00:30.0
Good evening, I'm Tony Velasquez.
00:49.9
And I'm Bia Gutierrez.
00:51.9
On our broadcast tonight,
00:53.2
France prepares to negotiate a security deal
00:56.0
with the Philippines next month.
00:57.4
This follows the French Navy's participation
00:59.7
for the first time in the Philippines'
01:02.0
annual military drills with the U.S.
01:04.3
Bianca Daba has tonight's top story.
01:08.1
The Philippines and France are planning
01:10.7
to deepen their defense cooperation.
01:13.1
The two countries are set to begin talks
01:15.0
for a visiting forces agreement next month.
01:18.0
A deal would allow French forces
01:19.6
to train with their Filipino counterparts.
01:22.3
We will have an opportunity in May
01:24.9
to maybe start officially the negotiations
01:29.7
discuss the modalities.
01:31.7
So the next meeting is May 20, May 21.
01:35.6
So that's the, I would say,
01:37.1
perfect occasion to officially discuss
01:40.9
the ways to negotiate the VFA.
01:45.0
On Friday, a French Navy helicopter
01:47.7
landed on a Philippine landing dock vessel
01:49.8
for the first time
01:50.8
as the two nations,
01:52.6
along with the United States,
01:54.3
continue their multilateral maritime training drills
01:56.8
under the Balikatan exercises this year.
01:59.7
We will start the flight quarters operations.
02:03.1
So it will require the coordination
02:05.4
between the bridge team
02:06.8
and then the flight deck team.
02:08.8
Their movements and communications
02:13.8
from the helicopter control room
02:16.5
going to the pilots of our helicopters.
02:19.6
The Philippines AW109 helicopter
02:22.5
and France's Airbus AH160
02:25.2
landed on the docks of BRP Davao del Sur,
02:28.7
BRP Ramon Alcaldes,
02:31.8
and proceeded to refuel
02:33.3
before resuming their landing exercise
02:35.3
on USS Harper's Ferry.
02:37.6
The participating naval vessels
02:39.1
of the Philippines, the US, and France
02:41.2
also conducted a replenishment at sea exercise.
02:44.1
We have a delivery ship
02:47.5
we are supplying ship
02:48.3
and at the same time,
02:49.3
we are receiving vessel.
02:50.6
So they are moving together
02:53.2
to support the needs
02:55.1
of the receiving vessel.
02:59.2
are expected to be
02:59.7
to continue the cross-deck landing exercises
03:03.9
before sailing towards the West Philippine Sea
03:06.7
where more maritime drills are expected
03:09.0
to be held beyond the country's
03:10.9
12 nautical mile territorial waters.
03:15.3
in an open field in Laortown
03:17.1
in Nueva Ecija also on Friday,
03:19.5
personnel of the Philippine Army
03:20.9
and the United States Army Pacific
03:23.1
fired shot after shot.
03:25.7
Using their respective howitzers,
03:27.8
they fired at the target
03:29.2
which was 9 kilometers away
03:30.9
from the launch area.
03:32.6
But all of this is only a simulation.
03:35.5
Part of the two armies'
03:36.9
field artillery live fire exercise
03:39.0
under Phase 1 of Salaknib 2024.
03:42.9
which means Shield in Ilocano,
03:45.4
is an annual army-to-army exercise
03:47.7
geared towards strengthening
03:49.3
the interoperability of Filipino
03:51.0
and American troops
03:52.0
and enhancing their capabilities
03:53.8
against external threats.
03:56.2
What you saw under the nets,
03:59.2
and on the pieces,
04:00.4
is exactly why we're here,
04:02.3
is to build the partnership
04:03.5
between ourselves
04:04.8
and the Filipino Army.
04:08.3
We started a couple of weeks ago
04:09.7
with some classes and courses
04:11.4
to discuss the different particularities
04:15.5
of the two systems.
04:16.9
And then what you saw
04:17.9
was the culmination of that event.
04:19.8
The Philippine Army utilized
04:21.6
its Atmos 155MM howitzers
04:23.9
which have a range of 34 to 42 kilometers
04:26.8
depending on the munitions.
04:29.2
Filipino troops also used
04:31.1
their 105MM howitzers,
04:33.2
lightweight towed weapons,
04:34.9
which can be used for direct and indirect fire.
04:38.0
The USARPAC, meanwhile,
04:39.6
fired its M119 howitzer,
04:41.8
a lightweight 105MM howitzer
04:43.7
which can be easily airlifted by helicopter
04:46.3
or airdropped by parachute.
04:48.7
It has a range of about 11 kilometers.
04:51.6
American troops also utilized
04:53.3
their M777 howitzer during the drills.
04:56.5
Highly portable by land, sea, and air,
04:58.5
the weapon is used for the
04:59.1
high-speed fire of the Philippine Army.
05:01.6
The Philippine Army has a range
05:02.8
of about 120 kilometers.
05:03.6
The Philippine Army has a range
05:04.5
of about 120 kilometers.
05:05.1
The Philippine Army has a range
05:05.4
of about 120 kilometers.
05:05.7
Field artillery personnel
05:06.0
from both armies worked hand-in-hand
05:08.0
to maneuver and fire the howitzers.
05:10.7
Among the US Army personnel
05:12.5
who tried their hands
05:13.6
on the Philippine Army's weapon systems
05:15.4
is Filipino-American Staff Sergeant Aaron Reyes.
05:19.6
This is Reyes' first time
05:21.1
to participate in the Salaklib exercise
05:22.9
in the Philippines
05:23.7
since joining the USARPAC in 2019.
05:27.0
They also tried to use our equipment.
05:28.9
They also tried to use our equipment.
05:29.0
They also tried to use our equipment.
05:29.1
At the same time,
05:31.4
kami din po nagamit po yung
05:32.7
equipment nila at napag-share po
05:35.1
ng mga expert, ng kanya-kanyang expertise
05:37.3
para po mas mapalakok po natin
05:39.5
yung knowledge natin pagdating sa
05:40.9
trabaho po natin.
05:42.9
For Philippine and US Army officials,
05:45.4
interoperability among the soldiers
05:47.1
is crucial. And this is further
05:49.2
enhanced by holding joint drills
05:50.8
where both armies also learn from each other.
05:53.9
One of the things we're doing is a
05:55.1
combined jungle operations training course
05:57.5
with the Filipino Army.
05:59.1
We run one in Hawaii
06:01.2
and we know that the Filipino Army
06:03.3
runs a really extensive course
06:05.2
and so there's lessons to be learned
06:07.4
there how to operate
06:08.6
in the jungle. It's an unforgiving environment
06:11.3
and so we want to learn from our
06:13.2
Filipino counterparts on how they operate
06:15.3
here on the island
06:17.4
of Luzon and elsewhere
06:18.4
and it's a great course to build that partnership.
06:23.6
Philippine Army personnel
06:24.9
and 1,700 US Army
06:27.2
personnel trained side-by-side
06:29.0
in the first phase of the Salaknib
06:31.0
drills. The second phase
06:33.0
is scheduled in June.
06:37.0
ABS-CBN News, Laura,
06:43.0
the Philippines against involving other
06:45.0
parties in their maritime
06:46.8
row over the West Philippine Sea.
06:49.2
The Chinese Defense Ministry says
06:51.1
this would only worsen the situation.
06:53.6
It reiterated its position,
06:55.4
its opposition to what it called
06:57.1
external interference
06:59.0
and muscle flexing in the South
07:01.0
China Sea. It also said
07:02.9
China's military is closely watching
07:05.1
the situation and will respond
07:07.2
with effective measures.
07:11.2
party list group seeks a congressional
07:13.0
probe of the country's joint military
07:15.1
drills with the US. Gabriela
07:17.2
Party List Representative Arlene
07:18.8
Brosas believes these are fueling
07:21.1
tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
07:23.6
Brosas warns the drills could
07:25.1
be viewed as warmongering
07:26.8
especially with the inclusion of the
07:29.0
Philippines' newly acquired
07:30.7
missile launcher system.
07:34.0
If China builds up
07:35.5
in the West Philippine Sea,
07:38.3
it's the same thing
07:39.0
that's being done here in the Philippines
07:41.8
through EDCA sites.
07:46.2
through the placement
07:48.1
of Tomahawk missiles
07:49.4
here in the Philippines.
07:54.9
The Defense Chiefs of the US,
07:57.5
Philippines, Japan, and Australia
07:58.8
will meet in Hawaii next week.
08:01.7
The meeting on May 2nd
08:03.0
will tackle common security challenges
08:05.0
in the Indo-Pacific region.
08:07.3
It will be their second
08:08.4
quadrilateral meeting.
08:10.3
They met in June last year on the sidelines
08:12.6
of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
08:15.3
The four countries held military
08:16.9
exercises in the West Philippine Sea
08:19.0
earlier this month.
08:22.3
Philippine police revoked the gun permits
08:24.6
of fugitive televangelist Pastor
08:26.5
Apollo Kiboloy. The move is
08:28.6
welcomed by the head of a Senate panel
08:30.6
that is approving Kiboloy's alleged abuses.
08:33.5
This report from Raya Capulong.
08:37.0
The Philippine National Police
08:39.1
has revoked the license to own
08:40.9
and possess firearms
08:42.1
and firearms registration
08:44.3
of fugitive Kingdom of Jesus Christ
08:46.7
leader Pastor Apollo Kiboloy.
08:49.6
Aside from Kiboloy,
08:50.9
the license to own and possess
08:52.5
firearms of his co-accused
08:54.2
Ingrid Canada has also been revoked.
08:57.4
PNP Chief General
08:58.5
Romel Francisco Marbile
08:59.9
has already signed the recommendation
09:02.1
of the Firearms and Explosives Office
09:04.4
to revoke the LTAP and firearms
09:06.7
registration of Kiboloy and Canada.
09:09.1
Hayaan niyo pong basahin ko po
09:11.0
yung dispositive portion po ng
09:13.0
resolution na pinirmahan po ng ating
09:18.6
foregoing considered,
09:21.1
the license to own and possess
09:22.9
firearms and firearms registration
09:24.9
of Apollo Karyon Kiboloy
09:27.1
are hereby required.
09:28.5
Evoke immediately.
09:30.8
Further, the next of kin,
09:33.4
nearest relative or legal representative
09:36.5
of Apollo C. Kiboloy
09:38.2
or any other person
09:39.7
is directed to deliver the same
09:42.8
and the firearms shall be confiscated
09:46.1
for proper disposition.
09:48.5
According to PNP-PIO acting
09:50.3
Chief and Spokesperson
09:51.7
Colonel Jean Fajardo,
09:53.5
the basis of revocation
09:55.0
was the criminal cases
09:56.5
faced by Kiboloy and Canada.
09:58.5
Kung matatandaan po natin,
10:00.4
ay nasampahan po ng kaso
10:01.9
si Pastor Kiboloy at iba pa
10:03.6
ng qualified human trafficking
10:07.4
which carries a penalty
10:09.4
of life imprisonment
10:12.0
violation of Republic Act 7610
10:15.9
o yung pong child abuse
10:17.0
which also carries a capital offense.
10:19.3
So, dun po sa mga penalty
10:21.1
at yung mga warrants po na in-issue po na ito,
10:23.2
yun po ang naging basihan
10:24.5
kung bakit po nirecommend po ng
10:26.5
Firearms and Explosives Office
10:29.6
ang pribilehyo ni Pastor Kiboloy
10:33.4
na i-revoke yung kanilang
10:35.6
LTAP and firearms registration.
10:37.8
The PNP is giving Kiboloy
10:39.7
six months to surrender
10:42.7
which are now considered
10:46.2
So, pag hindi po nila ito
10:47.4
isinoli at nakita po ito
10:49.4
sa possession po ng sino man
10:51.0
ay maaari po silang
10:53.1
for illegal possession of firearms.
10:55.6
Senator Risa Hontiveros
10:59.5
She calls on the PNP
11:00.7
to make sure the guns
11:01.8
are not left Kiboloy's followers.
11:04.4
She also called for the dismantling
11:06.3
of the pastor's private army.
11:08.5
Hontiveros is chairperson
11:09.9
of the Senate Committee
11:11.0
on Women, Children, and Gender Equality
11:13.6
which has been investigating
11:15.5
the alleged abuses committed
11:17.2
by Kiboloy on his members.
11:19.6
But the camp of Kiboloy questions
11:21.3
the revocation of the LTAP
11:23.1
and firearms registration of their client.
11:26.2
There must be a reason
11:28.4
they seem to disregard
11:32.1
kung mabasa mo doon
11:37.2
a conviction of a crime
11:38.5
involving moral torpitude
11:41.0
where the penalty carries
11:43.5
of more than six years.
11:45.0
Yung license to own
11:49.0
specified under the law
11:53.3
naka-indicate naman doon
11:55.0
na kung nakasuhan ka lang
11:59.3
conviction of a crime.
12:01.3
The camp of Kiboloy added
12:02.7
they will wait for the copy
12:04.1
of the resolution
12:04.9
signed by Marbeel.
12:07.1
they are studying
12:08.0
the filing of a motion
12:09.4
for reconsideration.
12:15.2
The governor of the
12:16.6
Philippine province of Tagayan
12:18.2
will appeal his disqualification
12:20.3
by the Election Commission.
12:22.5
Manuel Mamba was disqualified
12:24.2
for disbursing public funds
12:29.3
Mamba's lawyer says
12:30.4
he will appeal this
12:31.4
with the Commission on Bank.
12:33.5
The governor allegedly
12:35.5
to provide various benefits
12:37.1
to his constituents
12:38.2
during his campaign.
12:40.2
The governor's lawyer
12:42.1
they can convince
12:43.1
election officials
12:45.1
the disqualification.
12:48.2
Yung mga kasong yan,
12:49.9
may kaugnayan yan
12:50.7
sa mga social service funds
12:52.7
noong panahon ng pandemic
12:54.7
na yan ipinamahagi
12:58.9
bago mag-eleksyon.
13:03.4
ng Comelec ngayon,
13:05.2
yan daw ay labag sa batas
13:07.0
kasi wala naman yung
13:08.1
certificate of exemption
13:09.3
kasi bago kang magbigay
13:10.7
ng ganyan mga social service funds
13:14.3
exemption sa Comelec.
13:16.5
Eh bago naman yan
13:19.0
o ng kanyang mga tauhan,
13:20.6
yan ay humingi na sila,
13:31.0
eh pinamahagi na rin
13:32.5
yung mga social service funds.
13:34.3
Ayun ang nais namin
13:37.6
na yung exemption
13:39.5
na hinihingi namin
13:42.1
bago maghalalaan.
13:45.7
Philippine State Prosecutors
13:47.5
recommend cyber libel charges
13:49.4
against the leader
13:50.3
of the jeepney operators
13:52.8
The charges against
13:54.4
stem from his corruption
13:56.9
transportation secretary
13:59.7
Valbuena had claimed
14:00.5
Bautista collected bribes
14:02.2
as part of the government's
14:03.7
program to modernize
14:04.8
public utility vehicles.
14:06.9
Bautista filed a cyber libel
14:08.6
complaint against Valbuena.
14:11.3
motoring journalist
14:13.2
for supposedly linking him
14:14.9
to the alleged bribery scheme.
14:18.8
The Philippine Council
14:20.3
for the Welfare on Children
14:21.9
urges local governments
14:24.5
child protection programs.
14:28.3
President Marcos Jr.
14:29.7
for an intensified drive
14:31.2
against the online
14:33.3
of Filipino children.
14:35.9
executive director says
14:37.3
local government units
14:38.7
can start by allotting
14:40.3
budgets for child
14:41.3
protection programs.
14:43.2
Angelo Tapale says
14:44.4
the commission plans
14:45.6
to tighten the success
14:47.8
child-friendly programs.
