Category: Philippine Star

Nearly 9,000 officers from the National Capital Region Police Office will be deployed across Metro Manila during this year’s observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days, the NCRPO said yesterday.

The NCRPO will be on full alert starting Oct. 31 – a special non-working holiday.

‘Our preparation for Undas is anchored on anticipation, coordination and compassion,’ said NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin in a statement yesterday.

He said 8,575 personnel from the five districts, regional headquarters, regional mobile force battalion and support units will be stationed in cemeteries, worship places, major thoroughfares, transportation hubs and ‘rally convergence points.’

An additional 1,330 police officers will conduct anti-criminality operations, including beat and mobile patrols, checkpoints, traffic management and medical assistance.

Metro Manila is home to some of the largest cemeteries in the country, including Manila North Cemetery, Manila South Cemetery, Libingan ng mga Bayani, Manila Memorial Park and La Loma Cemetery.

Aside from Undas, the NCRPO is preparing for the White Friday protests on Oct. 31.

‘Even with simultaneous rallies expected across the region, our goal is to maintain peace without compromising the rights of the people,’ Aberin said.

Meanwhile, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport said the NAIA is ready to accommodate from Oct. 27 to Nov. 5 some 1.3 million passengers, including Filipino balikbayans and overseas workers who will join this year’s Undas.

New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. chairman Ramon Ang said the country’s main airport will become the best airport after its rehabilitation as he, along with NNIC general manager Angelito Alvarez and Manila International Airport Authority chief Eric Ines, showed Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez improvements done at the terminals, including the facial recognition kiosk in airline counters, drop bags and immigration e-gates.

‘From the worst airport, NAIA will become the best airport after rehabilitation,’ Ang said.

Alvarez said passenger experience has also improved with the on-time performance rated above the global standard of 85 percent.

Maximum police visibility for holidays

Beyond Undas, Mayor Isko Moreno ordered the Manila Police District (MPD) to implement maximum police visibility, particularly in the capital city’s busiest districts as the Christmas season approaches.

During a meeting yesterday, Moreno ordered the MPD to ‘deploy additional personnel and conduct round-the-clock patrols in high-density areas such as Binondo, Recto, Quiapo, Ermita, Malate and the University Belt.’

Moreno said police presence would be augmented by barangay personnel who will be tapped to ensure peace and order during the holidays.

‘Police officers should be on the roads, they should be seen and felt by the people. We want residents and visitors to feel that they are safe during the holidays,’ Moreno said in Filipino.

For the host country, this couldn’t have unfolded any better.

Miguel Tabuena, the Philippines’ homegrown golf hero, delivered a masterclass Friday at the Sta. Elena Golf Club that electrified local fans and reignited hopes for a memorable finish.

Just a week after celebrating his 31st birthday, the diminutive yet dynamic shotmaker produced one of his finest rounds in recent memory – a near-flawless display of power, precision and poise that set the International Series Philippines ablaze.

And not to be outdone, Angelo Que produced his own moment of brilliance as dusk settled over the course, capping a blazing start with an equally fiery finish to card a superb 65 and catapult himself into joint fourth at 135 alongside four others.

Suddenly, the Philippines found itself not with just one, but two legitimate contenders in the thick of the title chase – a sight that ignited fresh hopes among the home crowd.

Coming off a steady but unspectacular 70, Que wasted no time announcing his intentions. The amiable Manila Southwoods pro, known for his fearless shot-making and unflappable demeanor, came out firing – birdieing four of the opening nine holes to rocket up the leaderboard. He carried that momentum into the back nine with another birdie on No. 10, shaking up the standings and reminding everyone why he remains one of the country’s most accomplished shotmakers.

A lone bogey, the result of a missed green midway through his round, briefly slowed his charge. But Que, drawing on the experience that has brought him three Asian Tour titles and two Philippine Golf Tour victories this year alone, refused to fade.

As the sun dipped low and shadows lengthened across the fairways, he closed out with a flourish worthy of the moment – three birdies in his last four holes, each one greeted with growing anticipation from the galleries that had begun to sense something special unfolding.

