News Update Forest fires destroy 8 hectares of fruit-bearing trees in Isabela

CAUAYAN CITY, Isabela - At least P3 million worth of assorted fruit-bearing trees were reduced to ash when forest fires raged over eight hectares of plantation sites in the towns of Ramon and Cordon, this province.

Out of the total number of damaged plantation sites, six hectares were in Barangay Aguinaldo in Ramon while the other two hectares were in Barangay Anonang in Cordon.

The Cagayan Valley office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ordered an investigation on the cause of the fire that destroyed the fruit-bearing trees which were supposed to be part of the sources of livelihood of people living in the said communities.

Based on initial reports, the mango, rambutan and other fruit-bearing trees planted in the said sites were part of the national government's upland development program (UDP).

They were sites of the government intervention program to rehabilitate and effectively manage the denuded mountains of Northern Luzon, DENR Region II officials said.

Initial investigation conducted by the Community Environment and natural Resources Office (CENRO) showed the fires were due to unattended burning of dried leaves in a nearby area which immediately spread to the plantation sites because of the prevailing warm weather triggered by the El Niño phenomenon.

The fire has prompted DENR Region II officials to advise other UDP beneficiaries in the the region to closely monitor their planted tree species in order to avoid the future occurrence of fires partly blamed on the prevalence of the prolonged dry spell.

Earlier, the Regional Development Councils (RDC) in the Cordillera, Ilocos region and Cagayan Valley pledged to work together in implementing an uphill battle to reforest the denuded watersheds and forests in their respective areas of jurisdiction which is part of the national government's intervention to mitigate the worsening effects of global warming, especially to the lucrative agriculture and industrial sectors in the said places.

The aim is the effective "regreening" of barren mountains and vacant lands with fruit-bearing trees from which those maintaining them can derive their income.

News Update Hottest day in Manila this year recorded on Tuesday—PAGASA

It just keeps getting hotter. State weather forecasters from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) recorded on Tuesday the hottest temperature in Metro Manila this year, a GMA News report said. According to the report, the temperature in Metro Manila, particularly in Quezon City, reached 36.8 degrees Celsius at 2 p.m. Tuesday. This figure surpassed the previous hottest-day “record" of 36.1 degrees Celsius last April 6.

This page requires a higher version browser Meanwhile, a sizzling 39.5 degrees Celsius—2.5 degrees higher than the normal human body temperature—was recorded in Tuguegarao City in Cagayan province.

Tuguegarao has earned the reputation of being the country’s hottest city, where the highest temperature in the Philippines was registered on April 29, 1912. The state weather bureau had earlier warned that temperature in some parts in the country may breach the 40-degrees-Celsius mark due to the El Nino dry spell.—Andreo C. Calonzo/JV

Kopi Talk - Manila Forida Bus Terminal

Florida Bus Terminal in Manila G.V. FLORIDA TRANSPORT, INC. was founded in 1999 by brothers George and Virgilio Florida, Jr. The family owned company was formerly founded by Virgilio Florida, Sr. under the name FLORIDA LINER in the late 1970's. It served the Manila - Cagayan Valley route as well as several areas in region I and II. Some of the company's buses play the local area such as the Tuguegarao, Cagayan to Laoag City, Ilocos Norte and Baguio City in Benguet Province. A few years ago, the Florida siblings requested their parents to divide the family business so they could start at their own. The bus units were then divided to the heirs according. It was decided that the Manila - Cagayan route operation would be taken over by George and Virgilio, Jr. while the local routes were divided among the remaining siblings. After long years of working with the family-owned company, the duo was able to hone their skills in transport operation. Teamwork and dedication enable them to triple or even quadruple their units for provincial operations. They are continuously engage in the gradual expansion and modernization of their operation to suit the needs of the passengers and provide them with better service. By the way, the trip from Gamu to Manila took about 8 hours provide they were no traffic, I had once experienced 11 hour on the road due to massive landslide at Sante Fe mountainous region, thank god the Super deluxe was equipped with toilet.One way trip cost P610. Maybe,next trip I will try their super deluxe Sleeper with reclining bed, Hey I deserved it, ok !