by magnolia_eic | Mar 22, 2011 | Headlines, National News
THIS year’s summer season is expected to be cooler than last year due to the prevailing La
Niña phenomenon.
Robert Sawi, weather section chief of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said the La Niña event is likely to bring
rains in the country during the summer months of April and May.
“Precisely this coming summer season will be cooler than last year… the (La Niña) rains
could slightly disperse heat,” he said.
Sawi said Pagasa expects the highest daytime temperature to reach 35 degrees Celsius this
year, compared to the 39 degrees Celsius recorded last year in Isabela province.
Pagasa earlier warned the country might experience a wet summer this year because of the
La Niña.
Sawi, however, clarified this does not mean it will be raining the whole summer. “We can
expect more rainy days (this summer) compared to the normal,” he said.
La Niña refers to the abnormal cooling of the sea surface temperature in the equatorial
Pacific and is characterized by excessive rainfall. (PIA)
by magnolia_eic | Mar 18, 2011 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
(Tagbilaran City) March 17, 2011 (PIA) —A FLASHFLOOD spawned by rains in the mountain
barangays of Garcia Hernandez town spilled into town and destroyed some P6 million of crops and
public infrastructure.
At least six barangays reported damages in agriculture and waterworks systems as Manaba River and
small creeks overflowed from its banks and breached into nearby rice-fields, residential areas and
temporarily rendering the national highway impassable to light vehicles at least in, reports said.
Mayor Miguelito Galendez said the town planning and agriculture officers have appraised the
damages to crops at P5M and another P1M for public infrastructure, mostly waterworks systems.
In a radio interview, Galendez added that some residents report a lost carabao and calves, believed
to be washed by the floods.
No one however was reported hurt, said local resident Melchor Virador on Facebook.
He named affected barangays as Lungsod-daan, East Canaya-on, West Canayaaon, Candulao,
Manaba, Malinao, Antipolo, Datag, Tabuan and Togbongon.
Rice ripe for harvest were washed out by the unusually huge bulk of water from the mountains
overwhelming creeks and food control dikes, Galendez reported.
Municipal information Officer Lindsey Marie Vismanos shared photos of people treading in waters
flooding the national highway at barangay West Canayaon.
She also said she received reports that waters went as high as neck-deep in some areas.
Mayor Galendez also reported that a barangay road leading to Togbongon from barangay Tabuan has
become impassable due to a cut portion of the road caused by minor landslides.
Along the stretch of national highway to eastern Bohol towns, unconfirmed reports of floodings were
also reported in Dimiao and Guindulman towns.
Meanwhile, landslide prone barangay Mayana of Jagna also had unconfirmed reports of rains
spawned flashfloods. (Rey Anthony Chiu)
by magnolia_eic | Mar 16, 2011 | Headlines, National News
NAGNEGATIBO sa radiation ang hangin sa Pilipinas base sa pinaka-ulahing pagsusi sa
Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI).
Alas 9:00 ganinang buntag (Martes) sa dihang gisugdan pagsusi sa grupo ni PNRI Senior
Researcher Lorna Jean Palad gamit ang gamadose rate meter sa hangin sa palibot sa PNRI
compound sa Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City.
Gipahayag ni Palad nga kaniadto, ka-usa lamang kada semana kun magpahigayon sila sa
radiation test apan tungod sa nahitabong pagbuto sa nuclear reactors sa Fukushima Daiichi
Nuclear Power Plant sa Japan, kada-adlaw na nila kini gihimo.
Matud pa ni Palad nga kalima ginahimo ang pagsusi sa lima ka PNRI compound matag duha
ka oras sugod 9:00 sa buntag hangtud alas 5:00 sa hapon ug ika-10 kini gibalik-balik aron
makasiguro sa resulta.
Samtang bisan una nang giingong walay basihan ang kahadlok nga moabot sa Pilipinas ang
radioactive leak gikan sa Japan, gisiguro sa Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
nga nangandam gihapon ang Pilipinas kun mahitabo kini.
Matud pa ni DOST Secretary Mario Montejo, may mga pamaagi sila aron matumbok kun ang
mga produktong gikan sa Japan adunay traces sa radioactive materials.
Giingong gihimo na nila kini niadtong mibuto ang Chernobyl Power Plant sa Russia ug mao
usab kini ang ilang himuon kun mahitabo usab kini sa Japan.
Bisan pa niini, gibalik ni Montejo nga gamay ra kaayo ang posibilidad nga maigo sa
radioactive materials ang Pilipinas tungod kay gawas nga dili padung sa Pilipinas ang
direksiyon sa hangin gikan sa Japan, hanap usab maadto sa kabaybayonan sa Pilipinas kun
makontamina ang kadagatan sa Japan tungod kay ang direksyon sa bawod palayo man sa
Pilipinas. (ecbPIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Mar 16, 2011 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Aquino ordered government agencies on Monday to review and come up with a
comprehensive assessment of the country’s disaster preparedness.
Aquino met officials of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, Department of Science
and Technology, Department of Health, Department of Budget and Management, National
Security Council, Presidential Management Staff and the Office of the Executive Secretary.
Presidential Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang said Aquino ordered a review of
the country’s disaster-preparedness particularly for earthquake and tsunami.
“He’s going to get a briefing from officers of the defense probably, most likely this week – just
to review the status of all of these disaster-preparedness in light of what’s happening,” he
said.
Carandang said the government was focused on the immediate safety concerns as well as
the nuclear crisis in Japan. (PIA)
by magnolia_eic | Mar 16, 2011 | Headlines, National News
THE Philippines will begin to inspect food imports from Japan to check their radiation levels.
This developed as Singapore said on Monday that it was testing food products from Japan for
radiation.
Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky
Carandang said President Aquino met with the heads of the Philippine Nuclear Research
Institute, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Health, Department of
Budget and Management, National Security Council, Presidential Management Staff and the
Office of the Executive Secretary to make sure that the Philippines would be safe from any
possible effects of the nuclear crisis in Japan.
“Just as a precaution, imports from Japan, mostly foodstuffs, will be checked for levels of
radiation,” Carandang told reporters after the meeting in Malacañang.
The PNRI will be in charge of the tests because the Department of Agriculture checks
agricultural products while the DOH is in charge of processed food.
“I’m not sure how quickly they can get it done but at the soonest possible time,” Carandang
said.
But Carandang said there was no plan to screen any travelers from Japan at this time. (PIA)