14:49.9
The government received
14:54.0
of online sexual abuse
14:58.3
That's more than triple
14:59.3
the reports received
15:04.5
Up next, China's president
15:05.9
says Beijing and Washington
15:07.7
should be partners
15:10.5
The World Tonight returns
15:11.7
after a short break.
15:26.1
We're back on The World Tonight.
15:46.0
Chinese leader Xi Jinping
15:47.3
says Beijing and Washington
15:48.9
should be partners
15:49.9
and not adversaries.
15:51.4
He gave the message
15:52.6
to visiting U.S. Secretary of State
15:57.3
Blinken says the U.S.
15:58.5
wants to maintain
15:59.4
and strengthen communication
16:02.5
their differences.
16:03.9
Beijing has protested
16:05.1
U.S. curbs on exports
16:06.4
to China of high-tech goods
16:07.9
that may have military uses.
16:12.0
TikTok's parent company,
16:14.2
says there are no plans
16:15.5
to sell the video-sharing app.
16:19.7
that forces a China-based firm
16:21.5
to divest TikTok's U.S. assets
16:27.7
The U.S. government
16:28.5
cited national security risks
16:33.4
by the Chinese government
16:34.4
to spy on Americans.
16:37.0
ByteDance has denied
16:40.3
has vowed to challenge
16:41.6
the law in court.
16:46.5
have now been found
16:48.6
at a southern Gaza hospital
16:51.0
by Israeli troops.
16:52.9
Palestinian authorities
16:57.7
in surgical gowns.
16:59.5
160 have been identified.
17:02.9
at the Nasser Medical Complex
17:05.6
weeks after Israeli forces
17:07.1
withdrew from the facility.
17:09.1
The Israel Defense Forces
17:10.4
have denied any hand
17:11.9
in the mass grave.
17:14.1
dug by Palestinians.
17:18.0
The New York Appeals Court
17:19.9
orders a new trial
17:21.5
for ex-American film producer
17:23.4
Harvey Weinstein.
17:24.6
After overworking,
17:25.5
over-turning his 2020 conviction
17:27.4
for sexual assault and rape.
17:30.4
the judge who handled the case
17:32.8
by letting women testify
17:34.5
that Weinstein assaulted them
17:36.3
even though their accusations
17:37.9
were not part of the charges
17:40.8
Weinstein is not expected
17:42.3
to be freed immediately.
17:44.2
He was sentenced last year
17:46.3
to 16 years in prison.
17:50.1
Meanwhile, the founder
17:51.3
of the MeToo movement
17:53.9
at the court decision
17:54.9
to overturn the case.
17:55.5
Weinstein's conviction.
17:57.3
Tarana Burke says
17:58.4
they will work harder
17:59.3
to hold powerful men
18:00.7
accountable for their abuses.
18:04.4
We are devastated
18:06.3
for the survivors
18:08.5
who are connected to this case
18:10.6
and the survivors
18:11.6
who had found some solace
18:15.2
in the original verdict
18:16.7
around Harvey Weinstein.
18:18.6
This is not a blow
18:22.3
It is a clarion call.
18:23.6
And we are prepared.
18:25.5
We are here to answer that call.
18:34.7
13 President Marcus Jr.
18:37.1
inaugurates a new
18:38.2
passenger terminal building
18:39.7
off the Batangas Port.
18:41.7
He touted the facility
18:42.7
as a manifestation
18:44.0
of his administration's
18:46.0
infrastructure development efforts.
18:48.4
The President says
18:49.2
the continuous expansion
18:50.6
of the Batangas Port
18:51.7
plays a major role
18:53.2
in the country's economic growth.
18:54.9
The new batangas port
18:55.3
is a major part of the country's
18:55.5
U-Terminal has an annual passenger capacity of 12.8 million from the previous 4 million.
19:03.4
It is a gateway to the nation's dynamic capital region, a portal to agricultural powerhouses,
19:11.3
access point to island tourism paradises, and a receiver of goods that feel and fuel the vibrancy of our economy.
19:20.5
True enough, maximizing the port of Batangas helps in decongesting our Manila ports,
19:27.9
causing the dispersal of economic activities to places more than capable of housing entrepreneurial and industrial boom.
