(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 11 December 2024) Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting the western section of Mindanao and Palawan. Shear Line affecting the eastern sections of Central and Southern Luzon. Northeast Monsoon affecting Northern Luzon and the rest of Central Luzon. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: 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 Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—œπ—‘π—— 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—–π—’π—”π—¦π—§π—”π—Ÿ π—ͺπ—”π—§π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Moderate to Strong winds coming from East to Northeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas / (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


TOP STORIES – Tuesday, 22 August, 2023

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

22 August 2023, Tuesday, as of 5:00 p.m.

Department of Migrant Workers secretary Toots Ople. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News
1. Migrant Workers Secretary Toots Ople passes away

[ABS-CBN News, CNN Philippines, GMA News, Manila Standard, Business Mirror, Manila Bulletin, Manila Times, Philstar, Inquirer, Rappler] https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/22/23/migrant-workers-secretary-toots-ople-passes-away

2. RICE SUPPLY

- Is P20/kilo rice possible within 2 years? ‘Baka mahirap po,’ says DA

- 'Not good governance' for Marcos to miss DA meetings, says Daza 

-Farmers benefiting from high palay prices – DA

-Review of rice tariffication law pushed

-Ex-Agri chief sees rice prices hitting P60/kilo

-Some Pinoys adjust rice consumption habits due to high prices

-P7 billion fuel subsidies urged for drivers, fisherfolk, farmers

[The Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, The Daily Tribune,  Manila Standard, The Manila Times, Manila Standard, Bulgar, ABS-CBN News, Inquirer, Rappler] https://www.rappler.com/nation/department-agriculture-response-rice-prices-2023-2025

3. NFA ABOLITION:

- Amid reported plan to import rice anew from India, group presses NFA abolition

- As rice prices soar, senators dare NFA: Prove your worth

- Pimentel, Escudero open to NFA abolition

[Philippine Daily Inquirer, Business Mirror,  Manila Times, ABS-CBN News] https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1819778/as-rice-prices-soar-nfa-told-prove-your-worth

4. DOH BUDGET

- Lawmakers air concerns on slashed 2024 budget of DOH

- P2 billion allotted for cancer treatment, patient support in proposed 2024 budget

[Daily Tribune, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, ABS-CBN News, GMA News] https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1819791/senators-disappointed-over-huge-slash-in-health-budget

5. WEST PHL SEA DISPUTE:

- New resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal successful —WPS task force

- Romualdez bares smear campaign against him, other envoys

- Solons mull probe over PH's alleged promise to China to withdraw BRP Sierra Madre

- ACT: Did Duterte promise to remove ship from Ayungin?

- China ships in 'blockade positions' amid new Ayungin resupply mission —expert

- China hits US-South Korea-Japan deal: Asia Pacific not a ‘boxing ring’

[ABS-CBN News, GMA News, CNN Philippines, Manila Bulletin, The Philippine STAR, Pilipino Star NGAYON, Inquirer]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/879656/new-resupply-mission-to-ayungin-shoal-successful-wps-task-force/story/

5. NAVAL DRILLS:

- PH, Australia hold assault drills in WPS

- Australia's biggest warship deployed in Philippine drills

- AFP chief denies report of planned trilateral exercise in South China Sea

- Diplomacy is still first line of defense for the PH, two senators say

[ABS-CBN News,  Daily Tribune CNN Philippines, Manila Times, The Philippine STAR, Manila Bulletin, Inquirer]

https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/08/22/news/ph-australia-hold-assault-drills-in-wps

6. 40th DEATH ANNIVERSARY OF NINOY AQUINO:

-BBM: Let’s transcend political barriers

-Marcos appeals for unity in Ninoy Day message

-Grandnephew asks: Is Ninoy Aquino still important?

-Atienza: Marcos Sr. didn't order 1971 bombing

[The Philippine Star, Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Manila Times, Manila Bulletin, The Daily Tribune, Pilipino Star Ngayon, People’s Journal, BusinessMirror] https://qa.philstar.com/headlines/2023/08/22/2290456/marcos-lets-transcend-political-barriers

7. DFA confirms 2 Filipinos killed in Hawaii wildfire, verifying 2 others

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

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/08/22/2290530/dfa-confirms-2-filipinos-killed-hawaii-wildfire-verifying-2-others

8. Comelec to issue ‘revolutionary guidelines’ vs. vote buying

[ABS-CBN News, CNN PHL, GMA News] https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/8/22/comelec-guidelines-vote-buying.html

9. Senate starts probe into unjust killing of Jemboy Baltazar

[CNN PHL, Inquirer]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1819879/fwd-senate-delves-into-unjust-killing-of-jemboy-baltazar

10. NPA leader behind killing of football player, 4 other rebels slain in Masbate clash

[People's Tonight, Pilipino Star NGAYON, Abante Tonite] https://www.philstar.com/pilipino-star-ngayon/probinsiya/2023/08/22/2290427/lider-ng-npa-4-pa-todas-sa-engkuwentro

© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit