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31 Hulio 2024, Miyerkules

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Ca fire rapidly reaches state’s top 10

By Nidz Godino

“Extreme fire conditions continue to challenge firefighters,” state agency Cal Fire said in  post on X  fire raging out of control in northern California has rapidly become among biggest ever in western US state.

So-called Park Fire burned more than 350,000 acres (142,000 hectares) as of Saturday evening, making it  seventh-largest ever recorded in California history.

Fire ,  prompted orders for more than 4,000 people to flee their homes, was burning through  largely rural, mountainous area near  city of Chico, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) north of state capital Sacramento.

Fire  was just 10 percent controlled, despite  efforts of more than 3,700 personnel with over  dozen helicopters and several planes, according to  agency update.

“Numerous firefighting air tankers from throughout  State are flying fire suppression missions as conditions allow, lower temperatures and higher humidity have reduced fire activity, ” it said while adding that fire was still spreading.

Park Fire started Wednesday near Chico, in Butte County, and within hours had devastated wide area there and in neighboring Tehama County.

Cal Fire’s latest update said 20 structures were confirmed destroyed by  fire, lowering an earlier estimate of 134.

Numbers  were expected to fluctuate as officials assess  damage on the ground.

Blaze  has generated  enormous column of dense gray smoke which has also been blown over nearby states.

Police  detained  42-year-old man on suspicion of having started  fire by pushing  burning car into ravine.

Chico is only about 15 miles from Paradise,  city devastated by  2018 fire that ranked as California’s most deadly ever, claiming 85 lives.

Explosive  growth of  Park Fire has again placed Paradise under evacuation warning, unleashing painful memories for its residents.

Experts say climate change, accelerated by human action, is leading to more extreme weather events.

In Oregon,  Durkee Fire,  started earlier this month, has consumed nearly 290,000 acres and was about 50 percent contained,  state’s wildfire response and recovery agency said.

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31 Hulio 2024, Miyerkules

Congratulations and more power FMJ!!!

Register now and vote in midterm polls

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

happy 10th Anniversary Binang City, Laguna Chapter Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Inc., Dr. Enrico San Pedro, Pastor 

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Air pollution linked to nearly 2K child deaths a day

By Nidz Godino

“These are problems we know that we can solve,” Pallavi Pant,  Health Effects Institute’s head of global health, told media nearly 2,000 children die every day from health problems linked to air pollution,  now  second biggest risk factor for early death worldwide.

Exposure to air pollution contributed to  deaths of 8.1 million people  around 12% of all fatalities- in 2021, according to the report from the US-based Health Effects Institute.

This means air pollution has overtaken tobacco use and poor diet to become second leading risk factor for early death, behind only high blood pressure, it said.

Little kids are particularly vulnerable to air pollution, and the institute partnered with  UN Children’s Fund UNICEF for its annual State of Global Air report.

Air pollution contributed to deaths of more than 700,000 children under  age of five, the report found.

More than 500,000 of those deaths were attributed to cooking indoors using dirty fuels such as coal, wood or dung, mostly in Africa and Asia.

Nearly every person in the world breathes unhealthy levels of air pollution every day,  report found.

Over 90% of the deaths were linked to tiny airborne pollutants called PM2.5,  measure 2.5 micrometres or less, it said.

Inhaling PM2.5 has been found to increase risk of lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and  range of other health problems.

Report  aimed to link  rates of such diseases with air pollution levels.

But despite  “pretty stark” figures,  report could still be underestimating air pollution’s impact, Pant said.

It did not take into account how air pollution could affect brain health, neurodegenerative diseases or what impact using solid fuels for heating could have, she explained.

Report  also found ozone pollution  expected to get worse as  world warms due to human-driven climate change  was linked to nearly 500,000 deaths in 2021.

“Increasingly, many parts of the world are seeing very short, intense episodes of air pollution,” during events such as wildfires, dust storms or extreme heat, which can drive up ozone levels, Pant said.

There are “very similar solutions” for both climate change and air pollution  particularly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, she stressed.

More can also be done about using dirty solid fuels for cooking indoors, Pant said, pointing to how China had made significant improvements in this area.

More than two billion people cook on basic stoves or over open fires indoors, inhaling  harmful smoke.

Partly due to access to cleaner cookstoves, rate of small children dying from problems linked to air pollution has fallen by more than 50% since 2000, the report said.

In May, International Energy Agency announced  $2.2 billion had been pledged by governments and companies to improve access to less deadly cooking methods.

Report  released Wednesday used data covering more than 200 countries and territories from  Global Burden of Disease study conducted by  US-based Institute For Health Metrics and Evaluation.

“Every day almost 2,000 children under five years die because of health impacts linked to air pollution, our inaction is having profound effects on the next generation, ” UNICEF’s Kitty van der Heijden said in statement.

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30 Hulio 2024, Martes

Congratulations and more power FMJ!!!

Register now and vote in midterm polls

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

happy 10th Anniversary Binang City, Laguna Chapter Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Inc., Dr. Enrico San Pedro, Pastor 

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Alice Guo still in Ph; seen in Bulacan — NBI

By J.Lo

“We were informed by our assets prior to  issuance of  warrant of arrest, there are some sightings in Bulacan,” National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Assistant Director Angelito Magno said suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo was last spotted in Bulacan, but managed to elude authorities.

During  Senate hearing on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs),  Bureau of Immigration confirmed that Guo was still in the Philippines, based on their monitoring. However, the suspended mayor was still absent from  hearing, despite  Senate’s arrest warrant.  

“However, when  team went to  possible locations of  sightings, as of now, nalaman po natin na wala naman pong nahuli or nakita po,” he stressed. 

Magno, however, said  sightings were reported before  Senate’s arrest warrant. 

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada questioned why it was taking authorities so long to search for Guo, who had become high-profile person since  POGO controversy erupted in March.  

“If you can’t arrest her within  month baka maapektuhan ang budget niyo,” Estrada threatened law enforcement agencies. 

Magno said that  NBI will do its best. 

Meanwhile, Guo’s accountant Nancy Gamo, who has been detained in  Senate for over two weeks, was also able to air their side of the story. 

According to Gamo, Guo and her family were clients. Gamo admitted that she registered  corporations owned by  Guos, including  POGOs. Gamo stressed that Guo was not  special client, and that she charged her usual rates.  

Sen. Robin Padilla moved to release Gamo. 

Sen. Risa Hontoveros,  Chair of Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, leading the hearing into POGOs, agreed with Gamo’s release. Hontiveros found that Gamo was compliant with all Senate’s queries, but noted that she should have been more curious about Guo’s dealings. 

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30 Hulio 2024, Martes

Congratulations and more power FMJ!!!

Register now and vote in midterm polls

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

happy 10th Anniversary Binang City, Laguna Chapter Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Inc., Dr. Enrico San Pedro, Pastor 

PM for any hospital discharge problem

DBM submits proposed P6.3 T budget to House

By Nidz Godino

BUDGET SECRETARY AMENAH PANGANDAMAN LEADS PRESS BRIEFING ON 2025 NATIONAL EXPENDITURE PROGRAM

“As we receive this document, we recognize  collective responsibility bestowed upon us as legislators to scrutinize, deliberate and ensure that every peso is judiciously allocated and spent,” Speaker Martin Romualdez said during ceremonial turnover of  proposed budget Department of Budget and Management formally turned over  proposed P6.352-trillion national budget for 2025 to  House of Representatives, with  P1.035-trillion allocation for local government units topping  spending priorities.

“I’m confident that with  collaborative efforts of  executive and legislative branches, we will achieve  budget that not only meets  immediate needs of our people but also sets  stage for  more prosperous and equitable Philippines,” he stressed.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said  Internal Revenue Allotment – renamed National Tax Allotment – for 2025  is “18.7 percent higher” than this year’s allocation of P871 billion.

