Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The Senate has issued an advisory suspending work in the upper chamber on November 10 in anticipation of the major impact of Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-wong) in the country.

‘In view of the forecast of heavy rainfall and other potential impacts of Super Typhoon Uwan, Senate President Vicente Sotto III has ordered the suspension of work at the Senate tomorrow, 10 November 2025,’ Senate Secretary Renato Bantug said in the advisory.

Malacañang has also suspended classes at all levels in both public and private schools for two days in the provinces of Luzon and the Visayas due to the super typhoon. /das

The Marcos administration has set quite an ambitious target to eradicate child labor, particularly in the fishing and aquaculture sectors, within three years.

The good news is, the number of working children aged five to 17 has decreased to 678,000 in 2023 from 828,000 in 2022, latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released last year showed. But more than half a million child laborers is still a huge number.

In addition, the agriculture sector-of which the fishing and aquaculture sectors are a part of-still accounted for the largest share of underage workers at 64.2 percent, followed by services (28.9 percent) and industry (6.9 percent). The figure for agriculture is not much of an improvement from a 2011 PSA survey on children where the sector accounted for 58 percent of child laborers who worked in farms and plantations.

There were two major factors behind this, as Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma himself acknowledged: poverty and culture, with parents preferring to have their children help them at work. ‘What we want to see are children in schools, not in factories, whether in aquaculture or any other form of employment,’ he said.

Job opportunities

The government does have programs under the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Justice that aim to address the factors that contribute to the problem. This includes providing livelihood or employment to the parents in situations where the children are forced to work instead of study so they can contribute to the family income. The DOJ can also be tapped to intervene should the parents refuse to cooperate.

The government also has internship and other similar programs that offer young people job opportunities under conditions that are considered acceptable within international standards and monitored by the government, though it remains to be seen whether they are effective or implemented properly.

Child labor, said the International Labor Organization (ILO), deprives children of their childhood, potential, and dignity, and could be harmful to their physical and mental development.

Filial piety

The ILO also differentiates between ‘child labor’ and ‘child work,’ with the former emphasizing the burden and abuse placed on the child, the lack of time for school, play, or rest, as well as the absence of benefits and being ‘forced by circumstances or by coercive individuals to work.’

Meanwhile, child work, among others, is defined as appropriate to the child’s age and mental capabilities with the supervision of responsible and caring adults, limited hours, no hindrance to their school, play, or rest time, and must be voluntary. The work must also ‘serve as a vehicle for social advancement and improvement in the child’s quality of life.’

There is a thin line, however, that separates child labor from child work in the Philippine setting, especially in families engaged in farming or fishing where helping out in the ‘chores’ is considered part of the children’s contribution to the family.

It is also quite common for the skills or the job to be passed on from the parents to their children and future generations as ‘legacy.’ Many of these families, unfortunately, do not realize the intergenerational child labor cycle that they perpetuate because their main concern is survival. While there has been shifts in mindsets over the decades, children who choose to help out their families in the farm or at sea and sacrifice their education may not be seen as a form of abuse but as filial piety.

Worst form of child labor

This kind of mindset is not only prevalent among farming or fishing families, but in other circumstances where the child is forced to work to help out their parents, whether in the industry (mining, quarrying, construction) or in services (domestic or street work, scavenging).

But the worst form of child labor, per the ILO, is commercial sex exploitation of children. It noted that many minors between the ages of 12 and 17 have fallen victims to online sexual abuse and exploitation of children based on 2022 data. But the United Nations Children’s Fund noted in June this year that encouraging signs of progress have emerged, including a drop in cyber tip reports from the Philippines from over 2.7 million reports in 2023 to just over 1.7 million in 2024. Still, this remains to be a critical area where the government must sustain its efforts on.

But if it wants to eradicate child labor and abuse completely, it must intensify its efforts not only in a specific industry but across sectors. It’s a goal that sounds formidable and requires a holistic approach and entails radical change, especially in the mindset of poor families whose desire to survive pushes them to exploit their children.

In addressing child labor, the government must not only help the children but also their families to end the cycle of poverty for future generations.

Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-wong) intensified again according to the state weather bureau’s latest update early Sunday morning, as it moved closer to Catanduanes province.

A bulletin posted by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) showed that Uwan now has maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 215 kph.

It was last seen 250 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes.

When Pagasa released its previous update, Uwan was just packing maximum sustained winds of 165 kph and gustiness of up to 205 kph. During that time, it was located 370 kilometers east of Virac.

It is still moving west northwest at a speed of 35 kph.

Earlier, Pagasa said that because of Uwan’s quick movement, the typhoon may make landfall over the Isabela-Aurora area earlier – by Sunday night instead of initial landfall predictions of Monday morning.

However, Pagasa is also not ruling out the possibility of a landfall or a close approach over Catanduanes, as Uwan moves closer to the Bicol Region. According to Pagasa’s forecast track, Uwan would be over the coastal waters of Pandan, Catanduanes, by 11:00 a.m. of Sunday.

Local government units and netizens have posted photos and videos on social media showing how Uwan has started to bring strong winds and rains over Bicol Region.

In its Facebook page, Camarines Norte’s Provincial Information Office uploaded several videos on its Facebook page showing how rain has started to pour down over Jose Panganiban town.

In a video uploaded by Donald Butial, small trees in Naga City also appeared to be shaken due to Uwan’s strong winds.

Butial said the clips were taken around 3:00 a.m. on Sunday.

Other netizens uploaded videos of strong rains in Catanduanes, which is also expected to bear Uwan’s brunt. In a separate advisory, the First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative Inc. (Ficelco) said that a total plant shutdown was conducted early Sunday morning ‘for the safe preparation and securing of their power generation facilities.’ /mr

University of the Philippines’ Francis Nnoruka said sticking to the system played key role in the Fighting Maroons’ latest victory in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.

UP escaped a nothing-to-lose University of the East side, 70-61, on Saturday to bolster its bid for a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.

‘It was a huge win for us and I’m excited that we played our role well on the floor,’ Nnoruka said. ‘We played within the system, passed the ball and got stops.’

Nnoruka top scored for UP while registering a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds with four assists, four blocks and an assist.

The foreign student-athlete’s stellar outing helped the Maroons keep their spot as the second seed with an 8-3 record.

However, he wasn’t the lone difference maker for UP. Nnoruka also gave credit to his teammates for playing well on both ends of the floor.

‘We had a lot of transition offense to take advantage of the whole game and get the win at the end of it all,’ he said.

UP tallied 12 steals and seven blocks to force the Red Warriors to 20 team turnovers.

The Maroons’ defense also locked down UE, which was held to 29.7 percent field goal shooting clip.

UP takes on Adamson next on Sunday at Araneta Coliseum.

Super Typhoon Uwan unleashed its fury across Eastern Visayas on Sunday, Nov. 9, displacing 18,959 families or 63,826 individuals, according to a progress report released by the Police Regional Office (PRO-8).

Local government units across the region carried out preemptive evacuations, moving residents to designated evacuation centers in an effort to prevent casualties as the typhoon battered the region with powerful winds and torrential rains.

Based on PRO-8 monitoring, Northern Samar recorded the highest number of evacuees with 5,289 families (17,525 individuals), followed by Southern Leyte with 4,367 families (14,055 individuals); Biliran, 3,901 families (12,845 individuals); Eastern Samar with 2,632 families of 8,688 individuals; Samar, 2,508 families (10,208 individuals); and Leyte, 262 families (505 individuals).

In Eastern Samar, the Borongan Cathedral was opened to accommodate evacuees seeking refuge from the storm.

Widespread flooding was reported in several towns, including Jipapad, Arteche, Borongan City in Eastern Samar, and Daram, Paranas, Jiabong, and Catbalogan City in Samar, where a portion of the city’s seawall sustained damage. The roof of a covered court in Barangay Payao, Catbalogan City, was also blown away, while several fishing boats in the same coastal area were destroyed.

A yet-to-be-determined number of houses – mostly made of light materials – were damaged or destroyed in San Sebastian, Samar; Villaba and Baybay City in Leyte; and Naval, Biliran. In Northern Samar, several homes in Laoang and Catarman were also reported damaged.

In Mapanas, Northern Samar, a concrete footbridge leading to the town’s popular Blue Lagoon tourist attraction was washed away due to the typhoon’s strong currents.

The onslaught of Uwan also uprooted trees and toppled electric posts, causing widespread power interruptions across the region. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) confirmed that several parts of Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar lost electricity following the typhoon.

Eastern Samar Governor Ralph Vincent Evardone reported that, in addition to power outages, phone and internet connections were also down in most parts of the province.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported a fallen tree along the national highway in Barangay Cabalawan, Tacloban City, blocking access for motorists heading to Samar Island. Cabalawan is located on the Leyte side of the San Juanico Bridge.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) announced all flights at the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City were cancelled due to unsafe weather conditions.

Authorities are continuing assessment and clearing operations as the full extent of Uwan’s damage across Eastern Visayas is still being determined. /cb

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) suspended work on Monday, Nov. 10 due to the effects of Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-wong).

‘In view of the forecasted inclement weather brought about by Typhoon Uwan, and for the safety of ICI personnel, work at the [ICI] is suspended on November 10, 2025,’ the commission said on Sunday in an advisory.

Meanwhile, the Palace also already suspended government work in Metro Manila on Monday, November 10 due to Uwan.

Malacañang also suspended government work in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, and Eastern Visayas.

The ICI was created on September 11 after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. 94 following reports and investigations into alleged anomalies in the country’s flood-control projects.

The body currently investigates not only corruption in flood control projects but also all national government infrastructure works over the past 10 years. /cb

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a one-year state of national calamity due to the destruction left by Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) last week, upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Under Proclamation No. 155, the state of national calamity shall also be in preparation and in response to the upcoming disasters, including Super Typhoon Uwan (Fung-wong), whose severe winds and heavy rainfall batter Luzon. In a memorandum dated Nov. 8, Defense Secretary Teodoro, who also chairs the NDRRMC, said the proclamation shall be interpreted ‘to encompass all natural calamities occurring within one year from Nov. 7, 2025, unless sooner lifted by the President.’

The declaration will hasten rescue, recovery, relief, and rehabilitation efforts of the government and the private sector, including the facilitation of international humanitarian assistance.

It will also immediately authorize the imposition of a price freeze on basic necessities and prime commodities in the entire country, granting of no-interest calamity loans, as well as prevent the overpricing, profiteering or hoarding of prime commodities, medicines, and petroleum products.

The state of national calamity will also grant wide latitude to national and local governments in utilizing appropriate funds, including calamity and quick response funds, for rescue, recovery, relief, and rehabilitation efforts.

President Marcos ordered all government agencies to ‘continuously undertake urgent and critical disaster response to save lives, reduce health impacts, ensure public safety and meet the basic subsistence needs of the people affected.’

They were also directed to implement post-disaster recovery measures to restore normalcy, and improve facilities, livelihood, and living conditions of disaster-stricken communities.

National government agencies shall provide or augment the basic services and facilities of affected local government units, and facilitate private sector and international assistance, as may be necessary.

224 dead

Based on the latest report of the NDRRMC on Sunday, Tino left at least 224 people dead, of which 158 were from Cebu province-making it the deadliest tropical cyclone to hit the country this year.

The death toll could go higher with at least 109 still reported missing, and at least 526 were injured.

More than 3.5 million Filipinos were affected in eight regions of the country.

Running estimates of the cost of damage to infrastructure and agriculture are at P219 million.

Due to the continuous inclement weather across the country, the majority of the utility lines that were down by Tino remain unrestored.

Of the 165 cities and municipalities whose power was cut off, 104 (63 percent) still have no electricity. None of the 11 localities whose water supply was halted had been restored.

Meanwhile, of the 88 cities and towns whose communication lines had fallen, 58 (66 percent) remain unreachable. /cb

Eight years since posting its first Miss Asia Global victory, the Philippines scored another win in the international pageant with Angel Bianca Agustin claiming the crown.

The 19-year-old queen was crowned at the culmination of the 2025 Miss Asia Global pageant’s coronation night held at the Gokulam Park Hotel and Convention Centre, Cochin, in Kochi, India, on Nov. 4.

Agustin exceeded the achievement of her predecessor, Christine Glory Balboa, who received the Miss Asia title in the competition held in Kerala, India, in November last year.

Aside from the main title, Agustin also won the best in national costume award, after donning a heavily beaded sky blue number with a big headpiece, inspired by the Filipino moon goddess Mayari.

The international pageant said it is looking for ‘confident, ambitious, and compassionate women from across the world’ to showcase their ‘culture, intellect and charisma.’

Agustin is the second Filipino woman to be crowned Miss Asia Global, following Mary Eve Escoto who claimed the title in the 2017 competition. She represented Quezon City at the Hiyas ng Pilipinas 2023 pageant, and Miss Grand Philippines 2024, before achieving her international breakthrough in the India-based pageant.

Succeeding Balboa as Miss Asia in the 2025 pageant was host delegate Kavya Bali from India. Neha Balqiz from the United Arab Emirates settled for the first runner-up spot, while Ashwarea Ullas from Kuwait was proclaimed second runner-up.

Fifteen delegates took part in this year’s competition, coming from different countries and territories all over Asia and beyond the continent. /edv

CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela-Meralco Bolts snapped out of their two-game slide in the EASL on Saturday, using a strong start as buffer en route to an 85-76 victory over the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots at Capital Arena here.

Or did they?

The visiting Taiwanese squad put the result under protest, citing a Fiba rule restricting teams to two imports per quarter.

‘In the second quarter, four import players played together on the floor, two more players than allowed by Fiba rules,’ Pilots coach Iurgi Caminos told reporters here in a post-game briefing.

Bolts coach Nenad Vucinic shrugged off the protest and conceded that ‘it is the right of the Pilots to say on whatever will be their allegations.’

He, however, said he would accept responsibility on the matter.

Riding on the crest of a 14-4 run in the first quarter, the Bolts never looked back and deflated the spirited rally of the Pilots to break into the win column of Season 3.

Asian import Mohammadsina Vahedi of Iran led the Bolts with 22 points, two rebounds, seven assists and one steal.

‘I am surprised that a lot of fans watched the game and that we played for them. I hope they enjoyed the game as much as we do,’ he said.

Vahedi matched the 22 points of import Ismael Romero, who also tallied 14 rebounds, four assists, one steal and one turnover.

The Bolts led by as many as 22.

Bolts import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and the Pilots’ Lu Chun Hsiang marked EASL milestones by joining the league’s 200-point club. Hollis-Jefferson scored 15 points to up his career total to 207 while Lu scored 17 points for a 215-point total.

Last season, Lu led the league in total points with 158. Hollis-Jefferson returned this year after posting 145 in the 2023-24 campaign.

In the first quarter, the Bolts stormed to a 23-14 lead and never looked back, padding their lead into 16 in the third quarter at 66-50.

Lu slowed the Pilots with his six turnovers.

‘I think I played pretty well and because of the lot od pressure, I committed many turnovers, but I am happy to play despite losing the game,’ he said.

Lu’s teammate, Setric Millner Jr. topscored with 19 for the team while William Artino tallied 15 points.

Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-wong) is already close to making landfall in Aurora, said the state weather bureau on Sunday evening.

Meanwhile, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 5 remains hoisted in four areas, including the northern and central portions of Aurora.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (Pagasa) latest typhoon bulletin as of 8 p.m., Uwan’s last location was logged in 85 kilometers (km) east-southeast of Baler, Aurora, or 125 km northeast of Infanta, Quezon.

The super typhoon is currently moving northwestward at 30 km per hour (km/h) while carrying maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 230 km/h.

