TRANSPORT PROJECTS, ECONOMIC GROWTH TACKLED IN MARCOS' 2ND CABINET MEET

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr, on Tuesday discussed with his Cabinet strategies to boost the country's inclusive economic growth, infrastructure, and transport projects, his Press Secretary said.

Marcos, who is still recovering from COVID-19, attended his second Cabinet meeting virtually.

"Kahit pangkasalukuyan tayong naka-isolate, patuloy ang ating mga pagpupulong at iba pang tungkulin sa pamamagitan ng internet," Marcos said on social media.

"Marami ang maitatawid na komunikasyon sa matibay at mabisang digital infrastructure na siya ring sinisikap nating pagandahin pa," he added.

Photos released on his social media accounts showed his Cabinet members listening to him during their meeting in Malacañang.

Solicitor-General Menardo Guevarra said the meeting started at 9 a.m. and focused on "heavy" agenda which also included the country's tourism and spending plan.

"I think we will end at around 1:30 p.m. Highlights will be announced by the press secretary," Guevarra told Palace reporters.

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles, meanwhile, said the Department of Budget and Management discussed next year's fiscal plan geared "towards the promotion of broad-based and inclusive economic recovery and growth."

The Department of Public Works and Highways tackled the continuation of the Build, Build, Build program and "infrastructure convergence programs."

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista this week said government would need P1.4 billion to continue the Libreng Sakay program in EDSA until year-end.

Marcos also led the virtual meeting with the officials of the Department of Agriculture, the topics of which ranged from the Rice Tariffication Law, livestock production, and ramping up the production of high-value crops.

The Philippine leader currently heads the agency in a bid to address pressing matters such as food security and strategies so the country could attain food self-sufficiency.

'STRONGER MILITARY, ALLIANCES NEEDED TO COMPLEMENT TALKS ON WEST PHILIPPINE SEA'

MANILA — While diplomatic talks over the issues at the West Philippine Sea are needed, improving the country’s military capability would also be crucial to discourage aggression in the disputed waters, analysts said.

In a forum hosted by think tank Stratbase ADR Institute on Tuesday, Renato de Castro proposed allocating 2% more of the country’s gross domestic product for the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

"We need to back up our diplomacy with credible military capability. Many diplomats know for a fact that diplomacy is simply the velvet glove that covers the iron fist of the military capability," said de Castro, professor at De La Salle University and trustee and program convenor at the think-tank.

He also said that a “well-thought, comprehensive, and formal” National Security Strategy that takes into account the 2016 Arbitral Ruling on the South China Sea dispute would help the new administration in dealing with the issue, with National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos not treating the ruling as "a piece of paper."

Carlos previously said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has told her in discussions that the Philippines plans to “critically engage” with China on the maritime dispute.

HONTIVEROS WANTS SENATE PROBE INTO ALLEGED ABUSE AT PHSA

MANILA — Sen. Risa Hontiveros filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the alleged cases of abuse of students and alumni at the Laguna-based Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA).

This comes around two weeks after an in-depth story by VICE World News on allegations of sexual, verbal and emotional abuse by teachers and staff. The story also reported that school authorities have ignored the allegations of students.

"Be it resolved as it is hereby resolved, to direct the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the reported culture of abuse, harassment, and violence at the PHSA with the end in view of creating safer spaces for children in all educational institutions, consistent with the provisions of the Safe Spaces Act," Hontiveros' resolution read.

She said the Senate should exercise its oversight powers to make sure that PHSA and other schools are safe spaces, especially as in-person classes will resume next month.

PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS GROUP NOT IN FAVOR OF AUG. 22 START OF CLASSES

MANILA — The Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC) said they are not in favor of the August 22 start date for classes because this will mean that teachers will not get enough rest before the school year starts.

The Department of Education (DepEd) earlier said that the incoming school year will officially start on Aug. 22, 2022 and end on July 7, 2023, according to the agency's Department Order No. 34.

