Category: General

MANILA: Malacañang on Wednesday announced the suspension of work in government offices and classes at all levels in Luzon on Thursday due to expected heavy rains from Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami). The Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) said work in government and classes in schools are ordered suspended on Thursday following the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). The NDRRMC made the recommendation, because of the ‘forecasted continuous heavy rainfall due to Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, and to aid in the rescue and relief operations of the government.’ The OES initially

DUMAGUETE CITY – At least seven houses on the renowned dive destination Apo Island in Dauin, Negros Oriental were destroyed by huge waves and strong winds caused by Tropical Storm Kristine, an official said Wednesday. Apo Island barangay chairperson Mario Pascobello told the Philippine News Agency in an interview that five houses in Sitio Baybay were battered by huge waves Tuesday evening and later by strong winds in the succeeding hours. Two other houses were knocked down by a fallen tree near a school in Sitio Ubos, Pascobello added. An estimated 30 individuals were affected and temporarily being sheltered by

Manila: The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) denounced on Wednesday the gun-slaying of a local broadcast journalist in Barangay Tumaga in Zamboanga City, describing the attack as a vile and atrocious act. In a statement, the PCO said it condemns the barbaric attack on Ma. Vilma Rodriguez, who was shot thrice by the suspect in front of her family members around 8:45 p.m. Tuesday. Rodriguez, a radio program anchor for Barangay Action Center of 105.9 EMedia, was rushed to the hospital but declared dead on arrival by the attending physician. ‘These kinds of vile and atrocious acts have no place in

BACOLOD CITY – Negros Occidental’s Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) went on blue alert as Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 was hoisted over northern Negros due to Tropical Storm Kristine Wednesday morning. In an advisory, the PDRRMC Emergency Operations Center said concerned offices, agencies, and local DRRMCs were told to ‘closely monitor respective areas of responsibility and send updates.’ ‘Blue alert’ requires the operation centers to be on standby and prepared to respond to any incident. As of 11 a.m., TCWS No. 1 was in effect in the northern portion of Negros Occidental, including Pontevedra,

Authorities have arrested the suspected gunman behind the gun-slaying of a local broadcast journalist in Barangay Tumaga here on Tuesday night. Colonel Kimberly Molitas, city police director, withheld the suspect’s identity pending an ongoing investigation. Maria Vilma Rodriguez, 56, of EMedia Productions Network, Inc., was shot thrice by the suspect in front of her horrified family members around 8:45 p.m. Tuesday in Comet Street, Barangay Tumaga. ‘At 1:15 a.m. (Wednesday), we arrested the suspect related to the shooting of Ms. Rodriguez,’ Molitas said in a text message. Rodriguez was rushed to the hospital but declared dead on arrival by the