Author: Jericho Zafra
MANILA, Philippines — Should the oil spill in Limay, Bataan, fail to siphon off the Manila Bay area, at least 11k farmers are set to lose their jobs, with roughly P83.8 million in monthly income loss for Bataan fishers, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said. At a press briefing, Neil Kenneth Tibog, BFAR’s division chief of fisheries resource management, said that aside from Bataan, which could displace at least 11,000 farmers and cause P83.8 million in income loss monthly, areas in Bulacan could also make over 8,000 fishermen jobless with P63 million in income loss, and in Pampanga…
MANILA, Philippines, — Environmental group Greenpeace Philippines showed footage of the extent of the oil spill in the coastal waters of Hagonoy, Bulacan following the capsizing of MT Terra Nova last Thursday. According to the group, it has observed a thick layer of oil across the water surface approximately 4 kilometers from the coastline. https://media.greenpeace.org/Detail/27MZIFJB0HR5S — download the video for higher reso “Aerial images reveal the extensive spread of the oil spill from sunken tanker MT Terranova in Tibaguin Island, Hagonoy Bulacan, showing the vast damage inflicted on the affected waters and ecosystems on which communities depend for their livelihood…
MANILA, Philippines — While President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos did not request higher confidential and intelligence funds, his admin was seen requesting higher travel funds for the proposed national budget for 2025 with P24.3 billion, the National Expenditure Program for 2025 revealed. According to the Department of Budget Management’s National Expenditure Program for 2025, the Office of the President’s confidential funds are maintained at P2.25 billion, while a total of P2.31 billion has been requested for intelligence funds. This amount remains consistent with last year’s request. The allocation for the Confidential and Intelligence Fund in the proposed P6.35 trillion national budget…
MANILA, Philippines — The oil spill from the sunken tanker MT Terra Nova has begun reaching the waters of Hagonoy, Bulacan, a local-based environmental group, Greenpeace Philippines, said. In a Facebook post, the group shared that the extent of the spill has reached approximately 4 kilometers from the coastline around 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. “Filipino coastal communities are bracing for an imminent environmental disaster while recovering from extreme floods due to #CarinaPH,” Greenpeace Philippines said. Following reports and satellite photos from Karagatan Patrol showing an oil slick in Hagonoy, the group said Barangay officials from Isla Tibaguin confirmed the sightings,…
MANILA, Philippines — China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has “mischaracterized” the Philippines’ rotation and resupply mission (RoRe) in the West Philippine Sea and belied claims that the country informed China of the mission prior to the operations, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. “Instead of acknowledging how two countries were able to manage differences in order to avoid miscalculation and misunderstanding, the spokesperson chose to misrepresent what has been agreed between the Philippines and China regarding RORE missions in Ayungin Shoal,” DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said Sunday. Earlier, Beijing claimed that Manila informed China before conducting the resupply…
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has begun putting up improvised oil spill booms to contain the spread of industrial fuel oil from the sunken Terra Nova tanker in Manila Bay and other areas. In a message sent to reporters Monday, PCG said the PCG Auxiliary created improvised oil spill booms made of coconut husk to help the recovery operations in the waters of Limay, Bataan where the MT Terra Nova sank last week. According to the PCG, just like the typical oil spill boom, the coconut husk booms will control the spread of oil in the affected…
MANILA, Philippines— At least 69 foreign nationals tagged for sex offense charges are barred from entry into the Philippines from January to June, the Bureau of Immigration said Friday. In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said its officers at the airports barred from entering the country a total of 69 foreigners for being sex offenders from January to June this year. He said the number of foreign sex offenders denied entry during the first semester was lower compared to the 84 alien sex predators excluded in the same period last year. Tansingco said that 58 of the excluded passengers…
MANILA, Philippines — Several areas in the National Capital Region and its neighboring provinces are now being asked to prepare for the possible oil spill should the authorities not siphon the industrial fuel oil inside the sunken tanker Terra Nova under certain circumstances, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Friday. At a press briefing, PCG spokesperson Armand Balilo said authorities are now preparing for the “worst case scenario” following the capsizing of the motor tanker Terra Nova off the coast of Lamao Point in Limay, Bataan last Thursday. Areas in the National Capital Region, particularly areas from Navotas, Manila, Parañaque,…
MANILA, Philippines — Two China-flagged vessels are conducting intrusive patrols within Manila Bay and Palawan, both inside the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, defense and maritime security official Ray Powell said. “China’s intrusive patrol continues with China Coast Guard 3301 cruising outside Manila Bay this morning,” Powell, Director of SeaLight and a former US Air Force official, said in an X (formerly Twitter) post on Thursday. He noted that another CCG ship, bow number 3105, has been “AIS-dark since July 22.” The automatic identification system, or AIS, is essential for large vessels to ensure safety and security. In a…
MANILA, Philippines — Makati City Mayor Abby Binay said Friday that the now-viral “Gil Tulog Avenue” signage did not reach her office for approval following the sudden change of the banner in the city. In a statement, Binay said the change for the street signage was for a marketing advertisement, however, the request for a permit did not reach her office. “It is unfortunate that the request for a permit for the so-called advertising campaign to change the street signs of Gil Puyat Avenue did not reach my office. Kung dumaan sa akin yan, rejected yan agad,” she said. On…