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President inks EO to start water office WITH the threat of a long dry season under an El Nino phenomenon coming, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday signed an executive order creating the Water Resources Management Office (WRMO) in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). This developed as the Metro Manila Development Authority tackled a proposal to monitor and regulate businesses
VOL. XXXVII • NO. 71 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
using a lot of water, such as swimming pools and resorts, and car washes. In a statement through the Presidential Communications Office, the WRMO is tasked to integrate and harmonize government efforts to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water resources in the country. Under Executive Order No. 22, the Next page
Near collision in West PH Sea Chinese Coast Guard ship cuts BRP Malapascua as it nears Ayungin Shoal
By Cecil Morella
A
CHINESE coast guard ship cut off a Philippine patrol vessel carrying journalists in the disputed South China Sea, causing a near-collision, an Agence France-Presse team on board another boat saw.
The near-miss off the Spratly Islands on Sunday was the latest in a steady string of incidents between China and the Philippines in the contested waterway. AFP was one of several media outlets invited to join two Philippine Coast Guard boats on a 1,670-kilometre (1,040mile) patrol of the South China Sea, visiting a dozen islands and reefs. The BRP Malapascua and BRP Malabrigo were shadowed by Chinese navy and coast guard ships and ordered to leave the waters several times during the six-day journey. "We would have collided on the bow had I not cut the engine and thrown it in reverse," Malapascua commanding officer Rodel Hernandez told reporters of Sunday's close call, describing it as an encounter between "David and Goliath". The incident happened after the Philippine coast guard boats approached Second Thomas Shoal, where Philippine marines are stationed in a run-down navy ship grounded to assert Manila's territorial claim in the waters. As the 44-meter (144-feet) Malapascua neared the shoal, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel more than twice its size sailed into its path. Next page
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NEAR COLLISION. This photo taken on April 23 shows the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Malapascua (left) maneuvering as a Chinese Coast Guard ship cuts its path at Second Thomas (Ayungin) Shoal in the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea. Inset shows Chinese Coast Guard personnel lowering a rigid hull inflatable boat from their ship to observe PCG personnel as they conduct a survey in the waters of Ayungin. AFP
Sudan buses jack up prices to P1.5m per evac trip Speaker: Marcos-Biden meet By Rey E. Requejo and Vince Lopez THE cost of renting a bus to evacuate people from war-torn Sudan and bring them to Egypt has gone up to as much as $30,000 or about P1.5 million, the De-
partment of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday. “We won't be tight-fisted, we will do everything--whatever it takes to get the bus," said Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega in a radio interview. Initially, it cost $8,000 to rent a bus, but the price has gone up because the cap-
ital Khartoum has become a war zone for two military factions struggling for power, said Department of Migrant Workers (DMA) Secretary Susan Ople. On Wednesday night, the Philippine government raised an Alert Level 3 status (voluntary repatriation and evacuation) for Filipinos in Sudan. Next page
Taiwan fire kills 3 Pinoys, hurts 5 others By Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz
to pay off in security, economy By Maricel V. Cruz SPEAKER Martin G. Romualdez on Thursday expressed optimism the forthcoming meeting between President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and US President Joe Biden will ultimately pay huge dividends for the Philippines, particularly in terms of security and the economy that will create more investment opportunities and jobs for Filipinos. The Speaker has waged a diplomatic blitz to help lay the groundwork for the visit of President Marcos by meeting with American lawmakers to discuss ways of further strengthening defense and security cooperation and economic
partnership between the Philippines and the United States. “The meeting between President Marcos and US President Biden will further reinforce the robust long-term bilateral relations between the Philippines and the United States and I am confident it would redound to huge dividends for our country in terms of security and increased economic cooperation, among others,” Romualdez said. The Speaker is still in the US, following up on his earlier interactions with his US counterpart, Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and other key American legislators and government officials, as he awaits the arrival of President Marcos. Next page
THREE Filipinos were killed while five others were hurt Tuesday in a fire that broke out in a food factory in Taiwan, the Manila Economic Cultural Office said Thursday. MECO chair Silvestre Bello III identified the fatalities as Renato Larua, 30, of Cavite; Nancy Revilla of Marinduque; and Aroma Miranda of Tarlac. Their Next page
RAILWAY PACT. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. witnesses the signing of the Contract Packages S-02 and S-03B for the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) on Thursday in Malacanang. This marks the third phase of the South Commuter Railway Project (SCRP) with a length of 14 kilometers that will cross Metro Manila and connect the northern and southern legs of the NSCR system. PCO/Vince Lopez
DepEd considers Mother Tongue, DENR: Oil spill damage hits P7 billion WPS in K-12 plan EARLY estimates put the environmental damage from the Oriental Mindoro oil spill at P7 billion, Environment Secretary Antonia Yulo Loyzaga said on Wednesday. In a TV interview, Loyzaga said the amount was based on the initial calculation by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of “what could be exposed by way of coral reefs, seagrasses, mangroves and fisheries.”
“The possible exposure area for us is P7 billion,” Loyzaga said, referring to the initial estimated cost of the environmental damage caused by the oil spill from MT Princess Empress, which sank off the waters of Oriental Mindoro two months ago. She said the DENR would need to “actually go underneath and verify” the data once it is safe to dive in waters affected by the oil spill. Next page
THE Department of Education is considering teaching Grade 10 students about the West Philippine Sea and the ruling that invalidated China's historical claims to the resource-rich waterway. Earlier this week, the DepEd also proposed the early teaching of English and the removal of the separate Mother Tongue subject in the primary level. Next page
FASTEST INTERNET. PLDT wins the Ookla Speedtest Awards’ Fastest Internet award five years in a row, as PLDT President and CEO Alfredo S. Panlilio receives the award from Ookla CTO Luke Deryckx at a special ceremony. PLDT is the undisputed fastest internet for five consecutive years based on Ookla Speedtest data from 2018 - 2022, which is a first, not only for PLDT but for the Philippines as well.