(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 27 March 2024) Easterlies affecting the eastern section of the country. Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Easterlies / Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms.


TOP STORIES – Thursday, March 30, 2023

TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online news monitoring)

30 March 2023, Thursday, as of 5:00 p.m.

This handout picture from the Philippine Coast Guard taken on March 29, 2023 and released on March 30, 2023 shows members of the Philippine Coast Guard assisting in search and rescue operations related to a fire onboard the Lady Mary Joy 3 in the waters off Baluk-baluk island in Basilan province. At least 12 people died and 230 were rescued after a fire engulfed the ferry in the southern Philippines, authorities said on March 30.                                                                                                                                         Handout / Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) / AFP

1. Death toll in Basilan ferry blaze rises to 31 [DZBB, ABS-CBN News, CNN PHL, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, News5, Rappler, Manila Times, Philstar]

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/30/2255642/death-toll-basilan-ferry-blaze-rises-31

2. ICC probe:

-Philippines joins global declaration of commitment to democracy but nixes ICC

-PHL response to ICC exposes Marcos’ empty words on human rights –groups

[GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, News5, Philstar, Rappler, Inquirer]

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/213124/fwd-ph-joins-global-declaration-of-commitment-to-democracy-but-disassociates-from-any-icc-reference

3. PCG: Over 20 foreign vessels seen around shoals near Palawan [Manila Bulletin, Manila Times, Philstar, GMA News]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/865498/pcg-over-20-foreign-vessels-seen-around-shoals-near-palawan/story/

4. Philippine debt rises to new high of P13.75 trillion in February [Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Times, News5, Philstar, CNN PHL, GMA News, ABS-CBN News]

https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/03/30/23/philippine-debt-rises-to-p1375-trillion-in-february

5. NPA:

-No need for peace talks with NDFP after Masbate attacks —VP Sara

-Teachers 'not allowed' to join volunteer work, extracurricular activities during school hours —DepEd

-ACT strikes back: Castro is true teachers' representative, not VP Duterte

[Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Times, Rappler, CNN PHL, GMA News]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/865496/no-need-for-peace-talks-with-ndfp-after-masbate-attacks-vp-sara/story/?just_in

6. Marcos tasks CHED to help address shortage of nurses [Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Philstar, ABS-CBN News, GMA News]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/865499/marcos-tasks-ched-to-help-address-shortage-of-nurses/story/

7. Romualdez appoints self as legislative caretaker of Teves' district [ABS-CBN News, CNN PHL, GMA News, Inquirer, Philstar, Rappler, Manila Bulletin]

https://mb.com.ph/2023/3/30/romualdez-appoints-self-as-legislative-caretaker-of-teves-district

8. BARMM top cop relieved over 2 syndicated estafa cases [ABS-CBN News, CNN PHL, Inquirer, News5, Rappler, Manila Bulletin]

https://mb.com.ph/2023/3/30/barmm-top-cop-relieved-over-2-syndicated-estafa-cases

9. DOJ revises departure formalities following complaints from passengers [Manila Bulletin, Philstar, GMA News, ABS-CBN News]

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/30/23/doj-revises-departure-formalities-after-passenger-complaints

10. Filipina photographers win in 2023 World Press Photo awards [CNN PHL, Rappler, Philstar]

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/30/2255411/filipina-photographers-win-2023-world-press-photo-awards

© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit