SPOTLIGHT LUZON: Daily news and latest updates from northern Philippines

An estimated 550 families were displaced by a fire in Arlegui Street, Manila, that started at around 2:30 am and was declared under control at 4:15 am on Thursday, December 29.

PANGASINAN, Philippines The Department of Health (DOH) – Ilocos Region on Tuesday, December 27 reported a total of seven firework related incidents since the start of the holiday season.

Five persons were injured by blasts, with one needing amputation. Two others sustained eye injuries.

Pangasinan province reported five cases while La Union reported two.

The report said five of the injuries came from using a boga (a PVC canon) while two came from skyrockets (kwitis). 

You can read about prohibited firecrackers here.

Anticipating an influx of vehicles from Batangas, Manila, and nearby cities and municipalities this holiday season, the local government of Tagaytay is implementing one-way traffic flow in the following roads from December 22 to 26 and December 30, 31, 2022, and January 1, 2023: 

• Going to Tagaytay, Mendez, Alfonso, and Nasugbu areas, take JP Rizal Avenue
• Going to Manila, take Maharlika Road (Tagaytay-Nasugbu Road) going to Aguinaldo Highway.

There are also alternatives to Aguinaldo Highway to reach the city: 

• Going to the Picnic Grove area, you can take Casile Road via Nuvali, and Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road via Kaykulot Bridge.
• Going to Alfonso, take the Tagaytay bypass road in Barangay Maitim.
• Going to Tagaytay Sky Ranch, Praying Hand, and Sports Park area in Barangay Kaybagal, take the General Trias-Amadeo-Tagaytay road. 
• Going to Nasugbu, Batangas, take the Trece Martires-Indang-Mendez-Tagaytay road or the Naic-Indang-Alfonso road.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation inaugurated a multipurpose evacuation center in Cabuyao, Laguna, and a housing village in Agoncillo, Batangas on Friday, December 16. 

The evacuation center built on Enterprise Park in Barangay Banay-banay will serve the locals usually affected by severe flooding during typhoons or other weather disturbances. Cabuyao City Mayor Dennis Felipe Hain said the center is important for them because of their large population, which makes it harder for their local government to accommodate more families. 

Meanwhile, the housing village inaugurated in Barangay Coral na Munti will help the people relocate far from the Taal Volcano’s danger zones. 

Philippine Airlines (PAL) launched its Cebu-Baguio-Cebu flights on Friday, December 16.

The PAL PR2230 flight from Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) arrived at Loakan (Baguio) Airport at 10:28 am with 68 passengers, and was welcomed by Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines chief Manuel Antonio Tamayo, PAL President and COO Stanley Ng, PALex President Rabbi Vincent Ang, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Cebu City Mayor Michael Lopez Rama, and Department of Tourism Undersecretary Mae Elaine Bathan.

The Cebu-Baguio flights are available on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

A 74-year-old woman and a still unidentified man were killed early morning on Tuesday, December 13, after their passenger bus crashed into a light post along Roman Highway in Orani, Bataan.

The driver and 11 other passengers suffered injuries, ranging from minor to severe ones.

Bataan Provincial Police Director Rommel Velasco identified the woman victim as Eva Oril, a grandmother from Mariveles, Bataan. The other fatality has yet to be identified. 

At around 2:40 am on Tuesday, amid heavy downpour, the Genesis Transport bus (ABH 1362) driven by Jeffrey Santos of Nueva Ecija was seen heading south direction towards Hermosa town. The bus suddenly swerved and crashed into a concrete electrical post at the side of the road. 

A lighthouse constructed during the COVID-19 pandemic for local fisherfolk and crew of vessels passing through Tayabas Bay is now a giant Christmas beacon for Quezon province.

Every night, residents and visitors flock to the coast of General Luna town, almost 104 kilometers from Lucena, the capital of Quezon province, to see the 42-foot “tree,” as police and civilian personnel stand by to ensure safety. 

The move has paid off, bringing tourists from other Quezon towns and  boosting the local economy. 

Read the full story here.

A magnitude 5.3 earthquake hit Camarines Norte on Wednesday, December 7, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

The earthquake struck at 1:05 pm Wednesday, with the epicenter at Tinaga Island in Vinzons, Camarines Norte, and a depth of 1 kilometer.

Phivolcs reported Intensity II in Quezon City. The agency said no damage was expected but it warned of aftershocks. 

The local government tells former tourism workers turned farmers to stay put as new marketing plans will include agrotourism.

Read more.

As of deadline day on Tuesday, December 6, four aspirants have filed their certificates of candidacy, seeking to become the representative of Cavite’s 7th District. 

The post was vacated by reelectionist Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed him secretary of justice. A special election will be held on February 25, 2023. 

Seeking to replace Boying are: 

• Jose Angelito Aguinaldo
• Crispin Diego “Ping” Remulla, current Cavite 7th District board member, son of Boying
• Melencio de Sagun Jr., former mayor of Trece Martires City
• Micheal Angelo Santos

Read here for the calendar of activities for the special election.