Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Typhoon ‘Paolo’ (international name: Matmo) lashed Luzon on Friday, triggering widespread floods, power outages, evacuations and infrastructure damage across northern and central Luzon as it made landfall in Dinapigue, Isabela.

The latest weather disturbance happened while the country has yet to recover from the series of destructive storms that hit most of Luzon and the Visayas last month and while still coping with the deadly magnitude 6.9 earthquake that crippled northern Cebu province on Sept. 30.

‘Paolo’-packing sustained winds of up to 130 kilometers per hour and gust of up 201 km/h-when it hit Isabela, slightly weakened as it crossed the mountainous areas in northern Luzon but not before leaving a trail of damage across the Cagayan Valley Region, which is composed of the provinces of Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.

In Mariveles, Bataan, rampaging floodwater rose as high as chest deep, or at least 4 feet, with many residents trapped in their houses, as shown in a viral video posted at 10:30 a.m. on Facebook by one of the residents, ‘MJ Martin,’ who was seeking rescue.

In Isabela and Cagayan, strong winds toppled trees and road signages, while thousands of sacks of palay and corn left out to dry were drenched by rain, adding to farmers’ losses.

Farmer Inocencio Bayucan, 50, lamented the sharp drop in farmgate prices due to the inclement weather caused by the recent tropical cyclones.

‘Lugi manen (we again suffered losses),’ he said, noting palay prices now fetch only P8 to P10 per kilo compared to the P20 average in past cropping seasons.

In Echague town, Isabela, at least 500 families were preemptively evacuated due to rising rivers, while another 500 families in northern Cagayan were moved to higher grounds and evacuation centers.

Dam release

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines reported power interruptions affecting Isabela Electric Cooperative 1 and Ifugao Electric Cooperative at 10:26 a.m. after the Santiago-Alicia 69kv line tripped. Restoration efforts were still ongoing.

In Quirino, heavy rains flooded roads and spillways in Diffun and Aglipay. The Diffun-Santiago road in Purok 6, Barangay Isidro Paredes was declared impassable to light vehicles, while the San Francisco spillway in Aglipay was submerged.

The National Irrigation Administration said Magat Dam, which straddles the boundary between Isabela and Ifugao. began releasing water through six spillway gates starting 1 p.m. on Friday, reaching a cumulative 12-meter-high release by 5 p.m.

Magat Dam’s total water discharge was estimated at 1,761 cubic meters per second, which could raise water levels by half a meter at Tuguegarao’s Buntun Bridge within 20 hours.

In Pampanga, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council raised alert levels from blue to red, requiring round-the-clock operations from local disaster councils. As of 2 p.m. on Friday, at least 60 villages in San Fernando, Sta. Ana, Apalit, Candaba, Macabebe, Minalin, and San Simon were flooded.

Class suspension

In Zambales, classes were suspended in several towns and Olongapo City while government offices in San Narciso town also suspended work starting 3 p.m. on Friday, except for essential services.

In Zambales’ San Marcelino town, a portion of a riprap collapsed beside a house in Sitio Oit, Barangay Sta. Fe, spilling rocks and mud onto the road and blocking passage. Clearing operations are underway.

In Olongapo City, the river level at Kalaklan Bridge rose to 1.6 meters by 3:20 p.m., breaching the warning threshold of 1.5 meters.

The Philippine Coast Guard earlier suspended sea travel across Zambales due to rough seas.

Floodwaters also submerged parts of Barangay Balon-Anito in Mariveles, Bataan, on Friday afternoon, while six other low-lying villages were inundated and rendered impassable to small vehicles.

Earlier that day, a landslide occurred in Zone 6, Barangay Camaya, also in Mariveles, amid heavy rains.

No one was reported injured.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 over the southwestern portion of Isabela, the northwestern portion of Quirino, northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, Mountain Province, Ifugao, the southern portion of Abra, the southern portion of Ilocos Sur and the northern portion of La Union. Warnings in effect

TCWS No. 3 was hoisted over the northern and central portions of Aurora, the rest of Isabela, the rest of Quirino, the central portion of Nueva Vizcaya, Kalinga, the central portion of Abra, the rest of Benguet, the rest of Ilocos Sur, and the rest of La Union.

TCWS No.2 was raised over the central and southern portions of Cagayan, the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, the rest of Abra, the central and southern portions of Ilocos Norte, the northern portion of Nueva Ecija, the northern portion of Tarlac and the northern portion of Zambales.

Batanes, the rest of mainland Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the rest of Ilocos Norte, the rest of Aurora, the rest of Nueva Ecija, the rest of Tarlac, Bulacan, Pampanga, the rest of Zambales, the northern portion of Quezon, including Polillo Islands, and Camarines Norte remained under TCWS No.1.

According to Pagasa, Paolo’s center of the eye was estimated to be northeast of the vicinity of Mayoyao, Ifugao at 2 p.m on Friday while moving west northwestward at 30 kilometers per hour (kph). It packed maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 200 kph.

The United Nations (UN) marks 80 years of its founding in a state of uncertainty with its credibility increasingly in question.

The UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) high-level week was dominated by Palestine and the war in Gaza. This brought into sharp focus the UN’s failure to live up to its core mission and primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security. True, it is the big powers who are to blame for the UN’s paralysis in stopping the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. But UN inaction and lack of activist diplomacy on issues of war and peace have left its reputation damaged.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly warned that trust in global institutions is at a breaking point with ailing multilateral organizations in need of urgent reform. The loss of faith in multilateralism, he has said, is because people see ‘broken promises, unmet commitments, double standards, and vast inequalities’.

Although multilateralism has been under stress for, well, over a decade, United States President Donald Trump’s conduct has accelerated this trend and magnified the pressure. US disengagement from the UN is reflected in its exit from the World Health Organization, Unesco, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, and decision to stop funding and withdraw from the Human Rights Council. Trump’s unilateralist actions have also shown contempt for the principles of the UN Charter.

Other big states and regional powers have also played their part by acting in defiance of international law and violating the UN Charter. In a recent essay in The Economist coauthored with Helen Clark, former UNSG Ban Ki-moon wrote: ‘The UN is slipping into dysfunction as some of its traditional champions, notably the United States, retreat from multilateral cooperation, cut funding, and disregard the rule of law when it suits them.’

The contrast could not have been sharper during UNGA’s high-level week. Kicking off the debate, Guterres said the world needed the UN’s ‘unique legitimacy’ and convening power.

Just before he spoke, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said multilateralism is at a new crossroads and lamented the UN’s weakening authority while calling on it to revive its role as a ‘promoter of equality, peace, sustainable development, diversity, and tolerance’.

In fact, the common refrain in speeches at the debate was the UN’s ineffectiveness at a time when it is needed most to deal with multiple challenges.

Beyond these speeches, the widespread view across the world is that the UN has become increasingly irrelevant as it acts as a bystander in wars and crises. If the UN is seen as failing to deliver on its core goal of maintaining international peace and security, the rest of what it does (some of it quite well; say, on the development pillar of its mandate and humanitarian initiatives) fades into insignificance.

That is the Security Council’s responsibility but deadlock and rivalry between the big powers-its five veto-wielding permanent members-prevents the Council from acting. Nothing illustrates this better than the two main wars of the moment in Gaza and Ukraine.

The US has been the obstacle in ending the war Israel imposed on Gaza, exercising the veto six times in the past two years to scotch ceasefire resolutions. This marks a continuity in Washington’s policy which over decades has seen it use the veto 51 times to shield Israel. On Ukraine, Russia has used the veto several times on resolutions against its 2022 invasion. This has left the Security Council completely logjammed.

In any case, what is consequential to the UN’s effectiveness and credibility is reform of the Security Council. What lies at the heart of UN dysfunction is the council’s paralysis. As usual, calls for its reform were heard from world leaders during UNGA. Negotiations have been going on in the UNGA for over 20 years but with little progress except agreement on expanding the Council.

