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(Story on A4)
DEPED: ‘MATATAG’ K TO 10 CURRICULUM CUTS LEARNING AREAS FROM 7 TO 5
VOL. XXXVII • NO. 177• 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
THE Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday launched the adjusted K to 10 school curriculum dubbed the “Matatag Curriculum” after two years of thorough review. Department of Education Secretary and Vice President Sara Z. Duterte cited revisions in the new basic education curriculum, which include the reduction in the number of competencies, and more focus on the development of foundational skills such as literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills to
kindergarten to Grade 3 learners. With the new curriculum that will be taught to students from kinder to Grade 10, the DepEd seeks to address issues in the previous system. DepEd Director IV Jocelyn Andaya of the Bureau of Curriculum Development said that 70 percent of the learning competencies of the current K to 10 curriculum have been taken out. Under the adjusted K to 10 curriculum, learning areas are reduced by two Next page
‘Grounding ships an option’ PH mulls its own militia fleet as 400 foreign vessels spotted in WPS
Tulfo: Chinese working in bay, partying nightly
By Vince Lopez, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz
M
ILITARY officials on Thursday said they would leave it to “higher authorities” to consider the proposal by a former Defense chief to ground more ships in the disputed South China Sea islands amid reports that some 400 foreign vessels were sighted in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. The military is also looking to put up its maritime militia in the West Philippine Sea to strengthen its presence in the area, days afterthe Chinese coast guard used water cannons on a resupply mission to the Ayungin Shoal, with Chinese navy ships and maritime militia attempting a blockade. AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner answered in the affirmative if putting up a militia fleet was part of the country's plans, with China and Vietnam having their own.
On Thursday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command (WESCOM) said 85 percent of the foreign vessels spotted in the West Philippine Sea were Chinese. The suggestion to ground more ship came from former Defense secretary Orly Mercado, who served in the Cabinet of President Joseph Estrada. Mercado agreed with current officials that Manila never promised toremove the BRP Sierra Madre 20 years Next page
By Maricel V. Cruz and Vince Lopez
PRESSCON IN PALAWAN. Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (right) joins AFP Western Command leader Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos in a press conference at the Wescom headquarters in Puerto Princesa, Palawan on Thursday. AFP Photo
HOUSE Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo raised the alarm on the real status of Chinese crew involved in reclamation projects in Manila Bay. Tulfo, in a television interview, said "almost 100" crew members of Chinese vessels were seen partying in Pasay bars at night. "How sure are we that they are just regular crew members having a good Next page
DENR says all 22 reclamation projects in Manila Bay suspended By Gabriellea Pariño, Vito Barcelo and Charles Dantes THE Department of Environment and Natural Resource said Thursday all 22 reclamation projects in Manila Bay are under review and are deemed suspended —even the one that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. mentioned was allowed to continue. "Actually, upon clarification with the President and you will see in the suspension, all are under review," DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said in a press briefing in Malacañang. Meanwhile, a lawmaker said the public interest must come first as the government reviews “a mountain of reclamation applications” for the Manila Bay area and Next page
MANILA BAY THEN AND NOW. In this aerial footage shown in
a television report on Friday, a portion of Manila Bay is a sea of gray, full of sand from some of the 22 reclamation projects ongoing in the area, which the government has suspended pending review. About 85 years ago, only the Manila Hotel was prominent in the bay in a 1938 photograph taken by Major George M. Tweedy. Now, militant groups are protesting the projects' probable cumulative and long-term impacts, even as they welcomed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s announcement halting all such work in the bay (inset photos). Manny Palmero
Speaker: House has 5 weeks to scrutinize 2024 budget By Maricel V. Cruz SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Thursday gave the House of Representatives five weeks to scrutinize and pass the proposed P5.768
trillion national budget, observing transparency and respect for the voice of the minority. In his message during the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) briefing, Romualdez reiter-
ated that the House will ensure every centavo of the proposed P5.768 trillion budget will be judiciously spent. The Speaker expressed confidence the House will be able to pass Next page
SC changes course, allows gov’t execs to submit corrected SALNs By Rey Requejo THE Supreme Court has ruled that public officials and employees are allowed to correct errors, omissions, and non-submissions of their Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth. In an en banc decision, the High Court resolved and set aside the dismissal due to dishonesty of a tax specialist from the Department of Finance who was accused of concealing mil-
lions worth of real properties, motor vehicles, business interests, and loans. Jessie Javier Carlos, whose gross annual salary at the DOF only ranged from P126,000 to P210,000 between 2000 and 2011, allegedly secured two houses and lots worth P4.1 million, farm lots worth P4 million, vehicles, loans, and credit card debts—purportedly beyond his government earnings and not declared in his SALNs. Next page
GDP growth drops sharply to 4.3% in Q2 By Julito G. Rada
BUDGET HEARING STARTS. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez delivers his opening remarks during the Development Budget Coordinating Committee meeting at the House of Representatives on Thursday, joined by (from left) Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Senior Deputy Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, House Majority Leader Manuel Jose "Mannix" Dalipe, and Appropriations Committee Vice Chairperson Stella Luz Quimbo. Ver Noveno
THE country's economic growth slowed sharply in the second quarter, official data showed Thursday, as high inflation, a drop in government spending, and interest rate hikes dampened activity. The figures released by the Philippine Statistics Agency showed that the gross domestic product expanded by 4.3 per-
cent from a year ago, compared with 6.4 percent in the first three months. Data showed this was the slowest GDP growth posted since the -3.8 percent in the first quarter of 2021. This brings the first-half average to 5.3 percent, lower than the target range of 6 to 7 percent. It was also below the median analyst Next page