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US PASSES BUDGET BILL TO AVERT GOV’T SHUTDOWN
IN MET R MANILAO
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 310 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES DECEMBER 22, 2024
WORLD | A4
COMELEC JUNKS DQ CASE VS. QUIBOLOY’S 2025 BID NEWS | A2
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US APPROVES FIRST DRUG MEDICINE FOR SLEEP APNEA WORLD | A4
‘NO SERIOUS SECURITY THREATS DETECTED DURING HOLIDAYS’ By Charles Dantes and Joel Zurbano
CELESTIAL BEAUTY.
The last full moon of the year paints a mysterious reflection on a river in San Mateo, Rizal. Edd Castro
HOUSE SUPER PANEL’S NEXT FOCUS: HIGH POWER RATES SALCEDA: P206B IN ‘DISALLOWED EXPENSES’ FIRST AGENDA
By Maricel V. Cruz
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SUPER committee of the House of Representatives will shift its focus from bringing down food prices to finding solutions to high electricity costs once session resumes next month, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said. “We will soon convene a Murang Kuryente Super Committee,” said Salceda, presiding cochairman of the Murang Pagkain Super Committee, also called the Quinta Committee. The Quinta Committee was
originally established to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into smuggling, price manipulation, and rising hunger, while advocating for systemic reforms to enhance food security and affordability.
Salceda said this was in line with Speaker Martin Romualdez’s instructions to go after price excesses in the power sector next. “The most obvious (issue to be tackled first) is the Energy Regulatory Commission finding of some P206 billion in disallowed public relations, advertising, and other expenses in the 2016-2020 period, when the NGCP collected in excess of allowed annual revenues.” The ERC, Salceda said, “already released this finding late last year.” “It’s time for action now,” he added. In the distribution sector, when utilities collect in excess of allowed revenues, they usually re-
fund the excess collections without much issue, Salceda said. The transmission sector, which he described as a national monopoly, should have no issue doing the same. “The Speaker has also given instructions to study windfall taxes on excessive profits by power sector participants and plow such resources into consumer refunds and Pantawid Kuryente,” Salceda said. As of March 2024, based on data culled by Statista, the Philippines had the second highest household electricity rate among ASEAN countries at $0.19 per kilowatt-hour, next only to Singapore at $0.24 per kilowatt-hour.
The Philippine National Police said it has not detected any serious security threats even as it remained on heightened alert nationwide to safeguard the public during the holiday season. PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said: We are maintaining our active security stance to prevent any security breaches. So far, we have not monitored any serious threats to security.” The heightened alert, implemented on December 15, will continue through January to cover Christmas, New Year’s celebrations, and events like the annual Traslacion of the Black Nazarene on January 9. Around 40,000 officers have been deployed to secure key areas, including transportation hubs, churches, and commercial establishments. Police assistance desks have been set up nationwide, and K-9 units are inspecting baggage at ports. The Philippine Coast Guard likewise placed all districts, stations, and sub-stations on heightened alert from Dec. 20, 2024, to Jan. 3, 2025 to manage the anticipated surge in passenger traffic during the holidays. As part of “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Pasko 2024,” the PCG mobilized 2,736 frontline personnel nationwide to ensure safety and efficiency in port operations. Meanwhile, the MMDA said it will suspend the operation of the Pasig River Ferry Service on December 24, 25, and 30, and on January 1, 2025 – all declared holidays. The ferry will also operate for only half a day on December 31, a special non-working holiday. The PRFS serves an average of 300-440 passengers a day. Currently, the ferry service has 17 boats. Rides are still free for commuters.
OCD: EXPAND KANLAON’S DANGER ZONE TO 10-KM THE six-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ) around Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island may be extended to 10 kilometers due to the potential for lahar flows caused by heavy rainfall. The Office of Civil Defense Region 6 is consulting with Phivolcs and PAGASA to monitor the situation and assess the recommendation. The possible expansion could affect nine additional barangays,
leading to concerns from the La Castellana local government, which is already facing depleted resources for evacuees. One solution being considered is relocating evacuees to tent cities in Himamaylan City. Phivolcs said these measures are precautionary and do not indicate an immediate disaster. The agency recorded 22 volcanic quakes at Kanlaon Volcano over a 24-hour period, nearly two weeks
after it had an explosive eruption that displaced thousands in Negros Island. Based on its latest bulletin issued yesterday, Phivolcs reported 22 volcanic quakes from 12 a.m. Friday until 12 a.m. Saturday State volcanologists said Kanlaon’s activity continues to indicate “intensified unrest” under Alert Level 3. Rex Espiritu and Maricel Cruz
DSWD SEEKS DONATIONS FOR ‘WALANG GUTOM’ KITCHEN By Maricel V. Cruz SOCIAL Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian called for food donations from restaurants and fast foods, as well as from individuals who are willing to render volunteer service, in the newly-opened Walang Gutom Kitchen. “We encourage organizations and individuals who want to help fight hunger to just go to Walang Gutom Kitchen at the Nasdake Building in Pasay City to be our volunteer server for the day,” Gatchalian said. Launched on December 16, the Walang Gutom Kitchen is the DSWD’s latest innovative program
that offers holistic solutions to homelessness and hunger. Its primary clientele are children, individuals, and families in street situations and other Filipinos experiencing involuntary hunger. Apart from addressing involuntary hunger, Gatchalian said the kitchen will also prevent food wastage. “First of all, we want to suppress hunger. But where will we get the food? Since this soup kitchen is also a food bank, this is where hotels, restaurants, and fast food stores drop their excess sales and food they did not consume that day,” he said. “Instead of just throwing food away and wasting them, now they
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have a place to put them and donate them where the DSWD will distribute them and serve them to our compatriots who are experiencing hunger, families who living on the streets, individuals and youth experiencing temporary hunger,” he added. Gatchalian said the DSWD will open more soup kitchens nationwide to realize President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s vision of a hunger-free Philippines. So far, Nestle Philippines has donated 300 pieces of 1-kg pack powdered chocolate while Bossing Nation has given 5 boxes of dishwashing liquid.
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PARADE OF STARS. Movie fans gather in Manila as their favorite stars join the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival float parade. Norman Cruz
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