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SC: BSKE resked unconstitutional, but polls must proceed in October VOL. XXXVII • NO. 133 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
THE Supreme Court (SC) has declared the law postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections from December 2022 to October 2023 unconstitutional -- but ordered the polls to push through this year.
The High Court, in a decision penned by Associate Justice Antonio Kho, Jr., declared unconstitutional RA 11935 but “recognizes the legal practicality and necessity of proceeding with Next page
PHAPI: More nurses needed
Private hospitals lack half of nursing staff too, exodus unchecked
By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz
T
HE Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI) on Tuesday said private hospitals in the country lack 50 percent of their nursing staff. In an interview over radio dzBB, PHAPI president Dr. Jose Rene de Grano said that even before, private hospitals lacked at least 40 percent of their nursing staff. “Perhaps, there was another 10 percent for the past two years,” he said. He also said it’s likely that half of what needed have already left, having resigned and opted for better-paying jobs elsewhere. He said the exodus of nurses will limit the service private hospitals can provide. For example Grano said, some wards in private hospitals had to be closed. He said a nurse in a private hospital usually can handle eight to 12 patients in wards. “Twelve is the maximum in what we call toxic wards,” he said. In ICU or special areas, he said, the ratio is 1:1 or 1:2. “We have the facilities, especially in private hospitals. Our only limitation, and this already happened during the pandemic, is our number of nurses,” he said. Even public hospitals are facing a shortage of nurses.
NEW TOURISM SLOGAN: LOVE THE PHILIPPINES
GOLDEN TOURISM EVENT. President Ferdinand
R. Marcos Jr. receives a plaque from Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco as the Department of Tourism celebrates 50 years since its founding with the theme: “Ginto: Greater Innovations, New Tourism Opportunities” at the Manila Hotel on Tuesday. Joey O. Razon
NEWS / A2
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Speaker: Gov’t to cut red tape, promote ease of biz Malaysia beats Sulu sultan’s heirs in Dutch court for $14.9-b award
By Maricel V. Cruz
THE Marcos administration is working to create a favorable environment for businesses to thrive, including a push for a digital economy, Speaker Martin Romualdez said during the 44th National Conference of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines on Tuesday. Romualdez said Congress joined hands with the administration to cut red tape and promote ease of doing business, among others. “Recognizing the advent of the digital economy, we’ve championed the Digital Philippines program. This is a dual effort to enhance our digital infrastructure and arm our workforce with the necessary digital skills, creating an avenue for more job opportunities in the tech sector,” he said. “Moreover, we are committed to ensuring that our economic growth is inclusive and sustainable. We are prioritizing sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, and services, which Next page
THE HAGUE, Netherlands—Malaysia on Tuesday won a Dutch court case over a $14.9 billion award against the Southeast Asian nation that stems from a 19th century deal with a Philippine sultan. The verdict is part of a complex legal battle being fought in European courts that is rooted in Malaysia’s colonial
past, with territorial claims and potentially billions of dollars worth of state assets at stake. Descendants of the Sultan of Sulu, who once ruled over the tropical islands that are part of the southern Philippines as well as Sabah in Malaysia, had taken Next page
Group: Albay kids missing school, distressed at Mayon evac centers By Rio N. Araja
BUSINESS AND JOBS. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez tells business leaders at the 44th National Conference of Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) Tuesday at the Manila Hotel that the government will press on with reforms to improve the business climate, attract more investments and create more jobs. Ver Noveno
THOUSANDS of children forced to leave their homes by erupting Mayon Volcano are missing out on school and showing signs of psychological distress in cramped and unsanitary evacuation centers, the Save the Children group
said Tuesday. The 28 temporary evacuation shelters, primarily located in schools, are congested and lack proper ventilation for women and small children, further exacerbating the challenges displaced families face, the group said. Next page
5.7m Pinoy Muslims mark Eid’l Adha Dry spell, drought to hit 38 provinces, says PAGASA today, festival highlights end of hajj By Honor Blanco Cabie
presidential proclamation. The Feast of Sacrifice, a regular holiNEARLY 5.7 million Muslims across day for Muslims, is the second and the this predominantly Christian country largest of the two main holidays celof 114 million will observe today Eid’l ebrated throughout the Muslim world Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) following a Next page
SOME 36 provinces may experience a dry spell while at least two provinces may suffer from drought by December as the country braces for the impact of a looming El Niño phenomenon, the state weather bureau said. PAGASA, however, said rice farm-
ers would still have enough rainfall for the July to September planting season. “There will be near to normal rain from July to September 2023,” the bureau said in a statement on Tuesday. PAGASA climate monitoring chief Ana Solis said the possibility of El
Niño is high. She said rainfall is expected to decrease in September and to drop further from October to December this year. “For December, 36 provinces will experience dry spell. Drought for two Next page