19:38.2
Two Philippine senators seek a probe in the country's power supply crisis.
19:42.9
The chair of the Senate Energy Committee, Rafi Tulfo, says the probe will look into the supply shortage
19:48.8
affecting power grids across the country.
19:50.5
It will also examine power rate increases that affect millions of households.
19:56.4
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian wants to know why multiple power plants are breaking down.
20:01.7
The Philippine Energy Department earlier said the country's power problems can be considered a calamity.
20:09.0
It is important to investigate this well by the Energy Regulatory Commission of the ERC
20:14.7
because the ERC is very close to what we call reliance.
20:20.5
The ERC is the source of the reliability of our plants.
20:23.0
If we remember, in the past few years, the ERC has fined some plants because they exceeded the reliability index.
20:33.7
So what this means is that the responsibility, the accountability of the plant should be maintained,
20:42.5
they should have spare parts, they should be complete in the composition of their plants, and it's there.
20:50.5
Because if it's just a failure, it should come back quickly.
20:56.8
A Philippine health advocate unveils an alleged corrupt practice where doctors get money or luxury items
21:04.5
in exchange for prescribing particular brands of medicine.
21:09.0
Ara Perez tells us how the health department is looking into the issue.
21:15.1
Did you know that the medicines prescribed to you must always have a generic name?
21:20.5
Under the Generics Act of 1988, doctors in public and private hospitals must always put a generic name,
21:26.7
while private practitioners may include a brand name if desired.
21:29.8
But according to public health advocate Dr. Tony Liachon, some doctors are not following this rule
21:35.0
and have even engaged in what he could describe as multi-level marketing.
21:39.6
According to a whistleblower who approached Liachon, this scheme involves doctors prescribing specific brands
21:45.8
and advising patients to get these medicines at certain pharmacies.
21:50.5
Ang masama dito, yung mga doktor na nare-recruit according to the scheme,
21:57.1
ay nagre-recruit pa at nabibigyan ng komisyon.
22:01.1
To me, this is the greatest medical corruption in modern times sa Philippine history.
22:08.4
Liachon maintains this practice does not benefit the interest of patients.
22:14.6
Ayon sa aking mga sources, mga kapwa doktor,
22:20.5
generic din, pero sinasubstitute yung brand name ng kanilang kumpanya.
22:26.0
Yung iba naman, sinusulat na mismo nung doktor na nakausap ng kumpanya,
22:31.5
diretsyo na, generic plus yung branded name ng produktong kanilang binibenta.
22:38.3
Yung ibang doktor ay may pharmacist.
22:41.2
At sasabihin doon sa mga pasyente, doon ka bibili lang ha.
22:47.0
Liachon further claims those involved in the system
22:50.5
have a quota, and they receive lavish incentives if they are considered top performers.
22:55.9
The Philippine Health Department says they are investigating the issue
22:59.1
and determine if ethical standards were violated.
23:02.5
Pag nilabag mo yung code of ethics ng PMA,
23:05.9
ang doktor ay pwedeng ma-reprimand, pwedeng ma-suspend ng lisensya,
23:09.7
o kaya pwedeng ma-revoke ang lisensya.
23:12.0
Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo also shares,
23:14.7
the Food and Drug Administration has investigatory powers,
23:17.8
while other concerned agencies can also conduct...
23:20.5
their own investigation.
23:22.0
Domingo also points out, patients have the right to choose between a generic or any branded medicine.
23:28.7
Hindi kayo dapat pinipilit na bumili ng kahit na anong brand.
23:32.1
Sinabi ng doktor na yan lang po, pwede na po kayo mag-report.
23:35.6
But for a pharmaceutical group, it admits this issue is not new.
23:39.8
I've heard of this, hindi pa ako pharmacist, hanggang naging pharmacist at nagiging pharmacy leader.
23:46.7
Ayaw na ayaw ko yung gano'ng klaseng product.
23:50.5
Ang gamot po ay gamot lang pag nagamit ng tama,
23:55.2
pero lasun po siya pag hindi ginamit ng tama.
