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| TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) Unlike the first days after super typhoon "Yolanda" (Haiyan) hit, more residents came out of their homes Sunday to resume everyday life. Many went to Mass while others cleaned up their surroundings, even as some prepared to watch the telecast of the boxing match between Filipino hero and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao and Brandon Rios. President Benigno Aquino III came here last week to personally oversee rehabilitation work and assure residents of government action to help the recovery. Last week saw the resumption of many businesses including banks. Police and military forces also keep watch against criminality. Tacloban City was a virtual ghost town after Yolanda battered it and other parts of the Visayas last Nov. 8. Initially, few people went out of their houses in the first few days after Yolanda struck. PND (jl) |
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Mass held for 'Yolanda' fatalities at Tacloban gravesite |
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| TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) A Mass in memory of people who lost their lives from super typhoon "Yolanda" two weeks ago was held at a gravesite here Sunday morning. Capt. Elmer Basas of the Army's 8th Infantry Division presided over the Mass at a gravesite in Barangay Suhi here. Members of Task Force Yolanda attended the Mass, where Basas blessed the uninterred remains afterward. Ruel Pedrosa, a caretaker at the site, said there may be as many as 700 remains at this site, 400 of them not yet buried. He said many go to the site to see if some of the remains there were those of their relatives Tacloban was among the areas hit hard by Yolanda, which devastated Visayas and Southern Luzon Nov. 8, and left more than 5,000 dead. PND (jl) |
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| President Benigno S. Aquino III has directed Environment Secretary Ramon Paje to devise a comprehensive environment protection program to minimize the impact of storm surges, floodings and calamities following the devastation brought by super-typhoon "Yolanda" (internationally known as Haiyan), Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr. said.
"Ang pagbulusok ng alon bunsod ng bagyo o storm surge ay nagdulot ng matinding hagupit sa mga libu-libong mamamayang naninirahan sa baybaying-dagat o coastline ng Tacloban City at sa iba pang mga bayan ng Leyte, Samar, at marami pang lugar," Coloma said in an interview aired over government-run radio station DzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday.
"Dahil dito, inatasan ni Pangulong Aquino si DENR Secretary Ramon Paje na maghanda ng komprehensibong programa ng environment protection bilang tugon sa storm surge at mga peligrong dulot ng bagyo, baha, at iba pang kalamidad," he said.
The President also directed Paje to impose a rule prohibiting building commercial and residential structures along the seashore.
"Bahagi sa kautusan ng Pangulo sa DENR ay ang pagtatakda ng mga ‘no build zone’ sa baybaying-dagat para matiyak ang paglipat ng mga dating naninirahan doon sa mga ligtas na resettlement area. Hatid ni bagyong ‘Yolanda’ ang storm surge na tila hindi ganap na napaghandaan dahil sa kakulangan ng pag-unawa at tuwirang karanasan hinggil dito," he said.
The Communications Secretary said Yolanda's destruction was no different from what typhoon Sendong (international name Washi) did to the country in late 2011.
"Hawig ito sa ating mga nakaraang karanasan nang hinampas ng bagyong ‘Sendong’ ang mga lungsod ng Iligan at Cagayan de Oro noong Disyembre 2011. Daan-daan ang nasawi dahil nakatira sila sa mga natuyong bahagi ng ilog at inland waterways na minarkahan nang danger zones batay sa siyentipikong geohazard mapping na isinagawa ng Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) ng DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources)," he said.
Coloma said typhoon "Pablo" (Bopha) also caused catastrophic damage in the Philippines. Pablo was the strongest tropical cyclone to ever hit the southern Philippine island of Mindanao in December, 2012.
"Dahil sa bagyong ‘Pablo’ na humagupit sa Davao Oriental at Compostela Valley, natutunan natin ang hinggil sa debris flow, ang malakas at mabilis na pagdaloy ng mga malalaking bato o boulder, mula sa kabundukan na nagpalala sa pagguho at paglubog ng mga komunidad na nauna nang tinukoy bilang lugar ng panganib sa landslides batay din sa geohazard mapping," he said.
"Kasama rin sa direktiba ng Pangulo sa DENR ang pagpapabalik ng mga mangrove, ang natural na proteksyon sa mga baybaying-dagat. Inihahanda na ang mga mangrove plantation at agarang sisimulan ang pagtatanim dahil mula lima hanggang pitong taon ang pagpapalaki dito," he said.
Aquino directed on Thursday to form a task group to hasten the transition of relief efforts into the full-scale rehabilitation and rebuilding of the areas damaged by Yolanda.
The task group will focus on five priorities namely , shelter and reconstruction, livelihood and employment, resettlement and psycho-social care, environmental protection, and resource generation and allocation. PND (js) |
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| The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is beefing up its emergency employment program in a bid to alleviate the plight of workers displaced by super typhoon "Yolanda" (internationally known as Haiyan), Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr. said.
"Patuloy ang pag-aagapay ng pamahalaan sa pagbabagong-tatag at pagpapanumbalik ng normal na pamumuhay ng ating mga kababayan. Puspusan ang pagpapatupad ng DOLE ng emergency employment program upang bigyan ng pansamantalang pagkakakitaan ang ating mga kababayan,” Coloma said in an interview aired over government-run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday.
The emergency employment program aims at helping disaster-stricken families to rebuild their lives by providing them with better access to sustainable income sources, the Communications Secretary said.
"Halos 3,000 residente mula sa 22 barangay sa Tacloban at 70 barangay sa Ormoc ang nakikinabang na sa naturang programa. Kabilang na rin po dito ang mga katulad na programa na cash-for-work o food-for-work na isinasagawa ng DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) at iba pang ahensya tulad ng Department of Agriculture," Coloma said.
"Ang mga manggagawa ay tumutulong sa paglilinis ng mga daan, palengke at plaza, pag-aalis ng bara sa mga estero at daluyang-tubig, at pagtatayo ng mga mahahalagang pampublikong gusali at paaralan. Ayon sa DOLE, papalawigin pa ang programa sa iba pang mga bayan at rehiyon sa mga darating na araw," he said.
Coloma pointed out that the International Labor Organization (ILO) is helping the government put in place an emergency employment program to help the Filipinos who lost their livelihoods due to the devastation brought by Yolanda.
"Nagpapasalamat din tayo sa inaalok na tulong ng ILO na maglalaan ng hanggang sa 300-milyong dolyar para sa cash-for-work program para sa humigit kumulang na 290,000 katao sa mga bayan ng Tacloban, Roxas, Busuanga sa Palawan, Hilagang Cebu, at mga lalawigan ng Negros Occidental at Bohol na nasalanta ng kalamidad," he said. PND (js) |
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| World boxing icon and Filipino people’s champ Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao bounced back big from his two consecutive defeats after conquering Brandon Rios via a unanimous decision that had Malacañang and the entire Philippines celebrating.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda welcomed the good news on behalf of the Palace, calling Pacquiao’s latest victory as a "well of strength" and "inspiration" for the whole country, especially since we are still nursing the devastation wrought by super typhoon "Yolanda" in the Visayas region recently.
“Nagbubunyi ang sambayanang Pilipino sa panibagong tagumpay ni Congressman Manny Pacquiao sa kaniyang pagwawagi ng WBO (World Boxing Organization) International Welterweight Belt kontra kay Brandon Rios,” Lacierda said.
Thirty-four year-old Pacquiao, who is also a representative of Sarangani province, cruised to a convincing win after 12 rounds of boxing in Macau with all three judges scoring almost every round to his favor.
“Sa loob ng 12 rounds, nagpakita ng hindi matatawarang bilis at lakas ang ating pambansang kamao upang magapi ang kaniyang kalaban, at muling makamit ang tagumpay sa loob ng ring,” Lacierda added in his statement.
“Ang pagwawagi ni Manny sa labang ito ay nagsisilbing bukal ng lakas at inspirasyon ng buong sambayanan matapos hagupitin ng bagyong Yolanda ang malaking bahagi ng Kabisayaan. Nawa’y hindi magbago ang prinsipyong gumagabay sa kanyang bawat laban: na bawat suntok na kaniyang binibitawan ay suntok para sa dangal ng ating lahi,” he concluded. PND (hdc) |
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| TACLOBAN CITY) Survivors of super typhoon "Yolanda" (Haiyan) here raised their voices in triumph after boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao triumphed over Brandon Rios in Macau.
Many of the survivors here trooped to the city convention center where the bout was shown. The center is a short walk from a tent city housing many of the survivors.
They brought out Philippine flags that they raised when Pacquiao would score a punch on his younger opponent.
Pacquiao had dedicated his fight to the victims of Yolanda, which left 5,000 dead after battering Visayas and Southern Luzon last Nov. 8.
But some still want Pacquiao to personally visit them and bring help.
"Sana matulungan kami sa Tacloban ... Sana pumunta siya rito sa Tacloban (We hope he can help us here, we hope he can come here)," said Jun Jun Mabini, who was nevertheless happy with the win.
Earlier, residents of this city went to City Hall and the RTR Plaza to watch the airing of the bout.
Many brought umbrellas to protect themselves from the heat, and patiently sat at the venue to wait for the telecast of the fight to start. PND (jl) |
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Department of Health maximizes better public health and nutrition programs for residents in calamity zones |
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| The Department of Health (DOH) is maximizing its efforts to provide the residents, including women and children, in calamity zones with better public health and nutrition programs following the devastation brought by super typhoon "Yolanda" (internationally known as Haiyan), Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr. said.
