Rappler Newscast | July 30, 2014

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Philippines faces power crisis in 2015. PH military apologizes for coup scare. After Haiyan: 14,500 survivors still live in tents

Today on Rappler.

  • The Philippines faces a power crisis in 2015.
  • The Philippine military apologizes for the coup scare triggered by tanks on EDSA.
  • Eight months after Haiyan, more than 14,500 survivors still live in tents.

 

 

POWER EMERGENCY: WILL IT SOLVE ENERGY CRISIS
The country faces a power crisis.
Demand for electricity in the hot summer months of 2015 is expected to exceed supply.
Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla says blackouts, which could last weeks, will hit Luzon unless the government takes crucial steps to mitigate the problem.
One proposal is for President Aquino to declare a ‘power emergency’, provided under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.
This will give the President the authority to fast track new power contracts to meet the short-term demand.
But critics say granting emergency powers to the President has been tried under former president Fidel Ramos and it led to high energy rates.
Senator Serge Osmeña says the emergency powers would allow the President to “do everything and anything…”
but assures Congress “is going to put limits.”

 

ARMORED TRUCKS ON EDSA CAUSE ALARM AMID COUP RUMORS
The Philippine military apologizes for any alarm caused by two convoys of military vehicles on EDSA Wednesday.
They included armored personnel carriers.
The movements made many nervous a day after Senator Antonio Trillanes claimed retired military generals are plotting to destabilize the Aquino administration.
Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala says the convoys
are part of “authorized logistical movements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.”
The convoys were on EDSA Wednesday morning – one from an unidentified camp in Northern Luzon, another from an unidentified camp in Southern Luzon.
Zagala says both convoys were carrying “mission-essential supplies” and apologizes for the alarm it may have caused.
Trillanes, a former lieutenant in the Philippine Navy who attempted a coup against former president Gloria Arroyo…
says destabilization plots won’t likely succeed under the Aquino administration.

 

MOOD METER: ANGRIER WITH AQUINO SONA IN 2014
Like past years, “Happy” was the dominant mood on the Rappler Mood Meter during President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address.
But data shows people were noticeably less “Happy” with the President’s message in 2014 than they were last year.
“Happy” got only 52.8% of SONA Mood Meter votes this year compared to 65% in 2013.
There were 3 times more “Angry” votes in this year’s SONA compared to 2013.
Those who voted were predominantly “Angry” over the President’s statements concerning Typhoon Yolanda, the Disbursement Acceleration Program, and the power shortage.
In particular, 53% of those who voted were “Angry” over his statements on the Cabinet’s performance during Typhoon Yolanda.
The “Angry” mood got 25.5% of all 2014 SONA Mood Meter votes compared to only 7% in 2013.
In actual numbers, “Angry” votes were thrice as much this year compared to that of 2013.
The President’s statements that received the most “Happy” votes…
were his reference to his father Ninoy Aquino…
the credit rating upgrades…
improvements in aviation security…
praise for Albay and the role of local governments in disaster management…
military modernization…
Department of Education programs…
and his appeal to his followers.

ESTRADA ASSAILS JAIL TRANSFER, CITES PUBLIC STATURE
Senator Jinggoy Estrada denounces attempts to transfer him to a regular jail.
In its motion, the prosecution said the PNP Custodial Center is not a jail as defined by law.
Estrada also says it’s not true his detention at Camp Crame is a form of special treatment.
In his reply before the anti-graft court Estrada says he deserves to be treated differently.
Lawyer Jose Flaminiano argues “Senator Estrada is not an ordinary citizen. “
He says aside from being a senator, he is the son of a former President, a member of the former first family, and a former mayor of San Juan city.
“He is a high-risk, high-profile detainee.”
Flaminiano adds his client’s transfer to a jail facility may endanger his life.

HOUSE PANEL TO MEET WEEKLY TO CONSOLIDATE FOI BILLS
President Aquino may not have mentioned the Freedom of Information or FOI bill in his State of the Nation Address but House Speaker Sonny Belmonte reiterates his commitment to prioritize the measure.
Belmonte endorsed the passage of the FOI bill during the opening of the 2nd regular session of Congress on Monday.
Deliberations on the FOI bill had moved at a snail’s pace stuck at the level of the technical working group of the House committee on public information.
House public information committee chairman Jorge Almonte says there are meetings set once a week throughout August and September to fast-track the bill.
Almonte says he is “80% sure” the FOI bill can be passed by 2016.
In the 15th Congress, lawmakers failed to take up the bill on the floor after it passed the committee level.
The Senate passed its version of the FOI bill last  March.

 

14,500 HAIYAN SURVIVORS STILL IN TENTS AFTER SONA
More than 14,500 survivors of Super Typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda still live in tents as of Wednesday – two days after President Benigno Aquino praised his administration’s efforts to help Yolanda survivors.
More than 6,000 people were killed in November 2013.
Social Welfare and Development Director Thelsa Biolena tells Rappler about 3,096 families of Haiyan survivors still live in tents in Region VIII or Eastern Visayas alone.
Eastern Visayas, which includes Tacloban City in Leyte, is the worst hit by Haiyan.
Government statistics show the average family size in Eastern Visayas is 4.7.
Estimates put the number of individuals in tents at around 14,500.

EBOLA: FLIGHTS SUSPENDED, FOOTBALL GAMES HALTED
African airline ASKY suspends all flights to and from the capitals of Liberia and Sierra Leone over the worsening Ebola health crisis.
ASKY serves 20 destinations in central and west Africa.
Ebola is a form of hemorrhagic fever which kills up to 90% of all cases.
Since March, there have been 1,201 cases of Ebola and 672 deaths in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The Liberian football association or LFA also suspends all activities in the neighboring country.
The finance ministry in Liberia says it placed several senior officials under observation for three weeks…
after being in contact with top ministry official Patrick Sawyer died from the virus.
127 people died of the disease in Liberia.
In Sierra Leone,  doctor in charge of an Ebola treatment center in succumbs to the deadly virus.
Dr Umar Khan died Tuesday, a week after he was diagnosed with Ebola.
Officials call Khan a “national hero” and praise his “tremendous sacrifice.”

 

THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ

 

EARTH’S 6TH MASS EXTINCTION COULD HAPPEN SOON
Is another period of mass extinction about to happen? Scientists say yes, and humans are primarily to blame.
Studies show Earth is experiencing an alarming decline in animal species, and this could be the “early days” of a sixth mass biological extinction event.
The review published July 24 in the journal Science said in the past 500 years animal population reductions and extinctions “may be comparable in both rate and magnitude with the five previous mass extinctions of Earth’s history.”
Scientists say human activity could have caused the decline.
The more complex solutions involve addressing climate change and pollution.

 

GAZA DEATH TOLL PASSES 1,200, HUMANITARIAN CRISIS LOOMS
More than 1,280 people in Gaza are killed after more than 23 days of fighting.
After a failed truce last week the Palestine Liberation Organization expresses readiness for another ceasefire…
but the Israeli government warns the public that fighting could be prolonged.
Fears of a humanitarian crisis mount over the lack of electricity in Gaza after its lone power plant was attacked.
There are long queues for basic supplies such as bread.
Water pumps in the city also stopped working.

 

SUMMER IN PARIS FOR TOURISTS AND RATS

Tourists in Paris for summer are greeted by a shocking sight.
Rats surface from the canals and sewers of the city to take advantage of food scraps tourists throw away.
An official of a pest control firm estimates there at least two rats for every Parisian.

 

For the full top 10 visit Rappler.com’s ‘the wRap.’

 

City and climate change image from Shutterstock

 

MIAMI HEAT GREET GILAS PILIPINAS IN FLORIDA
Gilas Pilipinas receives a warm welcome from Miami’s NBA squad.
The national squad is in Florida to prepare for the upcoming 2014 FIBA World Cup.
Four-time defending NBA Eastern Conference Champion
Miami Heat welcomes Gilas to South Florida on its official Twitter account.
Gilas head coach Chot Reyes says he hopes the Heat can visit their practice.
National team players LA Tenorio, Jayson Castro, and Beau Belga, meet and take pictures with the Heat’s new forward, Luol Deng.
The Heat’s head coach, Erik Spoelstra, is half-Filipino.

 

– Rappler.com

Newscast Production Staff

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER / WRITER Lilibeth Frondoso
DIRECTOR Rupert Ambil
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER / PUBLISHER Rodneil Quiteles
  Dindin Reyes
HEAD WRITER / PROMPTER Katerina Francisco
  Marga Deona
MASTER EDITOR / PLAYBACK Exxon Ruebe
  Emerald Hidalgo
  Jaene Zaplan
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR / CAMERAMAN Charlie Salazar
  Adrian Portugal
  Francis Lopez
  Naoki Mengua
GRAPHICS Jessica Lazaro
  Raffy de Guzman

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