Good day. Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Monday, Aug. 7, 2023.

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READ: Chinese aggression threat to peace – US

THE United States Department of State (DOS) on Sunday said the recent harassment of Philippine vessels by the China Coast Guard “directly threatened” regional peace and stability. The United Kingdom, through its embassy in Manila, shared the US view. The embassy of Canada in the Philippines said “continuing acts of intimidation and coercion by the PRC (People’s Republic of China) against its neighbors undermine safety, security and stability across the region, and raise the risks of grave miscalculation.” Japanese Ambassador to Manila Koshikawa Kazuhiko said any harassment and actions which infringe on lawful activities of the sea and endanger the navigational safety was totally unacceptable. European Union Ambassador to Manila Luc Veron said he was “very concerned about dangerous action” in the South China Sea and stands with the Philippines in upholding the rules-based international order. Ambassador of Australia to Manila Hae Kyong Yu said Canberra is concerned about the latest actions directed against the Philippines, which “are dangerous and destabilizing.” The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday strongly condemned the China Coast Guard for firing a water cannon at a boat bringing supplies to Philippine soldiers on Ayungin Shoal. The Chinese Embassy has yet to issue a statement on the incident. The US called on China to abide by the 2016 arbitral ruling as well as “to respect the freedom of navigation — a right to which all states are entitled.” In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines, invalidating China’s claim in the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea which encroached on the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

READ: El Niño continues to intensify

THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has issued a second El Niño alert following climate monitoring and analyses that showed the unusual warming of sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific has further developed. Pagasa’s officer in charge Esperanza Cayanan said the warmer-than-average sea surface temperature across most of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific signified that a weak El Niño might grow moderate to strong toward the end of 2023. Pagasa said El Niño increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall, which could affect some areas of the country and adversely impact different climate-sensitive sectors such as water resources, agriculture, energy, health and public safety. But before El Niño peaks, at least four weather systems — the intertropical convergence zone, the low pressure area, the southwest monsoon and localized thunderstorms — will bring rain in August. Cayanan said the rainfall forecast for the month shows generally near-normal conditions in most of the country, with some areas in western Luzon likely to receive above-normal rainfall. She said two to three tropical cyclones may enter and develop inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility this August.

READ: NEA confident of full electrification by 2028

NATIONAL Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda is confident the country can achieve total electrification by 2028, when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term ends. Speaking in SMNI’s weekly public affairs program “Business and Politics” hosted by The Manila Times Chairman and CEO Dante “Klink” Ang 2nd, Almeda said the NEA will follow its current programs, namely the “Sitio Electrification Program” and other formulated plans, to ensure that the President’s vision will be fulfilled. For context, Almeda said the agency has been preparing even before the President’s State of the Nation Address to roll out the Sitio Electrification Program in the coming years until 2028. He said that under the Sitio Electrification Program, the government will subsidize electric cooperatives to step up rural electrification. The NEA, however, needs a bigger budget to get the programs moving forward. The approved budget for NEA in 2023 was around P1.60 billion, lower than what the agency will need to carry out the President’s goal of full electrification. Almeda requested that Congress at least help them get more funding.

READ: Pope’s vigil in Portugal draws 1.5 million pilgrims

A sea of 1.5 million pilgrims packed a riverside park near Lisbon on Saturday for a vigil held by Pope Francis as part of a global Catholic youth festival. Worshippers cheered as the 86-year-old pontiff slowly drove by on his “popemobile” to the stage at the Parque Tejo on the outskirts of the Portuguese capital. The Argentine pope urged the crowd to “pick themselves up” whenever they suffer a setback in life.Drones formed the words “rise up” and “follow me” in the sky above the stage as the pope spoke. Many waited for hours under a blazing sun for the start of the vigil, singing, dancing and playing cards to pass the time at the park, which was built for the occasion on a former landfill site. There was little shade, and worshippers protected themselves from the sun with umbrellas or makeshift tents made from sheets, or tried to cool off by pouring water over their heads. The vigil is part of the festivities of World Youth Day, which is actually a week of religious, cultural and festive events held every three years in a different city.

Topping Business

READ: Economy likely slowed further in Q2

PHILIPPINE economic growth may have slowed anew in the second quarter given global and domestic challenges, analysts polled by The Manila Times said. Ten out of the 12 economists surveyed forecast a slowdown from the first quarter’s 6.4-percent expansion, which while better than expected was still lower than the 7.4 percent recorded in the last three months of 2022. If realized, the median forecast of 6.0 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth for April-June would be the slowest since the economy began recovering from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Preliminary second quarter GDP data will be released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) this Thursday, August 10.

In Sports

READ: PH bags Junior League Softball crown

THE Philippines blanked Milford, Connecticut, 3-0, to win the title in the Junior League Softball World Series on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) in Kirkland, Washington. This is the second world title for the Philippines in the tournament after a team from Bacolod captured the crown in 2003. A team from Norzagaray, Bulacan reached the final in 2015 but lost. Represented this time by Bago City, the Filipinos scored a run in the second inning and added two more in the sixth to secure the victory. Pitcher Erican Arnaiz struck out 15 batters aside from pulling off a diving catch in the fifth when Milford threatened to rally.

READ: Japan reaches Women’s World Cup quarters

Japan scored its 14th goal of the Women’s World Cup and conceded its first Saturday night, beating Norway 3-1 to reach the quarterfinals for the fourth time. Hinata Miyazawa sealed the win with her fifth goal of the tournament in the 81st minute to remain the leading scorer. Risa Shimizu’s 50th-minute goal followed an Ingrid Syrstad Engen own goal in the first half to help give Japan its fourth straight win of the tournament. With five goals the 23-year-old Miyazawa equaled the record for a Japan player at a World Cup. Homare Sawa scored five in 2011 when Japan won the tournament. She won the Golden Boot that year. This Japan team already has scored more goals than the 2011 team.

READ: Opinion/Editorial

The Times, in its editorial, suggests a thorough scrutiny on the impact of Manila Bay’s reclamation projects on the environment. Read the full version on print or digital or listen to the Voice of the Times. Featured columnists on the front page are Rigoberto Tiglao, Fr. Ranhilio Aquino and Francisco Tatad. Tiglao writes about the stupid, ignorant Senate resolution; Aquino on when friends leave and Tatad on a message from Europe.

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