NDRRMC confirms 3 Ruby-related deaths, verifying 8 more

 News
Dec 082014
 
NDRRMC confirms 3 Ruby-related deaths, verifying 8 more

Ruby damages houses in Matnog coastal villages. Residents on Monday, December 8, look at several houses that were damaged by Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) at a coastal village in Matnog, Sorsogon on December 7. The Philippine Red Cross said at least 21 were killed due to the typhoon, most of them in Samar. Joseph Morong The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Tuesday confirmed a third fatality in the wake of Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit), and is presently verifying at least eight more. The NDRRMC also said they expect people evacuated from their homes due to Ruby to start returning to their homes soon. “Unti-unti na ito babalik sa bahay sa araw na ito,” the NDRRMC said at a briefing, parts of which were aired on dzBB radio. Ruby on Tuesday weakened into a tropical depression, days after lashing parts of the Visayas, Bicol and southern Luzon. The NDRRMC said they have so far confirmed and validated three deaths related to Ruby. The death toll it recorded stood at two as of Monday. But the agency also said that while eight more have been confirmed dead, their cases will have to be validated before they are included in the NDRRMC’s list. The Philippine Red Cross had already recorded at least 23 deaths as of early Tuesday. “Ongoing ang official validation,” the NDRRMC said, adding they are waiting for validation by the Department of Health. Also, the agency said at least 45 were reported injured. Meanwhile, the NDRRMC said the estimated Read More …

Bettor wins P9M Megalotto 6/45 jackpot – PCSO

 General
Dec 082014
 
Bettor wins P9M Megalotto 6/45 jackpot – PCSO

A lotto bettor won the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Megalotto 6/45 jackpot of P9 million Monday evening. The bettor got the combination of 17-13-27-08-28-09 to win the jackpot. The last time a jackpot was won was last Dec. 3, when three bettors shared the Megalotto 6/45 jackpot of P47,139,388 with the winning combination of 05-23-28-11-14-09. Last Nov. 24, a lone bettor got the combination of 06-08-11-26-27-29 to win P70,166,400 in the Grand Lotto draw. On Nov. 7, a bettor got the combination of 38-28-11-12-40-19 to win the Megalotto 6/45 jackpot worth P68,758,280. The biggest lotto prize ever won was the November 2010 Grand Lotto draw, when a lone bettor won some P741.176 million with the winning combination 11-16-42-47-31-37. — Joel Locsin/DVM, GMA News

Edca shows subservience of PH to US, Senate told

 News
Dec 082014
 
Edca shows subservience of PH to US, Senate told

MANILA, Philippines—Since it allows the United States to preposition troops and materiel in the country for free, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) is a case of “negotiated subservience,” a University of the Philippines professor and public policy think tank official said on Monday. Professor Roland Simbulan, also vice chair of the Center for People’s Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG), told the Senate Edca allowed for the entry of American troops, facilities and war materiel anywhere in the Philippines at no cost to the United States. CenPEG is a public policy research and advocacy think-tank that seeks to empower the poor in a democratic manner. It is also thus not far-fetched that the Philippines would be dragged into the international conflicts and “wars of intervention” of the US, Simbulan said. The Edca would also boost American “intervention” in the Philippines given the presence of its troops throughout the year, he added. One-sided agreement   “Edca, like other previous agreements, is patently one-sided or onerous and is a clear-cut case of negotiated subservience,” said Simbulan in a paper he submitted to the Senate foreign relations committee. “So why do we agree to them and accept and inflict upon ourselves this kind of negotiated subservience?” he said. The committee, chaired by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, on Monday conducted a hearing to determine whether or not the Senate should insist on its right to ratify the Edca. The agreement was made between the US and Philippine governments without Senate concurrence contrary to the Constitution. Members Read More …

De Lima seeks Laude family’s opinion of prosecutors’ actions

 News
Dec 082014
 
De Lima seeks Laude family’s opinion of prosecutors’ actions

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima: So which is which?. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima wants to hear from the family of slain transgender woman Jennifer Laude their assessment of the government prosecutors’ performance during the preliminary investigation of the case. Despite the Laudes’ lead counsel Harry Roque Jr.’s criticism of the panel of prosecutors led by Olongapo City Prosecutor Emilie Fe de los Santos, De Lima on Monday said she heard another lawyer of the family say that they were satisfied with the way the preliminary investigation was being handled. “I read somewhere that another lawyer of the Laude family reportedly expressed satisfaction with the progress of the case at the preliminary investigation level. And yet, here’s attorney Roque adopting an opposite stance, i.e., in attack mode versus city prosecutor De los Santos. So which is which?” De Lima said in a text message to reporters. “I think there’s a need for the Laude family to clarify who among these lawyers is truly representing their interests,” she added. De Lima also scored Roque’s plan to file a motion for De los Santos’ inhibition from the case just a few days after the panel wrapped up its investigation and considered the complaint submitted for resolution. “Attorney Harry keeps mentioning this plan of his only through the media. And he reacts negatively whenever the DOJ (Department of Justice) issues any comment or statement in response to his public statements. I don’t get him,” De Lima said. Misconstrued   Read More …

