Latest news with #Villafuerte
GMA Network
05-07-2025
- Climate
- GMA Network
PAGASA: 2025 storms 'less severe' compared to last year
An official from PAGASA on Saturday said the tropical cyclones that the Philippines will be experiencing this year will not be as severe as what the country endured in 2024 due to the absence of La Niña. 'As compared to last year, hindi siya kasing lala unlike last year… October to November isang buwan lang ito ay anim na sunod sunod na bagyo, actually typhoon and super typhoon categories,' PAGASA Deputy Administrator Mar Villafuerte said at a news forum in Quezon City. (As compared to last year, it's not as bad as last year... October to November is just one month; it's six consecutive typhoons, actually typhoon and super typhoon categories.) To recall, during the last quarter of 2024, the country endured six back-to-back tropical cyclones within less than 30 days, which heavily affected Luzon. Villafuerte's remark was backed by Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Solidum. 'On the average hindi [ganun kalala]… dahil walang La Niña,' Solidum said. (On average it's not that bad… because there's no La Niña.) La Niña is characterized by unusually cooler than average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific (CEEP). It is usually associated with above-normal rainfall conditions. In April, PAGASA announced the termination of the La Niña alert in the country as normal rainfall conditions are expected. 'Of course, hindi natin isinasawalang bahala… na baka maging kampante ang ating mga kababayan. Kapag merong nasa development phase pa lang siya… or even two weeks before na magkaroon ng tropical cyclone, ini-inform na natin ang ating mga kababayan para mapaghandaan ahead of time,' Villafuerte said. (We are not ignoring the fact that our countrymen may become complacent. When something is still in the development phase or even two weeks before a tropical cyclone occurs, we inform the public so they can prepare ahead of time.) PAGASA earlier said the country may experience 16 to 19 tropical cyclones this year. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
16-02-2025
- Health
- Filipino Times
OFW hospital expands services to include cancer, kidney diseases
The Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital (OFWH) has enhanced its services in 2025, catering to over 86,000 OFWs and their families by adding new facilities for treating serious conditions such as cancer and chronic kidney disease. Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte highlighted the improvements, stating, 'The OFW Hospital, which served over 86,000 migrant workers and their families in 2024, has significantly enhanced its capabilities by establishing treatment centers for those suffering from cancer or kidney disease.' Villafuerte, who played a key role in advancing the House bill allowing the hospital to hire both local and international medical specialists, emphasized the need for legislative support. He urged senators to pass a counterpart bill to House Bill No. 8325 before the end of the 19th Congress. This bill would enable the Department of Health (DOH) to assign specialists such as cardiologists, pulmonologists, and nephrologists to serve OFWs and their dependents at the hospital. House Bill 8325, which passed in May 2023, would allow the DOH to recruit various specialists to provide care at the OFWH, located in San Fernando, Pampanga. Additionally, the bill empowers the hospital to invite foreign experts in fields that are not available locally, to conduct clinics and treat patients. It also authorizes the hospital to send its staff for advanced medical training and to attend both local and international medical conferences, subject to DMW's approval. In addition to these services, the OFWH introduced Pre-Employment Medical Examinations for prospective OFWs and a Medical Assistance and Medical Repatriation Program for returning workers.
