Unang Balita sa Unang Hirit: January 18, 2024 [HD]

GMA Integrated News

Narito ang mga nangungunang balita ngayong Huwebes, January 18, 2024:  • Chinese Amb. Huang Xilian: We hope that the Philippines will meet China halfway | Chinese Amb. Huang Xilian, iginiit na maling-mali ang pahayag ni PBBM kaugnay sa eleksiyon sa Taiwan • Pasig river urban dev't project, layong buhaying muli ang ilog pasig para makatulong sa ekonomiya, transportasyon, at turismo • Ilang signature form para sa People's Initiative, hawak na ng COMELEC | COMELEC: Maaaring bawiin ang pirma sa People's Initiative | COMELEC: Walang karagdagang P12-b na inilaan sa charter change | Ret. Chief Justice Panganiban: Minor revisions lang ang maaaring gawin sa konstitusyon sa pamamagitan ng People's Initiative • 2023 MMFF Best Picture “Firefly," mapapanood sa ilang sinehan sa UAE simula ngayong araw | “Firefly," may screening din sa Los Angeles, California sa Jan. 30 - Feb. 2 • Mga pasahero, maagang nag-abang ng masasakyan papasok sa trabaho at eskuwelahan | Ilang pasahero, nagtakbuhan at nag-unahang makasakay sa mga bus at jeep • DSWD: Peke ang masterlist ng 4Ps beneficiaries na kumakalat online • State of calamity, idineklara sa Asuncion, Davao del Norte dahil sa matinding pagbaha | Ilang bahay sa Tagum City, lubog sa baha | Davao del Norte PDRRMO: Mahigit 16,000 pamilya, apektado ng matinding pagbaha • Maraming Pilipino, ramdam pa rin na mahirap sila, batay sa SWS survey nitong last quarter ng 2023 • Lalaking nag-viral dahil sa away-kalsada, humarap na sa LTO | Giit ng lalaking nag-viral dahil sa away-kalsada, hindi siya mag-so-sorry | Lisensiya at rehistro ng sasakyan ng lalaking nag-viral, sinuspinde • Nasa 50 bahay, nasunog; mga residente, nananawagan ng tulong • DepEd, balak ibalik sa Hunyo ang simula ng pasukan • Jillian ward, nakatanggap ng kuwelang wedding proposal galing sa isang fan | Jillian: Priority ko ngayon ang family and work  Unang Balita is the news segment of GMA Network's daily morning program, Unang Hirit. It's anchored by Arnold Clavio, Susan Enriquez, Ivan Mayrina, and Mariz Umali, and airs on GMA-7 Mondays to Fridays at 5:30 AM (PHL Time).  For more videos from Unang Balita, visit http://www.gmanetwork.com/unangbalita. For Kapuso abroad, subscribe to GMA Pinoy TV (http://www.gmapinoytv.com/) for GMA programs.

Transcript

00:00 [Music]

00:14 Good morning. Here are the first news of GMA Integrated News.

00:19 Due to tensions between the Philippines and China regarding issues in the West Philippine Sea,

00:24 Chinese Ambassador Wang Shilian called for a bilateral consultation.

00:30 We hope that the Philippines will meet China halfway,

00:35 manage maritime differences properly through dialogue and consultation,

00:40 and jointly maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea

00:45 and the South development of bilateral relations.

00:49 Chinese Foreign Minister and Joint Patrols of the Philippines and America in the West Philippine Sea

00:56 called for a bilateral consultation.

00:58 They also warned other countries not to be alarmed by the situation.

01:01 We also warned the Department of Foreign Affairs that all activities of the Philippines

01:04 are being conducted within the exclusive economic zone of the country,

01:08 in accordance with international law.

01:10 Meanwhile, Ambassador Wang also said that the Philippines' meeting is wrong

01:16 in the recent election in Taiwan.

01:19 He said that it is against the One China Policy.

01:21 The DFA said that the Philippines' meeting is a way of thanking Taiwan

01:26 for accepting almost 200 UFWs.

01:30 The Philippines continues to recognize the One China Policy.

01:34 Wang also commented on the return of Defense Secretary Gimbo Chodoro

01:38 who gave a third-level talk about China's insult to President Bongbong Marcos.

01:43 Chinese Foreign Minister's spokesperson said on Tuesday

01:47 that President Marcos should read about Taiwan

01:52 so that he won't make mistakes in his statements.

01:55 Chodoro added that he was not surprised by the statement

01:58 that the Philippines' livelihood is from a country that is in a slump

02:02 and that it is repeatedly doing propaganda and spreading false information.

02:07 The government has already started a project to revive the river Pasig

02:11 so that it can help the economy, transportation and tourism.

02:38 Yesterday, the President proposed to build a 500-meter showcase area

02:42 of the Pasig River Urban Development Project.

02:45 The plan is to connect Manila Bay and Laguna de Bay

02:48 and to add 50-kilometer walkway and bike lane.

02:51 Central Park, also known as Marcos Park, will be built.

02:55 The project will be completed within three years.

02:59 According to Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jerry Acuzar,

03:02 the project will cost Php18 billion.

03:05 First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos is leading the fund's fundraising from the private sector.

03:11 The plan is to transfer up to 10,000 informal settlers

03:14 who will benefit from the project to two large housing projects.

03:19 The Comelec will now hold signature forms that will support the charter change.

03:26 A retired Chief Justice will remind that only minor revisions

03:30 can be made to the current law through the People's Initiative.

03:34 For the latest updates, I'm Namaki Pulido and Sandra Aguinaldo.

03:37 In the images shared by the Commission on Elections,

03:44 you can see that some local Comelec offices have already received

03:48 the signature forms for the proposed amendment to the Constitution

03:53 through the People's Initiative.

03:55 According to Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia,

03:58 the signature forms are from 400 municipalities and cities, and they are continuously being added.

04:05 District 3 in the City of Manila is included, as is District 3 in Quezon City.

04:11 And the Comelec offices in Pangasinan have already started counting

04:16 to see if they have used the required number of signatures,

04:20 which is 3% of the registered voters in a district.

04:24 Garcia said that if the right number of signatures is used,

04:28 the local Comelec offices will issue a certification.

04:32 The people who are supporting the People's Initiative

04:35 will use the petition to the Comelec Main Office in Manila.

04:39 They need to be able to count to 12% of registered voters from the whole country.

04:46 The NBANC will issue a resolution finding sufficient and informed substance

04:51 and ordering the election officers to hold the signature pages

04:57 that were submitted to them to verify the signatures.

05:01 They will look at the signatures one by one on each page, on each form.

05:06 They will check if the registered voter is A,

05:09 and if his registration as a voter is still active.

05:12 One of the concerns of Comelec is that those who issued the report,

05:16 they don't know where to buy the signature or those who signed but don't know where their signature is for.

05:22 There is also a way to get your signature back.

05:25 There is no prohibition on a person who says,

05:28 "I don't understand my signature so I got my signature back."

05:32 Our local Comelec will just take note,

05:34 "I got my signature back."

05:35 The local Comelec can remove it.

05:37 In our ordinary life, you don't just sign anything

05:41 when you don't understand what you're signing.

05:44 Until now, there has been no formal petition or complaint filed by Comelec.

05:49 But if there is, they will take action immediately.

05:52 Comelec spokesperson denied that they have additional P12 billion this year for the charter change.

06:00 If you look at the 2024 Government Appropriations Act,

06:05 the additional funds were allocated for the conduct and supervision of elections,

06:11 plebiscite, referenda and other things.

06:13 So what we are looking at is the funds allocated to us for the 2025 elections.

06:19 That is what Comelec is doing now, preparing for the 2025 elections.

06:24 The Budget Department also said that the budget is not only for the charter change,

06:29 but it can also be used for other activities of Comelec,

06:32 such as preparing for national and local elections.

06:36 To those who support the People's Initiative,

06:39 retired Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban reminded us that

06:43 based on a decision of the Supreme Court,

06:45 only minor revisions and not major revisions can be proposed by the People's Initiative.

06:52 That decision stands until now. That has not been reversed.

06:56 The minor means that it is easy for people to understand the issue,

07:00 unlike economic revisions and the change of the government system.

07:04 It is not like the Constitutional Convention or CON-CON or Constituent Assembly or CON-AS.

07:09 The People's Initiative has no chance to explain the issue.

07:14 This is the decision of the Supreme Court in 2006 in the case of Lambino v. Comelec

07:19 when the People's Initiative was proposed to make the government parliamentary.

07:23 People need to understand our plan.

07:29 If people do not understand, it will be hard for them to vote.

07:32 They cannot vote intelligently.

07:35 They cannot vote that this will affect their livelihood.

07:41 Because of the People's Initiative, Panganiban said,

07:44 the people should be behind this, not the politicians or the government.

