INFLATION EASES FURTHER TO 6.6 PERCENT IN APRIL

MANILA — Inflation fell for the 3rd straight month in April due to slower price movements of select food and non-alcoholic beverages, the state statistics bureau said on Friday.

The consumer price index climbed 6.6 percent, which was slower than the 7.6 percent recorded last March, according to the data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

According to the PSA, the downtrend was attributed to the lower inflation rate of 7.9 percent of food and non-alcoholic beverages from 9.3 percent in March.

Transport inflation also slowed to 2.6 percent in April from 5.3 percent, while housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels also contributed to the decline with inflation at 6.5 percent from 7.6 percent, data showed.

April's inflation rate is within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' 6.3 to 7.1 percent estimate. However, it remains above the government's 2 to 4 percent target range.

"With these developments, NEDA is optimistic that the downward trend will continue and settle further within the government’s outlook," said NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.

Core inflation slightly declined to 7.9 percent in April from 8 percent the previous month. Average inflation for the January to April period, meanwhile, was at 7.9 percent.

Balisacan said it was crucial to design policies that are geared towards protecting the purchasing power as potential wage increases, transport fare hike, and food supply pressures remain as risks to inflation.

MARCOS TO MEET WITH UK PM SUNAK ON SIDELINES OF CHARLES III'S CORONATION

MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said he will speak with United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the sidelines of King Charles III’s coronation on Saturday.

Marcos said he will meet with Sunak to talk about the partnership between the Philippines and the UK, possible trade agreements, and the Filipino healthcare workers.

“In general, we will maintain the same relationship. It has been a relationship very advantageous to all parties involved so I think we will stay the course and continue to deal with each other in very similar way that we have done before,” he said in a briefing Friday morning (Manila time)

The president said the meeting with Sunak will not be a sit-down, but a “very casual” talk.

Marcos is set to fly to the UK Friday morning from Washington DC, where he met with US President Joe Biden and other senior government officials to bolster their ties.

Marcos will land at Gatwick Airport—UK’s second busiest airport by total passenger traffic—to see the airport’s operations and learn from its best practices.

They will also attend King Charles III’s reception for overseas representatives Friday.

Following the UK trip, Marcos will head to Indonesia for the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit.

BILATERAL DEFENSE GUIDELINES INCLUDE AFP MODERNIZATION, CYBER DEFENSE

MANILA — The Philippines and the United States have finally released their Bilateral Defense Guidelines, which outline the priorities of the alliance in the coming years.

“The leaders’ discussion reaffirmed the United States and the Philippines’ enduring commitment to stand shoulder-to-shoulder as allies to bring greater security, prosperity, and stability to the Indo-Pacific region and beyond,” Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder noted in a readout.

The release of the document comes as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. visited the Pentagon during his official working visit to the United States, where he also met with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

Manila is Washington’s oldest defense and treaty ally in the region, with a Mutual Defense Treaty that entered into force in 1952 along with other security agreements.

The new guidelines aim to direct a "whole-of government coordination" as well as promote working with "like-minded partners." Among the other priorities detailed in the six-page document released on Wednesday details the following:

•           Better coordinating and bilateral planning to ensure territorial integrity and security of both parties, with the guidelines explicitly stating that “either country may request support when it assess that a threat is imminent or when indicators of an armed attack may arise”;

•           The need for better interoperability and developing inter-agency capabilities of Philippine and American security establishments;

•           Expand information-sharing activities, including analyst-to-analyst exchanges, and joint training exercises with expanded cooperation in maritime domain and security and air defense capability;

•           Working with the Philippines’ goal of modernizing its defense capabilities, through working with Manila on its defense budget planning and finishing the Security Sector Assistance Roadmap;

•           Improving cyber defense and cyber security cooperation as well as expanding capacity-building and training activities for other forms of attacks such as chemical attacks, biological, radiobiological, and nuclear;

•           Working with multi-lateral fora and other forms of cooperation “based on common issues of shared concern”

The meetings between Manila and Washington this week follows several other high-level engagements between the two countries amid geopolitical tensions, particularly involving China on the West Philippine Sea.

