MARCOS WANTS P5.768-T NATIONAL BUDGET FOR 2024

MANILA — The Marcos Jr. administration on Friday said it would submit to Congress a P5.768-trillion budget proposal for next year.

The plan was revealed by Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman. If enacted into law, next year’s appropriations will be higher by 9.5% compared to the 2023 budget.

“The proposed national budget will continue to prioritize expenditure items that promote social and economic transformation through infrastructure development, food security, digital transformation, and human capital development,” the economic managers said in a joint statement.

While details remain scant, Pangandaman told journalists that the 2024 national budget will continue the government’s cash assistance program, which was present in the 2023 version.

The national budget is expected to come into further scrutiny, as a limited fiscal space could hamper the national government’s spending plans on crucial projects and programs.

To this end, the DBCC noted that the 2024 National Expenditure program will include proposal from government agencies that are “implementation-ready.”

MARCOS JR. SAYS LOOKING FORWARD TO STRONGER PH-CHINA TIES

MANILA - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Friday said he looks forward to stronger Philippine-China ties as both nations celebrate the 48th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between them.

In a social media post, Marcos Jr recalled the founding of the official diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China under his father and late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

"I am proud to have been part in laying the groundwork as former First First Lady Imelda Marcos and I had the chance to interact with former Chinese Chairman Mao Zedong in 1974, paving the way for my father’s historic visit to China in 1975," he said.

"This momentous occasion 48 years ago served to further deepen our already strong and enduring people-to-people linkages."

The President said his meeting with President Xi Jinping earlier was filled with "spirit of mutual cooperation and mutual respect".

"As we turn our gaze towards the future, I look forward to the continued strengthening of Philippines-China bilateral relations, especially in the important cooperation areas: tourism, agriculture, trade and investment, and infrastructure," he said.

Marcos Jr. on Thursday denied that his administration has shifted government policy away from China, amid ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea as well as efforts by the Philippine government to strengthen its political and military ties with the United States.

Though Manila’s relations with Beijing continue to evolve along with the changing times, it still “hasn't changed in any fundamental sense,” he said during the Award for Promoting Philippines China Understanding (APPCU) at the Manila Hotel.

20,000 FLEE RESTIVE MAYON

Mayon Volcano’s crater glowed well into the night on Friday as state volcanologists said it erupted at the summit and a bigger blast was possible, while authorities evacuated thousands of residents from its surrounding towns and awaited an escalation to Alert Level 4, one step higher than the activity that saw the lava flow down its slopes yesterday.

The Albay provincial government on Friday declared a state of calamity as Mayon’s unrest prompted the evacuation of at least 20,000 residents around its six-kilometer permanent danger zone and nearby areas, according to local officials.

The state of calamity is expected to speed up the release of funds to assist the affected residents. Classes were also suspended in schools within Mayon’s danger zone.

An eruption occurred on the summit of Mayon a day after its alert level status was raised to 3, meaning “an increased tendency towards hazardous eruption,” the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) confirmed Friday.

The volcano emitted plumes that reached 800 meters tall, while its edifice was also inflated.

In a TV interview, Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said an eruption and six pyroclastic density currents (PDC) were recorded from the volcano.

“This would imply a continuous supply of magma to the surface, dislodging all the new surface of the lava dome,” Bacolcol said. “Right now, there is an eruption on the summit.”

Raising the alert level in the active volcano in Albay signifies an “increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption,” Phivolcs said.

It also said the repeated collapse of the volcano’s growing summit dome has generated an increasing number and volume of rockfall events since the alert level was raised from 1 to 2 on Monday.

Due to the danger of pyroclastic density currents, lava flows, rockfalls, and other volcanic hazards, the agency has recommended evacuation from the six-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ).

Increased vigilance against pyroclastic density currents, lahars, and sediment-laden streamflows along channels draining the edifice is also advised, it added.

NAIA 3 SUFFERS 30-MIN. POWER OUTAGE ANEW

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the country’s premier gateway, suffered another 30-minute-long power outage on Friday – barely a month after a similar brownout on Labor Day — as travelers sought to leave for the long Independence Day weekend.

The power interruption from 12:51 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at NAIA Terminal 3 resulted in long queues at immigration booths, while airlines had to resort to manual check-in and loading of baggage. Some flights were also delayed by the brownout.

“Again, we would like to apologize to all the passengers and stakeholders here at Terminal 3 today for the inconvenience because of this brief power interruption that affected the terminal,” said Manila International Airport Authority acting general manager Bryan Co.

Co said the brownout was caused by a power shortage traced to substation roadway 2.

“As a background today, there was a scheduled electrical audit that was being done, by of course, MIAA and Mserv (a Meralco company). This is still part of our power services improvement because of the May 1 incident. So, today there was a testing that was being done at roadway 1 substation and roadway 2 substation by Mserv and MIAA,” he said.

Co said the checking included the breakers, circuit breakers, cable tests bus bars, relays, current transformers, and the other cables of these systems.

“That started around 7:45 a.m. This was a planned check of the base power facilities, so we can note what we have to improve on or what we have to change as part of the comprehensive electrical audit as mentioned previously,” he added.

Co explained the incident “was not a complete loss of power” for the airport because after 12:52 p.m., “our generators kicked in and as we were conducting all the checks so that we can reanalyze, of course there is a process so that we can get a first… the probable causes.”

But the power outage once again shows the need for urgent power augmentation while a full electrical audit is ongoing, said Senate Public Service committee chairperson Sen. Grace Poe.

FOCUS ON BESTING 6% GDP GROWTH, LAWMAKERS URGED

Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. urged the House of Representatives to remain committed to working on measures that would sustain the country’s economic growth.

He made the appeal in reaction to the World Bank’s decision to upgrade its economic outlook for the Philippines for this year from a range of 5.4 to 5.6 percent to a full six percent.

This came after Speaker Martin Romualdez said the House would not allow distractions in formulating policies for the benefit of the Filipino people.

Romualdez issued the statement as the World Bank projected a 6% gross domestic product (GDP) growth for the Philippines this year.

“Let’s ignore any political noise that comes our way. Let’s remain focused on helping President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and our Speaker Martin Romualdez in keeping the economy on the high growth path by enhancing conditions that would attract investments and create job and income opportunities for our people,” Gonzales Jr. said.

PBBM TO NEW DOH CHIEF: CRAFT COVID EXIT PLAN, FOCUS ON TB, HIV CASES

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has instructed Dr. Ted Herbosa to craft a COVID-19 exit plan for the country and focus on tuberculosis and HIV cases, the new Health Secretary said Thursday.

Herbosa, a former Special Adviser to the National Task Force Against COVID-19, said this was among the marching orders of the Chief Executive when he appointed him to lead the Department of Health.

“(Mr. Marcos) told me that we need a COVID exit plan and we must continue to administer the needed vaccines, the ones we call bivalent vaccines,” Herbosa said in a televised briefing.

Conceding that the country currently does not have enough bivalent COVID-19 vaccines, the new Health chief said a program is already in place to acquire more of these anti-coronavirus shots.

“The 390,000 doses (we received) are not enough, we need to get more,” said Herbosa, referring to the bivalent vaccines donated by Lithuania that have already been rolled out, mostly in the National Capital Region (NCR).

IMEE WANTS REAL SCORE ON AFGHAN REFUGEES IN PH

Senator Imee Marcos has called for a Senate inquiry into the United States' request to grant special immigrant status to some Afghans in the Philippines. She seeks clarity on the intention behind the request and the status of these individuals, whether they are refugees or employees of the U.S. government or American companies. Marcos questions why the U.S. government wants to keep the Afghan refugees in the Philippines instead of closer to Afghanistan or on American soil. Concerns about security and espionage threats have risen due to tensions between rival superpowers. A meeting was held to discuss the proposed temporary housing of Special Immigrant Visa applicants from Afghanistan, but details were not provided, leading to a lack of transparency in the case. Marcos also compares this situation to the acceptance of Afghan refugees during the Taliban's takeover in 2021.

