Category: Philippine Star

Two minor eruptions were detected at Taal Volcano in Batangas shortly after midnight yesterday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Phivolcs said the eruptions had nothing to do with the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu approximately three hours earlier.

The eruptions generated ash plumes, but did not affect surrounding communities.

State volcanologists said the first eruption, described as phreatic or steam-driven, occurred between 12:57 a.m. and 1:02 a.m. The second, a stronger phreatomagmatic eruption, occurred from 2:02 a.m. to 2:15 a.m.

Phivolcs said the second eruption was recorded by a thermal camera installed at the Taal Volcano Observatory and by an IP camera at the Main Crater Observation Station.

‘A steam-driven eruption occurs when water came into contact with hot rocks, generating an explosion,’ Paolo Reniva, resident volcanologist at the Taal Volcano Observatory in Barangay Buco, Talisay town, said.

Meanwhile, a phreatomagmatic eruption occurs when magma comes into contact with water, causing explosions that eject steam, ash and volcanic debris. Such activity may produce plumes higher than the ones generated by a phreatic or steam-driven event.

Alert Level 1 or low-level unrest remained hoisted over Taal Volcano.

Entry into the Taal Volcano Island is strictly prohibited and residents in nearby areas have been advised to prepare and heed authorities during emergencies.

The University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu Fighting Maroons barged into the win column with a 73-69 upset of the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 25 basketball tournament on Tuesday, September 30, at the Cebu Coliseum.

Andrew Padilla shined the brightest with 21 points, seven rebounds and three assists while Brandon Sainz and Wenraye Sarol combined for 22 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists to help the Fighting Maroons of coach Rommel Rasmo snap a three-game jinx.

UP Cebu squandered a nine-point lead late in the third quarter as the Webmasters staged a spirited endgame fightback to seize a 65-60 edge at the last three-minute mark of the contest.

But the Fighting Maroons countered with a decisive 10-1 blitz to regain the upper hand, 70-66, in the final 64 seconds.

The Webmasters threatened one last time at 69-71 on a 3-pointer by Ricofer Sordilla as Sarol scored on a crucial layup with only five ticks left in the game clock to seal the deal for the Fighting Maroons.

Ray Charles Libatog bagged 20 points, six rebounds and one assist while Sordilla had 13 points, four rebounds, two assists, and a steal but their efforts went to waste as the Webmasters faltered for the first time after a rousing 2-0 start.

In high school division, Mart Justine Padilla fired 23 points with five rebounds, one assist and a spectacular six steals as the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Blue Dragons nailed their first victory with a 67-56 scorching of the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM) Baby Webmasters.

Kenneth Robert Fuller delivered a double-double of 16 and 12 rebounds with four assists and three steals for the Dragons, who sprinted to a 14-point advantage, 35-21, midway in the second quarter.

UCLM pulled within just two points, 49-51, in the final five minutes but the Dragons closed the match with a searing 16-7 run to secure a double-digit triumph.

Dan Mitchell Ferraren scattered 22 points, seven rebounds and two assists but to no avail as UCLM tasted its first defeat.

The Commission on Elections will start from scratch in preparing for the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections after the Supreme Court struck down two laws that redrew the region’s parliamentary districts.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said Thursday, October 2, the body must reprint ballots and reconfigure its automated election system following the high court’s decision declaring two Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) laws unconstitutional.

In a September 30 ruling, the Supreme Court nullified Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) 77 and 58, which redistributed the elective posts originally assigned to Sulu and created the parliamentary districts in the region. This means that there is now no actual law to enforce for the Bangsamoro polls, which had been initially set for October 13.

“The truth is the Comelec is now back to zero,” Garcia said in an interview on Radyo DZBB. “Bakit po back to zero? We will surely reprint ballots and have to redo our other activities.”

Garcia said, however, the ruling validated the Comelec’s decision to suspend election preparations when the court earlier issued a temporary restraining order.

The Supreme Court ruling means the Bangsamoro parliament must pass a new districting law. The Comelec also has until March 31, 2026, to hold the elections.

What Comelec had prepared

Comelec had based its preparations on BAA 58, the original districting law that included Sulu. The Supreme Court previously ruled Sulu was not part of BARMM, reducing the parliament from 80 to 73 members. The latest ruling says the parliament should have 80 members, not 73.

Before the suspension of preparations, Garcia said, the Comelec still needed to conduct voter education campaigns to explain which districts people would vote in and train electoral board members – the teachers who will staff polling places on election day. The poll body also had yet to deploy election equipment and train technical staff for the automated elections.

Garcia said voter registration will resume in the third week of October nationwide for the May 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

But those who registered from August 1 to 10 and those who register starting in October will not be able to vote in the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections if held before March 31, 2026.

“Why? Because the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections are a continuation of our national and local elections last May,” Garcia said.

The Bangsamoro parliamentary elections were supposed to be the region’s first since BARMM replaced the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in 2019.

The Bangsamoro Organic Law set the first elections in 2022, but this was postponed to May 2025, and then to October 2025, and is now put off again pending a new law.

If it were up to PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, the 4-point line would stay in the league ‘forever.’

Marcial said that the 4-point line will be staying in the league for the PBA Season 50, and possibly for more seasons moving forward.

‘Siguro forever na yan, as ako [ang] commissioner,’ Marcial told reporters during the PBA preseason press conference Wednesday at the Shangri-La The Fort Manila in Taguig City.

”Di ko alam kung ibang commissioner na. Pero as ako commissioner, stay ang 4-point line,’ he added.

The PBA, last season, introduced the 4-point line, which had been set 27 feet away from the ring.

This added a new dimension to the game, as teams could go for the win despite being down three points.

“Pag gumagawa tayo ng bagong innovation, meron talagang di nasisiyahan, may nasisiyahan. Pero kumukuha na ang FIBA ng datos sa atin. So ‘di ko alam kung masisiyahan sila sa datos,’ Marcial said.

Other leagues, including those abroad, have also inquired about the 4-point shot, the executive bared.

‘So, nagtatanong sila, nagi-inquire. Tinatanong ko din sa kanila, ano ba sa palagay niyo? Yung iba okay, yung iba, hindi. Hindi mo masasabi,’ he added.

Before its implementation during last season, the PBA tested out the 4-point line in All-Star games.

Meralco guard Chris Banchero was the first player to sink a 4-pointer in an official game, during the season opener in August last year.

Rule changes

In the same press conference Wednesday, Marcial said that there will be nine rule changes for Season 50.

One of the rule changes is referees will now explain the ruling, live, whether a coach’s challenge is successful or unsuccessful.

During challenges, players can also form huddles with their coaches.

Teams reaching two fouls in the last two minutes of every quarter will also put them in penalty.

The referee may also review a made basket if it is a 2-, 3- or a 4-pointer, but if there will be no immediate review, the shot will no longer be reviewable. The same process will also be applied regarding basket interference in the last two minutes.

Other rule changes to be implemented this season are: throwing the ball at a player’s head with clear vision to save the ball from going out of bounds will lead to a flagrant foul penalty one infraction; a player who air-balled a legitimate shot may pick up the ball without being whistled for a travel violation; an excessive elbow from left to right will result in a technical foul; no extra time out will be allowed; and an offensive foul will count as a team foul.

Halfway through the Spring/Summer 2026 collection launches of Paris Fashion Week, Filipino celebrities relished their moments in the French capital.

Host-actress Anne Curtis and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach-Jauncey are just a few of the Filipino personalities attending Paris Fashion Week, which runs until October 7.

Pia returned to the annual L’Oréal Paris Le Défilé runway, a year after becoming the first Filipina walk its show.

She was joined by fellow L’Oréal Paris ambassadors, including Kendall Jenner, Viola Davis, Jane Fonda, Simone Ashley, Eva Longoria, and Andie MacDowell.

The beauty queen wore a metallic red gown from Tony Ward’s Spring/Summer 2024 couture collection.

Saudi Arabia-born Filipina-Irish model Christina Nadin walked in a “Jackpot Dress” by Clara Daguin, while Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee was in the audience.

Anne was back in Paris two years after her first attendance, appearing at the shows of Lanvin and Courreges. The “It’s Showtime” host later met with Pia and Filipino content creator Bryanboy for the Asia 100 Dinner.

Actress Sarah Lahbati, meanwhile, attended shows for Ganni, Litkovska, and Caroline Hu. She was also spotted with Michelle, actress Max Collins, and former actress Maggie Wilson (who went to a Claudie Pierlot show) for an evening Maje event.

Two rookie policemen are earning praise from various sectors after intercepting P9.5 million worth of undocumented imported cigarettes at an anti-smuggling checkpoint in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, before dawn on Thursday, October 2.

Brig. Gen. Jaysen De Guzman, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, and Datu Odin Sinsuat municipal police chief Lt. Col. Esmael Madin separately told reporters on Thursday morning that the 266 boxes of Indonesian-made cigarettes are now in police custody and will be turned over to the Bureau of Customs for proper disposition.

Two policemen guarding the anti-smuggling checkpoint along a highway in the town center of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Patrolman Ruel Cañete and Patrolman Michael Laoto, together flagged down the Isuzu van-type truck carrying the contraband only for a routine inspection, but immediately detained its driver and his helper when they found out that the unit was loaded with cigarettes made in Indonesia.

‘To these two rookie policemen, we are thankful,’ said the entrepreneur-lawyer Ronald Hallid Torres, chairman of the Bangsamoro Business Council in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which is actively supporting the campaign of the Bangsamoro regional police against the circulation of smuggled cigarettes in all of BARMM’s five provinces and three cities.

De Guzman and Madin separately lauded both policemen through the radio stations in Cotabato City.

Personnel of the Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Police also immediately impounded the van-type truck, bearing license plates MAZ 7538, that was set to transport its illegal cargo to buyers in different towns in Maguindanao del Norte and nearby provinces.

The driver of the truck and his helper were also detained for procedural interrogation. Both assured municipal police officials that they would identify the suppliers of the seized imported cigarettes for prosecution.

Last Monday, Sept, 29, I was one of four speakers in the Opening Plenary of the ’12th Monitoring and Evaluation Network Forum’ organized by the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) held at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria. The previous name was NEDA, renamed and restructured under RA 12145 or the ‘Economy, Planning and Development Act of 2025.’

DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan gave the opening remarks and he emphasized the important role of monitoring and evaluation (M and E) to see whether government projects, programs and commitments are met or not, whether resources are used wisely or not, whether the people really benefited from those programs or not.

My co-speakers in the opening plenary panel with the theme, ‘To retain, redesign or retrench?’ were DEPDev Undersecretary Joseph Capuno, DBM director Mary Joy de Leon and ADB principal economist Ashish Narain. I represented the perspective of civil society as the president of Minimal Government Thinkers advocating less government, less taxes. Moderator was UP School of Economics (UPSE) Prof. Karl Jandoc. Big crowd in the grand ballroom, participants mostly from different government agencies, national and regional offices.

After asking the three co-speakers, Karl asked my view as an advocate of minimal government about DEPDev’s mandate to use evaluation results. I replied that DEPDev as the main M and E agency of the Executive branch (Section 4 of RA 12145) should remind all other agencies of two principles.

One, the Principle of Subsidiarity – functions that can be done by local governments should not be assigned to national government, and functions that can be done by civil society or voluntary organizations and individuals themselves should not be assigned to government, national or local.

Two, reason for existence or ‘raison d’etre’ of government – to protect the people’s right to life, right to private property and right to liberty. This is actually contained in the 1987 Constitution, ‘Section 5. The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty and property.’

I emphasized those two principles because modern governments now, Philippines and almost all other countries around the world have expanded to many areas and sectors that were not ‘rights’ and entitlements before. Like free education up to universities, free health care for certain sectors including non-communicable diseases, free monthly cash and so on.

These functions are formerly personal and parental responsibility and not government responsibility. Now it is becoming the reverse, and that is how governments have expanded, the bureaucracies, regulations and prohibitions have expanded. The annual disbursements, the budget deficit, borrowings, taxes and regulatory fees have expanded. And the wastes, inefficiencies and corruption have expanded.

High annual budget deficit means high annual borrowings and hence, rising public debt stock. Our interest payment of our public debt in 2024 was P763 billion or an average of P2.1 billion a day. For 2025, interest payments targeted by the DBCC early this year amount to P848 billion or average of P2.3 billion a day. But as of January-August 2025, it was already P584 billion or average of P2.8 billion a day. At this rate we will pay up to P1 trillion for interest payment alone, principal amortization not included yet. We are almost drowning not just with flood but with costly debt.

Another question by Karl to me was what institutional and capacity gaps hinder effective use of M and E evidence at national and local levels. I replied that the institutional gap is the prevalence of the philosophy of anti-inequality or forced equality in social outcome, instead of equality before the law. We lack the rule of law, the law applies equally to unequal people, no one is exempted and no one can grant an exemption. Like the law against stealing, if we exempt the very poor from punishment, many people will stop working and declare themselves as poor and steal left and right knowing they will not go to jail.

For now, I think DEPDev should consider telling these agencies as part of its M and E function of the Executive branch.

One, the State Universities and Colleges – stop expanding campuses. There are 113 SUCs and 126 local univs and colleges like University of Makati, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. Cebu Technical University has 24 campuses, Palawan State University has 19, Cavite Batangas, Southern Luzon (Quezon) State Universities have 11 each.

Two, the Department of Health – privatize two of their four hospitals in Manila City, get the money and put up a DOH hospital in regions where there is none. Manila City has seven city-owned hospitals, has UP-PGH (P7 billion a year from UP budget), and four DOH hospitals. Does it mean residents of Manila are the healthiest people in the country? Not exactly.

Three, the Department of Energy – when the share of (solar + wind)/total power generation reaches 10 percent, even 15 percent, stop contracting new solar and wind via Green Energy Auction to avoid rising inflation. Threshold seems to be 20 percent, beyond that inflation rate is higher than a decade ago, the case of many European countries.

Four, the military and uniformed personnel (MUP) agencies – AFP, PNP, PCG, BFP, BJMP, etc. They should pay for their own pension someday when they retire, and not take it from taxpayers. The MUP pension in the budget is P111 billion in 2024, P132 billion in 2025 and P133 billion in 2026.

I doubt that Finance Secretary Ralph Recto and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman are happy finding more revenues yearly to cover more budget requests by many agencies and keeping the deficit as low as possible.

The reason for the existence of the government is to protect the people’s right to life, right to private property, right to liberty. Not to burden the people with endless taxes and corrupt their values with endless subsidies and freebies.

The Province of Cebu has been officially declared under a state of calamity, following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck offshore northeast of Cebu Island on the evening of September 30.

The declaration was made during an emergency online session of the 17th Sangguniang Panlalawigan, which was presided over by Vice Governor Glenn Soco yesterday (October 1).

‘This declaration is necessary to give our provincial government the ability to respond quickly and effectively,’ Soco said. ‘It allows us to mobilize resources, extend immediate assistance to affected families, and implement rehabilitation measures as we begin our recovery.’

The session was held virtually, as board members remained in their respective districts to assist constituents and monitor the situation.

The Cebu Provincial Legislative building is currently undergoing a structural safety inspection to ensure the welfare of employees and officials.

Placing the Province of Cebu under a state of calamity was meant to expedite resource mobilization and rehabilitation. As the situation continues to evolve, national and local agencies remain committed to ensuring the safety, recovery, and resilience of affected communities.

According to the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS), the earthquake occurred at 9:59 PM Philippine Standard Time, was tectonic in origin, with the epicenter approximately 19 kilometers northeast of Bogo City, at a shallow depth of 5 kilometers.

The earthquake was generated by movement along a previously unmapped offshore fault segment, not the inland Bogo Fault. Ground shaking was felt across Cebu and neighboring provinces.

PHIVOLCS recorded Intensity VII (destructive) in Bogo City, and the towns of Daanbantayan, Medellin, Tabuelan, and San Remigio. The agency continues to monitor seismic activity and urges the public to remain alert for possible aftershocks.

PHIVOLCS initially issued a tsunami advisory, which was later lifted after no significant sea level changes were observed. But it confirmed that this is the strongest earthquake ever recorded in Cebu Province.

Cebu lies within a seismically active region influenced by multiple fault systems, including the Bogo Fault, Daanbantayan Lineament, and the broader Cebu Fault System.

Vice Governor Soco joined Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro later in the day in some of the affected areas in northern Cebu to oversee relief operations, and they called on residents to remain vigilant, follow official advisories, and consult municipal engineers before re-entering damaged structures.

Soco said: ‘Declaring a State of Calamity is not just a legal measure. It is a commitment that your provincial government is working tirelessly to safeguard the welfare of every Cebuano during this difficult time. Together, we will rise from this challenge stronger and more united.’

Baricuatro conducted an aerial inspection and described the damage to roads, bridges, and other infrastructure as ‘devastating.’

Collapsed bridges, cracked highways, and ruined homes were reported across towns. Even government facilities in Bogo City, including the City Hall, bus terminal, and port, sustained severe damage.

Power supply was also disrupted. Transformer explosions in Asturias triggered widespread blackouts, while the Visayas Grid Authority raised a yellow alert on Wednesday morning.

In total, 27 power plants tripped, causing the loss of 1,444.1 megawatts, while 16 plants were offline and one was operating at reduced capacity. This left at least 1,654.7 megawatts unavailable in the Visayas grid, though Luzon and Mindanao grids remained stable.

Telecommunications were cut off in Bogo City, Daanbantayan, and San Remigio towns, making rescue coordination more difficult. Transportation was also affected, with at least 52 passengers stranded in the towns of Carmen and Consolacion after roadblocks and port closures.

Religious and cultural landmarks were not spared. The Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima in Daanbantayan collapsed, the San Juan Nepomuceno Parish and the Capelinha de Fatima Replica all in San Remigio, were destroyed or suffered structural damage.

The Hagnaya Port in San Remigion temporarily suspended operations due to quake-related damage, halting passenger and cargo movement in northern Cebu.

In addition to public structures, numerous private homes also collapsed or sustained heavy cracks, forcing residents to seek shelter in evacuation centers.

Relief efforts began immediately, with the provincial government deploying rescue teams, medical staff, and food supplies to hardest-hit areas.

Government help

As Cebu Province continues to reel from the mag-6.9 earthquake, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte extended their respective messages of sympathy and support, while national agencies mobilize a coordinated response across Central Visayas.

President Marcos expressed deep condolences to families who lost their loved ones and offered prayers for the safety and recovery of the injured. He assured the public that Cabinet officials are already on the ground to assess damage and deliver aid.

The President urged all residents to remain alert and follow advisories from their local governments, emphasizing that the nation will rebuild together.

The Department of Public Works and Highways is inspecting roads and bridges, the Department of Energy is working to restore power, the Department of Health has deployed additional medical personnel to hospitals, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development is distributing food and essential relief.

The Bureau of Fire Protection is assisting in search and rescue operations, while the Philippine National Police is maintaining order, and supporting rescue efforts.

The Department of National Defense, led by Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, also called for the unified and coordinated response efforts among national government agencies, uniformed personnel, and local disaster risk reduction and management offices to extend rapid disaster response in areas heavily affected by the earthquake.

Teodoro has instructed the Office of Civil Defense-Region 7 to lead the regional coordination efforts and provide situational updates for the immediate deployment of the necessary assistance to affected localities in northern Cebu.

On the other hand, Vice President Sara Duterte, through the Office of the Vice President, conveyed heartfelt condolences to the people of Cebu and Leyte.

She offered prayers for the peace of those who perished, healing for the injured, and strength for communities facing the aftermath of the disaster. She expressed hope that affected families will find courage, faith, and resilience in this time of hardship.

The OVP also delivered assistance through its satellite offices in Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Eastern Visayas, Panay, and Negros Islands.

On the ground, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa ordered the continuous deployment of emergency medical teams from Cebu City to Bogo City.

The first batch from Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center included general surgeons, emergency medicine doctors, and orthopedic specialists, while a second batch was sent to Cebu Provincial Hospital early yesterday morning.

As of press time, Central Visayas is under Code White Alert, activating the DOH Operations Center and Health Emergency Response Teams with medicines and equipment ready for deployment.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government-Region 7 (DILG-7) activated its Emergency Operations Center and mobilized regional and provincial focal officers.

Local government units have been urged to convene their disaster councils, conduct rapid damage assessments, and evacuate high-risk communities. Structural safety inspections are underway, and contingency plans are being activated to ensure continuity of public service.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced it will shoulder burial expenses and provide P10,000 cash aid to families of those who perished while conducting damage and needs assessments in Bogo City. DSWD maintains P379 million in standby funds and P2.4 million family food packs nationwide.

In coordination with the Office of Civil Defense, national agencies have deployed assets to northern Cebu. The Philippine Coast Guard, led by RADM Agapito B. Bibat, dispatched BRP Sindangan carrying Disaster Response Group teams, medical personnel, SAR dogs, and food packs. BRP Teresa Magbanua also transported 36 medical personnel from Manila to Bogo City.