Ranking second in spending is Climate Change Expenditures (P1.020 trillion), followed by Water Resources Program (P309.7 billion), Flood Management Program (P254.3 billion) and Convergence and Special Support Program (P221.5 billion). 

National defense program (land, air, sea) was next at P204.4 billion, Network Development Program (P140.9 billion) and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of social welfare department at P114.2 billion.

With  proposed budget being readied for discussions, Rep. Zaldy Co, chairman of the House appropriations committee, called on his colleagues to “uphold principles of transparency, accountability and fiscal responsibility throughout  budget deliberation process.”

“We must ensure  every peso is directed towards initiatives that will uplift  lives of our fellow Filipinos, improve our infrastructure, strengthen our educational and health care systems and secure our nation’s future,”  Ako Bicol party-list congressman said.

With more than two months before  deadline for  filing of  certificates of candidacy in early October,  Commission on Elections was allotted P15 billion for conduct of  May 2025 mid-term elections.

“Irrigation services” for  agriculture department was earmarked P24.6 billion, while Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Program got P10 billion…agricultural “credit program” was alloted P2.8 billion while P1.8 billion was set aside for  housing program (Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program).

Implementation of  Salary Standardization Law 6 for  1.6 million-strong government workforce was given  budget of P70 billion.

“It’s crucial that we examine each allocation meticulously to ensure most effective use of our resources,” Co said. “Road ahead is full of challenges, but with this proposed budget, we have  robust framework to guide our efforts.”

Co, president of  54-member Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc. in  House of Representatives, said 2025 budget proposal is “not merely  financial plan but  strategic roadmap aligned with  Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.” 

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30 Hulio 2024, Martes

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Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

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Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

happy 10th Anniversary Binang City, Laguna Chapter Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Inc., Dr. Enrico San Pedro, Pastor 

PM for any hospital discharge problem

SolGen asks court to oust Guo fr mayor’s post

By Nidz Godino

“Her continuous discharge of  duties, powers and responsibilities of  Office of Mayor of Bamban, Tarlac is tantamount to usurpation of such office,” Office of the Solicitor General is seeking  removal from office of suspended Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo on grounds she is  Chinese national and has misrepresented herself as  Filipino citizen “to advance her fraudulent schemes.”

OSG on July 29 filed  quo warranto petition against Guo before  Manila regional trial court, asking it to declare Guo’s proclamation as Bamban mayor null and void and for her to be ousted from post.

OSG also asked  court to declare Guo as ineligible to hold  office of the mayor of Bamban and to declare her to have committed acts that warrant her forfeiture.

In its 45-page petition,  OSG argued that Guo, named in the petition as Guo Hua Ping a.k.a Alice Leal Guo, is not  true Filipino citizen and is thus ineligible to be voted for and elected as Bamban mayor.

OSG also cited various government records stating that Guo is Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, who is  daughter of two Chinese citizens, Lin Wenyi and Guo Jian Zhong.

Guo Hua Ping is  holder of  Chinese passport and was born on Aug. 31, 1990 in Fujian, China,  OSG stressed.

“There is no credible official record or document establishing that respondent Guo Hua Ping is  citizen of the Philippines, either by birth or by naturalization,” it said.

In early July,  OSG filed  petition before Tarlac trial court seeking to cancel Guo’s birth certificate on grounds of her failure to comply with  legal requirements of late birth registration.

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra  said  hearing on petition is set on Sept. 18.

Team  from  Commission on Elections (Comelec) is going to Tarlac today to check on record of Mayor Guo. “We’ll proceed to Mabalacat and Bamban,” Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiango said, adding scheduled visit of Comelec officials to Tarlac was deferred for  few days because of  typhoon.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia previously  would be going to  Comelec office in Tarlac to personally check  record of Guo there.

They would look into  signature and fingerprints Guo that was submitted to  Comelec when she registered as  voter and when she filed her certificate of candidacy.

National Bureau of Investigation director Jaime Santiago said  manhunt to locate Guo is being conducted by NBI agents from Region 3 and by  intelligence unit from  NBI’s headquarters.

“We have  ongoing manhunt operation, our men are doing their best,” Santiago said in response to Senate Pro Tempore Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s plea to  NBI and  Philippine National Police to arrest Guo.

Estrada has given law enforcers two more weeks to arrest Guo, warning that their 2025 budgets could be affected if she is not apprehended.

The senator noted that Senate issued  arrest order against Guo on July 11, but she remains at large.  NBI reported to  Senate that Guo was seen in Bulacan before her arrest order was issued.

During  Senate investigation into raided Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hubs, NBI assistant director Angelito Magno said  although there were sightings,  team found no trace of Guo at the locations.

NBI Cybercrime Group is trying to locate Guo’s IP address after she posted statements on Facebook.

Col. Jun Mark Lagare from  PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said  tracker team has been assigned to find Guo, but no updates have been provided to  Senate committee.

Having families in the Philippines does not exempt foreign workers employed at POGOs and internet gaming licenses (IGL) from leaving the country, Bureau of Immigration said.

BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said these foreign workers cannot change  status of their stay in the country that would entitle them to extend their stay in the Philippines.

“This is the limitation of their stay here…since  operations of their companies have been downgraded, they would have to leave the country…they could no longer extend further, they could no longer convert it to any other type of visa,” Sandoval said .

At present, POGO and IGL workers are holders of working visas. “As of now, we do not have room for any adjustments in the procedure…they would have to leave the country,” she said.

In his third SONA on July 22, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.ordered POGOs to be banned and gave them until  end of the year to wind down operations.

Senate investigation on POGOs could not be terminated yet unless those responsible for heinous torture operations are identified, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said  during  continuation of  Senate hearing on alleged scamming and human trafficking in  Clark POGOs.

“To be honest, I want to close this hearing but we can’t close this hearing when we haven’t fully determined who is responsible for these heinous operations that brought torture to our countrymen,” Hontiveros noted.

She  received information that POGOs are leaving the country and moving to Cambodia after operating in the country for several years.

For Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, Guo, who snubbed  Senate hearing for third time, should be slapped with charges of disobedience to summons issued by Congress.

Apart from Guo,  Senate has also ordered  arrest of Siemen Guo, Wesley Guo, Sheila Guo, the supposed mother Wen Yi Lin and Dennis Cunanan after they failed to appear in the Senate investigation related to the illegal POGO in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac in Pampanga.

Nancy Gamo, alleged accountant of Guo, was ordered released from Senate custody after she cooperated in yesterday’s resumption of  Senate investigation on illegal POGOs. She spent over two weeks in Senate custody after her arrest at her Caloocan home on July 13.

Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque was reminded to mind his manners during  Senate probe on his alleged links to illegal POGOs.

Roque attended  resumption of the Senate probe in  defiant mood, presenting documents to show that he did not lawyer for  raided POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga, Lucky South 99.

Roque maintained he merely served as counsel for Whirlwind Corp., owned property where Lucky South 99 is located.

He talked over Hontiveros’ questioning as he reminded Senate committee of its own rules about presenting allegations without evidence and witnesses.

Roque also accused Hontiveros of “insinuating” that he lawyered for illegal POGO and of interrupting him in his testimonies during hearing.

“I am invited resource person… I do not understand that whenever I am asked to answer, I will be asked to stop in my testimony… I thought we were engaged in  search for the truth?” Roque said.

This prompted Hontiveros and Gatchalian to remind him that he could be cited in contempt for being disrespectful in schooling senators about their jobs.

“Attorney, please stop using that offensive word ‘insinuating…’ I am  very plain speaker. you don’t need to tell  committee what  rules of the Senate are…it is not necessary,” Hontiveros said.

“Please be reminded to respect the chairperson,” Gatchalian said, to which Roque answered: “I am very respectful.”

“Is that respectful, that you are talking over the chairperson as she is speaking…one more, and I will cite you in contempt…do not talk over  presiding chairperson,” Gatchalian said.

Roque apologized for his actions and was spared from being ordered to spend  night in Senate detention.

During hearing, he also denied owning  house in Benguet where two foreign POGO employees were apprehended over the weekend. Two are suspected to be Chinese fugitives wanted for criminal activities in China.

But Roque  owned some shares in  company linked to  firm that owns  house. He also admitted staying in the house in the past.

iskup news-on-line daily

30 Hulio 2024, Martes

Congratulations and more power FMJ!!!

Register now and vote in midterm polls

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

happy 10th Anniversary Binang City, Laguna Chapter Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Inc., Dr. Enrico San Pedro, Pastor 

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Ph retains 52nd  spot in world competitiveness

By Nidz Godino

Improved  three spots in terms of governance in  2024 World Competitiveness Report made  Philippines remain at 52nd place out of 67 economies in overall competitiveness.

Following  release of report by Swiss-based International Institute for Management Development (IMD),  Marcos administration renewed its commitment to streamline and digitalize government services to make  country more competitive and business-friendly.

Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) made  pronouncement as  Philippines climbed three spots in the area of “government efficiency” to 49th from 52nd last year.

IMD’s World Competitiveness Ranking for 2024, released last month, showed  Philippines placing 52nd out of 67 economies,  same ranking in the previous year.

In terms of economic performance,  Philippines remained in 40th spot.

As for business efficiency,  Philippines’ ranking dropped to 43rd place this year from previous year’s 40th.

In infrastructure,  Philippines fell to 61st place this year from 58th last year.

IMD ranks economies using perceptions of executives with statistical data, based on criteria grouped into four factors: economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency and infrastructure.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.has called on government agencies and local government units (LGUs) to promote “ease of doing business to attract investments in the country.”

Last week, ARTA Undersecretary Geneses Abot said President Marcos aims to limit LGU processing of permits to 10 minutes.

Digitalization and wider connectivity are among  Marcos administration’s priority programs.

iskup news-on-line daily

30 Hulio 2024, Martes

Congratulations and more power FMJ!!!

Register now and vote in midterm polls

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

happy 10th Anniversary Binang City, Laguna Chapter Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Inc., Dr. Enrico San Pedro, Pastor 

PM for any hospital discharge problem

HEADLINES

98% of schools opens classes

By Creselda Canda-Lopez

“Opening of classes is OK, but I’m saddened that  opening of classes had to be postponed in some areas…but we understand that because rains were still heavy earlier,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara told reporters during his visit to Carmona National High School despite recent widespread damage caused by Typhoon Carina and  monsoon, nearly all schools across the country opened their doors to students  for  beginning of school year 2024-2025.

Angara went to several schools in Calabarzon, one of the areas severely hit by flooding last week, to check  situation on the ground as schools reopened.

Angara was initially scheduled to visit Biñan Central Elementary School in Laguna, but classes in the school were suspended due to heavy rain.

Data released  showed  841 schools nationwide postponed  opening of classes, representing two percent of total number of schools nationwide.

Of the number, 452 are in Central Luzon, 225 in Metro Manila, 95 in Ilocos Region, 66 in Calabarzon and three in Soccsksargen.

Figure  represents about 803,824 students.

Total  of 20,598,072 students have enrolled for SY 2024-2025.

“Number of schools that deferred  opening of classes is small… about two percent of  total number in the whole country, so it means about 98 percent of schools opened today,” Angara said.

Many groups have been urging Department of Education and local chief executives to consider  week’s postponement to give families more time to address their problems and provide  DepEd  opportunity to thoroughly prepare.

With hundreds of thousands of students missing classes, Angara said schools that suspended classes may have to conduct make-up classes on weekend to allow students in affected areas to cope with lost classroom instruction time.

“That’s usually what’s done, right…if you miss  weekday, weekend will be used to make up,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, the education chief said  DepEd has access to P2 billion to P3 billion in calamity funds that could be used to repair and rehabilitate damaged classrooms.

DepEd estimated  total cost of repairs and rehabilitation of damaged school infrastructure at P630 million.

For its part, Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) urged Angara to address  lack of classrooms, facilities, books, water, sanitation and  needs of teaching and non-teaching personnel.

“As in the past, our schools will continue to face numerous problems stemming from decades-long neglect…these include  lack of classrooms and other facilities, books and other instructional materials, water and sanitation facilities and  pressing need for teaching and non-teaching personnel and support staff, these issues come to light particularly at the start of classes, yet teachers and students grapple with  negative consequences daily…our teachers’ resilience, patience and perseverance supplement these shortages, exacerbated by various calamities  hit  country annually,”  TDC said.

TDC  urged Angara to invest in teachers’ welfare to improve education.

“Ensuring that teachers are satisfied and fulfilled in their chosen profession is essential…our educators should be proud to be public school teachers: motivated, energetic, highly productive, responsible and well-trained… Philippine Constitution mandates adequate remuneration, including just compensation, benefits, incentives and state care, can readily achieve this ideal status, invest in teachers to improve education, and everything else will follow,” TDC said.

Five schools in the City of Manila will reopen classes today,  day after  scheduled start of  new school year.

Opening  of classes was delayed by a day at Lakandula Elementary School, Calderon High School, Tondo High School, V. Mapa High School and Cayetano Arellano High School, according to Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan.

Delay  “allowed additional time for cleanup due to  typhoon’s impact,” she said, referring to  torrential rains caused by Carina.

Meanwhile, Lacuna-Pangan and Manila Vice Mayor Yul Servo Nieto visited Elpidio Quirino High School in Sta. Mesa, as well as the new buildings of  Rosauro Almario Elementary School in Tondo and  Dr. Albert Elementary School in Sampaloc.

They led  distribution of school supplies such as notebooks to pupils of the two elementary schools.

Lacuna-Pangan also appealed to  pupils of the two elementary schools to take care of their new school buildings.

In Pampanga, more than 50 public and private schools did not have classes yesterday due to flooding.

Local  government of Macabebe and Minalin declared suspension of classes in all levels in both public and private schools due to flooding in the area, according to Pampanga Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).

Nine schools in San Simon town, six in Apalit, six in Sto. Tomas, four in Masantol and one in Bacolor also postponed classes yesterday.

PDRRMC said that as of Sunday, some 1,179 families were still in various evacuation centers and at least 157 barangays in the province are still flooded. 

In La Union, 14 of 19 towns suspended  opening of classes yesterday due to continuous heavy rains brought by  southwest monsoon.

Local officials declared  suspension of classes in all levels in both public and private schools as  precautionary measure.

Towns that canceled classes were Agoo, Balaoan, Bacnotan, Sudipen, Bauang, San Juan, Bangar, Tubao, Sto. Tomas, Bagulin, Aringay, Caba, Luna and San Gabriel, according to  La Union provincial information office.

Total  of 63 public elementary and high schools from these municipalities have decided to open classes on Aug. 5.

School officials said  cancellation would also ensure  readiness and safety of students and teachers. 

Approximately 33,286 police personnel have been deployed throughout the country to ensure  orderly start of SY 2024-2025,  Philippine National Police said.

To address safety concerns and provide immediate assistance, Police Assistance Desks (PADs) will be established in schools, according to  PNP.

In addition, extensive foot and mobile patrols will be conducted around school premises to deter criminal activities and ensure prompt responses to any incidents.

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil encouraged  public to cooperate and report any suspicious activity to  nearest PAD or local authorities.

PNP assured  public that  police force is committed to closely monitoring areas in the country that postponed  opening of classes yesterday and providing necessary assistance to affected communities. 

