NEWS BRIEFS: May 9, 2019

MANILA, Philippines — Cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms are expected in Luzon on Thursday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

In its 4 p.m. weather bulletin on Wednesday, Pagasa said rains were expected in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.

Better weather conditions are expected in the Visayas and Mindanao. Localized thunderstorms will cause partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers, said Raymond Ordinario, Pagasa weather specialist.

The agency is monitoring one low pressure area (LPA) after two similar weather systems spotted near Luzon dissipated on Wednesday.

As of 3 p.m. on Wednesday, the LPA was spotted 1,090 kilometers east of Mindanao. Ordinario said the bureau expected the weather disturbance to dissolve within the next 24 hours. —Jhesset O. Enano

POEA stops issuing permits for 35 Saudi jobs

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) on Wednesday said residency permits of workers in at least 35 job categories in Saudi Arabia would no longer be renewed as the kingdom intensified a program aimed at limiting its reliance on foreign workers.

The POEA said the Saudi government would also begin terminating the contracts and deporting workers age 35 to 54, under the identified job categories to give young Saudi graduates opportunity to work.

Among the affected jobs are purchasing officer, auto show dealer, information recorder, housing supervisor, secretary, customer accountant, debt collector, tour guide and pharmacist.

The POEA said it would assist displaced workers in seeking jobs in other labor markets. —Jovic Yee