Day: June 2, 2022

Cruz-Angeles said the incoming PCOO would undertake a thorough review of the existing policy on vloggers’ accreditation at Malacañang to determine whether it is now the “right time” to allow them to cover presidential events and activities.

She was referring to Department Order (DO) 15 issued by outgoing Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Aug. 8, 2017 to create a provisional social media practitioner accreditation system handled by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO)-Social Media Office.

DO 15 gives Filipino social media practitioners access to Malacañan Palace, so long as they are at least 18 years old and have at least 5,000 followers on any social media platform.

Cruz-Angeles, who had a role in crafting the policy for vloggers when she was still part of the PCOO led by Andanar, lamented that the existing order has not been implemented under the outgoing administration.

“Gumawa kami ng polisiya (We crafted a policy), but it was not implemented,” she said.

She said her communications team would look into the possibility of a separate briefing for social media influencers.

“Wala pa pong desisyon (There is no decision yet) that is being made),” Cruz-Angeles said. “So, una ang gagawin namin rerepasuhin namin at tignan namin din kung naaangkop na ang panahon para ma-admit ang ilang mga social media practitioners dito sa Malacañang briefing and so on (the first thing that we will do is to review and determine whether it is now the right time to give social media practitioners access to Malacañang).”

Source: Philippines News Agency

Despite the presence of a low-pressure area (LPA), most parts of the country will experience warm and humid weather on Thursday, the weather bureau said.

Benison Estareja of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the LPA was last tracked over the West Philippine Sea, 275 km. west of Iba, Zambales.

"It still has a slim chance of developing into a tropical cyclone, and it could likely dissipate within the day," he said.

The LPA will bring rains over the Ilocos region, Bataan, and Zambales, while the rest of Luzon will be sunny and warm.

It will be warm and humid over the Visayas and Mindanao.

Estareja said no other weather disturbance or LPA is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility until the weekend but PAGASA is expecting one or two tropical cyclones this month.

Meanwhile, temperatures could reach 34°C in Tuguegarao; 33°C in Manila; and 32°C in Puerto Princesa, Kalayaan Islands, and Legazpi.

PAGASA forecast temperatures of up to 34°C in Zamboanga; 33°C in Iloilo, Tacloban, and Davao; and 32°C in Cagayan de Oro.

Light to moderate winds and slight to moderate seas will continue to prevail over the entire archipelago.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The camp of president-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has picked the National Museum of the Philippines in Manila as the venue for his inauguration as the country’s 17th chief executive on June 30.

The National Museum, after being inspected by Marcos’ inaugural committee, was found to be the “suitable” site for Marcos’ oath-taking, Presidential Management Staff (PMS) secretary-designate Zenaida "Naida" Angping said.

Angping said preparations are underway to ensure Marcos’ smooth inauguration.

"The National Museum of (the) Philippines building and its surrounding areas match our requirements for President-elect Marcos' inauguration. Preparations are already in full swing to ensure that it will be ready by then," she said in a press statement.

The National Museum, formerly known as the Old Legislative Building, has served as the venue for the inauguration of former presidents Manuel L. Quezon (1935), Jose P. Laurel (1943), and Manuel Roxas (1946).

It is one of three historical sites earlier being considered by the Marcos camp as possible inaugural venues.

The other two were the Quirino Grandstand and Fort Santiago.

The Quirino Grandstand was where Marcos’ father and namesake, the late president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., held his inauguration as the country's 10th president in 1965.

Angping said the Quirino Grandstand was not chosen as the venue for Marcos’ inauguration because the ocular inspection team had noticed that it was surrounded by several field hospitals accommodating individuals infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

"The safety and welfare of our people are paramount. As such, we chose to avoid disrupting the medical care being given to the Covid-19 patients housed there. That's why we opted for the National Museum as the venue," she added.

On May 25, Marcos was proclaimed by Congress as the country’s new president after winning the 2022 national elections by a landslide 31,629,783 votes, or more than 16 million votes ahead of the closest contender, Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo.

Source: Philippines News Agency