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NUMBER CODING SHELVED FOR JUNE 12 CELEBRATIONS

There will be no number coding on Monday, June 12, as the country celebrates its 125th Independence Day, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

But the MMDA announced on Friday it will impose a traffic rerouting scheme primarily along Roxas Boulevard in Manila due to road closures in connection with the anniversary celebrations at Luneta Park.

Meanwhile, the three railway services in Metro Manila are offering free rides to passengers during selected hours on June 12.

The free rides at Light Rail Transit (LRT) 1 and 2 and Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3) are available from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The free ride is a yearly activity of the rail lines and the Department of Transportation in celebration of Independence Day.

Meanwhile, the MMDA is also suspending the operation of the Pasig River Ferry Service (PRFS) on Monday. The Ferry service will return to normal operations on June 13.

The temporary road closures on June 12 will be implemented from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. along Roxas Boulevard from TM Kalaw to P. Burgos, TM Kalaw- from Taft to Roxas Blvd, Maria Orosa St. from TM Kalaw to P. Burgos, including Katigbak Drive, Independence Road, and South Road for the flag raising and wreath laying ceremony at the Rizal Monument and Civic-Military Parade to be held at the Quirino Grandstand.

KERWIN ESPINOSA ACQUITTED IN DRUG CASE; PETER LIM REMAINS AT LARGE

Self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa and his co-accused, Marcelo Adorco, have been acquitted of a drug charge by a Makati court in the Philippines. The court granted their demurrer to evidence motion, citing reasonable doubt. One of the co-accused, alleged drug lord Peter Lim, remains at large. The defendants were accused of conspiring to commit illegal drug trading on two occasions, involving significant quantities of shabu. Adorco, initially presented as a state witness, was discharged after recanting his allegations. The court considered the testimonies of the remaining witnesses as hearsay, and the presented affidavits as inadmissible hearsay evidence. The prosecution failed to establish that confessions were made voluntarily. This is not the first time Espinosa and Adorco have been acquitted in a drug case.

HARVARD LAW GRADUATE ADVOCATES FOR 'INDEPENDENT, INCORRUPTIBLE' PH JUSTICE SYSTEM

Anna Teresita Marcelo, a Filipino lawyer who completed the Master of Laws program at Harvard Law School, is advocating for reforms in the Philippine judiciary to ensure its independence and integrity. She believes that the country's judicial administration is a source of widespread public dissatisfaction. Inspired by her father, who was dedicated to upholding the rule of law, Marcelo has a passion for the legal profession and using law as a tool for social change and public service. She has worked as an associate at SyCipLaw, served as a law clerk at the Supreme Court, and taught law at various institutions. Marcelo specializes in litigation and arbitration and is committed to pursuing judicial reform in the Philippines.

VILLAR WANTS WOMEN TO BE DIGITAL SAVVY TO LAND JOBS

Senator Cynthia Villar has urged women to immerse in digital technology, saying about 90 percent of jobs will require digital skills by 2025.

“As women, let us support and uplift one another, ensuring that no woman is left behind in this journey of digital transformation” Villar said during the 18th annual general assembly of the Philippine Federation of Local Councils of Women (PFLCW) held at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City on June 8.

Villar noted that globally, only about 24 percent of women enroll in information and communication technology (ICT) courses, resulting in a shortage of skilled workers.

“In the Philippines, it is slightly higher at 30-40 percent, but still insufficient. This means we are missing out on the potential contributions of more than half of our population in the development of a strong digital economy,” she said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

During the event with the theme “Women in Digital Transformation,” Villar acknowledged that PFLCW plays a vital role in advocating for women empowerment across our nation.

Representing 300,000 women in 500 local councils, the senator lauded their organization for driving positive change and championing inclusivity and women’s participation in various sectors.

