(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 27 March 2024) Easterlies affecting the eastern section of the country. Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Easterlies / Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms.


TOP STORIES - Sunday, December 18, 2022

TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online news monitoring)

18 December 2022, Sunday, as of 4PM

Former President Rodrigo Duterte (Malacañang photo) and Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria ‘Joma’ Sison (Joma Sison Facebook page)

1. Joma’s death update

-Duterte hopes Sison’s death marks end of PH revolutionary movement

-Joma Sison’s death ends ‘greatest stumbling block’ to peace –DND

-CPP: Founder's death not the end of rebellion

-AFP: No threats from Reds seen with Joma Sison’s death; AFP: No one else fit to head CPP

-CPP declares days of mourning, honors for Joma Sison; Reds want Joma Sison buried in PH

-CPP says NPA can 'stage tactical offensives' in honor of Joma Sison

[CNN PHL, ABS-CBN News, DZBB, GMA News, Inquirer, CNN PHL, Rappler, Manila Bulletin, News5, Philstar] ©PIA-PMU

https://mb.com.ph/2022/12/18/duterte-hopes-sisons-death-marks-end-of-ph-revolutionary-movement/

2. Baliwag, Bulacan gains cityhood following plebiscite - Comelec

[ABS-CBN News, GMA news, Inquirer, Rappler, Philstar, Manila Bulletin] ©PIA-PMU

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/854813/baliwag-bulacan-gains-cityhood-following-plebiscite-comelec/story/?just_in

3. North Korea fires ballistic missile: Seoul’s military

[Inquirer, ABS-CBN News, Rappler, Reuters, Philstar, Manila Standard] ©PIA-PMU

https://www.rappler.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-ballistic-missile-december-18-2022/

4. 10 dead in Muntinlupa fire

[DZBB, ABS-CBN News, GMA News, DZMM, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin] ©PIA-PMU

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/12/18/putatan-muntinlupa-fire.html

5. Marcos Jr. OKs extending lower tariffs on pork, rice, corn, coal

[Manila Bulletin, CNN PHL, ABS-CBN News] ©PIA-PMU

https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/12/18/22/marcos-jr-oks-extending-lower-tariffs-on-pork-rice-corn-coal

6. Maharlika Welfare Fund

-Romualdez guarantees transparency in Maharlika fund [Inquirer, Manila Bulletin]

-Neda chief backs Maharlika fund to help sustain economic growth

-Set aside Maharlika profits for agri secto – gov’t urged [Inquirer]

-ACT Teacher Party-list Rep. France Castro says Maharlika Investment Fund exemptions in regulatory and safeguards

[DZBB, Inquirer, CNN PHL, Manila Bulletin] ©PIA-PMU

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1706445/there-is-transparency-in-maharlika-investment-fund-says-romualdez

7. PH moves target to become upper middle income status to 2025

[Inquirer, GMA News, Manila Standard] ©PIA-PMU

https://business.inquirer.net/378443/ph-moves-target-to-become-upper-middle-income-status-to-2025

8. Christmas and New Year preps

-Hospitals to be on high alert ahead of New Year celebrations - DOH  

-PCG: More travelers in ports nationwide as Christmas nears [CNN PHL, GMA News, Inquirer]

©PIA-PMU

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/854811/hospitals-to-be-on-high-alert-ahead-of-new-year-celebrations-doh/story/?just_in

9. Lapid murder update

-Ex Bucor official Zulueta photographed in Baguio; not in hiding says lawyer

-Former BuCor official denies 'mastermind' tag in Percy Lapid murder

-BuCor official tagged in Percy Lapid slay still in Philippines –lawyer

[Inquirer, GMA News, ABS-CBN News] ©PIA-PMU

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1706234/bucors-zulueta-of-percy-lapids-murder-case-alive-not-hiding-abroad-his-camp-says

10. COVID-19

-OCTA sees up to 1,200 new COVID-19 cases on Dec. 18

-1,196 new COVID-19 cases logged; active tally at 18,262

-92% of Filipinos approve of gov't COVID-19 response –OCTA Q4 survey

-COVID-19 transmission in PH still on plateau

-More Filipinos OK with gov't response to pandemic

[CNN PJL, GMA News, Inquirer] ©PIA-PMU

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/854819/octa-sees-up-to-1-200-new-covid-19-cases-on-dec-18/story/?just_in

11. Vaccine

DOH hopes to have bivalent vaccines available by Q1 2023

Marikina promotes COVID-19 booster vaccination campaign via bike ride in Marikina City

[GMA News, Inquirer, DZBB] ©PIA-PMU

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1706418/doh-aims-to-have-bivalent-vaccines-available-by-q1-2023

12. 1st day of Register Anywhere Project ‘successful’—Comelec

[GMA News, Manila Bulletin, Sunstar, News5] ©PIA-PMU

https://mb.com.ph/2022/12/17/1st-day-of-register-anywhere-project-successful-comelec]

13. Weather update

-Amihan to bring rains to Metro Manila, parts of Luzon: PAGASA

-Sea travels for small vessels in Batangas suspended due to bad weather

[ABS-CBN News, GMA News, Inquirer] ©PIA-PMU

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1706411/amihan-shear-line-to-bring-rain-over-parts-of-luzon-pagasa

—Philippine Information Agency | PIA Monitoring Unit—