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The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) has expressed support for the passage of a proposed measure seeking to grant President Macos emergency powers to address the country’s classroom shortage, which now exceeds 165,000.

Earlier, Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre filed House Bill 5103, which aims to declare a state of national emergency to tackle the severe lack of classrooms across the country.

Under the bill, President Marcos would be granted temporary emergency powers to fast-track classroom construction by adopting special procurement measures, reallocating government funds and establishing an oversight task force to address the shortage.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara previously disclosed that the shortage is primarily due to the country’s growing population.

Both the Department of Education (DepEd) and EDCOM 2 reported that the education system continues to struggle with a persistent and severe classroom shortage, compounded by a massive backlog in the repair and rehabilitation of existing school facilities.

The measure cited that millions of students are currently attending overcrowded classes, with many schools implementing double or triple shifts, while others resort to makeshift or condemned structures, compromising students’ health, safety and learning outcomes.

The bill also noted that the country’s frequent exposure to natural calamities such as typhoons and earthquakes has worsened the situation, necessitating the immediate repair and reconstruction of thousands of damaged schools.

‘Existing procurement, budgetary and administrative processes, while necessary for accountability, are often too slow and cumbersome to effectively address this crisis with the urgency it demands. The traditional timeline for project conceptualization, bidding and execution spans multiple fiscal years, a pace that cannot keep up with the increasing student population and the rapid destruction of facilities caused by disasters,’ Acidre said in his explanatory note.

The government, he added, aims to declare a ‘temporary and targeted state of necessity’ within the education infrastructure sector.

‘The grant of emergency powers, which shall be for a limited period and subject to strict reporting and oversight by Congress, is imperative to streamline procurement, accelerate budget utilization and ensure inter-agency coordination,’ said Acidre.

ARAL program

Aside from the passage of House Bill 5103, the government is also pushing to strengthen the implementation of the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program.

Angara has directed concerned DepEd officials to refine the program and the promotion system for teachers, following President Marcos’ order during the culmination of National Teachers’ Month.

The directive was issued during the 47th executive committee meeting, where discussions also covered the Senior High School Recognition program, safe learning environments and updates from the School Meals Coalition Global Summit.

At the same meeting, Marcos vowed that no public school teacher will retire as Teacher I, underscoring the implementation of Republic Act 12288 or the Career Progression System for Public School Teachers and School Leaders Act, which expands teachers’ career pathways.

DepEd Memorandum 64 enforces the ARAL-Reading component for key stages 1 to 3 under Republic Act 12028 or the ARAL Program Act, which offers free tutorials to address learning gaps.

For school year 2025-2026, the program will prioritize reading, targeting over 6.7 million learners with the help of 447,000 tutors and 45,000 school heads.

ARAL-Reading will launch in the second quarter, to be followed by ARAL-Mathematics for Grades 1 to 10, ARAL-Science for Grades 3 to 10 and ARAL-Summer Programs.

DepEd said tutor training, learning material distribution and readiness audits have been completed to ensure the program’s success.

Goverment pensions

In a separate development, officials of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) met with representatives of the Action and Solidarity for the Empowerment of Teachers (ASSERT) and the Philippine Government Employees Association (PGEA) to discuss concerns on pensions and other benefits of teachers.

The dialogue, led by GSIS president and general manager Wick Veloso, tackled issues raised by members and pensioners, including the review of the minimum pension, burial benefits and the Christmas cash gift for some retirees.

Veloso gave assurance that the GSIS understands these concerns, but emphasized that any adjustment to benefits must undergo actuarial study to protect the long-term stability of the Social Insurance Fund.

He also cited ongoing GSIS initiatives to make transactions easier for members, such as the GSIS Touch mobile app for online loan filing and Annual Pensioners’ Information Revalidation, as well as housing programs with lease-with-option-to-buy schemes.

ASSERT president Arlene James Pagaduan underscored the importance of continuous consultations to address teachers’ issues effectively, while PGEA president Esperanza Ocampo said her group looks forward to sustained collaboration with GSIS to advance the welfare of government workers.

The GSIS said a separate meeting would be held with the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition.

Inflation is projected to climb in the coming months as supply-side pressures and the extension of rice import restrictions threaten to push prices higher, which could prompt the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to keep policy rates unchanged today.

Following the slight uptick in inflation to 1.7 percent in September from 1.5 percent in August, analysts said this may mark the start of a gradual pickup after months of subdued readings, with weather-related disruptions and policy measures posing upside risks toward year end.

HSBC ASEAN economist Aris Dacanay said that while September’s below-consensus figure still falls below the BSP’s two to four percent target range, rice prices would be a key factor to watch in the next few months after the government extended its rice import ban until the end of the year.

‘This is a major upside risk to inflation that needs to be monitored,’ he said. ‘But importers have frontloaded their rice orders in anticipation of the ban, leading to ample supply by end-August. If local farmers were able to harvest before Typhoon Nando hit, rice supply may be sufficient to keep prices stable through year end.’

Despite the soft inflation reading in September, HSBC expects the BSP to pause its easing cycle this week before resuming rate cuts in December.

‘We think September inflation sets the stage for a quarter-point rate cut in the fourth quarter to 4.75 percent. But we still expect the BSP to wait for more data on gross domestic product and rice prices before continuing its easing cycle,’ Dacanay said.

He added that the policy rate could fall to 4.50 percent by the first quarter of 2026 if inflation remains stable.

Economists at Citi echoed the view that the BSP would likely stay on hold in October, even as it eyes further rate cuts toward the end of the year.

‘Following tame inflation readings in September, we continue to expect a gradual rebound of the headline into the three-percent handle in 2026,’ Citi said.

‘Growth concerns could eventually resurface, leading to a cut before the end of the year. However, as economic data is so far mixed, BSP will probably pause in the October meeting.’

Citi expects inflation to stay between 1.3 and two percent year-on-year through the first quarter of 2026 before rising to around 3.5 percent by end-2026.

BPI lead economist Jun Neri also flagged that inflation risks remain tilted to the upside, particularly due to weather disturbances and import restrictions.

Neri expects inflation to stay near two percent for the rest of 2025 before climbing to around 3.5 percent by mid-2026 and nearing four percent by the third quarter next year as base effects fade and supply risks persist.

‘With inflation likely to pick up in the coming months, the pace of monetary easing may slow down,’ Neri said. ‘A more conservative approach is justified as cutting rates aggressively could leave the economy vulnerable to inflation shocks that might force a sharp policy reversal later on.’

The BSP has so far cut policy rates by a total of 150 basis points since August 2024, bringing the benchmark rate to five percent.

After today’s policy meeting, the Monetary Board is scheduled to hold its final policy review for the year on Dec. 11.

Despite the overall economic pessimism in the country today due to continuing corruption scandals affecting both the executive and legislative branches, there are glimmers of economic optimism we should look forward to. I am referring to the low inflation and low unemployment rate of the country.

This week, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released the inflation figure for September 2025 of only 1.7 percent, then the unemployment figure for August 2025 of 3.9 percent, both low levels and hence, good news.

I computed the average inflation for January-August 2025, in Asia: Japan 3.4 percent, Vietnam 3.3 percent, Cambodia 3.0 percent, India 2.9 percent, Pakistan 2.3 percent, South Korea 2.0 percent, Taiwan 1.8 percent, the Philippines 1.7 percent, Hong Kong and Indonesia 1.5 percent, Malaysia 1.4 percent, Singapore 0.8 percent, Thailand 0.1 percent, China -0.1 percent. China has deflation, Japan is the new ‘inflation capital’ of East Asia, and the Philippines is back to a low-inflation regime.

Inflation over the same period in America: Brazil 5.2 percent, Mexico 3.9 percent, US 2.7 percent, Canada 2.0 percent.