It added that private schools and state universities and colleges that offer basic education may follow the new calendar, "provided they start classes not earlier than the first Monday of June and not later than the last day of August."

The TDC, a federation of public school teachers’ associations nationwide, said DepEd's decision will not give teachers enough time to rest. While the previous school year officially ended on June 24, many teachers are still reporting to  schools for academic duties to date for remedial and enrichment classes and the DepEd's Brigada Eskwela and in-service trainings.

On late Tuesday, TDC said in a statement that the move to begin classes on August 22 is "contrary to the request of teachers" because they will not be able to "physically, emotionally and mentally" prepare before the resumption of classes.

TDC said the teachers' activities will continue up until August, the month when classes for the next school year will formally begin.

"In the end, our teachers will never have a break," TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas said in a statement. He explained that teachers are willing to perform their duties, but they need to have what is due to them.

PULSE ASIA: INFLATION, WAGE HIKE TOP CONCERNS OF FILIPINOS; COVID TAKES BACKSEAT

MANILA—Bringing down inflation and raising wages are the top national concerns of Filipinos, according to a Pulse Asia survey released Tuesday.

Majority of Filipino adults or 57 percent said the new administration must take steps to control inflation, the June 24 to 27 poll found.

The survey also showed that almost half of Filipino adults or 45 percent are calling for an increase in salaries. Reducing poverty and raising employment were also top concerns, with 33 percent and 29 percent of respondents agreeing, respectively.

The survey comes as inflation in the Philippines further quickened to 6.1 percent in June, its highest level since October 2018 or almost 4 years.

The Philippine peso also weakened further closing at P56.06 to the US dollar on July 7, the currency's weakest level since September 2005.

In contrast, after more than 2 years since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, only 7 percent of Filipino adults said it is urgent to control the spread of COVID-19. The least concerns of respondents were protecting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (5%) and preparing to face any kind of terrorism (3%).

For a third of the country’s adult population or 38.4 percent, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. must prioritize dealing with the rising prices of basic goods.

Providing jobs to the poor and addressing issues concerning the agricultural sector came in second (19.7%) and third (8.8%), respectively.

Marcos must also raise the wages of workers (6.8%) and reduce poverty and extend greater assistance to the poor (5.1%), the respondents told Pulse Asia.

Pulse Asia said the poll, which was conducted using face-to-face interviews among 1,200 respondents, had a ±2.8 percent error margin at the 95 percent confidence level.

In a statement, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said some of the most pressing concerns, including the quickening inflation, have already been discussed during Marcos, Jr's first Cabinet meeting.

"The president himself reported this, so he is actually ahead of the publication of the survey having anticipated this as a problem," Angeles told reporters.

LAWMAKERS SEEK TO INCREASE LEGAL DRINKING AGE TO 21, BAN PWDS FROM BUYING ALCOHOL

MANILA — Seeing booze as a bane to health and the community, Reps. Eric Yap (Benguet) and Paolo Duterte (Davao City) are seeking to increase the legal drinking age to 21 from 18 and ban persons with disabilities from buying alcohol.

Yap and Duterte filed House Bill No. 1753 on Monday with the goal of barring “unqualified individuals” from buying alcohol or alcoholic beverages and prevent others from buying alcohol and alcoholic beverages for them.

Under the proposal, unqualified individuals include those aged below 21 and those who are above 21 “but are unable to fully take care of themselves or protect themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or condition.”

The measure also seeks to prohibit presenting fake IDs to misrepresent one’s age and allowing the consumption or possession of alcohol or alcoholic beverages by a person below 21 in an establishment’s premises.

Under the bill, “unqualified individuals” who violate the measure for the first time would be sent for counseling before the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children.

On their second offense, they will be required to attend two consecutive counseling sessions with the BCPC with their parents or guardians, which if they fail to comply with, their case would be elevated to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“Unqualified individuals” who violate the measure’s provisions for the third and succeeding time will be handed over to the local DSWD “for appropriate counseling and proper disposition on the matter.”

