Nov 202013
 

MANILA, Philippines – Globe Telecom expanded further its cellular service in Leyte and Samar provinces as the telecommunications company continues to prioritize restoration of cell sites in areas that are hardest hit by the typhoon.

Globe said mobile services are now available in the towns of Isabel and Palo in Leyte; Lavezares, Rosario, San Jose, San Roque and Lope de Vega  in Northern Samar; Hinunangan, Limasawa and Sogod in Southern Leyte;  San Sebastian and Pagsanghan in Western Samar and Culasi and Laua-an in Antique, Dumarao in Capiz and Daanbantayan in Cebu

“Optimization of cell sites by increasing transmission power has resulted in substantial expansion of its cellular coverage in typhoon-stricken areas,” noted Robert Tan, Globe Chief Technical adviser.

The telecommunications provider said it also expects to restore cellular service in Borongan, Eastern Samar anytime soon. “A major cell site facility in Borongan is essentially intact and that would give us good umbrella coverage once transmission alignment is completed,” Tan said.

Globe has also restored network coverage in Cebu, Bohol, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Bohol, Iloilo, Aklan, Antique, Southern Leyte, Northern Samar, Western Samar, Guimaras and Siquijor.

In Leyte, municipalities with cellular coverage are as follows:  Bato, Hilongos, Hindang, Inopacan, Isabel, Kananga, Matag-ob, Matalom, Palompon, Palo, Santa Fe, Tabango and the cities of Baybay, Ormoc and Tacloban as well as the towns of Anahawan, Bontoc, Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Libagon, Lilo-an,  Limasawa, Macrohon, Malitbog, Padre Burgos,  Pintuyan, San Ricardo, Saint Bernard, San Francisco, San Juan, Silago, Sogod  and in Tomas Oppus in Southern Leyte.

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In Samar island, on the other hand, areas with cellular coverage include Calbayog City, Catbalogan City as well as the towns of Gandara, Hinabangan, Jiiabong, Pagsanghan, San Sebastian, Marabut, Motiong, Paranas, Pinabacdao, Pagsanghan , San Jorge, Santa Margarita, Santa Rita, San Sebastian, Tarangnan, Villareal and Zumarraga all in Western Samar as well as the municipalities of Bobon, Catarman, Catubig, Laoang, Lavezares,  Lope de Vega, Mondragon, Palapag, Pambujan, Rosario, San Jose, San Roque and Victoria, all in Northern Samar.

In Panay, areas with mobile services include the municipalities of Altavas, Banga, Ibajay, Kalibo, Lezo, Makato, Malay, Malinao, Numancia, Tangalan, Nabas and  New Washington in Aklan and the areas of Ivisan, Dumarao, Tapaz and Roxas City in Capiz as well as the towns of  Anini-y, Barbaza, Belison, Bugasong, Culasi, Hamtic, Laua-an Patnongon, San Jose, San Remigio, Sibalom, Tibiao and Tobias Fornier in Antique.
 

Oct 042013
 
Ex-Pres. Arroyo, Ermita, ex-DAR, DBM execs, 20 others rapped with plunder on P900-M Malampaya fund scam

Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (MNS Photo) MANILA, Oct. 3 (Mabuhay) – The Dept. of Justice on Thursday filed plunder charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against former President and now Pampanga (2nd District) Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and several former and current government officials in connection with the alleged P900-million Malampaya Fund scam. The P900-million fund was supposed to be intended for the victims of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng in September 2009 and was allegedly disbursed through the local government units. Aside from Arroyo and Ermita, also charged with plunder and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act were former Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles and the presidents of the 12 non-governmental organizations of Napoles. Also charged were former Agrarian Reform Undersecretary Rafael Nieto and DAR finance officer Teresita Panlilio; former Budget Secretary and now Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya, Jr., and Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos. In the sworn statements filed at the Ombudsman, Napoles allegedly conspired with the other respondents to make it appear that the local government officials have a legitimate request to the Department of Agriculture for the materials and equipment for the farmers for the reconstruction, rehabilitation and repair of damages brought about by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng in 2009, however, no delivery of the same was made. The complaint alleged that Executive Order 848 was issued on Oct. 13, 2009 by then President Arroyo which was made as the basis of the Oct. 8, Read More …

Sep 082013
 
PAGASA tracking LPA near Northern Samar

State weather forecasters are now tracking a low-pressure area—a potential cyclone—off Northern Samar in Eastern Visayas. PAGASA, in its 5 p.m. bulletin, said the LPA was estimated in the vicinity of Catarman, Northern Samar as of 4 p.m. It said the LPA was embedded along the inter-tropical convergence zone across Palawan, Visayas and Mindanao and may trigger flash floods and landslides in parts of Southern Luzon. Should the LPA intensify into a cyclone, it will be codenamed Odette. Flash floods, landslides “Calabarzon and the provinces of Mindoro and Marinduque will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides,” PAGASA said. It added Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have “cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms.” Also, PAGASA’s extended weather outlook expected most major cities will be cloudy with rain showers or thunderstorms on Monday. Only Metro Davao and Zamboanga, Tuguegarao and Laoag Cities will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, it added. Monday outlook Meanwhile, PAGASA said moderate to occasionally strong winds from the northeast will prevail over extreme Northern Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to occasionally rough. Light to moderate winds coming from the northeast to north will prevail over the rest of Luzon and from the southwest to south over the rest of the country with slight to moderate seas. — BM, GMA News