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PAGASA: Rain expected over north Luzon and Mindanao

 News
May 252013
 
PAGASA: Rain expected over north Luzon and Mindanao

Rainy weather may be expected over parts of northern Luzon and Mindanao on Sunday, even as thunderstorms brought rain to parts of Metro Manila and Luzon Saturday. PAGASA said the diffused tail-end of a cold front is affecting the northern and eastern sections of Luzon while the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone is affecting Southern Mindanao. “The regions of Ilocos, Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, the provinces of Aurora and Quezon, Bicol region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and SOCCSKSARGEN will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms,” it said in its 5 p.m. bulletin. It added Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have “partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly over the western section.” For Sunday, PAGASA said Metro Manila may expect temperatures of 24 to 34 degrees Celsius while Tuguegarao City may have temperatures of 23 to 32 degrees Celsius. Angeles and Olongapo Cities may have temperatures of 25 to 34 degrees Celsius. PAGASA also said light to moderate winds from the southeast to south will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and coming from the east to northeast over Mindanao. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate, it added. Meanwhile, PAGASA’s Twitter account said thunderstorms brought rain over Metro Manila and nearby provinces, including: – Pinatubo and San Marcelino in Zambales – Candelaria, Mayantoc, Masinloc Sn Jose, Botolan, Bamban and Cabangan in Zambales – Quezon, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Pasay, Taguig, Parañaque Read More …

Know how to avail of SSS,GSIS educational loan

 News
May 252013
 
Know how to avail of SSS,GSIS educational loan

Need to enroll for college but short in cash? You may avail of the Social Security System or Government Service Insurance System education loans as long as you are an active contributing member with a monthly income of P25,000 or below, a television report on Friday said. SSS can provide up to P20,000 educational loan in one semester for a college student taking up a four-year course, Sherrie Ann Torres reported on GMA’s “24 Oras” on Friday. For those taking up vocational course, SSS can extend P10,000 loan. “After the four-year course plus the one year grace period, so our member starts paying or amortizing for six years. Three percent lang lumalabas ‘yung loan sa SSS so very affordable ang loan repayment,” said Luz Generoso, assistant vice president at SSS Loans and Assets Management Department. In April, SSS president and chief executive officer Emilio de Quiros Jr said members earning P25,000 and below per month are now eligible for Educ-Assist loans from the previous P15,000 maximum monthly income requirement. Meanwhile, for GSIS members, the state-run agency provides one-time educational loan for its members worth P4,000, the “24 Oras” report said. GSIS also provides scholarships to 200 incoming college freshmen, whose parents are from low to middle ranking regular government employees. A scholar with a four-year college course will receive P20,000 per semester and a monthly allowance of P2,000. “Dapat incoming freshman ka, so dapat magsimula tayo sa umpisa. Basta po ang bata ay nakapasa doon sa eskuwelahan na kanyang napupusuan [pwede Read More …

Taiwanese women stage lightning rally at Malacañang compound

 News
May 252013
 
Taiwanese women stage lightning rally at Malacañang compound

A group of Taiwanese women wearing mourning attire slipped past presidential guards and managed to hold a lightning rally inside the Malacañang compound in Manila Saturday. The 13 women brought a streamer demanding a public apology from the Philippine government for the death of a Taiwanese fisherman in an encounter in disputed waters on May 9. During their demonstration, presidential guards and anti-riot police had a hard time escorting them out of the compound but eventually allowed them to finish their activity peacefully, radio dzBB’s Divine Caraecle reported. One of the demonstrators was a former Taiwanese councilwoman, according to a GMA News “Flash report.” Presidential guards and police eventually allowed the demonstrators to read the contents of a letter seeking an apology. The dzBB report said the Taiwanese also asked President Benigno Aquino to heed their call for a public apology and to resolve the issue soonest. For his part, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office head Ramon Carandang was quoted in the GMA News Flash report as saying the Philippines is focusing on the investigation of the incident. Tension remains between the Philippines and Taiwan over the May 9 incident, although both sides have agreed to a parallel investigation on the incident. — LBG, GMA News

Hopes high for a visit from Pope Francis in PHL in 2016 — CBCP

 News
May 252013
 
Hopes high for a visit from Pope Francis in PHL in 2016 — CBCP

The Philippines may get a visit from Pope Francis (Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio) in 2016 if a request by the Vatican is any indication, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said. CBCP president and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said he received a request from the Vatican to move the 2016 International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) slated in Cebu City to an earlier date: January 25 to 31, instead of May 23 to 29. “Two weeks ago, we received a letter from (Archbishop Piero Marini, president of the Pontifical Committee on the International Eucharistic Congress) asking us if we could move the event to the second preferred date because the pope has another schedule in May,” Palma said in an article on the CBCP website on Wednesday. “We told them that January is fine because our suggestion was to make the pope’s visit to the Philippines a priority,” he added. The Philippines had already started preparations for hosting the event, which is expected to draw thousands of laity and Church leaders from around the world. Held every four years, the 51st International Eucharistic Congress 2016 will reflect on the theme “Christ in You: Our Hope of Glory.” Meanwhile, Palma called on the Filipino faithful to continue praying Pope Francis will indeed make a papal visit to the Philippines. “We know that the pope continues to inspire us and his visit will have an enormous impact on our faith and our Christian life,” he said. Pope Francis’ first international visit Meanwhile, Read More …

Militants 'picket' TECO office in Makati, seek early resolution to row

 News
May 212013
 
Militants 'picket' TECO office in Makati, seek early resolution to row

Militant groups on Wednesday picketed the office of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Makati City to call for an early resolution to the row stemming from the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman in disputed waters last May 9. The militants, who gathered near the RCBC Tower where the MECO office is located, also voiced sympathies to the relatives of the slain fisherman, radio dzBB’s Mao dela Cruz reported. No violent confrontation took place between the militants and police, the report said. During their picket, the militants asked the Philippine and Taiwan governments to resolve their row soonest, and reminded Taiwan that overseas Filipino workers are not their enemy. They also asked the Philippine government to take steps to protect OFWs in Taiwan. Killed in the May 9 incident was fisherman Hung Shih-cheng, 65. His death prompted Taiwan to freeze the hiring of new Filipino workers and to issue a travel alert discouraging travel to the Philippines.  Since the May 9 incident, some Filipinos in Taiwan reported being harassed or injured by Taiwanese angry over the fisherman’s death.  Report: PHL ready to pay NT$1-M to Taiwanese fisherman’s kin The Philippines is ready to pay NT$1 million (P1.38 million) to the family of a Taiwanese fisherman shot dead in an encounter off disputed waters last May 9, the head of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office said late Tuesday. But MECO head Amadeo Perez Jr. told Taiwan’s Central News Agency it is still not clear at this time if the Read More …

Coast Guard finalizes report on USS Guardian grounding

 News
May 212013
 
Coast Guard finalizes report on USS Guardian grounding

The Philippine Coast Guard is now finalizing its report on the grounding of the minesweeper USS Guardian at Tubbataha Reef last Jan. 17 and will soon submit it to Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya. Administrative sanctions for those found liable may be included in the final report of the Coast Guard’s Marine Casualty Investigation Team, radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported Wednesday. Once he goes over the report, Abaya is expected to submit it to President Benigno Aquino III, the dzBB report added. Last April, the Philippine Maritime Casualty Investigation Team (MCIT) received relevant documents on the incident from the US Navy. The USS Guardian ran aground at Tubbataha Reef last Jan. 17, and damaged 2,345.67 square meters of the reef. It was cut and removed from the area last March 30. A news release from the Tubbataha Management Office said the fines for the Jan. 17 grounding may amount to P58.4 million ($1.5 million). On the other hand, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the MCIT’s safety inquiry also aims to identify measures the Philippines and US may adopt to prevent a repeat of the incident. —KG, GMA News

NPA guerrillas release unharmed 6 drivers abducted in north Cotabato

 News
May 212013
 
NPA guerrillas release unharmed 6 drivers abducted in north Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY — The New Peoples’ Army released unharmed on Tuesday in Makilala, North Cotabato the six drivers of rented cars the rebels commandeered and used to raid a security agency in Tagum City, Davao Oriental. Senior Inspector Joyce Birrey, chief of Makilala Police, identified the freed drivers as: Armando Woamil of Davao City, driver of beige Mercedez Benz (LXB 686); Orbil Bacaro of Ma-a, Davao City and driver of red Montero Sports (LGC 129); Reynaldo Pedere of Talomo, Davao City, driver of silver Toyota Grandia (LGY 732); Hashim Moalid of Datu Paglas, Maguindanao, driver of green Hi-Ace Toyota van; Schmidt Apat of Matina, Davao City, driver of black Hyundai Starex (KCP 166); and Danilo Tamayo of General Santos City, driver of gold Toyota Innova (ZCX 871). The drivers told Birrey they were held for one day in a nipa hut in Purok Nangka, Barangay New Bulatucan, about two kilometers away from the national highway. A total of 20 fully-armed NPA rebels were detailed to watch them, the drivers said. Pedere, driver of Toyota Grandia van, said the rebels did not hurt them and provided them with food and water. Also Pedere said that before they were abducted, a woman who introduced herself as a wife of a foreigner contacted him through the internet and hired him to fetch the foreigner who had stayed for a vacation in Barangay New Israel in Makilala town and bring him to the Davao International Airport. The other drivers said they were also hired Read More …

PAGASA: No cyclone near PAR; rain likely over Luzon and Mindanao

 News
May 212013
 
PAGASA: No cyclone near PAR; rain likely over Luzon and Mindanao

Satellite Image at 7:30 a.m. Monday, 20 May 2013. | Weather Central Although there is still no cyclone near the Philippine area of responsibility, residents in parts of northern Luzon and Mindanao may expect rain on Wednesday, state weather forecasters said. PAGASA forecaster Bernie de Leon said the rain will come from a tail-end of a cold front affecting northern Luzon, while the inter-tropical convergence zone is affecting Mindanao. “Sa kasalukuyan wala pa tayong namamataang namumuong sama ng panahon sa Philippine area of responsibility. Subali’t nakaaapekto pa rin ang tail end of cold front sa northern Luzon at ITCZ ang nakakaapekto sa southern Mindanao,” de Leon said in an interview on dzBB radio. In Metro Manila, he said there will be generally good weather but with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms. PAGASA said Metro Manila may expect temperatures of 26 to 34 degrees Celsius while Tuguegarao City may expect temperatures of 24 to 32 degrees Celsius. Angeles and Olongapo Cities may expect temperatures of 25 to 32 degrees Celsius, it added. PAGASA’s 5 a.m. bulletin said: “The regions of Ilocos, Cordillera, Cagayan Valley in [northern Luzon], Davao and Zamboanga Peninsula [in Mindanao] will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms,” it said. It added Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be “partly cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly over the western section.” Light to moderate winds from the southeast to south will prevail over Luzon and coming from the east to Read More …

3.9M families went hungry in March – SWS

 News
May 212013
 
3.9M families went hungry in March - SWS

More Filipinos experienced hunger in March, with about 3.9 million Filipino families saying they had nothing to eat at some point during that time, according to a new survey by pollster Social Weather Stations. In its poll conducted from March 19 to 22 and posted on its media partner BusinessWorld, SWS said that the 3.9 million families or 19.2 percent of Filipino families that experienced hunger was higher than 16.3 percent in December. This was despite a decline in self-rated poverty to 52 percent during March, or some 10.6 million families, from 54 percent in December, the SWS noted. It added hunger increased among both the poor and the non-poor, even as it pointed out March’s figures were still below the record 23.8 percent recorded last year. Moderate, severe hunger The survey showed a rise of nearly three points in moderate hunger, or having nothing to eat once or a few times in the last three months, to 15.6 percent (3.2 million families) from 12.7 percent. It added severe hunger, where families claimed to experience hunger often or always, remained at 3.6 percent or 726,000 families. SWS noted overall hunger increased in all regions but fell in Metro Manila by nearly four points to 21.7 percent (615,000 families) from 25.3 percent. However, hunger went up sharply in Mindanao to 29.2 percent (1.4 million families) from 20 percent. It also rose to 14.7 percent (1.3 million families) in the balance of Luzon (Balance Luzon) and went up 15 percent (580,000 families) Read More …

DOE chief still not keen on reviving BNPP despite blackout

 News
May 092013
 
DOE chief still not keen on reviving BNPP despite blackout

Despite the power outage that hit Luzon last Wednesday, the Department of Energy is not keen on reviving the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant to shore up the country’s energy reserves. Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla on Thursday evening said the BNPP lacks the capacity to meet present-day demand levels for energy, and may have safety problems if it is upgraded. “During that time (1970s), I would say dati (ang power capacity natin) mga 5,000 to 6,000 megawatts. Ngayon itong plant na ito is 400 megawatts. ‘Pag ikaw nagdagdag ng 400 megawatts sa 5,000 megawatts, napakalaking bagay. Ngayon, ang 400 megawatts parang balewala kung 16,000 megawatts ang present capacity, katiting na lang,” Petilla said in an interview on dzBB. Today, figures from the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines shows the demand for energy in Luzon alone is already 8,567 megawatts, more than 20 times the BNPP’s 400 megawatts. Petilla said they are aware of suggestions from some sectors to revive the BNPP, which was mothballed after the 1986 EDSA Revolution. He said the plant had been paid for and needs only the reactors to run. Yet, he said that if it were to be useful, it should be upgraded to have a capacity of 2,000 megawatts. “Ang problema, ang nuclear power plant na ito luma na… So wala nang cost benefit…. Kung 400 megawatts, napakaliit ng capacity at napakalaki ng risk,” he said. The DOE earlier said it is taking steps to prevent a repeat of Wednesday’s power outage, especially Read More …

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