“It’s about making sure that women have the same chances as men in tech jobs and encouraging them to take full advantage of the internet and other digital tools,” the senator said.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

'LIVE AND LET LIVE': NADINE LUSTRE'S BOYFRIEND CHRISTOPHE BARIOU REFLECTS ON SURVIVING CANCER

MANILA — Filipino-French entreprenuer Christophe Bariou, boyfriend of actress-singer Nadine Lustre, has opened up about his previous bout with cancer.

In a lengthy post on his Instagram account, Christophe detailed his past cancer diagnosis, admitting his hesitance to share because he might be viewed as a pitiful victim while others with the sickness were dying.

Christophe said he was diagnosed with cancer three years ago at age 27 and was told he only had a few weeks left to live.

"I experienced the darkest sensation of fear, which is something I thought I had already known because it wasn’t the first time I was in a life threatening situation," he continued. "But this was different. The enemy was invisible and deep inside my own body – a body that I never doubted before."

He admitted he was scared, angry, and frustrated at the thought of not being able to start a family or carry on handling his luxury resort in Siargao, adding there was confusing devastation to being told his time was running out.

The diagnosis prompted Christophe to stay in Siargo to "live the best I could out of my last days and not even bother trying to cure myself." A few days later, however, some doctors told him of an opportunity that led him to immediately go to a specialized hospital in France.

"They discovered I had a very rare type of lymphoma and even mentioned it was so rare they had no statistics of survival but that they were still hopeful and my 6 month treatment started," Christophe shared.

He took the time to note his treatment was free of charge because of the rights people in France fought for, lamenting that other countries were not as lucky.

Continuing his story in the comments section due to character limitations, Christophe said he was in full remission after just two months of intense chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

"Something I learned from this, going through all the terrible side effects of the chemo, is that despite everything, my life goals did not change at all," Christophe continued. "I wanted to get back on my feet as fast as possible and continue everything I started, but with more intention and even more motivation."

"When it comes to advocacies, it was a brutal reminder that life is fleeting. We do not have the luxury to wander and be mindless. I want to be mindful and conscious in every action. The best I can do is to lessen the suffering and cruelty around me, and promote kindness and compassion towards all forms of life – human and non-human," he reflected further. "Our lives are way too precious to be wasted. In the same breath, other lives are too sacred to be robbed from them, too."

Christophe admitted having no pretension to be revolutionary or change the world but simply hope that others would not wait to realize how fleeting life can be and regrets can make up a big part of it.

"Live and let live," Christophe ended, expressing gratitude for his partner at the time before Nadine, his family, and his friends.

Numerous people praised and showed support for Christophe including Billy Crawford, BJ Pascual, and Katarina Rodriguez.

Nadine met Christophe in Siargao back in July 2021, and confirmed they were in a relationship at the turn of the following year.

SPORTS

NBA: NUGGETS SHUT DOWN HEAT FOR 3-1 FINALS LEAD

The Denver Nuggets took a commanding 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals after powering past the Miami Heat, 108-95, in Game 4 on Saturday at the Kaseya Center (Sunday in Manila).

Aaron Gordon torched the Heat for 27 points on a highly-efficient 11-of-15 shooting clip, including three three-pointers. Two-time MVP Nikola Jokic put up 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Jamal Murray notched 12 assists to go with his 15 points.

Denver now has a chance to win their first ever NBA title when the best-of-seven series shifts back to their home court for Game 5.

SCORES OF JUNE 9

Final

1          2          3          4          T

1 Nuggets

20        35        31        22        108

8 Heat

21        30        22        22        95

GAME 4: DEN leads 3-1, Kaseya Center, Miami, FL

Nuggets Head Back To Denver With 3-1 Series Lead

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

player headshot

A. Gordon DEN PF

27 PTS , 6 REB , 6 AST

player headshot

J. Butler MIA SF

25 PTS , 7 REB , 7 AST

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 56.05

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The essence of a culture is in its performance, not its proclamations. - Andrew Vachss