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The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has requested for Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order, or ILBO, against more than two dozen current and former lawmakers and officials in the investigation into anomalous public works projects that have spurred public outrage and mass protests.

In a letter dated Oct. 8, 2025, addressed to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, ICI Chairman Justice Andres Reyes Jr. said the request was made ‘by virtue of the powers bestowed upon the Commission’ under Executive Order 94, which created the body to probe alleged corruption in infrastructure spending.

The names on the request letter included former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Sens. Chiz Escudero and Jinggoy Estrada, and ex-senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in flood control projects.

Sen. Joel Villanueva, whose name was not in the first version of the ILBO request, was included in the corrected version the ICI released to the media.

‘The timely issuance of an ILBO is of utmost necessity to enable the Commission to proceed without delay and to hold those liable accountable to the Filipino people,’ Reyes said in the letter.

Reyes cited the body’s initial investigation into the involvement of Department of Public Works and Highways officials and those of construction companies involved in flood control projects found to be substandard or missing.

The probe “puts the subjects in a relevant position that operates to make them an inevitable personality during the fact-finding process,” the ICI’s request to the DOJ read.

The list attached to the request includes high-profile figures such as Makati Mayor Nancy Binay, several incumbent members of Congress, and multiple district engineers of the DPWH.

Among those named are:

Sen. Francis Escudero

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada

Former Sen. Bong Revilla Jr.

Sen. Joel Villanueva

Makati City Mayor Nancy Binay

Commission on Audit Commissioner Mario Lipana

Marilou Laurio-Lipana

Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar

Carlene Villa

Businessman Maynard Ngu

Rep. Roman Romulo (Pasig, lone district)

Rep. James Ang (Uswag Ilonggo party-list)

Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas (Quezon City, 5th District)

Rep. Arjo Atayde (Quezon City, 1st District)

Rep. Nicanor Briones (AGAP party-list)

Rep. Marcelino Teodoro (Marikina, 1st District)

Rep. Florida “Rida” Robes (Bulacan, San Jose del Monte)

Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona (Roblon, lone district)

Rep. Benjamin “Benjie” Agarao (Laguna, 4th District)

Former Rep. Florencio Gabriel “Bem” Noel (An Waray party-list)

Rep. Leody “Odie” Tarriela (Occidental Mindoro, lone district)

Rep. Reynante “Reynan” Arogancia (Quezon, 3rd District)

Former Rep. Marvin Rillo (Quezon City, 4th District)

Rep. Teodorico Haresco Jr. (Aklan, 2nd District)

Rep. Antonieta Eudela (Zamboanga Sibugay, 2nd District)

Rep. Dean Assistio (Caloocan, 3rd District)

Rep. Marivic Co-Pilar (Quezon City, 6th District)

District Engr. Loida Busa “Bogs” Magalong

District Engr. Ramon Devanadera

District Engr. Johnny Protesta Jr.

District Engr. Arturo Gonzales Jr.

Reyes asked the DOJ to immediately alert the commission and law enforcement agencies of any attempt by the listed individuals to leave the country.

The request, sent in coordination with the Bureau of Immigration, was also copied to BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado.

The DOJ, which is undergoing a leadership transition after the appointment of Remulla as the new Ombudsman, has yet to announce whether it will issue the lookout order.

Summons. The commission has also summoned Romualdez to testify concerning questioned insertions in the national budget and his involvement in the DPWH flood control projects when he was still speaker.

Former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co, who has been placed in the lookout bulletin on September 25, was also summoned for his role as House appropriations panel chief in previous years.

Both Romualdez and Co were ordered to appear before the commission on October 14.

The Department of Labor and Employment in Central Visayas (DOLE-7) expressed its solidarity with the Inter-Call Center Association of Workers (ICCAW) in advocating for the protection and welfare of workers in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.

Atty. Roy Lloren Buenafe, DOLE-7 director, said the agency fully supports ICCAW’s call to uphold workers’ rights and safety, as emphasized in its recent statement.

However, he appealed for understanding from ICCAW’s officers and members, stressing that sanctions against employers can only be imposed after both substantive and procedural due process are observed, in accordance with the rule of law.

Buenafe also acknowledged ICCAW’s proposal to strengthen compliance with Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standards, emphasizing that all workplaces are legally required to maintain a duly approved OSH Program that includes protocols for natural calamities such as earthquakes and typhoons.

He encouraged ICCAW to provide DOLE-7 with a list of companies allegedly violating labor laws and to collaborate with the labor department in building networks that promote workplace safety, tripartism, and industrial peace across the BPO industry in Central Visayas.

The DOLE-7, likewise, commended ICCAW’s proactive initiatives in promoting inclusion, collaboration, and justice among BPO workers.

‘They have set a good example by looking not only after their own welfare but also that of workers who may not have a strong voice in the world of work,’ Buenafe said.

The regional labor office reaffirmed its willingness to meet and work with ICCAW on future initiatives aimed at further protecting and advancing BPO workers’ rights.

Earlier, ICCAW had called on DOLE to impose penalties on BPO companies at Cebu IT Park and Cebu Business Park that allegedly put employees’ lives at risk during the September 30 earthquake.

ICCAW spokesperson Gilbert Romo urged the labor department to enforce the ?100,000 maximum fine provided under Republic Act No. 11058, or the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Law, to deter similar violations in the future.

Romo said some employers did not allow their employees to leave their workplaces during the earthquake, while others required them to return to work hours later despite the risk of aftershocks.

‘Call centers put profit above people’s lives and safety. This is unacceptable. We call on DOLE for urgent action on this blatant violation of the OSH Law,’ Romo said, adding that some employees resigned on the spot out of fear for their lives.

He also appealed to fellow BPO workers to come forward with testimonies of unsafe management practices during the quake.

Romo said BPO workers are not immortal, they are humans. He said these companies prioritized smooth operations over employee welfare. He added that working the graveyard shift is already a health risk, but keeping employees at work during an earthquake is too much.

‘Hanapbuhay ang kailangan naming manggagawa, hindi hanappatay,’ Romo said.

ICCAW further demanded the immediate formation of safety committees in all BPO companies, with worker representatives elected as mandated under the OSH Law.

‘Workers must have voice and participation in the workplace, especially with regard to safety and health concerns,’ he added.

Founded in 2013 in Cebu, ICCAW is an industry-wide organization of BPO employees established in solidarity with workers of a call center that abruptly shut down. The group now has members in various companies across the Cebu IT Park.

In 2014, ICCAW launched an 8-point agenda for pro-labor reforms in the BPO industry, including tax breaks, bond to indemnify workers in case of closure, quick reaction teams in case of sudden shutdown, hospitalization insurance, above minimum salary, regular labor inspections, elected workers’ representatives in a grievance machinery, and regularization of employees.

Host Centro Escolar University hopes to make the opening of the PG Flex-Universities and Colleges Athletic League Season 8 impactful and memorable as it defends its street dance title on Thursday, October 9, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

After a short but colorful opening ceremony starting at 11 a.m., all nine member schools are once again expected to showcase their dazzling footwork, creativity and style in the street dance competition in what could the highlight of the traditional opening day show.

But all eyes will be on the Scorpions who have prepared long and hard enough for a chance to win a second straight title and set in motion their campaign in other events including in centerpiece basketball competition after a failed three-peat bid last season.

CEU President Danilo Concepcion will officially open the season with ‘Rising to New Heights’ as a theme that is timely and fitting as the league continues to grow and shine with the addition of table tennis and badminton to its calendar of events.

‘The addition of the two events is a clear indication that we’re moving up and fast catching up with the big leagues though we are not competing against them,’ said Tournament Director Horacio Lim.

Also expected to grace the opening rites are PG Flex owner Nelson Guevarra and UCAL management team led by Col. Bong Nebrija, Bernard Yang, and Carmelo Navarro.

Former CEU basketball star and now PBA player Franz Diaz has been invited to deliver an inspirational message, while current CEU hotshot Dylan Darbin will lead the recitation of the oath of sportsmanship.

Other participating schools in the league are Olivarez College, Diliman College, Immaculada Concepcion College, Lyceum of the Philippines-Batangas, Manila Central University, Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas, Philippine Women’s University and University of Batangas.

The league is backed by Akari, Smart Sports, Spalding, Hapee Toothpaste, Mighty Bond, Quintana Sports, Vital Purified Drinking Water, Topflite, Crane and Maruyama, CafeFrance and RC1 Lubricating Spray.

Malacañang has declared special non-working days in three towns in Cotabato and Davao de Oro for the celebration of their founding anniversaries and local festivities.

Proclamation 1052 declared Oct. 14 a special non-working day in Antipas, Cotabato for the commemoration of the town’s founding anniversary.

Nov. 13 will be a special non-working day in Pantukan, Davao de Oro as provided under Proclamation 1053 for the celebration of the town’s 88th founding anniversary and the 23rd Pasaka Festival.

Meanwhile, Proclamation 1054 declared Nov. 24 a special non-working day in Maragusan, Davao de Oro for the commemoration of the Araw ng Maragusan.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who signed the proclamations, said declaring such holidays is fitting and proper to allow people in these areas to participate and enjoy their community celebrations.

How can you tell if you’re working for a bad company? They insist you stay and carry on working despite an earthquake.

This was allegedly what happened in several Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies in Cebu following the earthquake last September 30.

According to reports, some BPOs insisted that their employees work through the quake or immediately return to work shortly after evacuating. Never mind their fears for own personal safety; never mind their fears for the welfare of their homes or loved ones.

The boss of one company even allegedly locked their doors and threatened his workers.

‘You’re going outside? The elevator isn’t working, can you do it? Will you resign? Have you informed your team lead? Where is your team lead?’ an online news report quoted the boss as saying.

The actions of those companies have drawn the ire of the BPO Industry Employees Network and now the Department of Labor and Employment is looking into six BPOs here for allegedly being negligent when it came to the welfare of their employees.

Just the other day the department suspended the operations of one of them for safety lapses.

You will hear no complaints from us. In the face of natural disasters like earthquakes it must be people over profit. The welfare of the workers must be placed above all else.

We understand that for some BPOs, the mentality might be that the clients come first. But while profits come from clients, the workers are the ones engaging with these clients to produce those said profits. They are as essential as the clients themselves.

Considering the higher pay BPOs give their employees compared to regular jobs, we would think that those companies now under scrutiny have better standards when it comes to labor and safety practices.

If you happen to be working for a company that locks its doors to prevent people from evacuating during an emergency, perhaps it’s better think twice about staying. The good thing about BPOs is that they are plentiful here. Your choices aren’t limited.

Justice Undersecretary Fredderick Vida will serve as acting secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ), following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s appointment of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla as the next Ombudsman.

Remulla confirmed the designation on Tuesday, October 7.

‘Usec. Vida will step in as OIC (officer-in-charge) or acting secretary,’ Remulla told reporters in a press briefing.

Transition at the DOJ. Remulla said that he and the president have yet to discuss who will permanently succeed him as justice chief.

Vida was first appointed as an assistant secretary in 2023 and currently oversees the DOJ’s Finance, Administrative Service, and Personnel Cluster.

The justice secretary’s move to the Office of the Ombudsman came just a day after the Judicial and Bar Council included him in its shortlist of nominees for the post.

Remulla is expected to take his oath of office on Thursday, October 9.

MYNLD’s owners (Anthoni Salim and the Consunji Family) are some of the most adept stock market operators that we have in this country, and the company is ‘faced’ by MVP, who has a long resume of capital market experience to justify his role in this transaction. I’m going to dig further into this IPO once the final price is known, but (for me) the price won’t have that big of an impact on my interest. Water concessionaires are not a part of my investment thesis, so I’m not about to start ripping up some of my other trades just to make some dry powder for this deal. But even if this kind of company was something that was part of my thesis, it fails as a potential investment (for me) because I invest for the long-term and I do not trust MVP to be the steady hand of growth that I usually look for when making big bets in infrastructure. It’s entirely possible that my own prejudices against the sector and the management team will cause me to miss out on something that will list and eventually get PSEi inclusion and do fantastically well over the next year or two, but that’s a risk that I’ve learned to take after all my years of investing in this market. Maybe it’s a dumb nuance of my own personal system. It does almost feel like a superstition at this point, but it works for me, just like my lucky underwear.

Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) president and chief executive officer Ramon Monzon is hoping that Maynilad Water Services Inc.’s upcoming initial public offering (IPO) will spur interest and encourage more companies go public.

Monzon expects Maynilad’s maiden issuance later this month to be the final IPO for the country this year.

Maynilad targets to list on the main board of the PSE on Nov. 7 and trade its shares using the stock symbol, MYNLD.

‘Maynilad is definitely a welcome addition to PSE’s roster of listed companies, especially as it is known to serve the largest population in a single water concession area,’ Monzon said.

Monzon said the prospect of Maynilad’s P45.77-billion IPO, which is one of the biggest maiden offerings in PSE history, has also been bolstered by the numerous cornerstone investors that have agreed to support the capital raising activity.

‘We hope this brisk demand from institutional investors will spark renewed interest and confidence in other companies to likewise tap the stock market for fund raising,’ he said.

Maynilad will be selling up to 1.66 billion primary common shares to the public and a preferential offer of up to 24.90 million primary common shares to First Pacific Co. Ltd. from Oct. 23 to 29, 2025.

The IPO will also have an overallotment option shares of up to 249.05 million primary common shares and an upsize option of up to 354.70 million secondary common shares.

Proceeds from the sale of primary shares will be used by the company for its capital expenditure program for water, wastewater and customer service information system projects, as well as for general corporate purposes.

Monzon said that another positive development for Maynilad was the recognition given by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to the water utility as the country’s first Philippine Green Equity label, affirming its continuing adherence to sustainability standards.

