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SMILES FOR DAVAO DE ORO

Senator Juan Edgardo Angara

MY DISTRICT / A3

CEBU PAC TO BUY 152 AIRBUS PLANES BUSINESS / B4

VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 138• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2024 •

PH, China to de-escalate maritime tensions in WPS

Marcos names Angara as new DepEd chief, cites track record

DFA notes 'substantial progress' without sacrificing sovereignty

By Charles Dantes, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

PRESIDENT Marcos named Senator Juan Edgardo Angara as the new Education Secretary, citing his track record of “championing significant educational reforms.” "Senator Angara has an extensive legislative history since joining the Senate in 2013. His notable legislative achievements include the Universal Access to Quality Te r t i a r y E d u c a t i o n

HE governments of China and the Philippines have agreed to deescalate tensions in the West Philippine Sea in what may be the first conciliatory gesture between two parties that are widely seen as being dangerously close to an armed confrontation in contested waters. Hope for ending a months-spanning standoff between maritime forces came after representatives of the two countries met at the 9th meeting of Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea on Tuesday. The meeting was attended by Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong. In a statement released Tuesday evening, the Department of Foreign Affairs said that the two officials had “frank and constructive discussions” on the situation in the South China Sea. During the meeting, Lazaro reiterated that the Philippines will continue to protect its interests and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea, while also acknowledging the need to restore trust between the two countries. “The two sides discussed their respective positions on Ayungin Shoal and affirmed their commitment to deescalate tensions without prejudice to their respective positions. There was substantial progress on developing measures to manage the situation at sea, but significant differences remain. Both sides agreed to continue discussions to find a mutually-acceptable resolution to the issues,” the DFA further stated. China and the Philippines also signed the Arrangement on Improving Philippines-China Maritime Communication Mechanisms, and agreed to continue discussions on maritime cooperation.

DOLE: Wage hike appealable as Congress eyes legislative action

FRANK AND CONSTRUCTIVE. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Teresa Lazaro and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong shake hands yesterday at the end of the 9th meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Meeting on the South China Sea in Manila.

Manila, Beijing commit to fight illegal POGOs By Charles Dantes CHINA and the Philippines are set to enhance their cooperation in law enforcement to combat organized crime effectively following the raids on illegal POGO hubs in the country. Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Chairman

of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) met on July 1 and discussed various strategies to bolster their partnership in addressing transnational criminal activities. China expressed its appreciation for the recent actions taken by Philippine law enforcement authorities to

VATICAN ENVOY. President Marcos Jr. meets with Vatican Secretary

for Relations with States and International Organizations, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, in Malacanang, as part of the Vatican official's five-day visit to the country. Archbishop Gallagher conveyed Pope Francis' greetings to the President and the Filipino people. He said the Holy Pope is grateful to Filipinos for their contributions to the Catholic Church, not only in the Philippines, but also throughout the world while bringing their faith to work.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday approved the proposed P6.352-trillion budget for the 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP). During a cabinet meeting at Malacañan Palace, Budget Secretary Amenah

High Court gives Trump immunity for official acts Donald Trump

PBBM okays P6.352-T budget for 2025 By Charles Dantes and Darwin Amojelar

THE newly-approved wage hike for private sector workers in the National Capital Region (NCR) is not yet cast in stone and is still subject to appeal, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said on Tuesday that those dissatisfied with the PHP35 per day pay increase approved by the NCR Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) have until July 11 to appeal it before the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC). Even Senate President Francis Escudero described a PHP35 addition to the daily minimum wages of Metro Manila workers as "insufficient and farfetched." He questioned the NCR-RTWB, saying it seems to be disconnected from the “real needs of our people amid the high cost of commodities.” Escudero said that since its creation, wage boards have failed to produce wage orders that truly reflect the needs of private sector employees. He insisted that the PHP100 per day across-the-board wage hike recently approved by the Senate is a

Pangandaman presented the proposed national budget prioritizing food security, social protection, healthcare, housing, disaster resilience, infrastructure, digital connectivity, and energy. “You see a really good thing... Since I’ve seen it before on the macro level, I think the priorities in terms of our proposed appropriations, upon Next page

THE US Supreme Court ruled Monday that Donald Trump enjoys some immunity from prosecution as a former president, a ruling that will likely delay his trial for conspiring to overturn the 2020 election. The 6-3 decision split along ideological lines comes four months ahead of the election in which Trump is the Republican candidate to take on Democrat President Joe Biden. Next page