Marcos cool to raising sea row to UN assembly

by Helen Flores Philstar.com

KUALA LUMPUR – President Marcos appears not inclined to raise China’s continued aggression in the West Philippine Sea before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

At a press conference here on Thursday, July 27, Marcos was asked to comment on a Senate resolution, urging the administration to seek UNGA support for the country’s position in the South China Sea issue.

“Generally speaking, foreign policy is not set by the legislature. Generally speaking, foreign policy is left up to the executive,” Marcos said.

“The United Nations entertains governments, not parts of government... They deal with governments,” he added.

Marcos made the remarks after Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri agreed to Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano’s proposal for a caucus on July 31 to discuss the resolution authored by Sen. Risa Hontiveros urging the government to call out Beijing’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea before the UNGA.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and presidential adviser on West Philippine Sea Andres

Centino were expected to be invited to the closeddoor meeting.

“I mean of course the senator (Hontiveros) is free to file whatever resolution she wants but I do not know how that would translate to any action that will reach the United Nations General Assembly,” Marcos said.

Earlier, Cayetano – who served as foreign affairs chief during the Duterte administration – blocked the Senate’s adoption of the resolution authored by Hontiveros.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro earlier raised u PAGE A2

BURBANK — Domestic workers in the US are underpaid and over-utilized, but are largely exempt from protection by labor laws, said Ai-Jen Poo, President of National Domestic Workers Alliance.

The well-known labor rights activist is currently heading up a campaign to pass the National Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. The bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington, and in the Senate by Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, and Ben Lujan, D-New Mexico.

In April, the NDWA — in collaboration with the Care Can’t Wait coalition — won a major victory: President Joe Biden issued 50 executive orders directed at improving care and protections for domestic workers.

April has been designated Care Workers Recognition Month.

“Across America, care workers help raise our children, assist seniors as they age with dignity, and support people with disabilities, giving families peace of mind and making it possible for millions of Americans to earn a

KUALA LUMPUR – All is calm and "good" between House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Vice President Sara Duterte.

"We're good," Romualdez told reporters as President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. prepared to wrap up his state visit in Malaysia.

Last May, Duterte threw barbs seemingly directed at Romualdez following the demotion of former president and now Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the House leadership.

This was followed by Duterte leaving Lakas-CMD of which Romualdez is party president.

However last Tuesday, July 25, the two officials were seen arm-in-arm during the departure honors for the President. n

OLIVIA McDaniel and the Philippines still consider Norway as having the advantage ahead of their crunch Group A tussle, this despite cracks showing within the camp of the former winner of the Fifa Women’s World Cup.

“It will be a tough game and they are a tough team,” McDaniel said as the Filipinas began preparations in this city for a monumental chance at securing a round-of-16 spot in the ultimate showcase of women’s football.

The Filipinas take on the Norwegians Sunday at Eden Park here, with a chance to do what only three debutants have achieved in the tournament’s short but rich history.

And with the Philippines coming off a historic first win in the tournament, any other help can certainly help swing the tide in favor of the Filipinas.

“They’re ranked very, very highly and we have to put our best foot forward,” McDaniel added.

McDaniel and Co. are on a

MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong”

Marcos Jr. told the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council (ABAC) that the Philippine government is listening to its suggestions. He noted government programs lined up are attuned to the advice it provide.

During ABAC’s third meeting in Cebu City on Friday, the Chief Executive stressed sustainable and inclusive growth.

He also emphasized sustainability in his speech.

“We aim to achieve this through amongst other strengthening agriculture and food agriculture, industrialization, connectivity, and supply change, driving growth through tourism, through trade, urban development; providing high impact social services for health, education, skills uptake, and targeted support; building climate resilient and green infrastructure that will not only sustain our economic growth, but will also trickle welfare effects down to our most underserved sectors,” he said.

Michael Punongbayan Philstar.com

MANILA — Super Typhoon

Egay roared across Northern Luzon and other parts of the country on Wednesday, July 26, leaving at least two dead and several injured as well as displacing up to 180,400 people or 44,356 families now mostly staying in evacuation centers.

The dead and injured were not immediately identified as the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

Council (NDRRMC) has yet to verify reports, which said the figures were recorded in Calabarzon, (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), the Cordilleras, Northern Luzon and Western Visayas. Authorities have yet to estimate the damage caused by the typhoon.

Egay (international name Doksuri) was forecast to leave the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday morning, July 27, and was u PAGE A4