PHILIPPINE ECONOMY SEEN TO GROW BY 5.5 PERCENT IN 2023 AS PANDEMIC RECOVERY CONTINUES
The Philippine economy is seen to grow by 5.5 percent this year as laggard industries during the pandemic, such as hotels and restaurants, continue to pick up, BPI Lead Economist Jun Neri said on Wednesday.
The forecast assumes that Germany, Italy and other parts of Europe will be in recession, but higher growth in these areas may result in better earnings for overseas Filipinos which in turn will also be good for the Philippine economy, he said.
The Philippines posted a 7.6 gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the third quarter of 2022. The state statistics agency has yet to release fourth-quarter and full-year data.
PH BOOKS $923 MILLION FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT NET INFLOWS IN OCTOBER 2022
MANILA - The Philippines booked a total of $923 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) net inflows in October, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed.
October's total is 6.3 percent higher than the $868 million net inflows in October 2021, the BSP said in a statement.
"Despite the global economic headwinds, FDI net inflows rose on account of the increase in non-residents’ net investments in debt instruments and equity capital of their local affiliates," the BSP said.
In terms of country source, equity capital placements largely came from Japan, the United States and Singapore. Investments from these countries were channeled mostly to the financial and insurance, manufacturing and real estate sectors, the central bank said.
However, on a cumulative basis, FDI net inflows dipped by 8.3 percent to $7.6 billion in the January to October 2022 period compared to the $8.3 billion in net FDI inflows in the same period in 2021 as all components posted declines, the BSP said.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr's administration has been active in wooing global investors by engaging in discussions during the team's recent state visits.
SUPREME COURT VOIDS 2005 JOINT EXPLORATION DEAL WITH CHINA, VIETNAM
MANILA — The Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down a 2005 agreement for Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) among the Philippines, China, and Vietnam in the South China Sea, approved by the administration of then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The deal gave the 3 countries, through their oil companies Philippine National Oil Co., China National Offshore Oil Corp., and Vietnam Oil and Gas Corp., the authority to “engage in a joint research” on sources of petroleum in a 142,886 square kilometer area in the South China Sea as a pre-exploration activity.
Voting 12-2-1, the Supreme Court en banc "declared unconstitutional and void" the tripartite agreement, according to the the SC Public Information Office.
"The Court ruled that the JSMU is unconstitutional for allowing wholly-owned foreign corporations to participate in the exploration of the country's natural resources without observing the safeguards provided in Section 2, Article XII of the 1987 Constitution," the SC-PIO said in a press release.
The petitioners, then lawmakers Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casiño, said the constitution reserves the exploration, development, and utilization (EDU) of natural resources to Filipino citizens, or corporations or associations where at least 60 percent of capital is owned by Filipinos.
They argued that the JSMU was illegal as it allowed foreign corporations wholly-owned by China and Vietnam to undertake large-scale exploration of the country's petroleum resources.
Respondents, on the other hand, maintained that constitutional provision was inapplicable because the JMSU only involves pre-exploration activities.
Bayan Muna chairman Neri Colmenares, who also served as counsel for the petitioners along with Atty. Julius Matibag, welcomed the Supreme Court's decision, saying it "would serve as another layer of protection to safeguard our territory and resources."
10 PEOPLE KILLED DUE TO JANUARY BAD WEATHER: DISASTER AGENCY
MANILA — At least 10 people have died due to bad weather across the Philippines in the past week, with more heavy rain expected in already sodden regions of the disaster-prone country, authorities said Wednesday.
Bad weather has plagued the country's southern and central islands since the Christmas weekend when downpours triggered flooding and landslides that left 52 people dead and forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.
Since Jan. 2, back-to-back low pressure areas have killed 10 people as floodwaters swept through houses, cut roads and swamped crops, the civil defense office said.
It initially listed 11 fatalities and later removed one death from Capiz after verifying that it was due to a localized thunderstorm last Dec. 31, 2022.
The state weather forecaster warned Tuesday of "serious flooding" in low-lying areas and landslides in the mountains of the central island of Samar.
Heavy rain has already inundated villages, with water levels reaching 3 meters in some places.
