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PRESIDENT WARNS BARMM ELECTIONS SABOTEURS
By Charles Dantes
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos had recently warned individuals trying to intervene and derail the first BARMM parliamentary election next year. “Let this serve as a warning to those who may plan to threaten and derail this upcoming election, don’t even think about it because you will be up against the government,” the President said. Marcos, however, urged those who are planning to intervene in
the election that they should instead channel their energy in more positive ways, such as “To help build productive and thriving communities where citizens are offered wide livelihood opportunities and healthy living spaces,” he stated. President Marcos also reminded the public to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming election “as you chart your political future in the forthcoming first BARMM elections in May 2025,” the President said.
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 74 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2024
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PhilHealth airs heat alert KARL YULO BAGS 2 GOLDS, 3 SILVERS
Hotter temperatures forecast in May—PAGASA By Macon Ramos-Araneta
P
HILHEALTH has cautioned the public against heat stroke amid record high temperatures as the state weather bureau warned Monday of possibly even hotter weather in May amid the El Niño phenomenon.
SPORTS / A8
BINI’S COLLAB HITS HIGH NOTES SHOWBIZ / C3
GROUPS PROD SC TO HALT PUVMP NEWS / A3
MEMENTO. President Marcos Jr. is presented with a rifle on a stand as a memento of his visit at the Headquarters of the 6th Infantry Division, Camp Brigadier General Gonzalo H. Siongco at the Municipality of Datu Odin Sinsuat Province of Maguindanao on Monday, April 29, 2024. PPA POOL
Expect brownouts in May as demand outstrips supply THE Department of Energy (DOE) expressed concern over the possibility of brownouts as a red alert draws closer due to recent power plant outages and high power demand as the El Niño phenomenon rages. “How close are we to the red alert, brownouts when we reach the red alert? Well, there is a potential, but as long as we have our contingency measures, this can be avoided,” DOE Assis-
PhilHealth recently increased its heat stroke benefit package by 30 percent from P6,500 to P8,450. “If members or their dependents need to be admitted to any PhilHealth-accredited health facilities due to heat stroke or heat exhaustion, PhilHealth provides a benefit package amounting to P8,450,” said PhilHealth chief Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. On Monday, 36 locations across the country were placed under the “danger category” for having a heat index of 42 to 51 degrees Celsius. PAGASA weather specialist John Manalo said the hot temperature might only begin to ease in June. “We expect the number of areas under the danger category to increase. We expect the heat index magnitude to also increase as we approach the first and second week of May,” Manalo said.
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El Niño damage at P4.39b; Angat level ‘alarming’ By Othel V. Campos
tant Secretary Mario Marasigan said at a press conference. Since the demand for power had already exceeded their projections earlier than expected, Marasigan assures the public that the DOE had already pegged some adjustments. “Normally our demand rises towards the last week or end of May or June. But for this year, not only that the
DAMAGE to agriculture due to the El Niño phenomenon has breached the P4-billion mark, with Mindoro and Palawan sustaining the biggest
blow, the Department of Agriculture to implement water conservation meassaid Monday. ures starting this week. The Department of Environment “The decrease in water level in terms and Natural Resources also warned of of its rate is quite alarming. The water an “alarming” decline in Angat Dam’s Next page water level, prompting the government
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Speaker to go after profiteers, hoarders and agri smugglers By Maricel V. Cruz
priority of the House of Representatives. “We will continue our fight against SPEAKER Martin Romualdez on Mon- hoarders, profiteers, and smugglers of day reaffirmed his commitment to fight agricultural products,” Romualdez said hoarding, profiteering and smuggling of in his speech during the resumption of agricultural products, making it a top Next page
ACTIVE HOUSE. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez answers questions from the media during a press conference at the House of Representatives after the opening session of the 19th Congress on Monday afternoon. Also in the photo are Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Erwin Tulfo and Iloilo 4th District Rep. Ferjenel Biron. Ver Noveno
Activist coalition sending 100 bancas to drop markers at Scarborough Shoal ATIN Ito, a coalition of social activ- South China Sea, announced its upcomists pressing for the defense of Philip- ing second civilian mission scheduled to pine sovereign rights over the country’s take place on May 15. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the In a statement, the group said the mis-
#ANONGBALITA
sion, comprised of two main civilian of Masinloc and the general vicinity of boats escorted by 100 small fishing ves- Bajo de Masinloc. sels, will assert the Philippines’ soverBajo de Masinloc, also known as eign rights within the country’s Exclu- Scarborough Shoal, is a place of tension sive Economic Zone (EEZ) off the coast Next page
Batangas gov. to marry again at 80 years old
Crazy delicious? Japan’s onigiri with armpit sweat
Swift’s new album debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200
NEWS / A2
NEWS / A2
NEWS / A2