The principal disagreement is between countries that aspire for permanent seats for themselves and others who oppose more permanent members and, instead, propose enlarging the Council by adding more elected, nonpermanent members. This has put the G4-Germany, Japan, India, and Brazil-at odds with the Uniting for Consensus countries led by Italy and including Pakistan.

Even if the impasse is overcome, reform is a complicated process that requires amendment of the UN Charter. This involves the UNGA adopting a resolution by a two-thirds majority, which then has to be ratified by at least two-thirds of the UN membership as well as the P5. This makes reform a remote possibility. It will be up to the UNGA to mount pressure on the big powers to allow the council to function. Unfortunately, the prospect of that too is not bright. The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network

As June Mar Fajardo is set to claim a record-extending ninth PBA Most Valuable Player award, he was once again counting his blessings.

‘Who would have thought?’ Fajardo said in Filipino. ‘I was never a huge basketball fan at the beginning, but here I am possibly winning another MVP.’

Barring the unexpected, Fajardo will be named as the best of Season 49 on Sunday afternoon when the league holds its Leo Awards at Novotel Manila in Cubao, Quezon City.

The awarding will serve as a kickoff to a busy day for the league, with the 50th season opening ceremonies to follow and the Barangay Ginebra-Magnolia faceoff at nearby Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Fajardo topped the statistical points category with 42.1 followed by NLEX’s Robert Bolick with 36.7 and Arvin Tolentino, who had 35.3 during his time with NorthPort before jumping ship to the Korean Basketball League for the Seoul SK Knights.

The stats are also backed by his two Best Player of the Conference awards in the Governors’ Cup and Philippine Cup, which saw San Miguel win the crown after denying TNT’s Grand Slam bid.

Fajardo has won the last two MVPs, almost all in convincing manner, and it seems that voters will likely give their nod to him once more.

Members of the media have 30 percent of the criteria while players have 25 percent. The remaining 45 percent are from the statistics.

Fajardo played 58 games and produced 19.2 points, 15.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.0 blocks during a season of ups and downs for San Miguel. Before defeating TNT, San Miguel was eliminated in the semifinals of the Governors’ Cup by Barangay Ginebra before missing the quarterfinals of the Commissioner’s Cup which was marred by multiple import changes and the transition from Jorge Gallent back to Leo Austria as coach.

The state weather bureau raised storm signals – from Nos. 3 to 1 – in several areas in Luzon on Thursday night as Paolo intensified into a severe tropical storm.

The center of Paolo was estimated to be at 320 km East of Baler, Aurora (15.6 °N, 124.6 °E ), according to the 11 p.m. bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

The storm, which was moving west at 30 kph, had maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center, with gusts reaching up to 115 kph.

Following are the areas where storm signals have been raised.

Signal No. 3

Luzon extreme northern portion of Aurora: Dilasag, Casiguran

central and southern portions of Isabela: Dinapigue, San Mariano, San Guillermo, Echague, Jones, San Agustin, Cordon, City of Santiago, Ramon, San Isidro, Alicia, Angadanan, City of Cauayan, Benito Soliven, Naguilian, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Cabatuan, San Mateo, Aurora, San Manuel, Burgos, Gamu, Roxas, Palanan

northern portion of Quirino: Maddela, Cabarroguis, Aglipay, Saguday, Diffun

northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya: Diadi, Bagabag, Villaverde, Ambaguio, Quezon, Solano, Bayombong, Mountain Province, Ifugao

northern portion of Benguet: Mankayan, Buguias, Kabayan, Bakun

Signal No. 2

Luzon

southern portion of mainland Cagayan: Peñablanca, Tuguegarao City, Enrile, Solana, Iguig, Tuao, Piat, Rizal

rest of Isabela

rest of Quirino

rest of Nueva Vizcaya

northern and central portions of Aurora: Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler, Maria Aurora

northeastern portion of Nueva Ecija: Carranglan, Pantabangan

southern portion of Apayao: Conner

Kalinga

Abra

rest of Benguet

southern portion of Ilocos Norte: Nueva Era, Badoc, Pinili, City of Batac, Paoay, Currimao, Banna