So far, one person was missing and more than 2,200 people had been evacuated from their homes, said Josh Echano, Northern Samar provincial disaster officer.
The number of evacuees was expected to rise.
"The flood is progressing since yesterday, it's not subsiding," Echano said.
"This could be fatal. This could be one of the worst (floods)."
798 MANILA COPS GET PROMOTIONS
MANILA — At least 798 non-commissioned police officers were promoted yesterday at the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters.
During the oathtaking and pinning of ranks at the MPD headquarters in Ermita, Manila yesterday, MPD director Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon congratulated the newly promoted officers with ranks of corporal to sergeant.
“I congratulate all of you on your truly earned promotion. Like I always say to you, it is important to love your family and your work as your police officer,” Dizon said in his speech.
Meanwhile, 88 commissioned police officers from the MPD were promoted during the oathtaking ceremony yesterday at the National Capital Region Police Office headquarters in Taguig.
Dizon told his police personnel that their promotions should remind them to fulfill their duties in the force.
“This promotion should be a reminder that you are a valued asset to the Philippine National Police and let us prove to all of them that the Manila Police District is truly the home of the finest,” Dizon said.
Meanwhile, 629 non-commissioned officers and 83 commissioned officers were promoted at the Northern Police District (NPD).
“I’m overjoyed that your potential has finally been acknowledged,” NPD director Brig. Gen. Ponce Peñones Jr. said on his Facebook page.
RANKING PNP OFFICERS TO FACE LIFESTYLE CHECK
High-ranking police officials will undergo a lifestyle check as part of efforts to cleanse the ranks of the Philippine National Police (PNP), its chief, Police Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., said Tuesday.
In an interview on radio dzBB, Azurin said a lifestyle check is among the ways that the five-member panel responsible for reviewing the records of police generals and colonels who have been asked to submit their courtesy resignations.
Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong, the only member of the five-person panel to be identified so far, also said a lifestyle check would be part of the screening process.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Monday that only 3 to 4 percent of 900 colonels and generals of the Philippine National Police are directly linked to illegal drugs.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said in a television interview that his source of the figure is from intelligence reports collated by the PNP.
“There are some intelligence reports, but we have to vet them very, very well. According to the chief PNP Rodolfo Azurin Jr. it’s about more or less, 3 to 4 percent of the top cops,” Abalos said.
Meanwhile, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said it has fully complied in submitting the courtesy resignation of all third level officials, after the order was urged by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
NCRPO Chief Gen. Jonnel Estomo said they are "100 percent compliant" after 76 police colonels and staff ranks in their regional police force passed their credentials for assessment and evaluation.
JAPAN RANKS MOST POWERFUL PASSPORT WHILE PH SITS AT 78TH SPOT: GLOBAL INDEX
MANILA — Japan was named the world's most powerful passport for the 5th year out of a total of 199, according to Henley Global Passport Index released in the first quarter of 2023.
The ranking is based on the total number of destinations a holder can visit visa-free as well as their Henley Passport Power (HPP), which indicates the percentage of global GDP each passport provides, Henley& Partners said in a report.
Each visa-free destination is equivalent to a score of 1, based on the report that uses data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as well as the World Bank.
Japan has a visa-free score of 193 out of 227 travel destinations, the ranking showed.
Tied in the second spot are Singapore and South Korea with a score of 192, data showed.
Completing the top 5 are Germany and Spain at the third spot with a score of 190, Finland, Italy and Luxembourg in the 4th spot with a score of 189, and Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, and Sweden at the 5th spot with a score of 188, the global passport index showed.
The Philippines, meanwhile, is at placed 78th along with Uganda with a score of 76, the index showed. The Philippine passport ranked 80th in 2022, 77th in 2021, and 74th in 2020, based on the same index.
Afghanistan is the least powerful passport with a score of 27, data showed.
