A larger and calmer legislature looms
By 7.30pm, the turnout rate increased to just under 26.5 percent - far lower than the two previous direct elections. Was it really true that the number of voters turning out for the exercise didn't matter? If so, the government would not have committed so many public resources to encourage voters to cast their ballots. Looking forward, it can be confidently anticipated that government policies will be able to sail through the remixed legislature free of incidents. Public capital projects will also win funding for timely launch according to their timetables - and government efficiency may also improve.
Source:The Standard
December 20, 2021 01:15 UTC
Rai looms large after Philippine havoc
Erin Chan and Agence France-PresseThe Observatory is considering hoisting the standby strong wind signal today, which if hoisted, will be the first typhoon warning to be issued in December in 47 years. "Depending on the intensity and track of Rai, the Observatory will consider the necessity of issuing a tropical cyclone warning signal tomorrow," a spokesman said yesterday. "On Tuesday, Rai will weaken into a tropical storm with the maximum gust near the tropical storm's center reaching 75km per hour." He added that the tropical storm would further weaken into a tropical depression as it is expected to move north toward the Guangdong coast before heading to the Pratas Island on Wednesday. The danger posed by Rai emerged yesterday after more than100 people in the Philippines were reported killed by Rai's battering.
Source:The Standard
December 20, 2021 01:15 UTC
Netherlands starts ‘painful’ Christmas coronavirus lockdown
AMSTERDAM — Shopping streets in the Netherlands were closed and people’s Christmas plans were in disarray as the country began a lockdown on Sunday aimed at limiting an expected COVID-19 surge caused by the rise of the Omicron variant. ADVERTISEMENTThe news came as a shock to many Dutch people as they headed into the Christmas and New Year period. “Closing all bars and restaurants in such an important month is incredibly painful and dramatic. Coronavirus infections in the Netherlands have dropped from record levels in recent weeks after a night-time lockdown was put in place late last month. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy PolicyFor more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
December 19, 2021 22:34 UTC
Threat of Omicron looms over Christmas holidays in Europe, US
LONDON — The Netherlands went into lockdown on Sunday and the possibility of more COVID-19 restrictions over the Christmas and New Year period loomed over several European countries as the Omicron coronavirus variant spreads quickly. In the United States, White House medical adviser Anthony Fauci urged people traveling over the holidays to get booster shots and always wear masks in crowded public spaces. ADVERTISEMENTHe described Omicron as “raging through the world,” and said traveling will increase the risk of infection even among vaccinated people. Dutch urban centers were largely deserted as the country began a snap lockdown that left people’s Christmas plans in disarray. Britain reported a surge in cases of Omicron on Saturday, with 25,000 recorded so far.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
December 19, 2021 22:07 UTC
Physical classes key to schools' recovery
PRIVATE educational institutions are counting on the resumption of face-to-face classes to recover from losses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. "What we want to address is the seamless transition to face-to-face classes, without too much regulation to help schools easily adapt. He added that economic recovery will benefit private schools. DepEd added that it has also seen more students transferring to private schools at more than 612,000, compared to the 305,000 learners who chose to enroll from private to public schools. Whereas there was greater migration from private to public schools last year, this year there was a net migration from public to private schools," the Education department said in a statement.
Source:Manila Times
December 19, 2021 22:07 UTC
Dutch streets deserted as snap Christmas COVID-19 lockdown starts
AMSTERDAM — Dutch urban centers were largely deserted on Sunday as the country began a snap lockdown that, aimed at stemming an expected COVID-19 surge caused by the fast-spreading Omicron variant, left people’s Christmas plans in disarray. Several people were held as fireworks and bottles were thrown at police and at the Ajax team bus, news agency ANP said. Spectators have been barred from Dutch sporting events since the end of November. Dutch coronavirus infections have dropped from record levels after a night-time lockdown came into force last month. But Omicron cases are increasing rapidly and the variant is expected to become dominant before the end of the year.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
December 19, 2021 21:39 UTC
Rai kills more than 100 in Philippines
Houses damaged by typhoon Rai are seen, in Surigao del Norte province, Philippines, December 18, 2021. More than 300,000 people fled their homes and beachfront resorts as Typhoon Rai ravaged the southern and central regions of the archipelago. Rai smashed into the country Thursday as a super typhoon packing wind speeds of 195 kilometers per hour. There has also been widespread destruction on Siargao, Dinagat and Mindanao islands, which bore the brunt of Rai when it slammed into the Philippines. Rai hit the Philippines late in the typhoon season -- most cyclones typically develop between July and October.
Source:The Standard
December 19, 2021 20:34 UTC
4 provinces still without power – NGCP
We are requesting particularly the National Electrification Administration (NEA), National Power Corp. (Napocor) to finalize timelines for the full restoration. The DOE official stressed that communication is a big hurdle in the power restoration efforts. To help reach power stakeholders in affected areas, Marasigan urged power industry players to directly coordinate with military personnel, who have other means of communication. As of yesterday, 32 ECs have already resumed normal operations while 10 ECs have started partial power services, but 19 ECs are still without power. In Cebu, Aboitiz Power Corp. mobilized a team to energize its oil-fired power plant in the heart of Cebu City, operated and managed by subsidiary Cebu Private Power Corp. (CPPC).
Source:Philippine Star
December 19, 2021 19:19 UTC
Fil-Canadian is the latest winner of 'Survivor'
Fil-Canadian is the latest winner of 'Survivor'Erika Casupunan was crowned the winner of the 41st season of the American reality competition show "Survivor". MANILA, Philippines — Filipino-Canadian Erika Casupanan was crowned the winner of the 41st season of the American reality competition show "Survivor," becoming the first Filipino and Canadian to become the "sole survivor." She is also the first female "Survivor" winner since Season 34 "Game Changers'" Sarah Lacina in 2017. "I don't care what you look like, sound like, where you're from, your background, what you believe in... you can win the game. "Survivor" is an American reality competition series where contestants must live in the wilderness, win challenges, navigate social politics through alliances and voting people out in order to become the "sole survivor."
Source:Philippine Star
December 19, 2021 19:01 UTC
WKA PH kickboxers display prowess in online tourney
PROMOTING kickboxing at the grassroots level, the World Kickboxing Association Philippines (WKA PH) held its second Online Kickboxing Form and Shadow Kickboxing Championship last December 12. Jocelyn Joy Ross of RSRFMAA and Joanna Rose Cid of Tabaco City, Albay got one bronze each. Cris Dianne Casino of RSRFMAA took the silver, while Ryl Ann Palma of Calabanga Consolidated Martial Arts Inc. bagged the bronze. Arvie Jean Boqueo, also of Tabaco City, Albay, and Richien Mae Ganob of Yaw Yan Ardigma Siquijor took a bronze each. Jade Arvin Almonte of Tabaco City, Albay won the silver, while James Euri Austria of RSRFMAA and Alphon Mapusao of Tabaco City, Albay each took a bronze.
Source:Manila Times
December 19, 2021 16:41 UTC
Lakers' Davis out at least 4 weeks
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis holds his leg after falling in the third quarter of an NBA basketball game with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021 (December 18 in Manila) in Minneapolis. AP PHOTOLOS ANGELES: Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis will be out for at least four weeks after spraining a ligament in his left knee. The Lakers announced the latest major setback Saturday (Sunday in Manila) for Davis, the eight-time All-Star with a lengthy injury history, particularly since moving to Los Angeles in 2019. Davis had missed only three of the Lakers' first 30 games due to injury this season. Davis played in 62 games in his first season with the Lakers before they won their 17th championship in the Florida bubble.
Source:Manila Times
December 19, 2021 16:41 UTC
Light Rail collided with private car in Tuen Mun
Light Rail collided with private car in Tuen Mun. Previous NextA Light Rail train on route 507 to Tin King hit a private car near Siu Hei Station in Tuen Mun at around 12.20pm on Sunday. As a result of the accident, Light Rail lines 507, 614 and 614P heading to Tuen Mun Ferry Pier terminated at Sam Shing. At around 1.20pm, the MTR announced that the accident site has been cleared and that Light Rail service is gradually resuming. MTRCL said it has looked into CCTV records and found that the light rail driver had followed the traffic lights.
Source:The Standard
December 19, 2021 11:59 UTC
Duterte’s fund shortage claim disputed
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte cannot claim that the government no longer has funds for Filipinos affected by Typhoon Odette because funds for crisis situations were already allocated in the national government’s budget, aside from funds that came from foreign loans. “How can the president claim that there’s no available budget for typhoon victims due to COVID-19 when funds for the pandemic response were preprogrammed? ADVERTISEMENTColmenares pointed out that the Philippines borrowed “trillions” for its COVID-19 response, and that funds for the pandemic were preprogrammed in the 2021 national budget. “Even without the massive borrowings, there’s still a calamity fund that spans two fiscal years, with a P20-billion budget for 2021. He suggested that the president tap the budget of his office’s intelligence fund and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) for starters.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
December 19, 2021 11:22 UTC
Gov’t having no money for ‘Odette’ victims is ‘impossible’ — Bayan Muna
MANILA, Philippines — The party-list group Bayan Muna on Saturday said it is “impossible” to think that the government does not have the funds to assist victims of Typhoon Odette, considering that the country is the biggest borrower of the World Bank. “It’s impossible to think that this administration has no more budget for aid to typhoon victims, considering that the Philippines is the World Bank’s biggest borrower,” said Bayan Muna chairperson Neri Colmenares said in a statement. The country still has a calamity fund spanning two fiscal years, with a P20 billion budget for 2021, according to Colmenares. “There are still funding sources for typhoon Odette victims, considering all the debt incurred in the past five years,” he said. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy PolicyRead Next
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
December 19, 2021 04:36 UTC
Drugged, drunk driver caught after car chase
Drugged, drunk driver caught after car chasePolice officers and Philippine Coast Guard personnel surround Onemiguel Villanueva Tan after he led them on a car chase in Manila on Friday. MANILA, Philippines — A motorist who was reported to be under the influence of both liquor and marijuana was arrested after leading police on a car chase in Manila on Friday. Onemiguel Villanueva Tan, 23, is being held by city police. When Tan rolled down his driver’s seat window, the lawmen reported smelling marijuana from within his car. Police chased Tan’s car until a vehicle carrying Philippine Coast Guard personnel helped block him near the Ayala Bridge.
Source:Philippine Star
December 19, 2021 03:49 UTC