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NEWS / A2
NEWS / A2 VOL. XXXVII • NO. 207• 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
PH resupplies Ayungin anew But condemns ‘illegal’ acts of China ships that interfered with operation By Vince Lopez, Charles Dantes and Rey E. Requejo
T
HE Philippines successfully resupplied its Marine contingent on the BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea Friday but condemned “illegal” actions by Chinese vessels that interfered with the operation.
Gibo defends funding for EDCA bases, stronger US ties By Vince Lopez and Maricel V. Cruz
Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States, saying the country needs to spend on them despite assistance from Washington. DEFENSE Secretary Gilbert Teodoro "This is American aid and logistics Jr. on Thursday defended funding for assistance, but these arePhilippine bases... military bases covered by the Enhanced We really need to spend [on them]. If not,
then we lose our independence,” Teodoro said during a congressional hearing that eventually approved the Department of Defense budget of P229.93 billion for 2024. At the hearing of the House committee on appropriations, Teodoro also defended
the government’s move to restore strong ties with the United States, after Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel said this might be giving up the country’s sovereignty. “We are defending the rules-based Next page
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, which includes key Philippine government agencies, said it "strongly deplores and condemns the continued illegal, aggressive, and destabilizing conduct" of Chinese coast guard and "militia" vessels in the waters. On Friday morning, the Philippine Coast Guard escorted supply vesselsto Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the Spratly Islands, where ahandful of Filipino Marines are stationed on a crumbling navy ship, the BRP Sierra Madre, the task force said. While the mission was successful, Next page
STRAIGHT TO AYUNGIN. These screen grabs from a Philippine Coast Guard video show PCG boats assisting the routine Rotation and Resupply (RoRe) mission to Ayungin Shoal conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, despite attempts by the Chinese Coast Guard to block the flotilla. The PCG deployed its two 44-meter vessels, the BRP Cabra (MRRV4409) and BRP Sindangan (MRRV-4407), as escort ships for the resupply boats. PCG Photo
DOTr to hasten P3b fuel subsidy release as pump prices rise again Retailers dread By Darwin G. Amojelar, Alena Mae Flores and Julito Rada
vehicle operators and drivers after the release of the funds for the P3 billion subsidy program was approved on Friday. This is as oil firms are expected to implement a THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) said it will minimal price increase next week amounting to P0.10 hasten the distribution of fuel vouchers to public utility to P0.20 per liter to reflect the movement of prices in
the world oil market. Department of Energy director for the oil industry management bureau Rodela Romero said crude oil prices surged on worries about a potential supply shortage during peak winter demand after Saudi Arabia Next page
Meralco rates up 50 cents in Sept. on supply costs By Alena Mae S. Flores
P40,000 weekly losses over rice GRAIN retailers could incur P6,000 in losses daily or up to P40,000 a week due to the price ceiling on rice that took effect Tuesday, with the P15,000 subsidy barely covering the foregone revenues. Grains Retailers Confederation of the Philippines Inc. Eastern Visayas president Frederic Dy said at P2,450 per cavan of rice, retailers are spending P49 per kilo of rice. Selling the rice at P45 per kilo would mean an automatic loss of P4 per kilo. Next page
POWER distributor Meralco said it will increase electricity rate by P0.5006 per kilowatt-hour this month due to higher costs from its suppliers. Residential customers consuming an average of 200 kWh will see an increase of around P100 in their total electricity bill. The rate hike followed two consecutive months of price reductions totaling P1.0121 per kWh. Meralco's overall rate for a typical household is P11.3997 per kWh this month from P10.8991 per kWh in August. Meralco said its generation charge for September went up by P0.4323 to P6.8252 per kWh from P6.3929 per kWh last month due to higher costs from power supply agreements (PSA) and independent power producers (IPP). PSA charges increased by P1.0362 Next page
G'DAY, MATE. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. extends a warm welcome to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) during his official visit to the Philippines on Friday, the first by an Australian leader since 2003 (see related story on A2). PCO Photo
Unemployment rate lower than last year, higher than in June By Julito G. Rada
to reopen, resulting in more economic activities, the Philippine Statistics Authority THE country’s unemployment rate in said Friday. July 2023 fell to 4.8 percent from 5.2 perNational statistician and civil regiscent a year ago as the economy continues trar general Dennis Mapa said in an on-
line briefing that the July 2023 jobless rate was, however, higher than the 4.5 percent a month ago partly due to the impact of recent weather disturbances. Next page
Palace: DOF Usec. was ‘maligning’ administration By Charles Dantes and Julito G. Rada MALACAÑANG on Friday confirmed the termination of Finance Undersecretary Cielo Magno following reports that she was “maligning” the administration. In a statement, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said Magno had always been critical of the government's Next page