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NDRRMC: 274 still missing from sunken ship in Cebu

 News
Aug 162013
 
NDRRMC: 274 still missing from sunken ship in Cebu

Red Cross personnel attend to survivors of ships’ collision. Survivors of the collision between two ships near the Cebu International Port in waters off the towns of Talisay and Cordova are attended to be personnel of the Philippine Red Cross. GMA News – Cebu At least 274 passengers are still missing as of 7 a.m. Saturday from the collision of a passenger ship and a cargo vessel off Cebu Friday night, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said. In its 7 a.m. update, the NDRRMC indicated the missing are from the MV Saint Thomas Aquinas of 2GO Shipping, as the crew of the MV Suplicio Express 7 are accounted for. “As of 7 a.m. (Saturday), 24 persons are confirmed dead, 572 passengers were rescued, and 274 are missing,” it said. The NDRRMC said the 38 crewmembers of the MV Sulpicio Express 7 are “all safe and accounted for.” Search and rescue operations are still ongoing, with the Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Navy, and Department of Health taking part in the efforts. Volunteer groups are also helping in the search and rescue efforts. The NDRRMC said the injured victims were brought to various hospitals while the fatalities’ remains were brought to Pier 4 in Cebu City. Management of 2GO provided relief assistance including temporary shelter to 300 survivors at the passengers’ terminal of Pier 4. Other survivors were billeted at Subutel and Stella Marie Hotel, while other survivors in Talisay City Read More …

NDRRMC: Death toll from 'Labuyo' rises to 10, latest fatalities from Pangasinan

 News
Aug 162013
 
NDRRMC: Death toll from 'Labuyo' rises to 10, latest fatalities from Pangasinan

The death toll from Typhoon Labuyo (international name Utor) rose to at least 10 as of Friday night and the latest fatalities are from Pangasinan province. In its 5:00 p.m. update posted on its website Friday night, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) identified one of the two as Geronimo Lacson, 64. Lacson, a resident of Bugallon in Pangasinan, died from a heart attack after falling down while sweeping out floodwaters from his house, it said. At least seven were injured and four remained missing, the NDRRMC added. The NDRRMC said at least 86,295 families or 398,813 people in 678 villages in 87 towns and seven cities in 16 provinces were affected. However, it said all evacuation centers had been closed, with those still affected staying with friends and relatives. Lifelines At least 15 roads and one bridge remained impassable while power outages are still being experienced in parts of Zambales, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Baguio City. Some 2,565 houses were destroyed while 18,090 were damaged. Barangay Bulawon in Sta. Cruz, Zambales was still flooded as of Friday afternoon. Damage to property was estimated at P1,084,144,361.59, including: P358,547,941.93 in infrastructure, and P725,596,419.66 in agriculture. Central Luzon sustained the greatest damage at P424,078,642.88, followed by: Cagayan Valley with P417,998,472.50, Cordillera with P241,453,386.21, and Ilocos with P613,680. – VVP, GMA News

Sunken ship had 841 people on board — 2Go

 News
Aug 162013
 
Sunken ship had 841 people on board — 2Go

Red Cross personnel attend to survivors of ships’ collision. Survivors of the collision between two ships near the Cebu International Port in waters off the towns of Talisay and Cordova are attended to be personnel of the Philippine Red Cross. GMA News – Cebu The roll-on roll-off (RORO) ship that sank late Friday in Cebu had 841 people on board consisting of 723 passengers and 118 crew, the ship’s operator said Saturday morning. “The vessel has an authorized capacity of 1,010 passengers and crew,” the 2Go Group said in their statement emailed to GMA News and other news organizations. 2Go added that “while the number of survivors and casualties are still being determined by proper government authorities and shipping officials,  rescue operations  by the Philippine Navy, Coast Guard, PSACC and 2GO Group are ongoing.  The shipping firm also said it “dispatched two of its fast crafts and passenger ship M/V St. John Paul which was in the immediate vicinity.” 2Go clarified that the MV St. Thomas Aquinas was not Manila bound. “The vessel came from Surigao and Nasipit Port bound for Cebu as a stopover port and then to Manila. It was estimated to arrive Cebu at 10 p.m.” Coast Guard officials earlier said the passenger ship was bound for Manila.  — ELR, GMA News

Without copy of warrant, PNP hands tied on Napoles hunt

 News
Aug 142013
 
Without copy of warrant, PNP hands tied on Napoles hunt

Until it gets a copy of the arrest warrant for trader Janet Lim Napoles and her brother, Reynald “Jojo” Lim, the Philippine National Police admitted Thursday morning it cannot join the hunt for them. Otherwise, PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said they are set to help the National Bureau of Investigation track them, radio dzBB’s Sam Nielsen reported. NBI teams had fanned out to areas where Napoles is suspected to be hiding but had so far failed to locate her.  The Makati City Regional Trial Court had issued an arrest warrant for the Napoleses for the alleged illegal detention of the whistleblower in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam.  Sindac said that until the PNP gets a copy of the warrant, its hands are tied. Meanwhile, the NBI and Bureau of Immigration are expanding their watch for Napoles to small airports, dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported. NBI deputy director Reynaldo Esmeralda said their men will inspect flight manifests, even of private planes. —KG, GMA News

Napoles still at large, now considered a fugitive after arrest warrant

 News
Aug 142013
 
Napoles still at large, now considered a fugitive after arrest warrant

The hunt continues for Janet Lim-Napoles, who was ordered arrested Wednesday for the “serious illegal detention” of a whistleblower in a P10-billion pork barrel scandal. The businesswoman is still at large and the arrest warrant has yet to be served Thursday even as her lawyer, Lorna Kapunan, said she has not spoken to Napoles, nor did she know her client’s whereabouts.  “In all truthfulness, we do not know where she is. I am saying to you as officer of the court if she is listening to this, we are still appealing and saying she has legal remedies under the law and we are studying her legal options,” Kapunan said in a telephone interview on News to Go on Thursday.  Branch 150 of RTC-Makati issued warrants of arrest on Wednesday afternoon for Napoles, the alleged mastermind behind the kidnapping of Benhur Luy, and Napoles’s brother Reynald ‘Jojo’ Lim.  Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said Napoles may also face charges in connection with anomalies involving the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), or pork barrel, of several lawmakers.  “NBI has been working the whole time on an investigation of the PDAF,” De Lima said in a telephone interview on News to Go on Thursday. “Pine-prepare na namin ‘yan kung anong mga kaso ang isasampa at sinu-sino ang mga sasampahan ng kaso other than Napoles,” said De Lima, who said she could not confirm how many lawmakers would be facing charges, as the investigation was still ongoing. “Ayaw pa namin magpalabas ng listahan o Read More …

PNoy cancels Ilocos Sur trip due to allergy attack

 News
Aug 142013
 
PNoy cancels Ilocos Sur trip due to allergy attack

(UPDATED 10:40 a.m.) – President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday cancelled what would have been his first trip to Ilocos Sur since he assumed office in 2010 because of an allergy attack, a Palace official said. “The President has an allergy attack,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told GMA News Online in a text message on Wednesday. Aquino was supposed to go to Cervantes in Ilocos Sur for the inauguration of the Aluling Bridge, which was included in his fourth State of the Nation Address last July 22. The bridge took almost 36 years to build. Work on the bridge started in 1978 but was completed only now. However, Valte said the President was suffering from an allergy attack after coming into contact with flowers. “He reacts to them when there are too many at close proximity,” she said. She said he probably got the allergy during the Philippine National Police event last Tuesday. “I think he was actually stifling sneezes during the speech,” she said. “We’ve noticed that it happens pag napapaligiran ng maraming bulaklak at malapitan.  It also happened during his visit to Australia,” she added. Meanwhile, a report of  radio dzBB’s Benjie Liwanag Jr. said Aquino may be represented by his sister Victoria Elisa “Viel” Aquino-Dee at the event. Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson is also expected at Thursday’s inauguration. President’s health Earlier, public concern about Aquino’s health spiked after his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 22 was interrupted by at least five coughing Read More …

NDRRMC: Death toll from Labuyo rises to 8

 News
Aug 142013
 
NDRRMC: Death toll from Labuyo rises to 8

Aurora hardest hit by Labuyo. A stall is blown away by the strong winds brought by Typhoon Labuyo (Utor) in Baler, Aurora province on Monday, August 12. Ronald Leander The death toll from Typhoon Labuyo (Utor) rose to eight even as four people remained missing as of Thursday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said. In its 5 a.m. update, the NDRRMC identified the latest fatality as Ronald Borja, 27, from Sitio Amutan in Barangay Matawe in Dingalan, Aurora. Borja died from drowning, the NDRRMC said. At least seven were injured while four are still missing, it added. Meanwhile, Quirino province and Dinalungan, Casiguran and Dilasag towns in Aurora were placed under a state of calamity. The NDRRMC said Labuyo has so far affected 61,448 families or 281,686 people in 569 villages in 87 towns and five cities in 16 provinces. Of the affected families, 151 families or 658 people are still staying in six evacuation centers. Roads, bridges, communications At least 31 roads—including 14 in Central Luzon and 15 in Cordillera—remained impassable due to floods or rockslides. The NDRRMC also said six bridges, five in Central Luzon and one in Cagayan Valley, remained impassable. Bridges in Isabela, Quirino and Cagayan are now passable. Zambales, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Baguio City are still having power outages, said NDRRMC. However, communications remain cut off in Dipaculao, Dinalungan and Casiguran in Aurora. Damage At least 1,441 houses were destroyed while 10,649 were damaged. The estimated damage to property Read More …