In Europe: Turkey 36.6 percent, Russia 9.6 percent, Romania 6.1 percent, Poland 4.1 percent, Netherlands 3.4 percent, UK and Austria 3.3 percent, Belgium, Czech Republic and Greece 2.6 percent, Spain 2.5 percent, Germany 2.2 percent, Italy 1.7 percent, France 1.0 percent.

So our inflation this year is midway among Asian countries, lower than those in America and Europe except France.

I also computed the average unemployment rate in January-August 2025. Several countries in Asia do not have monthly unemployment, they have quarterly like Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, while Indonesia has March data only. Here is the average for Asia: India 6.1 percent, China 5.2 percent, Indonesia 4.8 percent, the Philippines 4.1 percent, Taiwan and Hong Kong 3.4 percent, Malaysia 3.0 percent, S. Korea 2.7 percent, Japan 2.5 percent, Vietnam 2.2 percent, Singapore 2.0 percent, Thailand 0.9 percent. Australia has 4.2 percent.

Average unemployment rate over the same period in America: Canada 6.8 percent, Brazil 6.3 percent, US 4.2 percent, and Mexico 2.6 percent.

In Europe: Spain 10.9 percent, Sweden 9.2 percent, Turkey 8.3 percent, France 7.5 percent, Germany 6.3 percent, Italy 6.2 percent, Belgium 6.1 percent, Poland 5.3 percent, UK 4.6 percent, Netherlands 3.8 percent, Russia 2.3 percent.

So, our unemployment rate this year is midway among Asia and America and lower than Europe. In addition, our labor force participation rate is 64 percent average this year. LFPR is an indicator of people’s optimism or pessimism about the jobs market. If they think they can find a good job or the business environment is good, they go out to look for jobs or start a new business, and LFPR goes up to 64 percent or higher. If people think there are not enough good paying jobs, they either stay home or pursue other studies and training and LFPR goes down to around 63 percent or lower.

So these are two good things we can console ourselves with. The private sector remains resilient overall in creating more jobs and producing more goods and services that stabilize overall consumer prices.

The economic team – Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Economics Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go, along with Bangko Sentral Governor Eli Remolona Jr. – deserve public support for the various policies they laid down minus imposing price control of important commodities.

Our third quarter 2025 GDP performance will be released a month from now. The first country in the world to report its Q3 2025 is Vietnam, another whooping 8.2 percent growth. Their Q1-Q3 2025 average growth is already 7.8 percent.

The average Q1-Q2 2025 growth in East Asia is as follows: Taiwan 6.7 percent, the Philippines 5.5 percent, China 5.3 percent, Indonesia 5.0 percent, Malaysia 4.4 percent, Singapore 4.3 percent, Thailand 3.0 percent, Japan 1.5 percent, South Korea 0.3 percent.

The rest of G7 industrial countries, their Q1-Q2 average growth are as follows: US 2.0 percent, Canada 1.8 percent, UK 1.6 percent, France 0.7 percent, Italy 0.6 percent, Germany 0.2 percent.

I am hoping for a 6.0 percent Philippine growth in Q3 but a more realistic number is between 5.5 and 6.0 percent. Still this is a good achievement compared to many East Asians, all of G7 and the rest of North America and Europe.

About the ongoing corruption scandal at the DPWH and involving many legislators both at the House of Representatives and the Senate, the culprit is a culture of waste, non-accountability and disregard for the overall fiscal condition of the country.

Prior to the lockdown period of 2020-2021, our average budget deficit in 2018-2019 was only around P0.6 trillion a year. During lockdown years it jumped to P1.5 trillion a year. From 2022 to 2024, it still averaged at P1.5 trillion a year despite the absence of any economic or virus crisis.

Many agencies went on a spend-spend-spend culture. New subsidies were created without abolishing old and non-performing subsidies. PhilHealth has returned funds to the National Treasury this year. President Marcos Jr. has recognized that it was a mistake and is incorporating a P53-billion funding allocation for 2026.

