DAVAO CITY Philippines — Pope Francis offered prayers for victims of Typhoon Vinta. In his weekly Angeus prayer Sunday, Pope Francis said “I wish to assure my prayers for the population of Mindanao in the Philippines, which has been struck by a storm that has caused numerous victims and much destruction.” “May the merciful Lord […]
Archives for December 2017
Duterte and his people : The NCCC Mall Davao fire
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — It is a sad Christmas for Davao people. At 3:20 this morning, no less than President Rodrigo Duterte echoed to the families the briefing he got from the Bureau of Fire ground commander that “Chances of survival is zero” for the 37 missing employees trapped inside the comfort room of the third […]
“I Am with you” President Rodrigo Duterte consoles families of the victims trapped inside NCCC Mall Davao
37 people perished in the NCCC Mall Davao fire
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Families of the 37 missing persons in the NCCC Mall fire broke to tears at 3:20 this morning, when President Rodrigo Duterte told them that the ground commander of the Bureau of Fire briefed him that “Chances of survival was zero.” Duterte cried as he comforted the families after he broke […]
37 employees missing in the 14-hour Davao Mall fire
28 employees missing in the 14-hour Davao Mall fire
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — At least 28 people were reported missing when fire of still unknown origin gutted one of the city’ prime mall, the New City Commercial Center (NCCC) Mall at the corner of Maa and MacArthur Highway here. Some reports however indicated, there are 23 persons missing. The exact number of missing persons […]
Duterte to turn over 600 temporary shelters on December 27
MARAWI CITY, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to turn over 600 temporary shelters in barangay Sagonsongan on December 27. The internally displaced persons (IDPs) will be distributed in four of the 11 areas identified for temporary shelters. National Housing Authority General Manager Marcelino P. Escalada Jr said “The first 600 families will receive the temporary […]
Vinta aftermath: 6,614 families flee homes as flashflood hit Davao City
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Some 6,614 families or 31,375 individuals affected by flood here. There no heavy downpour in the city area but Davao rivers started to swell afternoon Friday as rain waters from the neighboring provinces cascaded after tropical storm Vinta made a landfall in Cateel, Davao Oriental. Davao was placed under storm signal […]
Dominguez to BIR: Make tax-paying more convenient
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has directed the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to make the process of paying taxes more convenient as he lauded the agency for pursuing reforms that have improved its revenue collections by almost 12 percent thus far this year. At the same time, Dominguez said he […]
Duterte vetoes 5 items in 1st tax reform package
MANILA, Philippines — Five items in the first package of tax reform were vetoed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte after noting that if implemented these provisions will be detrimental to the government and would violate existing laws. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, in a briefing Friday, said Malacanang will release the copy of the Veto […]
Vinta aftermath: Hundreds of Davaoeños evacuated due to flashflood
DAVAO CITY, Philippines (UPDATED)— Hundreds of families residing near riverbanks and low-lying areas evacuated as flooding hit their villages and rescue operations still ongoing. The City Government of Davao sent 911 rescuers along with police and Task Force Davao personnel, Red Cross and other civic groups to transfer the residents to a safer ground. As […]
P6-M PCSO Christmas party ‘insensitive’: Gatchalian
MANILA, Philippines — “Insensitive.” This was how Senator Sherwin Gatchalian described the Christmas party of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) which reportedly cost PHP 6 million. “I believe staging this party in a luxurious five-star hotel and extravagantly spending PHP6 million is an ostentatious display of insensitivity on the part of PCSO,” Gatchalian said in […]
PAL cancels flights due to ‘Vinta’
MANILA , Philippines — Philippine Airlines (PAL) has suspended several flights as tropical storm “Vinta” lashes the Mindanao region. In its advisory Thursday afternoon, PAL said that the following flights scheduled on Friday, December 22 are cancelled: PR 2397-2398 Cebu – Surigao – Cebu PR 2929-2930 Cebu – Camiguin – Cebu PR 2893-2894 Cebu – Ozamiz […]