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Medalla highest paid in gov’t in ‘22
VOL. XXXVII • NO. 170 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
FORMER Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Felipe Medalla was the highest-paid government official in 2022, dethroning Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, who held the title in 2020 and 2021. According to a Commission on Audit report on government salaries published Wednesday, Medalla received an income of ₱34.17 million in 2022.
In 2021, when he was still a member of the BSP Monetary Board, Medalla ranked third with ₱21.83 million, right behind fellow central bank board member Victor Tolentino, who made ₱23.29 million. Medalla saw a pay raise of about ₱12.34 million from 2021 to 2022. Meanwhile, Diokno had an income of ₱28.78 million last year, putting him in Next page
‘Look kindly’ on PH, China told As US solon bares ‘Pacific Deterrence Initiative’ amid WPS issues
By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rey E. Requejo
F
ORMER President Rodrigo Duterte told Chinese President Xi Jinping “to look kindly on the Philippines” on the issue of the West Philippine Sea when they met last month, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Thursday, quoting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. President Marcos met with Duterte on Wednesday night to discuss his predecessor’s meeting with the Chinese leader, the Presidential Communications Office confirmed Thursday. While the Palace said the two leaders talked about the meeting, it provided no details of what was said. Duterte did not say what Xi’s response was, as Mr. Marcos had a “casual dinner” with senators after meeting with his predecessor, Zubiri said. Speaking to CNN Philippines, Zubiri said Mr. Marcos told them that Duterte had asked Xi “to look kindly on the Philippines” Meanwhile, a visiting United States senator said the Philippines is expected to benefit from the $9 billion in initiatives that will be launched by the United States in response to China’s continued aggression in the region. Unlike Duterte who spurned the Americans in favor of better relations with Beijing, Mr. Marcos has forged closer defense ties with the US—a stance that the former president has spoken out against. Upon his arrival at the Palace at 6:15 p.m., Duterte had a one-on-one meeting with the President, before Cabinet Next page
WELCOME BACK, CHIEF. In this screen grab of a video from the Palace, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (right) introduces former President Rodrigo Duterte to members of the current Cabinet -- Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, and Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo (from left) -- before the two leaders discuss Duterte’s recent visit to China and its President Xi Jinping.
Tulfo blasts unfinished NIA work despite billions in anti-flood funds By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Darwin G. Amojelar
ty (NIA) for unfinished projects despite the P121 billion allocated to them by Congress in the last six years, as lawSENATOR Raffy Tulfo on Thursday makers continued to grill government blasted the National Irrigation Authori- agencies on the reasons for widespread
flooding following storms. lion, and 2022 - P22 billion. Tulfo said the following budget alSenators earlier this week sought location given to NIA were as follows: hearings and planned to summon offi2017 - P15 billion, 2018-2019 - P20 bil- cials of the Department of Public Works lion, 2020 - P25 billion, 2021 - P19 bilNext page
Storms, ‘habagat’ create big rainfall hike in NCR, 10 provinces over July By Gabriellea B. Pariño and Rio N. Araja
Administration (PAGASA) said rainfall in the National Capital Region (NCR) increased from 295.6 mm in June to THE state weather bureau has reported an 328.4 mm in July. “We can attribute the increase in increase in rainfall for the month of June rainfall to the passage of (typhoons) to July, especially in Metro Manila. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geo- Egay and Falcon as well as the arrival physical and Astronomical Services Next page
DBM: P3.5b in transport, agri fuel subsidies retained in 2024 budget RESILIENCE MONTH HONOREES. The 35th National Disaster Resilience Month recently awarded the Dangal Bantayog ng
Katatagan Champions (starting from third from left): Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum, Jr., Center for Disaster Preparedness President Zenaida Delica-Willison, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, and SM Prime Holdings Inc. Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans Sy (also inset). They are joined by (from left) Office of Civil Defense Assistant Secretary Raffy Alejandro IV, OCD Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, Defense Senior Undersecretary Irineo Espino, and DND Assistant Secretary Joselito Ramos at the Philippine International Convention Center.
THE Department of Budget and Management said on Thursday it has retained P3.5 billion in allocations for fuel subsidies for the public transport and agriculture sectors in next year’s national budget.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the proposed 2024 budget still has the P2.5 billion for fuel subsidies for public utility vehicle (PUV) operators and drivers under the DepartNext page
Survey: 12.5m households suffer Speaker, House praise Filipinas’ World Cup stint involuntary hunger in last 3 mos. COACH STAJCIC: By Maricel V. Cruz
By Vito Barcelo ABOUT 10.4% of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger and not having anything to eat at least once in the past three months, according to the latest Social Weather Survey (SWS). The figure represents around 12.5 million households who considered themselves poor during the second quarter of 2023, while 5.2 million families rated themselves as not poor. The hunger rating was up from 9.8% obtained in a survey in March,
but down from 11.8% in December 2022, the survey showed. The SWS said the latest hunger rate was the sum of 8.3% of respondents who said they experienced moderate hunger and 2.1% who experienced severe hunger. Moderate hunger refers to those who experienced hunger only once or a few times in the last three months, while severe hunger refers to those who experienced it often or always. The SWS also said the hunger rate rose sharply among non-poor families Next page
FROM PH TEAM TO (PERTH) GLORY SPORTS / C2
SPEAKER Martin Romualdez led other leaders of the House of Representatives in congratulating the 23 members of the Philippine Women’s National Football Team for representing the country in the World Cup and winning its July 25 match with New Zealand. The House officials said the “historic victory elevates the ranking of the Philippines and increased its Next page
SEE YA, COACH. Philippines head coach Alen Stajcic speaks during a press conference at Eden Park in Auckland ahead of the Filipinas’ 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup football match against Norway. AFP