Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will provide financial assistance and cover the burial expenses of families of the victims killed during the magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu on Tuesday.

‘The DSWD’s Field Office Central Visayas is now accounting the number of casualties and their location. Our social workers will also talk to the concerned families to inform them that the DSWD will shoulder the burial expenses of their loved ones,’ the agency’s spokesperson Irene Dumlao said in a statement on Wednesday.

Dumlao also shared that the DSWD’s Central Visayas office will give P10,000 in cash assistance to the families of the deceased. On Wednesday morning, at least 61 individuals were confirmed dead while at least 147 individuals were injured during the quake, prompting the Cebu provincial government to place the entire province under a state of calamity.

The earthquake struck Central Visayas on Tuesday evening, but the number of casualties continues to rise, the Cebu Provincial Disaster Response and Risk Reduction Management Office said. The provincial government reported that a commercial building and a school collapsed, and several village roads were damaged.

Some power lines were also tripped, according to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned of aftershocks and earthquake-induced mass movements, such as landslides.

Furthermore, Phivolcs said the earthquake was caused by the movement of an offshore active fault northeast of Cebu Island.

In a marketplace where credit cards typically focus on individual rewards and personal spending, one bank is taking a different approach: Chinabank recently launched the CBC @home Visa Platinum, the first credit card in the Philippines primarily designed with Filipino families in mind.

Following the successful launch of the CBC Velvet Visa Signature in 2024, Chinabank launched @home Visa Platinum by identifying a significant opportunity in the market, given that major banks mainly offer rewards on categories like groceries, shopping, and utilities-highlighting individual savings and transactional benefits. ‘By launching a Family Credit Card with clear, family-first positioning, Chinabank claims a white space in the market-meeting the practical needs of modern households while building a deeper emotional connection with Filipino families in a way no other credit card brand currently does,’ says Nina Q. Reynoso, VP Head of Chinabank Cards Marketing.

Family-first features

The CBC @home Visa Platinum is specifically designed for primary income earners ages 25 to 45-mid-level professionals or business owners in the early stages of building a family or actively managing household finances.

The CBC @home Visa Platinum comes packed with benefits tailored specifically for family needs:

Welcome Gift: New cardholders receive a complimentary Php 4,000 SM Supermarket e-voucher with minimum spend-immediately providing value for essential family shopping. 5 Percent Family Cash Back: Up to Php 1,500 cash back every month across all categories, helping families save on their regular expenses.

Free Supplementary Cards: Annual fees are waived for all supplementary cards, making it easier to extend financial access to family members.

0 Percent Installment for Essential Services: Lighter payments on any school and medical bills with 0 percent installment for 3 months, with a minimum of Php 50,000 per transaction.

Exclusive Family Promo Deals: Up to 50 percent off on family-related activities, including outings, dining, and quality time adventures.

Sustainability Commitment

Beyond the financial benefits, the physical card demonstrates Chinabank’s commitment to environmental responsibility. The CBC @home Visa Platinum will be made from recycled plastic, supporting the bank’s sustainability efforts while serving Filipino families.

The product philosophy goes deeper than traditional credit card offerings: ‘Family matters. Always has.’

‘We believe that behind every expense is a family goal-whether it’s caring for children, supporting parents, or simply getting through the week together,’ Nina adds.

This is what sets the CBC @home Visa Platinum apart in a market dominated by transactional messaging: It’s a purpose-driven product designed to provide primary income earners with greater control, flexibility, and attractive benefits across everyday spending. By focusing on the practical needs of modern households while building deeper emotional connections, Chinabank is creating a new category in the Philippine credit card market, acknowledging that for Filipino families, financial management isn’t just about individual gains-it’s about building security, stability, and opportunities for the entire household.

Tropical Depression Paolo slightly intensified over the Philippine Sea, then state weather bureau reported Wednesday afternoon.

In its 5 p.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysics, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) Paolo was last located around 665 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph, and gusts of up to 70 kph while moving west-northwest at 25 kph.

Pagasa raised a Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal Number 1 over the northern portion of Catanduanes, particularly in Pandan, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, and Viga.

Pagasa also warned of minimal to minor impact from the strong winds Paolo is also set to bring ‘cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms’ over the following areas on Wednesday evening, Pagasa said.

Metro Manila

Bicol region

Isabela

Quirino

Nueva Vizcaya

Abra

Kalinga

Mountain Province

Ifugao

Benguet

Quezon

Aurora

Rizal

Bulacan

Nueva Ecija

Pagasa said that Paolo will make landfall in Isabela or northern Aurora on Friday.

It will, however, also trigger heavy rainfall and severe winds in localities outside of the landfall area.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon has instructed building officials and municipal engineers of areas affected by the Cebu earthquake to conduct assessment on buildings under their jurisdiction.

Dizon issued this memorandum on Wednesday as he personally visited Bogo City in Cebu, the epicenter of the earthquake, to assess the situation, especially for roads and establishments that were damaged. ‘The president said that we should start with the most immediate needs of relief, clearing of roads, and make sure everything is okay, then we will just move from there,’ Dizon said in an interview.

The building officials and their respective offices are ordered to ‘immediately conduct rapid assessment, inspection, verification, and structural evaluation on all affected buildings/structures within their respective jurisdiction, in coordination with stakeholders and government agencies, to assess the extent of the damage to buildings and structures.’

With this, Dizon instructed the submission of a detailed report on the findings within 15 days.

The building officers and municipal engineers are also directed to ‘coordinate with the relevant government agencies and provide any necessary assistance in accordance with their mandate, including expediting the permitting process and releasing the corresponding permits for the necessary works to rectify the damage to the affected buildings/structures.’ The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology initially measured the earthquake’s magnitude at 6.7 before upgrading it to 6.9. The earthquake occurred at 9:59 p.m. with its epicenter located 21 kilometers northeast of Bogo City in Cebu.

According to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), at least 69 individuals reportedly died from the strong earthquake as authorities intensified its rescue operations.

OCD Assistant Secretary Rafael Alejandro IV said that 30 fatalities came from Bogo City, followed by 22 in San Remigio town; 10 in Medellin town; five in Tagogon town; and one each in the municipalities of Sogod and Tabuelan. Meanwhile, 147 individuals were injured, with 117 coming from Bogo, followed by San Francisco town with 14, Tabuelan and Catmon with five each, and four in Daanbantayan.

Manny Pacquiao will lead the 50th anniversary celebration of the ‘Thrilla in Manila’ as a promoter, headlining a blockbuster boxing card on October 29 at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The event, co-presented by Pacquiao and the International Boxing Association (IBA), will be anchored by a WBC strawweight world title bout between Filipino champion Melvin Jerusalem and South Africa’s Ayanda Kuse. ‘I wasn’t born when the original fight happened and I’m leading the promotion now,’ Pacquiao said during the official launch. ‘I feel blessed at to bring to life 50th celebration of ‘Thrilla in Manila.”

The original ‘Thrilla in Manila’ between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier was held on October 1, 1975, at the same venue.

The undercard features Olympic silver medalist Eumir Marcial against undefeated American Eddy Colmenares, along with appearances by Filipino standouts Marlon Tapales, Carl Jammes Martin, and Arvin Magramo.

‘This is a world championship and a celebration of the ‘Thrilla in Manila,” Pacquiao added. ‘It’s a big help for our boxers that they get to fight in international promotions like this.’

Pacquiao also revealed that VIP guests are expected, including relatives of Ali and Frazier and former world champions.

‘We will invite a lot of personalities. We will have a lot of surprises,’ he said.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the improved satisfaction rating on his performance is ‘nice,’ adding that the government will just continue its job of providing service to the public.

Based on the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted from June 25 to 29, 46 percent of adult Filipinos were satisfied with Marcos’ performance.

At a brief media interview in Masbate City, Marcos was asked about where the higher survey ratings in the second quarter of 2025 can be attributed. ‘You know what? I have no idea. I don’t look so much at. It’s, of course, nice to note. I didn’t know about that. But now that you tell me, of course I’m glad that it’s that way,’ he responded.

‘I guess we just have to keep working. Whatever happens-whether there’s a typhoon, a scandal, or unrest-the people expect the government to continue its service, to continue its work at every level-at the national level, at the local level-just to keep going,’ the President added, partly in Filipino.

He added that elected public servants should not be seen as merely playing around or politicking but as working for the welfare of the people.

The latest SWS survey also showed that 36 percent were dissatisfied with the President’s performance, and 19 percent were undecided, producing a net satisfaction score of ‘moderate’ +10.

This showed a 20-point improvement from the ‘poor’ -10 net rating recorded in April 2025.