His late-round surge vaulted him into a share of fourth with Yosuke Asaji (66), Soomin Lee, Wang Wei-Hsuan, and Matthew Cheung (all 67s), just five strokes behind leader Sarit Suwannarut.

With Que now joining Tabuena near the top of the board, the host country suddenly boasts two aces within striking distance of the top prize – a scenario that could turn the weekend into a rousing showcase of local pride and resilience.

Trailing the Thai leader by five strokes, Tabuena teed off early, determined to make a move. Starting on the par-5 10th, the two-time Philippine Open champion quickly went to work – opening with a birdie, then adding fireworks to the morning with a spectacular hole-in-one on the par-3 14th that sent the gallery roaring.

Not done yet, he eagled the par-5 16th and closed the backnine with another birdie on the 18th, completing a sizzling six-under 30 on his first nine holes.

It was a breathtaking stretch that had almost every kind of scoring highlight possible in golf – a birdie, an ace, an eagle and another birdie – all in one stretch that turned Sta. Elena into his personal stage.

By the time he reached the turn, Tabuena was suddenly in the clubhouse lead at nine-under overall, his name atop the leaderboard sending a wave of excitement across the fairways and among Filipino fans following every shot.

He wasn’t finished. After a steady par on No. 1, Tabuena rolled in back-to-back birdies on the next two holes, momentarily threatening to pull away. Though the ‘law of averages’ caught up with him with a bogey on No. 4 and a cooling run of pars afterward, he still capped the round with an explosive 65 – a 35-30 masterpiece that showcased not just talent, but timing and temperament.

Statistically, it was not a perfect round – 11 fairways hit, 15 greens in regulation and 28 putts. But in golf, moments matter more than math, and Tabuena’s brilliance came exactly when it mattered most.

‘It’s not every day you make a hole-in-one, but I was glad I kept it together after that,’ said Tabuena, smiling as fans crowded the ropes. ‘That eagle on 16 was a perfect seven-wood – that’s a hole I know very well, and that’s my favorite pin position there. It was a green light all the way.’

His return to form couldn’t be better timed. Just a week removed from turning 31 and still fresh from a forced withdrawal at the SJM Macao Open due to a neck spasm, Tabuena showed no signs of rust. Instead, he looked energized – feeding off the home crowd and the familiarity of Sta. Elena, his home club.

‘There’s a lot of golf to be played,’ he said cautiously. ‘But it’s been six years since my last ace – and only my second in a competition. To have it happen here, in front of friends, family, and home fans, it means a lot.’

Even with Suwannarut regaining the overall lead at 14-under 130 after a fine 66, Tabuena’s 134 kept him within striking distance – just four shots back heading into the weekend.

Japan’s Kazuki Higa joined Tabuena at second after a 69.

And with two rounds left in this $2 million championship, the door remains wide open.

Former Masters champion and LIV Golf star Patrick Reed also surged into contention with a 66 to tie for ninth at 136 with Denzel Ieremia (67) of New Zealand and India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar (69), while seven others, including former Major winner Charl Schwarzel (66), former Asian Tour No. 1 Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand (69) and former Philippine Open champion Stevel Lewton of England (63) posted identical 137s for a share of 12th.

Meanwhile, Justin Quiban rallied with a 68 to post a 138 total, good for a share of 19th place.

The other local hopefuls, however, struggled to keep pace and fell by the wayside.

Sean Ramos actually made a strong charge with a 68 for a 142 aggregate, but missed the cut by one.

Keanu Jahns settled for another 72 for a 144 total, while Carl Corpus stumbled with a 73 for a 145. Aidric Chan also turned in an even-par 72 for the same 145 aggregate.

Clyde Mondilla, who opened with an impressive 69, skied to a 77, also for a 146, while, Rupert Zaragosa and Enrico Gallardo finished with 149s after 75 and 76, respectively.

But the spotlight, unquestionably, belonged to the hometown favorites.

