by magnolia_eic | Oct 11, 2011 | Headlines, National News
THE Philippine government “has enough fiscal space” to address concerns with respect to calamity funds given the extent of the damage to agriculture products and infrastructure caused by the twin typhoons that hit Central Luzon just recently, Malacañang said Sunday.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda issued this statement quoting Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima in response to questions on whether Malacañang mulls asking Congress for a supplemental budget to increase the P8-billion calamity fund that would help address the damages caused by typhoons ‘Pedring’ and ‘Quiel’ which are reportedly pegged at P13.8- billion.
Lacierda, however, said the government will be discussing more issues related to calamity this week, including the recommendation of Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin to formally declare a state of calamity in all the areas severely affected by the onslaught of ‘Pedring’ and ‘Quiel’.
But even without the declaration of state of calamity, Lacierda said the government has taken the necessary measures to help ease the plight of the people in the calamity-stricken communities.
He said the Department of Trade and Industry continuously monitors the affected areas and has imposed price freeze in an apparent bid to prevent profiteers from taking advantage of the situation.
When asked whether the government is willing to accept financial aid or any kind of assistance from other countries, Lacierda said: “Wala pong offer ngayon. Right now, may nagtanong na po sa atin tungkol diyan kung kailangan. Ang sagot po ni Secretary [Cesar] Purisima, there’s enough fiscal space to handle the calamity.”
Lacierda, nevertheless, expressed his gratitude on behalf of the government for the message of sympathy extended by the United States through Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the victims of the calamity in the country. (PCOO)
by magnolia_eic | May 26, 2011 | Headlines, National News, Weather Coverage
TROPICAL storm Chedeng (international codename Songda) has been upgraded into a typhoon
by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)
on Wednesday morning.
In the bureau’s 11 a.m. press conference, PAGASA said Chedeng has intensified into a typhoon
as it remained almost stationary at 350 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar.
Chedeng has maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) and moving 9 kph west
northwest.
It had slightly changed its course as it approached Samar and toward Camarines Norte. It may hit
Metro Manila and some of the southern parts of Luzon, weather forecaster Robert Sawi said.
Signal No. 2 is now hoisted over Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines
Norte, and Samar provinces.
Signal No. 1, on the other hand, has been raised over Marinduque, Masbate, Burias and Ticao
Islands, Southern Quezon, Polillo Island, Northern Leyte and Biliran Island. (PIA)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 15, 2010 | Headlines, National News, Weather Coverage
AS predicted by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), typhoon Basyang has left the Philippine area of responsibility Thursday morning.
The weather forecasters’ last weather bulletin on Basyang (international name Conson) reported that the typhoon was 400 kilometers west-northwest of Dagupan City as of 5:00 a.m. Thursday.
PAGASA says, “”Tropical Storm Conson has left the Philippine area of responsibility and threatens Hainan Island in China.”
Before leaving the country, Basyang was moving at a speed of 19 kilometers per hour, packing maximum winds of 85 kph and gustiness of up to 100 kph.
The government reported 23 deaths, 59 missing people, and 19 injured individuals.
The typhoon reached Philippine land areas Tuesday night and swept through Metro Manila and central Luzon, affecting almost 13,000 families.
A large part of Luzon suffered total power failure around dawn on Wednesday as Basyang damaged electric power transmission lines. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 14, 2010 | Headlines, National News, Weather Coverage
TYPHOON Basyang (international codename Conson) ripped through the main Philippine island, leaving a trail of wreckage in Manila and sweeping shanties into the sea, officials and witnesses said Wednesday.
The Office of Civil Defense said 19 fishermen from the eastern island of Catanduanes had failed to return home and were missing at sea after the typhoon hit the area late Tuesday.
There were no immediate reports of fatalities but communication systems were down amid the chaos of the typhoon’s aftermath, and disaster relief officials were still trying to determine the extent of the damage.
Electricity was knocked out throughout the main island of Luzon, including the country’s capital where fallen tree branches and other debris littered the streets.
Manila’s overhead railway system was also shut down due to the power outage. Knee-high floods and fallen trees were still blocking some roads in and around the capital, obstructing traffic.
The government called off classes at grade and high school levels in Manila.
Several flights in and out of Manila were cancelled as the typhoon was passing but airport officials said their operations had returned to normal after the storm passed.
Basyang, packing maximum gusts of 120 kilometers (74 miles) an hour, hit the eastern side of Luzon late Tuesday and crossed the island before exiting before dawn Wednesday, heading west into the South China Sea at 22 kilometers an hour. (PIA-Bohol)
