The Philippine Star - January 10, 2024

In this issue

January 10, 2024

Nazareno fever

2.8 M join traslacion after 3-year hiatus

3 mins

Farmers want tariffication review, cool to rice SRP

SAN MIGUEL, Bulacan - Farmers in Central Luzon, considered as the rice granary of the Philippines, are calling for the abolition or review of the Law Rice Tariffication (RTL).

2 mins

Ex-AFP officer slams raps over socmed posts

Retired military officer Johnny Macanas Sr. has decried the filing of criminal complaints against him by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., calling it a form of harassment and curtailment of his freedom of expression.

2 mins

Phl renews clemency appeal for Veloso

With Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Manila on an official visit, the government is renewing its appeal for clemency for overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Mary Jane Veloso, who is on death row in Indonesia for drug trafficking.

1 min

Unemployment down to 18-year low 3.6% in November

The country’s unemployment rate in November declined to its lowest level since 2005, as more jobs were created by the increased economic activity during the holiday season.

3 mins

'Congress can provide funding for SHS vouchers for SUCs'

An opposition legislator yesterday offered a solution to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)’s problem regarding the discontinuation of vouchers for senior high school (SHS) students, saying that Congress can still provide funding if needed.

1 min

Senate panel ready to review NGCP franchise

Following the massive power outage that struck Panay Island and other parts of Western Visayas on Jan. 2, another Senate panel is ready to conduct a probe into the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP)’s franchise.

1 min

LTFRB won't dictate PUV brand in modernization program

No specific vehicle brand or model would be required from transport cooperatives and operators under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) of the government.

1 min

Marcos to monitor Kalinisan program

President Marcos yesterday vowed to monitor efforts to maintain cleanliness in barangays and assess the performance of village councils on the implementation of their cleanup drives.

1 min

Comelec: Contingency plans in place for 2025 poll machines

Amid lone bidder Miru Systems’ history of problematic vote counting machines abroad, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gave assurance that contingency measures are in place to ensure the successful procurement of automated poll machines for the 2025 midterm elections.

1 min

177 cops charged for drug offenses

More than 170 police officers have been charged with drug-related offenses in Metro Manila and about 120,000 people have been placed behind bars under the administration’s war on drugs, President Marcos reported yesterday.

2 mins

Imee: P20 M offered per district for House Cha-cha

Up to P20 million was reportedly offered to each congressional district that could deliver by next week the needed number of signatures that support the Charter change (Chacha) being pushed in the House of Representatives, Sen. Imee Marcos said yesterday.

3 mins

Lawmaker wants Quiapo declared heritage zone

A congressman from Manila yesterday renewed his call for Quiapo to be declared as a “heritage zone” so that historical structures and old houses in the area could be preserved.

1 min

NBI probes P1-B paluwagan scam

The National Bureau of Investigation is investigating a paluwagan scam in Pasig City that allegedly defrauded several people of nearly P1 billion, an NBI official said on Monday.

1 min

11 NPA rebels face raps over ambush of troops

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has recommended the filing of charges for violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act against 11 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in connection with the ambush of Army soldiers in Occidental Mindoro last year.

1 min

SM Foundation renovates Air Force City Hospital anew

CLARK CITY – Following the renovation of the outpatient department of the Air Force City Hospital in 2022, SM Foundation Inc. (SMFI) has renovated the lounge, administrative area, emergency room and radiology department of the hospital.

1 min

Illegal recruiters tagged in slay of 7 relatives

KORONADAL CITY - Illegal recruiters are believed to be behind the killing of seven family members who were found buried together in a shallow grave in Sapad, Lanao del Norte on Sunday.

1 min

Magnitude 6.7 quake hits Sarangani

A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Sarangani, Davao Occidental yesterday.

1 min

'Israel kills senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon'

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Israel killed a top Hezbollah commander in a strike in south Lebanon on Jan. 8, said sources familiar with the group’s operations, inflicting a heavy blow after three months of hostilities at the Lebanese-Israeli frontier.

1 min

US airlines find loose hardware on 737 Max 9s

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Boeing’s latest 737 Max crisis deepened after United Airlines and Alaska Airlines said they had found loose parts on multiple grounded Max 9 aircraft, raising new concerns among industry experts about how its bestselling jet family is manufactured.

1 min

Spain mulls hospital mask mandate as flu, COVID hit Europe

MADRID (Reuters) – The Spanish government on Jan. 8 proposed a nationwide mandate for people to wear masks in hospitals and health clinics, while Italy said respiratory illness infection rates had hit a record, as flu and COVID spread across Europe.

1 min

Pope calls for universal ban on surrogacy

ROME (AP) – Pope Francis called Monday for a universal ban on what he called the “despicable” practice of surrogate motherhood, as he included the “commercialization” of pregnancy in an annual speech listing threats to global peace and human dignity.

1 min

Jiu-jitsu fighters, Yulo recipients of PSA Major Award

Asian Games gold medalists Margarita “Meggie” Ochoa and Annie Ramirez, along with Asian champion Carlos Yulo will be among the recipients of Major Awards in the San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Awards Night on Jan. 29.

2 mins

Strong team gets stronger

Strong Group Athletics coach Charles Tiu yesterday finalized his lineup with the addition of Jordan Heading and Justine Baltazar for the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championships at the Al Nasr Club, United Arab Emirates on Jan. 19-28. The team leaves for Dubai next Wednesday so Tiu has a week to prepare the troops for battle.

1 min

CRUCIAL TIFF STAKES 'INCENTIVE'

A coveted Top 4 ranking with twice-tobeat advantage in the PBA Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals is within sight for both Meralco and Phoenix.

1 min

No denying MCFASolver this time

Barely missing top honors in the previous leg, guest team MCFASolver shifted to high gear to get the job done this time.

1 min

Factory output growth rises faster

The country posted higher manufacturing output growth in November from the previous month, driven by improvements in the beverage, transport equipment, and chemical industry divisions.

1 min

BOC revenues hit record P884 B in 2023

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) raked in a record P884 billion in revenues last year, slightly overshooting government targets amid a heightened drive against smuggling and better digitalization initiatives.

1 min

Phl stocks advance following Wall Street rally

Philippine stocks bounced back yesterday, aligning with the recovery in Wall Street.

1 min

BTI Payments partners with Southstar Drug to expand Phl footprint

BTI Payments Philippines Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Australia's Banktech, has partnered with Southstar Drug to further expand its footprint in the Philippines.

2 mins

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The Philippine STAR is the flagship title of the country's largest and most successful print media enterprise, the Philstar Media Group. Owned and published by Philstar Daily Inc., The Philippine STAR is a vaunted pillar of Philippine journalism whose integrity is anchored on the Biblical motto, “Truth Shall Prevail”. The Philippine STAR is a two-time winner of the prestigious Newspaper of the Year award given by the Rotary Club of Manila.