US, Japan, Singapore, Australia helping PH assess ‘Ruby’ damage

 News
Dec 082014
 
US, Japan, Singapore, Australia helping PH assess ‘Ruby’ damage

AFP chief of staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang: Very good disaster response mechanism. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Military teams from the United States, Japan, Singapore and Australia are helping the Philippines assess the damage caused by Tropical Storm “Ruby” to determine the foreign aid required. Maj. Emmanuel Garcia, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Civil Relations Group-7, told reporters on Monday that the United States had deployed nine teams; Japan, eight; Singapore and Australia, four each, to areas affected by the cyclone, internationally known as “Hagupit.” Garcia said similar offers of military assessment teams were made by Canada, the United Kingdom, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and China. He said that a US plane U-28 survey indicated light casualties and no major damage to infrastructure and that food supplies had been prepared in Tacloban City and Cebu province. Survey flights were also scheduled for Borongan City and Dolores and Catarman towns. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, AFP chief of staff, said a Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130 cargo plane from Palawan province reached the affected areas in the Visayas at 10 a.m. Monday following clearing operations at Borongan and Catarman airports, which allowed the immediate delivery of relief to typhoon victims. Catapang said the C-130 was scheduled to fly to Cebu to get relief stocks and transport disaster response teams. “Borongan airport is now open so that we can bring disaster response teams and deliver relief goods there,” Catapang said. He said another PAF C-130 departed from Zamboanga City Monday Read More …

Apec told of bright prospects amid dark skies

 News
Dec 082014
 
Apec told of bright prospects amid dark skies

APEC MEETING Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan preside at the opening meeting of senior officials from the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation—one of nine events leading to a summit to be hosted by the Philippines in November next year. GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines is out to show that it has come a long way since it first hosted the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit in 1996. Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. was upbeat on Monday at the opening of the two-day Apec Informal Senior Officials Meeting at the Makati Shangri-La hotel—one of nine events leading to the summit of the 21-member organization that the country will host in November next year. “Though there are dark skies overhead and the rest of the country, these stand in stark contrast to the bright prospects of Apec and its member economies,” Ochoa said in his speech to the gathering as Tropical Storm “Ruby” swirled toward the capital. “It has been almost two decades since we last hosted Apec in 1996. We have come a long way since, and this is something that we hope to display in the coming months as we hold the various Apec meetings leading to the Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November 2015,” Ochoa said. He said the story and experiences of the country’s “remarkable turnaround” in recent years would help enrich the discussions of the region’s priorities in the coming summit. Ochoa asked the delegates to join Read More …

7 of 10 at risk of chronic illnesses with vitamin D deficiency

 General
Dec 082014
 
7 of 10 at risk of chronic illnesses with vitamin D deficiency

MANILA, Philippines – With a number of Filipinos aggressively taking on healthy lifestyles, it is surprising to know that many people are still afflicted by osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic diseases. Many factors may contribute to the development of these illnesses and one of the most talked about by experts today is vitamin D deficiency. A study commissioned by pharmaceutical leader United Laboratories, Inc. (Unilab) found that seven out of 10 working Filipinos suffer from vitamin D deficiency. Of the over 5,000 participants tested, more than 70 percent were found to be vitamin D deficient without them even knowing it. The study also found that there is a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among women. Hi-Precision Diagnostics, a Department of Health licensed medical facility, collected, assayed, and interpreted the results based on international laboratory standards, with 30 ng/ml blood level of vitamin D serving as the baseline for deficiency. Those who registered below the level set were deemed vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D synthesizes calcium and phosphorus from the food we eat, keeping bones strong and capable of self-recuperation. Aside from making the body’s defense system respond faster and more efficient against foreign invaders, vitamin D also stabilizes heart and blood pressure, regulates insulin secretion by the pancreas, and promotes proper muscle formation and brain development. The sun is the body’s natural source of vitamin D and those who shun or have very little exposure to it become susceptible to vitamin D deficiency. Having dark skin, staying indoors Read More …

18 Chinese vessels probed for entering PH waters at height of ‘Ruby’

 General
Dec 082014
 
18 Chinese vessels probed for entering PH waters at height of ‘Ruby’

popular Smartmatic: We own PCOS rights Young girl’s kin saddled with hospital bills Retired pope wanted ‘Father Benedict’ name—report List of cancelled flights on December 7, 2014 due to Ruby— Naia-Miaa Technical glitch disrupts MRT operations Former maid tells court of ‘torture’ by Hong Kong employers China slams PH over South China Sea case PH stocks: Consolidation seen videos Swiss escapes from Abu Sayyaf captors Behind the scene with BTS The ‘maria clara’ reborn in ‘Face-Off’ Ruby batters Sorsogon Sorsogon implements forced evacuation amid storm surge ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Authorities on Monday said they have started investigating 18 Chinese fishing vessels that entered Philippine waters reportedly to seek shelter at the height of Typhoon Ruby. The fishing vessels were spotted and intercepted near Sacol Island around 1 p.m. Customs Security Chief Sammy Labay said that they were investigating possible violations after the vessels entered Philippine seas without informing competent authority. A ship officer reportedly told authorities that the vessels came from Indonesia and were on their way to China when they decided to seek shelter in southern Philippines to avoid typhoon Ruby (Hagupit), which had lost some of its strength and has been re-classified as a tropical storm. Labay said they had difficulties communicating with the Chinese due to language barrier. He said they also wanted to know where the tons of fish found on the vessels were caught. The inspection on the vessels was done by the Philippine Navy, Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Read More …

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