‘KARDING’ BLASTS THROUGH LUZON

Super Typhoon “Karding” was on its way out of the Philippines on Monday morning after its “explosive intensification” on Sunday gave way to its weakening to typhoon level as it crossed and exited the Luzon landmass overnight, the state weather bureau said.

Karding (international name: Noru) was packing maximum sustained wind speeds of 195 kilometers an hour after showing an unprecedented build-up in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean on Sunday.

But once it made landfall—first at Burdeos town in Quezon province at 5:30 p.m. and then at Dingalan, Aurora at 8:30 p.m. — the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Karding was projected to weaken to 130 kph as it headed west-northwest at 20 kmh.

At press time, the state weather bureau said Karding would be over the coastal waters of Masinloc, Zambales by 5 a.m. Monday and 360km west of Dagupan City, Pangasinan in the afternoon.

Filipinos, however, still had to brace for the strongest storm to hit the Philippines this year, as it dumped heavy rain and raised floodwaters across Luzon and in Metro Manila.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 5 remained hoisted in several areas on Sunday night, including portions of Quezon, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, and Rizal, while the rest of Luzon including the National Capital Region was under Signal No. 3.

“We ask residents living in danger zones to adhere to calls for evacuation whenever necessary,” Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin said.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Sunday announced that 97 families or 336 persons have been preemptively evacuated in Regions 2 (Cagayan Valley) and 3 (Central Luzon) as of posting time.

Weather forecaster Robb Gile said Karding’s rapid intensification as it neared land was unprecedented. The meteorology agency said its wind speeds had increased by 90 kilometers per hour in 24 hours.

In Manila, emergency personnel braced for the possibility of strong winds and heavy rain battering the city of more than 13 million people.

Forced evacuations have started in some “high risk” areas of the capital, officials said.

PBBM SAYS US TRIP ‘GOOD START’ FOR OPPORTUNITIES

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Sunday he hopes that his just-concluded working visit to the United States will serve as a “good start” for programs and opportunities under his administration.

At an arrival statement on Sunday morning, Mr. Marcos said the trip identified areas that could be developed into programs and projects that benefit Filipinos.

The President, arriving at the NAIA Terminal 2 at 6:09 a.m., said he felt his US trip was successful and that he was satisfied with its results.

“The work continues but I am happy to report that we have had a very good and strong start,” he said.

Speaker Martin Romualdez congratulated the President on his successful trip, highlighted by his participation in the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and meeting with US President Joe Biden.

“The President wasted no time in his efforts to put the Philippines again on the investments map of the world. At a time when nations struggle to bounce back from the ill effects of the pandemic on economies, our President hit the ground running and worked almost round the clock to bring home much-needed investments,” he said.

Mr. Marcos said he and the Philippine delegation achieved what they sought to do on the trip, which was to meet with several American business leaders, as well as some state leaders.

“There will be, I believe, good news to share in the next few months, particularly in terms of their plans to expand and further broaden their investment footprint in our country,” Mr. Marcos said.

“Our discussion with the US business community affirms the optimism with which international investors view the Philippines today,” he added.

HOUSE NEARLY DONE WITH OK OF BUDGET OF ALL GOV’T AGENCIES

The House of Representatives has already approved the budget of at least 76 percent of all government agencies with only four agencies left for deliberation before wrapping up the floor debates and moving for the approval of the P5.268-trillion National Expenditure Program.

Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe, the House majority leader and rules committee chairperson, said he created various teams to manage the flow of deliberations in the plenary.

With the system in place, the House under Speaker Martin Romualdez has approved the budget of a total of 54 departments, attached agencies, and constitutional bodies, and will have to act on the budget of four remaining agencies.

“The implementation of schedules and the flow of the plenary discussion has been executed flawlessly by our team of deputies in the rules committee and the committee on appropriations,” he said.

“I see longer and more heated discussions on the budget of some agencies this week, but it is nothing we cannot handle. I’m confident we will terminate all debates by Sept. 28 and approve the budget bill by Sept. 30,” Dalipe added.

