PGMA calls for prayer
BATANGAS CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called on all Filipinos to pray for divine protection as typhoon "Ramil" (international codename: Lupit) moved closer to
In her keynote speech before the 3rd Philippine International Sisterhood and Twinning Association, Inc. (PHISTA) at the Batangas Provincial Auditorium this morning, the President also called for prayer “for our countrymen in
"I am also calling for prayer especially for those who have lost hope in the face of natural calamities that are still wreaking havoc on parts of our islands," she added.
The President maintained that prayers work. She pointed out that because of prayers, typhoon Ramil's winds, originally measured at
“Its rain band or scope of rainfall has also considerably grown smaller, the President said.
She noted that the high pressure area in the vicinity has slowed down the typhoon’s movement "to allow us more time to prepare for its coming."
"Let us pray that the typhoon's strength further weakens and that it misses hitting our country altogether," the President said.
PGMA calls for town twinning to improve economy
Town twinning or city sisterhood is an agreement between towns or cities in geographically distinct and adjacent areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.
In her keynote speech before the 3rd Philippine International Sisterhood and Twinning Association, Inc. (PHISTA) general membership assembly and 1st Tourism Summit at the Batangas Provincial Auditorium this morning, the President said that both parties benefit from the agreement.
“Malaki ang maitutulong ng konsepto ng twinning ng mga bayan at lungsod. Madalas, ang ka-twin ay nagre-resulta sa pag-unlad ng ekonomiya,” the President said.
“Ang magka-twin na mga lungsod ay may matututunan na mga bagong pamamaraan mula sa bayan ng ibang bansa lalo na sa mga makabagong sistema at teknolohiya na nagaganap sa mga mayayamang ekonomiya,” she added.
The President said the concept can also work among countries. She pointed out that while the
“Sila naman, meron naman silang matututunan sa atin lalo na kung ipapakita natin na maari tayong magsama-sama upang harangin ang mga hamon ng pandaigdigan kalamidad sa ekonomiya at magtrabahot magkabalikat upang maghandog ng tulong at maglaan ng mga bagong paraan para labanan ang mga kalamidad ng kalikasan,” the President said.
Ilocos Region now ready for onslaught of typhoon 'Ramil'
SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, Oct. 22 — All local government units in the Ilocos Region have already mobilized their men and equipment in preparation for the onslaught of typhoon “Ramil”, which is now threatening the eastern part of Northern Luzon.
In Ilocos Norte, which is under Typhoon Signal No. 2, residents near
Paoay Mayor Bonifacio Clemente said excess water from the lake has been released through irrigation canals because its water level remains under critical level.
He said homes around the lake remained submerged in floodwater, pointing out the need for residents to leave their homes once ”Ramil” starts dumping heavy rains.
In La Union, which is also under typhoon Signal Number 2, barangay captains of
The CDCC also said its response teams will be on call to respond to any request for rescue and relief operation as it also put on stand-by all available equipment, like bulldozers, loaders, generators, service vehicles, dump trucks, ambulances and others for rescue operations.
In Pangasinan, Avenix Arenas, spokesperson of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council, said they are now implementing pre-emptive evacuation of residents in critical areas, such as low-lying areas, river banks and coastal municipalities.
At the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters sa Pilipinas Breakfast Forum on Thursday morning, Arenas advised people living in critical areas to keep a close watch of the situation and better still, monitor developments on radio and television.
She said when authorities order residents to evacuate, they should follow orders and not wait for water to reach dangerous level.
Saying that the PDCC is always coordinating with officials of San Roque Dam officials, Arenas revealed that no huge volume of water is being released by the dam yet.
On the other hand, Dagupan City Administrator Alvin Fernandez called on residents to be ready for all types of calamity so that they will not always depend on the city government and barangay officials for rescue.
Fernandez stressed that the city government had already pre-positioned its men, equipment and materials for possible rescue operations and identified evacuation centers for affected residents to go to in case of flood.
He also advised each family to have ropes ready which were proven to be life savers as what happened when typhoon “Pepeng” struck the city last week.
Fernandez said Dagupan has an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at city hall where people in times of need can call 24/7 and get the necessary action that they need in so short a time.
Ramil continues to lose momentum, but still a threat to
"Ramil will still bring rains in central and northern
The radius of Ramil's rainband expands
Nilo however said chances of Ramil to veer off to Taiwan is present, as some forecast models predict, due to steering effect of two high pressure areas (HPA) prevailing near Hong Kong and Philippine Sea.
"As of this time, possibility that Ramil will move northeast stands...there's about 30 percent probability for it to move away," he said.
Models from international weather forecasting agencies indicated that Ramil may spare northern
Nathaniel Cruz, weather branch chief at Pagasa OIC deputy director for operations and services, said that while Pagasa monitors data from foreign meteorological centers, their forecasters use local data generated by their regional offices.
"We use data from our forecasters deployed in areas where storm is near, like in this case Itbayat and Basco in Batanes, where we directly measure weather systems such as winds, because winds are good indicator of a storm's movement," Cruz explained.
As of
It is forecast to make a landfall in Cagayan on Sunday morning, Nilo said.
Signal number 3 is raised over Batanes Group, Cagayan,
Signal number 2 meanwhile is hoisted over Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga, Isabela, Abra,
Several provinces in regions 3 and 4-A were also placed under signal number 1 as an effect of Ramil's expanded rain bands.
These include Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, Northern Quezon and
Ramil's slowdown would "prolong the agony" of people exposed to severe calamities, Nilo said.
The Pagasa identified Palanan in Isabela, Claveria in Aparri and Sta. Ana in Cagayan coasts as most at risk from storm surge because of its maximum exposure from rough sea conditions.
"We should keep on preparing because this would not be the last typhoon for the year," the weather bureau said.
Pagasa said Ramil will reach 190 kms East of Aparri, Cagayan by Friday morning; 120 kms East of Aparri, Cagayan by Saturday morning and 70 kms Southeast of Aparri, Cagayan on Sunday morning.
Residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes under signals numbers 3, 2 and 1 are advised to take all the necessary precautionary measures against possible flashfloods and landslides, it said.
Domingo named acting DPWH head
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed today former Presidential Adviser for New Government Centers Victor A. Domingo, as acting chief of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said in a press briefing this afternoon that Domingo, 68, will replace Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. who submitted his irrevocable resignation to President Arroyo yesterday to prepare for his presidential bid in next years elections.
During the briefing, Domingo said he will focus on fast tracking priority projects with the greatest impact on the economy and the rehabilitation/repair of the infrastructures damaged by typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng.
Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the President thanked Ebdane for the service he rendered to the government.
Domingo is a former director of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and regional director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in
