Voting starts in some N. Luzon areas

MANILA (Updated 6:12 a.m.) -- Polling precincts opened at 6 a.m. Monday in selected areas and began accepting voters in the holding of the country's barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

Elections in Kalinga, Apayao, Cagayan and the rest of Isabela began voting at 6 a.m. until 2 p.m., instead of the original 7 a.m. to 3 p.m due to the onslaught of Super Typhoon Juan (international codename: Megi).

Comelec: Don’t proclaim 4th-term winners

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) ordered the suspension of the proclamations of winning bets that exceeded the three-term limits as enumerated in the Act Providing for the Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

The law states that “no barangay elective official shall serve for more than three consecutive terms in the same position”.

Red Cross ups alert against ‘Katring’

ALTHOUGH there is a slim chance that tropical depression “Katring” will make landfall, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) raised its preparations for any untoward incidents.

In a statement, PRC Chairman Richard Gordon said their staff members and volunteers will go on a 24-hour operation in selected areas in Northern and Central Luzon.

Santiago collapses in Turkey

SENATOR Miriam Defensor-Santiago fell down as she was about to deliver a paper Sunday at a parliamentarians' forum in Istanbul, Turkey.

Justice department junks localization of STL

THE Department of Justice scrapped the proposal of some local government units seeking to regulate or suspend the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s small town lotteries (STLs).

Aquino leaves for Vietnam Tuesday

PRESIDENT Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III will leave for Vietnam on Tuesday while remaining steadfast of not appointing a caretaker in his second foreign trip.

Pag-Ibig sets funds for typhoon victims

VICE President Jejomar Binay directed the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-Ibig Fund) to allot P200 million under its Calamity Loan Program for the members whose livelihood were affected by Typhoon Juan.

Recto: Cut buses, not cars, on Edsa

THE Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) will remain clogged unless the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reduces the number of buses, not cars, plying in Metropolis’ main highway, Senator Ralph Recto said Sunday.

Palace defends Cabinet execs on Peace bond issue

MALACANANG on Sunday defended its two Cabinet secretaries for their alleged involvement in an anomalous multi-billion poverty eradication and alleviation certificate (Peace) bonds.

Senator lauds Pagasa for typhoon forecasts

THE country's faith in the weather bureau may soon be restored following its accurate forecasts on Typhoon Juan (Megi) recently, Senator Edgardo Angara said Sunday.

RP tops social networking sites usage

DESPITE a low Internet penetration rate, the Philippines leads Asia Pacific nations in the use of social networking sites as Filipinos leap to mobile to increase reach.

‘Katring’ enters RP

MANILA -- Less than a week after Super Typhoon Juan (international codename: Megi) wrought havoc in Northern Luzon, another tropical depression entered the Philippine territory Saturday.

But forecast models so far showed the 11th storm to enter the country, locally called “Katring”, would not hit land, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Poll operations center opens today

TO BETTER assist teachers who will serve as members of the Board of Election Tellers (BET) in Monday’s polls and monitor development in the field, the education department will open today, Sunday, the Election Task Force Operations Center at the its central office in Pasig City.

Food agency gives rice to ‘Juan’ victims

THE National Food Authority (NFA) has issued a total of 7,532 bags of rice to government agencies and local government units (LGUs) doing relief operations and assisting victims of Typhoon Juan (international codename: Megi).

Lino Cayetano’s candidacy questioned

FILM director Lino Cayetano is facing a disqualification case from running as chairman in the tightly contested Barangay Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City for alleged lack of residence qualification in the barangay.

Weather bureau turns to social media

TAPPING the social media to inform the public regarding the latest development of Super Typhoon Juan (international codename: Megi) proved beneficial for the state weather bureau after it earned raves in its up to date forecast.

DepEd, 3 agencies ink pact for teachers’ safety

MINDFUL of incidents of harassments and violence in previous elections, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Saturday vowed to protect teachers who will serve in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections Monday.

Palace ‘hands-on’ in tracking Lacson

A PALACE official downplayed speculations that the government is not hands-on in hunting down fugitive senator Panfilo Lacson.

Bill on use of illegal plates filed

TWO lawmakers from Mindanao sought to criminalize the illegal use of commemorative license plates (CLP) to prevent traffic violators from evading traffic violations.

Environment office reduces timber checkpoints

ENVIRONMENT Secretary Ramon Paje said 161 of 274 roadside checkpoints were removed since August following a directive that would only retain checkpoints beneficial in catching undocumented timber.

Transportation office: LRT fare hike inevitable

THE Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) said a fare hike in the Light Rail Transit (LRT) system is "inevitable", but added it will likely be implemented after the Holiday season.

Campaign ends, liquor ban starts

THE last day of campaigning for candidates for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections will be on Saturday while the liquor ban will immediately start at 12:01 a.m. Sunday.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman James Jimenez said going beyond the allocated campaign period would already be risking being charged with an election offense.

Palace won't stop toll hike

MALACAÑANG will not stop the implementation of the toll fee increase at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), a Palace official said Friday.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said they will abide by the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) to lift the temporary restraining order on the imposition of toll hike.

New storm won't make landfall

THE Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the brewing storm in the Pacific Ocean is not likely to make landfall but is strong enough to bring rains to Northern Luzon.

Military beefs up security in Mindanao

GOVERNMENT forces stepped up security measures in Central and Eastern Mindanao following Thursday's bombing of a passenger bus in Matalam town in North Cotabato.

Major General Anthony Alcantara, commander of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, said they have "intensified checkpoint operations" in the two areas.

Pay hike sought for judiciary workers

A HOUSE lawmaker pushed for the increase of the basic salary of judiciary workers in a bid to encourage more applicants for judicial posts and lessen case backlogs in courts.

House Bill 240 of Representative Juan Edgardo Angara (lone district, Aurora), urging for the salary hike of court workers, immediately gets the nod of several congressmen.

Private armies blamed for bus blast

A DAVAO lawmaker said the existence of private armed groups (Pags), many of them protected by political warlords, is to be blamed for Thursday's bombing of a passenger bus in North Cotabato.

Representative Karlo Alexei Nograles (first district, Davao City) expressed disappointment on the apparent negligence of government security forces, who failed to prevent the incident.

Metro railway loop opens

THE Light Rail Transit (LRT) opened a new station in Roosevelt in Quezon City to eventually "close the loop" in Metro Manila's mass transit system.

LRT Administrator Rafael Rodriguez said the Roosevelt station, which will run through Muñoz and Projects 6 and 8, connects the LRT and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT).

2 LGUs suggest 'unique' health financing schemes

WITH the government hard-pressed to meet growth and poverty reduction targets, two local government units in Negros Oriental and South Cotabato have adopted mechanisms to expand health care services to its citizens.

Under the Social Health Insurance Indigency Program (BSHIIP), cash-strapped residents in the third-class municipality of Bindoy, Negros Oriental, were able to avail of the health insurance due to the partnership between the villages and PhilHealth.

Labor policy, cyclone may dampen voters' drive

MANILA -- The government's "no work, no pay" policy and the approaching tropical cyclone might discourage voters to participate in the village and youth elections, a poll watchdog official said Friday.