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2.5m Pinoys to get cash, rice via House, DSWD’s ‘Malaya’ By Maricel V. Cruz
VOL. XXXVII • NO. 235• 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
MEMBERS of the House of Representatives and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will distribute rice and financial aid to at least 2.5
million poor Filipinos within the next two weeks under the “Malaya Rice Project." Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez announced the project Thursday night, noting that the rice distribution Next page
Gilas rules Asian Games hoops Stymies Jordan for 1st gold medal since 1962, ends 61-year drought By Riera U. Mallari
ANGZHOU— Heroes were born and history was made as the Philippines ended a six-decade wait to be crowned kings of Asian basketball once again.
H
Choosing to fight against great odds, Gilas Pilipinas methodically cut Jordan down to size in a 70-60 victory to rule the 19th Asian Games men’s basketball competition at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center here Friday night. Achieved against a roaring Chinese crowd who decided to root against the Filipinos for beating their team in the semifinals, the victory gave the Philippines its first basketball gold in the Games in 61 years, last accomplished by a Caloy Loyzaga-powered national team in 1962 in Jakarta. After scoring a scrambling, comefrom-behind win against host China in Next page
PBBM: Report agri smuggling to authorities
BOMB THREAT PUTS AIRPORTS ON HIGH ALERT
By Vince Lopez PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday urged the public to report groups or individuals engaged in smuggling and hoarding of agricultural products to the authorities, which he had blamed for the rising prices of the vital commodities. "No matter how big the syndicate is, just like the one we seized in a pier in Zamboanga last month, it is no match to our collective power in combating smugglers," Mr. Marcos said in his speech during the distribution of smuggled rice in Capiz. "If you have information Next page
NEWS / A4
GOLDEN GILAS. The Philippines’ Chris Newsome lays up in front of Jordan's Ahmad Al Dwairi early in their Asian Games gold medal match, which Gilas Pilipinas won 70-60 on Friday night to break a 61-year title drought in the continental games. The team then proudly takes the podium as coach Tim Cone (inset) looks up to the PH tricolor being raised to the rafters. AFP
PH JOBLESS RATE DECLINES TO 4.4% IN AUGUST—PSA BUSINESS / B4
Big fuel price rollbacks expected next week By Alena Mae S. Flores THE country's oil firms may roll back pump prices by as much as P3.20 per liter next week to reflect the movement of prices in the world market. Industry sources said gasoline may go down by P2.90 to P3.20 per liter, kerosene by P2 to P2.20, and diesel by P1.60 to P1.70 per liter based on the four-day trading of the Mean of Platts
AGENTS SEIZE P2.2-B SHABU FROM MEXICO NEWS / A3
NOT BEEF JERKY. Customs and police officers on Friday lay out and tally over 323 kilos of shabu—worth over P2.2 billion—concealed in over 1,000 packs of supposed beef jerky that came from Mexico. The shipment arrived last February, taking authorities seven months to track it down and seize it (see full story on A3). BOC Photo
‘P9 billion needed to bolster WPS areas’ “There are a lot of estimates... but it is at P9 billion for the development of our islands,” said AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., after visiting Pag-asa THE Armed Forces of the Philippines Island with Speaker Martin Romualdez (AFP) said it needs P9 billion to develop and other lawmakers. “I hope it will be and secure the areas in the West Philip- included [in the national budget]." pine Sea that the country occupies. Next page
By Vince Lopez and Maricel V. Cruz
Singapore, the pricing benchmark used by oil importers. Department of Energy director for the Oil Industry Management Bureau Rodela Romero confirmed the possible rollback next week across all products. Romero attributed the price reduction to fears on high interest rates, which could reduce demand. "Stronger dollar weakens the finances of other nations and the demand too
and the spectacular price drop in crude yesterday," he said. On Oct. 3, 2023, the oil companies decreased prices by P2 per liter for gasoline and P0.50 per liter for kerosene, but increased diesel costs by P0.40 per liter. These price adjustments resulted in a year-to-date net increase of P15.30 per liter for gasoline, P13.80 per liter for diesel, and P8.94 per liter for kerosene.
Solons aligned with VP Sara on CIF—Speaker By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta SPEAKER Martin Romualdez on Friday said there was no quarrel between the House of Representatives and Vice President Sara Duterte, after lawmakers said they would redistribute confidential funds sought by the offices she leads to agencies that have a direct national security function. “I think people are reading too much into it. I think it's very, very straightforward and simple. The CIF (confidential Next page
SM-PASAY PACT. SM Supermalls’ President Steven Tan (left) and Volunteer Fire Brigade of Pasay City Inc. President Ben Chua Ching Jr. hold the Memorandum of Agreement signed by SM Prime Holdings and the fire brigade after the mall firm donated a fire tanker at the SM Mall of Asia on Friday.