TOP 10 MOST POWER PASSPORTS ACCORDING TO HENLEY PASSPORT INDEX:
1 Japan, Singapore (visa-free score 193)
2 Singapore, South Korea ( 192)
3 Germany, Spain (190)
4 Finland, Italy, Luxembourg (189
5 Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden (188)
6 France, Ireland, Portugal, United Kingdom (187)
7 Belgium, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United States (186)
8 Australia, Canada, Greece, Malta (185)
9 Hungary, Poland (184)
10 Lithuania, Slovakia (183)
DEPED TO PRESENT REVISED CURRICULUM FOR K-12 BY JAN. 30
The Department of Education (DepEd) is expected to present a revised Kinder to Grade 12 (K-12) curriculum by Jan. 30, beating a July deadline set by the Palace.
Malacañang press briefer Daphne Oseña-Paez said this was among the topics raised during a Cabinet meeting presided over by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday.
“The Department of Education, the Secretary VP [Vice President] Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio presented the plans for inclusive learning, support for teachers, and improving the curriculum. The DepEd will be presenting a revised K-12 curriculum for basic ed on January 30th,” she said in a Palace press briefing.
Last July, shortly after the President’s State of the Nation address, Duterte-Carpio said DepEd had until this July next year to finalize its review of the K-12 program. The agency under former Education Secretary Leonor Briones already finished the review for the lower grades.
“We were given by President Marcos one year, this School Year 2022-2023, to give a final answer about our K-12 program here in the country, “ Duterte-Carpio said then.
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COMELEC EYES ‘REGISTER ANYWHERE’ EXPANSION
MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is eyeing the expansion of its register anywhere program (RAP) to ensure that more voters can participate in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in October.
”We are likely to eventually put RAP booths in all regions,” Comelec Chairman George Erwin Gacia said at the launch of the RAP booth at the Government Service Insurance System gymnasium in Pasay City yesterday.
Under the program, qualified voters who temporarily reside in areas far from the place where they cast their vote can register in any RAP booth.
Garcia said RAP operations may also be extended beyond weekends.
RAP is currently being held every Saturday and Sunday at select malls in Manila, Quezon City, Parañaque and Pasay City in Metro Manila and the cities of Naga, Legazpi and Tacloban in the provinces.
RAP booths will be operational only until Jan. 22.
COMMUNITIES URGE JAPAN AID AGENCY TO DIVEST FROM DAVAO'S WASTE-TO-ENERGY FACILITY
MANILA — Communities opposing a waste-to-energy facility in Davao City called on the Japan International Cooperation Agency to divest from the project, saying the incinerator will not only pose threats to the health of residents but also to the city’s rich biodiversity.
The local government of Davao City approved the plan to construct a P2.5 billion WTE facility, funded by a Japanese loan, to address the city’s waste crisis.
The WTE incinerator will be built on a 10-hectare property in Barangay Biao Escuela in Tugbok District and it will be close to a school, agricultural lands and the relocation site of the affected communities.
“The construction of this facility will not only be dangerous to people’s health but will also destroy valuable agricultural land — land that could be used to cultivate resources for the community,” said Gary Villocino of Masipag, a network of farmers in Davao.
Mark Peñalver, executive director of Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS)-Davao, stressed that WTE incineration is harmful to the environment and is not a renewable or sustainable energy source.
“So not only is incineration a bad choice for the environment, but it’s also not a wise choice from a climate perspective,” he said.
BINAY VOWS HONEST MAKATI CITY GOVERNMENT
MANILA — The public should expect a local government in Makati that is honest and transparent as ever, focusing on making healthcare and other social services accessible to its constituents, Mayor Abigail Binay said yesterday.
Binay, in her first State of the City Address during her third term as mayor, vowed to continue her governance of the city with integrity.
“My government is determined to promote a strong government that is fair, honest and transparent,” she said in her address before members of the Rotary Club of Makati.
The local chief executive noted that for the past five years, the Makati government has been recognized by the Commission on Audit (COA) for its fairness in presenting the city’s financial statements.
For this year, Binay said they have “exciting things” planned for residents and businesses.
Binay said their health services will be more accessible to people by improving existing medical facilities and embarking on programs for the healthcare sector.
“Modern technology will be utilized to ensure everyone has access to quality care,” she said.
Binay announced that the Makati Life Medical Center in Barangay Bel-Air is expected to open next month, which elicited cheers from the audience.
