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The confirmed death toll in Cebu has risen to 19 following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck late Tuesday night.

According to the Cebu Provincial Information Office, nine adults and four minors died in Bogo City. Based on an initial report from the Capitol, most of the victims were crushed when their homes collapsed. Bogo City was the epicenter of the quake.

In San Remigio, five deaths were confirmed, including a 10-year-old child.

Raymond Frasco of the San Remigio Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said three of the fatalities were personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard, while one was a member of the Bureau of Fire Protection.

They were reportedly trapped and crushed by concrete inside a gym where a basketball league between the two agencies was being held during the earthquake.

The local government has placed the entire San Remigio under a state of calamity due to damages caused by the quake.

Meanwhile, through his official Facebook account, Mayor Rex Gerona confirmed that a senior citizen in Tabuelan also died during the strong earthquake.

Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro said the Office of the President has reached out to ensure aid from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s office will be extended.

After an emergency meeting at the Capitol, the governor will proceed to Danao City, where an Emergency Operations Center will be established to respond to the quake’s impact in northern Cebu.

Dump trucks and boom trucks from her office will also be deployed to assist with clearing and rescue efforts./mcm

The plenary debates on the Office of the Vice President (OVP) proposed 2026 budget has been reset again as no undersecretary-level official showed up at the House of Representatives – with the chamber giving the office one last chance to appear on Thursday.

During the plenary session on Wednesday, Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan asked whether Vice President Sara Duterte is present to defend the agency’s proposed allocation for 2026.

Deputy Speaker Yevgeny Emano asked Deputy Majority Leader and Mindoro 1st District Rep. Arnan Panaligan to respond to Libanan’s question.

‘Mr. Speaker, according to our agenda for today, the next agency in the agenda is the Office of the Vice President. May we know if the Vice President is present, Mr. Speaker?’ Libanan asked. ‘Mr. Speaker, we have been informed that the Vice President is not present, but sent the following officials of the Office of the Vice President, namely Assistant Secretary Lemuel, the OIC chief-of-staff; Atty. Rosalynne Sanchez, director for admin and financial services; and Mr. Norman Baloro, director for operations,’ Panaligan replied.

After this response from the Deputy Majority Leader, Libanan asked if the requirement of the House is to have either the head of agency or the second-in-command – an undersecretary-level official – assist the budget sponsor in defending the proposed budget.

In response, Panaligan said that plenary debates on the OVP budget was actually scheduled for Tuesday, but it was rescheduled to Wednesday because of the same issue.

Panaligan noted that OVP will have one final chance to appear on Thursday – the last day of debates before the House moves to make amendments on the floor.

‘Mr. Speaker, is it not the requirement of this House, is that for the heads of agencies (to) be personally present as what happened during our previous deliberations, and in this case, we need the presence of the Vice President?’ Libanan asked again.

‘That is correct Mr. Speaker, the rules of the House requires the presence of heads of agencies in the consideration of their budget [.] Mr. Speaker for the record, today is the second time that the proposed budget of the OVP was put in our agenda. Yesterday, the proposed budget of the OVP was even number one in the agenda, but only the same officials mentioned earlier were present,’ Panaligan said.

This is not the first time that the OVP sent an official that is not of an undersecretary level. Last September 12, at the initial budget hearing before the House committee on appropriations, the panel was forced to reschedule the discussions as Ortonio was the highest-ranked official that Duterte sent.

Budget sponsor and Palawan 2nd District Rep. Jose Alvarez said that Vice President Duterte will eventually show up on September 16 – a promise that she fulfilled. During the committee hearing, both the Minority and the Majority accorded parliamentary courtesy to Duterte, sparing her from questions by the panel’s members.

Duterte however waived the parliamentary courtesy given, answering some questions from the Minority solons.

The provinces of Biliran, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, and Southern Leyte remained without power on Wednesday morning, while internet services were reported to have slowed down after transmission facilities were damaged by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Bogo City in Cebu on Tuesday night and reverberated across many areas in the Visayas and was felt as far as the Bicol Region.

Several local governments-including Paranas in Samar and the cities of Baybay and Tacloban in Leyte-opened charging stations for mobile phones to help residents cope with the power outages.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) reported that 27 of its power plants sustained damage, resulting in the loss of 1,444.1 megawatts (MW) from the Visayas grid. The NGCP identified the following transmission lines that remain out of service:

Daanbantayan (Cebu)-Tabango (Leyte) 230kV L1 and L2 (Lines 1 and 2)

Daanbantayan-Compostela (both in Cebu) 230kV L1 and L2

Tabango-Kananga (Leyte) 230kV L1 and L2

Kananga-Ormoc 230kV (Leyte) L1

Ormoc-Babatngon (Leyte) 138kV L1 and L2

Babatngon (Leyte)-Paranas (Samar) 138kV L1 and L2

Paranas-Calbayog (Samar) 138kV L1 and L2

Ormoc (Leyte)-Maasin (Southern Leyte) 138kV L2

Isabel-Tongonan (Leyte) 138kV Line

Isabel-Pasar (Leyte) 138kV Line

Pasar-IASCO (Leyte) 138kV Line

The NGCP said, however, that several transmission lines had already been restored, including the Ubay (Bohol)-Maasin (Southern Leyte) 138kV Line (energized at 4:01 a.m.); the Ormoc-Maasin 138 138kV L1 (energized at 4:18 a.m.) and the Ormoc-Isabel 138 kV Line (energized at 5:11 a.m.).

Power transmission services in the rest of the Visayas grid were reported to be under normal operations. The grid covers Panay, Negros, Cebu, and Bohol, using submarine cables and land transmission lines.

Meanwhile, classes were suspended in several parts of Eastern Visayas on Wednesday in the wake of the powerful earthquake.

Among the areas where classes were canceled due to safety concerns were Catbalogan City in Samar; Ormoc City and the Leyte towns of Isabel, Matag-ob, Palompon, Villaba, Leyte, and Tabango; Macrohon in Southern Leyte; and the entire province of Biliran, which is still reeling from the devastation of Typhoon ‘Opong’ that pummeled the province on September 26.

In Tacloban City, no official suspension was declared by the city government, but several schools opted to cancel classes, with parents choosing not to send their children amid fears of aftershocks.

Local government units immediately conducted rapid damage assessments.

In Ormoc City, engineers declared the city hall building safe after a post-quake inspection.

In Isabel town, the Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corp. (Philphos), the country’s leading fertilizer producer, assured the public that its ammonia tanks and pipelines at the Leyte Industrial Development Estate were secure. Its management emphasized that safety valves are in place that automatically shut down operations during emergencies such as earthquakes.

The quake also triggered landslides in some areas of Leyte province, including Barangay Abijao in Villaba town, a vital access route to nearby Palompon, and in parts of Leyte, Leyte town.

As of 10:30 a.m., electricity had not been fully restored in Leyte, although supply returned to some areas in the province’s second district and in Tacloban City./coa

Manny Pacquiao will lead the 50th anniversary celebration of the ‘Thrilla in Manila’ as a promoter, headlining a blockbuster boxing card on October 29 at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The event, co-presented by Pacquiao and the International Boxing Association (IBA), will be anchored by a WBC strawweight world title bout between Filipino champion Melvin Jerusalem and South Africa’s Ayanda Kuse. ‘I wasn’t born when the original fight happened and I’m leading the promotion now,’ Pacquiao said during the official launch. ‘I feel blessed at to bring to life 50th celebration of ‘Thrilla in Manila.”

The original ‘Thrilla in Manila’ between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier was held on October 1, 1975, at the same venue.

The undercard features Olympic silver medalist Eumir Marcial against undefeated American Eddy Colmenares, along with appearances by Filipino standouts Marlon Tapales, Carl Jammes Martin, and Arvin Magramo.

‘This is a world championship and a celebration of the ‘Thrilla in Manila,” Pacquiao added. ‘It’s a big help for our boxers that they get to fight in international promotions like this.’

Pacquiao also revealed that VIP guests are expected, including relatives of Ali and Frazier and former world champions.

‘We will invite a lot of personalities. We will have a lot of surprises,’ he said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has directed its field office in Central Visayas to increase its coordination with local government units (LGUs) following a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck off the coast of Cebu on Tuesday night, resulting in at least 26 deaths.

‘Our disaster quick response teams (QRTs) at the Central and Field Offices are on alert and have already reached out to the LGUs to assist the affected families,’ DSWD chief Rex Gatchalian said in a statement on Wednesday morning.

‘We know that our fellow Filipinos who had been affected are in need of urgent assistance,’ the secretary added.

He likewise said that food and non-food relief supplies are already on standby for distribution to the affected LGUs.

To date, Gatchalian disclosed that the agency maintains P379 million in standby funds and has 2.4 million boxes of family food packs (FFPs) for affected communities.

‘Yesterday, we were already on alert as we are preparing for an approaching low-pressure area that may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility. And disaster operations for ‘Opong’ are still ongoing, so our DSWD QRTs have already been on high alert,’ he noted.

‘We will ensure that all hands are on deck to help with the victims of the earthquake,’ he added.

DSWD Field Offices are also monitoring areas affected by the earthquake with the coordination of their LGUs for possible assistance.

Based on reports, the quake had damaged heritage churches and other structures and knocked out power in parts of the central Philippines.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) initially measured the quake at magnitude 6.7 before upgrading it to 6.9.

It occurred at 9:59 p.m., with the epicenter located 21 kilometers northeast of Bogo City, Cebu, at a shallow depth of 5 kilometers. The U.S. Geological Survey initially recorded a magnitude 7.0 before revising it downward.

Authorities on Wednesday said the death toll has risen to at least 26, with more fatalities feared as rescue operations continue.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros has flagged two water laboratory firms for allegedly passing the water samples from a water concessionaire despite failing at least one safety parameter.

Hontiveros, during Monday’s Senate Committee on Public Services hearing on disadvantageous joint venture agreements between water districts and private concessionaires, said that the Department of Health (DOH) should investigate, and if necessary, penalize two laboratories, Cosmolab and Scientia Tech.

The two laboratories allegedly cleared water samples from a water concessionaire in Laguna, which were later discovered to have failed in at least one safety parameter, according to local water district officials.

‘We will send you (DOH) the addresses of Cosmolab and Scientia Tech for double checking . and revoke accreditation if you so warrant,’ Hontiveros told DOH officials.

Inquirer reached out to Cosmolab and Scientia Tech for comment, but they have yet to respond as of posting time.

Hontiveros then quizzed DOH officials as to their oversight of accredited laboratories conducting water safety tests.

‘How could this water testing facility in Santa Cruz, which tested the water, and said it was only a typographical error that said the result was [marked as] failed. But the overall assessment came out as ‘passed’? Don’t you oversee such facilities so that they don’t falsify the results and put people’s health at risk?’ Hontiveros asked in Filipino.

In response, DOH Engineer Luis Cruz said the agency’s Health Facilities and Services Regulatory Bureau oversees accreditation for water safety tests, and that all complaints involving erring laboratories will be then referred to the bureau.

‘I did not know the Discayas and that was the first and only time outside of the blue ribbon committee hearings that I met them.’

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson issued the statement Wednesday, addressing the circulating image of him with the controversial contractor couple Cezarah ‘Sarah’ and Pacifico ‘Curlee’ Discaya.

According to Lacson, the photo was taken ‘sometime in the last week of April,’ near the end of the 90-day campaign period for the 2025 midterm elections, when Fred Villaroman, a campaign supporter from Davao City and son of the late Police Brigadier Francisco Villaroman, visited Lacson’s Taguig City office to invite him to a grand rally in Mindanao. Villaroman was accompanied by the Discayas’ son, Pacifico Felizario Discaya II, Lacson said, adding that he declined the invitation.

‘The young Discaya was a nominee of a party-list group-Ako Pinoy or Ako’y Pinoy-vying for a seat in Congress. They were later joined by Mr. and Mrs. Discaya. Anyway, I begged off-first, out of respect for my friend Senate President Tito Sotto whose nephew, Mayor Vico Sotto, was running against Mrs. Discaya for the mayorship of Pasig City,’ said Lacson.

‘And second, there were other party-list groups who were including my name in their sample ballots, and I thought it was not a smart political decision to join a rally of any party-list group,’ he added.

Lacson emphasized that he did not know the Discayas, and that event was the ‘first and only time’ outside the blue ribbon panel’s hearing that he met them.

‘That meeting took around 15-20 minutes, but not before that group photo was taken. I hope this clarifies whatever insinuations are being attached to this said photograph,’ said Lacson.

Lacson’s clarification followed a Facebook repost of the photo by Cavite Rep. Kiko Barzaga, who called for an investigation.

The Discayas were among the key resource persons invited by the blue ribbon to shed light on the alleged collusion among contractors, lawmakers, and officials.

Earlier, Curlee first named House members and government officials he alleged received kickbacks tied to public works projects

Defending champion Mapua opened its NCAA Season 101 campaign with a dramatic 90-89 double-overtime victory over Lyceum on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

With team captain Clint Escamis fouling out late in regulation, it was JC Recto who carried the Cardinals in crunch time. The veteran forward tallied 16 points and nine rebounds, delivering clutch plays in both overtime periods to lift Mapua past a gritty Lyceum side. ‘I just let my instincts take over,’ said Recto, who was thrust into the spotlight after Escamis exited with only eight points. ‘All I thought about was doing whatever the coaches asked me to do.’

Recto tied the game at 80-all with a three-point play in the first overtime, neutralizing a late Pirates surge. He did it again in the second extra period, converting another and-one to pull Mapua even at 87-all in the final minute.

With the game knotted and time winding down, it was rookie guard Cyrus Cuenco who sealed the win. Fouled by Lyceum’s Lance Aurigue with 12 seconds left, Cuenco calmly hit the second of two free throws to give Mapua the final lead. Cuenco finished with 14 points, while Earl Sapasap and Yam Concepcion chipped in 16 and 13 points, respectively, for the Cardinals, who began their title defense with a statement win.

Mapua, which won the NCAA title last season after ending a decades-long championship drought, showed its depth and resilience despite missing key contributions from Escamis down the stretch.

The loss spoiled a strong effort from Lyceum’s Renz Villegas, who poured in 23 points. Michael Versoza also registered a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, but the Pirates failed to close out the game on multiple opportunities.

A widening corruption inquiry into flood control projects threatens to cast a shadow over the Philippines’ growth outlook, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) warned, as intensifying scrutiny may slow the government’s infrastructure push.

Speaking at a press conference in Manila, Andrew Jeffries, the ADB’s country director for the Philippines, said the scandal’s economic impact may show up in the lender’s updated growth forecasts due in December.

For now, Jeffries said the fallout was difficult to quantify, as funds originally earmarked for flood control works are expected to be redirected to other government priorities.

Recall that some P255.5 billion had been slashed from the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) proposed 2026 outlay following President Marcos’ order to conduct a sweeping review of its original P881.3-billion budget.

‘Temporary slowdown’

Malacañang had said the money would be shifted to social services and education, among other key sectors. Even so, the budget department had warned that a ‘temporary slowdown’ in infrastructure spending was likely as the DPWH verifies completed projects and tightens scrutiny of billings and payment claims.

‘That’s certainly a risk to economic projections going forward,’ Jeffries said. ‘More broadly, corruption has broad impacts on economic growth in general and investment sentiment. We’re monitoring that and how that may be affected going forward.’

In its flagship Asian Development Outlook report, the ADB pegged its growth forecast for the Philippines at 5.6 percent for this year. If realized, gross domestic product (GDP) expansion would settle near the low-end of the Marcos administration’s 5.5- to 6.5-percent target for 2025.

Looking ahead, the bank trimmed its projection for 2026 to 5.7 percent, from 5.8 percent previously. This would fall short of the government’s 6- to 7-percent goal, with the ADB mainly attributing the downgrade to external headwinds, including higher US tariffs that could sap investments.

Infrastructure outlays

The government’s growth ambitions hinge partly on keeping infrastructure outlays at 5 to 6 percent of GDP. With investigations into alleged irregularities in flood control projects ongoing, Jeffries said the ADB would hold off on revising its outlook until more data is available.

‘We didn’t see a reason at this point in time to reduce those GDP projections due to that issue. But it’s certainly a heightened risk,’ he said.

Despite the recent revisions, the ADB still ranks the Philippines as Southeast Asia’s second-fastest-growing economy this year and next, trailing only Vietnam. The country is also expected to outpace Developing Asia-a group of 46 economies projected to expand by an average of 4.8 percent this year and 4.5 percent in 2026.

‘The Philippines’ growth outlook remains resilient amid a global environment of shifting trade and investment policies and heightened geopolitical uncertainties,’ Jeffries said.

‘Though these uncertainties pose increased risk, we see strong domestic demand anchoring growth, with sustained investments and an accommodative monetary policy supporting the economy’s expansion,’ he added. INQ

Credit-led fintech Salmon Group Ltd. has raised $50 million from its latest Nordic bond issuance, a deal seen to accelerate its aspiration to build ‘Southeast Asia’s next-generation consumer banking.’

This latest debt offering follows the $60-million inaugural bond issue in April 2025. This brings Salmon’s total bond financing to $110 million under its $150-million Nordic bond framework.

Strong demand from global fixed income investors made the issue oversubscribed by two times the original offer, the fintech said.

Salmon cofounder Raffy Montemayor said: ‘We are opening a new chapter for Philippine financial services built on innovation, inclusion and trust. As the Philippines stands at the heart of Southeast Asia’s growth story, with its young consumer base, strong regulators and digital-first mindset, we see tremendous opportunity to reshape the industry.’ Out to scale faster

‘Through Salmon Bank and Sunprime Finance, we are proud to lead this transformation by offering products that meet the everyday needs of Filipinos, including credit lines, cards, consumer and moto loans, and now high-yield deposits,’ Montemayor said.

The group operates through its financing company and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas-regulated Salmon Bank (Rural Bank) Inc., formerly known as Rural Bank of Sta. Rosa (Laguna) Inc.

Montemayor said the successful bond issuance validated international investors’ confidence in both the Philippines and Salmon’s long-term vision.

‘With this new funding, we are poised to scale faster, bring world-class financial services closer to millions of Filipino families, and redefine what banking can mean in our region,’ added Montemayor.

Pareto Securities acted as the sole bookrunner and underwriter on the transaction. Explainer: Nordic bond?

According to a leveraged finance publication issued by Baker McKenzie’s Stockholm office, Nordic bond offering is an efficient and low-cost debt financing option. It benefits issuers by giving them an alternative form of financing while also rewarding investors who are chasing attractive yields in instruments that offer some level of liquidity.

However, Nordic bonds require no credit rating and limited disclosure, which also means that less information is made available to investors and no meaningful vetting of the issuer and its business is conducted, the publication said.