The House leadership decided to defer until this week the discussion and the approval of the budget for the Department of Finance, including its attached agencies, the National Economic Development Authority and its attached agencies, and the Energy Regulatory Commission, he said.

The funding for the Department of Social Welfare and Development was approved Friday, but not the budget for the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, an attached agency.

PSE SUSPENDS MONDAY TRADING OVER STORM FEARS

The Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) over the weekend announced the suspension of trading today, September 26, as the country faced Super Typhoon “Karding.”

In an advisory released Sunday evening, PSE president and chief executive officer Ramon Monzon said there will be no trading at the local bourse on Monday and no clearing and settlement in the Securities Clearing Corporation of the Philippines.

The bulletin released by the state weather bureau at 8 p.m. on Sunday indicated that heavy to intense rains are expected in Metro Manila due to “Karding.”

The local stock barometer closed at 6,259.54 on Friday, September 23, down by 42.17 points or 0.67%. The broader All Shares index lost 14.95 points or 0.45% to end the previous week at 3,341.29.

MARCOS ORDERS SUSPENSION OF GOV’T OFFICES, ALL CLASSES

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. suspended work on Monday in government offices in eight regions, including Metro Manila, and classes were also suspended as Super Typhoon “Karding” made landfall in Quezon province and was seen to cross the Luzon landmass on Sunday night.

Mr. Marcos heeded the advice of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), which briefed the President on the expected heavy to intense torrential rain that would be brought by the super typhoon.

Besides Defense Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr., who chairs the NDRRMC, Mr. Marcos said in a statement he was also “in constant contact” with Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo and Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum.

“The President is also in constant communication with DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) Secretary Benhur Abalos for possible evacuations, especially in low-lying areas that are prone to flooding,” the Palace statement added.

The DepEd order said, "There will be an automatic cancellation or suspension of classes in the event that there are power outages/power interruptions/brownouts in schools.”

In all instances, local chief executives “shall decide on the cancellation or suspension of classes” where there is bad weather but is not due to a typhoon, heavy rainfall alert, or flood warning from PAGASA, the Education department order added.

FIVE RESCUERS KILLED IN PHILIPPINE TYPHOON: POLICE

Five rescuers were killed in the Philippines after they were sent to a flooded community during a powerful typhoon, authorities said Monday, without releasing details on their cause of death.

“They were deployed by the provincial government to a flooded area,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Romualdo Andres, chief of police in San Miguel municipality, in Bulacan province, near Manila.

The most powerful storm to hit the Philippines this year swept across the main island of Luzon on Sunday and Monday, toppling trees and flooding low-lying communities, but so far there have been no reports of severe damage.

The five rescuers were in Santa Miguel municipality in Bulacan when they died.

San Miguel disaster officer Renan Herrera confirmed the deaths and said they may have drowned in  floodwaters.

Super Typhoon Noru smashed into the archipelago nation after an unprecedented “explosive intensification” in wind speeds, the state weather forecaster said earlier.

'KARDING' THREATENS RICE HARVESTS IN CENTRAL LUZON

The Philippine government is set to assess the damage wrought by Typhoon Karding (international codename Noru) after it slammed into the main island of Luzon including Central Luzon.

Asec. Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, Civil Defense Deputy Administrator for Operation and Spokesperson OCD, said at least 14,000 families were preemptively evacuated before the typhoon made landfall in Polillo Island, Quezon province.

"Medyo worried kami sa damage to agriculture kasi eto nga, tinamaan yung ating major producer ng bigas, ang Central Luzon," he said in a TeleRadyo interview.

Nicknamed the Rice Granary of the Philippines, Central Luzon includes the provinces of Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales, which were all affected by the typhoon.

In Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, officials said they are worried about Karding's effect on rice crops since the typhoon struck just before harvest season.

NUEVA ECIJA, AURORA WITHOUT ELECTRICITY DUE TO ‘KARDING’

MANILA — Typhoon Karding (Noru) left the provinces of Nueva Ecija and Aurora without electricity after the cyclone knocked out power lines during its onslaught, the Department of Energy reported Monday.

“As of 7 a.m., the main National Grid Corporation of the Philippines lines in areas affected show that the entire provinces of Nueva Ecija and Aurora are without power because the main highways of power were down,” Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said during the Office of Civil Defense briefing with the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. presided over the briefing.

Provinces that are partially affected by power supply issues include Tarlac, Zambales, Pampanga, and Quezon.

NDRRMC: Gov't resources prepositioned to assist families displaced by 'Karding'

MANILA — Government resources are in place to assist families displaced by the strong rains caused by Super Typhoon Karding, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Monday morning.

At a briefing at the office of the NDRRMC, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said that 74,542 individuals or 19,368 families were preemptively evacuated ahead of Karding's onslaught and in need of government aid.

"Presently we're organizing an airlift for [relief] supplies. Right now, those are the first areas we are [focusing on.] After we attend to basics, food, water, shelter, clothes, all of these things, and then the [Department of Social Welfare and Development] is also prepared to provide for those who are going to need living assistance," President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said at a press briefing after the NDRRMC presented its situation report.

THE REST

========

CA JUNKS VHONG NAVARRO PLEA TO QUASH RAPE CASE

MANILA — Comedian and television host Vhong Navarro has suffered another legal setback after his appeal to stop the filing of charges of rape and acts of lasciviousness against him was rejected by the Court of Appeals (CA).

In a seven-page ruling dated Sept. 20, the appellate court stood by its decision last July overturning the Department of Justice (DOJ) resolutions, which dismissed the complaints filed by model Deniece Cornejo against Navarro in 2014.

The CA dismissed Navarro’s motion for reconsideration and request for a status quo ante order for lack of merit.

“Navarro’s argument that the appeals court cannot direct the Taguig City prosecutor’s office to file the charges because the assailed decision has not yet attained finality is untenable. Logic dictates that the filing of the information must necessarily follow upon determination of probable cause,” the CA resolution read.

“To hold otherwise would set a dangerous precedent wherein the respondent may delay the filing of the case by deliberately bombarding the courts with appeals or other forms of dilatory actions to question the outcome of the preliminary investigation,” the appellate court added.

“It is not a trial of the case on the merits and has no purpose except that of determining whether a crime has been committed and whether there is probable cause to believe that the respondent is guilty thereof,” the CA said.

FORCED EVACUATION, ZERO CASUALTY SA MASINLOC, ZAMBALES SA HAGUPIT NI 'KARDING'

MAYNILA — Walang naitalang casualty sa pagdaan ng Bagyong Karding sa Masinloc, Zambales.

Ayon kay Masinloc Mayor Arsenia Lim, nagsagawa sila ng forced evacuation sa mga nakatira sa tabing-dagat.

"Sobrang lakas po ng hangin. Buti na lang hindi sinabayan ng masyadong malakas na ulan tulad ng dati," aniya sa panayam sa TeleRadyo Lunes.

Nitong Lunes ng umaga, bumuti na ang panahon sa lungsod, dagdag ni Lim.

Maaari ng bumalik aniya sa kanilang mga tirahan ang nanatili sa evacuation center.

Sa 8 a.m. weather bulletin ng PAGASA, huling namataan ang bagyo 190 kilometro kanluran ng Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

May taglay ito na hangin na 140 kilometro kada oras at pagbugso na 170 kilometro kada oras.

Nasa Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal Number 2 pa rin ang ilang hilagang parte ng Zambales, kabilang ang Masinloc, at kanlurang bahagi ng Pangasinan.

Inaasahang lalabas ng Philippine area of responsibility si Karding Lunes ng gabi.

MERALCO DENIES UNNECESSARY POWER INTERRUPTIONS DURING TYPHOONS, FLAGS FAKE NEWS

Meralco on Monday urged consumers to remain vigilant and reach out using official channels to fight fake news.

Reports of alleged preemptive power interruptions in areas affected by super typhoon Karding circulated. But Meralco spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga clarified that the concessionaire always tries to keep the power on.

