaks in sunken tanker begins off leaks from the sunken MT Princess Empress, which was about 400 meters THE Philippine Coast Guard and Japa- beneath the surface. “The specialized bags from the United nese experts began using an underwater Mind robot to install specialized bags to seal Kingdom have arrived at Oriental Mind-
By Charles Dantes
SC clarifies when rape is committed in landmark ruling By Rey E. Requejo
REBOUNDING POPE. This photo taken and issued as a handout on April 2, 2023 by the Vatican Media shows a girl handing an olive branch to Pope Francis during the Palm Sunday mass on April 2, 2023 at St. Peter's square in The Vatican. AFP / Vatican Handout
IN A landmark decision, the Supreme Court has used straightforward language to determine when the crime of rape through penile penetration is considered consummated. “The safety and dignity of all persons are worth the disconcerting conversation that must be had, if (the Court) is to dispense with honest justice,” the SC said. The High Court also affirmed the Next page
BRAVING THE HEAT. The sweltering
heat did not stop fans from getting a glimpse of the stars of the firstever Summer Metro Manila Film Festival during the Parade of Stars held in Quezon City Sunday. The cast of Apag—one of the eight official entries—wave at the cheering crowd atop their decorated float. The family drama, helmed by internationally acclaimed director Brillante Mendoza, has a star-studded cast that include Coco Martin, Jacklyn Jose and Lito Lapid. Text by Patricia Taculao/Photo by Manny Palmero
oro to temporarily seal the leaking areas of the MT Princess Empress,” Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito Dolor said in Filipino on his Facebook post. Next page