2011 May « Expat 2 Phils

Cebu Pacific Returns To Calbayog

20 May 2011 2 Comments

by Admin Dale in Calbayog City, Flights, Travel Tags: CEB, Cebu Pacific

For several months now, Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) has not been flying between Manila and Calbayog. I do not know why this happened, only that they cancelled all of their flights. Their website still showed the route, and Calbayog continued to be included in their promotional offers, even though no flight dates were available. Now that appears to be changing.

According to the current CEB Domestic Flight Schedule, they will renew service beginning on June 10, 2011. (see picture below)

CEB - Domestic Flight Schedule of 4/11/2011

Bebeng/Aere: Calbayog Update

10 May 2011 Leave a Comment

by Admin Dale in Calbayog City, Calbayog City Water District (CCWD), News, Samar Province, Samelco, Weather Tags: Aere, Bebeng, Storm Damage, Tropical Storm

As promised, here is an update on Tropical Storm Bebeng, now internationally known as Aere.

Now that the storm has moved north, all is calm in Calbayog City, Samar. There was a limited amount of damage, mostly trees and fences being blown down by high winds. Our house experienced some leaking through upstairs windows, as the winds were driving the rain at nearly a 45 degree angle. I also noticed some nipa roofs being blown up by the high winds, surely causing rain to go inside. As mentioned in my previous article, at least one road, in Matobato, was flooded by overflowing drainage ditches. In places the water was about 6 inches deep. Later, that same day, work crews braved the storm to clean out a drainage ditch, which put an end to the road’s flooding. I apologize for the quality of these photos. Due to weather conditions, and my camera not being water proof, it was difficult to get good images.

We experienced a blackout of electric power (locally known as a brownout) beginning on the afternoon of May 7th. Once the winds and rains subsided, the local power company, Samelco, had their crews out repairing the damages. Power was restored the next day, May 8th.

In an unrelated utility problem, Calbayog City Water District (CCWD) is experiencing problems with one of their pumps. This is causing low water pressure through out the city. Yesterday we did not have any water, at our house, during the entire daylight hours. Today has been a little better, with intermittent water.

Elsewhere, there was more severe damage cause by Bebeng. The Sun.Star has reported the “death toll (rose) to 15″, mostly in Bicol. Over 100,000 people have been evacuated from their homes. At least 50 flights have been cancelled or re-routed. Even President Noynoy Aquino had to delay his return to the Philippines by one day. He was in Indonesia for an ASEAN summit.

According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Bebeng is expected to leave the Philippines and pass close to Taiwan before heading towards Japan.

Additional news stories on Bebeng/Aere:

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2011/05/10/bebeng-death-toll-rises-15-154589

http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/philippine-storm-kills-17philippine-storm-kills-17-939815.html

http://gulfnews.com/news/world/philippines/twelve-killed-as-tropical-storm-moves-north-1.805567

Maggi Noodles – Salmonella – Recall

09 May 2011 Leave a Comment

by Admin Dale in Health, News Tags: Maggi Rich Mami Noodles, Nestle Philippines, Product Recall

Nestle Philippines has recalled all of it’s Maggi Rich Mami Noodles, both the Beef and Chicken flavors. This was done after traces of salmonella were found in two batches of the beef flavor.
The lot codes for the two batches, of beef flavored Maggi Rich Mami Noodles, where traces Salmonella were discovered were 11020598A2 and 11030598A1. According to a Nestle Ad, “The lot code numbers are found at the back of the product pack, between the ‘Best Before’ date and the ingredients list.” “The product recall is a precautionary measure being taken to ensure the safety and quality of our products.”

Nestle is requesting consumers who have purchased Maggie Rich Mami Noodles to “contact (their) hotline at 8980061 (for Metro Manila) and 1-800-100-637853 (toll-free for provincial areas).”

Zamboanga Department of Health (DOH) Local Health Support Director Dr. Joshua Brillantes says that salmonella will cause diarrhea, food poisoning, and fever.

In addition to the recall, Nestle Philippines has halted production of all their Maggi Rich Noodle products, “pending the completion of (their) investigation.” Referring to the flavoring sachet included with the noodles, Nestle has stated “initial findings suggest flavoring ingredients as the cause.”

Suzette Lazo, director of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said that Nestle has done “a very responsible thing” by informing her office of the recall, and now the FDA has “to do our own test and get a report from (Nestle) every day.” She went on to say that the flavor enhancer, which is added to the noodles after they are cooked, seem to be the contaminated ingredient, and the U.S. has also recalled this flavor enhancer.

According to a Sun.Star article “912 cartons or 82,080 pieces of beef-flavored Maggi Rich Mami Noodles were contaminated with salmonella … Around 650 cartons have already been pulled out while others are deemed sold.”

So where are the other 200 plus cartons? Of course, some may already be in people’s houses. But there is another problem too. Many of the small Sari-Sari stores purchase their products from a larger store, rather than directly from a Nestle Distributor. If these stores are unaware of the recall, they may still be selling a tainted product.

If you have friends or relatives in a remote area, or island, of the Philippines, please advise them to stop eating Maggi Rich Mami Noodles until this has been resolved. For now, they should switch to another brands of noodles. I know we will be informing relatives on Almagro Island.

Additional references used to write this post:

http://asiancorrespondent.com/53783/philippines-nestle-recalls-maggi-noodles-due-to-salmonella/

http://blogwatch.tv/news/voluntary-recall-of-maggi-noodles-by-nestle/

http://www.zamboangatoday.ph/index.php/news/13-top-stories/4266-dont-eat-maggi-for-now-doh.html

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2011/05/07/dont-shun-other-noodle-brands-supermarket-group-tells-consumers-154134

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/05/05/11/maggi-noodles-recalled-over-salmonella-scare

Bebeng: Calbayog: Rain, Wind, Flooding

07 May 2011 Leave a Comment

by Admin Dale in Calbayog City, News, Weather Tags: Bebeng, PAGASA, Storm

Several hours ago I went for a walk, and took some pictures of flooded road conditions here in Brgy Matobato, Calbayog City, Samar. Since then the situation is only getting worse. here are some of the pictures I took then:

The rains started several hours after President Aquino’s visit to Calbayog City on Thursday, May 5. At that time, according to PAGASA, it was only a low pressure system. The surface winds, at that time were about 25 knots. Since then it has been upgraded to Tropical Depression “BEBENG”. The US Navy Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) has issued a “TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING”, as the surface winds have reached 35 knots, gusting to 45 knots. PAGASA is currently saying maximum winds of 55 kph near the center of the storm. PAGASA is also expecting the storm to intensify, as it heads towards Manila. Here is a link to a JTWC graphic showing the US Navy’s expected path of Bebeng.

Samar Sea travellers, returning from Almagro Island on friday morning, informed me that the seas were quite rough then. Interrestingly, they were returning from a festival that Mayor Uy had been scheduled to attend, prior to his being shot and killed.

This is rather unusual weather for May, which is considered to be the dry season. Earlier in the year, PAGASA had declared this year a La Niña, or wet year, but they had expected La Niña to end in March.

There is more I plan to write, however the power has started flickering. Already my computer has been “turned off” once by lack of good voltage, so I will have to update this later.

Aquino Honors Slain Mayor

05 May 2011 1 Comment

by Admin Dale in Calbayog City, Politics, Samar Province Tags: Assasignation, Mayor Dr. Reynaldo S. Uy, President Benigno S. Aquino III

Amidst heightened security, President Benigno S. (Noynoy) Aquino III visited Calbayog City today. The purpose of his visit was to pay his final respect to slain Calbayog Mayor Dr. Reynaldo S. Uy.

Mayor Uy was shot last saturday night, while attending the town fiesta in Hinabangan, Samar. He died several hours later at Divine Word Hospital in Tacloban City. Samar board member Eunice Babalcon was also shot, and is now recovering.

Dr. Uy was a former congressman and political ally of President Aquino. He was also the provincial chairman of the Liberal Party, and had initiated a recall election of the governor and vice governor of Samar province. Had that recall election taken place, Mayor Uy and board member Babalcon were expected to be gubernatorial and vice-gubernatorial candidates.

In his Labor Day speech, President Aquino said regarding the murder of Mayor Uy: “I pressed Raul Bacalzo to ensure a speedy investigation, the arrest of the people behind this dastardly act. They were shot, I understand, while their heads were bowed in an invocation.”

Many believe this shooting was politically motivated, including Mayor Uy’s oldest daughter Rosa Jessica Uy-Delgado, who said the killing of her father was a “political murder” perpetrated by a “highly corrupt politician.” She did not, however, identify who she thought was responsible for the murder of her father.

President Aquino has ordered the police to “clamp down” on Samar Province to prevent any further violence. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary, Jesse Robredo has also suspended gun permits for the province.

A total of P1.2 million has been offered in reward moneys for anyone who can help identify and arrest those responsible for the murder of Mayor Uy. The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has even released sketches of the suspected killers. Pictures of the sketches, and more information is available on inquirer.net

The Governor of Samar Province, Sharee Ann Tan, has urged police authorities to hasten their investigation. She has also denied their family’s involvement in Mayor Uy’s killing.