Category: Business Mirror

SUCCESSIVE typhoons and the earthquake in Cebu last month could erode the country’s employment gains in August, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Based on the Labor Force Survey (LFS), the country’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.9 percent, representing a total of 2.03 million jobless Filipinos, or a reduction of 560,000 compared to the July survey.

The PSA said the country’s underemployment rate also declined to 10.7 percent or 5.38 million underemployed Filipinos. This is 1.42 million less than what was reported in July.

‘There is a risk in September because of a lot of typhoons. While there is a substantial portion of our labor market that is somehow protected from these kinds of disasters, there is a portion of our labor market that is dependent on weather conditions,’ National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said in the vernacular.

‘Workers in agriculture and retail sale are among those that are dependent on weather conditions. The earthquake in Cebu could also have an impact on employment [in September]’ he added.

Favorable weather conditions also helped buoy the number of Filipinos in the Labor Force to 52.13 million Filipinos aged 15 and over who were employed, unemployed, and underemployed. This was 3.49 million more than the 48.64 million reported in July 2025.

A total of 50.1 million Filipinos were employed in August, a 4.05-million increase compared to July 2025. This translated to an employment rate of 96.1 percent.

Compared to last year, there were 942,000 jobs created in August 2025. This is mainly composed of older workers, or those between 35 and 44 years old (260,000 workers) and the 55 to 64 years old with 244,000 workers.

Most of those between 35 and 44 years old found jobs in construction, administrative services, and manufacturing; while the 55 to 64 years olds were in agriculture and wholesale and retail trade.

It may be noted that there was also an addition of 116,000 employed among the 65 years old and over. These workers were mostly in agriculture, fishing, and aquaculture.

On a year on year basis, PSA data showed construction posted the largest increase in jobs with 540,000 workers; fishing and aquaculture, 448,000; and administrative and support services activities, 307,000 jobs.

These were followed by agriculture and forestry, with an addition of 300,000 jobs and other service activities with 239,000 jobs.

Other service activities include repairs of computers and personal and household goods; laundry services; domestic services; funeral related activities; other personal service activities; and other personals services for wellness except sport activities.

DepDev’s call

Meanwhile, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev) emphasized the need to protect vulnerable workers and pushed for better work policies and programs to sustain the growth of the country’s labor market in August.

The country’s chief economist said the government plans to implement structural improvements particularly to sectors that are dependent on weather conditions, as well as defend them from uncertainties in both the domestic and global front.

‘We aim to enhance resilience in sectors vulnerable to disruptions, such as retail trade and agriculture, by prioritizing improvements in logistics, infrastructure, digitalization, and workforce development, particularly among micro, small, and medium enterprises [MSMEs],’ DepDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said.

‘The government is also ramping up investments in climate-resilient infrastructure and proactive measures, alongside timely emergency employment programs to support workers affected by disruptions,’ he added.

To sustain the gains of the labor force, the DepDev aims to advance policies and strategies under the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TPB) Plan 2025-2034, the country’s national employment master plan that aims to solve unemployment and other labor market challenges.

‘We aim to support the transformation of the labor force toward higher-paying and more productive jobs by attracting investments, developing a competitive and skills-ready workforce, and strengthening labor market governance to effectively respond to evolving conditions,’ he said.

Balisacan also echoed his support for the Government Internship Program (GIP), which provides Filipino youths with work experience within public service.

The PSA data showed the employment rate for Filipino youths aged 15-24 also rose to 88.3 percent, amounting to 5.92 million.

‘Enhancing school-to-work transitions and strengthening youth employability will enable young Filipinos to acquire the skills needed to thrive in the workplace. As industries evolve, we must ensure that our workers are equipped with the competencies required in new and emerging sectors-so that no Filipino is left behind in our country’s development journey,’ Balisacan added.

DOLE cites steady recovery

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) weighed in on the August jobs data, saying, ‘This is a powerful manifestation of our economy’s resilience and continued strength, reflecting a marked improvement from 4.0 percent recorded in August of last year.’

According to Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma, ‘This performance is even more impactful when viewed against the 5.3 percent unemployment rate in July 2025, demonstrating an aggressive and successful recovery.’

Laguesma said the August LFS results highlight stronger employment creation, with the rate reaching 96.1 percent compared to 94.7 percent in July.

‘[This highlights] the strong driving job recovery and employment creation across the country and confirming that more Filipinos are participating in the labor market,’ he said.

He added that job quality also improved, as underemployment declined to 10.7 percent from 14.8 percent in July.

‘This indicates that the country is transitioning more workers from insufficient and inadequate part-time work to substantial, more permanent and decent employment,’ Laguesma said.

To sustain the momentum, DOLE said it will continue its employment facilitation initiatives through a ‘whole-of-nation’ approach to ‘unlock the full potential’ of the workforce and assure its global competitiveness.

Laguesma also said the department plans to expand its pre-employment and internship initiatives-including Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES), Government Internship Program (GIP), and JobStart Philippines-to help young workers gain practical experience, develop essential skills, and build stronger work values.

‘DOLE will remain steadfast in its commitment to efficient, honest, and transparent public service in the implementation of our programs, projects and activities. Our ultimate core mission is to empower every Filipino worker through programs that cultivate a competitive, dynamic and robust workforce,’ he added.

THE head of the Visayan bloc in the House of Representatives believes that eradicating corruption in the government goes beyond enacting more laws-it requires a moral awakening among Filipinos.

Bacolod Rep. Albee Benitez said on Wednesday that corruption in the country is rooted in a moral crisis, where people’s sense of righteousness has been eroded by the normalization of corrupt practices.

‘Corruption is, ultimately, a moral crisis. To end it, we must rebuild our sense of righteousness-our belief that truth still matters, that decency still counts, and that no one is too small to make a stand,’ the lawmaker said in a statement.

He said that while legislation is important, it is ‘more conscience’ that is truly needed to address systemic corruption.

‘The solution is not just more laws, but more conscience. Moral renewal must begin in homes, schools, and public life. Integrity must be celebrated as much as corruption is condemned. We must make doing the right thing the rule again, not the exception,’ Benitez said.

He described corruption as ‘not just a failure of systems-it is a failure of conscience.’ He lamented that the Filipino people have lost their moral compass, and that once-noble values such as bayanihan, pakikisama, and utang na loob have been twisted into justifications for silence, favoritism, and complicity.

‘Tragically, we now witness it everywhere: bribes treated as ‘normal,’ cheating dismissed as ‘smart,’ and honesty ridiculed as ‘idealistic.’ When corruption becomes a way to survive, righteousness starts to look foolish-and the nation begins to rot from within,’ he added.

The lawmaker also pointed out that the country’s leadership mirrors this moral decay, as those who rise through corrupt systems often weaken the very moral foundations they should be upholding. Institutions such as schools, churches, and courts-once considered moral anchors-are also suffering from a loss of credibility.

Benitez said that the campaign against corruption must not be viewed merely as a political undertaking but as ‘a battle for the Filipino soul.’

THE motion for reconsideration filed by Blue Star Construction and Development Corporation and Masungi Georeserve Foundation Inc., which seeks to reverse the cancellation of its 2002 Supplemental Agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is now under final review and evaluation.

Environment Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs and Enforcement Norlito Eneran said Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla has received the case file of Blue Star, which includes Loyzaga’s order to cancel the contract, citing numerous violations of the contract itself.

‘Blue Star filed a motion for reconsideration on the cancellation of the 2002 supplemental agreement. It is now under final review and evaluation by the Office of the Secretary along with the other contracts,’ Eneran told the BusinessMirror, explaining why the DENR has not yet made a move to shut down or stop the operation of Masungi Georeserve, an award-winning low-impact ecopark run and managed by Masungi.

The Supplemental Agreement pertains to a contract involving the construction of 5,000 housing units on Lot 10, where the Masungi Georeserve Foundation Inc. built its award-winning Masungi Geopark, a low-impact ecopark in Baras, Rizal. Masungi Georeserve is located within the larger Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape (UMRBPL). It also overlaps with parts of the historic Marikina watershed reservation, created in 1904, and the Kaliwa River Forest Reserve.

At least five other agreements between Blue Star and DENR are under review by the DENR chief, who assumed the top DENR post in May this year, replacing former Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga.

Early this week, the DENR, led by the DENR Region 4A office, padlocked three resorts within the UMRBPL for violation of environmental laws, including failure to secure the necessary permits, including the environmental compliance certificate (ECC).