The President should prioritize reducing the outstanding public debt which is now approaching P18 trillion from only P8 trillion in 2019. He should do large scale spending cuts, tight fiscal discipline across many agencies and departments.

When agencies feel the tightness in funding, they will be forced to be more responsible, more accountable and less corrupt in spending.

Last Sept. 30, the Blockchain Council of the Philippines (BCP), in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), took a decisive step toward restoring public trust by launching the Integrity Chain, a blockchain-powered platform developed with the objective to ’embed transparency, accountability and public trust into the heart of national infrastructure projects.’

I was given the privilege to witness and be part of the milestone event in my capacity as chairman of the International Association of Business Communicators Philippines. What I witnessed unfold was an initiative that goes beyond a technological upgrade – it is a civic movement to safeguard our country’s resources not just to address issues of today, but also the future.

At its core, blockchain is a tamper-proof digital ledger. IBM defines it as ‘an immutable or unchangeable and tamper-proof digital ledger or record of all transactions within a network.’ Leveraging this technology, the Integrity Chain aims to ‘transform infrastructure governance by offering a real-time public dashboard that tracks project spending and progress, enabling citizen feedback and anomaly reporting and providing tamper-proof records to deter corruption.’

The initiative comes at a critical juncture for the DPWH, which has recently come under fire for allegations on multi-billion ghost or substandard flood control projects. This triggered widespread public outcry resulting in several rallies across the country, underscoring the urgent need for reform.

‘On behalf of the President, on behalf of the entire cabinet, on behalf of the entire government, thank you for this because this is really what we should all do. From the budget process to the procurement process, to the award of the contract, to the implementation of the project, to the monitoring of the project, to the payments made to the contractors, to the acceptance of the project. Everyone should be watching now, everyone,’ said DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon.

The proof of concept for the Integrity Chain will initially focus on foreign assisted projects, which will be independently verified by civil society organizations such as non-government organizations, academe, media and trade associations to ensure transparency and accountability.

As part of the pilot, BCP will provide the DPWH with a one-year complimentary subscription to the Integrity Chain, which includes technical support, training and cybersecurity measures in full compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

The launch event, held at the Asian Institute of Management, drew participation from major international development and lending agencies, including the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Korean Eximbank, Asian Development Bank and the World Bank’s Road Transport and Country Operations. These institutions are key funders of the DPWH’s flagship infrastructure projects under the ‘Build Better More’ program, which will be the first to be recorded on the Integrity Chain.

DICT Secretary Henry Aguda echoed this sentiment, urging, ‘Let’s rally behind technology. Let’s rally behind doing a new way of governance in the country.’

Blockchain offers a way to slowly rebuild that trust not through rhetoric but through accountability – ensuring that public spending is traceable and auditable, and that project progress is verifiable.

But while blockchain is a strong deterrent against corruption, it is not a cure-all for the ills plaguing our society. It can make corruption harder, but not necessarily impossible. It can expose anomalies but not motives. This is why, with all the revelations regarding widespread corruption, we Filipinos have all the more reasons to be vigilant on how public funds are used.

The DPWH has emphasized that the Integrity Chain enables citizen feedback and anomaly reporting. But technology is simply a tool and it alone cannot drive change. It is up to us, the public, to use these tools, to question discrepancies, to demand accountability and to ensure that the data recorded reflects the truth.

Transparency is only meaningful when people are empowered to act on what they see.

The launch of the Integrity Chain is a commendable first step, but its application must not stop with the DPWH. Other government agencies that have long been plagued by similar issues should also adopt technologies that promote transparency and accountability. In fact, the entire government must embrace such innovations if we are to truly reform our systems.

Still, technology is only part of the solution. It must be accompanied by public vigilance, political will and an unwavering commitment to justice. Likewise, we must not allow the recent exposures of corruption in flood control projects to fade into obscurity. Those who enabled and profited from the suffering of the Filipino people – whether lawmakers, government officials or private contractors – must be held accountable to the full extent of the law.

