manila standard

Marcos signs ‘Trabaho’ Act into law to craft job generation masterplan

September 27, 2023
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday signed into law Republic Act No. 11962 or the “Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act” into law to address unemployment, underemployment, and other challenges in the country’s labor sector. “I am very pleased to stand before you today at this ceremonial signing of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act, a […]
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Resigned OTS chief Aplasca hits ‘cultural decay’ in airport security

September 27, 2023
Office for Transportation Security (OTS) administrator Ma. O Aplasca, who resigned Tuesday night, has criticized the “cultural decay” within the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) security management teams which, he said, allowed corrupt screeners to remain in their jobs. In an interview with TeleRadyo Serbisyo on Wednesday, the former police general and House sergeant-at-arms said […]
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Australia helping restore WPS coral reefs

September 27, 2023
Australia is helping the Philippines restore the coral reefs in some parts of the West Philippine Sea. The Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command (AFP WESCOM) and the Australian Embassy in the Philippines discussed the joint coral reef restoration projects to protect the marine environment during a forum on Wednesday. The forum was entitled […]
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Protecting human rights defenders

September 27, 2023
If human rights defenders are an endangered species, Senator Risa Hontiveros believes what they need is adequate protection from harassment and prosecution. The lawmaker has therefore filed a bill defining their rights and fundamental freedoms. Senate Bill 2447 asserts that human rights defenders (HRDs) are “treated with contempt, even threatened with violence” and “often subjected […]
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China warns PH: Behave

September 26, 2023
Tells Manila ‘not to stir up trouble’ in Scarborough Shoal Beijing warned Manila on Tuesday not to “stir up trouble” after the Philippine Coast Guard said it removed a floating barrier deployed by China to block Filipinos from their traditional fishing ground in Bajo de Masinloc. “China firmly upholds the sovereignty and maritime rights and […]
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President: All hands on deck vs. agri smugglers

September 26, 2023
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday ordered a whole-of-government campaign to stamp out the “weevils” in the country’s agricultural sector, directing all agencies and officials to strictly implement policies and laws to stop the smuggling and hoarding of rice. President Marcos, who is also the concurrent Agriculture secretary, made his remarks during the rice distribution […]
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Marcos thumbs down proposal to reduce imported rice tariff

September 26, 2023
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday rejected the proposed tariff reduction on imported rice being pushed by his economic managers. “We decided with the agriculture and economic managers that it was not the right time to lower the tariff rates because the projection of world rice prices is that it will go down. So, this […]
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PhilHealth won’t pay P17 million ransom demand from hackers

September 26, 2023
The government on Tuesday said it will not pay $300,000 or P17 million ransom demand from hackers for the stolen database of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth). “According to our initial investigation, there were around 72 workstations that were affected and the systems affected are, of course, our website, our e-claims system, our member […]
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House defends hybrid session for urgent bills

September 26, 2023
The House of Representatives on Tuesday defended the legality of a hybrid session it conducted Monday night, which saw the approval of several key bills, among them the reform of the pension system for military and uniformed personnel and the fiscal regime for the mining industry. “It’s not a hybrid midnight session. It’s an authorized […]
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Gilas, Eala, Paalam score wins in Asiad

September 26, 2023
Hangzhou—Following a spate of losses in many fronts on Monday, the Philippines recovered some lost ground on Tuesday with victories by Gilas Pilipinas, tennis phenom Alex Eala and Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Carlo Paalam in the 19th Asian Games here. With Justine Brownlee, CJ Perez and Ange Kouame leading the charge, Gilas used a balanced […]
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Risa: Coast Guard spent only P117m intel funds in 17 years

September 26, 2023
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday questioned how the Office of the Vice President spent P125 million in confidential funds in 11 days in 2022 as she compared it to the Philippine Coast Guard’s P117 million confidential budget spread over 17 years. “Our Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea monitors China’s tantrums every day. It […]
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CA defers Herbosa’s confirmation

September 26, 2023
The bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) on Tuesday deferred the deliberations on Dr. Teodoro Herbosa’s designation as Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH). Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, the CA majority leader for the House contingent, moved to suspend the confirmation of Herbosa’s appointment due to “lack of material time.” Senator Christopher Go, […]
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DOJ: Foreigners can sit in public utilities’ boards

September 26, 2023
Foreigners may secure seats in the board of directors of Philippine corporations with foreign equity and engaged in public utilities and in partially-nationalized activity based only on their “actual” and “allowable” shares, the Department of Justice said in a legal opinion addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that […]
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China’s floating barriers

September 26, 2023
Incredible accomplishment. That one, after the Philippine Coast Guard removed a “floating barrier” installed by China southeast of Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, which lies within Manila’s 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone. Philippine authorities, complying with the instructions of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., carried out “a special operation” to get rid of the estimated 300-meter […]
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NASA readies for dramatic return of asteroid sample to Earth

September 24, 2023
 AFP
The climactic end of a seven-year voyage comes Sunday when a NASA capsule is due to land in the Utah desert, carrying to Earth the largest asteroid samples ever collected. Scientists have high hopes for the sample, saying it will provide a better understanding of the formation of our solar system and how Earth became […]
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Biden blames ‘extreme Republicans’ for threatening US government shutdown Washington, United States

September 24, 2023
 AFP
President Joe Biden on Saturday blamed “a small group of extreme Republicans” for a budget impasse that has placed the US government a week away from a shutdown, urging the lawmakers to solve the issue. Speaking at a Congressional Black Caucus awards dinner, Biden said he and top House Republican Kevin McCarthy had previously agreed […]
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China rowers win first gold of Asian Games

September 24, 2023
 AFP
Host nation China won the first gold medal of the Asian Games on Sunday, when Zou Jiaqi and Qiu Xiuping dominated the women’s lightweight double sculls rowing final. The Chinese pair finished in 7min 6.78sec, with Uzbekistan’s Luizakhon Islamova and Malika Tagmativa taking silver, almost 10 seconds behind. Indonesia’s Chelsea Corputty and Rahma Mutiara Putri won […]
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Russia accuses West of ‘de facto’ fighting in Ukraine

September 24, 2023
 AFP
Western powers through their support for Ukraine are “de facto” fighting against Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Saturday, as Kyiv claimed fresh advances on the ground. “You can call it anything you want, but they are fighting with us, they are straight-up fighting with us,” Lavrov told journalists at the United Nations. “We […]
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US experts carry out second pig-to-human heart transplant

September 24, 2023
 AFP
A 58-year-old man this week became the world’s second patient to receive a transplant of a genetically modified pig heart, the latest milestone in a growing field of medical research. Transplanting animal organs into humans, called xenotransplantation, could offer a solution to the chronic shortage of human organ donations. More than 100,000 Americans are currently […]
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Armenia urges UN to send mission to Karabakh to monitor rights

September 24, 2023
 AFP
Armenia on Saturday urged the United Nations to send a mission to ensure the safety of ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh after the territory was seized back by Azerbaijan, which promised to respect minority rights. For the second time since the swift Azerbaijani operation in the mountainous territory, the top diplomats of the adversaries clashed at […]
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A migrant rest stop in Panama after brutal crossing of the Darien Gap

September 24, 2023
 AFP
Once Marcel Maldonado had finally made it across, he broke down in tears. The Venezuelan migrant, limping on a prosthetic leg, had survived the infamous trek through the Darien jungle from Colombia and, having crossed the Tuquesa River, he was now in Panama. Perched on the riverside is Bajo Chiquito, the first Panamanian village where […]
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French rapper MHD gets 12 years in prison for youth’s murder

September 24, 2023
 AFP
French rapper MHD was sentenced Saturday to 12 years in prison for the 2018 murder of a young man in Paris who was rammed with a car before being set upon by a mob and stabbed. Five of his fellow defendants were also jailed over the killing, receiving jail terms of between 10 and 18 […]
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Spice of life

September 23, 2023

A vendor displays ‘sili labuyo’ (chili peppers) that retail for P400 per kilo – about half the prevailing market rate — at the Kadiwa ng Pangulo of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair at Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges in Nabua town on Saturda...

China ‘hypocritical’ over WPS issue — Gibo

September 23, 2023
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. chided China on Saturday over its “propaganda lines” accusing the Philippines and the BRP Sierra Madre, Manila’s outpost in the Ayungin Shoal, of marine damage. “The statement of China that the grounded Sierra Madre is causing irrevocable harm is to put it as politely as possible, hypocritical,” Teodoro Jr. said […]
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Seda by the bay

September 22, 2023
Seda Hotels recently celebrated the opening of their 12th property in the Philippines, Seda Manila Bay. Located in Paranaque’s Entertainment City, it offers 350 thoughtfully designed rooms from Deluxe Rooms to Suites, ideal for both business and family travel. The hotel’s design incorporates various leisure amenities, a sprawling water playground with pool fountains and other […]
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Olympians to show wares in Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu Masters

September 22, 2023
CEBU CITY— The Manila Chooks! 3×3 squad’s biggest goal is to bag a slot to the Paris Olympics next year. Seeing action in the 2023 Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3×3 World Tour Cebu Masters will certainly serve as a big inspiration for the charges of head trainer Chico Lanete. Olympians Dejan Majstorovic and Dutch Dimeo van der […]
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A closer perspective of the world with realme

September 22, 2023
FRESH from announcing its new 11 series last August, realme encourages users to utilize its features, especially its camera. This time, they brought us to the vibrant and bustling King City of the South–Davao. One of the famous tourist spots in Davao City is Malagos Garden Resort, home of the award-winning Malagos Chocolate. Yet there’s […]
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Perpetual Altas focused on elusive NCAA crown

September 22, 2023
 AT the end of the last NCAA season, the Perpetual Altas Men’s Basketball team took a long hard look at the lessons they learned and trained harder, fiercer than ever. With the start of Season 99 just around the corner, Perpetual Altas head coach Michael ‘Myk’ Saguiguit said his wards are itching to hit the […]
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YouTube announces new generative AI products

September 22, 2023
MADE On YouTube, the platform unveiled a suite of AI-powered capabilities that will help both new and established creators and artists create, edit, and share content in bold new ways. These AI-powered tools will help unlock powerful new forms of creative expression, take the friction out of the creative process, and allow YouTube creators to […]
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Smart transforms ‘GigaLife App’ to ‘Smart App’ with more value-packed offers, rewards for subscribers

September 22, 2023
MOBILE services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has rebranded the ‘GigaLife’ App with the ‘Smart App’ to give subscribers more value-packed offers and rewarding experiences with every tap. The Smart App builds on the many conveniences of the former GigaLife App as the go-to app of all Smart Prepaid, Smart Signature, Smart Infinity, Smart Bro, […]
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Cavite State University arnis bet bags gold medal in ROTC Games Luzon leg

September 22, 2023
INDANG, Cavite – Cavite State University’s EJ Orsolino ended the province’s search for its first gold medal, beating Bulacan Agricultural State College’s Lenard Mendoza, 2-1, in the men’s Army featherweight arnis finals of the ROTC Games Luzon leg at the CSU International Convention Center here Friday.  Banking on swift and crafty counterattacks, Orsolino easily won […]
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DingTalk streamlines organization, communication for Asian Games

September 22, 2023
Alibaba’s intelligent collaboration workplace and application development platform DingTalk unveils its solution for Hangzhou Asian Games (DingTalk for Asian Games), an enhanced edition of DingTalk designed to improve operational efficiency of the Games. The proven solution is at the heart of the mega sports event’s organization and communications, to be held in Hangzhou from September […]
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Gatorade fuels FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 milestones

September 22, 2023
The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 concludes with Europe as the new powerhouse in the biggest sports spectacle anticipated by more than 12,000 fans. Gatorade, the World’s No. 1 Sports Drink in the World, congratulates Germany for it sweeping campaign, capped off by an 83-77 triumph over Serbia at the finals match. As the official […]
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TP-Link’s Archer AX12: Your next-generation router

September 22, 2023
  TP-Link, the leading innovator in networking solutions worldwide, is set to raise the bar once again through the release of its latest product, the Archer AX12. As the brand’s top-of-the-line next-generation router, the Archer AX12 is engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of today’s connected households and businesses. In a world where buffering is […]
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President mulls fishing ban

September 19, 2023
Stresses need to stop overfishing, boost fish supply, ensure food security President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is considering seasonal fishing bans in breeding areas to address overfishing and boost aquaculture. Mr. Marcos stressed the need to increase fish supply as part of efforts to ensure food security. “Sometimes, it is necessary not to catch all […]
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Sound of Freedom

September 19, 2023
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez delivers his message during the premier night of the film “Sound of Freedom” at SM Megamall Cinema in Mandaluyong City on Monday night. Romualdez hopes the movie will raise awareness, collective actions to eradicate human trafficking, and ensuring the safety and dignity of the children. The movie is presented by […]
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Diokno: ‘Huge damage’ to PH if fuel excise taxes suspended

September 19, 2023
Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno on Tuesday said suspending the collection of excise taxes on petroleum products, as House Speaker Martin Romualdez suggested the government could do, would cause “huge damage” to the economy. Romualdez brought up the proposal after emerging from a meeting with oil company representatives where he asked them to slash fuel prices, […]
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Marcos not giving up on P20/kilo rice price promise

September 19, 2023
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Tuesday he remains optimistic about bringing down the price of rice to P20 per kilo, even as the grain has been selling for more than double that amount. In an interview in Zamboanga, the President said this could be achieved once the cost of agricultural production becomes stable. “If we […]
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