@mnlstandardph
@manilastandard
@ManilaStandardPH
@ManilaStandardYT
Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net . For advertisement: email: advertise@manilastandard.net • 09173382170 / 85646229
GIR REACHED 28-MONTH HIGH
NESTHY PETECIO
BUSINESS / B2
BULLYING STILL A PROBLEM VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 174• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 2024 •
NEWS / A3
China, Quad flex muscles in SCS
Beijing tests strike strength; Manila, allies hold joint drills By Rachelle Tonelada and Rex Espiritu
C
HINA carried out a combat patrol to test "strike capabilities" near a flashpoint reef in the South China Sea on Wednesday as the the Philippines launched two days of joint sea and air exercises with the United States, Canada and Australia in the same waters.
Tensions in the disputed waterway have spiked following a series of escalating confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels that have fanned fears of a wider conflict that could draw in Washington due to its mutual defense treaty with Manila. Beijing said the maneuvers tested "the reconnaissance and early warning, rapid mobility, and joint strike capabilities of theater troops."
Separately, the Chinese Coast Guard also conducted a patrol on Wednesday to "uphold its rights" around another group of disputed islands in the East China Sea that are administered by Japan, Beijing's state media said. Manila, on the other hand, said the multilateral drills were taking place west of Palawan, south of Scarborough Shoal and the nearest major landmass to the also-contested Spratly Islands. Next page
See www.manilastandard.net for updates on Nesthy Petecio's bid for a finals berth in the women's 57kg early Thursday (Manila time).
Philippines now at 23d in Paris medal standings By Riera U. Mallari PARIS—With the golden double of ace gymnast Carlos Edrei Yulo and a bronze by boxer Aira Villegas, the Philippines now ranks 23d in the 2024 Paris Olympics medal standings.
Arena Plus to give Yulo P5m incentive SPORTS / A8
Century Properties to give P6m house in Batangas BUSINESS / B3 Leading the race is the United States with 24 golds, 31 silvers, Next page
QUAD EXERCISE. The Philippines, US, Australia, and Canada yesterday began a two-day multilateral maritime
cooperative activity (MCCA) in the West Philippine Sea. Participating in the exercises are (from left to right) the HMCS Montreal (FFH336), BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16), USS Lake Erie (CG70) and the BRP Jose Rizal (FF150). PAOAFP
Marcos rejects bid to delay PUV modernization By Macon Ramos-Araneta, Rio N. Araja and Miguel Gil PRESIDENT Ferdinand on Wednesday rejected proposals to delay the implementation of the nationwide Public Transport Modernization Pro-
IRRIGATION INFRA. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is joined by House
House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Agriculture Secretary Francis Tiu Laurel, and NIA administrator Eddie G. Guillen, lin the ceremonial turnover of 148 units of various operations and maintenance (O&M) equipment yesterday at Global Construct City, Mexico, Pampanga as part of NIA’s efforts to secure efficient irrigation project implementation. NIA
Speaker vows to scrutinize irrigation funds in ‘25 budget By Maricel V. Cruz SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez today said the House will thoroughly scrutinize the proposed P6.352 trillion National Expenditure Program for 2025, particularly the specific allocations meant to further
strengthen the country’s irrigation systems. According to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the government has allocated P42 billion for 2025 to improve the irrigation system in the country. Next page
House ‘mega’ panel to invite Digong, Bato By Maricel V. Cruz and Pot Chavez THE House of Representatives has consolidated four separate committees investigating Philippine Overseas Gaming Operators (POGOs), Chinese crime syndicates, the narcotics trade, and extrajudicial killings during the previous administration into a singular panel called the “Quad Comm.” Lawmakers apparently made this decision after realizing there was a common thread tying all those issues together – the Duterte administration. The four committees’ chairmen – Rep. Robert Ace Barbers of the
gram (PTMP), citing that a majority of around 80 percent among PUV operators are already complying with the program. “I disagree with them because they said this was rushed. This has been postponed seven times. The modernization has been postponed for seven
times and those that have been objecting or have been crying out and asking for suspension are in the minority,” the President said. “Some 80 percent have already consolidated, so will we allow the 20 percent to decide on the life of the 100 Next page
VP Sara urges Mindanao supporters to nix ICC, foreign interference By Rachelle Tonelada and Maricel V. Cruz THE elusive Vice President Sara Duterte sought to rally supporters in Mindanao into resisting the supposed interference of foreign entities as she took a swing at the incumbent Philip-
pine leadership. In a statement on Wednesday, Duterte said the Philippines deserves government officials who are ready to serve the public, fight for the sovereign rights of the country, and who possess the willpower to stand against foreign Next page
PHOTO 3
Next page
June unemployment rate of 3.1% lowest in 2 decades By Darwin G. Amojelar THE country’s unemployment rate fell 3.1 percent in June 2024, marking the lowest level in almost two decades, ac-
cording to the Philippine Statistics Authority. The jobless rate in June was lower than the 4.5 percent a year ago and 4.1 percent registered in May 2024.
“The government’s swift implementation of infrastructure projects and the continued improvement of operating conditions for manufacturing firms Next page
PAPAL AUDIENCE. Pope Francis meets with a group of Mexican dressed as Aztecs (Tonatiuh) during a weekly general audience on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at Paul-VI hall in The Vatican. AFP