(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 - Thursday, January 12, 2023

TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online news monitoring)

12 January 2023, Thursday, as of 5PM

1. PBBM to meet with Belgium PM, other world leaders in Switzerland

- Marcos to 'soft launch' Maharlika fund during 2023 World Economic Forum: DFA

-Marcos’ Davos trip vital; no ‘compromise’, says DFA

-Marcos is only ASEAN leader to attend WEF in Davos; To meet Pinoys in Switzerland

[CNN PHL, Philstar, Inquirer, ABS-CBN News, GMA News]

https://mb.com.ph/2023/01/12/pbbm-to-meet-with-belgium-pm-other-world-leaders-in-switzerland

2. LPA aftermath

-NDRRMC: At least 10 dead due to heavy rains, flooding

-Agri, infra damage due to bad weather reaches P308M – NDRRMC

-2 towns in Samar under state of calamity

-Over 430K people affected by inclement weather since Jan. 2 —OCD

-Cebu Port Authority announces cancelled trips 

-Zamboanga City classes, gov’t work remain suspended

-LPA, shear line affects Visayas and Mindanao.

[ABS-CBN News, CNN PHL, GMA News, Inquirer]

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/12/23/ndrrmc-10-dead-due-to-heavy-rains-flooding

3. Onion and egg supplies

-DA expects onion prices to go down to P100-P150/kilo once imports arrive

-BOC intercepts P153.6M worth of smuggled onions

-DA reactivates price, volume watch body

-Eye-watering onion prices ‘call to action’ for agri sector

-Kadiwa stores temporarily stop selling cheaper onions starting January 13

-DA monitors price and supply of eggs; Guazon hits cartels amid egg shortage

[ABS-CBN News, CNN PHL, GMA News, Business Mirror, Manila Bulletin]

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/1/12/DA-onion-prices-to-go-down-to--100-150-kilo-once-imports-arrive.html

4. Senate probe into New Year’s Day air traffic control system collapse

-CAAP takes full responsibility, accountability on airport shutdown

-New Year air traffic fiasco due to 'defective' circuit breaker?

-CAAP admits air navigation system room has no CCTVs  

-Senate panel to follow 'non-punitive tone' in probing NAIA air traffic mess —Poe

-Poe pushes for independent transpo safety board anew to probe incidents like airspace shutdown

-Magna Carta benefitting airline passengers sought in House

[ABS-CBN News, CNN PHL, Manila Bulletin, Inquirer, GMA News]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/857194/caap-takes-full-responsibility-for-new-year-s-day-air-traffic-shutdown

5. Transportation

-LTFRB’s approval of LRT fare hike not yet final – LRTA

-DBM: Libreng Sakay set to continue with P1.285-B budget

-Bayan questions possible LRT fare hike

[ABS-CBN News, CNN PHL, Philstar, Inquirer, GMA News, Manila Bulletin]

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/1/12/ltfrb-lrt-price-hike-not-final.html

6. COVID-19

-Metro Manila’s COVID-19 positivity rate now within WHO benchmark

-COVID-19 positivity rate soars in Isabela at 62.3%, two other provinces – OCTA Research

-Nurses group backs extension of state of calamity due to COVID-19

-WHO working with China on Lunar New Year COVID-19 risks

-Too early for accurate COVID-19 death tally, Chinese experts say 

[Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, GMA News, ABS-CBN News, CNN PHL]

https://mb.com.ph/2023/01/12/metro-manilas-covid-19-positivity-rate-now-within-who-benchmark/

7. Gas exploration

-China to still push for joint exploration with PH despite court ruling vs. JMSU

-China: Void joint exploration deal with PH, Vietnam ‘important’ in maritime cooperation

-DFA to set parameters for future oil, gas exploration talks

-Pamalakaya urges Marcos Jr. to scrap joint oil, gas exploration plans with China

[GMA News, Manila Bulletin, CNN PHL, Inquirer]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/857136/china-to-still-push-for-joint-exploration-with-ph-despite-court-ruling-vs-jmsu/story/

8. DFA slams ‘venting’ for Marcos-Zelenskiy call by Ukraine envoy

[ABS-CBN News, GMA News, Manila Bulletin, News5]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/857190/dfa-exec-we-don-t-appreciate-ukraine-envoy-venting-about-request-for-phone-call-with-marcos

9. PNP personnel resignation

-PNP: Over 800 top cops submit courtesy resignation

-Mayor Emi welcomes newly-designated city police chief

-PNP majors, lieutenant colonels worry they’re next to be asked to quit

-HRW frowns at resignation call for ranking PNP officials

[Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Rappler, ABS-CBN News, GMA News]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1715669/pnp-over-800-top-cops-submit-courtesy-resignation

10. DND, AFP press briefing

-Galvez: DND, AFP to protect, ensure success of Marcos administration

-DND 'will always maintain integrity' of board of generals – Galvez

-Galvez: Courtesy resignation of nine DND officials only out of “delicadeza”

-Centino reappointment as AFP chief 'legal' – solon

[ABS-CBN News, CNN PHL, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin]

https://mb.com.ph/2023/01/12/galvez-dnd-afp-to-protect-ensure-success-of-marcos-administration/

11. SIM registration to run only until April 26

-DICT NTC: More than 17M SIM cards registered as of Jan. 10 

-DOJ reminds public to register SIM cards since violators may be imprisoned or fined

[CNN PHL, ABS-CBN News, Manila Bulletin]

https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/01/12/23/sim-registration-deadline-is-april-26-dict

©Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit