UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE EASES, JOBLESS RATE STEADY IN FEBRUARY

MANILA - The Philippines' unemployment rate was steady in February while underemployment eased, the state statistics bureau said on Tuesday.

The Philippine Statistics Authority said the jobless rate was 4.8 percent, which meant that there were 2.47 million Filipino workers who were unemployed. This was the same rate compared to January's 4.8 percent, equivalent to 2.37 million.

Meanwhile, the underemployment rate improved to 12.9 percent or 6.29 million, from January's 14.1 percent equivalent to 6.65 million, the PSA said.

“The most recent data on the country’s workforce suggests that the Philippine labor market is steadily recovering. The lifting of various restrictions that previously impeded employment opportunities has resulted in an increase in job prospects for Filipino workers,” National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.

Employment rate in February was also steady at 95.2 percent compared to the previous month, or equivalent to 48.40 million and 47.35 million, respectively, data showed.

The slight improvement in the number of employed persons is seen to continue as the economy further recovers, National Statistician Dennis Mapa said.

Labor force participation, meanwhile, continued to increase to 66.6 percent in February or 51.27 million compared to 64.5 percent or 49.72 million in January, the PSA said.

"Since July 2022, continuous tumataas ang labor force participation rate. It's back to pre-pandemic levels," Mapa said.

PHILIPPINES, UK TO HOLD THIRD DIALOGUE ON CLIMATE CHANGE, ENVIRONMENT PARTNERSHIP

MANILA — The Philippines and the United Kingdom will hold another round of dialogue to strengthen their cooperation on measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, halt and reverse biodiversity loss, ensure water security, and address marine pollution.

In a release, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said its chief Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga and UK Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils will lead on April 13 the third PH-UK Climate Change and Environment Dialogue.

According to the DENR, the third dialogue is "expected to take the partnership of the two nations to new heights by building on the gains from two important agreements forged in 2020 and 2022."

The first partnership deal signed in 2020 served as a platform to facilitate discussion on shared priorities on climate change and environment between the two nations, with a joint focus on energy transition, nature-based solutions and green economic recovery.

In 2022, the Philippines and the UK agreement on a joint work plan that served as a guide in identifying priority areas of collaboration such as:

-Building resilience of the economy, ecosystems and communities in the context of climate change

-Establishing policies and regulatory frameworks toward clean energy and net zero pathways by 2050

-Greening the financial system

-Building stronger collaboration and increasing awareness of institutions and communities in tackling climate change

The Philippines is among the world’s megadiverse — those with great biodiversity —  nations. It, however, is tagged as a biodiversity hotspot with at least 700 threatened species.

MANALO: BEYOND WAR GAMES, BALIKATAN TO HONE DISASTER RESPONSE COOPERATION

MANILA — While military exercises aim to enhance interoperability between troops of different countries, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo emphasized the Balikatan exercises between the Philippines and the US also aim to ease cooperation during times of natural disasters.

The annual war games officially begin on April 11 and will run until April 28.

"It’s pretty important that we learn to work with each other not only on the terms of purely military exercises, because there have also been many occasions the military — and I was involved — in other types of operations, [conducted] humanitarian assistance, responding to disasters and military forces take a very active part in that," Manalo said in a forum hosted by Washington-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Balikatan participants will conduct multiple humanitarian civic assistance projects, such as renovating three community health centers and multipurpose halls. Troops will also train "lifesaving techniques" as well as on how to assist and lead emergency rescue response.

The pared-down Balikatan exercises in 2017 simulated joint disaster response after an earthquake and focused on amphibian landings and airlifts.

This year’s Balikatan iteration will have the biggest troop complement — with over 12,000 US troops, 5,400 Filipino soldiers, and 111 Australian military personnel —  training together through simulated war games and other challenges across the Philippine archipelago.

Manalo noted that this year's activities will also focus on "interoperability in the context of external defense." Some of the exercises include maritime security procedures, coordinated fire and "maneuver in a shared and contested battlespace," according to the US Embassy in Manila.

