HEADLINES: PH economic zones open to all investors – Marcos | May 5, 2024
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Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Sunday, May 5, 2024.
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READ: PH economic zones open to all investors – Marcos
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the country’s economic zones were open to all citing the attractive arrangements set up by the government for business planning to operate in the Philippines. Marcos issued the statement as he discussed the government’s measures to transform the economy in an interview with a South Korean newspaper in Malacañang on Thursday.
READ: WPS island in ‘degraded’ state – study
THE Pag-asa Cays in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) are in a “degraded” state with low coral and fish diversity and abundance, according to the findings of marine scientific research carried out by the Philippines. In a media briefing on Saturday, Dr. Jonathan Anticamara from the University of the Philippines Institute of Biology said the degradation of the reef biodiversity in Pag-asa Island Cays 1, 2, 3 and 4 was possibly due to a combination of disturbances from overfishing, climate change impact and island-building activities in several features in the WPS. Based on the findings, the Pag-asa Cays have less than 10 coral and fish species per 100 square meters, and those observed were small in size. Anticamara also said that the pile of sand and rubble on Pag-asa Cays 1, 2 and 3 have many characteristics that were atypical of naturally formed or sandy barrier islands. He said this indicated that these were caused by island-building activities that were observed in the WPS “but with some degree of uncertainty.”
READ: After 22 yrs, IBC-13 staff get retirement pay
AFTER 22 years and 28 management teams, 145 employees of the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp. (IBC-13) finally received their retirement pay from the state-run media corporation, Malacañang said Saturday. Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said it was only in the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that the much-awaited retirement pay was released to the IBC workers.
READ: Comelec ban eyed on substitute candidates
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia said he would push for a ban on withdrawals as a basis for substitution after candidates have submitted their certificate of candidacy (CoC) for the 2025 midterm elections. Comelec rules provide that political parties and coalitions have the option to substitute their nominated candidate in case of his or her death, withdrawal, or disqualification by the Comelec after the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy.
BUSINESS: Govt to support urban agriculture, horticulture
In business, the Philippines has a huge potential to be a bigger player in the global horticulture market, Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said on Friday, noting that the government will ramp up efforts to increase production. Tiu Laurel said he sees a promising future for Philippine exports, especially among those with “green thumbs” or have the natural abilities to grow plants. He said the Philippines can also supply plant landscaping.
SPORTS: Choco Mucho guns for PVL finals spot
BOUND to conquer greater feats, Choco Mucho eyes to book their finals ticket, but the Flying Titans have to brace for Petro Gazz’s revenge game in the semifinals of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) 2024 All-Filipino Conference at the Araneta Coliseum today, May 5. Being a different beast now, Choco Mucho took down their previous finals tormentor Creamline in a five-set thriller, 13-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, 18-16, to snap its 12-game skid from the defending champions. After this historic and momentous victory, Choco Mucho quickly dispatched Chery Tiggo, 25-20, 25-19, 25-23, and took the upper hand in the semis standings with a 2-0 record. Earning back-to-back wins in the semifinals, coach Dante Alinsunurin said that there is no room for complacency for his squad, most especially when they face the No. 1 seed in the preliminaries Petro Gazz.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Marlen Ronquillo is today’s front page columnist, as he laments that Labor Day is being reduced to a “celebration of business and capital”.
Today’s editorial analyzes the recent protests of jeepney drivers and operators against the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program. Read the full version in the paper’s opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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