Masungi has been criticized by the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of the UMRBPL for failing to secure necessary environmental permits, including permits for the construction of its tourism facilities.

THE National Bureau of Investigation has arrested a man in Pagadian City who reposted an online photo of President Marcos with the word ‘headshot’ superimposed over it.

In a statement on Wednesday, the NBI-Cybercrime Division (NBI-CCD) said it arrested Michael Romero, alias Mike Romero, in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, on September 30 and charged him with inciting to sedition and

violation of Republic Act 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012).

In a post on Facebook, Romero posted the words ‘Headshot’ superimposed on an image of President Marcos, which was overlaid with a red arrow.

A two-day joint operation by the NBI-CCD and NBI-Pagadian District Office led to the identification of the suspect’s residence.

He admitted that he is the owner of the Facebook account ‘Mike Romero’ and was promptly arrested.

Romero was transported to the NBI-CCD office in Pasay City, where he underwent standard booking procedure.

THE Kingdom of Denmark’s top envoy to the Philippines Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin recently shared his comprehensive analysis on Indo-Pacific geopolitics for the Ambassador’s Lecture Series organized by the School of Diplomacy and Governance of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.

Mellbin delved into the current maritime territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea (WPS)/South China Sea, the implications of China’s aggression in the region, and ways the Philippines can assert its sovereign rights according to international law.

‘Taiwan is not the tipping point in this region; [it is the] Philippines,’ he explained. ‘If the Philippines would adhere and align with China and not the US, that would change everything.’

Amid the tensions and potential conflict, the ambassador noted the impact of the country’s alliance with the United States and the importance of building closer ties with Japan and Australia.

‘You are much better off aligning with the US than China, because China does not treat its friends or its enemies well,’ he continued. ‘But it’s a Filipino decision at the end of the day.’

In the open forum, the diplomat addressed the students’ questions on the concept of international law, the growing global support for the Philippines, reinforcement of multilateral diplomacy, Denmark’s cooperation in expanding Philippine fishing in the WPS, and the world’s economic ties with China.

To cap off the Q and A session, the Danish envoy emphasized the Philippines’ need to work on a long-term, unified strategic vision and internal consistency in its policies.

Mellbin reiterated that Filipinos should not yield in the face of bullying: ‘Find strategies that work for you. Other countries have. You can too. The Philippines can, but it does take real political will and political unity.’

In her speech delivered by Benilde SDG faculty member Josue Raphael Cortez, Consular and Diplomatic Affairs/Diplomacy and International Affairs Chairperson Catherine Dee Samaniego lauded the strong ties between Denmark and the Philippines.

‘[Both] may be located on different sides of the world with vastly different cultures, but we are united by our appreciation for mutual respect, shared values, and preserving a peaceful and prosperous international environment,’ Samaniego remarked. ‘More specifically, it is in our common interest to preserve the freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific, diffuse geopolitical tensions, and build inclusive societies that are technologically prepared and environmentally sound, among others.’

The lecture series aims to bridge diplomacy and the academe by allowing the students to be exposed to the perspectives of foreign ambassadors.

TWO decades in and the IT and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) industry is sailing through new types of waves after overcoming the industry’s birthing pains in the early 2000s and the most recent one-the big wave that was the pandemic.

While it exited from the pandemic almost unscathed, industry pioneers, moving forward, have shared their views on what to keep an eye on after showing resiliency for the past two decades.

While the two founding leaders differed in perspectives, they agreed on one thing: Talent crunch is the ‘ongoing challenge’ for the industry, adding that the Filipino talent is at a critical juncture amid the rapid adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), a tool which can either be a friend or a foe, depending on how it’s utilized.

Early 2000s: birthing pains

MAPPING out the twenty-year journey of the Philippine IT-BPM industry, Rainerio ‘Bong’ Borja, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Alorica Inc. and former IBPAP Chairman told the BusinessMirror in a virtual interview that the first challenge the industry encountered in the early 2000s was establishing the brand of the industry as it was just starting out.

Borja said: ‘When you’re starting a business even more so with an industry, you’re trying to establish a brand, a reputation. To attract possible clients and investors to do business with you, specifically because we were an unknown quantity at that point in time. So there was a lot of convincing.’

