SCTEx personnel and kibitzers look at the wreckage of the passenger bus that reportedly rear-ended a cargo truck along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) in Concepcion, Tarlac, on Thursday morning. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Four people were killed and about 30 people were injured after a tour bus collided with a truck along the northbound lane of the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) in Concepcion, Tarlac, on Thursday morning, a traffic official said.

Robin Ignacio, North Luzon Expressway- SCTEX traffic management and safety head, said most of the bus passengers sustained minor injuries while three were initially seriously hurt.

The seriously injured were brought to a nearby hospital. Those seriously injured later succumbed their injuries.

Photo Credit: Nica Ramos

“Halos lahat ay sugatan sa bus,” Ignacio said in an interview over dzMM.

“Karamihan ay minor (injury). Mayroon lang binabantayan na tatlo,” he added.

He noted that the bus which was coming from Cavite was carrying government employees.

Ignacio said that initial investigation showed that the bus slammed into the rear of the truck.

Melvin Viloria, supervisor of SCTEx traffic control room, said the accident happened in front of the PTT gas station at about 5:20 a.m.

Citing testimonies of bus passengers, Ignacio said the bus was “talagang medyo mabilis.”

Photo Credit: Nica Ramos

The traffic official said investigators were still looking into whether the bus driver miscalculated his speed or fell asleep before the accident.

Ignacio said the accident slowed traffic in the area up to 200 meters from the crash site.

Source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

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Photo Credit: More than 100 commissioned and non-commissioned police officers in Olongapo City undergo a surprise drug testing as part of its internal cleansing.

OLONGAPO CITY – A total of 102 commissioned and non-commissioned officers of Olongapo City Police Office were subjected to a surprise drug test on Monday.

City police director Sr. Supt. Benjamin Sembrano said he gathered the police officers in the guise of a weekly conference at the Zion Hall of Camp Lt. Gen. Manuel F. Cabal here.

Those who will be found positive for illegal drugs substance will face administrative and criminal case that may lead to dismissal in service, Sembrano added.

The result will be released within three to four working days after the testing, said Supt. Ricardo Laming, head of the city’s crime laboratory office. Sembrano said the surprise drug test complies with the Philippine National Police’s cleansing drive among its ranks.

Source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

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Photo Credit: Philippine Canadian Inquirer

BOTOLAN, Zambales — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 3 (Central Luzon) has collaborated with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in implementing a core assistance shelter project.

Under the agreement, the AFP will send 20 troops to construct 105 housing units in Kainomayan village of this town.

The project, dubbed “KiSLAP ng CSAP” (Kikilos ang Sandatahang Lakas, Aagapay sa Pabahay ng Core Shelter Assistance Program), was launched here Monday, during which representatives of the two government agencies signed a pledge of commitment.

“We will do our best efforts. If there is a need for us not to sleep, we will do it in order to finish the construction of the housing units,” said Lt. Col. Fernando G. Balona, AFP staff leader, who will be in charge of the construction of the units.

The shelters are expected to be completed within 30 working days.

Struggling for workforce of the construction, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Edwina Sibug said she is very thankful for the project.

“Actually, we have a difficult time mobilizing the beneficiaries, especially the elders and those who do not have relatives to work, thus it is indeed a big help,” Sibug said.

The Core Shelter Assistance Program is one of the interventions of DSWD in disaster response and rehabilitation, aiming to provide environment-friendly, structurally strong shelter units for victims of disasters or those living in hazardous areas.

Source: ptvnews.ph

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Photo Credit: Kiko Ribleza

MANILA, Philippines – The government is planning to use modern tools to resolve the decades-old pollution problem of Manila Bay.

During the kickoff of the “Battle for Manila Bay” on Sunday, January 27, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said his agency will procure boat skimmers exclusively for the bay’s cleanup.

Boat skimmers can gather solid waste materials from bodies of water. Some models even have the ability to clean up oil spills.

Meanwhile, Acting Information and Communications Technology Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr said they will be installing sensors that will monitor pollution levels in Manila Bay.

Both Villar and Rio did not elaborate on specific figures or timelines for these projects.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said the rehabilitation will have 3 phases.

Photo Credit: Kiko Ribleza

Phase 1 will focus on cleanup and water quality improvement. Government agencies will clean designated waterways and reduce fecal coliform levels which rose due to houses and establishments.

The first phase will also focus on providing temporary sanitation facilities to informal settlers living along waterways and shorelines, pending their relocation.

Phase 2 will focus on rehabilitation of old sewer lines in Metro Manila. The government is also set to relocate informal settlers.

This stage will also focus on ensuring that projects of Maynilad and Manila Water will be finished by 2022.

Photo Credit: Kiko Ribleza

Finally, Phase 3 focuses on education and sustainment, as well as ensuring the early completion of the sewerage system in Metro Manila by 2026, instead of the initial target of 2037.

Manila Bay covers 8 provinces and 178 local government units in the 3 regions of Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon.

The bay’s coastline measures some 190 kilometers. It has 17 principal river systems draining into it

Source: rappler.com

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Photo Credit: Scoopnest.com

ORION, Bataan — Fire razed hundreds of houses, affecting more than 800 families in a fishing village here Tuesday morning.

Barangay Capunitan chairman Ernesto Delona said initial reports indicated that children playing with a match caused the fire that started at 9 a.m. He added, however, that they are still waiting for the official report of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

Delona said no one was hurt in the blaze that was put under control past noontime.

“Our assessment is ongoing. What is important is that the fire was already contained. We called all the firefighters in Bataan. The big fire was so frightening,” the village head said.

Firetrucks that responded to the scene came from 11 towns and one city in Bataan. One or two came from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

Delona said the affected families were evacuated to the Capunitan Elementary School.

Most of the burned houses located in Sitio Depensa, a fishing area in the barangay, were made of bamboo and other light materials, the village chief said.

Nenita Franola, one of the victims, could only look helplessly at her burning house from a distance.

“Wala kaming gamit na naisalba. Inuna ko anak ko (We were not able to save things. I prioritized my child),” she said.

Source: ptvnews.ph

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