The tropical depression east northeast of extreme Northern Luzon has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and was named “Gener.”
According to Pagasa severe weather bulletin issued at 11 am, August 13, Thursday, Gener is moving West Southwestward at 20 km/h with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.
Tropical Depression Gener is forecast to move westward to west-southwestward near the northern boundary of the PAR and will remain far from the Philippine landmass.
This weather disturbance is likely to weaken into a Low-Pressure Area within 12 to 24 hours.
No tropical cyclone wind signal will be raised throughout the forecast period. Gener is unlikely to bring high impact weather over any part of the country.
Forecast position: 24 Hour(Tomorrow morning): 545 km Northeast of Basco, Batanes(24.2°N, 125.4°E)
Also read: PLDT-Smart to build around 200 cell sites
Zubiri wants a finance expert to lead PhilHealth
Due to the relentless allegations of corruption thrown at Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri wants a finance expert to run the agency.
The senator proposed that 41-year-old acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua be appointed as head of PhilHealth.
“He’s my choice. Ang pinakamaganda ilagay bilang pinuno ng PhilHealth ay isang finance expert,” said Zubiri.
“I’ve never heard of any complaint when it comes to his credibility or his work ethics. Napakagaling ng work ethics niya… Sanay na sa budgeting ‘yang si Karl. Numbers expert siya, ang ibig kong sabihin mahuhuli niya ang discrepancies na ito,” he added.
Chua was the acting secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) after former agency chief Ernesto Pernia resigned in April.
PhilHealth’s current president and CEO, Ricardo Morales, who is facing a congressional investigation into allegations of corruption in the agency, is scheduled to take medical leave next week due to lymphoma.
Zubiri earlier bared Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) released P10 million to a 10-bed infirmary in the Davao region. The hospital has no COVID-19 cases.
Zubiri then revealed in a Viber group with reporters that the hospital he was referring to was Golingay General Hospital in Malalag town, Davao del Sur.
The facility was an 18-bed infirmary, which was allegedly among the top seven highest-paid hospitals in the Davao region for pneumonia claims in previous years.