June about to end with only 1 typhoon; 2 or 3 were expected

 News
Jun 242014
 
June about to end with only 1 typhoon; 2 or 3 were expected

The month of June is about to end, but so far only one typhoon (Typhoon Ester) has passed through the Philippine Area of Responsibility, a “24 Oras” weather report on Tuesday said. This is less than PAGASA’s previous estimate of two to three cyclones that could probably pass through PAR this month, said Nathaniel “Mang Tani” Cruz, GMA’s resident meteorologist. “Kakaiba pa nga ang Ester dahil sa may West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) ito nabuo di tulad noong karaniwang [bagyo] na sa Pacific Ocean nagmumula,” Cruz added. The reason why there are no low pressure areas (LPAs) or cyclones forming from the western Pacific Ocean as of late is because there are no forces causing air convergence in the ocean, Cruz also said. However, PAGASA said that since the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is once again active in Southern Mindanao, it could possibly trigger the formation of an LPA in the next days, he reported. Rain may be experienced in Davao and SOCSARGEN on Wednesday, data from The Weather Company showed. Meanwhile in Visayas, the eastern section may experience some rain, said Cruz. Habagat winds weakened, but some rain will still be experienced in the northern and western sections of Luzon. In Metro Manila, chance of rain remains high in the afternoon and in the evening. —Kim Luces/NB, GMA News

EU backs DENR in campaign for lead paint-free schools

 News
Jun 242014
 
EU backs DENR in campaign for lead paint-free schools

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the European Union (EU) on Tuesday signed a “solidarity statement” that indicated their commitment to push for lead and mercury-safe schools. In a signing ceremony conducted at Commonwealth Elementary School in Quezon City, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said the statement also showed the stakeholders’ agreement to promote and uphold lead and mercury safe schools, specifically “by using lead safe paints and by switching to mercury-free alternatives towards a toxic-free, zero waste educational system.” The statement was signed by Paje and EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux. Also in attendance were senior officials from the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Health (DOH) , as well as 200 kids, parents, local government officials, doctors, and environmentalists. The efforts to eliminate lead especially from paint products is part of the P80-million Asian Lead Paint Elimination Project, being implemented in seven countries in Asia including the Philippines. The project is funded by the EU. Other beneficiaries of the project are Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand and Sri Lanka. The EcoWaste Coalition is the leading project partner in the Philippines. In support of the project, Paje signed in January of this year the Chemical Control Order (CCO) for Lead and Lead Compounds. The CCO set the standard content of lead for locally produced paints at 90 parts per million (ppm), the current standard for lead decorative paints in the United States. The CCO also “strictly prohibits the use of lead and lead compounds in the Read More …

OFWs from Libya want new overseas jobs or wait for crisis to pass – DOLE chief

 News
Jun 242014
 
OFWs from Libya want new overseas jobs or wait for crisis to pass – DOLE chief

By Tina G. SantosPhilippine Daily Inquirer 9:31 pm | Tuesday, June 24th, 2014 MANILA, Philippines—Most of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who returned to the country from strife-torn Libya have asked for job referrals from the government, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz revealed on Tuesday. Most of the OFWs were seeking assistance to be deployed to other countries, Baldoz said. On the other hand, there were at least 28 returning OFWs who sought for livelihood assistance from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment. Thirty-seven returning OFWs asked for transportation fares to be able to return to their provinces, three sought legal assistance, and two requested scholarship grants for their dependents. “There are many others, however, who were repatriated, are just waiting for the crisis to subside because they really want to go back to Libya and their employers also want them back,” noted Baldoz. Meanwhile, two batches of OFWs from Libya arrived Monday in two separate flights. Baldoz instructed OWWA  to extend assistance to the repatriates. Returnees were offered temporary shelter at the OWWA Halfway Home and were  briefed on the government’s Reintegration Program for OFWs, specifically the “Balik-Pinay, Balik-Hanapbuhay” program. Under the “Balik-Pinay, Balik-Hanapbuhay” program, the DOLE conducts skills assessment, business counseling and entrepreneurship development training to interested returning OFWs, after which, they are granted the ‘starter kits’ as a source of self-employment. RELATED STORY Alert level 3 raised for Filipinos in Libya  Follow Us Other Stories: Chinese ships ram, damage Read More …

PNoy on VIP jail for detained solons: We just follow court orders

 General
Jun 242014
 
PNoy on VIP jail for detained solons: We just follow court orders

PNoy, Abe discuss territorial dispute with China . President Benigno Aquino III shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the start of their meeting at the prime minister’s official residence in Tokyo on Tuesday, June 24. The two leaders are expected to discuss the ongoing territorial dispute with China in a bid to maintain peace in the region. AFP/Yuya Shino/Pool President Benigno Aquino III denied that his government was giving special treatment to the senators detained in connection with the pork barrel scam as they are held at the PNP Custodial Center instead of in regular jails. “It’s the court that decides. We just execute their orders,” he said. Aquino made the statement in response to an open letter by John Silva, executive director of the Ortigas Foundation Library, who earlier complained about the alleged VIP treatment for Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. Revilla was joined at the custodial center by Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Monday.   Both senators and Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile are all facing plunder and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the massive fraud.   In his letter to Aquino, Silva said that the senators’ “huge comfy” jail cells were 10 times bigger than the one that was given to Aquino’s father, the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., during the Marcos years. The President, however, said it was difficult to compare the late senator’s condition with those of the two already detained for plunder. “Baka mahirap… i-compare… dahil talagang ang Read More …

Chinese ships ram, damage Vietnam vessel—state media

 General
Jun 242014
 
Chinese ships ram, damage Vietnam vessel—state media

A ship belonging to the Vietnam Fishing Surveillance Department was deliberately rammed and seriously damaged. Viet Nam News/Asia News Network HA NOI — A ship belonging to the Vietnam Fishing Surveillance Department was deliberately rammed and seriously damaged by two Chinese ships illegally operating in Vietnamese waters Monday, state media Viet Nam news reported Tuesday. The action continued China’s flagrant violation of international law in placing an oil rig in Vietnamese seas and preventing the nation’s vessels from engaging in their normal activities. At 9:30 a.m., two Chinese tugboats 284 and 285 and a maritime patrol ship No. 11 blocked Vietnamese fishing surveillance ship KN-951 and steadied it on one side. The action allowed tugboat coded Xinhai 285 to ram the other side, seriously damaging the ship. Meanwhile, the Chinese fleet, including about 44 coast guard ships, 15 cargo ships, 19 tugboats, 35 fishing vessels and five battleships, continued to defend the drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 that has been illegally positioned in Vietnam’s waters since the beginning of May. The Chinese ships kept up their aggression even after the latest ramming incident, coming threateningly close to Vietnamese vessels. The department said that despite the Chinese aggression, Vietnamese law enforcement agencies persisted in operating about 10 nautical miles from the rig, communicating peacefully the nation’s demand that China immediately moves the rig out of Vietnamese waters. Meanwhile, Vietnamese fishing vessels continued to operate in their traditional fishing grounds about 35-40 nautical miles from the rig, despite regular harassment by about 38 Read More …

Peso slumps on Tuesday

 Economy
Jun 242014
 
Peso slumps on Tuesday

MANILA, Philippines – The peso weakened against the dollar on Tuesday, closing at 43.86 from the previous day’s 43.795. Total volume transacted at the Philippine Dealing System amounted to $642.4 million, higher than the $509.5 million posted on Monday. The peso opened Tuesday at 43.83.

Tune Hotels expands to 10 branches in Phl, eyes 6 more

 Economy
Jun 242014
 
Tune Hotels expands to 10 branches in Phl, eyes 6 more

MANILA, Philippines – Malaysia-based Tune Hotels is planning to expand in the Philippines this year by establishing more branches amid tourism growth in the country. “By the end of 2014, we will have a total of 1,720 rooms with ten hotels in the Philippines, cementing our position as the largest internationally owned and operated hotel brand in the country,” Red Planet Hotels country head Sahlee Zaldivia said. Red Planet Hotels has a 17-percent stake in Tune Hotels. Red Planet Hotels founder and Senior Vice President for Acquisition Ken Kerr said the company has an estimated investment of $120 million for the ten hotels in the Philippines. Six more hotels worth up to $72 million are expected to be built in the next three years. Tune Hotels is expected to open in November this year its tenth hotel in Makati City with 189 rooms. The hotel chain has branches in Cebu, Angeles City, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Ermita, Makati, Ortigas, Quezon City and Parañaque City. The company said it plans to take advantage of the Philippine tourism sector, which the Department of Tourism expecting tourist arrivals to jump by 24 percent this year.

Peso sinks midday Tuesday

 Economy
Jun 242014
 
Peso sinks midday Tuesday

MANILA, Philippines – The peso slid against the dollar midday Tuesday, settling at 43.854 from the previous day’s 43.795. Total volume transacted at the Philippine Dealing System amounted to $280.9 million in the morning, lower than the $294 million posted the same period on Monday. The peso opened Tuesday at 43.83.

Sarah plays down ‘Maybe This Time’ success

 Entertainment
Jun 232014
 
Sarah plays down ‘Maybe This Time’ success

Sarah Geronimo and Coco Martin (MNS Photo) Sarah Geronimo does not agree with Coco Martin’s statement that she is the reason why their first big screen team-up became a blockbuster hit. Martin previously said that he is truly grateful for the singer-actress for making “Maybe This Time” his first blockbuster hit movie. A humbled Geronimo said the success of their film shouldn’t be credited to her alone. “Hindi naman ako ‘yun. Kaming dalawa ‘yun and ‘yung buong production team, ‘yung mga writers namin. Unang una sa lahat, simple lang ‘yung storya namin pero talagang galing sa puso. Kinopya sa buhay ng mga tao. Nilagay lang namin sa pelikulang ito kaya marami lang sigurong natuwa at naka-relate. Hindi ako ‘yun. Kaming buong team ‘yun,” she said. According to Star Cinema, “Maybe This Time” breached the P100-million mark at the box office after only eight days in theaters. It is still being shown in some theaters. Meanwhile, Geronimo thanked God for all her success. “In everything that we do, we acknowledge God, ‘yung grace ni Lord and siyempre ‘yung family natin and the people who give us inspiration. Of course, ‘yung Viva kasi hindi naman mangyayari lahat ng ito kung hindi tayo pinagkakatiwalaan ng management ng Viva and, of course, Star Cinema,” she said. Asked if she also feels tired considering her consecutive projects, the singer-actress said, “Siyempre may mga panahon na napapagod ka rin dahil lahat naman tayo may pagod din naman. Pero ang importante diyan, we enjoy what we do, Read More …

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