“Yesterday we’re trying to keep the lights on as much as we could….These messages going around are actually fake news,” Zaldarriaga told ANC.

“We will continue to keep the lights on as much as we can and if possible… as long as we can ensure that our facilities are safe, then there really is no reason to interrupt power,” he added.

For any concerns, customer can reach out to Meralco through its social media pages on Facebook and Twitter, or via its hotline 16211, he said.

KARDING WEAKENS; TYPHOON EXPECTED TO LEAVE PAR MONDAY

MANILA - Typhoon Karding weakened as it crossed Tarlac province and is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility soon, PAGASA said early Monday.

In its 2 a.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA said Karding was last sighted near Mayantoc, Tarlac packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kph near the center with 230 kph gusts while moving at 20 kph.

The state weather bureau said Karding is expected to emerge over the West Philippine Sea via the coastal waters of Zambales or Pangasinan before leaving the PAR on Monday night.

The weather agency said Karding is expected to re-intensify once it is over the West Philippine Sea.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

SUNSHINE CRUZ, BOYFRIEND MACKY MATHAY UNFOLLOW EACH OTHER ON INSTAGRAM

MANILA – Sunshine Cruz and her boyfriend Macky Mathay are currently the subject of breakup speculations after eagle-eyed netizens noticed that the two are no longer following each other on Instagram.

In a social media update three days ago, Cruz said she’s had so many realizations and challenges while she was locked in for 35 days.

“It wasn’t easy coz there’s not much you can do but pray and hope for the best. Challenges and trials will always be part of our lives and at the end of the day, we just have to focus on positive things coming our way,” she wrote.

Saying she does not have the right to complain, Cruz added: “So much blessings are being given to me and my family after all.”

She ended her post with the quote “Everything happens for a reason, live it, love it, learn from it.”

Cruz and Mathay have yet to comment on the rumors about their relationship, although their pictures together are still visible on each other’s accounts. Mathay is also still using the same profile picture of him and Cruz together.

The last time Cruz posted photos with Mathay was during the 18th birthday celebration of her daughter Samantha.

Over the weekend, Cruz went to an out of town trip with her daughters and friends to mark her daughter Angelina’s 21st birthday, and Mathay was visibly absent in the pictures.

Mathay first confirmed that he and Cruz are an item in 2016 after they were spotted holding hands together in public.

He said he started courting Cruz after the actress replied to his Instagram message. He also shared that he was the first to admit to have fallen in love in the relationship.

In a previous statement, Mathay said Cruz is his long-time showbiz crush.

SPORTS

PACQUIAO, FLOYD ENGAGE IN VERBAL SPARRING DURING RIZIN PRESSER

Boxing rivals Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather met face-to-face during a press conference for RIZIN 38 on Saturday in Saitama, Japan.

But Pacquiao and Mayweather, both retired from active fighting, will not be trading punches.

Instead, Mayweather will battle Mikuru Asakura, a pupil of Pacquiao, in an exhibition bout.

The fight will take place on Sunday.

This, however, did not stop Pacquiao and Mayweather from trading verbal jabs.

“I’m here to support my boxer who is going to fight tomorrow — Asakura Mikuru,” said Pacquiao. “I’m so thankful that he came to the Philippines, to Manila to have some techniques about boxing, and train with me there."

“So it’s gonna be a good boxing exhibition tomorrow with Floyd.”

Mayweather said Asakura being trained by Pacquiao will make the fight more interesting.

“This makes it even that much more intriguing that he was able to go to the Philippines and get some advice from Manny,” said Mayweather.

“Now Manny has a lot of experience, at the highest level, and competing at the highest level. That makes this that much more interesting.”

Mayweather maintained nobody knows how to beat him, even Pacquiao who was outpointed by the American when they fought in 2015.

"Like I said before, there's no blueprint on how to beat Mayweather," he said.

Pacquiao is also set to fight in an exhibition bout against Korean martial artist DK Yoo in December.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

When the silences are no longer awkward, you know you are around friends. – Unknown