HK braces for Super Typhoon Ragasa

 

Ragasa is forecast to cause storm surges to the same level
as Super Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018 (File)

Hong Kong residents have begun doing what it deems best in the face of an approaching typhoon: stockpiling on food and other supplies.

With Super Typhoon Ragasa (Filipino word for surge) expected to enter Hong Kong by Tuesday or Wednesday, locals who live in flood-prone areas like Heng Fa Chuen have been reported as accumulating supplies.

Many residents have also been busy sticking adhesive tape to large windows that some stores have reported running out of this must-have item during a storm. Plastic flood barriers have also been placed in front of some buildings to keep the water away.

Basahin ang detalye!

The Hong Kong Observatory has warned that Ragasa could intensify even more as it leaves the northern Philippines and slams into Hong Kong.

"Under the influence of significant storm surge, the sea level over coastal areas by then may be similar to that of Hato in 2017 and Mangkhut in 2018," the Observatory warned.

The forecaster said Ragasa would bring heavy rain and thunderstorms gradually on Tuesday, with gale to storm force winds prevailing on Wednesday.

Ragasa strengthened to Super Typhoon late on Sunday as it hovered over Luzon Strait, causing the government to suspend work and classes in several areas, including Metro Manila.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has warned of destructive winds, heavy rains, storm surges and dangerously rough seas as Ragasa (local name Nando) moves closer to extreme northern Luzon.

As of 4pm Sunday, the eye of Nando was spotted 450 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 km per hour near the center and gusts of up to 230 kph.

It was expected to move west-northwest, before turning west toward the extreme northern part of Luzon today.

On this track, it may pass close to or make landfall over Batanes or the Babuyan Islands in Cagayan by this afternoon or evening.

It will exit the Philippines on its way to the coast of Guangdong by tomorrow morning.

 

Riots follow 2 peaceful anti-corruption rallies in Manila

 

Traffic at a standstill on Edsa as thousands gather for the anti-corruption protest

Unidentified rioters clashed with police near Malacañang Palace Sunday, casting a shadow on two massive anti-corruption rallies held separately in Manila and Quezon City earlier.

Police said 17 rioters were arrested, while 40 police officers were injured in the scuffles near the Mendiola Peace Arch and Ayala Bridge, which had both been barricaded ahead of the protests.

PINDUTIN DITO

Black-clad and masked rioters clashed with police and torched a container truck parked on Ayala Bridge and a police motorcycle parked close by. They also hurled stones, bottles, paint, human feces at the officers, who were under strict orders to exercise maximum tolerance.

The protests continued until late at night, with a hotel on nearby Recto Avenue being looted, ransacked and trashed by the rioters, according to eyewitnesses.

The torched container truck on Ayala Bridge

Earlier, tens of thousands of people took part in both the “Trillion Peso March” in front of People Power Monument on Edsa (Epifanio delos Santos Avenue) in Quezon City and the “Baha sa Luneta” gathering at Luneta Park in Manila.

The protests were held on the 53^rd anniversary of Martial Law declared by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., and organizers said it was fitting that the abuses of that regime could be linked to the present-day corruption.

The indignation rallies were held in the wake of reports and disclosures that billions, if not trillions, of pesos meant for flood control projects had been siphoned by contractors in collusion with government officials and lawmakers starting in 2016, when jailed former President Rodrigo Duterte, took power.

Basahin ang detalye!

Protesters are calling for punishment for all those involved in the plunder, whatever their political affiliation, and for the stolen money returned to the people.

The growing scandal has already led to big political fallouts, including the resignation of House Speaker Martin Romualdez, a cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr, and the replacement of Senate President Francis Escudero.

Many of those demanding retribution say President Marcos himself should be held accountable, as the pillage of the past three years had happened under his watch.

The protest actions started early, with various groups converging on both venues as early as 6am.

The gathering at the Edsa Shrine started with a religious service in the morning and a program in the afternoon. It was attended by many unaffiliated individuals who joined youth organizations, labor unions and civil society groups in expressing anger at the country’s biggest corruption in decades.

Among those seen marching to the venue were movie stars Anne Curtis, Maris Racal, Vice Ganda, Donny Pangilinan and  movie queen Catriona Gray.

Aerial shot of the equally peaceful protest at Luneta Park

Over at Luneta, the program started at 9am and was led largely by student groups and progressive organizations.

Among those called to speak was Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima, a former senator who was jailed at the instigation of President Duterte, and was cleared of all charges only after he ended his term in 2022.

