TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online and print media monitoring)
19 December 2023, Tuesday, as of 5:00 p.m.
1. National Budget
-2024 budget to be signed into law on Dec. 20;
Secret fund issue already settled
-SC debate over ‘unprogrammed funds’ seen
-2024 budget has funds for defense of West PH
Sea: Romualdez
[Business Mirror, Remate, People’s Journal,
GMA News, Abante, Inquirer, Remate, ABS-CBN News, One News, Philstar, Manila
Bulletin, Daily Tribune]
2. BBM’s visit to Japan
-President back home, brings P14.5B in pledges
from Japan
-Marcos pitches revival of PH-Japan youth
exchange program
-PH wants defense pact with Japan signed by
next year
-Phl woos Japan, Asean investments in
renewable energy
[Manila Standard, CNN Philippines, Daily
Tribune, ABS-CBN News, Peoples’ Journal, Remate, CNN PHL, GMA News, Manila
Bulletin, Manila Times, Inquirer]
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/224561/marcos-japan-trip-nets-p14-5b-in-fresh-investment-pledges
3. Marcos on finalizing reciprocal access deal with Japan: As soon as
possible
[GMA news, PJ, Remate, CNN PHL, Business
Mirror, Manila Times, ABS-CBN News, Inquirer]
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/12/18/marcos-kishida-swift-conclusion-raa.html
4. BBM creates office on investment, economic affairs; Go to head body
[Manila Times, Malaya, Business Mirror, GMA
News, Manila Standard, Abante Tonite, Rappler]
5. Transport Strike
-Manibela to defy Dec. 31 deadline, says
consolidation not needed to modernize jeepneys
-DOTr assures the public enough PUVs amid
holiday season despite strikes
-Transport strike disrupts commute in Metro
Manila, provinces
-Gov't readies special permits, free rides for
possible PUV shortage in Jan: official
-Artes: Gov't ready even for a year of
transport strikes
[ABS-CBN News, Inquirer, Rappler, CNN PHL,
Philstar, Rappler, Manila Bulletin]
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/18/23/manibela-mounts-another-transport-strike
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1877029/transport-strike-disrupts-commute-in-metro-manila-provinces
6. SMNI issue
-Another damage suit filed vs 2 SMNI hosts
-MTRCB orders 14-day preventive suspension of
2 SMNI shows
-Suspension of 2 SMNI programs 'long
overdue'--Castro
[Inquirer, People’s Journal, GMA News, CNN
PHL, Manila Bulletin]
[Manila Standard, Business World, Philstar,
ABS-CBN News, CNN PHL, GMA News, Inquirer, Daily Tribune, Rappler, Business
Mirror]
7. COVID-19
-DOH logs 2,725 new cases from Dec. 12–18,
2023, highest weekly tally in 24 weeks
-DOH: Hospital admissions remain low despite
uptick in COVID-19 cases
-Huge COVID outbreak unlikely despite case
uptick: DOH chief
-Senators probe readiness for disease surge
[BM]
- DOH addresses rising number of Covid cases
despite vaccination progress
[Manila Times, Inquirer, ABS-CBN News, GMA
News, CNN PHL, Business Mirror, Manila Bulletin]]
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/12/18/covid-19-cases-dec-12-to-18.html
8. Election issue
-SC asks Comelec to respond to Smartmatic petition;
Comelec will follow SC order
-Miru Systems ‘ineligible’ to bid for 2025
polls—Comelec
[Philstar, Inquirer, Business Mirror, ABS-CBN
News]
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/12/19/supreme-court-comelec-smartmatic-tro.html
10. DSWD's 'Tara Basa' program to expand in Bulacan
- DSWD to expand tutoring program for reading
in 2024
[ABS-CBN News, Philstar, CNN PHL, Daily
Tribunes]
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/12/18/DSWD-expand-tutoring-reading-2024.html
11. ‘Rushed’ Naia rehab deal to ‘favor’ only 2 bidders; Gadon warns vs
rushed NAIA rehab project
[Business Mirror, Manila Times, Manila
Standard]
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/12/19/affected-people-kabayan-shear-line-tuesday.html
12. Kabayan aftermath
-Over 86,000 people affected by 'Kabayan,'
shear line
-200 Surigao del Sur families evacuate due to
Kabayan ‘Kabayan’ sends nearly
-1 in Davao missing as storm Kabayan lashes
Mindanao
-After major quake, Kabayan spares Surigao del
Sur but aftershocks remain
-Heavy rains from Kabayan displace 7,000
residents in Mindanao [Inquirer]
-PAGASA lifts all wind signals as Kabayan
weakens into remnant low
[Rappler, GMA News, Inquirer, Philstar, Manila
Standard, CNN PHL, Manila Bulletin]
13. Pinoy Gaza hostage Pacheco returns home
[Manila Standard, ABS-CBN News, Inquirer,
Manila Bulletin]
https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/546238/filipino-held-hostage-by-hamas-finally-arrives-home
© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit
