Ismael Amigo, Author at Maharlika NuMedia

Super typhoon Egay renders 13 national roads unpassable

Typhoon ‘Egay’ has caused significant disruption in Northern Luzon, rendering 13 national roads unpassable and closed to traffic.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) made this announcement during a press briefing held at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

The closures were deemed necessary to ensure public safety as the roads faced various issues such as soil erosion, soil collapse, fallen trees, and mudflows due to the onslaught of the powerful Super Typhoon “Egay.”

Among the affected roads are the Abra-Ilocos Norte Road, Abra-Ilocos Sur Road, Abra-Kalinga Road, Baguio-Bontoc Road, Mt. Province-Nueva Vizcaya Road, Mt. Province-Ilocos Sur via Tue Road, Mt. Province-Cagayan via Tabuk-Enrile Road, Claveria-Calanasan-Kabugao Road in Apayao, Apayao-Ilocos Norte Road, Shilan-Beckel Road in La Trinidad, Benguet, and Kennon Road in Camp 6 Tuba, Benguet. Unfortunately, most of these roads have no alternative routes except for Kennon Road, which has Naguilian and Marcos Highways as possible alternatives.

In Upper Kalingo, two roads were closed to traffic: Mt. Province-Calanan-Pinukpuk-Abbut Road and Lubuagan-Batong Bahay-Abra Boundary Road.

Additionally, four national roads in the Cordillera Administrative Region and Southern Mindoro have limited access. These roads include the Abra-Ilocos Norte Road in Danglas, Banaue-Hunduan-Benguet Boundary Road, Gov. Bado Dangwa National Road, and the Calapan South Road.

With Typhoon ‘Egay’ moving towards the northern Philippines, the country’s weather agency has issued evacuation orders for coastal communities that are expected to face the full force of the powerful storm. (ai/mnm)

Typhoon ‘Egay’ has caused significant disruption in Northern Luzon, rendering 13 national roads unpassable and closed to traffic.

In Upper Kalingo, two roads were closed to traffic: Mt. Province-Calanan-Pinukpuk-Abbut Road and Lubuagan-Batong Bahay-Abra Boundary Road.

The devastating impact of Typhoon “Egay” continues to be felt as it paralyzes operations at twenty-five (25) airports under the jurisdiction of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) in Luzon.

According to CAAP Spokesman Eric Apolonio, the main office in Pasay City has been receiving reports on the current ground situation at the airports in Northern Luzon.

Among the affected airports, Laoag International Airport had to suspend its flight operations temporarily due to adverse weather conditions.

However, it is expected to reopen once the weather permits. In the meantime, the international pre-departure area is temporarily replacing the domestic one, as the latter requires repairs due to partial damage to its ceiling and doors, as reported by CAAP Area Center 1 Manager Ronald Estabillo.

Vigan Airport suffered minimal damage to its facilities, while Lingayen Airport’s ramp was flooded due to heavy rainfall. Additionally, part of the airport’s fire station roof sustained damage from strong winds.

At Tuguegarao Airport, flight operations for the day had to be suspended due to a power outage. Fortunately, no major damage was reported at the airport’s taxiway, except for minor flooding.

On a positive note, Basco Airport, Cauayan Airport, and Palanan Airport were fortunate enough to escape any damage, and their commercial electricity supply remained intact.

However, the impact was felt for passengers as a Cebgo flight bound for Manila from San Jose Airport had to be canceled, affecting 155 travelers. Meanwhile, Iba Airport experienced strong winds and rain but reported no significant damage.

Thankfully, Baguio Airport, Rosales Airport, and San Fernando Tower Facility were among the fortunate ones, remaining intact despite the typhoon’s onslaught.

Meanwhile, the CAAP also released a list of canceled flights as of 11 a.m. Wednesday:

Philippine Airlines

PR 2932/2933 Manila-Basco-Manila
PR 2196/2197 Manila-Laoag-Manila
PR 2198/2199 Manila-Laoag-Manila
PR 2230/2231 Cebu-Baguio-Cebu
Cebu Pacific Airlines

5J 196/197: Manila – Cauayan – Manila
5J 404/405: Manila – Laoag – Manila
DG 6177/6178: Manila – Masbate – Manila
DG 6031/6032: Manila – San Jose – Manila
5J 504/505: Manila – Tuguegarao – Manila
5J 506/507: Manila – Tuguegarao – Manila
CebGo (DG)

DG 6113/6114 Manila-Naga-Manila
Please refresh the page for updates.

(AI/MNM)

I SAID IT BEFORE BUT I’d say it again: It’s high time for Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia to set aside their differences, find common interests and unite to revive the Maphilindo to deter the advancement of China’s social-imperialism.

And I believe President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the first majority-elected Chief Executive in a multiparty electoral race, can initiate the revival of the vision to establish Maphilindo as he embarked on a three-day state visit to Malaysia.

In a recent press briefing at Malacañang, a spokesman of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) disclosed that the President would meet with the king of Malaysia and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and they are expected to identify new areas of synergy between the two countries.

Will Maphilindo ever cross their minds?

Formed in Manila by virtue of an eponymous declaration signed in 1963 by Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman of the Federation of Malaya, President Diosdado Macapagal of the Republic of the Philippines and President Sukarno of the Republic of Indonesia, Maphilindo aimed to remove artificial barriers built by colonial empires to divide people of the Malay race.

Unfortunately, only a month after its inception the agreements soon mired in geopolitical disputes among the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

But I always believe in the proverbial saying that hope springs eternal.

Even our own national hero Dr. Jose Rizal once dreamed of uniting the Malay peoples who were only forced to be divided by their respective colonizers.

Notably, the Philippines was under the yoke of Spanish colonialism for 330 years then sold for 20 million dollars only by Spain to the United States which ruled for 40 years, then got invaded by Japan for being a US ally and occupied for three years, and finally “granted” independence by the US in 1946.

On the other hand, it was in December 1949 when the Dutch formally recognized Indonesian independence in the face of international pressures while Malaysia eventually became independent from British rule on Sept. 16, 1963.

Except for religious differences as the Philippines is predominantly a Christian nation while Malaysia and Indonesia profess the Islamic faith, the peoples of these three countries in Southeast Asia share many striking similarities.

Take for example, the word “sapato” in Indonesia and “sepatu” in Malaysia is “sapatos” in the Philippines. That is, of course, shoes in the English language.

Filipinos, Malaysians, and Indonesians also generally have the same facial features, brown skin color, and physique.

I really believe that reviving Maphilindo will not only deter China’s social-imperialism but will also serve as the beginning of Lao Zi’s proverbial “thousand miles journey” to ensure peace, freedom and economic progress for the unified Malay race. (AI/MNM)

As the 29-year-old FIBA Basketball World Cup attendance record beckons to be shattered, and the renowned Philippine Arena aims to add another milestone to its illustrious history, Gilas Pilipinas is ready to take center stage.

The team will proudly step onto the grand stage of the 55,000-capacity Philippine Arena on August 25, followed by the historic Smart Araneta Coliseum on August 27 and 29, with a singular focus – to defend its homecourt at any cost.

Rivals from distant lands will be converging upon the Philippines – Dominican Republic from the Caribbean, Angola from Africa, and Italy from fabulous Europe.

Placed in Group A, the Philippines faces the task of conquering at least two of these formidable opponents to secure their spot in the second round of the Group Stage. In the next phase, the top two teams from Group B, comprising South Sudan, Serbia, China, and Puerto Rico, eagerly await.

The anticipation for the tournament is soaring, with fans eager to witness history unfold.

The host nation has a singular chance to surpass the previous spectator record of 32,616, set during the 1994 FIBA World Cup championship between the United States Dream Team II and Russia.

The Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, will be the battleground where this epic attempt at breaking the record will take place.

The colossal Philippine Arena holds a standing gate record of 54,589 for a sporting event, established during Game 7 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals last January, making it an ideal venue for the upcoming basketball extravaganza.

On August 25, all eyes will be on the Philippine Arena, with the possibility of a local inter-agency task force declaring it a special public holiday to facilitate fans’ attendance.

While setting a new attendance record would be remarkable, the ultimate triumph for Gilas Pilipinas would be securing a victory over the formidable Dominican Republic, ranked 23rd in the world, with the support of a roaring hometown crowd. Such a win would infuse the team with invaluable momentum for their subsequent matches at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

In the subsequent matches at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the iconic Sixth Man, the passionate Filipino basketball fans, will once again play a crucial role as Gilas Pilipinas faces Angola, ranked 41st, and Italy, ranked 10th in the FIBA standings. The support of the home crowd could provide the necessary fortitude for the team to excel, especially during challenging moments.

With its rich history, the Smart Araneta Coliseum has witnessed legendary sporting events, including the unforgettable “Thrilla in Manila” between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1975, and the 1978 FIBA World Championship. The atmosphere inside the packed arena has the potential to ignite the team’s performance and intimidate their opponents.

In previous editions of the FIBA World Cup, Gilas Pilipinas faced daunting challenges without the support of their home crowd and fell short in some closely contested games. However, this time, with the advantage of playing on home soil, the narrative could be different.

The fervent Filipino fans, armed with foam fingers, balloon sticks, placards, and posters, are ready to rally behind their national team. The desire for payback and the determination to protect their own turf will serve as powerful incentives and motivations for Gilas Pilipinas.

As the record crowd chants resound in both the Philippine Arena and the Smart Araneta Coliseum, one thing is clear: the team is determined to make a bold statement – NOT IN OUR TURF!

(ai/mnm)

Comedian Willie Nepomuceno, the renowned satirist and master impersonator famous for his incredible portrayals of Philippine celebrities and political figures, passed away on Wednesday.

His family made the heartfelt announcement, revealing that he was 75 years old at the time of his passing.

“It is with profound sorrow and a heavy heart that we announce the departure of our beloved father, Willie Nepomuceno, who peacefully joined our creator on July 26, 2023, at the age of 75,” shared the family on his Facebook page.

Throughout his illustrious career, Nepomuceno gained widespread recognition for his sharp wit and uncanny impersonations of former presidents Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, and Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino 3rd. His comedic brilliance and remarkable talent left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry and will be remembered fondly by his countless fans. (ai/mnm)

MANILA – The Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) is expected to start operations early next year, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said on Tuesday.

During the post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, Diokno said the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Maharlika Investment Fund Act is expected to be completed next month.

“The law says we have 90 days to prepare the IRR. But immediately after the approval by the Senate of the bill, we started the preparation of the IRR so we expect the implementing rules and regulations to be available by mid-August or, at the latest last day of August. And then we expect this to be organized, appoint people in the right places by around September and I so think the Maharlika will be off and running by early next year,” he said.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed into law Republic Act 11954 last week, otherwise known as the MIF Act of 2023, establishing the Philippines’ first sovereign wealth fund.

Diokno reiterated that the MIF will help widen the fiscal space and ease the burden on local funds.

“As an additional source of funding, the MIF is expected to widen the fiscal space, reduce reliance on official development assistance in funding big-ticket items, and some target investment areas include green and blue projects, rural development, digitalization, sustainable development and healthcare,” he said.

The Fund is designed to catalyze economic development and accelerate the country’s growth by optimizing the use of government financial assets and promoting their intergenerational management. (PNA)

MANILA – The local stock barometer and the peso finished strong on Tuesday, a day after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA).

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) closed trading with 29.86 points increase to 6,661.11, with all counters ending in the green.

All shares were higher by 13.67 points from previous day’s trading to 3,540.38.

Mining and Oil led the sectors for two consecutive days, gaining by 103.23 points to end at 10,286.13 level. This was followed by Industrial, up by 48.21 points to 9,346.42; Holding Firms, 15.95 points to 6,422.78; Financials, 13.27 points to 1,964.95; Services, 10.17 points to 1,596.20; and Property, 8.56 points to 2,715.07.

“Philippine shares notched a winning session ahead of the Fed’s (Federal Reserve) policy decision later tonight. The market widely expects the Fed to raise rates by 25 bps (basis points),” said Regina Capital Development Corp. head of sales Luis Limlingan.

Gainers and losers equaled at 90, with shares of 51 listed firms left unchanged.

Total shares traded during the day reached 616.12 million amounting to PHP4.34 billion.

Meanwhile, the peso appreciated by 0.21 to 54.55 to a United States dollar from 54.76 the previous day.

The local currency opened the day sideways at 54.60 from Monday’s kick off at 54.68.

The currency pair traded between 54.49 and 54.63, bringing the average level at 54.56 to the greenback.

“For tomorrow, the peso exchange rate could range at the 54.45 to 54.65 levels,” Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said. (PNA)

MANILA — The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Tuesday reported that more than 158 kilometers of roads leading to tourist destinations have been constructed through its partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

In a post-State of the Nation Address briefing on infrastructure development and connectivity, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said this initiative along with other government infrastructure projects lined up, implemented and continuing, show how tourism is a priority of the Marcos administration.

“[W]e are very optimistic that in the coming year, investments in tourism roads will continue so that we can continue to expand countrywide development as far as tourism is concerned, so we fulfill the President’s vision that no one is left behind as far as the local government units to benefit from tourism development,” she said.

Frasco also reported that the tourism industry continues to witness “robust” post-pandemic growth.

In 2022, the Philippines exceeded its targets in terms of international arrivals by nearly a million to 2.65 million visitors.

It generated over PHP1.87 trillion in combined spending of international and domestic tourism with over 102 million domestic trips recorded.

“All of this translated to over 5.35 million jobs for Filipinos and if you multiply that by the average number of members per family that’s over 25 million families that have benefited from tourism,” Frasco said.

The DOT’s ongoing partnership with the Department of Transportation is also expected to upgrade and enhance interiors in more airports and seaports in the country, including the Davao International Airport and the Cebu City Port.

Moreover, additional flights in secondary gateways in Clark and Palawan are seen as consultations with stakeholders continue.

“All of these investments that the Marcos administration has made in infrastructure development and connectivity have readily resulted in this growth in the tourism sector that we can only see to grow further as we are very optimistic in not only meeting but also exceeded our targets this year of 4.8 million international arrivals,” Frasco said.

Beyond road links, the agency also focuses its efforts on improving travel experience for tourists by introducing curated tours that foreign travelers can purchase when they land in Manila and by building Filipino-style rest stops in various destinations.

It launched this year the first-ever Hop-On Hop-Off (HOHO) bus tours in the Philippines, starting with the cities of Makati and Manila, which Frasco hopes to bring the country “shoulder-to-shoulder with other major key cities around the world” that offer the same tourism activity.

The DOT also broke ground on 10 tourist rest areas in Ilocos, Baguio, Cebu, Bohol, Samal Island, and Bukidnon.

“[W]e also conducted listening tours across our regions and the demand was clear— we need a convenient place for tourists to stop over from one destination to another, and most importantly, clean and decent public restrooms,” Frasco said. (PNA)

MANILA – Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Tuesday expressed confidence that the House of Representatives will pass the 17 priority bills that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. requested Congress to pass in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday.

In a statement, Romualdez said the House had approved on the third and final reading seven of the President’s priority measures.

He said he is confident that the chamber would “wrap up the final approval” of the remaining 10 SONA priority measures before the end of the year.

“I am extremely confident that the House of Representatives would again rise up to the occasion and accept the challenge from our President: to pass the 17 priority measures needed to sustain our economic recovery and improve the living condition of our people,” he said.

The seven SONA priority measures that the House approved during the First Regular Session of the 19th Congress include House Bill No. 4102 or Single-Use Plastic Bags Tax Act; House Bill No. 4122 or An Act Imposing Value-Added Tax on Digital Transactions; and House Bill No. 6716 or An Act Mandating the Establishment of Fisherfolk Resettlement Areas by the Department of Agriculture, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Local Government Units.

Also passed were House Bill No. 7393 or Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act; House Bill No. 7006 or Automatic Income Classification Act for Local Government Units; House Bill No. 8203 or Bureau of Immigration Modernization Act; and House Bill No. 4125 or Ease of Paying Taxes Act.

Four of the remaining 10 SONA priority measures for approval are scheduled to be passed by October. These are Anti-Agricultural Smuggling; Amendments to the Cooperative Code; Tatak Pinoy; and Blue Economy.

The House also seeks to approve the six remaining priority measures by December. These are Motor Vehicle User’s Charge; Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUP) Pension; Revised Procurement Law; New Government Auditing Code; Rationalization of Mining Fiscal Regime; and National Water Act.

Romualdez noted that the list of SONA priority measures does not include the proposed 2024 national budget which the Executive Department will submit to Congress sometime next month.

“Of course, the most important bill that we need to discuss and approve the soonest time possible is the 2024 General Appropriations Bill based on the National Expenditure Program prepared by the Executive Department,” he pointed out.

“Ang national budget na ipapasa namin ang magsisiguro na lahat ng buwis na ibinabayad ng mga kababayan natin, gayundin ang iba pang revenue sources na nakokolekta, ay babalik sa taumbayan sa pamamagitan ng mga programa, proyekto at serbisyo (The national budget that we will pass will ensure that the taxes paid by our people, as well as those collected from other revenue sources, will go back to the people in the form of programs, projects and services),” the House leader said.

He said the House of Representatives will work double time if needed to meet their “self-imposed deadline” of approving the 2024 appropriations bill, as well as the remaining 10 SONA priority measures, before the end of the year 2023.

“Sa pagpasa ng lahat ng panukalang batas na hiniling ng Pangulo, umaasa kami na makakatulong kami dito sa House of Representatives na mapalago pang lalo ang ekonomiya, mapasigla ang negosyo, maparami pa ang trabaho at mapalawak ang serbisyong hatid natin sa mga Pilipino (By passing all the proposed measures requested by the President, we in the House of Representatives hope to help in further growing the economy, create more jobs and expand services to Filipinos),” Romualdez said. (PNA)

MANILA – Signal No. 5 has been hoisted over the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Camiguin Island) and more areas have been placed under Signal No. 4 on Tuesday afternoon due to Super Typhoon Egay.

In its 2 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said “very strong winds” of more than 185 kph may be expected in Camiguin Island in at least 12 hours.

Significant to severe impacts from typhoon-force winds may be experienced in areas under Signal No. 4: the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana and Gonzaga) and the rest of Babuyan Islands.

The situation in these areas could be “very destructive” to the communities, and travels and outdoor activities should be canceled, said PAGASA.

Egay maintained its strength, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph.

It was last located 230 km. east-northeast of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, or 240 km. east of Aparri, Cagayan.

Moderate to significant impacts from storm-force winds, on the other hand, are likely in areas under Signal No. 3: the northeastern portion of Isabela (Divilacan, Maconacon, Palanan, Santa Maria, San Pablo, Santo Tomas, Cabagan, Tumauini), the rest of Cagayan, Apayao, the eastern portion of Ilocos Norte (Vintar, Adams, Pagudpud, Dumalneg, Nueva Era, Carasi, Bangui, Piddig, Solsona), the northeastern portion of Kalinga (Rizal, Pinukpuk) and Batanes.

Minor to moderate impacts from gale-force winds are possible in these areas where Signal No. 2 has been hoisted: the rest of Isabela, the northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao), Quirino, the rest of Kalinga, northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Quezon, Diadi, Bagabag, Ambaguio, Villaverde, Solano, Bayombong), the rest of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, northern portion of Benguet (Bakun, Mankayan, Buguias, Kabayan, Kibungan, Atok) and the northern portion of La Union (Bangar, Sudipen, Luna, Balaoan, Santol).

Signal No. 1 has been hoisted over Quezon including Pollilo Islands, the rest of Aurora, the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Benguet, the rest of La Union, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Zambales, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Marinduque, Cavite, Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Batangas, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, and Catanduanes. Minimal to minor impacts from strong winds are possible in these areas.

PAGASA said areas in Luzon, the Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and the northern portions of Northern Mindanao and Caraga that are not under any wind signal may experience gusty conditions due to Egay and the enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat.”

Rough to high or very high seas are forecast over several coastal waters along the seaboards of Luzon, the Visayas, and Northeastern Mindanao.

Sea travel is risky for most vessels. PAGASA advised mariners to remain in port or seek safe harbor until winds and waves subside. (PNA)

President Marcos and FL Liza Araneta-Marcos arrive in Malaysia (Manila Bulletin photo courtesy)

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had safely arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The chief executive is embarking on a three-day state visit upon the invitation of the King of Malaysia, His Majesty Al-Sultan Abdullah.

This visit is seen as a reciprocal gesture, following the visit of Malaysia’s Prime Minister Dato’ Seri (Anwar) Ibrahim to Manila in March 2023.

President Marcos expressed his belief that this is an opportune time to strengthen the relationship between the Philippines and Malaysia.

He hopes that this state visit will nurture the foundations of a revitalized and stronger cooperation between the two nations, particularly as they approach the celebration of 60 years of formal diplomatic relations in 2024.

The President’s itinerary includes a meeting with the Filipino community in Malaysia, among other scheduled activities.

During his absence from the Philippines, he has designated Vice President Sara Duterte as the caretaker to handle state affairs on his behalf. (ai/mnm)

As of Tuesday, “Egay” has intensified into a super typhoon, prompting the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) to raise Signal No. 4 over the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana).

Pagasa reported that Signal No. 3 is in effect for Babuyan Islands, the northern and eastern parts of mainland Cagayan (Gonzaga, Peñablanca, Gattaran, Lal-Lo, Alcala, Santa Teresita, Buguey, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Ballesteros, Allacapan, Abulug, Claveria, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, Santa Praxedes, Lasam, Baggao, Amulung, and Iguig), as well as the northeastern portion of Isabela (Divilacan, Maconacon, and Palanan), and the northern portion of Apayao (Calanasan, Luna, Santa Marcela, Flora, Pudtol) in Luzon.

Meanwhile, Signal No. 2 has been raised over Batanes, the remaining areas of mainland Cagayan, the rest of Isabela, Quirino, the northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Quezon, Diadi, Bagabag, Ambaguio, Villaverde, Solano, and Bayombong), the rest of Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, the northern portion of Benguet (Bakun, Mankayan, Buguias, Kabayan, and Kibungan), Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and the northern and central portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, and Dipaculao).

Furthermore, Signal No. 1 is currently in effect over Metro Manila, La Union, Pangasinan, the remaining areas of Benguet, the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Aurora, Zambales, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Quezon, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Burias Island, and Ticao Island.

In the Visayas region, storm signals have already been lifted, according to Pagasa.

As of the 11 a.m. advisory, Egay has retained its super typhoon status with its eye located approximately 270 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. The typhoon is moving northwestward at a speed of 15 kilometers per hour (kph) with maximum sustained winds of 185kph near the center and gustiness of up to 230kph.

Pagasa predicts that Egay will likely make landfall or come very close to Babuyan Islands and the northeastern mainland Cagayan area between late Tuesday and Wednesday morning. The advisory also suggests that a slight northward or southward shift in the track could result in a landfall or close approach over northern mainland Cagayan or Batanes.
(ai/mnm)

In preparation for the imminent arrival of Super Typhoon ‘Egay’ (international name: Doksuri), authorities have issued evacuation orders for thousands of residents living in coastal communities in northern Philippines.

The typhoon, with maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (115 miles per hour), is currently heading towards a group of three sparsely populated islands situated off the northern tip of Luzon, the main island.

According to the latest bulletin released at 0000 GMT, the storm is projected to make landfall or come very close to the Babuyan islands or northeastern Cagayan province by Wednesday afternoon. Afterward, it is expected to move onward, crossing towards Taiwan and eastern China.

Anticipating heavy rainfall, the typhoon is forecasted to bring over 200 millimeters (7.9 inches) of rain to the islands and the northern portions of Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte provinces on Tuesday. Safety measures have been put in place to protect residents and minimize potential damage from the approaching storm. (AI/MNM)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has accepted the resignation of 18 third-level officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who are allegedly involved in illegal drug activities.

In a news release on Tuesday, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the President accepted the police officials’ resignation based on the recommendation of the National Police Commission Ad Hoc Advisory Group that investigated the matter.

The Chief Executive accepted the courtesy resignation of the following officials:

-Brigadier Generals Remus Medina, Randy Peralta and Pablo Labra II;

-Colonels Rogarth Campo, Rommel Ochave, Rommel Velasco, Robin King Sarmiento, Fernando Ortega, Rex Derilo, Julian Olonan, Rolando Portera, Lawrence Cajipe, Dario Menor, Joel Tampis, Michael David, Igmedio Bernaldez, Rodolfo Albotra Jr., and Marvin Sanchez.

Meanwhile, the advisory group recommended the non-acceptance of the courtesy resignation of 935 other police officials.

Marcos made the announcement a day after his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa, vowing to continue the fight against drug syndicates by shutting down their illegal activities.

He also vowed to dismantle their network of operations that includes going after law enforcers and their accomplices found implicated in the illegal drug trade.

“Unscrupulous law enforcers and others involved in the highly nefarious drug trade have been exposed. I will be accepting their resignations. In their stead, we will install individuals with unquestionable integrity, and who will be effective and trustworthy in handling the task of eliminating this dreaded and corrosive social curse. We cannot tolerate corruption or incompetence in government,” Marcos said.

The President earlier vowed to “clean up the ranks of the PNP, saying that the drug problem would not exist without the involvement of police officials.”

In his SONA, the President also said he will appoint individuals with unquestionable integrity to lead the government’s drive against illegal drugs, noting that his administration is putting “a new face” to the campaign.

“In their stead, we will install individuals with unquestionable integrity, who will be effective and trustworthy in handling the task of eliminating this dreaded and corrosive social curse. We cannot tolerate corruption or incompetence in government,” the Chief Executive said.

Meanwhile, PNP chief Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the officials whose resignations were accepted are continuously being monitored.

He also said the necessary orders “for their relief from their present positions will be immediately issued and the (resigned) officers will be assigned to the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit, DPRM (Directorate for Personnel and Records Management) to preclude them from exerting further influence and/or performing illegal activities using their positions.”

“Because it’s a courtesy resignation so I would like to look at this na sana (and hopefully), it’s an eye opener to each and every officer. It’s high time we take our job seriously when it comes to dealing with drugs. It’s a no-no na we get involved in it and sana let’s take advantage as a mode of really coming up with a better image with the Filipinos,” Acorda told a media interview at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Tuesday.

He also assured the PNP’s full commitment to intensifying the war against illegal drugs.

“Nakikita natin yung kahirapan ng mga operatiba (we see the difficulties of operatives) when it comes to conducting operations on illegal drugs so with the statement of the President we are pursuing this and intensifying it,” he added.

The PNP chief maintained that erring cops have no place in the organization, especially under his watch as he vowed to implement an intensified internal cleansing.

“We need your help also, we need critics from the outside and we take it positively, that is the way we can clean the organization and the community as a whole. I think it’s everybody’s concern but under the leadership of yours truly and with the command group we will be pursuing positive reforms,” Acorda noted.

Earlier, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. called on all full-fledged police colonels and generals to file their courtesy resignation to weed out the police organization of erring members, especially those involved in the illegal drugs trade.

The DILG chief’s move stemmed from the arrest of Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr. during a drug operation in Manila in October 2022 which yielded over a ton of shabu.

Big win in war on drugs

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said President Marcos’ acceptance of the 18 senior police officers’ resignation is a big boost to the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.

Barbers, chair of the House Committee on Illegal Drugs, said the President showed his determination in curbing the drug menace in the country.

He said this is also the start of something big “which is reforming of the entire national police structure by replacing scalawags with people of unquestioned credibility, integrity and competence.”

“In this regard, I call on the NAPOLCOM (National Police Commission) to continue its constant monitoring of our police officers and their performance in order to make the wisest advice to our President,” he said.

He also urged the public to fully cooperate with the government to resolve the drug problem and free the country from illegal drugs.

“Our united front in fighting this problem does not end here. We shall continue to be vigilant and steadfast in the performance of our duties so we can deliver to the people our promise of good governance,” he said.

“We trust the President and we fully support him in his commitment to end this curse and shifting course towards rehabilitation and re-integration of people victimized by illegal drugs,” he added. (with reports from Zaldy De Layola)

MANILA – Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista administered the oath of office of lawyer Vigor Mendoza II who assumed the position of assistant secretary and chief of the Land Transportation Office on Tuesday.

Mendoza replaces former LTO chief Jay Art Tugade, who resigned in May due to disagreements with the transportation department.

“Let’s not waste time sa rami ng kailangang gawin at sa rami ng kailangan nating maayos. Sana maayos natin sa lalong madaling panahon and then in the next 5 years dahan-dahan na lang tayo (We have a lot to do so let’s not waste time. I hope that we finish these tasks soon and in the next five years),” Mendoza said in a news release.

He vowed to address the shortage of license cards and motor vehicle plates backlogs.

“Let’s not wait 5 years, ang aking laging iniisip kung magagawa natin bukas bakit pa natin hihintayin ang next week. Gawin na natin ang magagawa natin ngayon (Let’s not wait five years. Do what can be done now and not wait for next week),” he said.

Mendoza, a former party-list representative and transportation official, was personally endorsed for the role by Bautista and Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos.

Mendoza vowed to further enhance public service and ensure “effective, safe, and well-organized operations of land transportation systems”.

He continues to be the chairperson of Party List Group 1 (United Transport Koalisyon or 1-UTAK). He was also a former Board Member of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

Mendoza graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University from grade school through law school.

His areas of specialization are public utilities, real property and energy law, corporate law and litigation. (PNA)

MANILA – Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday left for a state visit to Malaysia upon the “gracious” invitation of Malaysian King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah to harness the potentials of a revitalized relationship between the two countries.

“Building on past successes, visit to Malaysia aims to identify new areas of synergy that can propel our partnership and served as a roadmap for our respective agencies to work on for the mutual benefit of both our countries and peoples of the new century,” Marcos said in his departure speech at the Maharlika Hall of Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

During his state visit from July 25 to 27, Marcos said he will have an audience with the king of Malaysia to discuss how the two countries can further deepen their partnership “through new areas of mutual interest.”

He will also have a bilateral meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim “to pursue areas of cooperation and our agreed priority areas that are aligned with our countries’ respective economic agendas.”

“In order to assist our nation’s trajectory of economic growth and to meet our economic target of 6.4 percent year-on-year GDP growth this year, my visit will focus on the renewed partnership in the fields of agriculture, food and security, digital economy, tourism, people to people as well as explore new avenues for cooperation, particularly in areas of the halal industry and Islamic banking,” Marcos said.

The “halal” industry, he said, is expected to grow into a trillion-dollar industry in the international market as its global demand continues to expand.

“Malaysia is one of the global leaders in this sector and this visit aims to forge synergy with Malaysia for the Philippines to enjoy a share of this market,” he added.

He said he will also be meeting with Malaysian business leaders to showcase the Philippines’ trade and investment opportunities.

“I hope that through the investment forum, round table discussions and business meetings organized by the Department of Trade and Industry, we will build new bridges between our economies and create inroads to new ventures that will see our bilateral volumes and investment increase,” he said.

He will also meet the Filipino community in Kuala Lumpur “to personally show the nation’s care and protection and reassure them that the government is continuously working to ensure their safety and wellbeing.”

“It is also my belief that through investments we bring in from foreign visit, soon our kababayans (countrymen) will no longer be forced to work abroad but will have a choice to come home and find suitable works in the Philippines so that they maybe be reunited with their families,” he said.

“I am optimistic that this state visit will nurture the foundation of revitalized and stronger Philippines-Malaysia cooperation ahead of celebration of our six decades of formal diplomatic relations in 2024,” he added.

Marcos was accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, key Cabinet officials, the country’s economic team and a business delegation.

Malaysia is ranked as the Philippines’ 10th trading partner and 22nd source of approved investments in 2022.

It also ranks 20th in terms of source of tourist arrivals in 2023. (PNA)

MANILA – Five personnel of the Philippine National Police-Health Service (PNP-HS) would face administrative and criminal charges for alleged irregularities in the issuance of psychiatric and psychological examination results for applicants of license to own and possess firearms (LTOPF).

In a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Tuesday, Civil Security Group (CSG) chief Brig. Gen. Benjamin Silo Jr. said the five personnel — a police major, three non-commissioned officers and a non-uniformed employee — would be charged with grave irregularity in the performance of duty, conduct unbecoming of a police officer and grave misconduct before the Internal Affairs Service for manipulating the results of the psychiatric and psychological examinations from August 2022 to February this year.

“We already identified the persons responsible for these irregularities and right now we are filing admin and criminal cases against them before the Office of the Ombudsman. We recommended they should be placed on floating status and right now we already deactivated their accounts,” Silo told reporters.

He added they will also be charged for graft and corruption and violation of Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business law before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Silo said 377 applicants who were supposed to get a failing grade “passed” the psychiatric and psychological examinations.

He said the CSG has already revoked the licenses of the applicants.

“Out of the 377, [a total of] 64 had a non-appearance while the remaining 313 actually failed but their test results were manipulated. This was found through an investigation of our computer system and the help of our IT (information technology) experts. We also secured the testimonies of clients being victimized by this group,” said Silo.

Citing the affidavits of some applicants, Silo said some of them paid PHP30,000 to PHP35,000 for the falsified result.

The processing fee for the LTOPF only costs around PHP2,180.

“Well hindi na natin tingnan ‘yung kinikita nung mga luko-luko na ito. Tingnan lang natin ‘yung epekto sa publiko. Kung ang makahawak ng baril (let’s not look at the income of these crooks anymore. Let’s just look at the impact on the public. If the one who holds a gun) is psychotic, imagine the danger it can give to the public. Imagine if the one holding firearms is [an] addict, you know how big the possible effect of this to the society,” said Silo.

“Right now, we include them in the investigation but as part of our initial response, and actions, we revoked their licenses and firearm registration The board will study it if there are reasons to disqualify them. By all means, we will do it,” he added.

The CSG has started the crackdown on fraudulent means of securing LTOPF and firearms registration as part of the measures to ensure that only qualified people would be allowed to own guns.

It started from an operation in Rizal province where they found a gun owner who was able to secure firearms permit through fraudulent means.

Silo said a thorough probe is underway to identify other police officers who may be involved in the scheme and to determine how long it has been going on. (PNA)

MANILA – The House of Representatives will do all it can to help President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wage war against the smuggling and hoarding of rice and other agricultural products, Speaker Martin Romualdez said Tuesday.

In a statement, Romualdez said the House shares the President’s anger and frustration and will redouble its efforts to stop the smuggling and hoarding of rice, sugar, onions, garlic, and vegetables, which harm farmers’ competitiveness and disrupt the agricultural value chain.

“Kami sa Kongreso ay tutulong sa Pangulo para mapigilan ang pagtaas ng presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin. Lahat ng kaya naming gawin ay ibubuhos namin sa misyong ito (We in Congress will help the President in preventing price increases of basic commodities. We will exert all efforts in this mission),” he said.

He vowed that the House, as part of its oversight function, would also continue to monitor consumer prices, especially of staples, to protect the Filipino people from price manipulation, unreasonable price increases, and other practices in restraint of trade that hamper competition.

Early this year, the House Committee on Agriculture conducted an inquiry into the high prices of onions, which had jumped to as much as PHP600 a kilo.

The committee uncovered evidence pointing to the existence of a cartel behind the surge in prices in 2022 and this year.

“We shall safeguard the interests of our farmers and our people in general, ensure equitable market conditions, and foster sustainable farming methods to guarantee our nation’s food security. We will not shirk from our duty to help our people,” Romualdez said.

He also called on all concerned government agencies and banks to assist farmers in obtaining technology, equipment, inputs and funding to improve their harvest and boost the supply of agricultural products.

“Needless to say, if there is sufficient supply, it would not be profitable for traders to resort to hoarding and similar anti-competitive activities,” he said.

During his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, Marcos vented his anger at smugglers, hoarders and price manipulators of agricultural products.

“Hinahabol at ihahabla natin sila. Sadyang hindi maganda ang kanilang gawain at hindi rin ito tugma sa ating magandang layunin (We are pursuing them, and we will charge them. Their activities are truly nefarious and does not align with our noble objectives),” he said.

“Pandaraya ang kanilang ginagawa. Napapahamak, hindi lamang ang mga magsasaka, kundi tayo rin na mamimimili. Kaya hindi natin papayagan ang ganitong kalakaran…Bilang na ang mga araw ng mga smuggler at hoarder na yan (They are committing fraud. Not only do the farmers suffer, but also us consumers. That is why we will not permit such practice. The days of these smugglers and hoarders are numbered),” Marcos said. (PNA)

ANKARA – Twitter on Monday officially replaced its signature blue bird logo with a white X on a black background as part of a rebranding effort.

Twitter owner Elon Musk tweeted an image of the new X branding beamed onto the side of the social media company’s headquarters in San Francisco, saying: “X.com now points to Twitter.com.”

“X is here! Let’s do this,” Twitter’s CEO Linda Yaccarino tweeted.

On late Saturday, Musk invited his followers to suggest an X logo and on Sunday chose one of the designs. (Anadolu)