Tabuena and Que’s inspired performances didn’t just lift them up the leaderboard – it lit up the entire tournament. Even Dustin Johnson, Tabuena’s flightmate and former world No. 1, must’ve felt the heat as he stumbled to a 73 after an opening 67 to fall to joint 37th at 140, 10 shots off the pace.

For fans, though, this second round was a showcase for the two Pinoy aces – their stirring resurgence from morning to afternoon felt straight out of a movie script.

With their confidence surging and the crowd rallying behind them, the final two rounds promise to be a festival of Filipino pride and world-class golf. If Tabuena and Que can sustain their form, they won’t just be contending – they’ll be inspiring a new generation of local golfers who witnessed how brilliance, patience and heart can converge in a single unforgettable day at Sta. Elena.

For fans, though, this second round belonged to Tabuena – and his resurgence couldn’t be better scripted.

With his confidence surging and the crowd rallying behind him, the final two rounds promise to be a festival of Filipino pride and world-class golf. If Tabuena can sustain this form, he won’t just be contending – he’ll be inspiring a new generation of local golfers who witnessed how brilliance, patience and heart can converge in a single unforgettable day at Sta. Elena.

Following the lightning protests at the doors of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), the Palace again asked protesters to remain patient as the fact-finding body does its work.

Protesters from the People Surge National Alliance of Disaster Survivors and the Kalikasan People’s Network stormed the ICI office in Taguig City, attempting to push past the gates of the commission while decrying the lack of transparency and arrests related to corruption.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that the government is currently working to address the corruption scandal.

Castro said that there were many cases to be filed, with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon already filing several complaints.

‘Hindi po dapat siguro mainip ang ating mga kababayan hanggang nandiyan po at may nagtatrabaho at ang intensiyon naman po ay maganda, para po mapanagot ang dapat mapanagot,’ Castro said in a press briefing on Friday, October 24.

(I think our countrymen should not be impatient while there are people working and their intention is good, so that there can be accountability.)

Castro told the protesters to let the system work, and that they should not be too negative about what the government is doing.

A DPWH on fire

The DPWH is currently the focal point of government corruption, with billions of pesos suspected of being funneled through the agency in kickback schemes. Several high-ranking officials have been tagged in the scheme, including House lawmakers and senators.

A fire recently hit the DPWH Bureau of Research and Standards in Quezon City, with many suspecting the agency of tampering with evidence. Initial findings ruled it a case of short circuit.

Asked if President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is satisfied with the current explanation, the Palace reiterated that the investigation into the case is still ongoing.

While the DPWH has said that no vital documents were destroyed and that they are already digitizing the materials, several agencies still suspect foul play, including the National Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Ombudsman.

After so much hemming-and-hawing, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) will start next week the livestreaming of their proceedings. ICI chairman Andres Reyes Jr. announced the livestreaming of their proceedings currently held behind closed-doors. Under intense criticisms, the ICI finally relented to public demand for more transparency in their fact-finding investigations into the alleged ‘ghost’ flood control projects initially at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Reyes, retired Supreme court associate justice, made the announcement last Wednesday at the public hearing of the Senate committee on justice and human rights amid public disillusion over the ICI’s avoiding public scrutiny of its proceedings. Ironically, the Senate public hearing dwelt on the proposed bill that seeks to create a new anti-corruption watchdog in the mold of the ICI.

The proposed legislation is authored by no less than Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III who authored Senate Bill (SB) 1215 proposing to create an Independent People’s Commission (IPC). Originally, Sotto cited, SB 1215 seeks to constitute a five-man body to serve as an investigatory and recommendatory body of all government infrastructure projects under review. As proposed in Sotto’s bill, the IPC will report its findings directly to the President and to recommend prosecution by the Department of Justice (DOJ) or by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Attending the Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum last Wednesday, Sotto explained the proposed IPC will have greater authority, not only the power to issue subpoena. Sotto added the power to cite in contempt individuals who ignore the IPC invitation and subpoena, and against anyone who refuses to cooperate with their investigation.

