Latest news with #JamesAgustin
GMA Network
18-07-2025
- Climate
- GMA Network
Heavy rains dampen Cagayan before ‘Crising' makes landfall
'Inaalala namin yung bahay namin,' said Roberto Ancheta, whose personal belongings were already packed. Cagayan experienced heavy downpour on Friday, even before Tropical Storm Crising made landfall in the province. According to James Agustin's report in '24 Oras', the rains caused gutter-high floods in Iguig. Meanwhile, residents near the sea in Barangay Baua in Gonzaga were told to evacuate. 'Inaalala namin yung bahay namin,' said Roberto Ancheta, whose personal belongings were already packed. (We worry about our house.) Roberto's elderly mother, on the other hand, had already evacuated. 'Malakas ang alon sa dagat. Lumalaki na ngayon, kaya pumunta kami dito,' said Charry Ancheta. (The waves in the sea are powerful. They are getting bigger now, that's why we came here.) But other families have yet to evacuate despite the threat of the storm. 'Kapag magiging worse na siguro o kaya makita namin na hindi na maganda yung panahon, that's the time na lilikas na kami,' said Rodante Acosta. (If the situation worsens or if the weather is no longer good, that's the time that we will evacuate.) Local authorities are closely monitoring the situation in the sea near Barangay Baua due to the powerful waves brought by the inclement weather. Hence, fishermen had to temporarily stop their livelihood. 'Mahirap, dito kami nakasalalay sa pagkain namin,' said fisherman Honrado Dela Cruz, who had to stop fishing for two days. (It's hard for us now because it's where we depend on our food.) Further, some roads and bridges in Baggao are currently impassable due to water from the creek and river spilling over. –Vince Angelo Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
18-07-2025
- Climate
- GMA Network
WATCH: Provinces hit by floods due to Crising
Tropical Storm Crising brought heavy rains and caused flooding in some provinces in Luzon and the Visayas, according to reports on GMA Integrated News' Unang Balita on Friday. In Cagayan, where Crising is expected to make landfall, residents in coastal municipalities were ordered to evacuate from their homes due to the risks of the bad weather, James Agustin said in his report. Authorities in Ilocos Norte were monitoring the Padsan River, as it may overflow to the roads, according to a report by JP Soriano. Floods were reported in Negros Oriental after their spillways swelled. Some affected residents were rescued in Negros Occidental, according to a report of GMA Regional TV's Adrian Prietos. In Antique, one house was damaged due to a landslide. Meanwhile, in Cebu province, some residents also evacuated as floods hit their areas. In its 5 a.m. bulletin, state weather bureau PAGASA said Crising was located 335 kilometers east of Echague, Isabela or 325 km east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. The tropical storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 80 kph, and moving northwestward at the speed of 20 kph. Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 is hoisted over the following areas: Batanes Cagayan including Babuyan Islands the northern and eastern portions of Isabela (Palanan, Ilagan City, Divilacan, Delfin Albano, Quezon, Tumauini, Maconacon, Santa Maria, Cabagan, San Pablo, Santo Tomas, San Mariano, Dinapigue) Apayao the northern portion of Kalinga (City of Tabuk, Balbalan, Pinukpuk, Rizal) the northern portion of Abra (Malibcong, Lacub, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay, Danglas, Lagayan, San Juan, Tineg, La Paz, Dolores) Ilocos Norte the northern portion of Ilocos Sur (Cabugao, Sinait) Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is raised over the following areas: the rest of Isabela Quirino Nueva Vizcaya the rest of Kalinga Mountain Province Ifugao the rest of Abra Benguet the rest of Ilocos Sur La Union the northern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Natividad, San Quintin, San Manuel, Tayug, Sison, San Fabian, Pozorrubio, Laoac, Binalonan, San Jacinto, Manaoag, Mangaldan, Dagupan City, Binmaley, Lingayen, Labrador, Sual, City of Alaminos, Bolinao, Anda, Bani, Agno, Burgos, Mabini, Dasol, Calasiao, Santa Barbara, Mapandan, Bugallon) the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler, Maria Aurora) the northeastern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Pantabangan) Polillo Islands Camarines Norte Catanduanes the northeastern portion Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, San Jose, Presentacion, Tinambac, Siruma, Goa) —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
17-07-2025
- Climate
- GMA Network
Cagayan residents brace as Crising nears landfall
Residents in Cagayan are preparing for the effects of Tropical Depression Crising as it is expected to make landfall in the province should it follow its forecasted direction. According to James Agustin's Thursday report on '24 Oras,' the Cagayan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) is now on red alert status as of 5 p.m. Thursday, which enforces a forced evacuation of coastal municipalities. A total of 15 coastal municipalities are being monitored, including Barangay Aggugaddan in Peñablanca, where residents like Olive Mondejar are putting stones and pieces of wood on the roof of their house to prevent them from being blown away by expected strong winds. As part of precautions, boats used to take tourists along the Pinacanauan River to go to the Callao Caves were taken out of the water while cottages were dismantled. 'Sa ngayon po ang epekto kapag masama ang panahon medyo mahina-hina ang takbo ng turismo dito sa amin kaya ang mga kasamahan ko medyo naghahanap hanap ng ibang trabahon,' said Amado Domingo, Callao Boat Association president. (When the weather is bad, tourism here tends to slow down, so my colleagues are looking for other jobs," said Samado Domingo. Earlier today, tourists like Janice Espiritu and her coworkers took advantage of the fair weather and proceeded with their vacation trip to the river. Authorities are closely monitoring the river, which was at a normal level, so tourists were still allowed to be travel. Equipment for search and rescue operations such as rubber boats, life vests, and life rings, are on standby at seven quick response stations. Authorities are also monitoring the level of the Cagayan River and its tributaries. The Cagayan PDRRMO also urged residents to obey authorities during evacuations. 'Sa mga kababayan po natin sa Cagayan natatandaan po natin yung last year na sunod sunod na bagyo halos pareho ang track nito na dadaanan. Huwag na po tayong magdili dali na hindi sumama sa mga barangay officials kapag kayo po ay pinuntahan para sa kasiguraduhan nyo at kaligtasan,' said Rueli Rapsing, Cagayan PDRRMO acting head. (To Cagayan residents, let us remember last year's consecutive typhoons that followed almost the same path. Follow the barangay officials during evacuation. It's for your own safety and protection.) — Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
09-07-2025
- Climate
- GMA Network
Floods reported in Luzon, Mindanao amid heavy rains
Several areas in Luzon and Mindanao experienced flooding following the heavy downpour Tuesday, according to reports on GMA Integrated News' Unang Balita. Metro Manila In Metro Manila, some motorists and residents waded through floodwaters in Maysilo Circle, Barangay Plainview, Mandaluyong City as well as in Caruncho Avenue, Pasig City, based on a report by James Agustin. The River Drive in Las Piñas City was submerged in flood after the river swelled from the heavy rains. In other areas, some residents also faced challenges in passing flooded streets. Students in Taguig City who were going home encountered heavy rains and slow traffic. On the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), some commuters decided to walk after their vehicles were stranded due to the heavy traffic and flooding in the area. The traffic jam extended up to 12 kilometers from Alabang exit southbound and four kilometers from Sucat exit northbound. A child was discovered unconscious on the riverside in Barangay Talon 3 in Las Piñas City, according to a report by Bam Alegre. The kid was rushed to the hospital after not responding to first aid. Authorities deployed an inflatable raft to rescue residents who were trapped in the floods. Over 100 families were affected and staying in modular tents in a covered court, according to the report. Cavite In Cavite, motorists and residents were also affected by the up to waist-deep floods in Bacoor, based on a report of Jhomer Apresto. Sandbags were placed outside homes to block the flood waters. One of the residents said a rat bit him amid the flooding. Some license plates of motorists were also lost in the floods. Mindanao Meanwhile, in Cotabato, the strong current of muddy flood was near overflowing to the roads in Makilala town. Residents nearby were advised to take caution for possible flash floods and landslides. Flooding was also reported in the town of Mlang. In Zamboanga City, an acacia tree fell on a house and computer shop. A child of the house owner was wounded from the broken glass. NDRRMC A total of 97,274 people or 31,106 families in Luzon were affected by Tropical Cyclone Bising and the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Wednesday. In its report, the NDRRMC said the affected population was reported in the Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). The NDRRMC said that of the total affected population, 15 people or three families were staying in evacuation centers while 3,026 people or 1,022 families were taking shelter in other places. Floods were reported in 35 areas, landslides in two areas, and falling debris incidents in two areas. A total of 16 houses were damaged—12 partially and four totally. Three roads remained impassable to motorists. Classes in 247 areas and work schedules in 36 areas were suspended. Assistance worth P955,117 has been provided so far to the victims, according to the NDRRMC. On July 4, a low pressure area inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) developed into Tropical Depression Bising. At 2:00 p.m. on the same date, Bising exited PAR. On July 6, Bising as a typhoon re-entered PAR. On July 7, Bising as a severe tropical storm again exited the area. —Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
16-06-2025
- Climate
- GMA Network
Classes for SY 2025-2026 begin despite flood, fire damage in some schools
Classes opened nationwide on Monday for School Year 2025-2026 with over 27 million students expected to return to classrooms. Some schools however had to adjust after flooding and fire incidents. For hundreds of students at a public high school in Quezon City, the first day of the school year meant attending class in makeshift spaces after a fire damaged one of their buildings on Sunday. In a report by James Agustin on Unang Balita, San Francisco High School in Bago Bantay had to relocate 16 sections to the school's covered court—eight Grade 10 classes in the morning and eight Grade 9 classes in the afternoon. The sessions were shortened as authorities worked on emergency arrangements following Sunday's blaze. The affected classes, totaling around 640 students, were met by their teachers for a brief 'meet and greet' and orientation on health protocols, including the use of masks due to poor air quality in the affected area. 'Ngayon po ang ginagawa namin ay i-assure 'yung mga estudyante na tuloy-tuloy ang klase at ligtas sila,' said Principal Dr. Marissa Lou Rodriguez. (What we are doing now is assuring our students that classes will continue and they are safe.) Students will resume regular class hours tomorrow as they will be relocated to the DepEd A Building, which is currently being used by the senior high school. 'Ang immediate concern namin ay mabigyan ng espasyo ang mga bata para hindi maantala ang pag-aaral,' said Quezon City Schools Division Superintendent Carleen Sedilla. (Our immediate concern is to provide space for the children so their learning will not be hampered.) At the break of dawn, a flag-raising ceremony and the recitation of the Panatang Makabayan marked the official start of the school year for San Francisco High—albeit under emergency arrangements. Meanwhile, in Bea Pinlac's report at Malabon Elementary School, floodwaters greeted students and parents early in the morning following a downpour and high tide the night before. School staff had worked early to pump out water from the school grounds, though some areas outside the campus remained submerged. Principal Rosela Abude assured parents that students' classrooms were not affected and that there were safe walkways to access learning spaces. 'Kahapon po nagkaroon ng malakas na ulan, high tide pa po. Pero hindi apektado ang classrooms at may mga daanan ang mga bata,' she said. (Yesterday, there were heavy rains and it was high tide too. But the classrooms were not affected and the children have a walkway.) The school, which held pre-opening activities last Friday, is expecting over 3,200 students this year and continues to accept late enrollees. Students will undergo reading and math assessments this week to determine who needs academic support under the school's intervention program. In Iloilo City, Kim Salinas of GMA Regional TV reported that cloudy skies and cool winds welcomed students at the Iloilo City National High School, where classes began as early as 6 a.m. The school employs a shifting schedule to accommodate its 6,300 enrollees—slightly down from last year's 7,100, but still expected to rise in the coming days. Morning classes run until 12:15 p.m., followed by an afternoon shift until 6:45 p.m. Handwashing stations are ready on campus as part of health safety measures amid concerns about monkey pox or mpox. Police have also been deployed in full force across Western Visayas to ensure safety and order on campus grounds. In General Santos City, a one-stop enrollment area was set up at Lagao National High School for students who were unable to register before the opening of classes. As reported by Efren Mamac, a designated space in the school is still accepting late enrollees, with non-teaching personnel assisting transferees and new students to avoid disrupting the regular classes already underway. 'Mas mainam na non-teaching staff ang umaasikaso para hindi maantala ang pagtuturo ng teachers,' said Principal Francisco Espinosa. The school has so far enrolled around 3,000 students—lower than last year's 4,000. According to the Department of Education (DepEd) in General Santos, as of June 14, there are about 132,979 enrolled students across both public and private schools in the city—significantly lower than last year's figure of 179,325. Still, DepEd Gensan reminded parents that enrollment remains open even after classes have begun. Schools across the country reopened on Monday, June 16, marking the official start of School Year 2025–2026 with the DepEd expecting around 27 million enrollees from preschool to senior high school. "All systems go po ang lahat sa pagbubukas ng ating klase," DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said in a Viber message. Teachers hold protest action Meanwhile, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines staged a sunrise protest at Mendiola on Monday to decry what it called the government's worsening neglect of the country's education system. Setting up a makeshift classroom with monobloc chairs and cleaning materials, teachers and parents symbolically highlighted the burdens being shouldered by communities amid persistent shortages in classrooms, teachers, and basic learning facilities. 'Sasabak na naman tayo sa isang taong panuruan sa ilalim ng sistemang kulang na kulang ang pondo,' said ACT Chairperson Vladimer Quetua. "Taon-taon na lang, mga guro lagi ang taya para punan ang kakulangan sa eskwela—from cleaning and repairs to student needs. We bear the brunt of this systemic neglect.' Quetua said the Marcos Jr. administration has failed to adequately address critical gaps in education, resulting in deteriorating quality and worsening school conditions. ACT cited data pointing to a massive shortage of 165,000 classrooms nationwide. Given current budgetary allocations, the group warned that addressing this gap could take at least 55 years. The shortage has forced schools to adopt double and even triple shifts, conduct classes in makeshift rooms, or revert to blended learning—conditions that hinder effective teaching and learning. The group also flagged a lack of teaching personnel. While DepEd figures peg the shortage at over 56,000, ACT estimates that 150,000 more teachers are needed to reduce class sizes to the global standard of 35 students. Citing the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) from the Philippine Statistics Authority, ACT also noted that 18 million Filipinos who finished basic education remain functionally illiterate—underscoring the impact of long-standing systemic issues. ACT reiterated its call for the national government to take urgent action: hire 30,000 teachers yearly and build 50,000 classrooms annually until 2028. The group said this would help eliminate chronic shortages and keep pace with growing enrolment. 'Two years ago, we made these demands. But they were dismissed as unrealistic while billions were channeled to confidential and intelligence funds,' Quetua lamented. GMA News Online asked Angara for comment but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time. Bisita Eskwela launched Alongside Monday's protest, ACT also launched Bisita Eskwela in Metro Manila to document school conditions and collect firsthand reports from teachers, administrators, and communities. The group expressed alarm over reported efforts to restrict information sharing. According to ACT, some DepEd officials have allegedly instructed teachers not to speak with media and warned union members to exercise extreme caution when discussing school opening issues. 'This is a blatant attempt to manufacture the illusion of readiness,' Quetua said. 'Suppressing free expression undermines public accountability and the rights of educators.' ACT concluded by urging the Marcos administration to double the national education budget and commit to long-term solutions. "We cannot fix deep-rooted problems if we continue to deny they exist. The future of our learners and the dignity of teachers are on the line,' Quetua said. —KG, GMA Integrated News