He said the industry pioneer companies banded together with a ‘common theme,’ which was to promote the Philippines. Borja said the industry’s trailblazers flocked to New York for the industry’s first international conference to promote the Philippine IT-BPM industry.

Borja described this phase of the industry as being positioned in a ‘restaurant strip,’ having people go there to see which restaurant to pick.

‘The first thing you should do is be convinced that the Philippines is the right location, that the Filipino talent is what would actually be able to deliver your business requirements from a customer care perspective, for example,’ Borja said, adding that these happened in the early 2000s, as some of the IT-BPM businesses were being simultaneously established in the country.

2005-2010: PHL overtakes India in Voice-Based Services

BORJA describes the years 2005 to 2010 as a game of scale, which means ‘trying to scale up to be a very strong competitor to India, because India was the powerhouse that time.’

During this phase, he said there was a ‘scramble’ for attracting top leadership talent that can manage to scale up, such as getting ‘first-class’ facilities to be able to hire people and accommodate them while trying to ‘live up’ to the established global standards.

It was also during these years that the Philippines overtook India to be the number one BPO country in the world for voice-based services, the industry pioneer said.

Upon dawning on India that the voice business is the Philippines’s turf, it had to pivot to more ‘non-voice work,’ Borja said, adding that this means leaning towards more back-office, IT type of work.

2005-2016: Tapping talent in the provinces

WHILE the Philippine IT-BPM industry discovered that its strength lies in voice-based services, Borja underscored that growth did carry challenges along the way.

For one, he noted: ‘There were areas where we were being called out because we were saturated in certain locations. And so that was also the reason why we spread out into the provinces.’

A similar recollection comes from another industry trailblazer, Danilo Sebastian Reyes, who also used to sit as the IBPAP Chairman. ‘Over the course of the last 20 years, the IT-BPM industry had several challenges throughout its evolution.’

Reyes added: ‘The challenge in the 1st trimester was the availability of Human Resources. The industry grew exponentially and there was not enough talent to fuel the hypersonic growth.’

Borja said in the early 2000s, the Philippines had a lot of ‘untapped graduates,’ adding, ‘We were graduating around half a million people every year and there [were] really not [many] white-collar jobs to speak of other than what was generated by the BPO industry.’

Describing this era as ‘growth pains,’ Borja said growth came with the need to ensure that ‘We were managing talent, that we don’t poach each other’s people, that we develop new talent as much as we could.’

These growth pains prompted the ‘ever-changing’ industry to keep up with the demands of its clients’ evolving needs in the area of business solutions.

‘You know, your clients are becoming more complex in the requirements, and we have to be able to adapt right?’ Borja emphasized, adding that Filipino workers’ skill levels have to increase year-on-year because ‘we’re tackling more complex transactions compared to before and with the advent of technology, you can see it now even with AI.’

In line with this, Reyes explained that in the second trimester of the industry’s 20-year revolution, new types of BPO services such as IT, Gaming, Healthcare, Animation, Finance and Accounting, among others, ‘sprouted that would require talents with new set of skills and competencies.’

Between 2005 and 2010, Borja cited an instance when the industry had a ‘medical transcription’ subsector which later on was displaced by technology because the said subsector required simple skills.

‘And so all these medical transcriptionists have to transition to become, eventually, medical coders which are high-end type work. And so they have to train and we have to retrain,’ added Borja.

The industry pioneer said the Philippine IT-BPM industry was able to evolve and adapt because the Filipino workforce is ‘very trainable.’

2020 onwards: The pandemic changes the work set-up

WHEN the world was jolted by the Covid-19, the IT-BPM industry found itself pushing to work from home.

‘Again, something very foreign and very new to the Philippines and to our workforce. You know, we have to scramble having logistics be able to deliver, you know, workstations, equipment, provide internet access to people working from home,’ Borja noted.

For his part, Reyes, the former IBPAP chairman, told this newspaper that he believes the Philippine IT-BPM industry sustained its growth in the last twenty years despite the pandemic.

‘It is only one of few industries that I know of that grew year-on-year even during the pandemic. Certainly, growth is no longer exponential in terms of jobs created but the quality of jobs have dramatically improved. Due to this, one job in the industry is now contributing twice the amount of revenue,’ added Reyes.

Artificial Intelligence: Friend or foe?

FOR the Philippine IT-BPM industry, Reyes pointed out that AI ‘has become and continues to be the centerpiece of the third trimester; the challenge for the industry is how to adapt and take advantage of AI to not only survive but continue to thrive.’

Borja, meanwhile, said: ‘The individual companies are doing their own bit to try to upskill their workforce, including in AI. We’re embracing it heavily as an industry. Our workforce is currently using it so they don’t see it as a threat. They see it as an aid.’

He is banking on the Filipino workforce to adapt even amid the rapid adoption of Artificial Intelligence, saying the younger generation had quickly kept pace with social media.

During his speech at the recent International IT-BPM Summit 2025, IBPAP President and CEO Jack Madrid underscored that this year’s theme, ‘Rewired for Value: The Global Wake-Up Call,’ is not a warning. Instead, he said, it is an ‘invitation.’

‘An invitation to sharpen our edge. To deepen our partnerships. To move with urgency in a world transforming all around us. And as I stand before you, I am reminded of one truth: what got us here will not get us to where we need to be,’ added Madrid.

Madrid said the headwinds to watch out for are the ‘next-generation agents, geopolitics, rising costs, shifting customer expectations.’

He added: ‘These are not just challenges for the Philippines. They are global realities. Our strength lies not in avoiding them, but in how we respond to them.’

Hence, Madrid said the local IT-BPM industry cannot afford complacency.

‘We cannot allow the ‘sunset industry’ narrative to take root. Because, we are growing faster than the global market,’ he also noted.

While the world continues to see the Philippine IT-BPM industry as a ‘trusted, indispensable’ partner, the head of the flagship organization of the industry said the challenge is not survival.

‘Our challenge is to remain indispensable by strengthening our value,’ Madrid said, adding that AI is not the apocalypse some fear, nor is it the silver bullet some promise.

‘It is a swing factor. It will reshape roles, yes. But the story is not replacement-it is augmentation. And for the Philippines, that is the opportunity: because what we bring-deep process knowledge, cultural empathy, and trusted human interaction-AI cannot replace,’ the IBPAP head said.

Today, Madrid said only 12 percent of Philippine firms report high AI maturity. Nearly half are experimenting but not scaling. Four in 10 are still in the early stages.

By 2028, more than 70 percent expect to reach high maturity.

‘The winners will not be those chasing demos. The winners will be those who rewire workflows with AI, with humans at the core-closing the skills gap in cloud, cybersecurity, and automation,’ Madrid underscored.

By 2026, the IT-BPM industry is projecting $42 billion in revenues and close to 2 million jobs.

In 2024, IBPAP said the industry hit the $38- billion revenue target while the industry added 120,000 new jobs last year, hitting its 1.82 million employees target last year.

Illustrating the evolution of skills within the Philippine IT-BPM industry, Borja noted that in early 2000s, the industry placed emphasis on raising the quality of Filipinos’ English communication skills.

The road leading up to 2025 saw that the demanded skillset has morphed into something more complex which requires the government, industry and academe to put in place a plan that would sustain and even level up what the Filipino talent can offer to the world.

‘What we’re advocating for now is training Filipinos to be very strong AI adopters,’ Borja said, adding: ‘So we can’t just get people who answer phones or change passwords. Those things have been automated. Now the questions are a lot more complex.’

The skillset required today, he said, should be aligned with making judgment calls, decision-making, ‘a lot’ of analytical thinking.

‘I remember early on in 2000s, the concern was the quality of English of Filipinos, so we were putting a lot of emphasis on training and upskilling, focusing on their English skills or their English communication skills. And then that changed into, you know, more training and upskilling, not only in English skills, but in comprehension, in analytical thinking, right? And then it evolved and now focusing on having our workforce be AI adopters,’ the industry pioneer noted.

In the 20-year timeframe, Reyes said the industry has been able ‘to elevate ourselves from merely serving those around the table to earning our own seat in the table.’

‘From the early days of the industry wherein voice services was the predominant factor, for growth, to now being able to partner with clients in addressing business problems and creating innovative ways of business processing, the industry has evolved by leaps and bounds,’ added the industry pioneer.

