FIND NON-TRADITIONAL TRADE, DEFENSE PARTNERS, MARCOS ORDERS PH ENVOYS

Filipino ambassadors should look continuously for so-called “non-traditional” partners in terms of trade, security, and defense requirements of the country, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Wednesday.

Meeting with the recently appointed chiefs of mission and ambassadors in Malacañang, the President urged them that with the current global situation amid the “pandemic economy” that altered the dynamics of world dealings, the Philippines must cope with the changing times and not be left behind.

“We are constantly now — after all the changes that have been imposed upon us, like the pandemic economy and the world situation, looking for what we sometimes referred to as non-traditional partners in trades, of any kind, in security and defense issues. (For) all these things, we are always looking for partners,” the Chief Executive told the diplomats.

The President, however, pointed out his administration remains neutral in terms of foreign policy, not siding with the views of any other country.

“We do not subscribe to any notion of a bipolar world. We only side, of course, to the Philippines, not to the US, not to Beijing, not to Moscow. That’s very much being independent in what we do,” Mr. Marcos said.

Mr. Marcos also urged the envoys to explore and discuss with him some opportunities or undertakings that might be substantially beneficial to the country and to Filipinos.

“I’m sure you have heard that we are prioritizing agriculture, energy, all the infrastructure development, and digitalization. Now, if there are opportunities that would come up, you should explore them and if they’re promising enough, then we’ll take it up,” the President said.

“We’ll try to see if something can come up. There’s no harm in trying and whatever happens, at least we tried,” he said.

“So let us keep looking at those areas. And also, what I found out many times, you go there and you talk about agriculture and something else comes up.”

PUBLIC BARBS BY UNITEAM LEADERS SIGNAL BREWING SHOWDOWN

MANILA— Allies of House Speaker Martin Romualdez have rushed to defend him, this time from a perceived slight from Vice President Sara Duterte, signaling what political analysts believe is a brewing political showdown between the president’s second-in-command and his cousin.

Ranking House members on Wednesday released mostly cryptic statements praising Romualdez for taking the "moral high road" following Duterte’s wisecrack during a speech last Monday where she quipped that she refuses to mention the President’s middle name, Romualdez.

“I will not mention his middle initial…I love Apo BBM,” Duterte said in Filipino at an Office of the Vice President event. Apo is an Ilocano honorific for senior men.

This revives the political rift that came to light when Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo -- former president and an elder at the ruling Lakas-CMD party -- was demoted from her post as senior deputy speaker to deputy speaker last month after allegations that she was planning to oust Romualdez as speaker.

After major parties rushed to voice support and loyalty to Romualdez, Arroyo denied the rumors and issued a statement clarifying her support for the current speaker.

Duterte left Lakas-CMD and hinted at powerplay and “political toxicity.”

Days after, Romualdez appeared to pay respects to Arroyo during the House plenary session by "pagmamano" or placing the former Philippine leader’s hand on his forehead. He posed for photos with her after.

Neither Romualdez nor his allies have clarified who exactly was behind the alleged plans to unseat him.

MAYON VOLCANO ROCKFALL ACTIVITY DOUBLES IN 24 HOURS

MANILA – Rockfall activity in restive Mayon Volcano has doubled in the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said Thursday.

“Yung kahapon between 5 a.m .yesterday June 7, to 5 a.m. today June 8, we recorded 98 rockfall events, this is much higher than the 46 rockfall events that we detected between June 6 and June 7," Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol told Teleradyo.

“Kahapon meron kaming na-measure na 332 tons per day na sulfur dioxide emission which is lower than the 570 tons per day that we measured the previous day,” the official added.

Phivolcs on Monday raised Mayon Volcano's alert level from Level 1 (abnormal) to Level 2 (increased unrest) due to increased rockfall.

The agency said it recorded 332 tons of sulfur dioxide emissions from Mayon Volcano on Wednesday, June 7.

Meanwhile, Phivolcs said Taal Volcano’s sulfur dioxide emissions went down on Wednesday.

“Yesterday, sulfur dioxide emission, medyo bumaba naman from 7,680 tons the previous day, magiging 5,780 na lang kahapon, and it’s still very much lower than the 9,391 tons per day that we saw three days ago,” Bacolcol said.

Still, Bacolcol said residents should still avoid the Taal Volcano Island.

VOG FROM TAAL VOLCANO AFFECTS HEALTH OF BATANGAS RESIDENTS

Some residents of Laurel town in Batangas province have fallen ill due to increased concentration of volcanic smog from restive Taal Volcano.

Laurel, Batangas Mayor Lyndon Bruce said some residents have developed cough and other respiratory problems due to the vog.

"We have advised residents to mask up. We are coordinating with every barangay to distribute face masks," he said in a TeleRadyo interview.

Health officials earlier said some 100 residents mostly children have complained of respiratory problems including asthma.

Classes in Laurel, Batangas remain suspended Thursday to ensure the safety of students.

DOH CHIEF APOLOGIZES FOR 'THINGS I HAVE SAID BEFORE'

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa apologized "for things I have said before" and sought the public's support "to really succeed in building a healthy Philippines."

Herbosa made the tweet in reaction to netizens’ tweets noting that a number of “kakampinks” have expressed support for his appointment.

“Thank you for your support! And I apologize for things I have said before! Thank you. We are all FILiPiNOS! DOH will need all your support to really succeed in building a healthy Philippines. Maybe we should all start healing because I know you all love our country!” the health secretary said.

Herbosa did not specify his previous statements but he was previously criticized over some tweets, including one that reacted to a death in the conduct of a community pantry and another on protesting health workers.

Meantime, the health chief also posted photos of his meeting with top DOH officials on his first day at the office on Wednesday.

He thanked Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire’s leadership for serving as officer in charge of the agency for almost a year.

“Long day - meetings yesterday w/ top officials of the DOH. I am humbled for the very warm welcome & you have made me feel at home at DOH! Thank you Usec Vergeire for your leadership at the DOH. Let’s work together for the healthcare of all Filipinos specially the marginalized,” he said.

COURT DENIES BAIL FOR DE LIMA ON DRUG TRAFFICKING RAPS

Jailed Philippine human rights activist Leila de Lima was denied bail Wednesday on the remaining drug trafficking charge filed against her during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, her lawyer said.

De Lima, one of the most outspoken local critics of Duterte and his deadly drug war, has been detained for more than six years on charges she insists were fabricated to silence her.

“Sad to inform you that the Court denied Sen. Leila’s bail application,” her lawyer Filibon Tacardon said in a message to journalists, adding he was “in shock” at the decision.

The ruling followed another court’s verdict on May 12 that acquitted the former senator and justice minister of a separate drug trafficking charge.

HOTEL101 BETS ON UNIQUE BUSINESS MODEL TO PROPEL GLOBAL GROWTH

DoubleDragon's unique hotel brand Hotel101 aims to become among the world's top 5 by achieving a 500,000-room portfolio in 100 countries by 2040, its CEO Hannah Yulo-Luccini said on Thursday.

Hotel101's unique business concept, where owners buy a unit to be managed by the company as a hotel, is what would propel the brand's growth globally, Yulo-Luccini told ANC.

Both Hotel101 and the unit owners share the revenues from occupancy, she said.

"It's a very unique concept because it's an asset type expansion. Unlike your traditional hotel developers, we presell all of the units during the construction period," she said.

"It's a long term management contract that the unit owner signed up to. They buy a unit so they know it will be managed by Hotel101 as a hotel," she added.

Its ongoing Hotel101 Cebu-Mactan is already sold out during its preselling period. Meanwhile, she said its project in Niseko, Japan would break ground this August.

"We're really, really serious about our vision to hit 500,000 rooms by 2040 and to become the first Filipino company to be listed in Nasdaq in the next 3 to 4 years," she said.

