(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Saturday, 30 August 2025) At 3:00 AM today, the Low Pressure Area (LPA) was estimated based on all available data at 435 km West of Sangley Pt, Cavite City, Cavite (14.1°N, 116.9°E). Southwest Monsoon affecting Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. π—”π—™π—™π—˜π—–π—§π—œπ—‘π—š π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—¦π—¬π—¦π—§π—˜π— : Southwest Monsoon ang makaapekto sa rehiyon sa Caraga.


TOP STORIES – Monday, 18 September 2023

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

18 September 2023, Monday, as of 5:00 p.m.

1. Marcos visit in Singapore

-Marcos brings home P11B in investments from Singapore; meets Singapore PM at F1 race

-President Marcos hit for attending F1 Grand Prix in Singapore

[Abante Tonite, GMA News, Inquirer, Philstar, Manila Bulletin, Manila Times, Pilipino Star, Remate, People’s Tonite, Malaya]

https://malaya.com.ph/news_news/marcos-brings-home-p11b-in-investments-from-singapore/

2. West Phl Sea

-PCG confirms ‘severe damage’ in Rozul Reef, Escoda Shoal corals in WPS

-Senate urged to probe China’s alleged harvesting of corals in Rozul Reef 

-Maritime expert fears collapse of Philippine fisheries

-Philippines’ reclamation in WPS doable but needs serious studies, says AFP

-China headed for global isolation amid ‘irresponsible, aggressive’ actions in WPS – AFP

-AFP: Other countries to join Philippines-United States maritime patrols

[CNN PHL, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Inquirer, Rappler, Philstar, Daily Tribunes]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/882455/pcg-confirms-severe-damage-in-rozul-reef-escoda-shoal-corals-in-wps/story/

3. 2024 National Budget

-P5.768-T national budget for 2024 enters final stage in House

-Marcos admin has no troll farms, armies —PCO

[Daily Tribune, The Philippine Star, Pilipino Star Ngayon, Inquirer, Business Mirror, Rappler, ABS-CBN News, Remate, GMA News]

https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/18/p5-768-t-national-budget-for-2024-enters-final-stage-in-house

4. PCO budget

-Senate panel OKs P1.9-B PCO budget for 2024

-Marcos admin has no troll farms, armies —PCO

-PCO hopes to regularize over 100 COS personnel

-PTV 4 and IBC 13 in 'negotiations' with Revillame 

[GMA News, Remate, Inquirer, Rappler, Daily Trbiune. Abante]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/882472/senate-panel-oks-p1-9-b-pco-budget-for-2024/story/?just_in

5. Rice tariff

-Marcos bares new prices for buying dry, fresh palay

-Diokno vows balanced approach to rice import policy

-Farmers protest to denounce proposed zero tariff import policy on rice

-PH agri trade deficit up slightly in June

-Rice farmers fear losing P19-B aid 

-Escudero to BOC: File charges vs. rice smugglers, hoarders

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, Manila Bulletin, GMA News, Inquirer, Philstar, Manila Standard, Cebu Daily News, Rappler, Daily Tribune, Abante, Bulgar]

https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/09/18/23/nfa-sets-new-price-range-for-buying-palay-from-local-farmers

6. Oil firms hike fuel prices by up to P2.50/liter effective Sept 19 

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

https://business.inquirer.net/421640/oil-firms-hike-fuel-prices-by-up-to-p2-50-liter-effective-sept-19

7. Supreme Court asked to declare Maharlika fund unconstitutional 

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

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1833052/supreme-court-asked-to-declare-maharlika-fund-unconstitutional

8. DepEd to pilot K-10 curriculum in 35 schools

[Philstar, GMA News, CNN PHL, Daily Tribune, Manila Standard, Inquirer] https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/09/18/2297164/deped-pilot-k-10-curriculum-35-schools

9. BSKE in Negros Oriental pushes – COMELEC

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

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/18/23/barangay-elections-in-negros-oriental-to-push-through

10. Acorda leads mandatory drug tests of 89 PNP senior officers

[Manila Bulletin, Pilipino Star Ngayon, Rappler, ABS-CBN News]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1832867/top-pnp-officials-undergo-surprise-drug-test

11. Ombudsman finds Antiporda liable for harassing, oppressing NIA employees

[Inquirer, GMA News, ABS-CBN News]

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/18/23/former-nia-exec-found-guilty-of-harassment-oppression-of-employees

12. Pope expels Samar priest for minors’ ‘sexual abuse’

[CNN PHL, Philstar, One News PHL]

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/09/18/2297161/pope-expels-samar-priest-minors-sexual-abuse

© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit