(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 – Thursday, 21 December 2023

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

21 December 2023, Thursday, as of 5:00 p.m.

1. FAKE PALACE MEMO:

-Palace debunks fake memo declaring Dec. 22 a special half-working day

-Palace official takes blame for 'fake' half-day holiday announcement

[ABS-CBN News, BusinessMirror, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Philstar, Manila Bulletin, CNN PHL]

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/12/21/fake-memo-december-22-special-half-working-day.html

2. Marcos signs P5.768-T spending law for 2024

[Abante, Abante Tonite, Daily Tribune, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, People’s Journal, Pilipino Mirror, Pilipino Star NGAYON, The Manila Times, Philippine Daily Inquirer]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1877874/marcos-signs-p5-768-t-spending-law-for-2024

3. WEST PHL SEA ROW:

-China warns PHL to ‘act with caution’ after maritime clashes

-Some PHL politicians accused of 'poisoning' Manila-Beijing ties

-China denies funding ‘pro-China trolls’ in PHL

[CNN PHL, Daily Tribune]

https://tribune.net.ph/2023/12/china-warns-phl-to-act-with-caution-after-maritime-clashes/

4. Marcos names 4 new ‘Maharlika’ directors

[CNN PHL, GMA News, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, The Manila Times, The Philippine STAR, BusinessMirror]

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/12/21/marcos-names-4-new-mic-directors/

5. Frederick Go steps down from RLC to be new economic czar; Lance Gokongwei takes over

[BusinessMirror, Manila Standard, Inquirer]

https://business.inquirer.net/438020/frederick-go-steps-down-from-rlc-lance-gokongwei-takes-over

6. Marcos appoints new MIAA acting general manager

[Inquirer, ABS-CBN News, GMA News] 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/891999/marcos-appoints-new-miaa-acting-general-manager/story/?just_in

7. PBBM vows more aid programs for OFWs; jobs open up abroad

[ABS-CBN News, BusinessMirror, Manila Standard]

https://manilastandard.net/news/top-stories/314401059/pbbm-vows-more-aid-programs-for-ofws-jobs-open-up-abroad.html

8. SUSPENSION OF SMNI SHOWS

-SMNI to appeal 14-day MTRCB suspension

-PDP-Laban condemns MTRCB suspension of Duterte's SMNI show

[CNN PHL, GMA News, Manila Times, Philstar, ABS-CBN News]

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/12/21/2320391/smni-appeal-14-day-mtrcb-suspension

9. DE LIMA DRUG CASE:

-Ex-cop Valeroso to recant accusations against De Lima

-Muntinlupa court orders transfer of 11 PDLs in De Lima case

[ABS-CBN News, GMA News, Philstar, Inquirer]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1877958/fwd-ex-cop-on-plan-to-recant-accusations-against-de-lima

10. COVID-19 INFECTIONS:

-PHL logs 440 new COVID-19 cases on Dec. 20 —DOH

-Metro Manila’s COVID-19 positivity rate rises to 22%; infections may peak ‘next week’ — OCTA

-New COVID-19 variant JN.1 may enter Philippines in due time

[BusinessMirror, Philstar, GMA News, Manila Standard, Manila Bulletin]

https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/20/ph-logs-440-new-covid-19-cases-on-dec-20-doh-1

11. TRANSPORT WOES:

-Jeepney owners ask High Court to stop PUV program

-PISTON-Manibela 'joint transport strike' to last until December 22

[ABS-CBN News, BusinessMirror, Philstar, Manila Standard]

https://manilastandard.net/news/top-stories/314401072/jeepney-owners-ask-high-court-to-stop-puv-program.html

© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit