GMA News Online / News / Nation

Coast Guard urges residents in coastal areas to take precautions vs. floods

 News
Jun 072013
 
Coast Guard urges residents in coastal areas to take precautions vs. floods

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday advised residents in coastal areas, especially in Visayas and Mindanao, to take precautions against floods and landslides that may be caused by a potential cyclone. Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Armand Balilo said residents should keep alert for heavy rain and be ready to evacuate if needed, radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported. Balilo also advised residents to keep handy in the house various emergency items such as food, water and flashlights as well as batteries. He said an average of 21 to 23 cyclones enter the Philippine area of responsibility every year. Earlier on Friday, PAGASA said flash floods and landslides may threaten parts of Visayas and Mindanao as a potential cyclone, a low-pressure area, moved close to Eastern Samar. PAGASA forecaster Elvie Enriquez said the LPA was near Samar and had a “50-50 chance” of intensifying into a cyclone. If the LPA intensifies into a cyclone while inside the Philippine area of responsibility, it will be locally codenamed Dante. – VVP, GMA News

Cebu Pacific: Several Saturday flights to be delayed due to Friday night rain in NCR

 News
Jun 072013
 
Cebu Pacific: Several Saturday flights to be delayed due to Friday night rain in NCR

Passengers of air carrier Cebu Pacific may have to put up with flight delays on Saturday as a result of the downpour on Metro Manila Friday night. Cebu Pacific admitted this in a post on its Twitter account early Saturday, but did not immediately specify the affected flights. “Please be informed that several flights have been delayed due to rainfall from last night’s downpour in Manila. Please stay tuned for updates,” it said. Cebu Pacific also advised passengers who want to check their flight for Saturday to visit its website or call 70-20-888. On Friday night, heavy rain fell over parts of Metro Manila, causing floods in some areas. For Saturday, state weather forecasters said Metro Manila may expect more rain showers and thunderstorms. PAGASA also warned Tropical Depression Dante may bring rain that may trigger flash floods and landslides in parts of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.  — ELR, GMA News

PAGASA: No storm signals raised as 'Dante' hovers at 690 km. east of Aurora

 News
Jun 072013
 
PAGASA: No storm signals raised as 'Dante' hovers at 690 km. east of Aurora

Tropical Depression ‘Dante’ brings rain, thunderstorms. “Dante” has maximum near center winds of 45 kilometers per hour, but is too far to directly affect any part of the country. As of 10:00 p.m. Friday its estimated location was 800 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora. PAGASA Flash floods and landslides threaten parts of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao as Tropical Depression “Dante” hovered 690 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora province early Saturday, state weather forecasters said. PAGASA forecaster Meno Mendoza said Tropical Depression “Dante” may bring rain and cause the southwest monsoon to start affecting the country soon. “Ito ay inaasahang magpapaulan (It will cause rain),” Mendoza said in an interview on dzBB radio, but noted no storm warning signals have so far been raised. “Dante” maintained its near center winds of 45 kph and is forecast to move north-northwest at 11 kph. Flash floods, landslides “Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, Mimaropa and Visayas will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides,” PAGASA said. It added Bicol and the rest of Mindanao will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms. Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will be “partly cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening,” it added. PAGASA also said moderate to occasionally strong winds from the northwest to west will prevail over Eastern Luzon and coming from the southwest over Palawan and the western section of Visayas and Read More …

Hero dog 'Kabang' back in the Philippines after treatment, surgery in U.S.

 News
Jun 072013
 
Hero dog 'Kabang' back in the Philippines after treatment, surgery in U.S.

Kabang, a mongrel dog, was given a hero’s welcome Saturday morning upon her arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila following surgery in the United States to reconstruct her face.  Kabang arrived aboard a Philippine Airlines flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 at 3:25 a.m., radio dzBB’s Roland Bola reported. She was mobbed by photographers shortly after disembarking from the PAL flight PR-105, and is to undergo a checkup. Kabang was released from the University of California’s Davis Veterinary Hospital on Monday after eight months of treatment in which her face was partially rebuilt and she was cured of cancer and heartworm. In 2011 Kabang, then aged two and pregnant, became a hero in the Philippines after running in front of a motorcycle in what her owner said was a deliberate act to save her daughter and niece who were crossing a busy road. Thousands of dollars were raised for her treatment through an online campaign. “I think I will cry when I see her. She’s like a member of our family,” said owner Rudy Bunggal, a laborer who lives in a shanty in a poor southern Philippine town, told AFP by phone on Tuesday. In the accident Kabang’s snout and part of her jaw were torn off when the motorcycle flipped over, also damaging an eyelid. The dog became a hero in the Philippines and an internet sensation after local media reported how she had saved the girls by deliberately leaping in front Read More …

71 of 138 pass Environmental Planner Licensure Exam — PRC

 News
Jun 072013
 
71 of 138 pass Environmental Planner Licensure Exam — PRC

A total of 71 out of 138 examinees passed the Environmental Planner Licensure Examination given in Manila and Lucena city in Batangas this month, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) said Friday. [Click here for complete list of passers.]    The PRC said registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will be on June 25.  Meanwhile, the date and venue for the oathtaking ceremony of the new successful examinees in the said examination will be announced later, the PRC said. — KBK, GMA News   

Flood, landslide warnings still up in VisMin, Palawan as LPA nears

 News
Jun 072013
 
Flood, landslide warnings still up in VisMin, Palawan as LPA nears

Satellite Image at 7 a.m., June 6, 2013. | Weather Central A potential cyclone off Catanduanes province threatens to bring rain that can trigger flash floods and landslides in parts of Palawan, Western Visayas and Mindanao, state weather forecasters said Friday afternoon. PAGASA said the low-pressure area (LPA) was estimated at 590 km northeast of Virac, Catanduanes as of 4 p.m., embedded in the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) affecting Bicol, Visayas and Mindanao. “Mindanao, Western Visayas and Palawan will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides,” it said in its 5 p.m. bulletin. It added Bicol and the rest of Visayas will have “cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms.” On the other hand, Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will be “partly cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening,” PAGASA said. Earlier, PAGASA forecaster Elvie Enriquez said the LPA has a 50-50 chance of intensifying into a cyclone. Should it intensify into a cyclone while inside the Philippine area of responsibility, it will be codenamed Dante. For Saturday, Metro Manila, Angeles and Olongapo Cities may expect temperatures of 25 to 34 degrees Celsius, while Tuguegarao City may expect temperatures of 25 to 36 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, PAGASA said moderate to occasionally strong winds from the northwest to west will prevail over Eastern Luzon and coming from the southwest over Palawan and the western section of Visayas and Mindanao. Read More …

Heavy rain in Mindanao from LPA; at least 2 flights cancelled

 News
Jun 072013
 
Heavy rain in Mindanao from LPA; at least 2 flights cancelled

Satellite Image at 7 a.m., June 6, 2013. | Weather Central At least two flights between Manila and Mindanao were canceled Friday afternoon due to bad weather, the Department of Transportation and Communications said. The DOTC said on its Twitter account the affected flights were those of Cebu Pacific, between Manila and Cagayan de Oro City. It said these included 5J-389 from Manila to Cagayan de Oro, and 5J-390 from Cagayan de Oro to Manila. As this developed, state weather forecasters warned of heavy rain in several parts of Mindanao, due to a potential cyclone. In a post on its Facebook page, PAGASA warned of heavy rain over Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Davao del Norte, Misamis Oriental and portions of North Cotabato, Maguindanao, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur. “Flooding is threatening in low-lying areas,” it said. PAGASA, in its 5 p.m. bulletin, also said a potential cyclone – a low-pressure area – may trigger flash floods and landslides in parts of Palawan, Western Visayas and Mindanao in the next 24 hours. “Mindanao, Western Visayas and Palawan will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides,” it said. — TJD, GMA News

Former Navy chief Pama is new Palace undersecretary

 News
Jun 072013
 
Former Navy chief Pama is new Palace undersecretary

President Benigno Aquino III has appointed retired Navy Flag Officer in Command Alexander Pama as undersecretary under the Office of the Executive Secretary, Malacañang announced Friday.  But while his official designation is undersecretary under the Executive Secretary, reliable sources said Pama will head the National Coast Watch Council, an inter-agency body created by President Aquino in 2011.   Based on information made available to reporters, Aquino signed Pama’s appointment papers on May 31. Prior to his appointment, Pama, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1979, served as Navy chief until his retirement on Dec. 21 last year. He was replaced by current head of the Navy Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano. Not the first Pama is not the first retired military or police officer to be appointment to a civilian post by President Aquino.  Others before Pama were former military chief Eduardo Oban Jr., who was appointed Department of Transportation and Communications undersecretary in Nov. 2012 and Ricardo David Jr., another former military chief, who was named Immigration chief in March 2011. Retired general Nestor Ochoa, who once served as acting chief of staff, is currently Philippine envoy to Brunei Darussalam. He was appointed by Aquino in April 2011. Retired Vice Admiral Ferdinand Golez, who was the 30th flag-officer-in-command of the Philippine Navy, was also appointed director of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) in May 2012. Another retired military officer, Lt. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan, previously headed the Bureau of Corrections following his appointment in July 2011. Read More …

PNoy satisfied with results of Serendra blast probe

 News
Jun 072013
 
PNoy satisfied with results of Serendra blast probe

President Benigno Aquino III is satisfied with the results of the investigation on last Friday’s explosion at the Two Serendra condominium building in Taguig City that left three people dead, Malacañang said Friday. Aquino, however, asked investigators to continue being vigilant to truly determine the source of the gas leak that resulted in the explosion, said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte. “The president was updated last night [and he] was satisfied with the results,” Valte said at a press briefing in Malacañang. “Kung matatandaan ninyo po ang mahigpit na bilin ng pangulo doon sa interagency task force ay siguraduhin that the findings will stand the scrutiny of anyone and that findings will be based on the evidence that was gathered on site,” she added. Earlier in the day, Interior and Local Goverment Secretary Mar Roxas II announced based on the result of the investigation, a gas leak and not a bomb caused the deadly blast. Valte said Aquino has instructed the investigators to continue their probe with the same thoroughness. “Itutuloy po ‘yung thoroughness, hindi pa ho tapos ‘yung imbestigasyon. Na-rule out na po that the explosion was caused by any device, na-rule out na po ‘yon at nandoon na po sa stage na nasasabi na po ng mga imbestigador na this is attributable to a gas explosion most likely LPG (liquefied petroleum gas),” she said. PNoy to attend Ayala-hosted luncheon Meanwhile, despite the ongoing investigation on the property owned by Ayala Land Inc., Valte said Aquino, who is in Read More …

Aquino leaves for Myanmar to attend WEF East Asia summit

 News
Jun 062013
 
Aquino leaves for Myanmar to attend WEF East Asia summit

President Benigno Aquino on Friday morning left for Myanmar to attend the 22nd World Economic Forum East Asia summit. Aquino received departure honors from the Philippine Air Force before boarding a Philippine Airlines flight, radio dzBB’s Sam Nielsen reported. The report said his delegation included: – Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario– National Economic and Development Authority head Arsenio Balisacan– Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo– Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla– Presidential Management Staff head Julia Abad– Budget Secretary Florencio Abad Other officials who went to Myanmar in advance included Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Trade Secretary Cesar Purisima, and Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ramon Carandang. Seeing him off at the NAIA Terminal 2 were Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, presidential peace process adviser Teresita Deles, Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino. In his departure statement, Aquino promised to strengthen ties with the Philippines’ neighbors and boost cooperation with them. He also said the Philippines will seek to learn from the summit as part of its preparations to host the WEF on East Asia in 2014. Aquino said he expects to meet with Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and exchange ideas with her. He is also expected to meet with business groups during his visit, the report said. Upon arrival in Myanmar on Friday morning, Aquino is expected to have a bilateral meeting with Myanmar President Thein Sein. He will also meet Read More …

 Older Entries  Newer Entries