After not being picked in the 2025 PBA Rookie Draft, graduating Lyceum guard Ato Barba is out for blood.

The Pirates’ 90-89 loss to Mapua in double overtime to open their NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball campaign didn’t dampen Barba’s idea of a revenge tour.

‘After the PBA Draft, I really got sad and frustrated,’ Barba told the Inquirer at Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.

‘I told myself that I’ll bounce back here because this is the only place I could show my talent now. I have to give my best because after college, I don’t know where my career will go.’

Unlike former teammate JM Bravo, who was drafted by Terrafirma, Barba wasn’t tapped despite being one of the league’s top scorers last season.

While struggling in their Season 101 opener, finishing with just eight points on 3-of-10 shooting, he remains determined to tackle Lyceum’s upcoming games with full intensity.

‘I don’t really want to show coaches that they should regret not picking me because I’m also thinking that my game isn’t at the professional level yet. I still lack a lot,’ Barba said.

‘This season, I’ll try to improve those things here. I’ll play my best.’

Barba hopes to make more impact for Lyceum this Sunday when they take on Perpetual Help at San Juan Arena.

The death toll from the strong earthquake in Cebu has increased to 26, with most fatalities recorded in the tremor’s epicenter of Bogo City in Cebu province, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in its situation report on Wednesday.

Of the 26 deaths, most were reported in Bogo City with 19, San Remigio town with five, while one death each was logged in the towns of Tabuelan and Medellin.

NDRRMC said these deaths have yet to be validated.

Additionally, 147 were reported hurt.

Most of the injured were also in Bogo with 119 victims, San Francisco with 14, and five each in the towns of Tabuelan and Catmon, and four at Daanbantayan town.

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off Cebu on Tuesday night, state seismologists said.

It occurred at 9:59 p.m., with the epicenter located 21 kilometers northeast of Bogo City, with a shallow depth of five kilometers.

Newly-installed Cebu Archbishop Alberto Uy has ordered a structural assessment of all churches and rectories in the province following a strong earthquake on Tuesday night.

In a Facebook post, the archbishop also directed parishes in the northern portion of the province who were affected ‘to refrain from using your churches for the celebration of the Holy Mass until the proper experts have carried out the assessment and declared the structures safe for use.’

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology initially measured the earthquake’s magnitude at 6.7 before upgrading it to 6.9.

The earthquake occurred at 9:59 p.m. with its epicenter located 21 kilometers northeast of Bogo City in Cebu.

In a social media post, parishioners said that the centuries-old Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima in Daanbantayan town partially collapsed.

Meanwhile, videos showed that Parroquia de San Pedro Apostol was swaying during the earthquake, with lights and parts of the facade crumbling.

Uy’s installation rites were held at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, who attended the installation, described the earthquake as Uy’s ‘first major test.’

‘We continue to pray to our Loving Father for calmness and strength in the midst of these trials,’ the archbishop said.

Investment approvals by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) surged by more than 30 percent in the nine months ending September on strong investor confidence.

In a statement on Tuesday, Peza said it had approved P154.7 billion worth of investments in the January to September period, 33.5-percent higher than the P115.89 billion posted in the same period last year.

‘These approvals demonstrate enduring investor confidence in the Philippines. Backed by sustained momentum and robust investment activity, we are on track to attain our P250 billion goal and strengthen our standing as a leading investment destination in Asia,’ Peza Director General Tereso Panga said.

‘These investments reinforce our position as a premier hub in Asia and affirm that the Philippines is fast becoming the destination of choice for global industries,’ Trade Secretary and Peza Chair Cristina Roque added in a statement.

2025 target

However, the end-September number means that Peza has so far just achieved 61.9 percent of its goal this year of P250 billion.

In the first nine months, Peza said it had approved 215 new and expansion projects that are expected to generate 50,430 direct jobs and $4.49 billion in export revenues.

Of these, P123.79 billion came from 24 big-ticket projects.

The manufacturing sector drove investments in economic zones with 98 projects, followed by the Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) sector with 55 projects, and domestic-related activities with 18 projects.

Japan regained its position as the top country investor, accounting for 9.55 percent or P14.78 billion in new and expansion projects.

‘Japan’s return as our leading partner reflects the fruit of our investment missions and strong collaborations with stakeholders. With nearly 10 percent of this year’s total project approvals coming from Japanese companies, we see undeniable proof of the Philippines’ standing as a trusted and highly competitive hub in Asia,’ Panga said. INQ