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‘China spending billions to spread disinformation’ WASHINGTON—China is spending billions of dollars globally to spread disinformation and threatening to cause a "sharp contraction" in freedom of speech around the world, warned a US State Department report published Thursday.
China's "global information manipulation is not simply a matter of public diplomacy—but a challenge to the integrity of the global information space," the report said. "Unchecked, Beijing's efforts could
VOL. XXXVII • NO. 228• 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
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PH not backing down over maritime rights Marcos vows to defend fishing areas for Pinoys By Charles Dantes, Rey E. Requejo, Maricel V. Cruz, and Vince Lopez
P
RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos on Friday said the government will not back down and will continue to defend the country’s maritime territory and the rights of Filipino fisherfolk. This is after he ordered the removal of the floating barrier that China set up in the West
Philippine Sea to block local fishermen from entering Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.
“These are operational issues that I really cannot talk about. But in terms of taking down the barrier, I don’t see what else we could do because [it involved] our fishermen," said Mr. Marcos, speaking to journalists in Siargao. The President said the Philippines was not looking to provoke anything in the area, but he said his administration will continue to defend the country's sovereign rights. Next page
FIGHTING HUNGER. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. speaks at the
launch of the Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program (FSP) on Friday in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, where he handed out rice sacks and electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards worth P3,000 to local beneficiaries (inset). Joey Razon
PBBM orders collection of unauthorized ‘pass-through fees’ suspended ‘No Hunger’ push starts in Siargao
By Charles Dantes
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the suspension of the unauthorized collection of "pass-through fees" on vehicles transporting goods, Malacañang said on Friday. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin
signed Executive Order No. 41 which prohibited all local government units (LGUs) from charging fees on vehicles transporting goods through any national roads and other roads not constructed and funded by them. “In the interest of public welfare, all LGUs are further strongly urged to sus-
pend or discontinue the collection of fees such as, but not limited to, sticker fees, discharging fees, delivery fees, market fees, toll fees, entry fees, or Mayor’s Permit fees, that are imposed upon all motor vehicles transporting goods and passing through any local public roads constructed and funded by said LGUs,” the EO read.
"In order to uphold the welfare and advance the best interest of the Filipino people, it is the overarching policy of the administration to consolidate all essential components within the value and supply chain, and reduce the costs of food logistics, which play a pivotal role in Next page
THE government officially kicked off its Food Stamp Program (FSP) on Friday as part of its “No Hunger” campaign, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. distributing electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards to beneficiaries in Siargao Island. “We are pushing the Food Stamps Program to ensure that the beneficiaries are not only well-fed, but also healthy, energetic, and strong enough to carry out their daily activities,” the President said in Filipino. “That's why I am happy that we are able to officially start the Food Stamp Program here in CARAGA.” Next page
‘Whole-of-nation program to fight drugs needed’ By Joel E. Zurbano and Maricel V. Cruz PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said a whole-of-nation approach is needed to rid the country of illegal drugs through prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and law enforcement. In an address read for him during the 4th anniversary of the DOH-Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur on Thursday, the President said the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drug Strategy seeks to eradicate this health and social menace once and for all. Next page
All regions to see wage hikes before year ends—DOLE By Vito Barcelo ALL regions will see an increase in daily minimum wages before the year ends, the Department of Labor and Employment said Friday. Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the increases are being carefully reviewed and considered by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs). Next page
By Charles Dantes and Rey E. Requejo
WEATHER ‘JENNY’ ENTERS PAR,TO BRING MORE RAIN NEWS / A2
NOT CHIPS OR COOKIES. Authorities display potato chip and cookie cans that contain packs of cocaine, part of a stash of 14.36 kilos of the illegal narcotic worth P76.1 million, seized from two Singaporeans who arrived from Doha, Qatar at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Thursday. BOC Photo
EJ Obiena
PhilHealth website, member’s portal active again By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE website and member's portal of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) went back online yesterday after eight days of being offline after a ransomware attack. Philhealth's e-Claims system also re-
sumed online operations yesterday. The Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) earlier advised Philhealth to shut down its public-facing application systems to isolate key services and ensure the ransomware infection will not spread to critical computers.
In a statement, PhilHealth said it has yet to verify reports that leaked members’ data that was reportedly found in the dark web. As for the alleged ransom demand of the hackers, the state health insurer reiter reiterated the government’s policy of not paying one to criminals. Next page
HOW HIGH WILL OBIENA FLY IN ASIAD? SPORTS / B1