07:48 To not doubt the motive,

07:50 former Senator Richard Gordon, a member of the 1971 Constitutional Convention, said,

07:55 those behind this should speak the truth.

07:58 They have to be forthright. Because if you change the Constitution

08:02 and it comes out that there is a hidden agenda, it will not be good for the people.

08:07 This is the first news. Mackie Pulido, Sandra Aguinaldo for GMA Integrated News.

08:13 Good news, the story of the search for the island of Alitapta will be heard by the hearts abroad.

08:25 Yes, the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival will be watched.

08:29 Best Picture of Firefly in some cinemas in Dubai, Abu Dhabi,

08:33 and other places in the United Arab Emirates starting today.

08:37 Firefly will also be watched in California, in America.

08:40 It will be screened from January 30 to February 2.

08:43 The story of Firefly is revolving around Ton-Ton and his journey to fulfill his dream of being brave.

08:50 Aside from Best Picture, Firefly was awarded Best Screenplay at MMFF

08:57 and was nominated as Best Child Performer by Ewen Micael.

09:01 Firefly was produced by GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs.

09:06 Congrats guys. Congrats to the hearts abroad.

09:10 It's still early. Many passengers are waiting to get in their work or school so they won't be stuck in traffic.

09:19 Live from Commonwealth Avenue, we have first news on James Agustin.

09:23 James, how is the traffic there?

09:26 Good morning to our hearts.

09:31 Here in Commonwealth Avenue, in the area of UP Techno Hub, there is a slowdown in the traffic.

09:38 According to MMDA Metro Base, there is no problem and there are no accidents.

09:43 They are monitoring the volume of the traffic every morning.

09:47 There are no problems in other parts of Commonwealth Avenue.

09:51 This is a westbound lane that leads to Elliptical Road.

09:54 That's why some of our passengers are taking their journey more slowly.

09:59 It's past 5 in the morning. Many passengers are waiting to get in their cars in Commonwealth Avenue in the area of LITEX.

10:07 First to get in are the passengers, especially some buses are already full.

10:11 Some passengers are already standing in the buses. Some are running to get in the jeeps.

10:17 The passengers are used to this kind of situation.

10:21 So whether they are going to work, school or just going to a simple destination, they will be discarded.

10:27 They are traveling more early to avoid traffic and traffic jams.

10:34 We need to wake up early to be able to get in our vehicles quickly and avoid heavy traffic.

10:42 Of course, it's all about time management.

10:44 I am going in earlier than the time I should be going in.

10:49 What do you notice about the traffic in Commonwealth Avenue?

10:52 Especially when the rush hour comes, around 6 to 7, there is a lot of traffic.

10:58 I am just checking in to get in my work.

11:03 Do you notice the heavy traffic in Commonwealth Avenue?

11:06 Yes, it's really heavy. You need to be careful.

11:09 Meanwhile, to avoid the heavy traffic that we experience every morning in Commonwealth Avenue,

11:20 especially in the westbound lane, they opened a zipper lane in the eastbound lane.

11:26 As you can see, those are the vehicles.

11:28 It all started when the road to Sandigan Bayan and the end is here in the Philcoa area.

11:35 First, let's start from Quezon City.

11:37 I am James Agustin for GEMA Integrated News.

11:40 The Department of Social Welfare and Development is worried about the list of beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyan Pilipino Program or 4Ps Online.

11:52 It's fake, said the DSWD. The Master List is not issuing the DSWD because it is against the Data Privacy Act.

11:59 There is also no payout schedule because the beneficiaries' cash card automatically receives the assistance.

12:05 The website where the fake Master List is issued is not the official website of the DSWD.

12:10 For the latest updates on the program, visit the official social media accounts and website of the DSWD.

12:20 The town of Asuncion in Davao del Norte is now under state of calamity because of heavy floods.

12:25 For the latest updates, live, Kent Abrigana of GMA Regional TV, Juan Mindanao.

12:31 Ivan, one person was killed in a wide-scale flood in Asuncion, Davao del Norte.

12:41 Meanwhile, the town is now under state of calamity because of heavy floods.

12:48 The residents are in a state of panic and there is no life left.

12:53 This woman was found dead in a ditch in Asuncion, Davao del Norte yesterday.

12:57 She was recognized as Vernicia Baton, a mother of the resident of Puructen, Barangay Buklad, Asuncion, Davao del Norte.

13:03 According to her relatives, the victim was possibly dropped from the ditch in the midst of the heavy flooding on Tuesday morning.

13:10 Yesterday, on the same day, her body was found.

13:14 The police are still investigating the foul play.

13:17 Meanwhile, the town of Asuncion is now under state of calamity because of heavy floods.

13:23 Six barangays and 5,700 families are affected by the floods.

13:27 The water level in some areas of Tagum City was over the top yesterday morning.

13:32 Some people used a rope boat to cross the river.

13:36 It was also difficult to cross some light vehicles on some roads in Tagum City because of the floods yesterday.

13:42 This morning, the road to Tagum City, Asuncion, Davao del Norte was passable.

13:48 Some houses are still submerged in the flood.

13:51 Ivan, according to the PDRRMO Davao del Norte, more than 16,000 families are affected by the floods.

14:02 Meanwhile, the distribution of food boxes by each LGU continues for those affected by the floods.

14:09 Ivan?

14:10 Thank you very much, Kent Abrigana of GMA Regional TV, Juan Mindanao.

14:15 Many Filipinos are feeling that they are suffering because of the survey of social work stations or SWS

14:23 conducted in the last quarter of 2023.

14:26 Live from Pasig, we have the first news, Bam Alegre.

14:30 Bam?

14:35 Good morning, Ivan. There are still many people who are suffering from the flood.

14:39 The survey results show that the flood is a battle.

14:41 But even though life is hard, the struggle is hard.

14:45 Here is the street heat.

14:47 These boxes are collected by Mernardo Arnar every morning from a convenience store.

14:58 If sold, the price will reach P150 in a junk shop.

15:02 But no matter how hard he works, he still struggles every day to feed the needs of his four children.

15:08 The price is too high now.

15:11 We really need to work harder.

15:14 I'm already working in the market.

15:16 I'm still collecting rice so that I can spend more on my children's education.

15:22 You really need to work hard and be patient.

15:24 If you don't work hard, nothing will happen to you.

15:29 Mernardo is not alone in his view that life is still hard based on the fourth quarter survey of social weather stations.

15:36 In the survey of 1,200 individuals last December, 47% said they are the poor.

15:43 33% said they are the borderline or in the middle.

15:47 Meanwhile, 20% said they are not poor or are not comfortable in life.

15:52 Those who said they are poor did not change much in the same survey in the past months.

15:57 47% said they are poor in December and 48% said they are poor in September.

16:01 For the tricycle driver Eugenio Ramos, the price of oil products is painful.

16:07 He said it's heavy and he's really struggling.

16:09 He just repaid the price in the survey of the markets in Pasig Market every morning.

16:15 Gas is the number one thing that makes us suffer.

16:19 We are not able to pay the price of our own car.

16:24 We are able to eat three times more.

16:27 Even if the gas price is high, we can still survive somehow.

16:31 The wholesaler of Sampaguita and some of the people in Belen

16:35 are not able to spend enough for their families.

16:39 Even so, she thinks it's good that she can earn a living now compared to the pandemic.

16:44 We are all the same, we are all doing business.

16:48 We always need money for bills and food everyday.

16:53 Do you think your quality of life is getting better or is it getting worse?

16:58 It's getting better. Sometimes it's hard but it's just a prayer.

17:02 Here in the 1,200 respondents of the survey,

17:11 I think there are 300 in Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

17:15 This has a margin of error of 2.8% for national percentages.

17:19 This is straight from Pasig Market, Bamalegre for GMA Integrated News.

17:24 The license and registration of the car of the man who went viral due to a road fight has been suspended.

17:29 Even now, the man still refused to apologize and to submit a notarized affidavit.

17:34 This is the first news of Marg Salazar.

17:37 After being videotaped and viralized several times due to the fight between the motorists in Quezon City,

17:47 the driver of the car went to the Land Transportation Office, NCR, but he will not apologize, even to the LTO.

17:56 Whatever you do, even if you kill me on the road, I will still rise up again. I will always rise again.

18:05 Even though he submitted a notarized affidavit that is in the show-cause order of the LTO, he did not do it.

18:13 I don't expect anything because nothing will happen. I will defend myself. I will get lawyers for that. What else do you want?

18:21 I am not afraid of any one of you. Remember that.

18:29 The LTO called the driver an improper person to operate a motor vehicle in violation of the driver's license.

18:35 He was also punished for life for cancelling his license.

18:39 I repeat, the character, attitude and discipline on the road, you will see it especially when road rage is posted on social media.

18:49 He was given by the LTO until January 24 to submit his notarized affidavit.

18:56 He will then decide if he will allow to drive again or not.

19:00 There's a due process. We cannot decide until the affidavit is not submitted. But we told him that if he will not submit it,

19:08 based on the evidence, the video itself, we will conclude the resolution.

19:14 For now, his license and car registration is under preventive suspension.

19:19 This is the first news. Mark Salazar for GMA Integrated News.

19:25 The firefighters in Alabang, Montinlupa were called for help last night.

19:30 Many of them said that they have no other equipment.

19:32 From Montinlupa, we have the first live news with Arlene Fry. Arlene.

19:36 Susan, here in Alabang Elementary School, the families who were burned last night are temporarily staying.

19:45 All of their belongings were caught on fire so they are calling for help.

19:53 The fire was put out in 50 houses in Elia Street, Barangay Alabang, Montinlupa City.

19:58 The fire broke out last night at 7 PM. According to the Bureau of Fire Protection,

20:03 the fire spread quickly because the houses were made of light materials.

20:07 It took more than 2 hours for the fire to completely go out.

20:10 More than 50 families lost their homes.

20:14 They are temporarily staying here in Alabang Elementary School where modular tents are set up for them.

20:21 According to Linda, they saw the fire was already big so they quickly evacuated.

20:27 I couldn't do anything. I was alone.

20:29 It spread all over the place.

20:31 So we went to our house with the light materials.

20:35 We couldn't do anything. We couldn't get any equipment because our house was also old.

20:39 She had a hard time escaping with her son who has meningitis and her 81-year-old mother.

20:45 You just have to cry. You just have to cry.

20:50 You have already burned everything. You have already taken care of everything for years.

20:56 It just went out in one fire.

20:59 According to the couple, Leo and Allen, they first saved their family so they didn't have any other equipment.

21:06 When I went upstairs, it was already burning.

21:13 So I didn't have any other equipment upstairs because it was already burnt.

21:19 It hurts. All of our equipment is gone.

21:21 All of the things I saved in other countries are all gone.

21:26 Here at the Nagsilbing Evacuation Center, a small kitchen is set up to provide hot meals for the residents.

21:33 But they are asking for help to start again.

21:37 We are asking for help. We are just praying that we will be able to get up again.

21:49 We are asking for help from our neighbors. We are really in need of help.

22:02 Susan, the LGUs are already watching the residents and they are already talking to them to find out what additional help they can provide.

22:13 But our people who talked to them said that what they really want is the help to build their houses again.

22:21 That's the first news here in Muntinlupa. I am Darlene Kaye for GMA Integrated News.

22:27 The Department of Education plans to resume the start of classes starting in June.

22:32 This is according to the DepEd, due to the demand of many students and teachers who are suffering from the effects of the heat.

22:37 The consultation of their schools, teachers, parents and student leaders came out saying that there are many favors to resume classes in June.

22:46 But this will not be done suddenly. This is a target for the school year 2025-2026.

22:55 They agreed to the provision of minor adjustments but they are contented that we are going to not this school year in June.

23:04 But we are looking at the school year 2025-2026. We will be able to resume in June.

23:10 But for this next school year, we are looking at July and August.

23:14 We just need to know what the consequences will be. We will decide that we will revert back to the old school calendar.

23:22 It will be a gradual transition. If there is an abrupt change, it will be just a 2-3 weeks break for our teachers and students.

23:31 A fan of Star of the New Generation, Jillian Ward, has a wedding proposal.

23:40 While Jillian is waiting for the 118th anniversary of Navotas City, with Sangre Terra Bianca Umali,

23:47 a fan wants to ask for Jillian's hand. Her friends are full support with a "Will you marry me?" poster.

23:55 Jillian brought a man who can hold a bell. But this is a welding ring.

24:03 Jillian continued with the caption, "There's a lot of food."

24:07 In the hit show, "Awakwad Kaway na Pangarap," Doc Annalyn Santos will have 5 grooms.

24:13 How is Jillian's love life? Off camera.

24:17 Secret! But we are all happy on set. Full of love.

24:25 It's okay to have crushes and likes, but my priority is my family and work.

24:31 It means yes. You seem to know something.

24:36 Nothing.

24:39 Igan, you're first in the news. Subscribe to GMA Integrated News on YouTube.

24:44 To all the fans abroad, follow us on GMA Pinoy TV and www.gmanews.tv.

24:54 [music]

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