Good day. Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023.
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THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has disqualified and disallowed technology provider Smartmatic Philippines Inc. from participating in all its public bidding and procurement processes. Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia on Wednesday said the decision had nothing to do with the petition filed against Smartmatic in June by former Information and Communications Technology secretary Eliseo Rio, former Comelec commissioner Augusto “Gus” Lagman, Franklin Ysaac and Leonardo Odono. Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco said the decision of the en banc was related to the questionable procurement during the 2016 elections won by Smartmatic. The Comelec cited the request for official documents relative to the investigation by the United States government of former Comelec chairman Juan Andres Bautista and other individuals and entities for violation of US criminal laws. It said the request from the US government was in pursuance of the Philippine-United States Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters relative to the alleged violation of US criminal laws that include Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering. The evidence requested by the US prosecutor, it said, was crucial “for tracking the flow of payments and identifying other individuals involved in the alleged scheme.”
Christmas convoy can visit other WPS islands
THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has identified eight other Philippine-occupied features in the West Philippine Sea that the civilian-led Christmas convoy can visit and where they can bring their gifts and donations to Filipino troops. Besides Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, areas where the Atin Ito! Coalition Christmas convoy can visit include Lawak, Likas, Patag, Pag-asa, Parola, Rizal and Kota. However, PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela in a public briefing on Wednesday said before the group can visit these areas, it must first obtain a special permit from the Maritime Industry Authority. The National Security Council (NSC) has already allowed the plan, but the convoy must not include visiting BRP Sierra Madre, which is located in Ayungin Shoal, in their itinerary. The NSC said the planned Christmas convoy will pass through the general vicinity of Ayungin Shoal as far as practicable, on its way to other selected Philippine-occupied features. Tarriela pointed out that Atin Ito cannot simply designate small or Indigenous boats and fishing vessels for the mission considering the big waves in the WPS during this season.
Public urged to wear masks amid spike in flu-like cases
THE Philippine Federation of Professional Associations (PFPA) on Wednesday urged the public to wear face masks amid the spike in flu-like cases in the country. The Department of Health recorded 182,721 cases as of Nov. 11, 2023, higher than the 158,307 cases reported from January to October last year. PFPA Vice President Dr. Benito Atienza said the increase in cases could be because most Filipinos have stopped wearing masks, even in crowded places. He added that sudden weather changes could also be a factor. He urged the public to get their flu shots, especially the elderly. The World Health Organization defined influenza-like illness as an acute respiratory infection with a fever of 38 degrees Celsius or higher. It is commonly associated with cough, congestion, body aches, headaches, fatigue and sore throat. This can be easily spread by sneezing and coughing.
Pope Francis canceled his upcoming trip to Dubai for the COP28 climate talks on Tuesday on the advice of doctors concerned over his recent flu-like symptoms, the Vatican said. The 86-year-old, who has made protecting the environment a cornerstone of his 10-year papacy, had planned to become the first pontiff to attend the UN event since the process began in 1995. With Francis’ withdrawal from the conference, which begins on Thursday, COP28 will lose one of the highest-profile advocates of the environment, a moral authority recognizable on the global stage whose words some believed could writes about beauty pageants and nudge leaders to take concrete action. The leader of 1.3 billion Catholics, more than half of whom live in the developing world, Francis has long insisted on the link between climate change and poverty, with the world’s most marginalized paying the highest price for global warming. In Dubai, the pope was expected to use the platform to castigate countries for a lack of action on climate change and seek to persuade them to dramatically cut their greenhouse gas emissions. He was also expected to play a role in rebuilding trust between climate-vulnerable nations and rich, consumerism-driven polluters.
Gaza war, Moon race: Events that defined 2023
From Hamas’ brutal attacks in Israel and the fierce retribution it provoked to the kiss that caused a revolt in Spanish football, here are 10 events that marked a tumultuous 2023. Among them are the Israel-Gaza War, Ukraine’s labor fightback, devastating quakes, Hollywood on strike, deadly fires, the moon as the new frontier,
In Business
‘Notable’ revenue gain shrinks budget deficit
THE national government’s (NG) budget deficit narrowed substantially in October from a year earlier as revenues outpaced spending, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) reported on Wednesday. The shortfall shrunk by 65.27 percent to P34.4 billion, P64.7 billion lower than the year-earlier P99.1 billion. The improvement was “underscored by a notable 33.56 percent rise in revenue collections outpacing government expenditure growth of 8.32 percent,” the Treasury said in a statement. Year to date, the overall budget deficit contracted to P1.01 trillion, down by 8.45 percent from a year earlier and equivalent to 67.88 percent of this year’s P1.49-trillion target. Revenues totaled P385.8 billion in October, up from last year’s P288.9 billion, while the P420.2 billion in spending was higher than the year-earlier P387.9 billion. The ten-month revenue tally of P3.22 trillion likewise marked a 9.41-percent increase from P2.95 trillion in the comparable 2022 period. Tax collections accounted for the bulk, or 89.84 percent, of year-to-date revenue, with the remaining 10.16 percent generated from non-tax collections.
Topping Sports
Obiena named ‘Sports Idol’ in Siklab Awards
ASIAN pole vault king Ernest John “EJ” Obiena will share the spotlight with 57 other young athletes from 33 sports during the third Siklab Youth Sports Awards on December 4 at the Market! Market! Activity Center in Taguig City. Obiena, the World No. 2 pole vaulter, is the hands-down winner of the “Sports Idol” plum in the award rites organized by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee Media Group. The Siklab Awards will likewise present a special citation to the Youth Football League and the Davao Aguilas Football Club, which is supported by Quezon City 1st District Rep. Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde. Additionally, the Para Youth Star award will be given to Asean Para Games double gold medalist Ariel Alegarbes. Joining the bemedalled Obiena in the gala for the finest Filipino junior athletes 18 years old and younger are tennis star Alex Eala, World Combat Games champion Alyssa Kylie Mallari of Muay Thai, weightlifting world youth champion Prince Keil de los Santos, gymnast Karl Eldrew Yulo — an Asian championship junior silver medalist — and Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Kira Ellis and Matthew Hermosa, along with 18 others.
Today’s editorial makes a call for open scinece access. Read the full version on print or digital or listen to the Voice of the Times. Featured columnists on the front page are Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta and Jeffrey Sachs. Contreras writes about beauty pageants and identity politics, Makbenta on the cancellation of Pope Francis’ trip to Dubai for COP 28 and new scares from Guterres to keep alarmism in business and Sachs on justice and finance at the climate summit.
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