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HOUSE TO REALIGN INTEL FUNDS TO AGENCIES INVOLVED IN WPS By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta
VOL. XXXVII • NO. 225 • 3 SECTIONS 22 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
‘PH shuns war, but will fight for territory’
THE increasing threats from China in the West Philippine Sea have prompted the House of Representatives to reallocate confidential and intelligence funds (CIF), including those intended for the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education, to agencies that operate in the threatened areas. “The country’s safety and security are of paramount importance. To protect our territorial integrity from external threats, Congress is giving top priority to agencies directly in charge protecting the country’s safety and securing its borders,” said Rep. Elizaldy Co of Ako Bicol, chair of the House appropriations committee. The committee decision followed the unanimous position of all party heads in the House of Representatives to augment funding for the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), the National Security Council (NSC),
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). “As discussed, we will realign the confidential funds of various civilian agencies. Now is the time to give our intelligence community the means to perform their duties, especially in these pressing times when we’re facing serious concerns in the West Philippine Sea,” Co said. “The CIFs from other departments and agencies will be realigned to the NSA, NICA, PCG and BFAR to boost the country’s monitoring and operational capabilities in protecting our territorial waters and securing the rights and access of Filipino fishermen to their traditional fishing grounds,” he added. Co said among those to be affected by the budget cuts are the OVP and DepEd, which were allocated a combined amount of P650 million in confidential and intelligence funds under the 2024 National Expenditure Program. Next page
Teodoro says China’s floating barrier ‘provocative’ By Macon Ramos-Araneta, Charles Dantes and Maricel V. Cruz
“W
E DO not want war, but it’s our territory that they want to get.”
With these words, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said the country will continue to protect its sovereign rights, in response to China’s warning to the Philippines “not to stir up trouble” after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) removed a floating
China Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin: I would also like to reiterate once again. Huangyan Island (Scarborough) is China’s inherent territory. The so-called operation of the Philippine side is a purely self-indulgent farce. China will continue to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in Huangyan Island. barrier that the Chinese had installed to keep Filipino fishers out of Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.
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Philippines, US navies to hold 2-week exercise By Charles Dantes THE Philippines and United States navies are set to hold a two-week joint naval activity to strengthen international defense cooperation, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said. In a statement, AFP Public Affairs Office Chief, Lt. Enrico Ileto said the naval warfare activities, dubbed “Samasama Exercise,” would run from October 2 to 12 at the Naval Forces Southern Luzon area of operations. This developed as Army chiefs and senior officers from 30 countries, including the United States and the Philippines, met in India on Tuesday to discuss threats facing the Asia-Pacific region, in the face of concern at an increasingly assertive China. Next page
‘ATIN ITO.’ Photo released by the military on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, shows Western Command head Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos joining troops in a flag raising ceremony in Likas Island in the West Philippine Sea last week. Aside from Likas Island, Carlos also visited Pagasa, Parola, and Lawak islands on board the BRP Antonio Luna.
DOE: Another rollback seen next week, but oil prices remain volatile By Alena Mae S. Flores and Maricel V. Cruz
tinue to be volatile despite forecasts of a possible rollback in the domestic market due to the movement of global THE Department of Energy (DOE) prices early this week. “You know that it is volatile and we warned that world oil prices may con-
have to always be ready. Because we stabilize,” Energy Secretary Raphael are already moving towards the winter Lotilla said. months and normally, the prices will He said world oil prices normally go increase. But let us hope that the exterexter up during the winter months due to the nal factors like Ukraine and Russia will Next page
AUSTRALIA HELPS RESTORE DAMAGED WPS CORAL REEFS NEWS / A2
Marcos signs ‘Trabaho’ Act into law to craft job generation masterplan By Charles Dantes, Maricel Cruz, Macon Ramos Araneta and Julito Rada PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday signed into law Republic Act No. 11962 or the “Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act” into law to address unemployment, underemployment, and other challenges in the country’s labor sector. “I am very pleased to stand before you today at this ceremonial signing of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act, a significant milestone towards the sustainable and inclusive development of our
country,” the President said. “The law will help us solve the various challenges plaguing our labor sector such as low-quality jobs, skills mismatch, and underemployment among others,” he added. The law aims to boost the employability and competitiveness of the labor market and support micro, small, and medium enterprises and industry stakeholders. An interagency council to craft a masterplan for employment generation and recovery would be created,
Act No. 11962) at Kalayaan Hall in Malacañang Palace on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri (left) and Speaker Martin Romualdez (right) witnessed the signing. Ver Noveno
Resigned OTS chief Aplasca hits ‘cultural decay’ in airport security
WHERE A HAPPY WEDDING HALL USED TO BE.
A firefighter checks the damage in an event hall in Qaraqosh, also known as Hamdaniyah, after a fire broke out during a wedding, killing at least 100 people and injuring more than 150 others on September 27, 2023. AFP
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JOB GENERATION MASTER PLAN. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. holds a signed copy of the ‘Trabaho Para sa Bayan’ Act (Republic
100 KILLED IN IRAQ WEDDING FIRE, 150 MORE INJURED WORLD / A6
In an interview with TeleRadyo SerBy Joel E. Zurbano and Macon bisyo on Wednesday, the former police Ramos-Araneta OFFICE for Transportation Security (OTS) administrator Ma. O Aplasca, who resigned Tuesday night, has criticized the “cultural decay” within the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) security management teams which, he said, allowed corrupt screeners to remain in their jobs.
general and House sergeant-at-arms said the problem with airport security “is not only systemic but also cultural.” He pointed to the previous “tanimbala” scheme at the NAIA where airport screeners placed bullets inside passengers’ luggage to alert security and eventually extort money from them. Next page