PAGASA employees renew call for benefits

 News
Aug 022013
 
PAGASA employees renew call for benefits

State weather forecasters on Friday renewed their call for the release of their long-overdue benefits worth about P40 million that have been pending since last year, a television report said. “Kaya nakapagtitiis kami, alam naming within that span [of time] wala kaming makukuhang benefits, however, after nung June we expect na makukuha na namin dahil naiutang na po namin,” Mon Agustin, head of the Philippine Weathermen Employees Association (PWEA), said in a report on GMA News’ “24 Oras.” The report said two PAGASA employees had died without receiving their cash benefits. One of them, identified only as 64-year-old Lola Baby, died from stroke at the agency’s comfort room, while a PAGASA weather observer, Mike Lariza, had succumbed to cancer. “Pambili niya sa gamot niya [yung perang makukuha]. Siguro hindi na rin niya masustentuhan [ang pagbili ng gamot] dahil nga halos walang take home ‘yun, P1,500, at ang ATM niya naman nakasangla,” said Noli Lopez, Lola Baby’s cousin, in the same report. Aqustin said Lariza could have discovered his cancer at an earlier time if only he had received the promised benefits. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) had promised the release of P39.5 million fund that would cover the unpaid benefits of PAGASA employees August last year. The television report noted that only about a third of PAGASA’s 900 employees have health cards, which they have paid voluntarily. “Baka mamaya sumunod na ako sa dalawang ‘yan, because of the pressure. Ang gusto lang po sana ay pagrespeto sa aming Read More …

LPA moves closer to south Mindanao, rain expected over parts of Luzon Saturday

 News
Aug 022013
 
LPA moves closer to south Mindanao, rain expected over parts of Luzon Saturday

Rain may fall over parts of Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon as well as Mindanao on Saturday, as a potential cyclone—a low-pressure area (LPA)—moved closer to southern Mindanao Friday afternoon, state weather forecasters said. PAGASA said the LPA was estimated at 960 km east of southern Mindanao as of 4 p.m., even as a weak southwest monsoon will affect the western section of Luzon. “The provinces of Zambales, Bataan, Batangas, Mindoro, Palawan, Surigao, and Davao Oriental will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms,” PAGASA said in its 5 p.m. bulletin. It added Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be “partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.” Earlier, PAGASA said there is still a chance the LPA may intensify into a cyclone as it is still at sea and can gather strength. Saturday outlook PAGASA said moderate to strong winds from the southwest to south will prevail over the western section of Luzon and the coastal waters along this area will be moderate to rough. Light to moderate winds coming from the southeast to south will prevail over the rest of Luzon and from the northeast to northwest over Visayas and Mindanao with slight to moderate seas. Meanwhile, PAGASA said strong to gale-force winds associated with the southwest monsoon may affect the western seaboard of northern and Central Luzon. “Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels Read More …

LPA in Davao Oriental; floods, landslides threaten Bicol, Vis-Min

 News
Jul 272013
 
LPA in Davao Oriental; floods, landslides threaten Bicol, Vis-Min

A potential cyclone, a low-pressure area, moved to Davao Oriental in Mindanao Saturday afternoon, even as state weather forecasters warned of flash floods and landslides over Bicol in southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao in the next 24 hours. PAGASA said that as of 4 p.m., the LPA was estimated at the vicinity of Davao Oriental, embedded in the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone affecting Palawan, Visayas and Mindanao. “Bicol region, Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with moderate to heavy rain showers and thunderstorms, which may trigger flash floods and landslides,” PAGASA said in its 5 p.m. bulletin. Also, it said Metro Manila, Calabarzon and Mimaropa will have “cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms.” PAGASA’s extended weather forecast for Metro Manila indicated cloudy skies with rain showers or thunderstorms until July 31. The rest of Luzon will be “partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms,” PAGASA added. Earlier, PAGASA said that if the LPA became a cyclone, it would be locally codenamed “Jolina.” Meanwhile, PAGASA said moderate to occasionally strong winds from the southwest will prevail over Palawan and Mindanao and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to occasionally rough. — LBG, GMA News

PAGASA: Rain over Luzon and Eastern Visayas Thursday

 News
Jul 242013
 
PAGASA: Rain over Luzon and Eastern Visayas Thursday

Rain is expected over Metro Manila, Luzon and Eastern Visayas on Thursday due to the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ), state weather forecasters said. PAGASA, in its 5 p.m. bulletin, said the ITCZ was across northern and Central Luzon. For Thursday, it said Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon and Eastern Visayas may expect “cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms.” The rest of the country will be “partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.” Also, PAGASA said moderate to occasionally strong winds from the southeast to south will prevail over the Western section of Northern and Central Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to occasionally rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the east to southeast with slight to moderate seas. Thunderstorm advisories Earlier Wednesday, heavy rain was noted over parts of Metro Manila and Davao. Affected by thunderstorms were Davao City, parts of Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Bukidnon, Cotabato, and Maguindanao. PAGASA also issued thunderstorm advisories at 10 p.m. over: – Liloan, Consolation, Mandaue, LapuLapu in Cebu and nearby areas – Metro Manila — DVM, GMA News

PAGASA: ITCZ to bring rain to NCR, Luzon, Visayas

 News
Jul 232013
 
PAGASA: ITCZ to bring rain to NCR, Luzon, Visayas

The rain that fell over Metro Manila may continue in the next 24 hours due to the inter-tropical convergence zone, state weather forecasters said Tuesday afternoon. PAGASA said in its 5 p.m. bulletin that the ITCZ is across Southern Luzon and Visayas, and indicated the rest of Luzon and Visayas may also expect more rain. “Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon and Visayas will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms,” it said. It added Mindanao will be “partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.” Earlier Tuesday, rain fell over parts of Metro Manila, causing floods that rendered some roads impassable to vehicles. Rain continued to fall on the metropolis Tuesday evening. Wednesday outlook Also, PAGASA said moderate to occasionally strong winds from the southeast to south will prevail over the western section of Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to occasionally rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the east to southeast with slight to moderate seas. — BM, GMA News

PAGASA: Cloudy, rainy Tuesday throughout the country

 News
Jul 222013
 
PAGASA: Cloudy, rainy Tuesday throughout the country

The early morning rain that fell on parts of Metro Manila on Tuesday was due to the inter-tropical convergence zone and not to any weather disturbance near the Philippine area of responsibility, state weather forecasters said “Ang ITCZ ang umiiral. Ang habagat, sa ngayon, hindi siya nakakaapekto sa Pilipinas. Nasa West Philippine Sea ang habagat,” PAGASA forecaster Samuel Duran said in an interview on dzBB radio. PAGASA’s 5 a.m. bulletin said the ITCZ was presently across southern Luzon and Visayas. Metro Manila, Ilocos, Cordillera, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Visayas and Caraga will experience “cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms.” The rest of the country will be “partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms,” it added. Meanwhile, moderate to occasionally strong winds from the southwest will prevail over Palawan and its coastal waters will be moderate to occasionally rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the southwest to southeast with slight to moderate seas. — DVM, GMA News

7 CDO flights canceled due to bad weather – DOTC

 News
Jul 222013
 
7 CDO flights canceled due to bad weather - DOTC

At least seven flights to and from Cagayan de Oro City were canceled late Monday due to bad weather, the Department of Transportation and Communications said. In posts on its Twitter account, the DOTC said the affected flights included those of Philippine Airlines Express, Cebu Pacific, and Zest Air. The canceled flights were: PAL Express:– 2P-525 (Manila to Cagayan de Oro)– 2P-526 (Cagayan de Oro to Manila) Cebu Pacific:– 5J-389, 5J-391 (Manila to Cagayan de Oro)– 5J-390, 5J-392 (Cagayan de Oro to Manila). Earlier, the DOTC said a Zest Air flight was also canceled. It identified the flight as Z2-349 from Cagayan de Oro to Manila. PAGASA had said rain would fall over Luzon, Visayas and parts of Mindanao in the next 24 hours due to the inter-tropical convergence zone. “Luzon, Visayas and the regions of Caraga and Northern Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms,” said the PAGASA forecast. The rest of Mindanao would be “partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.” — DVM, GMA News

PAGASA: Rain over Ilocos, Mimaropa, Vis-Min on SONA eve

 News
Jul 202013
 
PAGASA: Rain over Ilocos, Mimaropa, Vis-Min on SONA eve

Rain is expected over parts of Ilocos and Mimaropa and over Visayas and Mindanao on Sunday, the eve of President Benigno Aquino III’s State of the Nation Address, state weather forecasters said. In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the rain is partly due to the inter-tropical convergence zone across Mindanao. “Visayas and Mindanao and the regions of Ilocos and Mimaropa will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms,” it said. PAGASA said Metro Manila and the rest of the Luzon will be “partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.” Earlier, PAGASA had said the weather may improve during the weekend following the exit of Tropical Storm Isang (Cimaron). Sunday outlook Meanwhile, PAGASA said moderate to strong winds from the southwest to southeast will prevail over the western section of Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the southwest to southeast with slight to moderate seas. Rain over NCR Monday However, PAGASA’s extended outlook indicated there may be rain showers and thunderstorms over Metro Manila on Monday. Aquino is to deliver his SONA at the Batasan Complex before a joint session of Congress Monday afternoon. Several groups are expected to hold mass actions near the venue.  — ELR, GMA News

PAGASA: Tropical Depression Isang off Quezon coast, Signal 1 up over north Luzon

 News
Jul 152013
 
PAGASA: Tropical Depression Isang off Quezon coast, Signal 1 up over north Luzon

(Updated 6:20 a.m.) In its 5 a.m. Tropical Cyclone Warning, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said that the low pressure area east of Infanta, Quezon has developed into a tropical depression named Isang. This has prompted PAGASA to raise Public Storm Signal Number 1 over Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Ifugao, Cagayan including the Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands, Isabela, Quirino, Aurora, Mt. Province, Kalinga and Apayao. Those living in areas under the Storm Signal are alerted against possible landslides and flashfloods. As of 4 a.m., the center of Isang was estimated to be 300 km east of Infanta, and had maximum winds of 45 kph. Estimated rainfall within its 300 km diameter is between 5-15 mm per hour (moderate-heavy). Isang was moving west-northwest at 19 kph. It is expected to be 20 km east of Tuguegarao City by Wednesday moring. By Thursday it is expected that Isang will be 230 km northwest of Itbayat, Batanes. — DVM, GMA News

PAGASA: Rain over parts of Luzon, Mindanao amid weak southwest monsoon

 News
Jul 132013
 
PAGASA: Rain over parts of Luzon, Mindanao amid weak southwest monsoon

A weak southwest monsoon may bring rain to parts of Luzon including Metro Manila Sunday, even as state weather forecasters said parts of Mindanao may also expect rain. PAGASA also said strong to gale-force winds may still affect the seaboards of Northern Luzon, even though Typhoon Huaning (Soulik) has left. “Metro Manila, Ilocos region, Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Caraga and Davao region will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms,” PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. It added the rest of the country will be “partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.” Also, it said moderate to strong winds from the southwest to south will prevail over the western section of Luzon and coming from the southeast to south over the rest of Northern Luzon. The coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough, it added. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the southeast with slight to moderate seas. Gale warning PAGASA also said strong to gale-force winds associated with the southwest monsoon may affect the seaboards of Northern Luzon. These included Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Isabela, Ilocos Sur and La Union. “Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are alerted against moderate to rough seas,” it said.  — ELR, GMA News

 Older Entries  Newer Entries