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Senate panel to investigate cause of power outages By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Alena Mae Flores
XI TO BLINKEN: LET’S BE PARTNERS NEWS / A2
THE Senate Energy Committee will start on May 6 its investigation into the alarming unstable power supply that is causing massive brownouts in several parts of the country. Committee chairperson Senator Raffy Tulfo cited the declaration of red and yellow alerts in the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao grids by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
ECONOMISTS SEE Q1 GROWTH HITTING 6.2% BUSINESS / B1
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 73• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024 •
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Heat soars to danger levels; Dagupan forecast at 48°C But PAGASA says it's still not a heat wave despite sizzling temps
Severe El Niño resurrects doomed town PANTABANGAN—A centuries-old settlement submerged by the construction of a dam in the northern Philippines in the 1970s has reappeared as water levels drop due to a drought affecting swathes of the country. The ruins in the middle of Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija province are a tourist draw, even as the region swelters in extreme heat. Next page
By Rio N. Araja and Ratziel San Juan
A
T LEAST 44 areas across the country will have dangerous heat index today (Saturday), the state weather bureau said, with Dagupan City in Pangasinan forecast to sizzle at 48°C.
EL NINO’S IMPACT.
This aerial photo shows remnants of the centuriesold town of Pantabangan that reemerged after a dam’s water level dropped amid a drought that has affected many parts of the country. AFP
Based on the computed two-day forecast of PAGASA as of 5 p.m. Friday, at least 10 locations will experience a heat index ranging from 44°C to 46°C, including parts of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Cagayan, Zambales, Cavite, Palawan, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Capiz, and Eastern Samar. Temperatures in Metro Manila this weekend, meanwhile, will remain in the low 40s with Pasay City at 43°C and Quezon City at 42°C, according to the state weather bureau. Next page
DoH leads joint probe of ‘prescription-for-sale’ deal By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Department of Health (DOH), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will conduct a joint investigation into the so-called "pre-
scription-for-sale" scheme, involving doctors moonlighting as marketing agents for a local pharmaceutical firm. Lawyer Pamela Sevilla, spokesperson for the FDA, disclosed this information on Friday. She said the triagency probe will be in parallel with
the upcoming Senate investigation on the same issue, which will begin on April 30. On Thursday, Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito filed a resolution to investigate the case, which a whistleblower Next page
More Filipinos favor US rather than China—survey By Vito Barcelo and Rey Requejo FIRE DRILL. US Army soldiers prepare artillery ammunition during a live-fire
NEARLY half of Filipinos want the Philippines to align with the United
States rather than China in the ongoing dispute in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), according to the latest Oculum Research and Analytics survey. The 2024 first-quarter national sur-
vey was conducted from February 21 to 29, 2024 by Oculum Research and Analytics in partnership with APCoRE, a professional organization of academics Next page
exercise under the Salaknib 2024 exercise at Fort Magsaysay, Palayan City in Nueva Ecija. Salaknib is an annual Philippine Army-led, U.S. Army Pacific-sponsored bilateral exercise designed to enhance the U.S. and Philippine Army capacity and interoperability. Danny Pata
Panay students PH, France to begin VFA talks in May get cash aid, By Rey E. Requejo and scholarships Vince Lopez THE Philippines and France will start next month their discussions on the possible exchange of troops between Manila and Paris, according to French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel. Fontanel revealed that the Philippines and France will take the opportunity to talk about a possible
Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) when the two countries' cooperation and defense committees meet in Paris on May 20 to 21. Fontanel stressed that a letter of intent to begin such talks was already signed by both sides in December 2023. "So, that was the perfect occasion to officially discuss the ways to negotiate the VFA," Fontanel said, during a briefing that discussed
#ANONGBALITA?
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By Maricel V. Cruz A TOTAL of 1,500 students from the Panay provinces of Iloilo, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Guimaras were granted financial assistance under a state-funded program that aims to help struggling students cope with the challenges of earning a higher education diploma. House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Thursday led the distribution of cash Next page
PASSENGER COMFORT. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista lead the unveiling of the New Batangas Port Passenger Terminal at Batangas Port in Batangas City. Witnessing the event are Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas, Batangas 5th District Rep. Mario Vitorio Mariño, Asian Terminal Inc President Eusebio Tanco, Dubai Ports World Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem and Philippine Ports Authority General Manager Jay Santiago. Ver Noveno
Sobrang init kasi: Indian minister faints at poll rally
Itago ang Mt. Fuji? Japan town tired of troublesome tourists
Di na fake news? Saudi could field 1st Miss Universe
NEWS / A2
NEWS / A2
NEWS / A2