Ruby weakens

Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) hit central Philippines late on Saturday with gusts of 210 kilometers an hour, passing over mostly poor central regions.

Fearful of a repeat of last year’s disaster brought by Typhoon Yolanda that claimed more than 7,350 lives, the government undertook a massive evacuation effort ahead of Typhoon Ruby.

Samar and Eastern Visayas, including Tacloban, suffered minimal damage and loss of life. Only four were recorded to have died in Eastern Samar, three in Cebu and three in Iloilo.

The lower damage and casualty were due to the early evacuation of residents to designated evacuation centers and preparation by local government units (LGUs).

In Tacloban City, some 49,000 individuals have taken shelter in 81 evacuation centers, including private properties which have opened their doors to evacuees. Applying lessons learned from last year’s experience, Tacloban reported “zero casualty” from Typhoon Ruby. The temporary housing units built for Yolanda survivors have withstood rain and wind.

In Sorsogon, some 173,000 evacuees have taken temporary shelter in schools. At least two houses were completely destroyed while no casualties has been recorded.

The same was true in Albay province, a total of 124,976 families or 579,603 individuals were transferred to evacuation centers.

In Quezon, periodic brownouts have been reported, but there are no casualties recorded due to the directive of the LGU to enforce evacuation.

Also helping a lot were the prayers by bishops and priests led by Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle. Priests in Rome also prayed for safety.

Ruby has weakened further, as it now packs maximum sustained winds of 140 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph. Certainly, the prayers helped a lot.

But PAGASA warned that Ruby was still dangerous as it was still a typhoon category cyclone. Typhoon Ruby made a landfall at least six times from Saturday to Monday, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical & Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

CNN had extensive coverage of Typhoon Ruby as it hit landfall in Samar, Leyte, Masbate, Romblon, and 18 other provinces.

Some 194 international and domestic flights scheduled for Monday were cancelled, according to Manila International Airport Authority Media Affairs Division (MIAAMAD). The affected flights included those of Jet Star, Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines Express and AirAsia Zest.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), at least 2,663 passengers were stranded in various ports in NCR-Central Luzon, Palawan, Northern Mindanao, Bicol, Eastern Visayas and Southern Tagalog, Western Visayas. The PCG would continue to implement the rules on restricting sea travel in areas with bad weather.

Fisherfolk were barred from heading out to Manila Bay Monday morning due to the possible threat from Typhoon Ruby. Manila is also preparing to place sandbags along Baywalk near Roxas Boulevard.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will send out additional food packs today from Manila and Cebu.

Typhoon Ruby knocked out power in Eastern Visayas, including Tacloban, Cebu, Catanduanes, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Masbate, Romblon and Mindoro.

Classes were suspended in Metro Manila and Southern Luzon yesterday.

 Climate change threat

Greenpeace global chief Kumi Naidoo, an international executive director of the environmental group, said that the typhoon passing over the Philippines was an example of the massive damage poorer countries would experience if climate change worsens.

Naidoo blamed all coal and gas companies and other polluting companies, for the worsening climate problems, adding that it was unfair that they should make huge profits while poor nations suffer the ill-effects.

More DOH personnel

The 12,540 nurses, 5,749 midwives, 480 dentists, and 398 doctors that will be added by the Department of Health (DOH) will cost P12.7 billion in the 2015 budget.

Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo said: “We are counting on the mobilization to improve the delivery of basic health services, while providing temporary employment for nurses and midwives.”

Top performers 2014

The following are the top performing officials for 2014:

1. DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario

2. DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro

3. HUDCC Chairman Vice-President Jejomar Binay

4. MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino

5. DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson

6. DOE Secretary Jericho Petilla

7. DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman

8. BIR Commissioner Kim Henares

9. PAGCOR Chairman Cristino Naguiat Jr.

10. Pag-Ibig President Darlene Berberabe

Reduce price

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Gregory Domingo called on producers to decrease their prices by at least 3 percent due to the reduction of oil prices by 30 percent since June.

Joey Cuyegkeng, chief economist of ING Bank Manila, said moderating consumer goods prices, along with Christmas remittances, should help boost domestic consumption during the holiday season and make up for the lower than expected growth in the first nine months of the year.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco predicted inflation will go down due to lower gasoline prices.

Papal images not for political gimmick

Pope Francis is scheduled to make a pastoral visit to the Philippines from Jan. 15 to 19, 2015.

As early as now, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines appealed to the government and politicians not to politicize Pope Francis’ visit.

With few months before the 2016 presidential elections, a number of politicians are already resorting to various political gimmickry such as putting banners and billboards this Christmas season to drumbeat their political campaign, welcoming Pope Francis with the names or face of the sponsors.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle stressed that Pope Francis main purpose of visit is “spiritual and pastoral”, not for political agenda.

The Holy Father’s universal prayer intention for this month is that the birth of the Redeemer may bring peace and hope to all people of good will, according to Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez.

The bishop said that Pope Francis is praying that peace reigns in the entire Philippines, particularly in Mindanao.