TONI YULO-LOYZAGA NAMED AS NEW DENR SECRETARY

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has chosen Toni Yulo-Loyzaga as the next Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Palace said on Tuesday.

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said Loyzaga's nomination as the next DENR chief "will still be subject to the fulfillment of the required documents."

Loyzaga was the executive director of the Manila Observatory, and the chairperson of its International Advisory Board. She also served as the technical adviser of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation.

She is also part of the AFP’s Command and General Staff College's senior advisory board.

The DENR earlier said that the agency will urge the new President to continue the rehabilitation of Boracay and Manila Bay, two coastal areas that former Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu focused on.

Cimatu stepped down as DENR chief in February due to health reasons. He has since been replaced by two officers-in-charge, with the most recent appointment made by former President Rodrigo Duterte days before he steps down from office.

In a statement, Masungi Georeserve said it supports Loyzaga's nomination as the next environment chief given her background in disaster resilience and track record in environment studies.

OKADA MANILA SEES HIGH OCCUPANCY RATE, 'GOOD NUMBERS' AMID MANAGEMENT ROW

Okada Manila is seeing high occupancy rate and increased activity from its hotel business amid the management row between two camps, Okada Manila spokesperson Atty. Norman Golez said Wednesday.

"We have good numbers, occupancy rate is really high. Food and beverage are also quite high," said Golez, who is representing the camp of Kazuo Okada.

Okada was removed as chairman in 2017 but a Supreme Court status quo ante order mandated the hotel casino to revert to the status quo prior to his removal.

Golez clarified that following the order, Okada's camp took over the management of the establishment and that it was not a violent takeover.

"There was no violent takeover on May 31 rather there was a violent defiance of the Supreme Court order," he said.

Meanwhile the legal counsel of the other camp led by Japanese Hajime Tokuda insisted there was a violent takeover and that charges have been filed due to the incident.

But Golez said the camp of Tokuda has "no choice but to comply" with the Supreme Court order.

He added Okada Manila is "business as usual" and that employees are being paid on time.

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PUBLIC WARNED VS FAKE OVP ACCOUNTS

MANILA — The Office of Vice President Sara Duterte yesterday warned the public against fake social media accounts of the OVP and its satellite offices.

“There are no OVP FB accounts. The OVP is in the process of updating the official government OVP website, which will hold all information about the OVP,” Duterte’s spokesman Reynold Munsayac said.

“For the activities of Vice President Sara Duterte, the official FB account is Inday Sara Duterte, Twitter is @indaysara (Sara Duterte) and Instagram is @indaysaraduterte,” he added.

The OVP under former vice president Leni Robredo maintained a verified Facebook account, which – like the OVP website – has yet to be updated to reflect activities of the new Vice President.

The OVP under Duterte recently launched satellite offices in the cities of Dagupan in Pangasinan, Cebu, Tacloban, Zamboanga, Davao and Tandag in Surigao del Sur.

Filipinos can avail of medical and burial assistance through the said satellite offices, as well as through identified partner hospitals.

PESO TOUCHES ALL-TIME LOW VS DOLLAR

MANILA — The Philippine peso touched its all-time low on Tuesday before scaling back the decline, sustaining a weakness driven by the country’s rising imports and out-of-sync policy settings between the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and US Federal Reserve.

The local unit closed at P56.37 against the greenback, weaker than its previous close of P55.98. Data showed this was the peso's worst performance since Nov. 05, 2004.

On Tuesday, the peso's worst showing stood at P56.45, matching the record low set on Oct. 14, 2004. As it is, the peso's continued decline spells bad news for the Philippine economy that is dealing with inflation driven in part by expensive oil.

For now, a strong dollar trend is taking its cues from the US Federal Reserve's aggressive rate hike meant to cool down demand in the world's largest economy. The peso is not isolated as regional currencies equally suffer, as does the euro as it edges closer to parity with the greenback.

TAGUIG’S VOTER REGISTRATION PORTAL SHUT DOWN

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Taguig yesterday closed online appointments in the city’s voter registration portal.

The Comelec said applications for voter certification would be on a “first-come, first-served basis.”

“Because of this, all appointment slots secured in the portal are considered canceled,” the Comelec said.

Residents who want to register for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in December need to appear at the local poll body’s office from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

‘SUCCESSION' TOPS EMMY NOMINATIONS WITH 25, AS ‘SQUID GAME’ MAKES HISTORY

HBO's "Succession" topped this year's Emmy nominations, earning 25 nods on Tuesday, as "Squid Game" became the first non-English-language drama series shortlisted for glory for television's equivalent of the Oscars.

"Succession," which follows a rich, powerful family vying to inherit a media empire, led the drama nominees, while "Ted Lasso" and "The White Lotus" topped the comedy and limited series categories with 20 nominations each.

Two other comedies – HBO's "Hacks" and Hulu's "Only Murders in the Building" – each racked up 17 nominations for the 74th Emmy Awards, to be handed out at a glitzy ceremony in Los Angeles on September 12.

"With production at a historic high, the Academy has received a record number of Emmy submissions this season," said Television Academy CEO Frank Scherma.

"As we prepare for the entertainment industry's biggest night, we are thrilled to honor the innovators, creators, performers and storytellers who are propelling this platinum age of television."

"Succession" will compete for best drama with "Squid Game," a violent South Korean satire in which society's marginalized compete for cash in fatal versions of children's games, which is Netflix's most-watched series ever.

"Squid Game" also picked up multiple acting nominations, including best lead actor for Lee Jung-jae.

Others in the running for the best drama Emmy include "Ozark," "Better Call Saul" and "Stranger Things."

The Emmys will be broadcast in the United States on NBC and Peacock.

SPORTS

KINGS, BOLTS CLASH IN VITAL TIFF

MANILA — Second-running Barangay Ginebra and No. 6 Meralco push for their respective bids as they renew their rivalry in a crucial PBA Philippine Cup duel tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Gin Kings (6-2) seek to give their Top 2 campaign a boost while the Bolts (4-3) look to move closer to the playoffs in the 6 p.m. match following the equally important battle between Blackwater (5-2) and Rain or Shine (2-6) at 3 p.m.

Ginebra and Meralco face off for the first time since their Governors’ Cup title clash won by the former in six games. The rivals face off without their head coaches with Gin Kings mentor Tim Cone serving the Miami Heat’s NBA Summer League team and Bolts tactician Norman Black attending to his ailing mother in the United States.

They enter the court coming off contrasting fates with Ginebra bowing to TNT, 106-92, and Meralco beating Rain or Shine, 77-73.

“We still have a chance at Top 2 so we’ll move on,” Ginebra interim coach Richard del Rosario said after the loss to TNT. “We’ll correct the things that we need to correct and then look forward.”

Luigi Trillo steered Meralco to victory over Rain or Shine and will join hands with Ronnie Magsanoc in manning the ramparts.

“Tulungan lang kami. I’m sure coach Norman would want to be here and we’re just holding the fort. But obviously he has more important things, his mom,” said Trillo. “Hopefully, we can get a couple more wins para when he gets back, at least we have a shot at entering the playoffs, a better chance.”

Meanwhile, the Bossing try to bounce back from their 110-107 overtime loss to leader San Miguel Beer and stay in the mix in the chase for the two win-once incentives.

The Elasto Painters, on the other hand, eye a follow-up to their 96-86 upset of NLEX to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 56.37

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The strong man holds in a living blend strongly marked opposites. Seldom are the humble self-assertive, or the self-assertive humble. But life at its best is a creative synthesis of opposites in fruitful harmony. - Martin Luther King