TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online and print media monitoring)
18 December 2023, Monday, as of 5:00
p.m.
-Bongbong Marcos may sign 2024 nat’l
budget bill on Dec. 20, says Speaker
-Zubiri hopes PBBM won’t veto proposed
2024 budget of DND, PCG
-Romualdez: 2024 budget includes funds
for 'robust defense of WPS'
-Public pushback vs Sara’s confidential
funds kept it out of 2024 budget — Senate finance panel chair
-Pimentel backs call to veto excess ₱450
billion unprogrammed funds in 2024 budget
-Budget bill lawful, Zubiri insists
[GMA News, ABS-CBN News, CNN
Philippines, The Philippine Star, Pilipino Star Ngayon, Manila Times, Manila
Bulletin, Inquirer, Daily Tribune]
2. WEATHER
-Thousands flee as Kabayan hits southern
Philippines
-Kabayan makes landfall in Manay, Davao
Oriental
-Kabayan strands passengers, topples
trees in Central Visayas
-Over 6,700 displaced due to Kabayan,
shear line —NDRRMC
-PCG-7 cancels all sea trips from Cebu
to other provinces
-Kabayan downgraded into tropical
depression; Signal No. 1 up over 30 areas
[Rappler, GMA News, ABS-CBN News, CNN
Philippines, The Manila Times, Manila Standard, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin,
PhilStar]
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/18/23/thousands-flee-as-kabayan-hits-southern-philippines
3. PH condemns North Korea's missile launch
[Manila Bulletin, PhilStar, ABS-CBN
News, GMA News, CNN Philippines, Manila Times]
https://www.mb.com.ph/2023/12/18/ph-condemns-north-korea-s-missile-launch
4. WEST PHL SEA
-ASEAN, Japan agree to uphold int'l law,
UNCLOS to maintain peace in WPS
-BBM pushes peace in WPS amid tensions
[The Philippine Star, Pilipino Star
Ngayon, ABS-CBN News]
5. ASEAN-JAPAN SUMMIT
-Marcos urges ASEAN: Craft 10-year food
security roadmap
-Romualdez cites Marcos’ push for
Filipinos’ food security
-Solon bares govt move to pursue
alliance for growth
-Marcos calls for ASEAN's collective
action vs violations of int'l laws
[The Philippine Star, CNN Philippines,
Manila Bulletin, People’s Journal, BusinessMirror, Abante Tonite, People’s
Journal, ABS-CBN News]
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/12/17/climate-resilient-food-security-help.html
6. PH-JAPAN JOINT MILITARY DRILLS
-Phl, Japan start talks on joint
military drills
-Marcos: Reciprocal access deal with
Japan to bring greater capacity in maintaining peace in WPS
-Marcos Jr., Kishida look to reach early
conclusion of RAA negotiations
[The Philippine Star, GMA News, ABS-CBN
News, CNN Philippines]
7. 6 rebels, soldier killed in Batangas clash
[Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila
Standard, ABS-CBN News, Abante Tonite, Remate]
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1876551/6-rebels-soldier-killed-in-batangas-clash
8. Transport groups begin 2-week strike vs jeepney phaseout
-'Pinakamalungkot na Pasko': 50,000
jeepney drivers could lose jobs – Manibela
-Two-week transport strike extension
starts, PNP readies peace and order contingency measures
[The Philippine Star, Abante Tonite,
ABS-CBN News, Manila Bulletin]
9. MalacaΓ±ang opens doors to public for entire ‘Simbang Gabi’
[Manila Bulletin, PhilStar, Manila Times]
https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/18/malacanang-opens-doors-to-public-for-entire-simbang-gabi
10. Diesel prices up, kerosene down Tuesday
[GMA News, ABS-CBN News, CNN
Philippines]
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/891663/diesel-prices-up-kerosene-down-tuesday/story/
11. New suit vs SMNI hosts show how hard it is to legally beat
red-tagging
[Rappler, Inquirer, PhilStar, ABS-CBN
News]
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/teddy-casino-sues-badoy-celiz-red-tagging-december-2023/
© Philippine Information Agency
Monitoring Unit
