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Marcos revamps NSC
VP, ex-Presidents out of security council under EO 81 By Charles Dantes and Rex Espiritu
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RESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. removed Vice President Sara Duterte and former presidents from the National Security Council, streamlined its membership as well as that of its executive committee. “There is a need to further guarantee that the NSC remains a resilient national security institution, ca-
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 323 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2025
pable of adapting to evolving challenges and opportunities both domestically and internationally,” the President Next page
‘Traslacion’ to be marked nationwide; security tightened By Rex Espiritu, Joel E. Zurbano and Rio Araja THE Feast of the Jesus Nazareno, also called “Traslacion,” will be celebrated nationwide instead of just in the City of Manila, with a series of activities commencing on January 9. “Our feast this year is hisJan. 9 a non-working toric because for the first time, it day in Manila—Palace is not just a feast NEWS / A2 of Quiapo or Manila, but of the churches in the entire Philippines. It’s what we call a liturgical feast,” Quiapo Church rector and bishopelect Jun Sescon, Jr. said in Filipino. “This was widely disseminated in a bishops’ meeting. So there is no need for coordination from Quiapo because in every diocese, in every parish, they will celebrate it,” he added. On Friday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced that it will be deploying units to support the Philippine National Police
FIRST FRIDAY DEVOTEES. Thousands of Catholic devotees attend the first Friday of 2025 mass at the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno – Saint John the Baptist Parish, popularly known as Quiapo Church. Danny Pata
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Gov’t converting ex-POGO hubs into food banks THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is eyeing the conversion of former Philippine Overseas Gaming Operator (POGO) hubs into “food banks” as part of the administration’s goal to end hunger in the country by 2027. In a televised interview, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said negotiations are ongoing to transform other defunct POGO sites into food banks since “rent
is free, we [simply] renovate it a little.” “We’re looking at sites but we are targeting the other POGO centers. We’re currently working with our friends over at PAOCC to make sure we get an inventory of where else we can set up a soup kitchen,” he told ANC’s Headstart. Gatchalian said that the proposed conversion of select POGO hubs into food banks is the subject of meetings
between the DSWD and other government agencies. The Secretary disclosed that addressing hunger will be among the 3 topics he will bring up with President Marcos during next week’s Cabinet meeting, the first such meeting this year. “We want to make sure that we end hunger by 2027 hopefully... No administration has been bold enough to say Next page
Sub drone for spying but origin still uncertain—NSC By Rex Espiritu THE Philippine government is turning to “foreign counterparts” to determine the origin and purpose of a submersible drone or unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) that was recovered by local fishermen off the coast of Masbate last December 30. A National Security Council (NSC) official said on state television Friday that the 2.72-meter-long UUV is clearly a tool for information-gathering. “This has national security implications. Very obviously, this drone is
used for reconnaissance and surveillance, so it is imperative to the Philippines to determine from where it came and what was doing inside our archipelagic waters,” NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said in a mixture of Filipino and English. “We are also coordinating closely with foreign counterparts to get additional information on this [UUV],” he added. It was not clear what countries would be consulted in determining the submersible drone’s origins but, aside from its long-standing ties with the US, Next page
House leaders deny pork barrel revival in 2025 national budget By Maricel V. Cruz
OPEN KITCHEN. The Walang Gutom Kitchen of the Department of Social Welfare and Development continues to serve free hot meals to individuals and families in need in Pasay City. The program allows walk-ins to receive meals, particularly the homeless and low-income earners.The WGK is a partnership between the DSWD and hotels, restaurants, and organizations which provide surplus food. Walang Gutom Kitchen FB
HOUSE leaders on Friday declared that the 2025 national budget signed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is “pork-free.” House Assistant Majority Leader and Tingo Rep. Jude Acidre made the statement in response to concerns raised by administration critics that the old pork barrel system was revived under this year’s budget. “If we’re talking about the pork-barrel style that was in place before, I don’t think that’s the case,” Acidre said.
OPEC, China supply cuts to trigger big-time oil price hike By Alena Mae S. Flores
DOE Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) director Rodela Romero said Friday CONSUMERS can expect a big-time oil price that based on the 4-day trading in Mean of hike of up to P1 per liter on Tuesday to reflect Platts Singapore, the benchmark pricing for the movement of prices in the world oil markets, oil importers, consumers are facing pump prices increases across all petroleum products according to the Department of Energy.
next week. Romero said gasoline will increase by P0.40 to P0.70 per liter, diesel by P0.75 to P1 per liter and kerosene increase of P0.70 to P0.80 per liter. Next page
“First, the line items are there. Second, the guidelines are crafted by executive agencies. The programs themselves will be implemented by the executive agencies. None of these projects, none of these items, have been delegated… to the legislative. So all are within the purview of the executive and the executive agencies,” the Tingog party-list solon explained. Next page