By Michael Lim Ubac, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Six months. Promise. In a news briefing at Malacañang on Wednesday, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Francis Tolentino announced a self-imposed deadline—until December—to fix the worsening flooding and gridlock that on Monday night paralyzed the capital.

Singson and Tolentino were the focus of criticism in the media for Monday’s miseries triggered by monsoon downpours at the outset of the rainy season—the kind that confronted President Benigno Aquino III even before he had warmed his seat in Malacañang at the start of his “daang matuwid” administration three years ago and led to the sacking of the weather bureau chief.

By Bernice Camille V. Bauzon And Ritchie Horario, Manila Times

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario on Wednesday recalled the ambassadors and labor officials from the Philippine embassies in Jordan, Syria and Kuwait who were implicated in the sexual abuse and harassment of Filipina migrant workers.

In a press conference, del Rosario said he already knows the identity of one of the possible victims. He admitted that he found the sex charges “disconcerting.”

By Catherine S. Valente, Manila Times

President Benigno Aquino 3rd promised inclusive growth as he vowed to provide thousands of stable jobs in the remaining three years of his term.

”The next three years will see continued interventions in the poorest of the poor,” Aquino said, citing direct service interventions and boosting sectors that create jobs and livelihood opportunities.

By Nelson Beltran (philstar.com)

Two-time MVP awardee Benjie Paras and buddy Ronnie Magsanoc led seven other esteemed personalities nominated to compose the fifth batch of honorees to the PBA Hall of Fame.

In a strong consensus in a meeting Wednesday, the PBA Hall of Fame selection/nomination committee also named as nominees former Rookie of the Year awardee Arnie Tuadles, Lim Eng Beng, import Sean Chambers, coach Ed Ocampo, referee Egmidio Cahanding, longtime league board member Elmer Yanga and media man Fred Luarca.

By Waylon Galvez, Manila Bulletin

Gilas Pilipinas appears to be in desperate situation as the coaching staff is at a loss where to bring the national team for more practice and toughening up as the FIBA Asia championship nears.

A plan to bring the squad to Las Vegas has effectively been ruled out because there appears to be no team ready to play Gilas in tune up or exhibition matches.

By ABS-CBNnews.com

When the San Antonio Spurs were up by five with 28 seconds to go in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, some of the Miami Heat fans felt that the end was near and began heading towards the exit of the American Airlines Arena.

But LeBron James launched a three-point bomb to cut the deficit to two and the Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard could only connect one of his two charity shots, giving Miami a three point opening, 95-92, in the dying seconds.

By Kristel Satumbaga, Manila Bulletin

The Philippine rugby team will make its first-ever appearance in the prestigious Rugby World Cup Sevens on June 28-30 in Moscow.

The team will be up against some of the best in the world but the players are confident of making enough of an impact to progress into bigger competitions.

By Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star)

The government committed yesterday to relocate within the year 20,000 families living in eight esteros or waterways to mitigate flooding and traffic in Metro Manila.

Asked why this was not done during the summer, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson admitted that the relocation was delayed upon the request of some local officials due to the elections.

By Iris Gonzales (The Philippine Star)

Architectural and design firm Budji-Royal was awarded the P1.6-billion contract to redesign the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in preparation for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ meeting in 2015.

Royal Pineda, Budji-Royal architectural and design firm president, told The STAR: “It’s the spirit of bayanihan at work to fix the country’s airport, dubbed in 2011 as the worst airport in Asia.”

By Frances Mangosing, DJ Yap, INQUIRER.net, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Brain drain has claimed another ranking official of the state-run weather bureau.

Vicente Malano, officer-in-charge at the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration told INQUIRER.net on Wednesday in a phone interview that he received a text message from Pagasa administrator Nathaniel Servando Tuesday night informing him of his decision to quit.

By Philippine News Agency

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Wednesday night Emong was on its way out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

But officials said the weather won’t be improving in the near term due to another weather disturbance already spotted closing in on the country.

By Edd K. Usman, mb.com.ph

Whether Malaysia likes it or not, its Sabah problem is not about to ride into the sunset as the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo yesterday vowed to wage an indefinite struggle to repossess North Borneo.

As this developed, a new round of fighting between the Sultanate’s Royal Security Force (RSF) and Malaysian troops broke out for the second time in two days.

By Mario J. Mallari, Tribune

The military yester-day said it will not nego-tiate with the New People’s Army for the release of five Army soldiers who are now declared as prisoners of war (POWs) by the NPA’s Southern Mindanao Region Command.

Armed Forces of the Philippines-Public Affairs Office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala stressed the military will instead conduct rescue operations to free the five Army soldiers from the group of Leoncio Pitao, alias Commander Parago, in Davao.

By Jaime Sinapit, InterAksyon.com

At least 2,500 brand-new vehicles seen to boost crime-fighting capabilities of the National Police will be purchased soon in a deal that Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas” II on Wednesday promised would be graft-free and transparent.

Roxas said in a briefing the government has released more than P2 billion for the purchase of 2,500 troop carrier vehicles of the PNP; these are diesel-engine, single-cab vehicles designed with inward-facing or outward-facing seats.

By Marc Jayson Cayabyab/KBK, GMA News

A magnitude 4.4 quake was felt in Metro Manila and nearby provinces Wednesday evening, state seismologists said.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the quake was tectonic in origin and was felt in the following areas:

By Jet Villa, InterAksyon.com

As dengue cases are seen to spike even more this rainy season, the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday cautioned the public against misusing the Tawa-tawa or Euphorbia hirta herbal plant as a cure for the deadly mosquito-borne disease.

At the same time, health authorities warned people against using the antibiotic doxycyclin indiscriminately as a preventive measure against another deadly disease, Leptospirosis.

by Gorgy Rula, PEP

Pagkatapos i-announce ang walong entries sa 2013 Metro Manila Film Festival, marami ang nagtaka dahil walang pelikula ang Regal Films. Nakipag-co-produce lamang ito sa pelikulang Pagpag ng ABS-CBN Productions.

Tinawagan ng PEP ang Regal matriarch na si Lily Monteverde para mahingan ng pahayag kung bakit wala itong naisali. Sinabi naming nakasanayan na ng manonood na mayroon talagang pelikulang kalahok ang Regal Films taun-taon. Last year, entry nila ang Shake Rattle & Roll 14.