Dateline Philippines

Like its equipment, Pagasa’s staff is also aging

Saturday, 14 November 2009 05:31 Alcuin Papa/Inquirer.net

MANILA - Besides the need to upgrade its equipment, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration also needs to do something about its aging staff.

Catalino Davis, Pagasa’s administration and engineering chief, told reporters during a media seminar in San Manuel, Pangasinan, that 40 percent of the agency's 900 employees are between the ages of 41 and 50. On the other hand, only 1.4 percent of its employees are between the ages of 21 and 30.

Hi-tech police command center set up in Metro Manila

Saturday, 14 November 2009 05:29 Abigail Kwok/Inquirer.net

MANILA - The National Capital Region police office on Thursday unveiled a state-of-the-art command center that will monitor major thoroughfares and help in police operations across Metro Manila.

The Regional Tactical Operation and Intelligence Center (RTOIC) is a P60 million sprawling command, control and communications center housing 42, 40-inch large format display (LFD) monitors showing live video feeds from closed circuit television cameras set up across Metro Manila.

RP whiz kids win 18 medals

Saturday, 14 November 2009 05:28 Jerry Esplanada/Inquirer.net

MANILA - A group of young Filipino numbers and science whizzes have done the country proud by winning a total of 18 medals in the just-concluded 2009 Indonesia International Math and Science Olympiad (IMSO) for Primary Schools.

Dr. Simon Chua, president of the Mathematics Trainers' Guild of Philippines who headed the Philippine delegation to the annual 10-nation tournament that ended last Friday in Jogjakarta said the one gold, five silver and six 6 bronze medals the Philippine team bagged were good for a respectable fourth place finish in the Math division.

Game show host Edu Manzano is Lakas bet for vice president

Friday, 13 November 2009 05:28 Katherine Evangelista/Inquirer.net

MANILA - Popular television game show host Edu Manzano is joining the 2010 political contest as Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro’s running mate.

Teodoro paraded Manzano, 54, as his vice presidential candidate at a news conference in Makati City Friday, a move seen as a bid to boost the administration party’s struggling campaign.

Clinton has high hopes on RP’s automated polls

Friday, 13 November 2009 05:27 Lira Dalangin-Fernandez/Inquirer.net

MANILA - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is optimistic the general elections next year in the Philippines will proceed smoothly under an automated system.

Speaking at a forum in the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila, which was aired live on television, Clinton said going fully automated for the first time “is a very positive step forward.”