CHINA 'FIRMLY' OPPOSES 'MEDDLING' IN SOUTH CHINA AFTER RELEASE OF US-PH DEFENSE GUIDELINES

MANILA — China said Thursday it opposes what it called “meddling” in the South China Sea following the release of the bilateral defense guidelines of the Philippines and the United States, which aim to modernize the two countries’ alliance cooperation.

“China firmly opposes any country’s move to meddle in the South China Sea issue to harm China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests by citing the guidelines,” China’s foreign ministry spokesperson said Thursday.

Mao added the South China Sea is a “shared home” for countries in the region, and “not a hunting ground for forces outside the region.”

The guidelines reaffirm that an armed attack anywhere in the South China Sea, on the vessels, aircraft, or armed forces of Manila and Washington—including their Coast Guards—would invoke the two countries’ commitments under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.

The Department of Transportation said the PCG was "in the legitimate exercise of Philippine rights" in the West Philippine Sea, the part of the South China Sea inside the country’s exclusive economic zone.

The bilateral defense guidelines also chart a way forward to build interoperability in both conventional and non-conventional domains.

The guidelines were released as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. visited the Pentagon.

Sought for his reaction to Beijing's remarks, Marcos said in a briefing that the statement was directed to Washington.

MARCOS ON CHINA 'MEDDLING' REMARK: 'I DON'T FEEL ALLUDED TO'

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said he does not feel alluded to after Beijing expressed strong opposition to what it described as "meddling" in the South China Sea issue.

Speaking to reporters, the President said the Chinese government's statement was more for the United States than the Philippines. This, after US defense chief Lloyd Austin reaffirmed America's ironclad commitment to protect Manila's territorial claims to the West Philippine Sea.

"'Yang statement na 'yan sa palagay ko hindi naka direct sa Pilipinas," he said.

Marcos said the Philippines' actions in continuing to strengthen capabilities and forging partnerships with the US, both in governmental sector and private corporations, "[are] only right and proper because the Philippines needs to do this in order to go forward."

"Hindi naman masasabi na walang karapatan ang Pilipinas na gawin lahat yun," he added.

PH SEEKS DUTY-FREE RIGHTS IN US

Washington D.C.—President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday (Thursday, Manila time) called for the renewal of the Philippines’ participation in the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) trade program, which allowed the duty-free entry of several Philippine products into the United States.

The country’s eligibility for the US GSP program expired on Dec. 31, 2020.

“We would like to request reauthorization… to boost trade and to make US products that are made in the Philippines more competitive,” Mr. Marcos said in a speech at a forum organized by the US-ASEAN BusinessCouncil and at a US Chamber of Commerce roundtable and reception at the Blair House in Washington DC.

The program, he said, would increase trade with the US and promote competition.

Aside from strengthening trade relations between the two countries, the President also called on US companies to invest more in the Philippines as the country has stepped up efforts to “create an atmosphere that is attractive to potential investors.”

“But now, security and defense are top of mind… we also have to see that because our economies and our societies have grown more complex, everything… hinges on everything else and… it is very hard for us to separate and say that this is a discreet sector that does not affect any other sector,” he said.

Marcos also highlighted the government’s efforts to advance the digital transformation of the Philippines, particularly supporting the “smart industry readiness” of several semiconductor and electronics manufacturing services companies “to help them craft their digital transformation road maps.”

PHILIPPINE AIRSPACE SHUTDOWN ON MAY 17 SHORTENED TO 2 HOURS

A planned six-hour shutdown of Philippine airspace on May 17 to replace the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) unit of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines' air traffic management system has been shortened to 2 hours.

CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio said the planned shutdown of Philippine airspace will now last from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. on May 17.

"Tuloy po ito pero may maganda kaming balita kasi shutdown time umikli po ng 2-4 na lang," he said in a TeleRadyo interview, adding a new notice to air missions (NOTAM) will be issued.

The shutdown will affect flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Clark International Airport (CRK), and Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), and several flights at the other 42 CAAP commercially operated airports, the Manila International Airport Authority said in an earlier statement.

Apolonio said CAAP has finished the first phase of repairs to its troubled air traffic management system and secured one uninterruptible power supply (UPS) unit.

CAAP has also secured the services of French firm Thales Group to serve as a third-party maintenance provider.

AirAsia spokesperson Steve Dailisan, meanwhile, welcomed CAAP's announcement, saying several flights were supposed to be rescheduled due to the six-hour shutdown.

He said the shorter shutdown time would mean fewer passengers would be affected.

THE REST

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P1K POLYMER BAGS ‘BANKNOTE OF THE YEAR’

The 1,000-Piso polymer banknote of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has won the International Banknote Society’s (IBNS) “Banknote of the Year Award” for 2022.

The polymer thousand-peso bill is the first Philippine banknote to win the award. It won over banknote finalists from Algeria, Barbados, Egypt, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.

In announcing the award, the IBNS said: “The Philippines’ successful design in eye-pleasing blue combines an endangered species with an environmental motif.”

IBNS is a global non-profit organization that recognizes exceptional banknotes issued each year on the basis of artistic merits, such as design and use of colors, as well as high-quality security features.

The obverse side of the 1,000-Piso polymer banknote showcases the Philippine Eagle, which symbolizes the Filipino people’s uniqueness, strength, power, love for freedom, and sharp vision. It also features the national flower, Sampaguita, which represents purity, simplicity, humility, and strength.

The bill’s reverse side showcases the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Site; the T’nalak weave design of the T’boli people; and the South Sea Pearl.

The BSP began circulating the award-winning banknote in April 2022. It was printed by Note Printing Australia, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Australia’s central bank.

PBBM: WHOLE-OF-GOV’T FIGHT VS. CRIMES

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed a memorandum circular directing all government agencies and encouraging local government units to support the 2023 National Crime Prevention Program (NCPP).

The President said the directive is in line with the adoption of a “whole-of-government” approach in addressing criminality, and ensuring peace and security in the country.

The 2023 NCPP puts into practice the strategies for ensuring peace and security under the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 with the National Police Commission (Napolcom) at the helm of NCPP implementation.

The 2023 NCPP was developed by Napolcom through its Technical Committee on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, an inter-disciplinary body composed of acknowledged experts from government agencies and non-government organizations involved in the criminal justice system.

Napolcom is an agency attached to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) responsible for the administration and control of the Philippine National Police.

On Thursday, a ranking police official said the country’s crime rate dropped by 11.36 percent in the first three months of the year.

In a Laging Handa briefing, Philippine National Police (PNP) PublicInformation Office chief Col. Redrico Maranan said a total of 12,226 crime incidents were recorded from Jan. 1 to May 2, compared to 13,763 crimes in the same period last year.

“We were able to reduce 1,500 plus crimes of the so-called eight focus crimes. That’s why we see, our different anti-criminality strategies, we see that it is effective,” he added.

ILANG BARANGAY SA SOUTHERN LEYTE, BINAHA DAHIL SA PAG-ULAN

MAYNILA – Nakaranas ng pagbaha ang bayan ng Silago sa Southern Leyte dahil sa pag-ulang dulot ng low pressure area.

Binaha ang barangay auditorium o gym at mga bahay sa Barangay Tubaon. Apektado rin ang Barangay Poblacion Uno at Barangay Laguma, kung saan pinalikas sa ligtas na lugar ang mga residente doon.

Sa isang panayam sa TeleRadyo, sinabi ni Alfie Almine, pinuno ng Silago Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, na nakaranas sila ng 2 oras na pag-ulan, ngunit mabilis naman na humupa ang baha.

“Inilikas po namin, lalo na po yung mga vulnerable families na malapit sa ilog, yung may mga matatanda at mga bata, yun yung inuna talaga namin,” aniya.

Nakauwi na rin sa kani-kanilang mga bahay ang mga inilikas na residente, at ngayong Biyernes ay maganda ang panahon sa lugar.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

'BATANG QUIAPO' STAR COCO MARTIN SHARES PERSONAL VIEW ON WORK-LIFE BALANCE

MANILA — Coco Martin does a lot of the heavy lifting on "FPJ's Batang Quiapo" as the show's leading man, director and occasional writer, yet he still manages to balance it well with his personal life.

