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IN MET R MANILAO
VOL. XXXVII • NO. 165 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES JULY 30, 2023
DESTINY CALLS FOR FILIPINAS
NORWAY STANDS IN WAY OF PINAYS’ HOPES TO ADVANCE IN WORLD CUP By Erel Cabatbat
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HE Philippine National Women’s Football Team guns for an outright spot in the knockout stage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 and another stab at history when it faces heavily-favored Norway at 3 pm today (Manila time), at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.
FOCUSED ON THE JOB. Philippines head coach Alen Stajcic (left) and forward Sarina Bolden discuss the Filipinas’ chances against favored Norway in their FIFA Women’s World Cup match Sunday in Auckland, New Zealand. A victory or a draw by the Pinays could move them past the group stage into the knockout rounds. The Filipinas, currently third in Group A with 3 points behind unbeaten Switzerland and co-hosts New Zealand on goal difference, will advance to the round of 16 without any complications if they beat The Gressshoppene in the crucial encounter. A draw might even be enough for the Philippines to advance to the knockout rounds, as long as Switzerland beats host New Zealand in the other important fixture in Group A. Despite the importance of the game against Norway and the odds they are facing, Filipinas’head coach Alen Stajcic remains focused on the job at hand. “It’s going to be a big challenge. It’s unbelievable to think that we’re in this position. Any neutral person around the world would have not put any money on us to be in this position. To be ahead of Norway on the league table after two matches was almost unheard of from any neutral pundit,” Stajcic said. With only a point to show in two games, Norway is expected to go all out against an inspired Philippine side coming off an upset 1-0 win against the host Football Ferns in their last game. For this, Stacjic is wary of how dangerous an opponent Norway is, especially looking at its successes in the sport as former World Cup champions, Olympic gold medalists, and even having a winner of the Bal-
lon d’Or (Golden Ball, the top individual award of the International Football Federation or FIFA) in its lineup. “I have a lot of respect for them, they’ve got players playing at the highest level. We know that the challenge is immense and huge, but the World Cup has already produced so many upsets. So why can’t there be another one?” Stajcic added. Several factors might lessen the odds against the Filipinas. First, Norway has underperformed so far in the tournament, losing to New Zealand, 1-0 in its first game while drawing their match against Switzerland, 0-0. Second, Norway’s leading scorer Ada Hegerberg will be out of the match after suffering a groin injury. Hegerberg has scored 42 goals so far for the team. Third, Caroline Grahan Hansen, Barcelona FC teammate Ingrid Syrstad Engen, and Julie Blakstad of Manchester City were dropped from the starting unit. Reports say Hansen took the issue with Coach Hege Riise, raising the possibility that the Barcelona forward might be left out of the lineup against the Philippines. This development may also impact the morale of a team with its back already against the wall. For Stajcic, however, these concerns may even produce positives for their opponents.
PBBM: POWER, RICE NEEDS OF NORTH COME FIRST AFTER ‘EGAY’
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By Charles Dantes PRIORITIZE power restoration and ensure rice supply for families affected by Typhoon “Egay,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered officials on Saturday as he visited Northern Luzon, where at least four provinces and five areas declared states of calamity. “Again, rice, for me, is the most important,” the President said during a situational briefing with government officials in Abra before flying to Tuguegarao City to check Cagayan Province as well and distribute financial assistance. He said that the government needs to find other rice suppliers to help National Food Authority in producing rice. In a post-typhoon situation briefing in Ilocos Norte with the President, officials said total Region 1 infrastructure damage due to Egay was estimated at P2.8 billion. On Friday, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said the storm has caused an estimated P2.66 billion worth of damage to road infrastructure nationwide. Agricultural damage in Ilocos Norte alone was estimated at P361 million. “I’m looking at the report of the DOE (Department of Energy). So, what do we do? Of course, we are only at 2.5, 3 percent in terms of our electrification,” he said. Based on the DOE report, Ilocos Sur is at 37 percent while Cagayan is at 42 percent. Abra (Banged only),
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PBBM IN CAGAYAN. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads a situation meeting in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan on Saturday. Mr. Marcos turned over P15 million worth of assistance to the provincial government, and P3 million each to the local governmentunits of Sanchez Mira, Aparri, Sta. Ana, Abulug, Cagayan and Sta. Teresita. Prior to Cagayan, the President was in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, and Bangued, Abra. Alfred Frias Pangasinan, and Isabela are nearing 100 percent power restoration, it added. Mr. Marcos thus ordered the swift power recovery in both Ilocos provinces and the Cordillera Administrative Region. The Chief Executive added that the government is also monitoring the prices of vegetables as farms were
also affected by Egay. Asked if the government will resort to importation, Mr. Marcos said he is thinking of bringing in rice from other countries. He shared his worries about the possible repercussion of the El Niño phenomenon and the agricultural damage the country received from Egay.
“Everybody is preparing for El Niño, that’s why I’m worried that the high prices of rice might remain even if we start importing,” said Mr. Marcos. “We will not import any agriculture (product) unless we see that the supply is so low that the prices will be out of reach for the ordinary consumer,” the President added.
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UP TO 11 STORMS TO HIT PH BEFORE YEAREND—PAGASA AT LEAST eight more tropical cyclones are likely to hit the country this year, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said on Saturday. “We expect about eight to 11 more typhoons to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this year,” PAGASA deputy administrator for Administration and Engineering Services, Dr. Nathaniel Servando, said during a weekly media forum in Quezon City. The strongest typhoons are expected in September and October, Servando said. Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals are also unlikely due to Tropical Storm Falcon, which entered the PAR yes-
terday, as the weather disturbance is not expected to make landfall over the country. Servando said Falcon, unlike Egay, which was a super typhoon, will only reach typhoon level in terms of intensity. Meanwhile, the Department of Energy is focusing on 12 remaining electric cooperatives affected by Egay whose power supply has yet to be restored. “N ine regions covering 38 provinces were affected [by the typhoon] but what is good is 50 out of the 62 cooperatives are in normal operations,” DOE Undersecretar y Felix William Fuentebella said in a briefing on Saturday. Alena Mae Flores
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SMILING WHILE WORKING. Joint forces of the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine National Police assist in the evacuation of residents from various barangays of Batac City, Ilocos Norte. BFP Ilocos Norte
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