NDRRMC: Labuyo death toll rises to 7, damage nears P1 billion

 News
Aug 142013
 
NDRRMC: Labuyo death toll rises to 7, damage nears P1 billion

Labuyo causes landslides, flood in Baguio. Rescuers clear debris from a road after a landslide that occurred at the height of Typhoon Labuyo (Utor) in Baguio City on Monday, August 12. The strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year triggered landslides and floods, disrupting power and communication links, leaving one person dead and 13 fishermen missing. Reuters The death toll from Typhoon Labuyo rose to seven Wednesday afternoon, with a resident of Isabela being the latest fatality, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Wednesday. NDRRMC spokesman Maj. Reynaldo Balido said Army troops found the body of Benie Almario Labios, 46, at Dipangit village in Jones town in Isabela. “Nakita siya ng tropa ng Philippine Army, ang 86th Infantry Battalion, sa Dipangit, Jones, Isabela,” Balido said in an interview on dzBB radio. Labios was initially reported missing last Monday. The NDRRMC’s 3 p.m. update said that five people were missing while at least seven were injured. According to the council, Labuyo affected at least 45,249 families or 204,627 people in 475 villages in 84 towns and five cities in 16 provinces. It likewise noted a “significant increase” in the number of affected families or persons in Cagayan Valley. Of those affected, 2,641 families or 11,855 people are housed in 57 evacuation centers. As of Wednesday afternoon, 29 roads were still impassable,including 14 in Cordillera, 12 in Central Luzon, and one each in Ilocos and Cagayan Valley. The NDRRMC said 13 bridges were rendered impassable, while power outages Read More …

PAGASA employees finally receive overdue benefits – report

 News
Aug 132013
 
PAGASA employees finally receive overdue benefits - report

After several long months of waiting, the country’s weather forecasters finally received some of their overdue benefits. Philippine Weathermen Employees Association head Ramon Agustin said the Budget Department had released the funds and the benefits were received Tuesday noon, radio dzBB reported Tuesday night. The benefits the PAGASA personnel received included longevity and hazard pay from January to June. The weathermen had been waiting for their benefits since January. Agustin thanked their supporters and hoped there would be no repeat of a delay. A report from the state-run Philippines News Agency quoted Agustin as saying the benefits range from P20,000 to P100,000, depending on their salary grades. He said a forecaster can receive at least P60,000 in perks for six months. Earlier this month, PAGASA lost another weather specialist Ricky Fabregas, reportedly after he failed to get his long-overdue benefits. A report by dzBB’s Allan Gatus said Fabregas left for the Congo to take a lower-ranking but higher-paying job. The salary in Congo was about five times Fabregas’ salary in PAGASA – nearly P100,000 a month at his new job compared to his P20,000 monthly pay at PAGASA. — DVM, GMA News

Cavite province, Zambales town under state of calamity due to Typhoon Labuyo

 News
Aug 132013
 
Cavite province, Zambales town under state of calamity due to Typhoon Labuyo

Aurora hardest hit by Labuyo. A stall is blown away by the strong winds brought by Typhoon Labuyo (Utor) in Baler, Aurora province on Monday, August 12. Ronald Leander Cavite province and Masinloc town in Zambales were placed under a state of calamity Tuesday following the destruction caused by Typhoon Labuyo (Utor). Earlier, three towns in Aurora were placed under a state of calamity because of Labuyo. In Cavite, Vice Governor Ramon “Jolo” Revilla III said the provincial board passed two resolutions declaring a state of calamity via Resolutions No. 67-S-2013 and 68-S-2013. The resolutions, posted on Revilla’s Twitter account, placed the province under a state of calamity, not only bacause of Labuyo, but also because of an oil spill off Rosario town last week. At least four towns in the province were affected by a diesel spill last week, which affected the livelihood of some 300 fishermen. Petron Corp. on Monday took responsibility for the leak. Zambales Masinloc town town in Zambales province was placed under a state of calamity Tuesday, after floods cause by Labuyo displaced residents, and destroyed roads and bridges, the Philippine News Agency reported. The report said seven barangays in Masinloc town were flooded, with waters reaching two to five feet high as of Monday afternoon. The town areas affected were North Poblacion, South Poblacion, Inhobol, Sto. Rosario, Tapuac, Sta. Rita, and Collat. At least 4,200 families or 25,229 people were displaced and are now in evacuation centers. Meanwhile, a part of the highway in Read More …

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