Government imposes mandatory repatriation for
Filipinos in Gaza Strip
The Philippine government is now imposing a
mandatory repatriation of Filipino citizens in Gaza Strip, as the tension
between Israel and Hamas escalates, a Palace Official said on Sunday.
In a press briefing over radio station dzRB
Radyo ng Bayan, Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary Herminio
Coloma, Jr., said the Department of Foreign Affairs has raised the warning to
Alert Level IV.
Under Alert Level IV a mandatory repatriation of
Filipino citizens is in effect.
“Ayon sa DFA, ang mga embahada ng Pilipinas sa
Cairo, Tel Aviv, at Aman ay handang ilikas at tulungang makauwi sa bansa ang
mga Pilipinong nasa Gaza. Ito ay sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga awtoridad ng mga
bansang Israel, Egypt, Jordan, at United Nations,” Coloma said.
Meanwhile, DFA also issues Alert Level II or
restricted phase on areas in approximately 15 kilometers away from the conflict
zone. Alert Level I or the precautionary phase is raised in the West Bank and
other parts of Israel.
“Patuloy na tinututukan ng DFA ang mga
kaganapan,” Coloma added.
Malacanang also joined other nations that called
for a cease fire in the conflict area.
“Nakikiisa ang bansa sa mga panawagan ng United
Nations hinggil sa tigil putukan at tigil karahasan para huwag nang hantungan
pa ng pagbubuwis ng buhay ng mga inosenteng tao,” said Coloma.
Israeli troops are on the offense against Hamas
militants who are launching rockets and indiscriminately targeting cities in
Israel . PND (ag)
Typhoon Glenda's damage cost 7.6 billion pesos
Total damages to infrastructure and agriculture
by typhoon Glenda has reached 7.6 billion pesos, Malacanang announced on
Sunday.
Presidential Communication Operations Office
Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., told reporters in a press briefing over radio
station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan the cost includes the damages on public buildings,
infrastructures, schools and agriculture.
According to the National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) typhoon Glenda is officially out of
the Philippine Area of Responsibility as of Sunday morning.
Coloma reported that the death toll has reached
94 casualties and injured 317 others.
He said the concentration of the casualties is
located in the Southern Tagalog Region with a total of 62 confirmed deaths: 21
from Quezon Province, 17 in Laguna and 13 in Batangas.
Meanwhile, Coloma also reported that there are
regions that reported zero casualties.
“Sa mga rehiyon at lugar na direktang tinamaan
ng bagyo, ang mga lalawigan ng Albay, Camarines Norte, at Masbate ay walang
naiulat na nasawi o nagkaroon sila ng zero casualty. Hinggil diyan, mapapansin
din natin na sa buong National Capital Region, natamo rin ang zero casualty sa
maraming lungsod,” Coloma said.
“Kaya po natin sinasabi itong mga lugar na
nakatamo ng zero casualty ay ipinupunto lang dito ang kahalagahan ng maagang
preparasyon at ang pagtutok ng mga awtoridad sa pakikipagtulungan ng local
government at mga civil society organizations, non-government organizations, at
mga mamamayan na napakahalaga po sa pagtiyak sa kaligatasan ng buhay ng mga
mamamayan,” Coloma added. PND (ag)
Malacanang asks the public to brace for typhoon 'Henry'
Typhoon Henry will hit the Visayas region with a
projected entry through Guiuan, Eastern Samar, a Palace official said on
Sunday.
In a press briefing over radio station dzRB
Radyo ng Bayan, Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary Herminio
Coloma, Jr., said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRRMC) warned that the typhoon will be 370 kilometer from Eastern Samar by
Sunday night.
“Ang bagyong ‘Henry’ ay nagtataglay ng hangin na
aabot sa 120 kilometro bawat oras malapit sa gitna at pagbugso na 150 kilometro
bawat oras,” said Coloma.
Heavy rain is expected with thunder storms in
Eastern Samar, island of Siargao and Surigao del Norte as Typhoon Henry makes
landfall.
Coloma also said that the storm may cause flash
floods and landslides and warned fishermen to refrain from heading to sea
particularly in the eastern part of the country.
“Ipinaaalala rin sa mga mangingisda na huwag
nang maglayag mula sa mga silangang baybayin patungong karagatan ng Bicol, Visayas,
at Mindanao,” said Coloma. PND (ag)
President Aquino to inaugurate 'world's largest
indoor arena' Monday
President Benigno S. Aquino III will inaugurate
on Monday (July 21) Iglesia ni Cristo’s (INC) Ciudad de Victoria (City of
Victory), a 50-hectare tourism enterprise zone located at Bocaue, Bulacan
established by the congregation in time for its centennial celebration on July
27 (Sunday).
President Aquino along with INC executive
minister Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo will lead the unveiling of the marker at the
gazebo, signaling the formal public opening of the state-of-the art
architectural complex to the public.
The President will then deliver a speech inside
one of the site’s major construction, the Philippine Arena, which is considered
as "the world’s largest indoor stadium" given its reported
55,000-audience capacity.
Vice President Jejomar Binay and other INC
officials will accompany the President at the inauguration ceremonies with
around 50,000 INC members expected to witness the event.
Manalo once said during the groundbreaking of
Ciudad de Victoria in August 2011 that the arena and its other massive architectural
marvels had been designed to bring glory to God and honor to the country.
Other major structures expected to be completed
in the area in the near future are the Philippine Stadium, New Era University,
Eraño G. Manalo Medical Center, and some soon-to-rise shops, hotels, and
leisure parks.
Meanwhile, Malacañang has declared July 27 as a
special non-working holiday by virtue of Joint Resolution No. 2 signed by
President Aquino to commemorate the 100th founding anniversary of INC.
INC is considered as the third largest religious
denomination in the Philippines with its members comprising 2.3 percent of the
population based on the census of Year 2000 conducted by the National
Statistics Office. PND (hdc)
President Aquino signs five new laws
Malacanang announced on Sunday that President
Benigno Aquino III has signed into law five bills aimed at economic growth,
consumer protection, and enhancing the drug abuse law.
“Noon pong nakaraang Biyernes, ipinahayag ni
Secretary (Manuel) Mamba ng PLLO (Presidential Legislative Liaison Office) ang
paglagda ng Pangulong Aquino sa limang bagong batas,” Presidential
Communication Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., said in a press
briefing over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan Sunday.
The laws targeting economic growth are R.A.
10641: An Act Allowing the Full Entry of Foreign Banks in the Philippines,
Amending for the Purpose R.A. 7721 and R.A. 10644: An Act Promoting Job
Generation and Inclusive Growth Through the Development of Micro, Small, and
Medium Enterprises.
Among the new laws for consumer protection are:
R.A. 10642: An Act Strengthening Consumer Protection in the Purchase of Brand
New Motor Vehicles and R.A. 10643: An Act to Effectively Instill Health
Consciousness through Graphic Health Warnings on Tobacco Products.
While Republic Act 10640 is for the amendment of
the a provision of R.A. 9165 to strengthen the law for drug enforcement. This
is entitled An Act to Further Strengthen the Anti-Drug Campaign of the
Government, Amending Section 21 of R.A. 9165, otherwise known as The
Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
“Maaaninag sa mga bagong batas na ito ang
pagpapatuloy ng mga reporma sa larangan ng ekonomiya at kabuhayan, paglikha ng
mas marami pang hanapbuhay, at pangangalaga sa kalusugan at kapakanan ng mga
mamamayan,” noted Secretary Coloma. PND (ag)