The state-of-the-art hospital worth P9.77 billion has 360 beds, 190 doctor’s clinics and multiple specialty centers.
The hospital is a product of a public-private partnership venture between the city government and Life Nurture Inc.
Deserving students should also expect more scholarships and grants this year, Binay said.
For businesses to continue thriving in Makati, Binay said they will provide more resources and incentives for green building traders.
Recognizing that constituents need stability and security during difficult times, Binay said the city is expanding housing assistance, legal aid, mental health counseling centers and other support services.
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
KIM MOLINA, JERALD NAPOLES TEAM UP ANEW IN FEEL-GOOD MOVIE
Reel and real-life couple Kim Molina and Jerald Napoles are teaming up once again in Girlfriend Na Pwede Na, Viva’s opening salvo this 2023. The romantic comedy, in cinemas on January 18, also stars Gab Lagman.
The story follows Pam (Kim Molina), the “okay” girlfriend who is in her late 20s. Pam has been longing to finally move on to the next chapter of her life and marry her longtime boyfriend Jiggs (Gab Lagman). Despite their seven-year relationship, Jiggs has given no hints in popping the question to Pam. As it turns out, he is not so sure that Pam is the one for him. Hurt and insulted, Pam breaks up with Jiggs but regrets it almost immediately after realizing that Jiggs still owns her heart.
Instead of moving on from her now ex-boyfriend, Pam formulates a plan to make Jiggs want her back and make him realize that Pam is the one for him. With help from her friends, they will hire and create the perfect guy to make Jiggs jealous. This guy would be Isko (Jerald Napoles), a simple Buko Juice vendor who, in exchange for a good amount of money, agrees to pretend and be the perfect boyfriend for Pam.
What was at first a fake and forced relationship turns into a happy companionship as Pam and Isko’s humor jive perfectly, and realize that they also have a lot in common. Jiggs and their friends also begin to notice a change in Pam and her growing closeness with Isko.
Jiggs becomes jealous and now tries to pursue Pam once more – this could be the perfect ending for Pam’s original plan, but the catch is Pam is now starting to see Isko in a different light and might be falling for him.
Girlfriend Na Pwede Na is directed by a seasoned screenwriter and filmmaker, and Gawad Urian nominated director Benedict Mique.
SPORTS
NBA SCORES OF JAN 9
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Pelicans25-16 35 33 32 32 132
Wizards17-24 37 19 32 24 112
Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
player headshot
C. McCollum NO PG
34 PTS , 5 REB , 1 AST
player headshot
K. Porzingis WAS C
23 PTS , 10 REB , 1 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Bulls19-22 25 25 23 26 99
Celtics29-12 28 31 25 23 107
TD Garden , Boston, MA
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
player headshot
Z. LaVine CHI SG
27 PTS , 7 REB , 6 AST
player headshot
J. Tatum BOS PF
32 PTS , 8 REB , 7 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Bucks26-14 22 24 27 38 111
Knicks22-19 22 29 27 29 107
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
player headshot
G. Antetokounmpo MIL PF
22 PTS , 10 REB , 5 AST
player headshot
J. Brunson NY PG
44 PTS , 7 REB , 4 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Spurs13-28 25 36 31 21 113
Grizzlies27-13 35 37 25 24 121
FedExForum, Memphis, TN
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
player headshot
T. Jones SA PG
18 PTS , 4 REB , 7 AST
player headshot
T. Jones MEM PG
24 PTS , 3 REB , 6 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Lakers19-22 23 25 31 30 109
Nuggets27-13 29 33 32 28 122
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
player headshot
R. Westbrook LAL PG
25 PTS , 7 REB , 7 AST
player headshot
J. Murray DEN PG
34 PTS , 7 REB , 4 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Magic15-26 31 21 32 27 111
Kings21-18 41 31 35 29 136
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
player headshot
P. Banchero ORL PF
17 PTS , 8 REB , 4 AST
player headshot
H. Barnes SAC PF
30 PTS , 1 REB , 1 AST
INDICATORS
FOREX $1 = P 54.87
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
We create our own world by our own thoughts, and thus we make our own heaven - and our own hell. - Swami Muktananda
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