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LTFRB LOOKING FOR ‘MERIT’ IN P2 PUV FARE HIKE
‘FIRE SURVIVORS IN MAUI WON’T GO HOME TO PH’
NEWS / A2
NEWS / A2 VOL. XXXVII • NO. 181 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Solons: No Ayungin deal ever
Estrada brothers back Erap vs. China claims; PCG wary of ‘informers’ By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Vince Lopez
PBBM, VP Sara vow raises for teachers’ pay
T
WO senators on Monday defended their father, former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, from claims that he made a deal with the Chinese government to remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal. “During my phone conversation today with former Senator Orly Mercado, who held the position of Defense Secretary during my father’s tenure, he confirmed that there was ‘no agreement or promise’ whatsoever made to the Chinese government,” Senator Jinggoy Estrada said in a statement Monday. In a previous interview with CNN Philippines, Chinese diplomatic sources claimed Manila promised Beijing that it would tow away the outpost. “Any assertion of such a commitment contradicts the rationale behind the gov-
ernment’s decision at that time to station BRP Sierra Madre at the shoal. This move was primarily undertaken to assert our country’s claim and establish a presence in the area,” Estrada continued. Beijing asked Manila to tow away the “illegally grounded” ship after the Chinese Coast Guard fired a water cannon at Filipino vessels on a resupply mission to the outpost last Aug. 5. In response, President Marcos said that the ship would stay and
By Charles Dantes, Macon Ramos-Araneta, and Joel E. Zubano PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday vowed to fulfill salhis campaign promise of a sal ary increase for teachers as he or ordered the Department of Education (DepEd) to look for ways to do it. Next page
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PRESIDENT-PAINTER. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. repaints chairs in a classroom during his visit to Victorino Mapa High School in San Miguel, Manila on Monday as part of the annual Brigada Eskwela that prepares schools for the opening of classes on Aug. 29. Joining the President is Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte. Rolando Mailo
RICE INSPECTION. House Speaker Martin Romualdez and ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Erwin
Tulfo visit Commonwealth Market in Quezon City on Monday to inspect the retail prices of rice following the Department of Agriculture’s discussions with Vietnam and India to ensure an adequate supply of rice for Filipinos at affordable prices. (See story on A2) Manny Palmero
Chinese envoy repeats WPS feelers; Offer ‘obfuscatory’, says Villafuerte By Rey E. Requejo, Maricel V. Cruz and Vince Lopez THE Chinese Embassy on Monday again urged the Philippines to meet China halfway over the maritime dispute through diplomatic dialogues but insisted that the country tow away the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal, which is well within the Philip-
pines’ exclusive economic zone. Chinese Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Zhou Zhiyong made the statement more than a week after the Chinese Coast Guard used water cannons against Philippine vessels trying to resupply Filipino soldiers on Ayungin Shoal. In a forum, Zhou insisted that Ayungin Shoal, which he called Ren’ai Reef, is part Next page
Taguig rejects Makati proposal to provide gear for 30k students By Joel Zurbano
Binay
Abalos
Cayetano
MAKATI City officials have proposed to the local government of Taguig to allow them to continue providing free uniforms, shoes, supplies, and other school needs to some 30,000 public school stu-
Wages of private, public sector workers heading in opposite directions Retailers nix P150 legislated wage hike By Othel Campos AT LEAST 200,000 workers in the retail sector may lose their jobs if lawmakers push through with their proposed P150 across-the-board legislated daily wage hike, the country’s biggest group of retailers warned Monday. Opposing the legislated wage hike, the Philippine Retailers Association said the proposed measure will result in an increase in the unemployment rate and the possible shutdown of micro and small businesses. “Our concern with the wage hike is that it will bring up labor prob-
lems. We’re not talking here of labor unrest, but more of businesses retiring or laying off workers to squeeze the wage hike into the companies’ operating budget,” said PRA president Roberto Claudio. “The legislated wage hike must be synchronized with our inf lation and ability to generate investments,” he added. He said the PRA is convinced that many of its members are bound to streamline their workforce to accommodate the possibility of increasing the daily minimum wage by at least Next page
DBM: P48m ready for gov’t specialists By Julito Rada THE Department of Budget and Management is eyeing to increase the salary structures, allowances, and other benefits of state workers. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said P48 million has been allocated from the approved Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) budget this year to engage specialist services for a comprehensive review of the compensation and position classification system for the government sector. “When it comes to implementing another round of increases, President
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed us to conduct a study to ensure that the compensation of our civilian government personnel becomes generally competitive to those working in the private sector,” she said. “This is to encourage our kababayan (countrymen) to enter the government, and to motivate our existing employees to stay in government and perform well,” the Budget chief added. A parallel review of the various benefits received across different ranks of the civil service spectrum is also being performed by the DBM to determine if Next page
dents in the 10 barangays covered by a Supreme Court decision on the boundary dispute between the two cities. However, Taguig has rejected this offer, according to Makati City Administrator Claro Certeza. Next page