Madrid said the IT-BPM industry’s core remains strong: banking and financial services, healthcare, and global leadership in customer experience.

Today, he said the industry contributes over 8 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

‘The Philippine IT-BPM industry is too big to fail. But just as important, it is too important not to evolve,’ the IBPAP President emphasized.

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) will soon issue its own guidelines covering Energy Storage Systems (ESS).

‘The ERC is currently deliberating on the draft rules on ESS, which will define the playing field for the next decade,’ ERC chairman Francis Saturnino Juan said.

ESS captures energy and store it for later use. ESS technologies include battery energy storage systems, flywheel and compressed air, among others.

The ERC chief stressed that these rules will enable fair market access for storage, whether as a generation asset, a transmission asset, a distribution asset, or simply an asset or device. The rules aim to establish clear guidelines on ownership models, connection agreements, and safety standards.

Juan shared this during the recent Energy Storage Summit Asia 2025, organized by the Philippine Solar and Storage Energy Alliance (Pssea). The ERC chief emphasized the vital role of ESS in efficiently and reliably integrating renewable energy (RE) in the generation mix and unlocking a resilient, decarbonized future.

In his keynote address, Juan underscored the rising demand for electricity as the Philippine economy expands, industries modernize and people gain greater access to cutting edge technologies such as electric vehicles (EVs) and data centers. Simultaneously, the Philippines has amplified its efforts towards renewable energy transition.

‘We have targeted to achieve a renewable energy share of 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040. These ambitious yet essential goals are crucial for securing a low-carbon, inclusive, and competitive future. However, the challenge we face is no longer about generating clean power. Instead, it lies in how we store, balance, and deliver it reliably – day and night, during calm seas or typhoons, and across more than 7,000 islands,’ Juan noted.

The ERC is, likewise, reviewing existing market and technical regulations – including the Philippine Grid Code (PGC), Philippine Distribution Code (PDC), and Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) rules-to integrate grid-forming inverters and synthetic inertia into system planning; specify dispatch and scheduling protocols for ESS within the WESM; establish distribution-level interconnection and smart-metering requirements; and strengthen data exchange, cybersecurity, and safety standards for ESS operations.

Juan noted that the Philippines has made significant progress in adopting energy storage, from the long-operating Kalayaan Pumped Storage Power Plant to the most recent Green Energy Auction Program, where many RE projects now integrate storage components.

‘The era of passive consumption is over. We are now in the age of active, intelligent energy management. The ESS is no longer a piece of hardware; it is the beating heart of the new grid,’ the ERC chief emphasized.

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.

The Department of Education (DepEd) has reinforced its disaster preparedness and response systems through the deployment of rapid assessment teams and the launch of new tools and facilities aimed at strengthening education resilience, following 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Bogo City, Cebu.

Education Secretary Juan Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara, said that President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has directed to protect learners and that learning shall continue.

‘Kailangan nating masiguro na makakaresponde ang ating mga paaralan na protektahan ang mga mag-aaral at maipagpatuloy ang edukasyon bago, habang, at matapos ang anumang sakuna,’ Angara said.

According to DepEd Region VII Director Salustiano Jimenez, the total damage to schools across the province is projected to exceed P1 billion, with more than 50,000 learners and over 1,400 teaching and non-teaching personnel affected, including nearly 900 in Bogo City.

As response efforts continue, DepEd is also shifting its focus from rapid relief to long-term preparedness.

PlanSmart for Safe Schools

Among its major initiatives is PlanSmart for Safe Schools, a web-based contingency planning application developed with support from the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-Phivolcs) and the World Bank.

The platform integrates hazard and risk data from the GeoRiskPH system, enabling schools to create evidence-based contingency plans aligned with the standards of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

A series of training sessions for the project will begin in November 2025 for 3,012 schools in the Greater Metro Manila area, before its nationwide rollout to build the capacity of school heads and DRRM coordinators.

M7X School Ready Program

In addition, DepEd will pilot the M7X School Ready Program, an initiative aimed at strengthening earthquake preparedness in public schools and DepEd offices.

Recognizing the imminent threat of a 7.2-magnitude earthquake along the West Valley Fault (WVF), the program introduces a certification system that awards the M7.2 Ready School Seal to schools that complete the checklist on both structural safety and non-structural preparedness.

The pilot phase will prioritize schools in Metro Manila, Region III, and Region IV-A that are situated along or near the WVF.

Manual promoting resilient design

DepEd also introduced the Pillar 1: Safer Learning Facilities Guidebook, a reference manual promoting resilient design, safe site selection, and maintenance practices in line with the Comprehensive School Safety (CSS) Frameworkand the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Developed in collaboration with UNICEF and Good Neighbors International Philippines, the guidebook empowers schools to adopt inclusive, climate-resilient, and child-safe construction standards.

Upgraded Temporary Learning Spaces

To sustain learning in disaster-affected areas, DepEd also rolled out Upgraded Temporary Learning Spaces (UTLS)-improved modular classrooms designed to support continued education while permanent school structures undergo repair or reconstruction.

These initiatives were featured during the National DRRM x CCA Summit 2025 held in Makati City this October, with the theme ‘EduResilience 2025: Strengthening Learning Continuity and Climate Resilience in Basic Education.’

‘Ang kahandaan ang pundasyon ng katatagan. Kapag may sapat na kagamitan, pagsasanay, at pasilidad ang ating mga paaralan, makakatiyak tayo na magpapatuloy ang pag-aaral kahit sa gitna ng sakuna,’ Angara added.

The Zamboanga Peninsula is the latest region to adopt the rapid damage assessment tool that the Department of Science and Technology has developed to prepare the communities to prepare and respond to disasters and emergency situations.

The DOST said slightly more than half, or 43 out of 75, of local governments in the Zamboanga Peninsula have officially adopted a hazard assessment system called Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment System (Redas).

This number placed the Zamboanga Peninsula, which consists of the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay, as the region with the most numerous LGUs that have manifested their intent to adopt Redas.

The DOST said this number was confirmed during the celebration of the 2025 Regional Science and Technology Innovation Week (RSTW) in Zamboanga Peninsula, when 43 municipalities and cities signed the memorandum of agreement with the DOST Regional Office 9 to formally integrate Redas into their disaster risk assessment efforts and emergency plans.

‘For region 9, we are facing a severe drought and heavy rains. With heavy rains, accounts are very heavy with flooding. With that, with the REDAS, some of our local government units have already initiated preparation activities related to, in terms of mitigating the rains, and the efforts to protect against disasters,’ said DOST 9 Officer in Charge Jennifer A. Pidor.

In a forum titled ‘Strengthening LGU Preparations Through DOST-DRRRM Innovations,’ representatives of local governments shared their experiences and best practices in addressing disasters like flooding through the use of science-based technologies like GeoRiskPH, Hazard HunterPH, and project Redas, Pidor said.

Take for example, she added, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Diplahan, Zamboanga Sibugay, which installed early warning devices to detect floods in their communities with the help of the data they get from the Redas software.

Redas is a software developed by the DOST-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) in 2002, after the devastating 1990 Luzon earthquake, the DOST said.

The software can simulate earthquake hazards such as ground shaking, liquefaction, landslides, and tsunamis. It can also compute earthquake impacts in terms of physical damage, casualties, and economic loss, allowing communities to make practical and science-based solutions.

Although Redas was originally conceived for use in earthquake hazard and impact assessment, other multi-hazard maps, such as floods, storm surge, and rain-induced landslides, are already incorporated into the software, according to Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

‘Here in Region-9, innovations are translated into concrete action, ensuring that science benefits local governments, schools, barangays, fisherfolk, farmers, and marginalized groups. From 2023 to 2024, 74 of 75 LGUs in the Zamboanga Peninsula completed training on the Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment System (REDAS),’ Science Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. said.

He added that DOST 9 led the passage of Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) Resolution 016, series of 2023, to institutionalize the use of REDAS and to ensure that the LGUs are strictly implementing the project after the adoption.

Meanwhile, Pidor said the remaining 31 LGUs that did not sign the MOA but nonetheless sent personnel to undergo training on the implementation of project Redas have already manifested their intent soon and will be adopting the REDAS software officially through a memorandum of agreement.

She said the DOST has targeted the entire Zamboanga Peninsula to adapt the tool, and including 19 more municipalities from the island province of Sulu, which has been recently integrated into the region.