"Tinututukan nang husto ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at DOH ang kapakanan ng mga ina, sanggol, at mga bata. Handa ang mga pasilidad ng DOH sa pagtulong at pagkalinga sa tinatayang 800,000 mga inang nagdadalang-tao, malapit nang manganak, o bagong panganak pa lamang," Coloma said in an interview aired over government-run radio station DzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday.
The DOH deployed several medical teams to provide emergency and basic medical and surgical services to affected areas in Eastern Visayas.
"May sapat na OB o obstetrics kits para sa panganganak. May sapat ding bilang ng mga komadrona o midwives na handang tumulong sa panganganak," the Communications Secretary said.
"Dahil sa bagong ipinalabas ng Tanggapan ng Pangulo na Memorandum Circular 61, pansamantalang pinapangasiwaan ngayon ng DOH ang mga health and sanitation facilities sa mga lungsod at bayan sa sona ng kalamidad, habang abala ang mga alkalde at mga LGU sa mga programa ng post-typhoon relief and rehabilitation," he said.
The DOH also started to focus more on public health as threats of epidemics loom in vulnerable communities.
"Prayoridad ngayon ng DOH ang pagbakuna laban sa tigdas o measles, polio, at tetanus. Hinggil naman sa pagtawag pansin ni Ms. Valerie Amos ng UN (United Nations) sa panganib ng malnutrisyon na maaaring hinaharap ng hanggang sa 1.5 milyong kabataan o children sa sona ng kalamidad, may sapat pong imprastrakturang itinatag ang DSWD sa pamamagitan ng National Nutrition Council nito kaagapay ang DOH sa aspeto ng micronutrition o pamamahagi ng mga bitamina," he said. (js) |
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| The Aquino government is open for the enactment of a law against political dynasties saying it is consistent with the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr. said.
"Ito po ay isang reporma na matagal nang hinihintay sa ating bansa dahil ito ay bunsod pa noong EDSA People Power Revolution na siyang naging batayan ng 1987 Constitution na kung saan naman unang nailagay ang prinsipyo ng anti-dynasty," Coloma said in an interview aired over government-run radio station DzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday.
Article II Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution states that "The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law."
"Kaya malinaw naman po ang batayan niyan, ito ay kasama sa mga reporma ng EDSA People Power na nakalagay sa 1987 Constitution," the Communications Secretary said.
"Kaya lang po, kailangan ding marinig natin ang tinig ng mga mambabatas na siya namang hinalal din ng ating mga mamamayan para makita ‘yung magiging final na hugis nitong anti-dynasty bill," Coloma said.
Third District Pampanga Representative Oscar Rodriguez, chairman of the House Committee on Good Government, filed House Bill 2911 which provides for an anti-dynasty law in the country.
The bill is seeking to equalize access to opportunities in public office by banning the practice of political families that alternately field its members to various elective post to maintain control of local or national government positions. PND (js) |
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Comelec is all set for special barangay elections for Bohol and Zamboanga City on November 25, Coloma says |
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| The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is all set for the special barangay elections for Bohol province and Zamboanga City on November 25, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr. said.
"Sa amin pong mga natanggap na ulat ay sapat ang kahandaan ng ating Commission on Elections sa pagsasagawa ng special elections sa Bohol at Zamboanga," Coloma said in an interview aired over government-run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday.
The barangay elections was held on October 28 throughout the country except in Bohol province and Zamboanga City.
The poll body suspended the barangay polls in Bohol, which was devastated by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake.
The Comelec also suspended elections in Zamboanga City due to the standoff between the military and the Moro National Liberation Front rebels.
"Umaasa po tayo na magiging maayos ang kaganapang ‘yan at pipili ang mga mamamayan ng mga kwalipikado at mahuhusay na pinuno para po mapabilis ang rehabilitasyon ng kanilang mga lugar," the Communications Secretary said.
The Comelec set the special elections in the two areas on Nov. 25 as Republic Act 9164 specifies that the term of the incumbent barangay officials must end on November 30. PND (js) |
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| TACLOBAN CITY) What better way to thank boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao for giving them a timely morale boost than with a big thank-you? Residents of Real Street here on Sunday afternoon painted a huge sign thanking Pacquiao for his win over Brandon Rios. "Mabuhay! Manny Pacquiao Pambansang Kamao, (from) Yolanda survivors," read the sign. Residents said the sign will be displayed on the street. Hours earlier, Pacquiao outclassed Rios in a match the Filipino boxing hero had dedicated to the victims of super typhoon Yolanda. Tacloban residents were hit hard by Yolanda, which left more than 5,000 dead after it lashed Visayas and Southern Luzon. PND (jl) |
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