As planned, some of the Luneta protesters led by Bagong Alyansa Makabayan (Bayan), marched towards Malacanang, but were stopped by police on Mendiola Bridge.

As they were closing the program and declaring the protest a success, the rioters struck. Bayan president Renato Reyes was hit in the face in the rock and was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

Reyes wrote on Facebook: “The people in Mendiola were angry, years of pent-up anger. We don’t know who the groups were. They’re not affiliated with Bayan. But we could sense their anger. And even after we ended the program, they stayed on. They could be provocateurs or they could just be really angry at what is happening.”

“At the end of this day, the government cannot ignore the problem of corruption and give so-so responses. Kumukulo ang galit ng tao. Huwag maliitin ng gobyerno.”

Standoff in Mendiola between police and protesters

Later, Bayan said in a separate post that 12 of its members were arrested after being caught in the crossfire. They called for the activists’ release while denouncing what it called as the police’s “violent response” to the mayhem.

Europe a growing market for Filipino workers

 

Felicitas Q. Bay, DMW Undersecretary for Foreign Employment and Welfare Services

OFWs who dream of going to Europe by getting a tourist visa and taking risks in looking for a job once there, can get there faster at less cost -- and with their rights looked after by the host governments.

They just need to go back to Manila and participate in the recruitment programs for countries with which the Department of Migrant Workers has established agreements for the recruitment of Filipino workers.

On Oct. 15, for example, 10 Croatian employers will descend at DMW’s headquarters in Mandaluyong to recruit workers for their hotel industry, according to Felicitas Q. Bay, DMW undersecretary for Foreign Employment and Welfare Services.

PINDUTIN DITO

She told a recent press briefing that the recruitment activity will coincide with Croatia-Philippines Friendship Week celebration.

Employers from Lithuania are also looking for workers in the manufacturing and service industries, she said.

“The same is true with Poland, with 104 accredited employers with 12,000 job orders,” she said. Poland has hired 664 workers so far.

Czech Republic, on the other hand, already has 12,000 Filipino workers, mostly in the manufacturing and transportation industries.

Basahin ang detalye!

With 62 accredited employers with 7,765 job orders this year, the country has raised its quota of workers imported from the Philippines from 5,000 last year to 10,300 this year.

The rise in numbers comes less than a year since DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac signed a joint labor communique on joint labor mechanisms with his Czech counterpart, in a ceremony held in Manila and witnessed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Czech President Petr Pavel.

The agreement features fair and ethical recruitment, identification of sectors where Filipinos are in demand and continuing dialogue between the two countries.

“We asked the workers; their feedback is good regarding treatment by their Czech employers,” Bay said.

In fact, she said, the Philippine embassy in Prague is seeking the host government’s permission for the Migrant Worker’s Office to expand so it can have a welfare officer to serve the needs of the workers not just in Czech Republic but also in Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine and Poland.

Bigger, better OFW Lounge to open at Manila's Terminal 1

 

DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac with OFWs in Lounge (File photo from DMW)

Overseas Filipino workers flying out of Manila International Airport’s Terminal 1 will be able, starting Oct. 1, to access a new and bigger OFW Lounge that will have enhancements such as separate sleeping areas for males and females.

In addition to the chairs in which they can lounge while waiting for their flights, they can also enjoy massage on four mechanized chairs donated by the the New NAIA Infrastructure Corp., the private operator of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) airport.

The lounge will also expand its free food offerings from the usual lugaw and pancit to breakfast, lunch and dinner sets, according to Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), which runs the OWF Lounges in Terminals 1 and 3.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

And while in the lounge they might as well get their OWWA e-card, which can be printed while they wait at the OWWA booth, as well as discuss their employment concerns with personnel assigned to the Department of Migrant Workers booth.

These features will also be added to the Terminal 3 lounge.

Caunan described the features of the new OFW Lounge in a press briefing with DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac recently to deny earlier rumors that OFW lounges will be closed because funds had run out.

She said OWWA even plans to open new ones in Cebu and Clark international airports.

Basahin ang detalye!

The rumors started after the OFW Lounge in Terminal 1, located in an area after the Immigration counters, closed down. It turned out that a new lounge was being built in another area -- just after the check-in counters and before the x-ray machines of the Office Transport Security and the Immigration counters.

Cacdac belied the rumors that OWWA was running out of money to run the lounge. 

“When it comes to budget, we now have a line item ‘Alagang OWWA’, so it has been institutionalized  and imbedded in the overall cost of the government-facilitated journey of OFWs,” Cacdac said.

“So sustainbility won’t be an issue. It will be integrated into the operation of an airport,” he added.

OFWs all over the world set to join anti-corruption protests in Phl

 

Migrante is calling its worldwide protests as 'OFW Day Against Corruption' 

Tomorrow, Sept. 21, the flood of protests that will begin at Luneta Park in Manila will spread all over the world. This was what Migrante International announced in a statement published this evening.

“Libu-libo ang lalahok para bahain ang Luneta ng protesta laban sa korapsyon bukas. Ngunit hindi lamang sa Luneta magkakaroon ng baha: ang mga migranteng Pilipino ay kikilos din sa buong mundo para sa pagbabago ng sistema!” said Migrante’s statement.

(Thousands will converge in Luneta tomorrow to flood it with protests against corruption. But it is not only in Luneta where there will be floods. Migrant Filipinos all over the world will also take action to press for a change in the system).

The protest in Luneta titled “Baha sa Luneta” will kickstart nationwide protests against the massive corruption in government infrastructure projects, particularly the multi-billion peso ones that were meant for flood control.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

From Luneta, Migrante-aligned groups including students, drivers and church people, will march to Malacanang, then pitch camp on Mendiola Avenue in the afternoon where they will continue their protest. 

Separately, an afternoon protest will also be staged at Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa), where the People Power revolt that toppled then President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. began 53 years to the day. 

Titled "The One Trillion Peso March," the protest will be led by moderate groups, including civil society leaders and students.

Basahin ang detalye!

Elsewhere in the country, protests against the massive corruption that began in 2016 will also be held, including in several universities and churches. Tens of thousands of students had also walked out of their classrooms at various days last week to express outrage.

Overseas, OFW members of various organizations affiliated with Migrante Intl will stage their own protest actions, including those in Hong Kong, where a “Zumbaha” will be held on Chater Road and a rally outside the Philippine Consulate building in Admiralty. A film screening will be held on Sept. 23.

Migrante urges OFWs to call on family and friends to join the Luneta march

While Migrante puts the blame for the corruption squarely on President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., its members across Europe will stage their protest action at The Hague, where former President Rodrigo Duterte is detained on charges of crimes against humanity.

Migrante is calling on everyone to convince their family members and friends to join what it dubbed as the OFW Day of Action vs Corruption, which is aimed at holding Marcos, Jr. to account for the plunder of public funds, and call for a change in the country’s system of governance.

The other overseas protests lined up tomorrow and in the coming days are as follows:

Japan:

KABAYAN launch, indoor forum and Filipino mass

Indoor forum, Sept 23

South Korea:

Forum on the IGC case

Photo ops, Sept 23

Thailand:

Forum on Philippine corruption, Phuket

KANTALAKAY roundtable discussion, Bangkok

Australia:

Protest action, Sydney Town Hall, Sydney

Protest action, Philippine Consulate, Melbourne

Online forum on corruption and Duterte ICC case, Sept 23

 

New Zealand:

Film screenings, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch

Protest action, Auckland, Sept 23

Film screening, Wellington, Sept 28

USA

Chicago, IL:

Philippine Consulate, 1:00pm

Los Angeles, CA:

Philippine Consulate, 1:00pm

tinyurl.com/921panagutin

New York, NY:

Philippine Consulate, 9:30am

Philadelphia, PA:

Teach-in, 3:00pm

tinyurl.com/PeoplePowerTeachln

Portland, OR:

Holy Family Catholic Church, September 21, 4:00pm

tinyurl.com/MLVigil25

Queens, NY:

Forest Park, Woodhaven, September 21, 10:00am

San Francisco, CA:

Philippine Consulate, September 21, 7:00pm

Seattle, WA:

Jose Rizal Park, September 21, 1:00pm

Washington, DC:

Dupont Circle, September 21, 2:00pm

CANADA

Vancouver, BC:

Mass commemorating Martial Law victims at St. Mary The Virgin, 10:30 AM

Alay-lakad from St. Mary The Virgin to 41 and Fraser St, 1:00 PM

Rally at Joyce Station, 3:00 PM

Edmonton, AB:

Never Again, Never Forget Forum

Room 296, The Orange Hub, 10045 156 St NW, 12:30 PM

Toronto, ON:

53rd Martial Law anniversary rally and protest against government corruption

Bathurst and Wilson Parkette | 3749 Bathurst St, 1:00 PM

Montreal, OC:

IFI migrants mass, solidarity night, and Martial Law anniversary commemoration

3970 Chem. De La Cote-Ste-Catherine, 5:00 PM

Ottawa, ON:

Community film screening of "Sister Stella L."

