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SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
PRESIDENT FERDINAND MARCOS JR.’S
3rd STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS SEE SECTIONS C & D1-D2
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 157• 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, JULY 22, 2024 •
Marcos vows to set PH roadmap Lawmakers, biz groups bare wishlist for President's 3rd SONA By Rio Araja, Macon Ramos-Araneta, Othel Campos, and Maimona Lao
P
resident Marcos said his third State of the Nation Address will chart the roadmap for his vision of a Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines) that will redound to the benefit of all Filipinos.
"I can't wait to share the strides we've made and the future we are building for the Filipino people," Mr. Marcos said over the weekend in a Facebook reel that showed him practicing his speech at the Palace. Mr. Marcos made last-minute finetuning of his speech, which he said must be clear and easy to understand.
Last year’s SONA lasted one hour and 11 minutes while his first SONA on July 25, 2022 was three minutes longer. The President will wear a Barong Tagalog that was a collaborative work of artisans from Lucban, Quezon; Taal, Batangas; and Aklan. Next page
Media groups seek decriminalization of libel, passage of FOI Law THE convenors of the 1st Philippine Media Safety Summit called on President Marcos to take concrete steps to support a critical press, which he earlier said “best serves national interest.” As he delivers his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) today, various media groups across the country urged the President to prioritize legdecrimiislative measures that would decrimi nalize libel and enact a Freedom of Information Law. “The President himself said it in April: 'The principal role of the press is not to applaud those who govern, but you hold us accountable, without holding back in giving praise to those who deserve it. Along with that stance is our collective goal of protecting the welfare and lives of journalists,'” the convenors said. “Now is the time for Mr. Marcos to keep his promise and include efforts to ensure a 'truly free and safe environ environment for all journalists' in his SONA legislative priority,” the group added. The convenors likewise asked the President to make a clear stance to end Next page
TAMING INFLATION A PRIORITY FOR MOST PINOYS—SURVEY
SONA READY. Personnel of the House of Representatives make last-minute touches at the plenary hall where President Marcos will deliver his third State of the Nation Address today (Monday, July 22, 2024). Inset photo shows President Marcos practicing his speech at the Palace over the weekend. Manny Palmero
NEWS / A3
PH, China reach ‘agreement’ on WPS resupply missions By Rex Espiritu MANILA and Beijing reached a crucial arrangement on the conduct of rotation and resupply mission on Ayungin Shoal to de-escalate tensions in the West Philippine Sea, the Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. “The Philippines and the People’s Republic of China have reached an understanding on the provisional arrangement for the resupply of daily necessities and rotation missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal,” the DFA said. Ayungin Shoal, where the
UMBRELLAS TO THE RESCUE.
country's old warship BRP Sierra Madre was deliberately grounded, has been a focus of escalating confrontations between Chinese and Philippine ships in recent months as Beijing steps up efforts to push its claims to the South China Sea. A Filipino sailor lost a thumb on the latest June 17 clash when Chinese coast guard members wielding knives, sticks and an axe foiled a Philippine Navy attempt to resupply its troops. The department did not give operational details of the provisional arrangement, but said this was reached after a series of
Farmers seek shade under their colorful umbrellas as they plant rice in a paddy field in Piddig, Ilocos Norte. Jay Morales
Next page
PH’s Malixi bags 75th US Junior Girls tourney By Peter Atencio TRIUMPHANT. Filipina golfer Rianne Malixi wins the 75th US Junior Girls championship in California on Saturday (Sunday, Manila time). USGA
FILIPINA teen golfer Rianne Malixi bounced back from last year’s disappointment, winning the 75th US Junior Girls championship in Tarzana, California on Sunday. The seventeen-year-old battled through the scorching heat to prepre vail over Chowchilla, California Next page
Wet SONA as ‘Carina’ keeps strength STATE weather bureau PAGASA said heavy rains may hit Metro Manila today (Monday) when President Marcos delivers his third State of the Nation Address. This as Tropical storm “Carina” maintained its strength while decelerating over the Philippine Sea, PAGASA said.
As of 5 p.m. Sunday, the storm's center was estimated at 365 kilometers east northeast of Casiguran, Aurora. It was moving almost stationary, packing maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 105 km/h. Next page
Tight security set; QC suspends classes By Vince Lopez, Rex Espiritu and Rio Araja A COMBINED force of some 24,000 personnel from the Philippine National Police and Metro Manila Development Authority were deployed
around the Batasang Pambansa Complex to provide security for President Marcos’ third State of the Nation Address today. Some 8,000 protesters representing various groups are expected to attempt to air their grievances Next page