Ilocos Sur

La Union

Signal No. 1

Luzon

rest of mainland Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands

rest of Aurora

northern portion of Quezon: General Nakar, Infanta – including Polillo Islands

Camarines Norte

northern portion of Camarines Sur: Siruma, Tinambac, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Goa, San Jose, Presentacion

Catanduanes

rest of Apayao

rest of Ilocos Norte

Pangasinan

rest of Nueva Ecija

northern portion of Bulacan: Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, Norzagaray, San Rafael

Tarlac

northeastern portion of Pampanga: Magalang, Arayat, Candaba, Mabalacat City

northern portion of Zambales: Palauig, Masinloc, Candelaria, Santa Cruz

Foundever was feted at the recent 21st Philippine Quill Awards for its innovative employee welfare programs and its skills development program entitled Language Academy.

The provider of customer experience solutions won Merit Awards for two entries.

One is the ‘Best Place To Work: The Tale of How Millennials and Gen Zs Found Foundever.’ This highlighted how Foundever adapted to the pressing need of millennials and Gen Zs for a collaborative workplace interaction, one where empowerment and active participation thrive.

The other is ‘The Language Academy at Foundever: Empowering Communities through Education.’ This showcased how the company’s initiative addresses a critical barrier faced by qualified candidates when accessing BPO opportunities.

The program identifies the competency gap between available talent and industry requirements, particularly in customer service communication. Through this, it serves as a strategic workforce development solution that benefits both job seekers and the industry.

‘These awards demonstrate how our strategic storytelling can amplify the success and meaningful impact by Foundever, further building lasting value for our stakeholders, our employees, and the communities that we serve,’ said Lena Madrid. She is head of marketing for Foundever in the Philippines, China and Malaysia.

Other citations

Great Place to Work Institute has certified Foundever as a Great Place to Work (GPTW) and one of the Best Workplaces in the Philippines. This recognizes the company’s commitment to fostering a positive and people-centric workplace culture anchored on growth, wellbeing, belonging, and purpose.

Also, Foundever in the Philippines has been named as one of the Top 10 Inspiring Workplaces in Asia for 2025 by the Inspiring Workplaces Group (IW). This recognizes companies that lead with purpose and put people at the heart of their culture. Out of many entries across the region,

Further, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Statista listed Foundever among the Philippines’ Best Employers.

While food and water remain urgent needs, victims of Thursday’s fire in Barangay 17 here are also appealing for housing materials so they can begin to rebuild their homes.

The blaze displaced 121 families, who are now staying in green tents set up under Marcos Bridge.

According to data from the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), 78 houses were damaged in the fire.

Residents recalled the fire started around 12:50 p.m.

‘The police patrol arrived after about 10 minutes, then the firefighters followed,’ said Wendylyn Victoria, one of the displaced.

Victoria said two houses were initially engulfed, but the flames spread as the firetruck struggled with weak water pressure. By the time the supply was stabilized, five houses had already been consumed.

Now left with only what they managed to carry, residents say rebuilding will be the hardest part.

‘What we really need are materials to rebuild our houses,’ Victoria said. ‘Even if we can manage our daily needs, it’s the house that’s hardest to rebuild.’

Victoria, who has lived in Barangay 17 since 2003 with her mother, nieces, and nephews, said this was already the third fire in their area.

Asked if she had thought of moving, she replied: ‘If it’s just about safety, we’re eager to relocate.’

But relocation is not easy, she added, citing livelihood and children’s schooling.

‘Some of our neighbors moved to Mambuaya, but it’s hard to make a living there,’ she said, referring to a relocation site in Mambuaya village established by the city government.

Victoria works as a janitor at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center, a kilometer away, making their current location practical for her job.

Likewise, her nieces and nephews attend school in Barangay Consolacion, just a seven-minute walk from their home.

