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

UN leads observance of World Oceans Day

 News
Jun 072013
 
UN leads observance of World Oceans Day

By DJ YapPhilippine Daily Inquirer 5:59 am | Saturday, June 8th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—The United Nations leads the observance today of World Oceans Day, which seeks to remind the public about how crucial the oceans are for humankind’s survival. This year’s theme is: “Together we have the power to protect the ocean!” “All stakeholders must be involved in the rehabilitation of the Philippine seas,” said Dr. Perry Aliño of the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute at a press briefing called by Greenpeace. “We need to strengthen our existing social and ecological networks. Government mechanisms must be set up, with concrete solutions such as increasing the number and effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas,” he added. According to the Greenpeace report “Oceans in the Balance,” the world is fast destroying marine ecosystems such as coral reefs, seagrass meadows and mangrove forests and is “extracting more and more fish from the sea than it can sustainably provide.” Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: Greenpeace , Philippine oceans , United Nations , World Oceans Day Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate:

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 …

NBI, Taiwanese probers to swap evidence

 News
Jun 072013
 
NBI, Taiwanese probers to swap evidence

By Nancy C. CarvajalPhilippine Daily Inquirer 4:23 am | Saturday, June 8th, 2013 Taiwanese fisherman Hung Shih-cheng’s boat, the Kuang Ta Hsing No. 28, is checked by Taiwanese officers after arriving at Liuqiu port in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan, Saturday, May 11, 2013. Taiwanese boat owner Steven Liao said the damage to the Guang Ta Hsin 28 costs around NT$8 million (P11 million). AP PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday said it would not be able to complete its report on the shooting death of a Taiwanese fisherman last month or proceed with the filing of charges against the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel involved until a counterpart Taiwanese team of investigators sends them a set of authenticated documents from the latter’s own probe of the incident. Virgilio Mendez, the NBI deputy director for regional services, told a press conference on Friday that the agency has ended its discussions with the Taiwanese probers after holding a series of meetings. “Discussions were terminated this afternoon and we agreed on some issues like exchange and clarification of evidence collected,” Mendez said. He described the meetings as “cordial and at the same time passionate”. But Mendez said the NBI report on its investigation cannot be finished until their Taiwanese counterparts send to the Manila Economic Cultural Office (Meco), the Philippines’ de facto embassy in Taipei, the results of their own investigation, complete with authenticated and translated documents constituting their evidence. Mendez said they requested for an “official English translation Read More …

Nonprofit honors 8 as SF’s ‘Distinguished Citizens’

 News
Jun 072013
 
Nonprofit honors 8 as SF’s ‘Distinguished Citizens’

INQUIRER.net US Bureau 3:55 am | Saturday, June 8th, 2013 Facebook Photo SAN FRANCISCO–A nonprofit community service center selected eight Filipino Americans, including California State Assembly member Rob Bonta, as San Francisco Bay Area’s “Distinguished Citizens” for their outstanding contributions in their respective fields. San Francisco nonprofit West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service is honoring eight outstanding Filipino Americans in a benefit luncheon and auction on June 22, Saturday at the Hotel Intercontinental on Howard St., San Francisco. West Bay’s board of directors and officers selected the honorees to serve as role models and mentors to Filipino youth in underserved communities. The awardees will be paired with, and mentor eight outstanding students from West Bay’s afterschool program. The awardees are as follows:
 Public Affairs-Rob Bonta, California State Assembly member, representing the 18th District
; Corporate Leadership-Ezra Garrett, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, vice president for community affairs; 
Community Service-Marily Mondejar, president, Filipino Women’s Network
; Medicine-Dr. Carmelo Roco, MD internal medicine, private practitioner; 
Education -Jeffrey Burgos, principal, Roof Top Elementary School
; Innovation-Ralph Colet, chief Engineer, Colet Special Vehicle Design; 
Entrepreneurship-Rod Mercado, president and CEO, Financial Rescue LLC
; Philanthropy-Angie Louie, owner, Hana Zen Japanese Grill and Sushi Bar
. The event is presented by Clearchannel Outdoor together with Hotel Intercontinental San Francisco, and supported by Financial Rescue LLC, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the San Francisco Filipino American Chamber of Commerce. Proceeds will benefit West Bay’s Academic Enrichment and Mentorship Program, which provides afterschool help to students from K-12 in underserved communities. Tickets are at Read More …

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