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SWS survey: 7 of 10 Pinoys expect ‘happy’ Xmas celebration this year
VOL. XXXVI • NO. 313 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
MORE Filipinos are expecting a “happy” Christmas celebration this year compared to 2021, a new survey from private polling firm Social Weather Stations (SWS) released Friday revealed. Some 73 percent, or 7 out of 10, adult Filipino respondents in the non-commissioned survey said they anticipate
this coming Christmas to be “happy.” Meanwhile, 7 percent of those surveyed expect it to be “sad,” and 19 percent expect it to be “neither happy nor sad.” “The 73% expecting a happy Christmas is 8 points above the 65% in 2021, and 23 points above the record-low 50% Next page
Fishing pact with China eyed NSA pushes regional interim move pending Code of Conduct in SCS
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ATIONAL Security Adviser Clarita Carlos suggested Friday a regional regulatory fishing agreement with China amid the latter’s alleged continued activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Interviewed on Dobol B TV, Carlos pointed out that there should be a fishing agreement for the meantime since the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea had yet to be finished. “I hope I will finish my draft since the Code of Conduct, which is already long overdue, is not yet finished. For the meantime, we should have a fishing agreement,” Carlos said. With the agreement, Carlos said all concerned countries, not only China, would decide when it would come to the declaration of a fishing holiday. She made the statement following the reported new constructions and reclamations being made China in some unoccupied features in the WPS. The Chinese embassy in Manila has dismissed the report as “fake news.” Meanwhile, Carlos said the Philippine government preferred not to make hasty conclusions on the reported latest reclamation activities in the hotly contested South China Sea. This was after Carlos was informed by Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian on Thursday that it was Vietnam that was reclaiming land Next page
LAST-DAY RUSH. People flock to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) on Friday, packing the queues at their designated bus gates for their holiday vacations to their provinces on the last working day before Christmas Day. The scene was replicated at Manila North Harbor Port as about 700 passengers boarded MV 2GO Maligaya sailing for Cebu City and Cagayan de Oro City. Norman Cruz
DTI cites P23.6b investment pledges raised from PBBM foreign travels various countries, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said in its acPRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has complishment report Friday. According to DTI’s year-end report, brought home $23.6 billion in investment pledges from his foreign visits to President Marcos’ visits to Indonesia,
By Vito Barcelo
Singapore, the United States, Cambo- ippines. dia, and Thailand brought billions of Meanwhile, the Board of Investments pesos in investments as part of the ad- (BOI) and the Philippine Economic ministration’s campaign to attract more Zone Authority (PEZA) had combined foreign businesses to come to the PhilNext page
By Rey E. Requejo
Customs foils P171m agri smuggling
SIX more persons have been charged with kidnapping after a spate of mysterious disappearances in the country’s massive cockfighting industry, authorities said Friday, with dozens of victims feared dead. The Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a statement that apart from the six – all cockpit security personnel -prosecutors had found probable cause to file charges against three former police officers, Police Staff Sgt. Daryl Panghangaan and patrolmen Roy Navarete and Rigel Brosas, for allegedly robbing
By Joel E. Zurbano, Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta CUSTOMS agents assigned at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) have seized more than P171 million worth of smuggled agricultural products, including fresh red and white onions from China. The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) said it conducted a series of examinations from Dec. 6 to 22, which resulted in the seizure of some 20 container vans consigned to one company. The containers, which arrived at the Manila North Harbor from Nov. 12 to Dec. 3, were all consigned to Taculog J Next page
6 more charged with kidnapping of sabungeros
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CHEAP AGRI PRODUCTS. At 7 a.m. on Friday, a crowd gathers at the ADC Kadiwa ng Pasko store at the Department of Agriculture offices in Quezon City. The government-run stores nationwide offer fresh agricultural products at low prices. Robert Oswald P. Alfiler
Holidays may spike COVID at 5k daily DAILY COVID-19 infections may reach up to 5,000 in January due to the current holiday activities, an infectious diseases expert said on Friday. Dr. Rontgene Solante said however that fresh infections may not exceed that figure amid the population’s immunity.
This developed as Philippines has detected its first four cases of the BF.7 omicron subvariant of the coronavirus, the Department of Health said, adding that it projected daily cases of COVID-19 to reach more than 4,100 by January 15. Next page
Diesel price rollback set, gas to go up By Alena Mae S. Flores CONSUMERS can expect mixed movements in the price of oil products on Tuesday, with unleaded gasoline and kerosene prices going up. Local oil firms, however, are expected to cut diesel prices by P0.50 to P0.70 per liter to reflect the price movement in the world oil market. The Department of Energy said that based on the four-day trading period, gasoline may go up by P0.30 to P0.60 per liter, while kerosene will increase Next page
Revilla champions ‘period’ leave for female workers menstrual cycles – read this. In filing Senate Bill 1545 or the Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. is proposed Sanitary Leave Act, Revilla WOMEN workers in government and pushing to give a menstruation or pe- noted it has been scientifically proven in the private sector who have their riod leave for them. Next page
By Macon Ramos-Araneta THUMB-SIZED BELEN. The smallest Belen or Nativity Scene figurine of 100 pieces from the collection of theologian and professor Father Genaro O. Diwa are on exhibit inside the Manila Cathedral Basilica in Intramuros on Friday. The exhibit will continue past Christmas. Norman Cruz