TOP STORIES – Saturday, 08 July 2023

TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online and print media monitoring)

8 July 2023, Saturday, as of 4:00 p.m.

This photo taken on January 17, 2023 shows farmers harvesting onions at a farm in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija province. AFP / Jam Sta Rosa

1. Philippines writes off US$1 billion in farmer debt to boost food production

- Law writing off P58B land reform debts a ‘second chance’ for farmers —DAR exec

- Senators laud Marcos’ CARP loan condonation

[Philippine Star, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Times, Manila Standard, Tribune]

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/07/08/2279570/philippines-writes-us1-billion-farmer-debt-boost-food-production

2. West PHL Sea

-  AFP calls swarm of Sino vessels in WPS a ‘threat’

- Chinese maritime militia possibly eyeing to take control of Iroquois Reef —PCG

- US says Beijing’s moves ‘risky’ as Chinese ships ‘swarm’ sea

- Germany, France back PH complaint on Chinese harassment

[Manila Times, Philippine Star, Tribune, Manila Standard, Inquirer, GMA News, Manila Bulletin]

https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/07/08/news/national/chinese-ships-swarming-at-wps-reef/1899530

3. Marcos says job creation remains a priority

[Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Manila Times, Inquirer, GMA News]

https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/8/marcos-admits-more-should-be-done-to-address-ph-labor-issues

4. Marcos affirms trust in Frasco at DOT despite ‘Love Philippines’ video mess

[OneNews, Philippine Star, CNN Philippines, Inquirer, Manila Standard, Manila Times, GMA News]

https://www.onenews.ph/articles/frasco-still-has-marcos-trust-despite-video-fiasco

5. Marcos reiterates support for AFP modernization

[Inquirer, Manila Times, Manila Bulletin]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1798977/marcos-afp-modernization-to-continue-to-address-present-dangers-ph-is-facing

6. Budget, 20 priority bills up at House, says Romualdez

[Philippine Star, Inquirer, Manila Times, Manila Standard]

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/07/08/2279461/house-pass-2024-budget-priority-bills-yearend

7. SRA approves importation of 150K metric tons of sugar

[Manila Standard, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, GMA News, Philippine Star, OneNews]

https://manilastandard.net/news/top-stories/314347744/sugar-order-7-oks-import-of-150k-tons-to-boost-stocks.html

8. NFA failed to meet 300,000 MT rice buffer stock despite ₱7-B budget — COA

[Inquirer, CNN Philippines, Manila Bulletin]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1798863/coa-nfa-rice-buffer-stocks-fall-short-in-2022

9. NEDA sees minimal impact of El Niño this 2023

[GMA News, ABS-CBN News, CNN Philippines, Manila Bulletin]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/875210/el-nino-unlikely-to-have-huge-impact-on-inflation-neda/story/?just_in

10. Angat level further dips amid looming water interruption

- Over 500k Maynilad customers to be affected by 9-hour water interruption

[CNN Philippines, GMA News, ABS-CBN News, Philippine Star, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard]

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/7/8/Angat-Dam-water-level-now-below-180-meters.html

11. Mixed adjustments in pump prices seen next week

[ABS-CBN News, Philippine Star, GMA News, Manila Standard, CNN Philippines]

https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/07/08/23/diesel-kerosene-prices-to-slightly-rise

12. SMNI News back a day after YouTube terminates all Quiboloy-affiliated channels

[Manila Times, Philippine Star, Inquirer, CNN Philippines]

https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/07/08/news/smni-news-channel-back-on-youtube/1899693

© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit