(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 09 July 2025) The Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) continues to affect Mindanao. FORECAST: The Zamboanga Peninsula will experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the Southwest Monsoon. These conditions may lead to possible flash floods or landslides, especially during moderate to occasionally heavy rainfall. The rest of Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms also influenced by the Southwest Monsoon. Winds will be light to moderate from the southwest, with slight to moderate seas (wave height between 0.6 to 2.1 meters).


TOP STORIES – Wednesday, 23 August, 2023

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

23 August 2023, Wednesday, as of 5:00 p.m.

Photo from Department of Migrant Workers/Facebook.

1. TRIBUTES POUR IN FOR LATE DMW SECRETARY TOOTS OPLE:

-PBBM: Ople's passing is a great loss for all of us

-VP Duterte mourns death of ‘real patriot’ Ople

-Cabinet members mourn death of DMW chief Susan Ople

-Ople's passing mourned by int'l community

[The Manila Times, The Philippine STAR, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, People’s Journal, Daily Tribune, Pilipino Star Ngayon, BusinessMirror, Inquirer, CNN Philippines]

https://tribune.net.ph/2023/08/22/i-have-lost-a-friend-pbbm-on-the-death-of-sec-toots-ople/

2. RICE PRICE:

-DA execs: Lowering price of rice to P20 a kilo ‘difficult’, not achievable in 2 years

-DA: High rice prices due to expensive imports, inputs

-Villar believes price increase of rice due to 'artificial' shortage

-Solon wants inclusion of gov’t execs in economic sabotage rap if rice prices keep rising

-DA rice industry expert doesn't think a 'cartel' exists

-PHL to host International Rice Congress

[Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, Bulgar, Manila Standard, Pilipino Star Ngayon, BusinessMirror, Manila Times, ABS-CBN News] https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1820300/lowering-price-of-rice-to-p20-a-kilogram-difficult-da-execs

3. Toyota donates 35 brand new vehicles to President's Office

[Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, BusinessMirror, Daily Tribune, The Philippine STAR] https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/08/23/2290703/toyota-donates-35-brand-new-vehicles-presidents-office

4. GOV’T PROCUREMENT

-Marcos orders safeguards in e-government procurements

-DBM eyes amendments to procurement law

-Govt procurement to mimic online platform

[Manila Bulletin, Manila Times, The Philippine STAR, BusinessMirror, GMA News, Inquirer, Daily Tribune]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/879763/marcos-wants-safeguards-in-online-gov-t-procurements/story/

5. FARE HIKE:

- Jeepney transport groups file petition for P2-P5 fare hike

-LTFRB to transport groups: Submit formal petition on P2.00 jeepney fare hike

- Marcos: Expedite release of fuel subsidies to transport workers

- Ensure PH growth momentum not impeded by proposed fare hike, says NEDA

[The Philippine STAR, Manila Bulletin, Business Mirror, Inquirer, ABS-CBN News]

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/08/23/2290684/transport-groups-file-p5-jeepney-fare-hike-petition

6. WEST PHL SEA DISPUTE:

-NEDA chief rejects boycott calls against Chinese businesses

-China lying about allowing resupply mission to Ayungin: Coast Guard

-Fresh supplies sent to Ayungin amid Chinese harassment

-No deal to remove BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin under Duterte, says ex-official

Philippines not excluded from South China Sea trilateral drills

[CNN Philippines, Philippine Daily Inquirer, ABS-CBN News, The Philippine Star] https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/08/23/23/china-lying-about-allowing-resupply-mission-to-ayungin-pcg

7. DND chief’s proposals for MUP pension reform to be included in House bill

[BusinessMirror, Inquirer, Daily Tribune] https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/08/23/dnd-chiefs-proposals-for-mup-pension-reform-to-be-included-in-house-bill

8. House asks Comelec to fill in seat of expelled Teves

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

https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/22/house-asks-comelec-to-fill-in-seat-of-expelled-teves

 

9. Ex-broadcaster Jay Sonza released from QC jail after posting P270,000 bail

[Manila Bulletin, Rappler, ABS-CBN News]

https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/23/ex-broadcaster-jay-sonza-released-from-qc-jail-after-posting-p270-000-bail

10. LPA inside PAR may develop into storm - PAGASA

[CNN PHL, GMA News, Philstar] https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/8/23/lpa-may-develop-typhoon.html

© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit