Dev Flores

Casualties from the Nepal-Tibet flooding continue to increase, based on the report of Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Agency (NDRRMA).

As of September 1, the agency reported 987 deaths, 3,916 missing individuals, while 11,814 were rescued, and 297 were injured.

The search, rescue, and relief operations remain limited to Nepali government offices. Hence, the agency advised individuals searching for relatives to monitor their official website for updated patient rosters.

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The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is closely monitoring the air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR) following the observed haze, which may be linked to smoke from the wildfire in Kalimantan, Indonesia. 

“The observed haze is possibly associated with smoke and transboundary haze from ongoing fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, which may have been transported towards the Philippines by prevailing winds,” the DENR EMB said

According to the latest air quality monitoring from the agency, as of 4:00 PM, several locations across the NCR recorded PM2.5 levels.

The agency explains that PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter in the air with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller, which can be dangerous for respiratory health.

Hence, the DENR EMB advised the public, especially sensitive groups, to limit prolonged outdoor exposure and wear N95 face masks when going outside is necessary.

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The House prosecution panel will next present defense spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa as a witness in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Atty. Poa served as undersecretary, spokesperson, and chief of staff of the Department of Education (DepEd) when Vice President Duterte was a Secretary of the agency.

House Deputy Speaker and La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega believes that Atty. Poa is a central figure of the impeachment trial.

“Hostile witness man si Atty. Poa o hindi, I believe he’s a central, one of the central figures po sa impeachment na ‘to at dito po sa article na ‘to,” he said

[“Whether Atty. Poa is a hostile witness or not, I believe he’s a central, one of the central figures here in the impeachment and in this article.”]

“In the case of Atty. Michael Poa, siya po ang bibig. Siya ang bunganga. Siya ang mouth ng Bise Presidente, and you cannot speak, you cannot defend, and you cannot honor your words kung wala kang alam,” he noted

[“In the case of Atty. Michael Poa, he was the voice. He was the mouth of the Vice President, and you cannot speak, you cannot defend, and you cannot honor your words if you know nothing.”]

Manila 6th District Rep. Benny Abante shared the same view, stating that the Vice President trusts Atty. Poa.

“Siya ang pinagkakatiwalaan ng Pangalawang Pangulo, so therefore, sa mata ng taong-bayan, alam po niya ang nangyayari. Hindi pwedeng hindi,” he said

[“He is trusted by the Vice President, so therefore, in the eyes of the pubic, he knows what is happening. It is impossible that he doesn’t.”]

Atty. Poa previously appeared during the investigation of the House Good Government and Public Accountability and said that he did not know how the fund was spent.

In his recent statement, the defense spokesperson said that he is ready to face and testify before the Senate impeachment court.

“No reservations. I welcome the opportunity to testify on the extent of my participation in the subject matter, and perhaps even shed some light on what really transpired during those CGGPA hearings conducted by the House of Representatives,” he said

With reports from Rosalie Coz

Our signature is deeply attached to our identity. Wherever you go and whatever transaction you have, you present an ID featuring your official signature.

But what if you want to change your signature? Is it allowed?

In an interview with Atty. Noliver Barrido from the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) in Serbisyong Bayanihan, he said that there is no problem if someone wishes to change his/her signature.

“Wala pong magiging legal problem kung gusto po niyang magpalit ng pirma,” he said

[“There will be no legal problem if he/she wants to change a signature.”]

However, changing your signature comes with important responsibilities.

According to Atty. Barrido, updating your signature requires you to updated the signatures on your existing identification cards as well because signatures are present in the IDs.

He stressed the importance of updating the identification cards because signatures are used to compare or confirm whether a signed document is valid or authentic.

Signatures are also utilized in banking transactions; that’s why it is also important to update your records in your respective banks.

“Kasi itong pong ating mga identification cards, tandaan po natin yung pirma po natin ay may mga certain transactions po diyan na talagang ini-scrutinize po yung ating signature, gaya po sa banking, sa mga credit card transactions, sa notarization, sa pagpirma po ng mga kontrata, among others,” Atty. Barrido explained

[“Because with our identification cards, we have to remember that our signature is heavily scrutinized in certain transactions, such as credit card transactions, notarization, signing contracts, among others.”]

If you plan to change your signature, make sure you are prepared to fulfill the necessary responsibilities in updating your official records.

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Amid continuous rains across parts of Luzon, residents face disruptions and hazards. Due to flooding and landslides, residents are forced to stay in evacuation centers to keep them safe from the hazards brought by the severe weather.

But did you know that there are health risks present in staying in evacuation centers?

To help protect your family from illness, Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Pau Vanadero outlines common health risks in evacuation centers and essential safety tips:

1. Respiratory Infection

(Flu, COVID-19, Cough, Cold, etc.)

Bacteria and viruses may spread quickly in crowded areas, making respiratory illnesses, like cough and cold, highly contagious.

Wear a face mask to minimize transmission, and consult a doctor if symptoms persist or worsen.

2. Skin Infection

(Athlete’s foot, rashes, scabies, etc.)

Dr. Vanadero mentioned that the “moist area is very favorable for fungal infections like tinea pedis (athlete’s foot).”

Skin rashes or scabies are also possible, especially in crowded areas.

Hence, avoid sharing footwear, clothes, towels, or bedding with others.

3. Parasitic Infection

(Head lice)

Parasitic infection can spread rapidly through direct contact or shared personal items, such as using combs owned by an infected individual.

Avoid sharing combs, brushes, or headwear as long as possible.

4. Foodborne Infection

This infection comes from contaminated water.

Make sure that all water used for drinking and cooking is clean and safe. Bring an adequate supply of clean water stored in sealed containers when transferring to evacuation centers.

Take note of these health risks, and apply the safety reminders the next time you stay in evacuation centers.

Stay safe, mga Kasangbahay!

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