President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo opened the gates of Malacañang today to indigent residents of 22 barangays that ring the Palace compound, in observation of Common Tao Day tradition started by her father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal.
Immediately after her briefing on climate change and solid waste management with barangay captains and kagawads at Malacanang’s Heroes Hall, the president walked outside and joined thousands of indigent residents who came to see her.
The chief executive handed over wheelchairs to physically impaired Francisco Soriano and Norma Reyes. She then awarded Certificate of Guarantee Letters …

The forecast is grim for the evening of the 29th to the 30th and perhaps up to the 31st of October in many parts of Luzon Island where a tropical cycclone is forecast to pass over the islands over the next few days.
Rainfall estimates accroding to news reports are in excess of 15mm on average.
In a interview with journalists Government weather bureau officails warn rainfall with forceful winds will be felt as early as friday afternoon in province of Aurora, and across southern part of North Luzon,
By early Saturday morning …

As if the Philippines has not had enough of bad weather the US Navy and US Air Force Joint typhoon warning center is forecasting a direct path to Manila for a new Typhoon with a international name Mirinae, the Korean word for ‘Galaxy’,
The Storm is forecast by Military and Civilian meteorologists to be in general vicinity of Manila by Halloween evening, meaning that a fast moving storm may the one knocking on doors in the Philippines instead of  kids trick or treating and the rap tap tapping on the chanber door may be people telling residents …

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo asked municipal mayors, leaders of smaller towns in the country to take the lead and support the Administration’s fight against poverty. Arroyo was speaking at the Mayor’s annual convention of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) held at the Manila Hotel. Arroyo pointed out that the local government executives, with their increased Internal Revenue Allocation (IRA), can help finance micro-enterprises in their localities. Pointing to her Administrations effort in boosting working capital for the fight to create a larger financially independent working class. Arroyo said her …

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo commended today the country’s business sector for the assistance it extended the government in the relief and rehabilitation work.
“My heartfelt thanks to to the members of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), its provincial and regional chapters, and its other affiliate business chambers for their assistance to the victims of typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng,” the President said at the 35th Philippine Business Conference) PBC and Expo at the Manila Hotel this afternoon.  The President asked PCCI and its members to help the government cope …

Hairstylist Ricky Reyes supports GMA’s job creation project for typhoon victims
A famous hairstylist has thrown his support behind the effort of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to help typhoon victims get back on their feet. Ricky Reyes, president of the Filipino Hairdressers Cooperative (FilHairCoop), said his group is holding training courses for interested residents displaced by the flooding brought by Ondoy in Metro Manila and Pepeng in Northern Luzon.
A total of 10,000 young men and women will benefit from the program in Region 1, Region 2, and the Cordillera Autonomous Region. President …

Evacuation orders have been given to thousands of families, across the Northern Philippines, particularly areas prone to flooding. As from Typhoon Lupit, the Philippine Government hopes to be “As ready as possible,” for any incident from the arrival of the third typhoon in a little more than three weeks.
The country is suffering as in just over a month of back to back to back natural disasters that has claimed over 850 lives, left tens of thousands homeless and living in shelters.
As well as destroyed major staple crops and and severly damaged infrastructure and …

Flooding has been reported in the rain soaked Philippine capitol as overworked and damaged infrastructure from two back to back storms raises fears anew in the disaster stricken capitol. This time it is not a typhoon but seasonal rainfall typical for the season.
However, damage wrought by back to back storms Ketsana and its record rainfall as well with some areas still flood renews concerns of many for the need to look into redeveloping existing infrastructure in the areas affected.
Parma’s rainfall also affected the capitol region the new rain
Pagasa report as …

The Philippine Government is swamped with flood and disaster related concerns – such is what one finds on the Gov’t Presidential News Desk. Directives all seem to focused on the most pressing problem and indeed one of the worst natural disasters of recent memory exceeded only by the 1990 Mt. Pinatubo disaster and subsequent year’s lahar related problems that plagued the country in up to 1993.
Entering a third week of relief operations and concerns over the extent of the problem one can see that the short term problems are by …

Over the last few weeks the 31st MEU Marine expeditionary unit based in Okinawa and several other US units in the region have been assisting the Armed Forces of the Philippines in relief and recovery operations in the several areas stricken by two recent storms that ravaged the Philippines.
The help in terms of warm bodies rolling up their sleeves  and getting into flooded street and roads and doing their part to help out communities affected by the back to back disasters has made a huge difference in many places allowing additional support to the …