23:59.4
The DOH and health advocates assured one thing,
24:02.6
most of our doctors, pharmacists, and healthcare workers are ethical,
24:07.0
and only a minority may be involved in the issue.
24:09.8
Ang ginagawa po ng DOH ngayon ay naglilinis tayo ng mantsa.
24:13.7
Ibig sabihin, hindi po natin nilalahat.
24:16.2
Mas marami ang doktor, mas marami ang pharmacist,
24:21.8
Senator J.V. Ejercito has filed a resolution to investigate the alleged collusion
24:26.3
of some doctors and pharmaceutical companies.
24:30.1
Ara Perez, ABS-CBN News.
24:34.2
In a statement sent to ABS-CBN News,
24:37.3
Belkens Pharma Inc. denied what it says were the unfounded allegations against it.
24:43.3
It also committed to rectify the accusations in the right forum
24:47.2
and to preserve the company's reputation.
24:51.3
The severely dry El Niño weather in the Philippines has caused up to 4.3 billion pesos in agricultural damage.
24:59.4
The Philippine Agriculture Department says over 85,000 farmers in 11 regions have been affected.
25:06.1
Rice production was impacted the most, with over 113,000 metric tons lost to the dry spell.
25:12.3
The Agriculture Department has provided 2 billion pesos worth of interventions to affected farmers and fisherfolk.
25:20.5
Philippine shares suffered a fourth weekly loss as traders turned to alternative assets for investments.
25:29.1
We have this report.
25:32.3
A gauge of Asian equities headed for their best week since November this Friday.
25:37.4
Tech stocks drove today's rally following stellar earnings from Microsoft and Google's parent firm Alphabet overnight,
25:45.4
almost eclipsing the U.S. economy's slower-than-expected first-quarter growth of 1%.
25:50.5
Traders also reacting to movements of the yen,
25:55.4
officially hitting a 34-year low after the Bank of Japan kept its benchmark rate unchanged.
26:03.3
Here at home, Philippine shares now on their fourth weekly loss,
26:07.1
despite the PSE index returning to the 6,600 level.
26:11.7
A special focus also on the Philippine peso as the currency nears 58 to the dollar,
26:17.2
but First Metro's Christina Ulang is staying optimistic.
26:20.5
The equities market, a bit looking for safer haven, alternative assets, and so investors try to lighten up.
26:30.4
But hopefully, the accumulation, the start of accumulation could happen because we have this April being seasonally low.
26:40.6
We're exiting April, and I think May, we're going to see recovery, sustained recovery.
26:46.9
In corporate stories, the SM Group's freight and passenger operations,
26:50.5
is a major operator to go, and is further expanding its fleet this year.
26:54.3
It launched this Friday its latest Roro passenger vessel,
26:57.7
set a cater to travelers in top Philippine destinations,
27:01.3
and high-trade routes including Iloilo, Bacolod, and Cagayan.
27:05.7
MV Masigla is to go's fourth vessel in its fleet, with a 400 seating capacity.
27:12.3
SMIC's Teresita Cicoson says a fifth vessel will set sail this year, particularly for leisure purposes.
27:20.5
There's a lot of things to do on the ship.
27:24.6
The leisure travel starts when you board the ship.
27:29.0
It will follow the air travel.
27:31.2
So for those people who like to travel leisurely, not on the bus or not on the plane,
27:39.3
they can always come here.
27:40.9
And we have a lot of spaces for cargos, for luggages.
27:47.0
In company earnings, Robinson's Retail Posts,
27:50.1
a significantly higher quarterly net income.
27:52.8
It jumped to 5.2 billion pesos from the 683 million in 2023.
27:59.6
Net sales were also higher thanks to sales from new stores
28:02.8
and sustained demand in its food retail and drugstore segments.
28:09.1
Our final word tonight is a quote from a Swahili proverb.
28:14.1
A boat doesn't go forward if each one is rowing their own way.
28:20.1
And that is The World Tonight, the 26th of April, 2024.
28:25.4
I'm Pia Gutierrez.
28:26.5
I'm Tony Velasquez from the Philippines.