The Philippine Air Force, through Tactical Operations Wing Central, mobilized a C-130 aircraft and Black Hawk helicopters for rapid damage assessments and airlift operations.

The Philippine Army’s 53rd Engineer Brigade deployed 158 troops, ambulances, and mission-essential equipment.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco also requested urgent assistance for Cebu while coordinating with DOT regional directors and gateway authorities to ensure the welfare of affected communities, tourists, and tourism frontliners.

Inspection teams of TIEZA (Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority) have been deployed to assess damage to heritage churches in Daanbantayan, Bantayan, Tabogon, and San Remigio, as well as key tourism establishments in Cebu City and northern Cebu.

The DOT issued a public advisory urging travelers to confirm the status of destinations before traveling, as several sites may be closed for safety inspections. Tourists are reminded to remain alert for aftershocks and follow official bulletins from PHIVOLCS and NDRRMC.

Civil Defense Deputy Administrator for Administration Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV confirmed in a press briefing yesterday that no formal evacuation camps have been activated in Bogo City following the powerful earthquake that struck northern Cebu late Tuesday night.

As of press time, more than 1,000 evacuees were sheltering in open spaces in Bogo City, though tents are being mobilized to provide temporary relief.

‘We technically don’t have evacuation camps right now. Our kababayans are just in open spaces. We’re assessing how many cannot return to their homes, and that will dictate how many camps we’ll need to manage in the next 24 hours,’ Alejandro said.

The official emphasized that the immediate priority remains search and rescue operations, especially in the mountainous areas of Bogo and neighboring San Remigio, where residents were reportedly trapped under debris.

‘We are still within the golden hour. Trained personnel are working tirelessly to retrieve survivors,’ he added.

Among the hardest-hit facilities was the San Remigio Sports Complex, which had been designated as an evacuation center. The structure sustained significant damage during the quake, and initial reports confirmed that some lives were lost in the collapse. Alejandro declined to comment on concerns about possible substandard infrastructure contributing to the casualties, deferring the matter to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

‘Next question. We’ll leave it to DPWH. They will assess,’ he said when pressed.

The DPWH has since issued multiple advisories and deployed augmentation teams to inspect the structural integrity of school buildings, hospitals, roads, and bridges in affected areas. Initial reports indicated partial collapses and single-lane passable roads, while air assets have also been deployed for aerial assessments and rescue operations in highland communities.

Defense Secretary Gilbert ‘Gibo’ Teodoro is also in Cebu to personally oversee the situation.

The Department of Health (DOH) reported that Bogo City District Hospital has been overwhelmed, prompting the deployment of additional medical personnel and transport teams for patient transfers. Power restoration efforts are underway, with generators temporarily supplying electricity, while the Department of Energy works to stabilize the grid.

Alejandro acknowledged the challenges posed by unstable communications and transport delays, noting that the city is around three hours away from Cebu City. The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has been tasked to establish emergency communication systems to provide a clearer operational picture.

Casualties, mostly due to falling debris, have been brought to hospitals. Close to 60 deaths were reported to the Office of Civil Defense earlier in the day, though figures remain fluid amid ongoing rescue efforts. The DOH and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) are managing the retrieval and identification of the deceased, as well as concerns about the proximity of bodies to the district hospital.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) continues to monitor aftershocks, some reaching magnitude 5. Residents remain hesitant to return to their homes, prompting further assessments of residential safety and the deployment of water filtration teams and food packs.

In anticipation of panic buying and hoarding, DILG Undersecretary Jovic Remulla placed the Philippine National Police (PNP) on red alert to maintain order and prevent looting.

Alejandro stressed that the full force of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has been deployed under the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

‘All hands are on deck. Cabinet members are coordinating to ensure resources reach those who need them,’ he said.

He also underscored the importance of public education and preparedness, especially in Metro Manila, where ‘the Big One’ is expected within the next 50 years.

‘We can never be 100 percent prepared, but we continue to practice and improve the plan. This event is one way to test our systems,’ Alejandro said.

International support from neighboring countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia is being considered, though assessments are still ongoing.

As the situation unfolds, authorities urge the public to remain vigilant, follow official advisories, and prioritize safety amid continuing aftershocks and rescue operations.

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) plans to summon former speaker Martin Romualdez, resigned congressman Zaldy Co, as well as Senator and former public works chief Mark Villar as part of its ongoing investigation on corruption in infrastructure projects.

Brian Keith Hosaka, ICI executive director, said Romualdez ‘has been invited already,’ but did not specify when the subpoena was issued.

It remains unclear whether Co, who stepped down from his post on Monday and is currently abroad, has also received an invitation.

Romualdez and Co are key figures in the investigation on anomalies in flood control projects, being the speaker and the chairman of the House appropriations committee, respectively.

Romualdez, a cousin of the President, relinquished his speakership on Sept. 17. During a hearing by the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, retired Marine sergeant Orly Guteza testified delivering 46 suitcases of ‘basura (trash)’ – code for kickback money – to Romualdez’s residence. Co had also received several suitcases containing cash, according to Guteza.

On Sept.24, former public works undersecretary Roberto Bernardo appeared before the ICI. He did not speak to the media.

Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) also visited the ICI’s office in Taguig to face the three-member fact-finding body.

Hosaka announced that starting next week, ICI hearings would be held every Tuesday and Wednesday.

Waste of time

For former finance chief Benjamin Diokno, lawmakers should drop their ongoing investigations on the alleged corruption in flood control projects and instead prove their integrity by passing a national budget without congressional insertions for next year.

Calling the ongoing investigation a waste of time, Diokno said passing an insertion-free budget for 2026 would be a litmus test of politicians’ sincerity as well as their act of contrition that could prove that they aredifferent from lawmakers from previous congresses.

‘This is just publicity, they are just taking advantage of the airtime. There is no point here,’ he said. ‘Cut the drama, cut the telenovela, focus on the 2026 budget.’

Over P142 billion, primarily allocated for infrastructure projects, was reportedly inserted into the 2025 national budget during the bicameral conference committee deliberations held in the latter part of 2024.

Senate Blue Ribbon committee chairman Sen. Ping Lacson said the committee is set to release a report detailing insertions by ‘almost all’ senators of the 19th Congress of at least P100 billion worth of projects into the 2025 national budget.

Diokno, who sits as a member on the country’s Monetary Board, said that congressional hearings would lead nowhere and further erode the confidence of foreign investors in the country ‘since their only output is to recommend to the Department of Justice or the Office of the Ombudsman to go after some people.’

P220 million earnings

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said it expects to earn P220 million if the 13 luxury vehicles owned by the contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya, would be auctioned off.

Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno yesterday said there were sufficient grounds for the government to seize and offer for auction 13 of the 30 luxury vehicles of the Discaya couple, as there are irregularities in their importation and documentation. Of the 13 vehicles, seven were said to have no Import Entry or Certificate of Payment.

Nepomuceno said they have issued warrants of seizure of detention on the 13 cars, and would give the Discayas 15 days to present the proper documents or face forfeiture of their ownership of the vehicles in favor of the government.

The first hearing on the status of the vehicles has been set for Oct. 9.

The vehicles consist of Toyota Tundra, Toyota Sequoia, Mercedes-Benz AMG SUV, Mercedes-Benz G 500, Lincoln Navigator 2021, Bentley Bentayga, Lincoln Navigator 2024, GMC Yukon Denali, Cadillac Escalade 2021, Maserati Levante Modena, GMC Yukon Denali, Cadillac Escalade ESV and Rolls Royce Cullinan.

The 17 other cars were found with correct payment and certification and would be returned to the Discaya family.

The BOC chief also said 10 Custom employees, including examiners, appraisers and deputy collectors, have been issued show cause orders requiring them to explain why they should not be sanctioned for allowing the release of the 13 vehicles.

Nepomuceno said they have requested a meeting with the ICI so they can share information related to the flood control anomaly.

Meanwhile, the ex-wife of controversial Bulacan district engineer Brice Hernandez resigned as OIC of the DPWH Bureau of Research and Standards Technical Services Division last Sept. 22 or just more than a month after her appointment on Aug. 11.

Hernandez earlier drew flak for mentioning in his Senate testimony that he is married to an employee of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and not to Mel Clarisse Sto. Domingo of DPWH.

It was Hernandez’s lawyer Ernest Levanza who clarified that Sto. Domingo is no longer the wife of his client, who is now married to a certain Rica of GSIS.

‘Brice and Rica got married in 2023 and remain together to this day. We hope this clears the air and puts an end to the confusion,’ Levanza said.