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NCR scorches with 37ºC, highest heat index in 50 yrs the other hand, continued to drop, with the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) warning that allocation for MANILA regdomestic use istered its hotin Metro Matest day of nila will be the month on reduced to 48 Wednesday as the heat index in the cubic meters per second (CMS) if Port Area hit 37 degrees Celsius, the 180 meters minimum operating the state weather bureau said. level is breached. Water level at Angat Dam, on Next page
By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta
WEATHER
VOL. XXXVII • NO. 142• 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
PBBM: Strengthen fight vs. dirty money Orders implementation of new strategy vs. terrorist financing, money-laundering By Charles Dantes
RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday tasked all government offices and departments to carry out a new strategy to contain money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation financing as part of efforts to ensure that the country exits the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.
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The grey list consists of countries that are actively working with the FATF to address the strategic deficiencies in their regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing.
Mr. Marcos, through Executive Order No. 33, directed all government agencies and local government units to adopt the National Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorism Financing, and Counter Proliferation Financing
Strategy (NACS) 2023-2027. “This is part of the government's efforts to move the Philippines out of the grey list of the FATF’s ‘Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring’ of countries that failed to show tangible and positive progress in addressing all key recommended actions in the Third Mutual Evaluation Report (MER),” the EO said. The EO said the strategy will ensure that the country exits the FATF grey list. Additionally, it will also allow the Philippines to address the International Cooperation Review Group. "Given the expiration of the NACS Next page
PCG: China less aggressive now in WPS By Vince Lopez and Rey E. Requejo
SWELTERING HEAT. People shield themselves from the sun as they visit the Dolomite Beach in Manila. The National Capital Region logged its highest heat index with 37°C on Wednesday, the state weather bureau said. AFP
THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Thursday it has seen some improvement in China's behavior in parts of the West Philippine Sea after its coast guard were exposed as harassing Philippine ships inside the country’s exclusive economic zone.
PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said exposing China's incursions in Philippine waters helped in changing China's behavior towards Philippine ships in the area. "In some features of the West Philippine Sea, we can already see some of the changes of behavior of the Chinese Coast Guard. Before they were aggressive all over the West Philippine Sea," Tarriela said in an interview with ANC.
But the PCG also noted that the Chinese Coast Guard is particularly aggressive in the Ayungin Shoal, which China calls "Ren’ai Reef." "What is happening in Ayungin Shoal is different from the entire operation of the Chinese Coast Guard and our deployment of the Philippine Coast Guard vessels in the entire West Philippine Sea," Tarriela said.
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Solomonic slogan? Wow, It's more Fun! Love, the Philippines! Speaker vows By Macon Ramos-Araneta
TOUR BUS. The Department of Tourism launches its 'hop-on hop-off' bus tour at the Kartilya ng Katipunan in Manila on Thursday, July 6, 2023. Norman Cruz
After heart bypass surgery, Remulla ‘back in harness’ By Rey E. Requejo JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla is “back in harness,” disclosing that he underwent a seven-hour heart bypass surgery last June 27 to remove a blockage that was discovered during his annual medical check-up last month. “I’m back,” Remulla said in a press conference on Wednesday. Remulla gave assurance that he is now “feeling better and ready to return” to his duties as Justice Secretary on Monday. “I’m okay. So far, so good. My voice is very clear, my mind is very clear,” ReNext page mulla declared.
LITTLE STARS.
SM brings back its nationwide talent competition happening in 70 SM malls across the country, with preliminary screening set to begin on July 15. The launch of the SM Little Stars was attended by Project Lead Carinna Sy (5th from right) with (from left) 2017 Grand Girl Winner Gaea Salipot, 2013 Boy Grand Winner Nhikzy Calma, 2013 3rd Place Winner Esang De Torres, judge Sam Concepcion, judge Teacher Georcelle, SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, SM Supermalls Senior Vice President for Marketing Joaquin San Agustin, Sparkle GMA Artist Center Vice President Joy Marcelo, and National University Assistant Director of Admissions Alessa Shainne Hostalero.
WHEN one tourism slogan is not enough to please everyone, try combining three instead. This was the suggestion of Sen. Lito Lapid, saying mixing two previous slogans will boost the message of the present “Love the Philippines” tagline of the Department of Tourism. “For me, we must mix the three slogans to produce a stronger tourism campaign to attract more foreign and local tourists – 'Wow, It's more Fun! Love, the Philippines!'” the senator said. “Wow Philippines” was used during the term of former Tourism chief Richard Gordon while “It's More Fun in the Philippines” was the slogan coined during the time of the late Sec. Ramon Jimenez. Lapid said the fiasco on the “mood video” created by the DDB Philippines ad agency “should not take away the months of hard work by the DOT.” The DOT is terminating its contract with DDB Philippines after the promotional
to bolster law vs. agri smuggling By Maricel V. Cruz, Rey E. Requejo and Vito Barcelo SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Thursday said the House of Representatives will speed up the passage of a key measure of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. meant to tighten the noose around smugglers of onions and other agricultural products. “As soon as the start of the 2nd Regular Session of the 19th Congress, we will immediately buckle down to work for the passage of the proposed amendments to t h e Anti-Agricultural Next page
Next page Emmanuel Rufino Ledesma
Ledesma named PhilHealth chief PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Emmanuel Rufino Ledesma Jr. as president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). Ledesma, who was named acting PhilHealth chief in November, will also serve as a member of the agency's expert panel and board of directors. He was formerly president and CEO of the state-run Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM). `The President also designated Col. Jose Luntok as commander of the Light Next page