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THE Department of Agriculture (DA) wants to amend the decade-old Sugarcane Industry Development Act (Sida) to bolster farm productivity and eventually stamp out importation.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. called on lawmakers to revise the existing sugar law to cater to other projects that would boost the country’s output of the sweetener, particularly zeroing in on irrigation.

‘We have to amend the Sida law [.] that would allow for more flexibility,’ Tiu Laurel said during a Senate hearing on the proposed budget of the DA on Wednesday.

‘What we clearly need in our sugar industry is irrigation. If we irrigate all our sugar lands, it will only cost P8.8 billion. Then there’s a chance we won’t need to import anymore because we’ll be producing [more].’

He also stressed the importance of liming because much of the soil planted for sugarcane is acidic, which could be detrimental to plant growth.

Liming is a process that increases the pH level in soil, thus reducing the acidity and enhancing soil health.

‘So, we have to put lime for maximum production. We also have to invest in research and development to get new planting materials,’ Tiu Laurel said.

The Sida earmarks an annual P2 billion budget for the sugar industry, half of which should bankroll infrastructure support programs, including farm-to-mill roads.

The remaining amount will be shared by four projects: 15 percent for grants to block farms; 15 percent for socialized credit; 15 percent for research and development, capability building, and technology transfer activities; and 5 percent for scholarship grants.

Budget documents, however, showed that the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has only received P1 billion since 2023, and even less than that since 2019.

For SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona, the funding allocated to Sida should be augmented.

‘We suggest increasing the funding to maybe P5 billion,’ Azcona said during the Senate hearing.

He noted that half of the budget would still be allotted to farm-to-mill roads, while the remaining should cover modernization initiatives for the industry.

‘There are still quite a few roads that need to be built, and we would also like to include the modernization of sugar mills and farm mechanization.’

The House of Representatives recently allocated an additional P1.4 billion to the SRA, which puts the agency’s proposed budget at P2.4 billion for 2026.

This figure is a fraction of the realigned P255 billion funding by the House, which was originally allotted for flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Sida or Republic Act 10659 was signed into law in 2015 to promote the competitiveness of the sugarcane industry and maximize the utilization of sugarcane resources.

The IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) has denounced the ‘irresponsible declaration’ made by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region 7 which ‘prematurely’ identified several IT-BPM firms that have been ordered to halt operations for alleged labor rights violations.

IBPAP said none of the accounts of its four member companies named by the BPO Industry Employee Network (BIEN) confirmed that employees were prevented from leaving the production area despite the earthquake, particularly regarding the blocking of exits, and forced to return to their workstations without safety clearance.

However, BIEN criticized IBPAP for what it described as an attempt to downplay safety violations raised by Cebu-based workers during and after the recent earthquake. In a statement on Thursday, BIEN said IBPAP’s remarks ‘attacked’ both DOLE Region 7 and employees who reported being forced to return to work despite ongoing aftershocks.

‘IBPAP denounces this irresponsible declaration by DOLE Region 7, which prematurely named companies without the benefit of impartial investigation or validation,’ it said.

The group said such actions ‘run contrary to the principles of fairness and good faith expected of a government agency that serves as a partner of both workers and employers in ensuring safe and decent workplaces.’

It added that the ‘reckless naming’ of companies before the Senate and in the media ‘damages reputations, causes confusion among employees, and creates undue alarm among global clients whose confidence directly impacts investment, business continuity, retention, and creation of jobs in the Philippines.’

The industry group said this misinformation has ‘serious’ international repercussions.

For one, it said business process outsourcing (BPO) clients who entrust critical operations to the Philippines may begin to see the country as ‘unreliable, inconsistent, and non-compliant’ in its regulatory practices.

Further, IBPAP said such a perception ‘erodes confidence, drives business to competing destinations, and jeopardizes the very jobs and revenues the Philippine IT-BPM industry has worked hard to secure.’

The industry group also expressed concern that clients may become ‘hesitant’ to expand outside Metro Manila, ‘undermining countryside development opportunities where these jobs are most needed and where DOLE itself aims to create and safeguard livelihoods.’

Since the initial reports surfaced, IBPAP said it has been in active communication with DOLE National Capital Region to request the official list of companies involved, along with corresponding complaints, reports, and allegations made by BIEN, which IBPAP said, does not represent the IT-BPM industry in the Philippines.

‘Despite these repeated efforts, no documentation has been provided to date,’ IBPAP said. ‘It is therefore disappointing for IBPAP to learn about this information only through a statement made during the Senate hearing that was subsequently published in an online news article.’

IBPAP said the findings from its inquiry ‘disprove’ BIEN’s claims of widespread employee safety violations among IT-BPM employers during the Cebu earthquake.

‘Their sweeping accusations cast the entire industry in an unfavorable light and unfairly generalize IT-BPM companies as non-compliant with labor laws, despite long-standing and consistent adherence to labor and safety standards,’ it added.

The industry group said it is ‘highly irregular’ that DOLE Region 7 conducted an inspection of a company supposedly included in the alleged work stoppage order only in the evening after the Senate inquiry.

‘This was reported to IBPAP as the inspection was happening in Cebu. The fact that a BIEN representative accompanied DOLE during this inspection raises questions about impartiality, given BIEN’s highly biased stance against IT-BPM employers for alleged violations of employee safety standards,’ it said.

‘We therefore urge the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to investigate this matter thoroughly and issue a clarificatory statement on how it is being handled. Furthermore, we insist that DOLE Region 7 rectify its records and remove the names of companies that were included in the report submitted to the Senate Committee on Labor and Employment,’ it added.

‘Documented incidents’

‘There was an earthquake. There were evacuation failures. There were workers forced to return to their stations while aftershocks continued,’ BIEN said. ‘These are not rumors. They are documented incidents, supported by workers’ testimonies, photos, videos, and reports from multiple Cebu BPO sites.’

The group said labeling these accounts as ‘unverified’ or ‘misinformation’ denies the experiences of workers who feared for their safety.

It added that the incidents showed ‘clear breaches’ of occupational safety and health (OSH) standards.

‘When ceilings crack, exits are blocked, and employees are ordered to resume calls despite shaking floors, no amount of corporate spin can erase the fact that OSH standards were violated,’ BIEN added.

According to BIEN, IBPAP’s response reflects its intent to ‘protect industry interests’ rather than address the safety concerns of employees.

‘IBPAP’s statement exposes who they truly represent: not the 1.9 million workers they claim to speak for, but the business owners and foreign clients whose profits depend on uninterrupted operations, even in the face of danger,’ BIEN said.

BIEN added that IBPAP’s concern over reputational harm and investor confidence ‘misses the point,’ noting that the real threat to the industry’s image comes from unsafe workplaces, not from workers speaking out.

‘If IBPAP truly values the integrity of the industry, it should hold its member companies accountable instead of gaslighting the very workers who keep this $40-billion sector running,’ the group said.

BIEN also urged DOLE to remain firm in enforcing labor standards, saying its role is to protect workers, not companies.

It said the work stoppage orders issued in Cebu were a ‘necessary step’ to prevent further harm and compel compliance with safety regulations.

The group added that full transparency is needed by releasing the list of firms found to have violated OSH standards and the corrective actions implemented.

THE last time the National Basketball Association (NBA) went to China, there was silence.

They were two of the most awkward games probably ever played, a pair of preseason matchups between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers with some fans barely reacting to anything and no press conferences held afterward.

This time, it’s going to be very different. Back to normal, it would seem.

The Nets and Phoenix Suns have made their way to the Chinese gambling hub of Macao for two preseason games-one Friday, the other on Sunday, and marking the NBA’s first games played in China since 2019.

There are two more games planned for next season in China as well.

‘I think it’s very important for us to be able to bring the live game experience, including live games, to as many fans of the NBA around the world,’ NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum said. ‘And there’s no doubt that China has one of the largest fanbases in the world-hundreds of millions of fans in China, 300 million people play the game of basketball in China, and our mission is to inspire and connect people everywhere through the game of basketball.’

There was a time where it seemed uncertain if that connecting would still be possible.

A geopolitical rift was sparked by a tweet posted by Daryl Morey-then the general manager of the Houston Rockets, now of the Philadelphia 76ers-that was in support of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong. China severed most ties with the NBA for some time, taking games off its broadcast channels, and the process of mending at least some fences took years.

Even now, the games come at a turbulent time and there is trade friction between the US and China, with both sides threatening sky-high tariffs on the others’ exports.

And the NBA has long heard criticisms from lawmakers-on both sides of the aisle-about not taking a stronger public stance about China’s human rights record.

‘Much of the sports industry is based on relationships and we think sports plays a unique role in building community-not just in the United States but around the world and particularly at times of heightened division,’ NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. ‘Whether that division is domestically or globally there’s almost nothing else I can think of that brings together communities like sports does, and particularly a sport like basketball that is globally played, globally understood.’

The Nets and Suns will play at Macao’s Venetian Arena, which is owned by the Las Vegas Sands Corp.-which is a casino operator there as well. Sands president and chief operating officer Patrick Dumont is governor of the Dallas Mavericks, assuming that role after his family acquired the team.

‘Obviously, we know this is great for the Phoenix Suns and our community, our whole organization and the NBA,’ Suns coach Jordan Ott said.

The Nets are owned by Joe Tsai, the chairman of Chinese tech giant Alibaba. And this NBA season comes with high hopes for a Chinese rookie: Yang Hansen, a 7-foot-1 draft pick who is expected to play a role for the Portland Trail Blazers this season.

He’s thrilled that the NBA is headed back there, finally.

‘I want to say firstly, playing for the Blazers is a wonderful thing for me, and I wish that I can take all the players and management and coaches to China for sure in the future,’ Yang said with the support of an interpreter. ‘For sure, I wish [for] more games in China. . That works for me perfectly. I just wish that in the future, we can have it-I can also play in front of all my homies, which is also the proudest thing for me.’

China is an important market for the NBA, for obvious reasons. If the NBA’s numbers are right-300 million fans-that’s 300 million potential consumers in a basketball-crazed part of the world. The Blazers are already seeing how impactful that can be.

‘One thing that I noticed this summer, and I’ve been with the team almost 13 years, we were No. 1 in the league in social media rankings in July during Summer League, which I’ve never seen before,’ Trail Blazers President Dewayne Hankins said. ‘And a lot of that was due to the incredible audience that Yang Hansen brings to us.’

This has been no secret for some time. Chinese fans love the NBA, plain and simple, and want more.

San Antonio Spurs’ star Victor Wembanyama spent time in China this summer; if he was spotted on a morning jog, fans would sprint that way just to try to get a look at him. The Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James toured China this summer for the 15th time with Nike, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer saying, ‘There’s an unbelievable love and appreciation for basketball in Asia that’s always incredible to experience.’ Jimmy Butler toured China again as well, as did his Golden State Warriors teammate Stephen Curry-who has long drawn massive crowds for his visits.

‘The skill level and the excitement around the game is really special and I was happy to kind of experience that in Chongqing this year and have something that I’ve done here in the states for a very long time with the Curry Camp and bring it over there,’ Curry said. ‘Basketball is at an all-time high, not only from an awareness and fandom perspective.’

Suns guard Jared Butler said he’s been looking forward to the trip.

‘I think it’s a beautiful thing just for the experience,’ Butler said. ‘Me, I’ve never been to China and I know a lot of guys haven’t been to China. So, experiencing something new with your guys is going to just be a bonding moment.’

Petro Gazz’s Jonah Sabete is challenged at the net by Galeries Tower’s Jean Asis and Jelena Cvijovic but the Angels escape with a 25-21, 25-19, 25-14 victory in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Dasmariñas City Arena in Cavite on Thursday. PVL Images

DigiPlus Interactive Corp. on Thursday said it signed an exclusive partnership with CIS Bayad Center Inc., a bills payment services firm, as the online gaming company expands its over-the-counter or physical payment options for its players.

The agreement takes effective immediately, making DigiPlus Bayad’s only gaming partner for OTC cash transactions.

Through this collaboration, DigiPlus customers gain access to Bayad’s extensive network of payment touchpoints, present across more than 800 Bayad Center branches and Bayad partners in malls, supermarkets and convenience stores nationwide. Bayad Center is accredited by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) as an electronic money issuer. DigiPlus said it partners only with BSP-accredited payment channels in accordance with the requirements of regulator Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., ensuring that all player wallet transactions are processed through secure and compliant payment platforms.

BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, and GameZone players can now make cash-ins or deposits through Bayad Center. Additional features including cash-outs or withdrawals and access through the Bayad application will be rolled out in next phases, providing DigiPlus customers with more options to manage their funds conveniently and safely, the company said.

‘At DigiPlus, our priority is to deliver engaging entertainment while ensuring safe and reliable services for our players,’ Eusebio H. Tanco, chairman of DigiPlus, said.

‘This partnership with Bayad provides customers with more secure and convenient ways to manage their transactions, reinforcing our commitment to player protection and dependable service at every touchpoint.’

‘Today, we take another meaningful step forward through our partnership with DigiPlus. Together, we’re expanding access to digital channels and offering new, engaging, and responsible ways for Filipinos to experience convenience and entertainment made possible by accessible and inclusive financial services,’ Ray C. Espinosa, chairman of Bayad Center, said.

The Bayad Center payment channels partnership adds to DigiPlus’ growing customer service network and player support, which already includes its in-house 24/7 customer support, 130 physical BingoPlus stores nationwide and a surety bond for player wallets. Bayad Center is the biggest and widest multi-channel payment platform in the Philippines. With more than 20 solid years in the outsourced payment collection industry, the company is the top-of-mind, leading brand when it comes to bills payment.

The company is a subsidiary of the Manila Electric Co. and a member of the MVP group of companies.

The partnership was formally signed top executives from both companies led by Tanco; Jasper Vicencio, president of AB Leisure Exponent Inc., a subsidiary of DigiPlus; Espinosa; and Lawrence Y. Ferrer, president and CEO of Bayad Center.

The public has seen and heard enough from politicians over the years to recognize when they are just putting on a show. Most politicos begin their terms with the typical fanfare- promises of reform, vows to address critical issues, and lofty speeches about transparency. Yet, just a few months in, it’s often back to the same old routine.

So when Isabela 6th District Rep. Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III took on the role of Speaker, understandably the public didn’t expect much. However, we have to give him credit; he has genuinely surprised many of us who have worked for years in the House.

For starters, he hasn’t glossed over the challenges facing Congress. He began his term by openly stating a truth that many in Congress are afraid to admit: the House of Representatives must redouble its efforts to earn back the public’s trust. Without hiding behind euphemisms, he straightforwardly acknowledged the institution’s tarnished reputation.

Such candor is a rare commodity in politics. Beyond that, his approach to leadership within the House has been notable. He demonstrates a genuine interest in all levels of staff, not just his fellow congressmen. His awareness extends to even seemingly minor details, like the staff’s use of uniforms. While this might appear insignificant, it reveals a Speaker deeply engaged with the well-being and concerns of those he leads.

From what we longtime staffers have observed, Dy has been actively engaging with members of the House. He kicked off his first full week as Speaker by visiting the HOR media center to meet with the press. He even agreed to an impromptu interview, providing honest and straightforward responses to challenging questions.

Additionally, Speaker Dy has been visiting representatives’ offices personally rather than calling them to his own. While it may seem a minor thing to outsiders, in an institution typically governed by hierarchy, this is quite significant.

His presence at sessions and committee hearings is also notable-like the recent joint meeting of the Agriculture and Ways and Means panels, where he listened to farmers share their struggles. During the YouTube livestream, his voice cracked as he discussed the challenges faced by the nation’s farmers. Such genuine emotion is uncommon in a political landscape where many showcase their personas for the cameras daily. Perhaps his experience as a former governor of Isabela has kept him grounded, setting him apart from others who have held the speakership. He seems most at ease engaging with everyday people about real-world issues.

Speaker Dy, admittedly, has his work cut out for him. The issues confronting the House are enormous, and as he himself conceded, trust in the institution has hit an all-time low. It is unrealistic to expect him to repair the House’s image overnight. But for now, it feels like he is at least trying to steer the Chamber in the right direction, which is exactly what the House-and the people it serves -need right now.

Time will tell if Speaker Dy is just another politician. But maybe, in time, this Dy will show he really is different.

SEN. Loren Legarda vowed to block on ‘every step of the way’ the government’s plan to put up a nuclear plant in her home province, Antique.

Legarda also cautioned government agencies not to seek budget allocation for any study involving nuclear energy with Antique as a possible site. ‘It will not ply. Don’t waste money on any study on that,’ she said.

Legarda made her intentions known during the Senate Finance committee hearing on the proposed 2026 budget of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Thursday.

Antique has been recommended as a nuclear energy site, Legarda said as she expressed surprise that her home province was among the fewer than 10 areas recommended as a possible nuclear plant site.

‘Just put it on record, I am not in favor of that, and I think the provincial government will not be in favor, and my fellow kasimanwa will not be in favor,’ Legarda said.

Directing her questions to Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla III, Legarda asked what the basis was for identifying Antique as a possible nuclear energy site.

‘Why is it [Antique] identified among several areas or districts, or provinces cited for a nuclear site? Binabaha tayo, may bundok tayo, may katutubo tayo,’ Legarda told Lotilla, who was a former Secretary of Energy (DOE).

Lotilla, who is also from Antique, said the identification of possible nuclear energy sites in the Philippines was made by an interagency body, but said that, as DOE, he is not privy to the science behind the selection process.

‘There’s an interagency on the nuclear program chaired by the DOE that has been conducting studies, and Antique was identified as a possible site. In addition, the interagency is looking for other sites,’ says Lotilla.

He said that from the DENR standpoint, he will depend on the government’s direction through Congress.

Nevertheless, he said, should Congress decide to move ahead to implement the nuclear program, he vowed to enhance the capacity of the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in line with its regulatory function that includes the issuance of the environmental compliance certificate (ECC).

But Legarda reiterated her opposition to the plan. ‘May I know which government agency studied it? Antique was among the less than 10 areas where a nuclear power plant would possibly be constructed. I am not in favor, and I am not alone. I will block it every step of the way. Whichever agency, I will stop it,’ she said.

Lotilla promised to look into Legarda’s query and vowed to find out more from the interagency committee and provide more information to the lawmaker.

He said even as DOE Secretary then, he was not aware of the details because what the interagency body had was a mere survey of what the suitable site.

He added that he has no access to the specific studies that came up with Antique as a possible nuclear energy site.

‘In the past, there was a study on the northern part of Antique, but it did not push through. Even before the declaration of a Protected Area, there, at that time, there was consideration of fault line and so on,’ he shared.

THE Air Force (PAF) and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) formally opened Doshin-Bayanihan 5-25 at the Benito N. Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu on Wednesday.

The exercise is the first for the PAF and JASDF since the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the two countries entered into force on September 11.

The term ‘Doshin’ translates to ‘same mind’ in Japanese while ‘Bayanihan’ means ‘mutual support’ in Filipino.

The exercise, scheduled to take place from October 7-11 aims to enhance interoperability and deepen cooperation between the two air forces, particularly in the areas of humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR).

About 143 PAF personnel and 30 JASDF members are taking part in the training activities which aims to enhance airlift, mobility, and medical operations.

Aside from these, night vision goggle flights for PAF observation, will also be conducted for the first time in this year’s Doshin-Bayanihan.

Both air forces are deploying C-130 aircraft, with operations designed to simulate real-world HADR scenarios.

Actual disaster relief operations will be applied to aid Cebu residents in light of the recent earthquake that struck the province.

‘ Doshin-Bayanihan stands as a testament to the deepening defense partnership between the Philippines and Japan. Beyond strengthening military capabilities, it highlights the shared commitment of both nations to regional cooperation, disaster response, and the promotion of peace, security, and humanitarian assistance across the Asia-Pacific Region,’ the PAF said in a statement.

In a statement on Thursday, the Japanese Embassy in Manila announced that the RAA had been applied to the bilateral HADR exercise Doshin-Bayanihan between the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and the Air Force (PAF) conducted in the Philippines starting October 7.

‘Furthermore, taking advantage of this bilateral exercise opportunity, Japan Air Self-Defense Force will provide support to transport relief supplies within the Philippines, in response to the request from the Philippines, for the relief operations responding to the earthquake in Cebu that occurred late on September 30,’ it said.

‘The Japan-Philippines RAA will also be applied to this transport of relief supplies.’

On Sept. 30, Tokyo and Manila convened the Joint Committee meeting on RAA, where arrangements to implement the deal were discussed among officials of the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense for Japan, and the Department of National Defense and other relevant Philippine agencies.

The arrangements will pave the way for the smooth conduct of cooperative activities such as joint exercises and disaster relief operations by both countries while enhancing interoperability between their respective forces.

‘Amid an increasingly challenging regional security environment, security and defense cooperation with the Philippines -a strategic partner sharing fundamental values and principles with Japan, which is located at a point of strategic importance on sea lanes- will be further promoted,’ it said.

‘This will provide robust support for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.’

The RAA was ratified by President Marcos and was concurred in by the Senate on December 16, 2024.

It entered into force on Sept. 11, 2025.

THE House of Representatives Committee on Infrastructure co-chairman on Thursday urged Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Francis Lim to clarify his recent statement attributing an alleged P1.7-trillion market value loss to the flood control project scandal, saying it does not reflect the actual performance and historical trends of the Philippine stock market.

Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro was referring to Lim’s remarks during a forum of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (Finex), where he said, ‘The flood control project scandal has shaken public confidence, wiping out an extraordinary P1.7 trillion in market value of our publicly listed companies in just three weeks, despite rising corporate earnings.’

‘Investors aren’t fleeing because of weak fundamentals; they’re fleeing because of weak integrity. It’s a stark reminder that corruption is a weapon of mass wealth destruction,’ Lim added.

However, Ridon pointed out that Lim’s statement ‘does not accurately reflect current and historical conditions of the Philippine capital market.’

‘While it is true that over the last three months the Philippine Stock Exchange index [PSEi] declined from a high of 6,525.04 in July to a low of 5,953.46 in September-an 8.75 percent drop-an objective review of PSEi movements over various timelines shows that weak fundamentals, not the flood control scandal, remain the principal reason for market underperformance,’ Ridon said.

On a six-month view (April 10-October 9), the PSEi had already reached 6,077.82 as early as April 11, 2025. Although a short recovery followed, the broader decline began after July 14, or two weeks before President Marcos exposed the flood control corruption scandal in his State of the Nation Address.

‘In other words,’ Ridon said, ‘the market’s weakening predated the scandal.’

‘These figures demonstrate that the ongoing corruption scandal is a convenient but inaccurate explanation for the market’s weakness and the broader slowdown in the economy,’ Ridon said.

He stressed that while good governance is vital in maintaining investor confidence, market performance primarily depends on sound economic management and private sector response to fundamental growth challenges.

‘The responsibility for improving market performance rests primarily with our economic managers and private-sector leaders in addressing fundamental growth constraints,’ he added.

THE death toll in the 6.9 Offshore Northern Cebu Earthquake on September 30 has climbed to 74, as aftershocks continue to rock the island province.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said that the number of aftershocks have breached the 10,000 mark.

As of 12 noon on Thursday, Phivolcs said 10,006 aftershocks have been recorded, of which 1,767 were plotted.

At least 44 of these aftershocks were felt, with magnitudes ranging between 1 to 5.1.

The National Disaster Risk, Reduction and Management Council said the earthquake, which recorded a highest instrumental intensity of 7, also injured a total 559 people.

Most of the casualties are from Bogo City, the ground zero of the killer earthquake.

In its 6:00 a.m. Situation Report dated October 9, the NDRRMC said the number of affected people continues to rise, with reports from various affected cities and municipalities in Cebu still coming in.

So far, a total of 189,620 families or 666,439 persons have been reported affected be the tremblor.

The number of displaced persons also climbed to 7,813.

The NDRRMC said six evacuation centers continue to provide temporary shelter for many of the victims who were rendered homeless by the earthquake.

So far, a total of 71,996 were reported damaged, of which 5,969 were destroyed, and 67,027 others sustained minor to major damage.

Damage to infrastructure also climbed to 706, which includes government bridges, cultural heritage, health facilities, schools, utility services, roads, and flood control were also damaged.

Meanwhile, Phivolcs said it is currently monitoring the effect of a 4.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Pugo, La Union.

The earthquake generated an Intensity V earthquake in Baguio City, the country’s Summer Capital, Intensity III was felt in Aringay, La Union; Bontoc, Mountain Province’ and Sison, Pangasinan.

Initially, Phivolcs said the earthquake that occurred at exactly 10:38 a.m. could cause damage but it was later ruled out by the same agency.

‘The initial report indicated that damage could be expected was based on the preliminary parameters. However, upon further assessment, as indicated in the Earthquake Information 2, the updated data no longer meet the thresholds for expected damage. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates if there are any significant developments,’ Phivolcs said.

Visayas grid

KEY transmission services in the Visayas grid are now back to normal conditions, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said.

NGCP said the Compostela-Daanbantayan 230kV Line 1 was reenergized at around 2:18 a.m. on Octpber 7 and ‘is now operating in parallel with the earlier restored Line 2.’

Also restored was the Daanbantayan-Tabango 230kV Line 2, or the submarine cable that links Cebu and Leyte.

Meanwhile, restoration works are ongoing for the remaining line on outage, the Daanbantayan-Tabango 230kV Line 1, the NGCP said.

These lines provide N-1 contingency to the backbone transmission corridor already restored and do not affect any power customers.

N-1 contingency refers to an event that causes a glitch in a component of the power grid, the NGCP explained.

‘NGCP is working round the clock to ensure the stability and normal grid operations in Visayas following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake. Our teams on the ground continue their restoration and repair works to bolster the reliability of the transmission network,’ the agency said in a statement.

The NGCP urged power consumers to coordinate with their respective distribution utilities and electric cooperatives for localized power interruptions, even as it vowed to continue to monitor the situation and remain on alert with aftershocks still being recorded by Phivolcs.