GMA News Online / News / Nation

NDRRMC: National quake drill set on June 10

News

Jun 062013

NDRRMC: National quake drill set on June 10

One week after a magnitude-5.7 quake jolted Cotabato, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council will hold a nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill this Monday, June 10. The NDRRMC said its chairman and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin will lead the drill at Barangay San Vicente in San Manuel town in Pangasinan at 9 a.m. of Monday. “The drill shall include San Roque Dam in its scenario and aims to gauge the response of the local government surrounding communities,” it said. Gazmin will be joined by NDRRMC executive director Eduardo del Rosario and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology head Renato Solidum Jr. in leading the drill. In Pangasinan, local officials including Governor Amado Perez and San Manuel Mayor Alain Jerico Perez are also expected to attend. “This activity is part of the ongoing disaster preparedness activities of the NDRRMC-Office of Civil Defense,” the NDRRMC said. Last June 1, a magnitude-5.7 quake hit Cotabato and caused damage to several houses and schools, forcing may students to miss the first week of school. The quake has prompted the provincial council to declare a state of calamity over Cotabato. —KG, GMA News

PAGASA: Potential cyclone nears Samar; floods, landslides threaten Vis-Min

News

Jun 062013

PAGASA: Potential cyclone nears Samar; floods, landslides threaten Vis-Min

Satellite Image at 7 a.m., June 6, 2013. | Weather Central Flash floods and landslides threaten parts of the Visayas and Mindanao as a potential cyclone or low-pressure area (LPA) moved closer to Eastern Samar early Friday, state weather forecasters said. PAGASA forecaster Elvie Enriquez said the LPA was estimated at 460 km east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar as of 4 a.m. “Ito bigyan natin ng 50-50 chance maging bagyong tropikal… Malapit na ito sa land mass,” she said in an interview on dzBB radio. She said the LPA is bringing rain to Eastern Samar, though it is not heavy as yet. Enriquez also said the LPA may cause the southwest monsoon to affect the country and start the rainy season. “[Pero] wala pa ang onset [ng rainy season], hindi pa,” she said. Should the LPA intensify into a cyclone while inside the Philippine area of responsibility, it will be locally codenamed Dante. Friday outlook PAGASA’s 5 a.m. bulletin said the LPA is embedded along the inter-tropical convergence zone affecting Bicol, Visayas and Mindanao. “Eastern Visayas, northern Mindanao and Zamboanga Peninsula will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides,” it said. It added Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol region and the rest of Visayas and of Mindanao will have “cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms.” Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will be “partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon Read More …

Coast guard readies rescue teams amid frequent heavy rain

News

Jun 062013

Coast guard readies rescue teams amid frequent heavy rain

With heavy rain now affecting more parts of the country, the Philippine Coast Guard has mobilized its rescue units to respond quickly to flash floods and other emergencies. Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Armand Balilo said rescue units are on alert particularly in Davao, eastern Visayas and Bicol, radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported Thursday. Balilo also said Coast Guard commandant Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena will check the readiness of rescue teams’ equipment and personnel in the coming weeks. Isorena’s order for rescue units came as state weather forecasters said the rainy season may start soon, especially with a potential cyclone approaching the Philippines. PAGASA had said the LPA may trigger the rainy season. On Wednesday night, Balilo said the coast guard’s unit in Davao responded to the flash floods brought by heavy rain in Davao City. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Wednesday night’s floods caused heavy traffic in Davao City and rendered some roads impassable. It added many families were preemptively evacuated from their homes due to the threat of floods. — DVM, GMA News

Satisfaction with government slightly down, but still 'very good' —SWS

News

Jun 062013

Satisfaction with government slightly down, but still 'very good' —SWS

Nearly seven out of 10 Filipinos were satisfied with the Aquino administration’s performance in the first quarter of 2013, according to a new survey by pollster Social Weather Stations. While the survey from March 19 to 22 saw public satisfaction dip slightly from end-2012, the satisfaction rating of +53 was still classified as “very good,” the SWS said. The SWS survey said that 68 percent of 1,200 adult respondents were satisfied and 15 percent were dissatisfied with the government’s performance. This translated to a net +53 rating, or the difference between the percentage satisfied and percentage dissatisfied. While the SWS said this was four points below +57 in December 2012, it was still “higher than those of all previous administrations.” SWS classifies net ratings of +70 and above as “excellent”; +50 to +69, “very good”; +30 to +49, “good”; +10 to +29, “moderate”, +9 to -9, “neutral”; -10 to -29, “poor”; -30 to -49, “bad’; -50 to -69, “very bad”; and -70 and below, “execrable.” Respondents asked to score government on 17 issues rated the Aquino administration “very good” on two, “good” on seven, “moderate” on four, “neutral” on three and “poor” on one. SWS published the results on its media partner Business World on Friday. ‘Substantially higher’ The SWS said the Aquino administration’s satisfaction ratings have so far remained substantially higher than those of its predecessors. Its scores had ranged from +64 in September and December 2010 to a low of +45 in June 2011. The previous record was Read More …

Winning pair share P39.462M Lotto 6/42 jackpot

News

Jun 062013

Winning pair share P39.462M Lotto 6/42 jackpot

Two lotto bettors are some P19 million richer after they won the jackpot in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s Lotto 6/42 draw Thursday night. In a post on its website, the PCSO said the two got the winning combination of 22-13-05-19-25-10 to win the jackpot worth P39,462,944. Also on Thursday, a lone winner bagged the P16-million jackpot in the Superlotto 6/49 draw after getting the combination of 40-20-26-15-45-36. The PCSO did not identify any of the night’s winners. Last Tuesday, a lone lotto bettor became P90.996 million richer after hitting the jackpot in the PCSO Superlotto 6/49 draw. The PCSO said the bettor got the winning combination of 20-05-45-35-26-21 to win the night’s jackpot worth P90,996,106.40. Last April 30, two lucky bettors shared P95,932,278 after getting the combination to the Superlotto 6/49 draw jackpot. But the biggest Lotto prize won is still the November 2010 draw, when a lone bettor won some P741.176 million for getting the winning combination 11-16-42-47-31-37. — DVM, GMA News

No categorical resignation from Sotto as Senate adjourns sine die

News

Jun 062013

No categorical resignation from Sotto as Senate adjourns sine die

Although he announced early Thursday that he will resign as Senate majority floor leader, Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III came short of categorically quitting his post during the chamber’s last session day. In the last few minutes before the Senate adjourned sine die, Sotto only said, “As the curtain falls on the 15th Congress, as its legal life draws its breath end of June, please consider my position co-terminus therewith.” After the session adjourned, Sotto explained that his pronouncement was in essence a resignation,so that he will no longer have to perform his job as majority leader when the 16th Congress opens next month. Under Senate rules, officers will end their terms only when their successors have been elected. “If I did not say that and I didn’t do that, I will be a carryover until 16th Congress until July 22. E ayoko na nga e,” Sotto said. “As of today, I consider myself resigned… Gets na nila iyon,” he added. Sotto also said he came short of immediately resigning for the sake of his employees, who will lose their jobs if he did so. Sotto’s statement was in contrast with that of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, who categorically said in a privilege speech Wednesday that he is quitting his post as Senate president. Sotto and Enrile’s moves came amid news of an impending change in the Senate’s leadership next Congress. Sen. Franklin Drilon, an administration ally, is eyeing to replace Enrile as Senate president after the ruling party secured Read More …

Jinggoy willing to be half-brother JV's adviser in Senate

News

Jun 062013

Jinggoy willing to be half-brother JV's adviser in Senate

Despite a perceived rift between him and his half-brother, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is willing to act as San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito’s adviser when the congressman assumes his Senate post in July. “If he seeks advice, then okay. If he does not, I cannot do anything,” Estrada said at a press briefing Thursday. Estrada quipped that he is willing to play the part of the elder brother because Ejercito, who won in the recently concluded elections, might lose his way in the Senate. “If he seeks guidance, as an elder brother and senior member of the Senate, I will support or even guide him. Baka mawala eh,” he said in jest. Estrada is the son of former President and Manila Mayor-elect Joseph Estrada with former senator Loi Estrada, while Ejercito is the former president’s son with incumbent San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez. Last November, the younger Estrada publicly expressed disappointment over Ejercito’s reported statement that their sibling rivalry may soon reach the Senate. Ejercito also supposedly refused to shoot a television advertisement with Estrada during the campaign period—an incident downplayed by their father. Ejercito, for his part, said he will welcome any guidance from his elder brother. “As an incoming neophyte senator, his experience and advise will be of great help,” he said in a statement. Ejercito, however, refuted the senator’s statement that he might get lost in the Senate. — KBK, GMA News

Senate fails to ratify 3 extradition treaties

News

Jun 062013

Senate fails to ratify 3 extradition treaties

The Senate adjourned on Thursday night without ratifying extradition treaties between the Philippines and three countries. Even with foreign diplomats in the Senate gallery, the chamber failed to muster the 16 votes it needed to ratify extradition treaties with Spain, India and the United Kingdom. When the roll call was called at past 4 p.m., only 14 senators were present on the Senate floor. The Senate instead approved local bills, such as the measure upgrading the Cotabato City District Engineering Office, the bill creating a new barangay in Occidental Mindoro, and proposed legislations allowing the construction of fish ports. — Andreo Calonzo/BM, GMA News

Comelec releases final tally of senators

News

Jun 062013

Comelec releases final tally of senators

The Commission on Elections (Comelec), sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, has released its final tally of senatorial candidates according to its official canvassing of election results. In his blog, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez quoted the NBOC’s resolution as saying that “while there are still remaining uncanvassed votes, the same will no longer affect the ranking of the winning candidates for Senator of the Republic of the Philippines.” The rankings of the top 12 remain unchanged. Grace Poe 20,337,327Loren Legarda 18,661,196Alan Cayetano 17,580,813Francis Escudero 17,502,358Nancy Binay 16,812,148Edgardo Angara Jr. 16,005,564Bam Aquino 15,534,465Aquilino Pimentel III 14,725,114Antonio Trillantes IV 14,127,722Cynthia Villar 13,822,854JV Ejercito 13,684,736Gregorio Honasan 13,211,424 Richard Gordon 12,501,991Miguel Zubiri 11,821,134Jack Enrile 11,543,024Ramon Magsaysay 11,356,739Risa Hontiveros 10,944,843Edward Hagedorn 8,412,840Eduardo Villanueva 6,932,985Jamby Madrigal 6,787,744Mitos Magsaysay 5,620,429Teddy Casiño 4,295,151Ernesto Maceda 3,453,121Tingting Cojaungco 3,152,939Samson Alcantara 1,240,104JC Delos Reyes 1,238,280Greco Belgica 1,128,924Ramon Montano 1,040,293Ricardo Penson 1,040,131Rizalito David 1,035,971Christian Seneres 706,198Marwill Llasos 701,390Baldomero Falcone 665,845 The top 12 senators were proclaimed by the Comelec barely a week after the elections. Poll chief Sixto Brillantes Jr. said the commission proclaimed the winners based on “projections” than actual votes cast. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab/BM, GMA News

Sereno-De Castro rift over party-list TRO continues

News

Jun 062013

Sereno-De Castro rift over party-list TRO continues

After accusing Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno of omitting a recommendation she made in the case of a party-list group, Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro once again wrote Sereno this time accusing her of “inaction.” De Castro, in her letter, belied Sereno’s claim that she did not include a draft temporary restraining order (TRO) when she handed the case of the Coalition of Associations of Senior Citizens of the Philippines party-list to Sereno’s office for approval. As standard practice in the Supreme Court, a member-in-charge recommending the issuance of a TRO should include a draft TRO to the Office of the Chief Justice when submitting it for approval. Sereno earlier wrote De Castro a letter explaining that she had to write her own TRO on the case because De Castro, who handles the case, failed to include a draft TRO when the case was submitted for approval. She claimed all she got from De Castro was a synopsis of the case. It was Sereno’s TRO that was made public the following day by SC Public Information Chief Theodore Te, in which further party-list proclamation was being stopped. De Castro, in a response letter to Sereno, insisted that a draft TRO had been submitted to her office. “I wish to correct a misimpression in your letters… that on May 28, 2013 at 8:05 a.m. what your office received from me was only the synopsis of the above-mentioned cases,” De Castro told Sereno in a two-page letter dated June 5, a copy Read More …

Older Entries Newer Entries