OCD TO JAPAN: DON’T DUMP NUKE WATER

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in the Philippines has expressed concern over Japan's plan to release nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. The OCD is appealing to the Japanese government to reconsider this plan and explore alternative options.

They will convene science-based agencies to assess the potential impact of Japan's proposed disposal of the contaminated water. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, damaged by a tsunami in 2011, has accumulated 1.3 million tons of wastewater, and storage space is running out.

Experts have warned about the environmental and biological hazards posed by the radioactive isotope tritium in the wastewater. The International Atomic Energy Agency is expected to provide its final assessment on the disposal later this month.

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DOTr WANTS NAIA PRIVATIZED BY FIRST QUARTER OF 2024

The government of the Philippines aims to privatize the management and operation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) by the first quarter of 2024.

Transportation Undersecretary Roberto Lim stated that this is a challenging but achievable timeline, although the process will require time for negotiations with potential participants.

Privatization is expected to improve passenger and flight movement efficiency and generate income for the government through increased revenues.

Under the privatization plan, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) will retain its role as a regulatory body overseeing airport operations.

Airport employees are not expected to experience job losses, as they will be given the opportunity to work under the privatized facilities.

All airport assets at NAIA will remain government-owned, with the private concessionaire having a limited role in operations and management.

The Department of Transportation and MIAA have jointly submitted a proposal for the NAIA solicited Public-Private Partnership Project, which grants the private concessionaire a 15-year period to operate the airport and recover its investment.

MAKATI READY TO DEFEND TERRITORY BEFORE SC

The Makati City government is prepared to defend its territorial jurisdiction in a land dispute with Taguig before the Supreme Court. The city's legal team has received notice for a hearing on their motion to elevate the case to the en banc and hold oral arguments. Despite a previous ruling in favor of Taguig's historical claim over certain barangays, Mayor Abby Binay stated that the fight is not yet over.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government has not instructed Makati to turn over the barangays to Taguig. Binay expressed concern for the residents who could lose their perks if the residential area is transferred.

The case has been ongoing since the 1990s, and Binay remains focused on the welfare of her constituents. The status quo is being maintained in Makati until further instructions are given.

DTI CONFISCATES OVER P4.2-M VAPE PRODUCTS DUE TO VIOLATIONS

MANILA — The Department of Trade and Industry has confiscated 13,784 vape related products from non-compliant stores worth P4,252,523 for violating Republic Act No. 11900 also known as "Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act" as of June.

In a statement, the DTI said it is implementing tighter monitoring of vape shops in the National Capital Region to ensure restrictions on sale are followed.

Some of the rules being monitored are the ban on use of colorful packaging, restrictions on flavoring, restrictions on product advertisements and sponsorships, sale to minors and the prohibition on the use of nicotine and non-nicotine products in public places, among others.

As of June 1, the DTI said it has monitored some 583 physical stores and 28,584 online stores.

Out of the total physical stores monitored, 229 were found to be compliant of the prohibitions while only 175 were compliant under the online stores following a physical validation, the DTI said.

Notices of Violation and Show Cause Orders have already been issued to 72 firms, the agency said.

"The DTI, through our Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) will continue to implement tighter monitoring of these firms. We aim to balance the interest of both businesses/manufacturers and also protect our youth from these harmful substances," Pascual said.

In addition, the DTI said the FTEB's Adjudication Division has received 74 formal charges.

"The DTI conducts monitoring across major social media and e-commerce platforms to ensure that minors will not have access to these substances online," it said.

Consumers can report violators through the Consumer Care Hotline at DTI (1-384) or consumercare@dti.gov.ph.

DOH VERIFYING RABIES OUTBREAK IN ILOCOS

MANILA— The Department of Health (DOH) is verifying reports that cases of rabies in Ilocos region have increased.

“There is no need to panic... We still have to validate the increase as reported in some provinces to verify if there is a need to declare a health emergency or outbreak,” DOH-Ilocos regional director Paula Paz Sydiongco said.

Rabies is a serious illness with 99 percent fatality rate, especially if a person is bitten in “critical areas” such as the face, arms and thigh.

Data from the Ilocos Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit showed that 11 rabies cases were recorded from Jan. 1 to May 27.

Sydiongco said rabies cases also increased in some provinces in the past weeks.

“Owners have the responsibility to have their pets immunized against rabies yearly and provide other booster shots to keep them healthy and safe from viruses,” she said.

Sydiongco said 17,613 vials of anti-rabies shots were distributed in various provincial health offices in the region.

She said the DOH-Ilocos office is committed to end rabies deaths in the region by 2027 and ensure a rabies-free Philippines by 2030.

‘CHEDENG’ NOW A SEVERE TROPICAL STORM BUT NO DIRECT EFFECT YET ON PH

MANILA - Tropical cyclone Chedeng (international name: Guchol) still does not directly affect the country’s weather even as it further intensified into a severe tropical storm, the state weather bureau said late Wednesday.

In its 11 p.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA said Chedeng was last located 1,220 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon, packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center, with gusts of up to 115 kph.

It is currently moving west northwest at 10 kph.

Despite further intensification, PAGASA said Chedeng is unlikely to directly bring heavy rainfall over any portion of the country in the next three to five days.

“A weather advisory will be issued by PAGASA should there be an increasing chance of monsoon heavy rainfall within the next three days,” the agency said.

Chedeng is expected to remain far from the Philippine landmass, moving generally west northwest or northwest from Wednesday night through Friday before slowing down while turning north.

It is projected to further intensify in the next three days and may reach typhoon category by Thursday.

“Peak intensity may be reached by Friday or Saturday,” PAGASA said.

Chedeng is forecast to leave the Philippine area of responsibility between late Sunday and early Monday, according to the weather bureau.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

ISSA PRESSMAN POSTS NEW SWEET PHOTOS WITH JAMES REID

MANILA — Actress Issa Pressman has posted a new batch of photos including sweet ones with James Reid.

In an Instagram post, Pressman shared snaps from her recent birthday celebration, with the caption “Mi birthday & mi life’s gifts.”

Aside from Reid, also spotted in Pressman’s post are her sister Yassi and actress Julia Barretto.

The new photos come three months after Reid's photos with Pressman during the Harry Styles concert at the Philippine Arena made the rounds online.

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

The posts 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.

As of writing, Reid and Pressman have yet to go on record about the real score between them.

SPORTS

NUGGETS TAKE 2-1 NBA FINALS SERIES LEAD WITH 109-94 WIN IN MIAMI

The Denver Nuggets drew historic riple-double performances from Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray as they trounced the Miami Heat, 109-94, in Game 3 of the NBA Finals at the Kaseya in Miami Wednesday (Thursday, Manila time).

Two-time Most Valuable Player Jokic recorded 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists as the Nuggets gained the upper hand in the series, 2-1. Jamal Murray also finished with a triple-double of 34 points, 10 boards and the same number of dimes as he and Jokic became the first-ever teammates to register 30-point triple-doubles in league history.

Christian Braun came off the bench to contribute 15 points for the Nuggets, who will try to bury the Heat under a 3-1 hole next game.

Jimmy Butler scored 28 points while Bam Adebayo added 22 markers and pulled down 17 rebounds for the Heat, who will look to tie the series in Game 4 on Saturday (8:30 a.m. Manila time).

SCORES OF JUNE 7 - GAME 3

1          2          3          4          T

1 Nuggets

24        29        29        27        109

8 Heat

24        24        20        26        94

GAME 3: DEN leads 2-1, Kaseya Center, Miami, FL

Nuggets Get Big Win In Game 3 Of NBA Finals Over Heat

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

player headshot

J. Murray DEN PG

34 PTS , 10 REB , 10 AST

player headshot

J. Butler MIA SF

28 PTS , 2 REB , 4 AST

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 56.09

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Only an utterly senseless person can fail to know that our characters are the result of our conduct. – Aristotle