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REDS IN WESTERN VISAYAS NOW IN SHAMBLES—AFP
PBBM LAUDS PINOY MUSIC ON VIDEO LOG
NEWS / A6
NEWS / A2 VOL. XXXVII • NO. 67 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • MONDAY, APRIL 24, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
KONSYERTO SA PALASYO. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Vice President Sara Duterte Carpio, and other government officials appreciate the artists performing in the first ‘Konsyerto sa Palasyo’ featuring the country’s best and upcoming artists (inset photos) on Saturday night at the Malacañan Palace Grounds. Dubbed 'Awit ng Magiting,’ the occasion honored the Armed Forces for its sacrifices in maintaining the nation’s sovereignty, peace and security (see story on A2). Alfred Frias
AFP: PH could expand EDCA
Pact with US could cover more military bases for ‘360-degree protection’
T
HE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Sunday that the country’s Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States could be further expanded to cover more military bases to improve the country’s defenses.
In an interview on radio dzBB, AFP US funding and which would be accesspokesperson Col. Medel Aguilarsaid sible to American troops and equipment, more EDCA sites, to be built up with would provide the Philippine military
with the capability to provide “360-degree protection.” The government recently announced four new EDCA sites: Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Lallo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan;Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the four additional EDCA sites would not be used for offensive actions.
The five existing EDCA locations are Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija,Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu, and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayande Oro City. The Senate committee on foreign relations, however, questioned thelocation of the EDCA sites, particularly two that were near Taiwan, which is a bone of contention between China and the
United States. Over the weekend, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said it has been briefed on the operations and other specifications of the American-made MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile system. In a statement over the weekend, PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. ConsueloCastillo said it was made possible during the air and missile defense subject Next page
DOH clarifies COVID Alert Lv. 2 in 26 areas By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Department of Health on Sunday clarified the 26 provinces and cities under COVID-19 Alert Level 2 were not escalated from Alert Level 1. Instead, the DOH noted these areas have maintained their Alert Level 2 status since June 2022. Furthermore, the Health department stressed that no province or city has been escalated to Alert Level 2 from
Alert Level 1 since January 2023. While the Alert Level 2 areas have reached low risk classifications for cases and utilization rates, the DOH said these have vaccination rates lower than 70 percent of the target total and population and/or 70% of the total A2 population (senior citizens). "Meeting these targets will allow these areas to be de-escalated to Alert Level 1," the DOH said. It pointed out that the Alert Level
System (ALS) continues to provide guidance for every Filipino, so that each may equip themselves with better layers of protection against COVID-19. The DOH continues to encourage those that are still unvaccinated, unboosted, or under-boosted to get the vaccines as soon as possible while it is still free of charge, especially for senior citizens. The Health department assured it is Next page
Filipinos among Napolcom gives Palace shortlist for next 150+ evacuated PNP chief as General Azurin retires today from Sudan war
BALIKATAN ON SKY AND SEA. Pilots of the Philippine Air Force 15th Strike Wing's A-29B Super Tucano and the 17th Special Operation Squadron's AC-130J of the US Air Force pose after a live gunnery exercise at Colonel Ernesto Ravina Air Base in Capas, Tarlac. Meanwhile, the AFP Western Command carries out training in Visit, Board, Search and Seizure during Balikatan 2023, which ends this week. AFP Photos
MORE than 150 people, including foreign diplomats and officials, rescued from battle-scarred Sudan arrived Saturday in Jeddah, the Saudi foreign ministry said, in the first announced evacuation of civilians since fighting began. At home, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the government was working out plans to safely bring out trapped Filipinos from strife-torn Sudan. In a statement, Mr. Marcos said the
THE National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) has submitted to Malacañang a shortlist of candidates to succeed Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. as the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the outgoing chief said Sunday. Azurin, who is set to retire on Monday, said he was not aware who his possible successors were, adding he was only seeing some names from news reports.
“I think the NAPOLCOM has submitted the shortlist but I’m not aware who are the candidates,” he said. "While I am excited for what the future holds, I cannot help but feel a sense of nostalgia and gratitude for the past 34 years I have dedicated to this noble profession,” Azurin told reporters after the Philippine Military Academy honored Next page
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Solons to plead LTO extends 200cc bike listup to 3 years with President to By Darwin G. Amojelar aid Occ. Mindoro THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) has said the registration of all brandnew motorcycles, even those with engine displacement below 200cc, will now have a validity of three years in order to speed up public transactions with the agency. Per Memorandum Circular JMT2023-2395 issued by LTO Chief Jay Art Tugade, the initial registration of brandnew motorcycles even those with an engine displacement of 200cc and below
shall be valid for three years. Under existing provisions of Republic Act 4136 (Land Traffic Code) and Republic Act 11032 (Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018), only motorcycles with an engine displacement of 201cc and above are entitled to a threeyear validity of initial registration. Tugade said the new LTO memorandum circular is among the new measures designed to speed up processes and ease the public's transactions with Next page the agency.
By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja SENATOR Raffy Tulfo said Sunday he would seek an audience with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to discuss ways that the Senate can help ease the energy crisis in Occidental Mindoro, which has been suffering 20-hour outages for more than a month now. Next page
MAP EXHIBIT. Former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio (right), former Education Secretary Jesli Lapus and NOW Corp. Chairman Mel Velarde (first and second from left) flank the Murillo-Velarde 1734 Map—the oldest known map of the Philippines in history—as 'Scarborough Shoal and the Spratlys in Ancient Maps: An Exhibition,' opened on Friday at the Alliance Française de Manille in Makati City. Diana Noche