UOttawa LMX242, 6:00 PM

Calgary, AB:

Online community meeting against corruption, 7:00 PM

 

EUROPE

The Hague, Netherlands (region-wide):

Protest action, International Criminal Court, 9:00 AM

Props making, Kurdish Community Center, September 22, 9:00 AM

Protest action, September 23, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

London, United Kingdom:

Leicester Square, 11:00 AM

MIDDLE EAST

Region-wide:

Online launching of Kabayan Kontra Korapsyon - Middle East and North Africa

3:00 PM Dubai time

 

 

 

 

Massive anti-corruption protests in Phl set for Sept 21

 

First to show mass outrage were students at UP Diliman (UP Facebook page)

An estimated 30,000 people are expected to turn out for the “A Trillion Peso March” set for 2pm on Sunday, Sept. 21 at the Epifanio delos Santos (Edsa) People Power Monument in Quezon City, to vent their anger at widespread corruption in the country.

The crowd estimate came from the organizers Tindig Pilipinas,  a coalition formed by church leaders angered by recent disclosures of anomalous flood-control projects for which the government spent P1.9 trillion over the past 15 years.

Another big crowd of protesters which include militant groups, students, drivers and church people, are due to gather at 9am on the same day at the Luneta Park in Manila for the "Baha sa Luneta" rally.

Basahin ang detalye!

The protest actions are being held on the 53^rd anniversary of the declaration of martial law in the country by then President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., who was toppled by the People Power movement that began on Edsa in 1986.

Ironically, Sunday’s anti-corruption protests were triggered by disclosures made by Marcos Sr’s namesake and current president, Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., in his State of the Nation Address in June about the siphoning of billions of pesos in public funds for flood-control projects, a big number of which turned out to be “ghost projects” or were not built at all.

Marcos, Jr. said in recent interviews that he shared the sentiments of the people, and would be out in the streets himself “if he were not president.” He encouraged people to demand accountability but urged them to maintain peaceful protests.

Ateneo posted this call to protest on its FB page

Tindig Pilipinas co-convenor Kiko Aquino-Dee said in a TV interview that the group has coordinated with the police and other government agencies to ensure that the protest will be peaceful and meaningful, especially to participants who are first-time rallyists.

“We’re really taking seriously the idea that it will be the first time that a lot of people will engage in protest this Sunday and we want to make sure that while it’s a venue to express anger, it’s also a place to do it peacefully, safely and it’s a meaningful experience for everyone who will be attending,” he said.

Aquino-Dee also said the protests will be non-partisan in that anyone could speak out against any politician or individual alleged to be involved in the massive corruption, but they should not openly endorse any political leader or group.

He also said that since politicians appear to have been behind the funding of the anomalous projects no politicians will be allowed to speak. Instead, ordinary people affected by the corruption, including flood victims, will take to the stage.

The Luneta protest organized by Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance (Tama Na) will start at 9am, but participants will gather earlier in various parts of Metro Manila before marching to the park.

Among those taking part is Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), whose members will gather at three different places at 6am before heading to Luneta Park. One meeting place is the Baclaran church in Paranaque City, another at Mall of Asia in Pasay City, and .the third at Quezon City Hall.

Bayan chairperson Teddy Casino said they were also expecting bikers’ and joggers’ groups to hold their own protests at the park before joining the main event.

A group of jeepney drivers said they will give free rides to those who will join the Luneta protest.

Separate protests were staged earlier by students in different schools, particularly the University of the Philippines in Diliman.

7,000 students and faculty members joined today's protest at UP Los Banos (PhilStar photo)

The latest to show indignation were thousands of students and faculty members in various schools who walked out of their classrooms today, Friday, and held protest actions. They not only expressed anger at the corruption, but also demanded a higher budget allocation for education.

These included those at Ateneo de Manila University and the UP units in Los Banos, Manila, Baguio, and Mindanao.

 At Visayas State University, protesters staged a candlelight vigil to express outrage.

HK on alert over 2 storms; T9 seen next week

Mitag's track as forecast by the HK Observatory

Two cyclones are drawing near, with one prompting the Hong Kong Observatory to raise Signal No. 3 today and another may require Signal No. 9 as it intensifies into a super typhoon northeast of Luzon, two thousand kilometers behind.

The Observatory said  Strong Wind Signal No. 3 will remain in force until 9am tomorrow, as tropical storm Mitag ("my eyes" in Micronesia) edged westerly to the coast of eastern Guangdong.

“Locally, strong winds are affecting high ground. Winds will generally strengthen,” as the storm hits land northeast of Hong Kong within the day and move west, the Observatory said.

Basahin ang detalye!

“The outer rainbands of Mitag are approaching the Pearl River Estuary gradually and will bring a few squally showers and thunderstorms to Hong Kong. Showers will be heavier at times later,” it added.

However, the land masses are expected to weaken Mitag, so it is uncertain if a higher signal may be needed as it gets to within 100 kilometers north of Hong Kong.

Of bigger concern is Ragasa (a Filipino word meaning rapid action)  which is moving through Northern Pacific Ocean, and may reach super typhoon intensity as it enters the sea between Luzon and Taiwan by Monday.

Ragasa's track as forecast by PAGASA

“Winds will strengthen again with heavy squally showers and thunderstorms. Seas will be very rough with swells. As the storm surge may be significant then, there may be flooding over the coastal areas” of Hong Kong, the Observatory said.

In its forecast for the Philippines, PAGASA said, “the center of Nando (local name for Ragasa) may pass close or may make landfall over Babuyan Islands between Monday (22 September) afternoon and Tuesday (23 September) early morning. It may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Tuesday noon or afternoon.

“Nando will continue to intensify while over the Philippine Sea. It may reach typhoon category tomorrow and super typhoon by Monday before its close approach to Babuyan Islands,” it added.

It it maintains its strength and direction, Ragasa is projected to come within 100 kilometers south of Hong Kong on Wednesday (Sept 24) morning with maximum sustained winds near the center of about 175 kilometers per hour.

The city can anticipate gale-force winds, heavy rain, thunderstorms, and a significant storm surge, accompanied by rough seas and large waves. 

The Observatory’s nine-day forecast indicates that the strong northeast winds will reach force 7 to 8, with offshore and highland areas facing force 10 winds, which more than meet the treshold for imposing Typhoon Signal 8.

T8 is triggered when sustained winds range from 63 to 117 kilometers per hour, compared to Signal 3’s range of 41 to 62 kilometers per hour. 

  

DH raises alarm over rising hand, foot and mouth disease cases

 

One of the symptoms of HFMD (Wikipedia photo)

The government today warned against a rising incidence of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), which a viral disease that attacks mostly children.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (September 18) also urged schools to immediately report any outbreak.

The CHP reported the number of HFMD outbreaks in institutions/schools has increased from two (affecting six persons) in a week on August 24 to 30, to seven outbreaks per week from Aug. 31 to Sept. 13, affecting 51 persons.

Basahin ang detalye!

In the first four days this week (Sept. 14-17), 14 outbreaks (affecting 32 persons) have been reported. Over 90 per cent of the outbreaks occurred in child care centres/kindergartens (CCC/KG) and primary schools.

In addition, the DH's sentinel surveillance based at CCC/KG and private medical practitioner clinics indicated a significant increase in HFMD activity in the past few weeks.

"As there has been an increase in HFMD activity, parents should stay alert to the health condition of their young children," the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.

Most HFMD patients have mild symptoms and the disease usually begins with fever, poor appetite, tiredness and sore throat. Painful sores may develop in the mouth one to two days after the onset of fever and then often become ulcers. Most patients recover on their own in seven to 10 days.

To prevent HFMD, members of the adopt the following preventive measures:

Maintain good air circulation;

Keep hands clean and wash hands properly. Wash hands before meals, after going to the toilet, when they are soiled by respiratory secretions, such as after sneezing, or after handling diapers or other stool-soiled materials;

Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal and oral discharges properly;

Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as furniture, toys and commonly shared items with 1:99 diluted household bleach (mixing one part of household bleach containing 5.25 per cent sodium hypochlorite with 99 parts of water), leave for 15 to 30 minutes, and then rinse with water and keep dry;

Use absorbent disposable towels to wipe away obvious contaminants such as respiratory secretions, vomitus or excreta, and then disinfect the surface and neighbouring areas with 1:49 diluted household bleach (mixing one part of bleach containing 5.25 per cent sodium hypochlorite with 49 parts of water), leave for 15 to 30 minutes and then rinse with water and keep dry;

Avoid going to overcrowded places;

Children who are ill should be kept out of school until their fever and rashes have subsided and all vesicles have dried and crusted; and

Parents should maintain close communication with schools to let them know the latest situation of sick children.

The CHP's weekly publication, EV SCAN (www.chp.gov.hk/en/resources/29/502.html), is issued every Friday to report the latest local situation of HFMD. Members of the public may also visit the CHP's page (https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/16354.html) for more information on HFMD and EV71 infection.