Do not meddle: China says SCS ’not hunting ground’ for outsiders CHINA has rejected what it described as "meddling" by outsiders in the South China Sea, saying it is "not a hunting ground" for forces outside of the region. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning made the statement when asked to comment on the new defense
guidelines betwee the Philippines and the US which includes how Washington will defend Manila if it came under attack in the SCS and areas within the Indo-Pacific region. The official said concerted efforts of Next page
VOL. XXXVII • NO. 78 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
PH seeks duty-free rights in US
PBBM urges renewal of country's inclusion in ‘preferential‘ trade program By Vince Lopez and Maricel V. Cruz
W
ASHINGTON D.C.—PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday (Thursday, Manila time) called for the renewal of the Philippines’ participation in the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) trade program, which allowed the duty-free entry of several Philippine products into the United States.
The country’s eligibility for the US GSP program expired on Dec. 31, 2020. “We would like to request reauthorization… to boost trade and to make US products that are made in the Philippines more competitive," Mr. Marcos said in a speech at a forum organized by the US-ASEAN BusinessCouncil and at a US Chamber of Commerce roundtable and reception at the Blair House in Washington DC. The prog r a m , he said, w o u l d increase Next page
AT AMERICA'S MOST HALLOWED GROUND. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on the last day of the official visit in the US.
‘Golden Orb’ plan to secure King Charles' coronation LONDON—Thousands of police offi officers, snipers, and cameras will be used this weekend to ensure King Charles III's coronation passes off without inci incident. London's Metropolitan police are spearheading a major security operation
—dubbed "Golden Orb"—which will see officers redeployed from around the country to the capital. The "multi-layered" plan will also feature officers from specialized units including dogs, firearms, and marine support. Police will also use facial rec-
ognition technology. With world leaders and heads of state descending on London, as well as hundreds of thousands of expected visitors, the Met said the security operation would be "one of the most significant and largest" it had ever led.
Among those leaders is President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who left the United States on Thursday (Friday, Manila time) with the First Family to attend the crowning of Britain’s 13th monarch since the political union of the kingdoms Next page of England and Scotland.
BuCor: Face mask, antigen test for visitors as COVID cases hike By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz Britain's King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort
As COVID-19 is spreading anew, individuals visiting the offices of the Bureau of Corrections and the New Bilibid Prison are required to wear face masks and present negative rap rapid antigen test results.
This comes amid the increase of COVID cases at the NBP and Correctional Institution for Women. With the shift in testing protocols to focus more on symptomatic individuals, the Department of Health is bracing for a continuing rise in the COVID-19 positivity rate. Next page
PBBM: Whole-of-gov’t fight vs. crimes Airlines adjust sched for May 17 By Vince Lopez airspace shutdown PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed a memorandum circular directing all government agencies and encouraging local government units to support the 2023 National Crime Prevention Program (NCPP).
By Joel E. Zurbano and Maricel V. Cruz AIRLINES have adjusted their flight schedules to give way for the maintenance activities on the country’s Air Traffic Management System on May 17 to avoid a repeat of the infamous New Year’s Day shutdown. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) already completed its initial “corrective maintenance activity” on Wednesday (May 3) and said it “went smoothly.” “The maintenance work on the Automatic Voltage Regulator was completed at around 0327H without disruption,” said CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio. The repair work on May 3 included the removal of panel covers, replacement, testing and calibration, cleaning Next page
The President said the directive is in line with the adoption of a “whole-ofgovernment” approach in addressing criminality, and ensuring peace and security in the country. The 2023 NCPP puts into practice the strategies for ensuring peace and security Next page
PINOY COMFORT FOOD. Speaker
Martin Romualdez (center), gets his order of 'lumpiang shanghai' from TresM food truck owner, Chef Jeffrey Domigpe, at the Philippine Embassy grounds in Washington D.C. Wednesday afternoon (Thursday, Manila time). With him are Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales, Jr. (left) and Navotas City Rep. Tobias Tiangco. Ver Noveno
HIGH-LEVEL MEETINGS. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets with members of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee led by Sen. Robert Menendez (3rd from right) to discuss various issues such as agriculture, defense, security, cyber security, climate change, and economic development.
P1k polymer bags ‘Banknote of the Year’ THE 1,000-Piso polymer banknote of the Scotland. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has won the In announcing the award, the IBNS International Banknote Society’s (IBNS) said: “The Philippines’ successful design “Banknote of the Year Award” for 2022. in eye-pleasing blue combines an endanThe polymer thousand-peso bill is gered species with an environmental the first motif.” Philippine IBNS is a banknote global nonto win the profit orgaaward. It nization that won over recognizes banknote exceptional finalists banknotes from Algeissued each ria, Barbayear on the dos, Egypt, ‘EYE-PLEASING.’ The new P1,000 polymer basis of arN o r t h e r n banknote that features the Philippine Eagle, one of the tistic merits, Next page Ireland, and rarest and most powerful birds of prey in the world. BSP