‘On the track forecast, the center of the eye of Uwan will make landfall at or near its peak intensity (e.g., as a super typhoon or an upper limit of typhoon) over Aurora (i.e., anywhere along the coastline from Baler to Casiguran) Sunday night or tomorrow (10 November) early morning,’ said Pagasa.

However, Pagasa reminded the public ‘not to focus on the center track as it may still shift within the limit of the forecast confidence cone.’

This means heavy rainfall, severe winds, and storm surges may still be experienced far from the landfall point or center track, and even in areas outside the forecast confidence cone.

Areas under Signal No. 5 where winds greater than 185 kph are expected in at least 12 hours are as follows:

Luzon

The southern portion of Quirino (Nagtipunan)

The southeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castañeda, Dupax del Norte, Dupax del Sur)

The northeastern portion of Nueva Ecija (Bongabon, Carranglan, Pantabangan)

The northern and central portion of Aurora (San Luis, Baler, Maria Aurora, Dipaculao, Dinalungan, Casiguran)

The following areas, meanwhile, are under Signal No. 4:

Luzon

The southern portion of Isabela (San Agustin, Jones, Echague, Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Cordon, City of Santiago, Ramon, San Isidro, Angadanan)

The rest of Quirino

The rest of Nueva Vizcaya

The southern portion of Mountain Province (Tadian, Bauko, Sabangan)

The southern portion of Ifugao (Tinoc, Asipulo, Lamut, Kiangan, Lagawe, Hingyon, Hungduan)

Benguet

The southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Sugpon, Alilem, Cervantes, City of Candon, Santa Lucia, Suyo, Sigay, Galimuyod, Tagudin, Santa Cruz, Salcedo, San Esteban, Santiago)

La Union

Pangasinan

The rest of Aurora

The rest of Nueva Ecija

The northernmost portion of Zambales (Santa Cruz)

The northeastern portion of Tarlac (Camiling, San Clemente, Paniqui, Gerona, Victoria, Pura, Ramos, Moncada, San Manuel, Anao, La Paz, City of Tarlac, Santa Ignacia)

The easternmost portion of Pampanga (Candaba)

The eastern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, Norzagaray, San Rafael)

The northern portion of Rizal (Rodriguez)

The northern portion of Quezon (Infanta, General Nakar, Real), including Polillo Islands

Signal No. 3 or winds of greater than 89 kph up to 117 kph in at least 18 hours is hoisted in the following areas:

Luzon

The southern portion of mainland Cagayan (Tuao, Enrile, Solana, Tuguegarao City, Peñablanca, Iguig, Piat, Amulung, Santo Niño, Alcala, Rizal)

The rest of Isabela

The northwestern, central, and southern portions of Apayao (Conner, Kabugao, Calanasan)

Abra

Kalinga

The rest of Mountain Province

The rest of Ifugao

Ilocos Norte

The rest of Ilocos Sur

The rest of Zambales

Bataan

The rest of Tarlac

The rest of Pampanga

The rest of Bulacan

Metro Manila

Cavite

Batangas

The rest of Rizal

Laguna

The rest of Quezon

Marinduque

Camarines Norte

Camarines Sur

Catanduanes

On the other hand, Signal No. 2 or winds greater than 62 km/h and up to 88 km/h in at least 24 hours is raised in:

Luzon

Babuyan Islands

The rest of mainland Cagayan

The rest of Apayao

Occidental Mindoro

Oriental Mindoro

Romblon

Albay

Sorsogon

The northern and western portions of Masbate (City of Masbate, Mobo, Aroroy, Balud, Mandaon, Milagros, Baleno, Uson), including Ticao and Burias Islands

Areas under Signal No. 1, with winds 39 km/h to 61 km/h to be expected in at least 36 hours, and intermittent rains:

Luzon

Batanes

The rest of Masbate

The northern portion of Palawan (Taytay, Dumaran, El Nido, Araceli, Roxas, San Vicente) including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo Islands

Visayas

Northern Samar

Eastern Samar

Samar

Biliran

Leyte

Southern Leyte

Bohol

Cebu

Siquijor

Negros Oriental

Negros Occidental

Guimaras

Iloilo

Capiz

Aklan

Antique