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Archive for September, 2006

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Mayon 2006 assessment up at RDCC meet

Posted by Michille on 26th September 2006

Mayon 2006 assessment up at RDCC meet – PIA!

by EA Nunez

Legazpi City (26 September) — The Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) in Bicol, headed by Police Chief Sup’t Victor B. Boco, PNP Bicol regional director, has scheduled a meeting on Wednesday, September 27, that will focus on the general assessment of the conduct of Mayon 2006 operation after Mayon Volcano’s quiet eruption since July 14 this year affecting some 43,000 residents of barangays located within and near the 6-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ).

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Bicol regional director Arnel Capili, RDCC5 executive officer, said that the Mayon 2006 operation general assessment will include the post eruption reports to be submitted by the Albay provincial disaster coordinating council (PDCC) headed by Governor Fernando V. Gonzalez, and the agency stakeholders particularly the DSWD, DOH and the DPWH, and other agency/members of Task Force Mayon.

The Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (PSEMO) headed by Cedric Daep will also present the rehabilitation requirements from the Mayon evacuees. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) meanwhile has warned of a possible resurgence of the eruptive activities of Mt. Mayon even as some 43,000 evacuees in the province of Albay returned to their homes since Monday, September 18.

Ed Laguerta, senior resident scientist at the Phivolcs Lignon Hill observatory here, said that in the last two weeks Mt. Mayon consistently manifested, on a daily basis, decreasing signs of eruptive activities, enough reason to lower the alert level from number 4 down to three.

Laguerta cautioned however, that it is not safe to assume that the eruption is over now, or in the next few days.

He said that it is the characteristics of Mt. Mayon and other active volcanoes undergoing eruptions that a sudden heightened resurgence of eruptive activities, including an explosive one, might yet be expected.

Alert level number 3 remains in effect over Mt. Mayon, meaning it is still at an elevated state of unrest.

Phivolcs reminds the public to keep off the prevailing Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) which is 7 kilometers from the summit crater covering the southeast sector and the normal 6-kilometer radius permanent danger zone (PDZ) in all other areas around the volcano.

The evacuees who live near, or farm the areas within, the EDZ and the PDZ were cautioned to be on a constant state of alert and ready to leave in an emergency until the alert level on the volcano shall have been lifted.

The Albay Provincial Disaster Management Office, said that all of the 43,000 evacuees had been safely returned to their homes. There were no casualties, either directly or indirectly, related to the recent volcanic unrest, to attain anew the goal of zero casualty in the operations. (PIA)

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DepEd joins list of best agencies in anti-corruption drive

Posted by Michille on 26th September 2006

DepEd joins list of best agencies in anti-corruption drive – PIA!

Pasig City (26 September) — The Presidential Anti-Graft Commision (PAGC) has ranked the Department of Education (DepEd) among the top ten government agencies with the highest anti-corruption compliance rate.

Based on the Integrity Development and Action Plan (IDAP) being implemented by the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC), the department ranked seventh most compliant among 70 government agencies for the first semester of 2006. The IDAP was adopted as the national anti-corruption framework for the executive branch, which was crafted during the Presidential Anti-Corruption Workshop spearheaded by PAGC in December 2004.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus welcomed the announcement, saying that it is a reflection of the department’s continuing efforts to eradicate graft and corruption within the department.

“This is a testament to the many efforts that the department has been doing to improve its performance, including the management of its finances and its ability to safeguard our limited resources from the evils of graft and corruption,” Lapus said. “We have been working hard with other agencies, including the PAGC and the Office of the Ombudsman, so that we can further improve our performance insofar as reducing graft and corruption is concerned.”

He also added that the department remains steadfast in their commitment to the Sama-samang Pagkilos Laban sa Korupsyon Para sa Kabataan (SAPAK), the department’s joint anti-corruption project with the Office of the Ombudman.

Launched in June of this year, SAPAK is geared towards the improved and efficient investigation of graft and corruption cases. This is done by consolidating the efforts of the aforementioned agencies, as well as by establishing a quick response mechanism for reports of such cases.

“Aside from the fact that we have the largest bureaucracy in government, we also put much value in our role as educators of our young,” Lapus added. “As such, the virtues of honesty and integrity are important to us, and so is our ability to teach these values by example.” (DepEd)

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Mayuga stays as Navy chief, say Esperon, Malacañang

Posted by Michille on 26th September 2006

Mayuga stays as Navy chief, say Esperon, Malaca̱ang РThe Daily Tribune!


Vice Adm. Mateo Mayuga will stay on as Philippine Navy chief until he retires in December this year, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. was quoted yesterday as saying by the government-run Philippine News Agency.Esperon made this categorical statement to quell reports that Mayuga had been replaced by Western Command chief Vice Adm. Tirso Danga, the appointment being supposedly the result of Speaker Jose de Venecia lobbying Malacañang for the top Navy post for his former intelligence aide.

Before the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap) also yesterday, De Venecia neither confirmed nor denied putting in a good word with President Arroyo for his alleged protege Danga.

An aide of the Speaker said De Venecia had told Focap that he “lobbied” for both Mayuga and Danga when the position was still vacant.

Mayuga will retire on Dec. 9 when he turns 56, the mandatory retirement age for the members of the military.

“Admiral Mayuga stays on as the Flag-Officer-in-Command until December… (he) is doing well in the Navy,” Esperon said during ng arrival honors for him and 16 other newly-promoted generals and flag officers in Camp Aguinaldo, the AFP Headquarters in Quezon City. (See related story)

Under the law, a military officer cannot be promoted to become the commander of the Navy and the other major service commands if he has less than a year left in the service.

Danga celebrated his 55th birthday last Sunday.

“Let’s just be satisfied with the fact that no turnover occurred today or yesterday. How would we call that, humor or rumor? That’s their kind of humor probably,” the AFP chief added, referring to the false text messages that circulated over the weekend on Danga supposedly taking over the Navy.

Asked if the military leadership did not consider Danga to be the chief of the Navy, which also supervises the Marine Corps, Esperon said, “Admiral Mayuga is still up for retirement… in December.”

He later hinted that Danga is no longer qualified to be Navy chief.

“Anybody who assumes command of a major service – Army, Navy, Air Force – must have one year minimum to become the full commander,” Esperon pointed out.

“He has less than a year left (in the service). He cannot become the full pledge FOIC (flag officer-in-command of the Navy), he can be acting (Navy chief) but that’s again something else,” the military chief said of Danga, a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1975.

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P2-M fire hits QC

Posted by Michille on 26th September 2006

P2-M fire hits QC – The Manila Bulletin Online!

By RICO NAVARRO

Some P2 million worth of properties were destroyed when an hour-long fire of still unknown origin gutted a residential-commercial building in Quezon City early morning yesterday.

Arson probers said that no one was killed or injured in the fire despite reaching the fourth alarm status.

Destroyed was the two-storey residential-commercial building located at Hilltop Subdivision, Lagro, Quezon City.

Arson investigators said that the fire started at around 4 a.m.

Rodel Bautista, barangay official in Lagro, said that based on the testimonies of one the building security guards, they saw a spark which was followed by a loud explosion.

Moments later, they saw thick smoke billowing from the windows of the building.

Bautista said that the fire started in one of the rooms at the second floor of the building.

Firefighters from differents sectors in Metro Manila responded to the scene.

Probers said that they are still investigating the cause of fire.

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Seven QC establishments face closure

Posted by Michille on 26th September 2006

Seven QC establishments face closure – The Manila Bulletin Online!


A Quezon City Councilor has recommended to the City Council the immediate closure of seven establishments in Quezon City for allegedly violating a city ordinance and business permits regulations.

Councilor Dante De Guzman recommended the immediate closure of Sogo Hotel branch in Novaliches; and apartelles Biyahero, Danara on Panay, Ace Apartelle in Cubao, Moco in Quirino, Kiyoti, and Kite Place.

De Guzman said that the establishments were found violating a city ordinance on short time, no business permit, violation of sanitary and health permit, failure to pay their tax, and other violation.

De Guzman gave the owners of the establishments 30 days to correct their violations or else face closure.

An interview with some of the owners of the firms who refused to be identified said that they are doing their best to prevent the closure of their establishments.

They said that they will immediately comply with the requirements to prevent any problems in the future.

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Mayon rumbles back to life again

Posted by Michille on 26th September 2006

Mayon rumbles back to life again – The Manila Bulletin Online!

Mayon volcano activities significantly increased yesterday as it posted the highest number of recorded volcanic earthquakes and tremor episodes in almost two weeks, indicating that the volcano is still on a “high level of unrest.”

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), in its bulletin yesterday, said it detected 14 volcanic earthquakes and 114 tremor episodes during its 24-hour observation period.

Yesterday’s volcanic earthquakes are the highest since Sept. 15, when the number of volcanic earthquakes only ranged from zero to 12. The highest number of volcanic earthquakes since Mayon’s alert status was lowered to Alert Level 3 was at 18 last Sept. 14.

The number of tremor episodes was at a record high of 114, considering that tremor events had already gone down from more than 100 two weeks ago to 14 last Sept. 23. Tremor episodes recorded were only at 21 the other day.

“A fair level of crater glow was observed and surface activity was characterized by intermittent extrusion of lava from the crater and rolling of incandescent lava fragments along the volcano’s slopes,” Phivolcs added.

Phivolcs said Alert Level 3 remains hoisted over Mayon as it continues to demonstrate a “high level of unrest” for the past days despite a decline in volcanic activity this month.

Meanwhile, a new tropical cyclone, the 13th for this year, entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) yesterday morning and was named “Milenyo.”

Thus, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned residents living in Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao against heavy rains due to the weather disturbance, which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

PAGASA said tropical depression “Milenyo,” which was estimated at 360 kilometers (kms) east of Eastern Samar as of 2 p.m. yesterday, has maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and is expected to move northwest at 11 kph.

Initially spotted as a low pressure area (LPA) last Sunday, Milenyo became an active low pressure area (ALPA) near Visayas before it intensified into a tropical depression.

Milenyo will be 320 kms east-northeast of Northern Samar this morning and 250 kms northeast of Catanduanes by tomorrow morning.

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