We owe this to the victims of flooding, whose suffering has been worsened by greed. We owe it to taxpayers who fund public projects. And we owe it to future generations who deserve a better, more transparent and more just country than what we have today.

Hospitals for ghosts?

Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima posed this question yesterday as she filed a measure seeking to investigate the cases of alleged misuse and abuse of public funds under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) of the Department of Health (DOH).

De Lima filed House Resolution No. 353 after the reported wastage of DOH funds and the possible corruption of government officials, public employees and private companies and individuals that resulted in ‘haunted hospitals’ or abandoned, incomplete or non-operational hospitals, health centers and similar facilities.

De Lima also expressed alarm over the insufficient supply – or complete lack – of medicines in public hospitals, as well as the questionable allocation of government-procured mental health medicines worth hundreds of millions which are nearing expiration, a portion of which was reportedly delivered to the Rotary Club of Quezon City, but denied by a former official of the latter organization.

‘The wasted billions of funds for the health services of the Filipinos is not acceptable. We have many countrymen who are afraid of being hospitalized, not only because of their illness, but also the huge amount that they would pay,’ De Lima said.

Meanwhile, Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno has filed HR 351 together with his fellow Akbayan reform bloc members Perci Cendaña, Dadah Kiram Ismula and Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao urging appropriate committees to investigate alleged irregularities and inefficiencies in DOH’s HFEP.

During budget hearings, Rep. Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers party-list said the DOH disclosed that a total of P400 billion had been released to local government units over the last 10 years under the HFEP, including additional allocations for commodities and human resources.

Based on records, Tinio said the program’s budget has expanded significantly from P43.5 million in 2007 to as much as P34.7 billion in 2025, with a cumulative allocation of P241.4 billion in the past 18 years.

Despite its huge budget, Tinio said the DOH admitted that only 200 out of 600 health centers are currently functional.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa even described these nonfunctional facilities as the ‘flood control version’ of the DOH.

The resolution seeks to determine why numerous government-funded health centers remain nonfunctional or underutilized, despite massive budget allocations intended to improve access to health care facilities nationwide.

‘These irregularities undermine the objectives of Republic Act 11223, otherwise known as the Universal Health Care Act, which guarantees equitable access to quality health care for all Filipinos,’ the resolution read.

Korean girl group Twice and rap artist Missy Elliott lead the performer line-up of this year’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (VSFS).

Joining them in the all-female line-up for the October 15 New York City event are reggaeton artist Karol G and pop singer Madison Beer.

Last year’s VSFS – the first after a five-year hiatus – also featured an all-female line-up with Cher, Tyla, and Lisa of Blackpink. Past performers include Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and Harry Styles.

Karol G told music outlet Billboard, following the confirmation of her participation, that performing at the VSFS was always a dream of hers.

“I can’t wait to share the stage with such strong and empowered women, and to celebrate femininity while uplifting each other through two of my favorite things: music and fashion,” Karol G added.

Beer shared the sentiments, noting the VSFS’ “incredible legacy of celebrating fashion, empowerment and music.”

Twice’s VSFS appearance comes in the middle of the group’s “This Is For” world tour having just performed in the Philippines and will have two Singapore shows a few days before the event.

The 2025 VSFS will stream live on October 15 (7 a.m. the following day, Manila time) on the fashion brand’s Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok platforms as well as on Prime Video.

Models confirms to walk the runway include Adriana Lima, Lily Aldridge, Alex Consani, Anok Yai, Joan Smalls, and Yumi Nu.

Cayabu Elementary and High School and Rawang Elementary School in Rizal province received laptops from non-profit foundation Her Legacy Project and finance super app GCash, reinforcing their shared dedication to advancing financial inclusion and making basic education tools accessible to all learners.

The donation was part of the Her Legacy: Tech for All initiative, which is a component of the national ConnectED program in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd).

Her Legacy Project is a civil society organization dedicated to empowering women and girls through education, advocacy and community engagement.

The program aims to address the growing educational inequality in the Philippines, particularly in last-mile communities where access to digital tools remains limited. The issue is especially pressing among young learners who began schooling during the height of the pandemic, many of whom still lack access to basic devices like mobile phones or laptops.

To date, ConnectED and its partners have distributed over 500 laptops across over 100 schools in 29 provinces, raising more than P21 million through private donations and public partnerships. The initiative has helped equip learners and teachers with the tools needed to participate more actively in today’s digital learning environment.

For this GCash donation drive, laptop devices have been refurbished and repurposed to serve learners who need them most, helping close the tech gap in education by enabling more girls to gain access to the tools they need to succeed. GCash chief technology and operations officer Pebbles Sy led the laptop turnover to the learners.

‘Technology is most powerful when it creates access, especially for those who have long been left behind,’ said Sy.

‘This partnership with Her Legacy Project resonates deeply with us here at GCash because it’s about giving young people the agency to shape their futures. When learners in last-mile schools are equipped and empowered, the impact goes far beyond the classroom,’ she added.

‘Her Legacy has always been about harnessing collective action to uplift young girls and bring resources to where they are needed most,’ said Karen Davila, founder of Her Legacy Project.

‘We’re grateful to GCash for joining us on this mission. Through this collaboration, we are showing our youth that they matter, that they belong in the digital future we’re building.’

Education advocate Tootsy Angara, meanwhile, stressed that access to technology is no longer a privilege but a necessity for every learner.

‘By putting laptops in the hands of learners in last-mile schools, we’re not just bridging the digital divide, we’re opening doors to opportunity, equity and a brighter future,’ she said.

The initiative reflects a shared mission between Her Legacy Project and GCash to expand digital access, empower communities and champion inclusive innovation. By repurposing available technology for educational use and tangible impact with scalable potential-one learner, one device at a time-is created for those most in need.

Here’s what to expect in the PBA’s Golden Anniversary season by the numbers.

5- FIBA World Cup Asia qualifying windows starting November this year up to November next year to impact the PBA’s 50th season. The PBA will take a break during the windows. There will also be a sixth window on Feb. 25-March 1, 2027 but that will be during the PBA’s 51st season.

9- rule changes. A key change is it is now legal to reverse a referee’s call and make the correct call in situations of third party contact/blocking and/or charging, foul/out-of-bounds or last touch and all kinds of foul, including charging and blocking provided it took place on the same play phase. Previously, only a call that is challenged will be determined to uphold or not. Another change is in the last two minutes of every quarter, penalty is called after two team fouls. This was done only in the fourth quarter in past seasons. Still, another change is in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter or OT, there will be a deadball after every made basket where referees may review validity of the conversion. If no review is made, the basket may no longer be reviewed.

14 -rookies on opening day rosters, namely Ginebra’s Sonny Estil, Blackwater’s Dalph Panopio and Jack Dumont, Converge’s Juan Gomez de Liaño, Mark Omega and Kobe Monje, Magnolia’s Gab Gomez, Phoenix’ Dave Ando, San Miguel Beer’s Chris Miller and Royce Mantua, Terrafirma’s JM Bravo and Ira Bateller and Titan’s Chris Koon and Mario Barasi. The list will increase when draftees from the MPBL and NCAA join, including Geo Chiu, Will Gozum, Jason Brickman, LJ Gonzales and Yukien Andrada.

31- players from last season not on current lineups, including Jvee Casio, Mark Borboran, Chris Exciminiano, Terrence Romeo, Jackson Corpuz and Justin Chua. The list includes William Navarro, Jamie Malonzo and Arvin Tolentino who are now playing abroad.

27 – players who switched teams this season, including TNT’s Jio Jalalon, Tyrus Hill and Kevin Ferrer, Terrafirma’s Jerrick Ahanmisi, Paul Garcia and Prince Rivero, Titan’s Ato Ular, Aljun Melecio, Jeo Ambohot, Von Pessumal and James Martinez and Rain or Shine’s Stanley Pringle.

2- provincial games in the Philippine Cup. The first will be Converge against TNT at the Chavit Coliseum in Vigan, Ilocos Sur on Oct. 18 and the second, Rain or Shine against TNT in Cagayan de Oro on Nov. 15.

3 – out-of-the-country games in the first conference. The first will be San Miguel Beer against Ginebra in Dubai on Oct. 26. Two games will be played in Bahrain, the first Magnolia against Rain or Shine on Dec. 15 and second Rain or Shine against Ginebra on Dec. 17.

23 – referees to open the first conference, three of whom are rookies. Last season, there were 24 in the referees’ start list.

The second most wanted person in Metro Manila was apprehended in Barangay Upper Bicutan, Taguig on Tuesday.

Jomar Salik, 21, was arrested based on a warrant for murder issued by the Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 266, city police chief Col. Byron Allatog said.

No bail was recommended for Salik’s temporary liberty.

Salik is said to be a member of a car theft ring operating in Metro Manila.

Prior to the arrest, police said intelligence operatives had been tracking Salik’s whereabouts through surveillance and background verification.

The suspect is being held at the Taguig police station.

All structures that collapsed during the magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu on Sept. 30 had already been identified as high risk in the hazard maps of Project NOAH, an expert from the University of the Philippines said.

UP Resilience Institute executive director Mahar Lagmay led a team of engineers in assessing the extent of damage in northern Cebu and in recommending safety measures to local and national authorities.

‘A majority of the damaged houses were not as severe as what I imagined before doing fieldwork. Social media made me think that many houses crumbled or were toppled by the earthquake,’ Lagmay noted on Facebook.

He also learned that ‘all the collapsed structures that they documented were already on the hazard maps of Project NOAH.’

‘Three were built on waterways, one on a steep slope and one along the coast underlain by sediments,’ he noted.

Launched in 2012, Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazard) was a government program that utilized science and technology to identify areas prone to natural disasters and empower local governments and communities to prepare for and reduce disaster risks.

With this vision, Lagmay said the team’s current findings would contribute to strengthening disaster risk reduction strategies nationwide, particularly in preparation for ‘The Big One,’ which is expected to be a potential magnitude 7.2 earthquake along the Marikina Valley Fault System.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) director Teresito Bacolcol said the government, in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency, is set to revisit next year the 2004 study on the possible impact of ‘The Big One’ in Metro Manila.

The two-decade-old study projected as many as 33,500 fatalities and 113,600 injuries in the capital region, which then had a population of 9.9 million.

Including nearby provinces, the projected death toll could reach 48,000, Bacolcol said.

Coastal subsidence

Following Cebu’s magnitude 6.9 earthquake, the Department of Science and Technology and its attached agencies reported several geological effects across the province.

Phivolcs observed signs of coastal subsidence in Barangay Hagnaya, San Remigio, where the sea level has noticeably advanced inland after the quake.

The movement of the Bogo Bay Fault, which generated the quake, caused portions of Hagnaya Port and nearby structures to become submerged during high tide.

‘The northeastern portion of the Hagnaya Port and the ground in the building’s vicinity subsided and became inundated by seawater during high tide,’ Phivolcs said, citing findings from its Quick Response Team.

Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) reported the appearance of 14 new sinkholes in Bogo City and San Remigio, on top of the 198 previously identified in the same areas.

Science Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. also urged the Bogo City local government to take immediate action following the discovery of the inland extension of the Bogo Bay Fault in Sitio Looc, Barangay Nailon, which may stretch up to 1.5 kilometers.

As local and national agencies continued to assess the damage and assist communities reeling from the quake, international partners also joined relief efforts in Cebu.

The Philippine Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force have begun their first joint military exercises under the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between Japan and the Philippines.

Dubbed Doshin-Bayanihan 5-25, the training exercise runs from Oct. 7 to 11 at the Benito Ebuen Air Base in Mactan, Cebu, marking the inaugural implementation of the RAA, which entered into force last Sept. 11.