Balikatan will test the soldiers' capabilities in live-fire exercises, information and intelligence sharing, and communication through amphibious operations, among others.

MANILA POLICE CONFIRMS ARREST OF 2 AFTER RALLY AT US EMBASSY

MANILA — Manila police on Tuesday confirmed the arrest of two youth activists after an unannounced protest in front of the US Embassy on Roxas Boulevard.

The protest coincides with the scheduled opening ceremonies of the joint Balikatan exercises, annual war games that this year have been billed the biggest because of the number of troops participating.

According to a spot report by the Ermita Police Station, the two youths — in their early twenties and both from cities in Metro Manila — were part of a group that "suddenly appeared in front of [the embassy] and intentionally threw paint" at the sign and logo of the US State Department.

Police said personnel chased after members of the group, who had run away after the quick protest, and managed to arrest the two.

The police did not say that the two actually threw the paint, but said neither of them could show permits for the protest. Under a decree issued by Ferdinand Marcos Sr., activities like protests in public places require permits unless done in designated freedom parks.

According to UP Diliman campus publication Kalasag, among those arrested was Gabriel Magtibay, chair of campus political party STAND UP. In statements of support for Magtibay, student activist organizations said four to five others had been arrested.

National democratic activist groups oppose the Visiting Forces Agreement and other military agreements with the US as well as US troop presence in general, saying these keep the Philippines dependent on its treaty ally and former colonizer, and put the country at risk of being dragged into geopolitical conflict with China.

The government, and supporters of US engagement, see the bigger Balikatan games and the warmer ties with America as a way to shore up national defense in the face of Chinese encroachment and provide jobs to local communities.

GATCHALIAN POLL SUGGESTS MAJORITY OF FILIPINOS FAVOR MANDATORY ROTC

MANILA — A survey commissioned by the office of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian suggests that nearly 8 in 10 Filipinos support the return of the mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps program in college.

The survey conducted by private pollster Pulse Asia from March 15 to 19, and released on Tuesday, asked 1,200 respondents whether they agree or disagree with the proposal to make ROTC mandatory again for all college students.

It prefaced the question with this statement: “The ROTC … is a program which aims to teach the youth about discipline and love of country through military training. They will also learn about leadership and patriotism. Some of those who oppose ROTC say that it only leads to bad experiences such as hazing, abuse, harassment and corruption in schools.”

The survey showed that 78% of people agreed to bring back mandatory ROTC, with 43% of them saying they strongly agree and 35% saying they somewhat agree.

Only 13% of the respondents said they disagreed, while 8% said they cannot say if they agree or disagree.

Those who disagreed were also asked to pick a list of reasons why they rejected bringing back program. Of them, 75% worried that cases of hazing, abuse and harassment will increase, while 56% said it was a waste of time that the youth should just dedicate to studying.

LIGHTNING RALLY MARS 1ST DAY OF BALIKATAN 2023

Youth groups led by members of the League of Filipino Students held a lightning rally in front of the US Embassy Monday night ahead of an annual bilateral exercise between US and Filipino troops.

Holding signs that said "No to US Bases", the students were holding a street demonstration on Roxas Boulevard for about 10 minutes when police arrived and started arresting some of the protesters. At least 2 students were arrested, an ANC report said.

More than 17,600 members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the U.S. military will participate in Balikatan 2023, an annual bilateral exercise between the two allies from April 11 to 28.

Activist groups have warned of increased tensions between China and the US after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the location of 4 additional military bases that American soldiers can use under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.

Marcos has said the Philippines will not allow its military bases to be used for any offensive attacks.

PH POSTS $3.88 BILLION TRADE DEFICIT IN FEBRUARY: PSA

MANILA - The Philippines' trade deficit in February registered an annual decline of 2.7 percent to $3.88 billion, the Philippine Statistics Authority said on Tuesday.

Total export sales for the month reached $5.08 billion while imports hit $8.95 billion, both registering annual declines, government data showed.

Annual total export sales from January to February 2023 reached $10.33 billion, 15.6 percent lower compared to the same period the previous year, the PSA said.

Japan contributed the highest total to the export value, amounting to $822.65 million, followed by the US, China, Hong Kong, and Singapore, data showed.

Meanwhile, the January to February's total import value also declined to $19.94 billion, lower by 3.9 percent compared to the $20.74 billion in the same period the previous year, the PSA said.

China is the country's top major import trading partner for the month, followed by Indonesia, Japan, the US, and South Korea, according to government data.

Overall external trade for the month also declined to $14.03 billion, the PSA said.

FIL-AM TENNESSEE LAWMAKER EXPELLED OVER GUN CONTROL PROTEST TO BE RESEATED

WASHINGTON - A city council in Tennessee voted Monday to send a Democratic lawmaker back to the state's legislature days after he was expelled for disrupting a session with calls for stricter gun control laws.

Filipino-American lawmaker Justin Jones and another Democratic colleague, both of whom are Black, were expelled by Republican lawmakers last Thursday after they disrupted an assembly session, demanding stricter gun controls in the wake of a mass shooting at an elementary school in Nashville.

A third legislator who joined their protest -- a white woman -- was not removed, sparking accusations of racism around the case and fueling anger among Democrats well beyond Tennessee.

President Joe Biden has invited all three lawmakers to the White House, while Kamala Harris -- the first Black vice president in US history -- attended a rally in Nashville in support of the "Tennessee Three."

The Nashville Metropolitan Council voted Monday afternoon to send Jones back to his seat in the state legislature on an interim basis, pending a special election.

The seat that had been held by the other expelled Black lawmaker, Justin Pearson, will be discussed Wednesday at a meeting of the Shelby County board of commissioners, news reports said.

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SINGIL SA KURYENTE BABABA SA ABRIL: MERALCO

Magkakaroon ng bawas sa singil ng kuryente para sa April billing, sabi ngayong Martes ng Meralco.

Ayon sa Meralco, P0.118 kada kilowatt hour (kwh) ang bawas-singil ngayong Abril bunsod ng mababang generation at transmission charges.

Katumbas umano ito ng P24 bawas-singil para sa mga kumokonsumo ng 200 kwh, P35 sa konsumong 300 kwh, P47 sa konsumong 400 kwh at P59 sa konsumong 500 kwh.

DOJ RESOLUTION REVEALS 2 EARLIER KILL ATTEMPTS ON DEGAMO, TEVES’ ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT

MANILA — There were two prior attempts to assassinate Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo — one using a rocket-propelled grenade and another through a sniper — before he was eventually killed by armed men inside his residence in Pamplona, on March 4.

New details about Degamo’s assassination plot were revealed in the Department of Justice panel of prosecutors’ resolution dated April 4, 2023, a copy of which was shown to ABS-CBN News.

The resolution indicted Marvin Miranda, one of the alleged masterminds in Degamo’s killing, for 9 counts of murder, 13 counts of frustrated murder and 4 counts of attempted murder.

One of the suspects, Rogelio Antipolo, Jr., was quoted in the resolution detailing all that he knew regarding the killing, in a Sinumpaang Salaysay (sworn statement) dated March 20.

After identifying Miranda as the former bagman of Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves, Antipolo claimed he met Miranda in an old house of Teves’ father in Bayawan, Negros Oriental sometime in October 2022, along with two other suspects — Winrich Isturis and Dahniel Lora.

He had, by then, agreed to join a “project” which he would later discover to be Degamo’s assassination, the resolution said.

CRYPTO EXCHANGE COINS.PH DISABLES XRP TRANSACTIONS

MANILA — Philippine e-wallet and cryptocurrency exchange Coins.ph said Monday it disabled XRP deposits and withdrawals in its platform as it tries to restore the services.

In a tweet, Coins.ph said it was "experiencing issues" with XRP transactions.

It added that its technical team has been trying to resolve the issue.

Some Twitter users expressed their frustration over the incident, as some of them were unsure if their XRP transactions pushed through.

XRP is the seventh-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization.

AMANG NEARS PH, SIGNAL NO. 1 UP IN 3 AREAS

MANILA -- Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal no. 1 has been raised in parts of the Philippines as the low pressure area east of Catanduanes has developed into tropical depression Amang.

In its latest tropical cyclone bulletin, state weather bureau PAGASA said Amang was last seen 475 km east of Virac, Catanduanes.

It has maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph. It is moving west northwestward at 20 kph.

TCWS #1 has been raised over the following areas:

-Catanduanes

-the northern portion of Eastern Samar (Taft, Can-Avid, Sulat, Dolores, Oras, Arteche, San Policarpo, Jipapad, Maslog, San Julian)

-the eastern portion of Northern Samar (Catubig, Lapinig, Gamay, Mapanas, Palapag, Laoang, San Roque, Pambujan, Mondragon)

These areas may experience strong winds which may pose minimal to minor threat to life and property.

According to PAGASA, Signal no. 1 may be raised other localities in Eastern Visayas and Bicol Region in succeeding bulletins.

The state weather bureau said Amang is expected to pass westward towards Bicol Region before turning northwestward.

While the current track forecast shows that Amang will remain offshore over the waters east of Luzon for the next 3 days, a landfall over the Bicol Peninsula area or the northern portion of Samar Island is still possible.

Amang is expected remain as a tropical depression with the possibility of weakening into a low pressure area by late Thursday or early Friday, according to state meteorologists.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

JAMES REID, ISSA PRESSMAN PHOTOGRAPHED IN PALAWAN

James Reid and Issa Pressman were spotted in Palawan amid talks about their budding relationship.

Photos of the pair taken by those who saw them are now making the rounds online, and the two celebrities appear to be enjoying each other’s company while on vacation.

The new photos come just a few weeks after Reid's photos with Pressman during the Harry Styles concert at the Philippine Arena went viral.

Pressman herself uploaded a photo on Instagram on the evening of March 16, while Reid uploaded a clip of them watching the concert together.

These resurrected rumors dating back to 2020, when Pressman was accused of being the third party in the failed relationship of Reid and his ex-girlfriend Nadine Lustre.

Reid even had to release a statement stressing that the "past rumors" about him and the sister of Yassi Pressman are not true.

"I'm only gonna say this once. The past rumors about Issa are just that, rumors," he said.

However, Reid explained that he felt the need to speak up "because this is the start of something beautiful."

"I usually NEVER address bashers or get involved in hate culture but I feel the need to speak up now because this is the start of something beautiful," Reid said.

"And I'm not gonna let anyone take that from me. To my fans, all you need to know from me is that I'm the happiest ... I've ever been," he added.

KRIS AQUINO SPOTTED IN NEWPORT BEACH WITH MARK LEVISTE

Former Kapamilya TV host Kris Aquino was spotted out and about in Newport Beach, California over the weekend with Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste.

As seen in Leviste’s Instagram Stories, they went shopping at Fashion Island along with Aquino’s son Bimby, and her friend Michael Leyva.

Leviste also gifted Aquino a luxury jewelry piece, which he showed off on social media.

Aquino has been staying in the United States where she is undergoing treatments for her autoimmune diseases.

In a recent interview, Bimby stated that his mother is responding to treatments thus far.

“Okay naman. Stable, that’s the word for it. Stable lang but, of course, still beautiful,” he said.

He also revealed that she has gained some weight and now weighs 103 pounds.

Last February, Aquino stressed that she and Leviste are not a couple.

Addressing a message to her friend at that time, Aquino wrote: “I appreciate all your effort (through the years) BUT please clarify that we agreed the best foundation for any & all relationships is FRIENDSHIP.”

On Aquino’s birthday last February 14, Leviste went the extra mile to mark the occasion by commissioning an audiovisual presentation specifically for her.

The politician also personally flew to the United States to celebrate Aquino's birthday and presented the video to her.

The clip featured a montage of Aquino's personal and professional milestones, from her childhood to her rise to fame. It also included heartwarming messages from Aquino's loved ones and friends, including a heartfelt tribute from Leviste.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Don’t wish it were easier, wish you were better. - Jim Rohn