Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:
Transport strike pushes through; Metro Manila cities offer ‘Libreng Sakay’
Several cities in Metro Manila offer free rides or “Libreng Sakay” to commuters on Monday as drivers and operators stage a nationwide public transport strike.
The Manila Public Information Office (MPIO) said 20 e-trikes, two mobile transport vehicles, three SUVs, two Manila Police Department (MPD) transporters, and 16 MPD patrol vehicles are on standby to move affected commuters.
DFA says opening of Rafah border crucial to repatriation of Filipinos
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday said it is hoping that the Rafah border crossing near Egypt would be opened for humanitarian purposes to allow people to escape the raging Israel-Hamas conflict.
The DFA noted that the Rafah border crossing is crucial to efforts to evacuate Filipinos in Gaza.
PH accuses Chinese warship of ‘dangerous maneuvers’
A Chinese Navy warship carried out what the Philippine military called “dangerous maneuvers” when it crossed a Philippine Navy transport ship’s bow at a distance of 350 yards, the latest aggressive action of Beijing in the West Philippine Sea.
The Philippine Navy’s BRP Benguet (LS-507) was at 5.8 nautical miles southwest of Pag-asa (Thitu) Island en route to Rizal (Commodore) Reef for a regular rotation and resupply mission on Friday (Oct. 13), when it was shadowed by People’s Liberation Army Navy ship 621 at a distance of 80 yards and attempted to cross its bow with the closest point of approach at 350 yards, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said in a statement on Sunday.
Gasoline prices up, diesel and kerosene down starting Oct. 17
Local oil firms announced mixed adjustments in the pump prices of petroleum products effective on Tuesday, Oct. 17.
In separate advisories, the companies said they would cut the prices of diesel and kerosene by 95 centavos per liter, while the price of gasoline will increase by 55 centavos per liter.