During the media conference for the show held earlier today at the Luxent Hotel, Coco joked, "Wala na. Wala nang buhay!" before explaining how one can balance their schedule.

"'Pag nakapa na 'yung isang bagay, nagiging fluid... rumolyo na lang na hindi mo naiintindihan," shared Coco, admitting he was initially nervous about the show's pilot.

However, after the story and characters of "FPJ's Batang Quiapo" took form, Coco went as far as to say that he had more difficulty with his previous show, the long-running "Ang Probinsyano," which aired for seven years, from 2015 to 2022.

Coco attributed the show's "fluidity" to its cast, staff, crew, directors and writers.

"Siguro hindi ako naniniwala dati, pero it's a gift na may talent kang makabuo ka ng isang proyekto," Coco continued. "Hindi ko na siya namamalayan — 'yung hirap at pagod 'di ko nararamdaman — kasi nage-enjoy ako sobra!"

The actor reiterated how proud he was to see the scenes his co-stars end up making and that he is happy with how their show is currently doing.

SPORTS

PHILIPPINES PAYS TRIBUTE TO WOMEN IN OPENER

PHNOM PENH – The country pays tribute to women in sports when a female athlete-dominated Team Philippines marches during the parade of nations in the opening ceremony of the Cambodia 23nd Southeast Asian Games today.

Alyssa Valdez, one of the most recognizable female athletes back home, arrived here at dawn, enough time for her to rest from a three-hour red-eye flight from Manila for the opening ceremony where she will be flag-bearer for the second time after the 2015 Singapore Games.

“It’s a privilege and I am overwhelmed by this historic opportunity,” said Valdez, who flew in ahead of the women’s volleyball team that’s due here tomorrow.

The opening ceremony starts at 4 p.m. (5 p.m. in Manila) and will be staged at the Morodok Techo Stadium, 60,000-seat structure built in the shape of a “sailing boat” with two sharp structures that reach almost 100 meters in height and surrounded by a moat in the ancient Angkor style.

Located in the outskirts of the Cambodian capital, the stadium was built in August 2017 and completed in August 2021 at a cost of $160 million.

Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino anticipates a warm appreciation for a Team Philippines pulling off a first in SEA Games opening ceremony history with the female-dominated contingent.

“This is a first time – a tribute to women athletes and to the gender equality program of the International Olympic Committee,” said Tolentino, who will be one of only two men who will join the parade besides Chef de Mission Chito Loyzaga.

Deputy Chef de Mission Leonora Escollante will also be in the parade. They will all be wearing elegant Francis Libiran-designed white barongs – which the Philippine fashion icon called “Araw” – over black pants.

Joining the parade are swimming and diving’s Ariana Hanah Drake, Chloe Isleta and Miranda Cristina Renner; athletics’ Aira Teodosio, Jamela de Asis, Jelly Diane Paragile, Ginnah Malapit, Abegail Manzano, Melissa Escoton, Sarah Dequinan, Kristine Knott, Evelyn Palarbica and Natalie Uy;

Badminton’s Aira Mae Albo and Mikaela de Guzman; basketball’s Clare Castro, Janine Pontejos, Afril Bernardino, Ana Alicia Castillo and Angelica Surada; billiards’ Chezka Centeno and Rubilen Amit; chess’ (ouk chatrang) Janelle Frayna and Shania Mae Mendoza;

Cricket’s Lolita Olaguier and April Rose Saquilon; women’s football’s Satina Bolden, Jessika Cowart, Quinley Campomanes and Inna Palacios; golf’s Rianne Malixi and Lois Kaye Go; jiu-jitsu’s Andrea Divina, Isabela Montana and Louann Gutierrez;

Kun Bokator’s Mariane Mariano and Alyssa Kylie Mallari; obstacle race’s Sandi Menchi Abahan and Marites Nocyao; pencak silat’s Angel-Ann Singh, Shara Julia Jizmundo and Angeline Virina; and table tennis’s Rose Jean Fadol and Sendrina Andrea Balatbat.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Truth is not only violated by falsehood; it may be equally outraged by silence. - Henri Frederic Amiel