In Quezon City, QC Police District (QCPD) deployed at least 886 cops and 757 force multipliers as new school year started yesterday.

Among  757 force multipliers are barangay peacekeeping action teams, barangay tanods, traffic enforcers and security guards who have been deployed to schools across the city, according to  QCPD.

About 117 PADs will be established to enhance response capabilities.

Quezon City reported  143 schools opened their classes yesterday, while 15 schools will deferred  their opening due to  flooding experienced in Metro Manila last July 24.

QCPD said  initiative aims to provide  visible police presence in educational institutions, transportation hubs and areas of convergence.

It focuses on preventing and addressing crime incidents may impact students, teachers and parents.

QCPD director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan assured  public that every school in Quezon City would open their classes safely.

Maranan stressed  Oplan Balik-Eskwela would not only look after schools, but also help schools affected by Carina in their recovery.

In Central Luzon, some 1,000 policemen were deployed in various public and private schools across the region during  opening of classes yesterday.

Central Luzon Police director Brig. Gen. Jose Hidalgo Jr. said  deployment of policemen would provide  utmost assistance among students, particularly public safety and police visibility in schools, colleges, universities and nearby areas that are most likely to be  chosen targets of criminal elements.

Hidalgo stressed guidelines had been established in accordance with “Ligtas Balik-Eskwela 2024,”  directive from the national headquarters that is conducted annually.

PADs, manned by a team with police commissioned officer as its leader, will be established in schools and other learning institutions to pre-empt problems and respond for any eventuality.

“I instructed all field officers in the region to personally visit  different schools and coordinate with school officials in order to deter lawless elements from doing illegal activities such as hold-up, pickpocketing, snatching, drug pushing and even kidnapping of hapless students,” Hidalgo said.

Additionally, police are working hand in hand with traffic auxiliaries in traffic control. 

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29 Hulio 2024, Lunes

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PM for any hospital discharge problem

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ opens to ‘spectacular’ $205 M

By Cynthia Montojo

“Numbers are fantastic, these characters’ popularity is growing, not slowing,”” David  Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research said new Disney/Marvel comedy “Deadpool & Wolverine” scored  “spectacular” opening in North American theaters this weekend, its huge take of $205 million placing it not just near  top of superhero films but marking  eighth-biggest opening ever, analysts said.

Film  is enjoying positive reviews and “excellent” audience scores, Gross said.  Popularity  of Ryan Reynolds (who plays Deadpool and shares  writing credit), and his real-life pal Hugh Jackman (Wolverine) didn’t hurt, either.

Debut  ranks just ahead of 2018’s “Black Panther,”  opened to $202 million, and just behind “Jurassic World” ($208 million in 2015), according to Variety. International ticket sales are already  stunning $233.3 million.

Its opening was also  best ever for an R-rated film (not inflation-adjusted), far surpassing  previous record holder,  first “Deadpool” ($133.7 million), according to  Hollywood Reporter.

That left last weekend’s top film, Universal’s weather thriller “Twisters,” twisting in the dust, with what normally would be  respectable take of $35.3 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported.

Stand-alone follow-up to 1996’s popular “Twister” has Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones playing risk-taking storm chasers caught in the middle of fast-converging tornadoes.

In third for  Friday-through-Sunday period was Universal’s animated comedy “Despicable Me 4,” earning $14.2 million in its fourth weekend out. It has total ticket sales so far of $291.0 million in North America.

Slipping one spot to fourth place was Disney and Pixar’s coming-of-age animation “Inside Out 2,” at $8.3 million.

Also down one spot was horror mystery “Longlegs” at $6.8 million. Nicolas Cage stars in the film, the all-time top grosser from indie studio Neon.

Rounding out  top 10 were:

“A Quiet Place: Day One” ($3.0 million)

“Bad Boys: Ride or Die” ($1.3 million)

“The Fabulous Four” ($1.0 million)

“Fly Me to the Moon” ($750,000)

“Raayan” ($375,000)