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SPEAKER TO OIL PLAYERS: DO YOUR PART TO EASE BURDEN OF RISING PRICES By Alena Mae S. Flores and Macon Ramos-Araneta
key players in the oil industry to share the burden of rising prices of oil to ease its impact on the daily lives of SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. ordinary Filipinos. Meanwhile, pump prices went up for Romualdez on Monday appealed to
OIL PRICE DISCUSSION. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, and Camiguin Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo (from left) discuss with oil industry players possible moves that could take the pressure off Filipinos amid spiraling fuel prices on Monday. Ver Noveno
the 11th consecutive week, as the price of diesel rose P2.50 a liter while kerosene rose by P2 a liter. Gasoline prices went up as well, by P2 a liter, effective 6 Next page
VOL. XXXVII • NO. 216 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Marcos OKs NFA palay price
Higher buying rate to give farmers better income, President says By Charles Dantes, Julito G. Rada, Maricel V. Cruz, Vito Barcelo and Joel E. Zurbano
P
RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said the price at which the government buys rice from farmers will go up from P19 a kilo to P23 a kilo for dry and from P16 a kilo to P19 a kilo for wet unhusked rice.
The President said the NFA Council, which he chairs as Agriculture Secretary, agreed on the new buying prices at a meeting Monday. He said that the higher buying price for palay would give the country’s farmers a better income. At the same time, Mr. Marcos said the price ceilings that the government imposed will calm rice
prices down. Originally, the NFA considered the buying price of P20 and P25 a kilo but felt this might be too high and spike retail prices. The new buying price of dried palay at P23 a kilo would require P15 billion, as opposed to P16 billion if Next page
RICE ISSUES. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (right) convenes the National Food Authority (NFA) Council to approve the government’s new buying price for palay or unhusked rice at Malacanang on Monday. Meanwhile, members of the Federation of Free Farmers picket in front of the Finance Building to call for the resignation of Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno and NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisican for their proposal to reduce the tariff rate on rice from 35% to 10% temporarily for six months. Danny Pata
Japan, China trade barbs on WPS; Survey says 7 of 10 NCR commuters nix fare hike PCG: Coral reef damage ‘extensive’ By Rio N. Araja
By Rey E. Requejo, Vince Lopez quois) Reef was “very alarming news.” “Our oceans are the lifeblood of our and Macon Ramos-Araneta JAPAN on Monday raised concern over the extensive maritime damage in waters frequented by Chinese militia vessels in the West Philippine Sea, but China quickly shot back by denouncing Tokyo’s release of contaminated water from its Fukushima nuclear plant. The Japanese Embassy in Manila said the damage done to coral reefs, presumably by Chinese boats in Rozul (Iro-
SC sets drug tests for court workers NEWS / A2
Negros polls still set October 30 NEWS / A2
3 found guilty for PDAF scam NEWS / A2
plant, and coral reefs are its colorful heartbeat. Let’s preserve and protect these vital ecosystems for generations to come,” Japan’s Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko said on his X social media account. He was referring to a report from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command, which said it suspected Chinese boats were behind the exten-
(PUJs) despite escalating fuel prices, a most commuters in Metro Manila are survey by an advocacy group showed. not in favor of a PUJ fare hike. Primo Morillo, The Passenger Forum Transport groups recently appealed SEVEN out of ten commuters in the National Capital Region are against a convener, said Friday their informal on- to the government to grant a one-peso Next page fare increase for public utility jeepneys line survey of 100 respondents showed
PBBM sees ‘enhanced collaboration’ with Singapore By Charles Dantes
“enhanced collaboration” with Sin- counts on Monday, President Marcos gapore after his successful five-day shared that while in Singapore, he had a “promising discussion” with PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. working visit to the island state. In a post on his social media acNext page said that the Philippines can expect
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Pimentel, ex-solons file petition vs. Maharlika By Rey Requejo SENATE Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III and former lawmakers of Bayan Muna party-list filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to declare the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) unconstitutional and void. In a 56-page petition for certiorari and prohibition, the petitioners challenged the MIF on three grounds: violation of economic viability, violation of BSP independence, and violation of the three readings requirement for legislative measures. Next page
AGAINST MAHARLIKA. Bayan Muna chairman Neri Colmenares is
flanked by former Bayan Muna lawmakers Carlos Isagani Zarate (right) and Ferdinand Gaite (left) after they file a petition before the Supreme Court challenging the legality of the Maharlika Investment Fund on Monday. Danny Pata