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VOL. XXXVII • NO. 304 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023 •
PBBM open to economic ‘Cha-cha’
READY FOR SIMBANG GABI.
The façade of Manila Cathedral is adorned with extra lights and lanterns as it welcomes the faithful today for the first of the nine-day pre-dawn Mass or ‘Simbang Gabi’ before Christmas Day, as workers put extra touches on its interior décor (inset). Lino Santos
By Charles Dantes and Macon Ramos-Araneta
P
RESIDENT Marcos on Friday said he is open to studying the suggestion to amend the 1987 Constitution in line with the administration's economic agenda. In an interview in Muntinlupa, Mr. Marcos was asked about his stance on moves in the House of Representatives to amend economic provisions of the Constitution. "We’re just beginning to study because we keep talking about economic provisions that are getting in the way with some of the potential investors that we are trying to bring to the Philippines," the President said. "My primary interest is to try and
make our country an investmentfriendly place and... We'll see... That's why the study is really not about the Constitution," Mr. Marcos said. "It’s about what do we need to do— what do we need to change so that these potential investors will in fact come to the Philippines," he added. Earlier this week, House Speaker Martin Romualdez said that Congress is pushing to amend the 1987 Constitutions Next page
12 days of transport strikes set; PISTON, Manibela to join forces By Rio N. Araja and Darwin G. Amojelar TRANSPORT groups PISTON and Manibela on Friday announced they would give the public “12 days of strikes” for Christmas, with plans to launch another transport holiday from Dec. 18 to 29 to protest the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
The announcement comes on the second day of a two-day transport strike by PISTON, and with traffic in Metro Manila and nearby areas expected to worsen amid the Christmas holiday rush. “Today is just the start of the transport strike. Next week, PISTON and MANIBELA will continue to hold transport strikes, one week until Christmas or until the end of the year,” the groups said on X (formerly Twitter). At a press conference Friday, the Next page
TRANSPORT JUSTICE. Representatives of the Philippine Movement for Climate
Justice, PISTON, Sanlakas, Oriang, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Freedom from Debt Coalition, Move as One, and the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino stand to dramatize their demands to scrap the PUV Modernization Program in a press conference Friday in Quezon City. Manny Palmero
Marcos in Japan to push PH position with ASEAN By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Marcos arrived in Tokyo Friday night to attend the 50th Commemorative ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation Summit, his last foreign trip for 2023. Mr. Marcos said the Summit, which marks 50 years of friendship and cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Japan, presents “an opportunity for the Philippines to affirm its position on current international issues and advance Philippine interests.” Leaders from Southeast Asia and Japan will hold talks this weekend on boosting security ties with an eye on China, as well as Tokyo's contentious efforts on energy cooperation. Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, a vital trade corridor, and its increasingly aggressive behavior in areas also claimed by Southeast Asian nations has stoked regional tensions. Next page
JAPAN AGAIN. President Marcos and First Lady Lisa Araneta-Marcos smile on the red carpet as the Philippine delegation arrived at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on Friday to participate in the Commemorative Summit for the 50th year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation until Dec. 18. Mr. Marcos is in Japan for the second time this year. PPA POOL
Admin approval rating up to 61% President to ink in last Pahayag survey for 2023 2024 budget THE administration's approval rating surged by eight percentage points to 61 percent in the last quarter, driven by increased ratings in North-Central Luzon, South Luzon, and the Visayas, results of the Pahayag 2023 End of the Year Survey showed. President Marcos logged a performance rating of 59 percent during the last three months of the year. The non-commissioned survey, conducted by PUBLiCUS Asia Inc., said the administration “witnessed a notable recovery” from its 53 percent performance rating in the third quarter. The survey said among the issues af-
fecting the performance of President Marcos' administration was inflation, which was ranked as the most pressing concern at 44 percent. The survey also analyzed the performance ratings of newly elected officials, with Senator Raffy Tulfo maintaining his position as the top performer with a 71 percent rating, followed by Vice President Sara Duterte at 60 percent. “Vice President Duterte faced challenges related to the issue ofconfidential and intelligence funds for the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education,” the survey said.
rective actions. Kaiser eventually terminated her for violating policy when she was caught resting her bare feet on a medical device meant to hold sick babies. Kaiser, which maintained it had justly terminated Gatchalian, said it will likely appeal the verdict. The verdict came just two months after
PRESIDENT Marcos on Friday said he will likely sign next year's national budget before Christmas Day. "Probably, yes. But you should really ask the bicam to see what their schedule is. But yes, I think before Christmas," the President said in a chance interview in Muntinlupa. He said he is still waiting for the bicameral conference committeereport on next year's national capital outlay. "I think the bicam does not have a report yet. We're waiting for that. They’re putting the finishing touches on it. Maybe in the coming days," Mr. Marcos said. "But certainly, the minute it is finalized then we will immediately, of course, pass the budget," he added. For his part, former Senate President Franklin Drilon defended Congress's decision to increase the unprogrammed appropriations in the 2024 national budget, saying the move was legal and does not violate the Constitution.
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LA court awards Pinay nurse P2.31b in wrongful termination lawsuit By Rey E. Requejo
Nurse Maria Gatchalian, who worked at Kaiser Permanente in Woodland Hills, A FILIPINO nurse was awarded US$41.5 California since 1989, was fired in 2019 million (P2.31 billion) in damages after after she raised concerns about unsafe a Los Angeles jury found her employer working conditions. “Maria had the courage to speak up guilty of wrongful termination. about patient safety and chronic understaffing. Kaiser fired her in retaliation, hoping to silence her,” said Gatchalian’s lawyer, David deRubertis.
The nurse sued the hospital in 2021 that she was fired by the hospital as an act of retaliation. Gatchalian noted that she raised concerns about understaffing and unsafe working conditions several times between 2016 and 2019. She said the hospital management discouraged her from submitting formal complaints to avoid investigation and cor-
PCSO starts e-Lotto dry run, hikes 2 pots to P500m each THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office started on Friday the test run of its web-based application betting platform "e-Lotto"—a digital version of the traditional lottery game. "e-Lotto is a significant milestone for PCSO as we embrace the digital era and cater to the evolving needs of our players," PCSO general manager Mel Robles said in a briefing yesterday.
Meanwhile, PCSO is offering more than P1 billion in combined winnings for lucky bettors after it raised to a minimum guaranteed P500 million the jackpot prizes each for its Grand Lotto 6/55 and Ultra Lotto 6/58 games. Robles said the high-stakes games, which the PCSO dubbed "Handog Pakabog" Christmas draws, will start today, Dec. 16 (Saturday).
before Dec. 25
He said the prizes are separate from the other lotto games like 6/49, which offers a jackpot prize of P268,902,813.00 as of Thursday, and the 6/45 and 6/42 games. “This is our way of showing our appreciation to our loyal patrons,” Robles said. “We made it sweeter by making it Next page
DUTERTE: I DIDN’T THREATEN CASTRO NEWS / A2
KASAMBAHAYS IN 2 REGIONS GET RAISES NEWS / A2