Already, civic groups have launched a fundraising drive to aid the fire victims. News organizations such as RMN News, i-FM, and Mindanao Gold Star Daily also called for donations./coa

Families displaced by the fire on Thursday, October 2, 2025, temporarily stay in tents, bringing with them salvaged belongings and essentials

Two days after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake jolted a 2025 Miss Asia Pacific International pageant event, the delegates learned ‘grounding’ to help them process their entire experience with the tremor.

The organizers held a ‘Leadership Excellence Achievement Program’ (LEAP) seminar called ‘Holding Space: Grounding After the Shaking’ conducted by the Epiphany Collective in Mandaue City, Cebu, on Thursday morning, Oct. 2.

Cambodia’s Mealyann Nita Saing told Inquirer Entertainment that the session served as ‘healing’ for them. ‘Some of us are okay, and some of us are not okay. But being able to hold space is very important, and I think they showed a good example how to hold space for others,’ she said.

Belgium’s Jana Janssens said the activity was a ‘great opportunity’ to discuss their experiences together. She sustained a minor injury after jumping off the stage when the earthquake shook their benefit gala night at Raddisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City on Sept. 30.

‘I was one of the last girls standing on stage, so we saw the worst part of it, we saw the glass falling down. I fell off the stage. It really helped me to talk about the experience, to process everything,’ she shared.

Kayla Jane Usison from the United States may be ‘very used to earthquakes’ living in California where tremors also occur. But she said they all needed the activity. ‘Holding space for other girls, and being present for them, it’s good. I learned new things for coping,’ she said.Australia’s Deborah Madriaga agreed, and said she loved the program. ‘Today I had a breakdown because I didn’t feel all the emotions at the moment. I was just in shock. I was just looking after my girls. When they started asking about our emotions, how we felt, that’s when, I was just feeling emotional, I was crying,’ she shared.

‘Because we never got to really express how we feel. We’re quite scared. It was a very vulnerable moment. But like I said to everyone, vulnerability is not a weakness, rather it’s a source of strength. And I really hope that we all took that in, and we’re all able to talk to one another, and just unite,’ she continued.

Hannah Leigh Cross from New Zealand also found the event necessary. ‘We as women really need the empowerment, that kind of push to get us back on our feet and keep moving. And I think what’s really great is that now we have a new purpose, which is to support the people of Cebu,’ she said.

The organization said it was ‘realigning’ the activities ‘in a spirit of compassion and solidarity’ with the province of Cebu. The preliminay competition originally scheduled on Oct. 3 was scrapped, and the delegates instead volunteered in the packing of relief goods for two consecutive days.

They are also set to visit three locations in the province of Cebu that bore the brunt of the earthquake the most, to distribute goods to the residents who are among the most affected by the tremor.

‘I’m really excited to journey to the epicenter tomorrow, to ground zero, and help those who really need the support right now. The grounding seminar was so fantastic, so needed. And I’m just so grateful for the organization to be able to organize that for us, because it was amazing,’ Cross said.

Saing also commended the organization, saying ‘they did such an amazing job of just keeping us safe and protected, guiding us through it. And everybody panicked in different ways, and they were able to help each different style or variation of that panic, which was really like heartwarming, because that is really hard to do. I’m really lucky to be part of this organization, and I know that they care about their girls.’

Janssens, a veteran of numerous competitions, said the Miss Asia Pacific International pageant is ‘one of the best’ that she has competed in. ‘I think a lot of pageantry can learn about them. They are doing very good for their girls. I’m really proud of them,’ she said.

‘Thank you for taking so much care of me. They stayed with me the whole time. I was feeling a little bit guilty even, because the staff, they were so tired, also didn’t sleep, only for an hour, I’m so grateful for them. I have texted them already that I’m so grateful for it,’ she continued.

Usison also expressed her gratitude to the organization. ‘I stayed calm and collected because they did all the freaking out for me, honestly. For me I just listened to where they are going, and I just trusted their direction. So I’m really thankful that we have great leader to lead us for this competition,’ she said.

Miss Asia Pacific International Executive Director Jacqueline Tan-Sainz said the organization found it necessary to hold the grounding activity to help the ladies cope with the aftermath of the massive earthquake.

‘The reason why we’re here is because it’s very hard to give something that you don’t have. Because your heart should be full before you get to help other people. So today is all about filling your heart, because later and tomorrow we will continue helping,’ she said.

‘We will be going to ground zero where it actually happened. So you will be seeing the people who are in need, not just packing like what we did yesterday. So we’re actually gonna be with them, help them, be in touch with them. And we hope that today we’re able to fill your heart and prepare you for what you’re gonna do tomorrow,’ Tan-Sainz added.

The Miss Asia Pacific International pageant will crown a new queen at the Cebu Coliseum on Oct. 8. Forty-three ladies from around the world are competing for the title, including Anita Rose Gomez who hopes to post the Philippines’ sixth victory in the competition.

Severe tropical storm Paolo (international name: Matmo) has intensified as it barrels toward the northern part of Aurora and the southern part of Isabela, the state weather bureau reported early Friday morning.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), in its 5 a.m. update, said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal Number 3 is in effect over 10 areas in Northern Luzon.

Pagasa added that Paolo was tracked some 150 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora, with a maximum sustained wind speed of 100 kilometers per hour (kph), gusts of up to 125 kph, and moving west-northwest at 20 kph.

‘There is a moderate to high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights reaching 1.0 to 3.0 m within 24 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, and Quezon,’ Pagasa warned.

‘Heavy rainfall, severe winds, and storm surge may still be experienced in localities outside the landfall point and the forecast confidence cone,’ added Pagasa.

Signal No. 3

*Northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan)

*Central and southern portions of Isabela (Dinapigue, San Mariano, San Guillermo, Echague, Jones, San Agustin, Cordon, City of Santiago, Ramon, San Isidro, Alicia, Angadanan, City of Cauayan, Benito Soliven, Naguilian, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Cabatuan, San Mateo, Aurora, San Manuel, Burgos, Gamu, Roxas, Palanan)

*Northern portion of Quirino (Maddela, Cabarroguis, Aglipay, Saguday, Diffun)

*Northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Diadi, Bagabag, Villaverde, Ambaguio, Quezon, Solano, Bayombong)

*Mountain Province

*Ifugao

*Southeastern portion of Abra (Tubo)

*Northern portion of Benguet (Mankayan, Buguias, Kabayan, Bakun, Kibungan, Atok, Kapangan)

*Central and southern portions of Ilocos Sur (Sugpon, Alilem, Cervantes, Suyo, Tagudin, Santa Cruz, Sigay, Quirino, Gregorio del Pilar, Salcedo, Santa Lucia, City of Candon, San Emilio, Galimuyod, Lidlidda, Banayoyo, Santiago, San Esteban, Burgos)

*Northern portion of La Union (Sudipen, Santol, Balaoan, Luna, Bangar, San Gabriel, Bacnotan, San Juan)

Signal No. 2

*Central and southern portions of mainland Cagayan (Peñablanca, Tuguegarao City, Enrile, Solana, Iguig, Tuao, Piat, Rizal, Santo Niño, Alcala, Amulung)

*Rest of Isabela

*Rest of Quirino

*Rest of Nueva Vizcaya

*Central portion of Aurora (Dipaculao, Baler, Maria Aurora, San Luis)

*Northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Bongabon, San Jose City, Pantabangan, Rizal, Lupao)

*Central and southern portions of Apayao (Conner, Kabugao)

*Kalinga

*Rest of Abra

*Rest of Benguet

*Central and southern portions of Ilocos Norte (Nueva Era, Badoc, Pinili, City of Batac, Paoay, Currimao, Banna, Laoag City, San Nicolas, Sarrat, Dingras, Solsona, Marcos, Bacarra, Piddig)

*Rest of Ilocos Sur

*Rest of La Union

*Northern portion of Pangasinan (San Fabian, Sison, Pozorrubio, Umingan, San Jacinto, Laoac, Binalonan, San Nicolas, Natividad, Tayug, San Manuel, Asingan, Santa Maria, San Quintin, Dagupan City, Mangaldan, Manaoag, Bolinao, Anda, Bani, City of Alaminos, Sual, Labrador, Lingayen, Binmaley, Calasiao, Mapandan, Santa Barbara, City of Urdaneta)

Signal No. 1

*Rest of mainland Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands

*Rest of Aurora

*Northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta), including Polillo Islands

*Camarines Norte

*Northern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Goa, San Jose, Presentacion)

*Catanduanes

Rest of Apayao

*Rest of Ilocos Norte

*Rest of Pangasinan

*Rest of Nueva Ecija

*Northern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, Norzagaray, San Rafael), *Tarlac

*Northeastern portion of Pampanga (Magalang, Arayat, Candaba, Mabalacat City)

*Northern portion of Zambales (Palauig, Masinloc, Candelaria, Santa Cruz) /gsg

The Philippine government is exploring ways to fire up the planned nuclear market as it sees more interests both from local and foreign investors, according to an energy official.

Patrick Aquino, director of the Department of Energy’s Energy Utilization Management Bureau, said all eyes are on the country’s nuclear targets. This, as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. gave the green light for the creation of the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilAtom).

This development, Aquino said, is crucial for investors. It signals the current administration’s commitment to advancing the adoption of nuclear energy.

Aquino said what investors really look for is regulatory certainty.

‘That’s why I started off by saying PhilAtom is the clearest signal of this administration, that we’re dead serious in getting nuclear [energy] for power generation,’ he told reporters. This was on the sidelines of the Philippine International Nuclear Supply Chain Forum in Taguig.

‘We’re attracting investments. Our reforms, whether it’s in economic or social capital investments, and now even here in the energy sector. we do have to start thinking and investing the seeds for the entry of nuclear [energy] in the medium and long term,’ Aquino added.

1,200 MW in 7 years

The government hopes to activate 1,200 megawatts of nuclear energy capacity by 2032. About 15 potential sites have been identified. Aquino, however, declined to name the locations. The DOE still needs to gain the support of the local government units and host communities.

According to Aquino, the DOE is studying the possibility of dedicating a specific bidding for nuclear energy, separate from the green energy auction program. The program is designed to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy projects nationwide.

He said it was also ‘a very good idea’ to tap multinational banks to de-risk nuclear projects.

‘On the side of the Philippines, we’re very happy that the current US administration is taking the charge on making sure that the World Bank relaxes its policy for green investments to include nuclear,’ he said.

Aquino was hopeful that with Washington’s backing, multilateral agencies, such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, would also ‘revisit their investment direction and instruction when it comes to nuclear.’

The forum gathered expertise in the nuclear space from Canada, Argentina, the US, and South Korea. Local potential players, like Manila Electric Co. and Aboitiz Power, also participated in the event. /rwd

HUAWEI Philippines proudly introduces its latest lineup of innovative wearables, led by the highly anticipated HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 Series, now open for preorder starting at PHP 13,999. This new series combines cutting-edge technology, an industry-leading 21-day battery life, and advanced health and sports tracking features, all designed to empower Filipinos to train smarter, live healthier, and elevate their personal style.

The exclusive launch event at The Fifth at Rockwell brought the HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 Series to life through immersive experience zones that highlighted key scenarios like trail running, in-depth cycling performance metrics, and comprehensive health and fitness monitoring. Attendees explored how the devices seamlessly support active lifestyles through hands-on demonstrations.

A highlight of the launch was the feature of professional cyclist Mervin Corpuz, the celebrated MPTC Tour of Luzon Sprint King. Through a showcase of his training journey, the event demonstrated how the HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 Series enhances his performance on the road, providing precise cycling metrics, reliable tracking, and advanced tools that support his demanding regimen.

Adding to the excitement, HUAWEI also showcased the HUAWEI WATCH Ultimate 2 and the HUAWEI WATCH D2, the latter set to receive new features such as Timed Blood Pressure Measurement (Single Timed Measurement) and continuous timed measurement through an upcoming OTA update which will start on October 15, further expanding its versatile wearable ecosystem designed to complement diverse lifestyles.

Smarter Health and Sports with Breakthrough Accuracy

The HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 Series uses TruSense System 2.0 for more accurate tracking of sleep, heart rate, blood oxygen, stress, and emotions. The GT 6 Pro adds a special heart health app that alerts you to irregular heartbeats and gives detailed ECG information.

For athletes and outdoor lovers, the HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 Pro features a highly accurate positioning system, perfect for trail running, cycling, and hiking. Cyclists can also use new features that measure power and performance without extra devices.

Safety is improved with Fall Detection and altitude sickness alerts, helping keep users safe during activities. The watch also includes a smart coach to guide training and recovery.Timeless Craftsmanship Meets Rugged Durability

In terms of design, HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 Series blends elegance with exceptional durability, built with aerospace-grade titanium alloy, sapphire glass, and a nanocrystal ceramic back. Its ultra-bright 1.47-inch AMOLED display with slimmer bezels delivers an immersive experience for both workouts and daily wear.

Users can easily switch straps for different looks and personalize their watch with animated stickers, pet dials, and 5-second video watch faces.

The lighter, more compact HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 features an ergonomic fluoroelastomer strap, while the HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 Pro has an added 40m freediving-grade water resistance, making it perfect for everything from intense workouts to swimming and even formal occasions.Personalized Smart Features and Up to 21 Days of Enduring Battery Life

With its high-silicon stacked battery architecture, the HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 Series lasts up to 21 days between charges, supporting the demanding lifestyles of athletes, explorers, and busy professionals.Both the HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 and HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 Pro deliver smart connectivity designed for life on the go, supporting offline maps, music playback, Bluetooth calling, and smart notifications. With GCash Watch Pay now compatible with iOS as well as Android and HUAWEI devices, users can enjoy secure, effortless cashless transactions straight from their wrist, no matter which smartphone they use.

Running on HarmonyOS 6.0, the series offers smooth performance and diverse customization options.

HUAWEI Unveils Its ‘Now Is Yours’ Brand Vision

Empowering users to stay healthy, fit, and connected, the HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 Series combines style, durability, and smart features for today’s active lifestyles. It transitions seamlessly from workouts to everyday wear, reflecting Huawei’s commitment to innovation that enhances real life.

Aligned with HUAWEI’s global message, ‘Now Is Yours,’ the series inspires everyone to take charge, express themselves, and live actively with technology that’s powerful, inclusive, and inspiring.

Pre-Order Now and Enjoy Exclusive Offers

The HUAWEI WATCH GT 6, priced from PHP 13,999, and the HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 Pro, starting at PHP 18,999, are now available for pre-order. Pre-orders for the WATCH GT 6 (46mm and 41mm) begin on October 2, 2025, with Early Bird Vouchers worth PHP 3,000 at the online HUAWEI Store, as well as exclusive offline perks including a PHP 1,000 discount and a PHP 2,000 trade-in token for in-store purchases. Meanwhile, the WATCH GT 6 Pro preorder runs from October 2 to October 9, offering PHP 3,500 off, priority delivery, and 0% installment plans for up to 24 months.

Exclusive freebies include HUAWEI FreeBuds SE 2, a stainless steel thermos cup, and a complimentary 3-month HUAWEI Health+ membership that offers personalized fitness plans, progress tracking, and guided meditation tools worth PHP 2,985.

The HUAWEI WATCH Ultimate 2 will be available for pre-order starting October 10, with first sales beginning on October 24, 2025

By joining the preorder, customers gain early access to HUAWEI’s most advanced smartwatches and become part of an innovative community committed to health, performance, and style. Pre-order now via Shopee, Lazada, TikTok Shop, HUAWEI Experience Stores, and the HUAWEI Online Store.