Day: October 23, 2024

Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday directed government agencies to closely monitor dams and enforce a ‘measured response’ in releasing water due to anticipated heavier rainfall as Tropical Storm Kristine moves closer to the country. ‘We have to watch this carefully because we’re just beginning, this is just the start of the rainfall,’ Marcos said as he convened the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. Noting that Kristine is expected to make landfall on Wednesday night or Thursday morning over Isabela or Aurora, Marcos urged dam operators to keep the

LEGAZPI CITY – The Albay Public Safety Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) reported that 17,095 individuals, or 4,948 families from several towns and cities in the province, moved to evacuation centers as Tropical Storm Kristine’s heavy rainfall caused floodings. In an interview on Wednesday, APSEMO acting chief Dante Baclao said the number of evacuated persons is expected to increase as reports from local government disaster response units are consolidated. “Unprecedented po ung pagbuhos ng ulan. Mostly, ang mga ilog ay umapaw. Ang pag ulan na ito ay record-breaking, talagang napaka-tindi (The downpour is unprecedented. Mostly the rivers have overflowed. This rain

Manila: The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has yet to receive a formal extradition request from the United States for Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy. “As you know, the Philippines has an extradition treaty with the United States of America. I wish to report that as of this date, the Department of Foreign Affairs has not received a formal extradition request from the United States,” DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo told the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality on Wednesday. He, however, assured lawmakers they are on standby in case a request will be

Manila: The Philippines and Italy are working to conclude a defense agreement ‘at the soonest possible time,’ with hopes to sign it as early as 2025, the Philippine Embassy in Italy has said. Italian Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto and Philippine Ambassador to Italy Neal Imperial committed to work on the early conclusion of the updated memorandum of understanding (MOU) on defense cooperation during the latter’s courtesy call on Oct. 9. The deal will replace an already expired MOU. ‘To facilitate stronger and closer defense ties, both sides agreed to work on the conclusion of an updated defense cooperation MOU

DUMAGUETE CITY – Classes have been suspended in the provinces of Negros Oriental and nearby Siquijor due to unfavorable weather conditions brought about by Tropical Storm Kristine. Governors Manuel Sagarbarria of Negros Oriental and Jake Vincent Villa of Siquijor issued their respective executive orders late Tuesday evening as Kristine pummeled its way to the Philippines, bringing heavy rains and strong winds and causing massive flooding in northern and central Luzon. The suspension of classes in both Negros Island Region provinces covered all levels and public and private schools. The latest state weather bureau report included the northern portion of Negros