Also, Sotto disclosed, he will amend SB 1215 to empower the IPC to initiate by itself the prosecution of accountable government officials and private individuals, business or corporate entities found liable in any anomalous transactions involving government projects. ‘Even if it (IPC) will submit a report to the President and to Congress, I will clarify the intention that it may initiate prosecution,’ Sotto pointed out. ‘We’ll try to find a good line to be able to define it properly,’ he added.

SB 1215 was one of the first 10 bills that Sotto filed last July at the start of the first regular session of the 20th Congress. Sotto told us he will seek its inclusion in the common priority bills agreed upon at the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). This is to ensure the passage into law of SB 1215 at least before the end of this year, he cited.

SB 1215 is not included in the eight bills listed in the common legislative agenda forged during the first LEDAC meeting with the new leaders of the 20th Congress. President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (PBBM) convened LEDAC last Sept. 30, taking place after the changes of leadership in both chambers of Congress.

Sotto took over from erstwhile Senate president Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero last Sept. 8. Two weeks later, Isabela Rep. Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy was elected to replace ex-speaker Martin Romualdez. The leadership changes were the immediate aftermath of the multibillion-peso worth of alleged ‘ghost’ flood control projects that were siphoned off from the annual Congress-approved budget law.

Sotto noted their House counterparts led by Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima and Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno co-authored and filed a similar House Bill last month. The House version seeks to create also a five-man Independent Commission to investigate misuse of funds for flood control and other infrastructure projects of the government. Sotto promised to convince their House colleagues to just adopt the Senate version to speed up its enactment.

Smarting from the previous Congress’ budget insertions brouhaha, Sotto reiterated the decision of the present leaderships of the 20th Congress to livestream the bicameral conference committee (bicam) meetings on the proposed 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) bill. Dubbed as the ‘third congress,’ the bicam is tasked to reconcile the differing versions of the budget bill approved separately by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Sotto revealed an added innovation to further improve transparency will be to allow senators and congressmen to attend even if they were not designated to constitute the bicam for the GAA bill. Under existing rules of Congress, a bicam is composed of equal numbers of senators and House members.

Likewise, Sotto promised to replicate at the Senate the proposal of Navotas Rep.Toby Tiangco at the House-approved 2026 GAA bill. Tiangco recommended that the ‘proponents’ of each congressional insertion and initiative be identified in each line-item in the GAA bill. Before they adjourned for their Undas recess last Oct.13, the Lower House approved the proposed P6.793-trillion budget for 2026 under House Bill 4058.

Although they adjourned days ahead, Sotto clarified the Senate continues with its own public hearings on the proposed 2026 GAA bill. ‘We will make sure any amendments by any individual or institutional amendments will be identified on who the proponent is,’ Sotto vowed.

‘A clean budget, to me, that is the most important piece of legislation that Congress passes every year,’ Sotto stressed.

As earlier agreed during the LEDAC meeting, PBBM welcomed the livestreaming of the bicam sessions on the GAA bill to ‘encourage transparency’ and identify who proposed what insertions or amendments in the national budget.

Also agreed during the same LEDAC meeting, Sotto disclosed PBBM informed them he would no longer ‘certify as urgent’ the proposed 2026 GAA bill. In this way, Sotto explained, both chambers will be constrained to stick to the deadline of the budget’s enactment before the end of the fiscal year on Dec. 31.

Sotto reassured the public there will be no more ‘small committee’ that used to have the final say on the bicam-approved budget. A veteran lawmaker of Congresses past, Tiangco denounced earlier before the ICI how this ‘small committee’ can override the annual budget bill that was already approved by both chambers.

With livestreaming, a real-time transmission to the public of the bicam session will make our lawmakers behave while under close watch.

Here comes the brigade. A proud team of world champions from muay secured a pair of bronze medals with a chance at the gold even as taekwondo and teqball chipped in a silver and a bronze, respectively, in the 3rd Asian Youth Games at the Exhibition World Bahrain here yesterday.

Lyre Anie Ngina, a 14-year-old world champion, came through with the best score of 8.90 out of eight participants in the girls’ wai kru qualification phase for 14 and 15 years old at the EWB’s Grand Hall C, D, E.

With that, the ninth-grader from University of Baguio secured at least a bronze for being one of the four who qualified to Sunday’s finals where she will have a chance at an even more precious mint.

And she vowed to go for it.

‘I was so nervous in the qualification that I almost lost my balance,’ said Ngina. ‘I hope to be confident in the finals for me to have a chance at winning.’

Also assuring the country another bronze in the same event was Jasmine Dagame, who was second in the 16-17 division after an 8.83 behind only Thai Rungthipwa Koakaw’s 8.90.

Dagame, a world championship bronze winner, Koakaw and two others advance to the finals.

Kristen Ambriel Aguila succumbed to Zeinab Shahrriari of Iran to settle for the silver in the girls’ individual recognized poomsae at Hall 2.

In teqball at Hall 10, Crystal Cariño and Nicole Tabucol bested host Bahrain’s Rawan Abdulaziz and Fatima Albanna, 10-12, 12-10, 14-12, to claim the girls’ doubles bronze in the discipline that is a hybrid of sepak takraw and table tennis.

In all, the country has now raked in a gold, a silver and two bronzes with the two bronzes in muay to be counted only after Sunday’s finals.

It wasn’t all sunshine for the Filipinos as Euan Arrow Ramos and Peter Sancho del Rosario ran into misfortunes and missed out on a medal in triathlon’s boys’ individual sprint, which started and finished at the Sofitel Bahrain.

Ramos crashed out and suffered bruises all over after a spill on one of the turns while Del Rosario was disqualified due to an infraction on the second transition of the race that drew 39 participants.

Metro Pacific Health Corp. (MPH) has expanded its hospital network to 29 with its investment in Tanza Specialists Medical Center (TSMC).

MPH president Augie Palisoc Jr. said the company’s investment in Tanza marks its 18th provincial partnership and the third in the province of Cavite.

‘We are deeply grateful for the continuing trust of hospital owners and doctors nationwide who have chosen to partner with Metro Pacific Health. Their confidence enables us to further develop and expand health care services in their respective communities,’ Palisoc said.

‘As our network grows, more hospital owners are approaching us to collaborate, inspired by the significant improvements we bring to the hospitals we invest in,’ he added.

Strategically located along Daang Amaya in Tanza, TSMC is well positioned to serve the rapidly expanding communities nearby and be the health care leader in its side of Cavite.

Similar with its previous partnerships, MPH has developed an ambitious strategic roadmap for TSMC geared toward unlocking its full potential.

MPH said it plans to enhance operational efficiency, elevate clinical standards and deliver improved patient experience at TSMC.

‘Joining the Metro Pacific Health network opens new opportunities for Tanza Specialists to grow and serve our patients better,’ Ronald de Roxas, former president and one of the hospital’s founding members, said.

‘On behalf of our founders, we are confident that this partnership will enable us to expand our facilities, introduce advanced technologies and provide even greater care to our community,’ he said.

With the addition of TSMC, MPH now operates 11 hospitals in the National Capital Region, 10 in Luzon, two in the Visayas and six in Mindanao.

The 29 hospitals under MPH have a combined capacity of 4,700 beds, supported by 12,500 doctors and 24,000 health care staff, serving approximately 5.2 million patients annually.

The government is drafting new rules to strengthen the implementation of the 1995 Mining Act with an executive order (EO) set for release early next year that will extend mineral processing permits to a fixed 25-year period.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Carlos Primo David said the planned EO would align the permits with large-scale mining contracts to give investors more long-term security.

‘Right now, it is in DENR, to be transmitted to the Executive Secretary for basically clearance. Once it’s cleared and edits have been made, we do a stakeholder consultation to finalize the EO,’ David said during his presentation at the Mining Philippines 2025 conference held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taguig.

Under existing rules, mineral processing permits in the Philippines are valid for only five years and may be renewed in similar five-year increments for a total of up to 25 years.

The EO is meant to protect mining operations from abrupt policy changes including retroactive tax adjustments and new local ordinances that could restrict or halt activities.

He said the EO would also tighten enforcement of the ‘use it or lose it’ policy for mining tenements, allowing the government to take back idle mineral assets and open them for redevelopment.

A separate administrative order will guide how these assets will be disposed of, David said.

To resolve disputes with indigenous communities, the measure will standardize valuation methods for royalty talks under the free and prior informed consent process, replacing the current open-ended system that has caused project delays.

The agency is also preparing a separate policy for the alternative registration of small-scale miners expected to be rolled out within the year.

The Philippine National Police-Special Action Force has reaffirmed the PNP-SAF’s commitment to gender equality in recruitment and deployment, clarifying that female applicants continue to be processed under the unit’s regular quota.

Brig. Gen. Rex Malimban, SAF deputy director, said reports claiming that the elite force had stopped accepting female recruits were false.

‘That’s not true. We are still processing our female SAF applicants. We have two quotas, the attrition quota and the regular quota. Our female applicants are being processed under the regular quota,’ Malimban said.

The SAF regular quota aims to maintain the unit’s authorized strength of 6,000 members.

Malimban said the SAF has 70 slots under its attrition quota, which covers personnel losses due to retirement, reassignment or separation from service.

He said all recruits, whether male or female, undergo the same basic and specialized training, including the SAF Commando Course.

As of this month, SAF has 591 female troopers, including 51 officers.

Among the officers are Lt. Col. Irene Abating, the most senior female officer and chief of administrative division, as well as Maj. Metos Tano, the first female battalion commander in SAF history. ­

Romy Macalintal is known as an astute electoral lawyer. But not too many know that 50 years ago, when he was 28, RomyMac had an unexpected two-hour encounter with Muhammad Ali at the Manila Hilton Hotel on Sept. 22, 1975, a little more than a week before the historic ‘Thrilla In Manila’ at the Araneta Coliseum.

RomyMac has been invited to attend the gala dinner on the eve of the ‘Thrilla In Manila’ Golden Anniversary ‘Blow By Blow’ boxing card presented by Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao at the Novotel Hotel. Liza Elorde, who is organizing the gala dinner, said among the guests will be WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman, WBC vice president/head of the International Championship administration Mauro Betti, ‘Thrilla’ referee Carlos Padilla, Ali’s wife Lonnie, Ali’s daughter Rasheda and Ali’s former business manager Gene Kilroy. In the gala dinner program, RomyMac will make a four to five-minute power point presentation detailing what transpired in his meeting with Ali.

RomyMac was a second year UE law student when he ventured to the Manila Hilton Hotel carrying a scrapbook of Ali clippings. He only wanted Ali’s autograph on his scrapbook. But after showing the scrapbook to Ali’s lawyer Albert Griffin, he was asked to meet the champ at the Presidential Suite.

‘I was left alone with Ali,’ recounted RomyMac. ‘He stood up, extended his right hand and shook mine. He told me he deeply appreciated my collection. He explained it was the first time he’d seen a collection like this, done when he was just a struggling challenger, not just compiled because fans knew he was coming to town. He repeatedly used the word ‘authentic’ to describe my collection, a sincere appreciation for the effort I had made years before he reached his peak popularity.

‘When I requested for his autograph, he did not only give me one, he signed about seven of my clippings that he liked most. But the incredible experience didn’t end with the autographs. He invited me to see a movie with him. He personally set up an 8mm film projector with episodes from the Lee Marvin series ‘The Lawbreaker.’ We sat together on the carpet and watched about four installments. He mentioned he only watched crime movies and cartoons. What made the moment truly unforgettable was his kindness. Every so often, Ali would stand up, get juice, chocolates and biscuits and serve them to me, an act of humility that left me utterly stunned. That Sunday, I was the only fan Ali allowed to enter his dressing room at the Folk Arts Theater.

‘Ali passed away on June 3, 2016. Though he may remain a legend for the new generation, for me, he will always be real. That face-to-face meeting with him for two hours was truly one of a kind. That one-on-one encounter 50 years ago was and will always be the Greatest.’

A growing body of evidence suggests that a massive landslide between Barangay Gaway-gaway in San Remigio and Barangay Anonang Sur in Bogo City triggered by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck northern Cebu late last month-has caused artificial damming, raising alarms over potential flash floods, karst subsidence, and widespread displacement.

The warning came from former Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) chief geologist Liza Socorro Juanico Manzano, following the circulation of photos showing submerged homes and rising water levels in the upland Tigib area.

Manzano explained that artificial damming occurs when landslide debris blocks a river channel, causing water to accumulate upstream.

‘If left unaddressed,’ she warned, ‘this can lead to destructive flash floods or debris flows downstream-especially during heavy rainfall, when river energy and sediment loads are elevated.’

She also raised concerns about karst subsidence, a scenario where ponded water infiltrates underground fissures and tension cracks, potentially weakening sinkholes and cave systems. Manzano stressed the need for immediate removal of debris and urged close coordination with MGB Region 7 to assess risks and identify vulnerable communities.

The images that prompted Manzano’s assessment were posted by vlogger Nicodimo Saguirel, who documented the aftermath of the landslide and described the area as ‘a lake in the making.’ His photos showed destroyed and submerged homes, with water steadily rising across the upland basin. Similar images and videos from local residents have also circulated online.

San Remigio Vice Mayor Alfie Reynes Corominas confirmed that the local government was alerted immediately after the earthquake that preceded the landslide.

The Municipal Engineering Department and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) were dispatched, but Corominas admitted that the situation was too complex and dangerous for municipal teams to handle alone.

Mayor Mariano Martinez has sought assistance from the provincial government, which has since deployed additional personnel. Despite partial clearing in nearby zones, however, the Tigib accumulation remains inaccessible.

Corominas explained that the site lies between two steep mountains with unstable limestone (locally called ‘anapog’) deposits that continue to shift due to aftershocks.

She warned that any hasty intervention, such as blasting, could worsen the situation and endanger responders.

Councilor Lou Ornopia, chair of the infrastructure committee, confirmed the situation and disclosed that during their exit conference with the MGB, the agency advised keeping the area off-limits for at least six months.

However, with water levels continuing to rise, Ornopia supported Manzano’s assessment that the impounded water poses a growing threat.

He described the site as originating from a ‘sapa’ (creek), where water from rains since the September 30 earthquake has continued to accumulate-forming what he now calls a ‘lake’ from the collapsed portion of the mountainous terrain spanning Bogo and parts of Tabogon.

He warned that if the natural dam gives way, downstream barangays-including coastal and agricultural zones-could suffer severe flooding.

‘Cornfields, coconut groves, and low-lying communities are already showing signs of overflowing water,’ Ornopia said.

He added that he has asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to install a reversible pump to help relieve water pressure.

‘Nihangyo ko from DPWH na butangan lang gyud siyag reversible pump mintras di pa gyud mataak. In six months, mas dako ang posibilidad nga mubuto na diha, mas dako ang risk nga mga tawo sa ubos nga barangay grabe kaayo ang kadaot. Dili lang ta magpaabot na wa tay buhaton. maoy bisan pasuyupan na lag tubig,’ Ornopia said.

On a positive note, he has also reached out to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to explore the feasibility of constructing a dam in the area.

Meanwhile, the municipal government of San Remigio has issued a public advisory urging residents to avoid sinkholes and tension cracks, and to refrain from building or dumping waste near these features. The LGU also reiterated the MGB’s reminder for vigilance, especially in areas affected by recent seismic activity.

Emergency hotlines have been activated, and preemptive evacuation orders have been issued for residents in Barangay Tacup and parts of Gaway-gaway. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, calling for public cooperation and technical support to prevent further loss and ensure community safety.