The Green Equity label, which was launched by the SEC last month, is handed to a PSE listed company or a company that is going public with more than 50 percent of their revenues and investments earned from or directed toward green activities.

‘We are pleased that Maynilad was granted the first Green Equity label. This landmark recognition ties in with PSE’s thrust of supporting green finance initiatives,’ Monzon said.

Maynilad’s IPO, which has been approved by the PSE, will be the second maiden offering this year, following Top Line Business Development Corp.’s P732.6 million IPO in April.

At the heart of Tokyo Game Show 2025, Riot Games debuted 2XKO, its upcoming tag-team fighting game set in the League of Legends universe.

What began as a mysterious project known only as ‘Project L’ has evolved into a bold new entry in the fighting game genre – a game that blends the developer’s multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) legacy with the competitive spirit of traditional fighters.

2XKO Game Director Shaun Rivera spoke to PhilStar.com and shared the journey to developing the game, the challenges of innovation, and the vision behind its unique gameplay.

‘Duo play’ mechanic

‘The story’s been a long one,’ Rivera recalled. ‘I think Tom and Tony Cannon founded EVO, the World Fighting Game Tournament. They went on to found Radiant Entertainment, which is a company where they made Rising Thunder. It was like a 1v1 fighting game with robots, it was really cool. And then Riot Games acquired Radiant Entertainment. From there, it was like, ‘let’s make a League of Legends fighting game, Codenamed Project L’,’ recalled Rivera.

And though feedback from early playtests showed that players were reacting well to the game, the team felt like there was something missing – it didn’t have as much of an impact they had hoped for.

‘[When] we playtested the game though, players were just like, ‘yeah that’s pretty fun, it’s not bad.’ You never want to hear that. You want to make a game that everybody’s fired up about, and has a big impact,’ added Rivera.

That realization led to a major pivot in design philosophy, not only bringing in the intensity and thrill of fighting games but also introducing something new. It was a game wherein you can take the traditional 1v1 of fighting games and incorporate what video games is all about – the enjoyment of playing with friends and fellow gaming enthusiasts.

Rivera explained, ‘Playing with your friends is super fun. So we thought, what if we made a fighting game where you could play with your friends, right? On the same team, and the game was built like that from the ground up. Not just like an extra mode.’

Keeping with its League of Legends inspiration, 2XKO incorporates the teamwork that players in MOBA has as the heart of the game.

‘In the MOBA, you see champions fighting together all the time. It’s so cool how you can like, you know, put their skills together and do well in a team fight. So we thought, wouldn’t that be really sweet if we could do that in a fighting game?’ said Rivera.

The result was 2XKO’s duo play, a system that allows two players to fight on the same team.

‘It was really challenging because we made duoplay, we made that change, kind of like starting over maybe about five years ago. But what if you can’t come tomorrow night? Does that mean I don’t get to play? Does that mean I have to fight a stranger? So of course we had to introduce solo play,’ recalled Rivera.

But as the central piece of 2XKO was developing, it still had its fair share of challenges.

‘If the control schemes aren’t similar enough, it’s really hard to bridge that gap. So we had to do a lot of work making the control schemes similar as well. Looking at the players, how much should the person off screen be able to do in a duo? Some people want to do all kinds of stuff. Some people are like, just give me a break for a second, let me take a breather. So finding that balance is also pretty challenging,’ said Rivera.

Eventually, the team found its rhythm, allowing for different scenarios to stem from duoplay. But at the heart of it was keeping 2XKO within the fighting game genre that players enjoy.

‘First and foremost, we’re making this game for fighting game players. That’s our target, you know. If you love fighting games, we want you to try and, you know, really like to check out our game and enjoy it.’

Rivera also emphasized the social aspect of the game.

‘If you’ve ever had to teach someone a fighting game, it’s really tough. Because either you’re easily beating them and hoping they stick around through those beatings, or you’re going easy on them, but you’re not having a good time, you know, hoping that they’ll learn and stick around. Neither of those are very good. So we thought, what if instead you could just bring your friend on, even if there’s a skill difference. You could take on the world together. Even if you lose, there’s cool moments in between, right? It’s less about winning and losing, more about these cool things we did together, like the combo we finished, or you broke out of the combo and saved me. Even if you lose, it’s about the cool things you did together. That’s what makes it special. Those moments and highlights you’ll cherish as a duo,’ said Rivera.

League characters in a different light

With early access launching this October, fans are eager to see which champions will join the current nine character roster that was in the closed beta.

‘There’ll be no code needed and that’s when we’re going to announce our 10th champion. We need to make sure that the champion that we pick, there’s enough diversity with respect to thematics. And that can be how they look, how they act, what they say, their attitude, their taunts, you name it. Also, to how they fight. What do they look like when they fight? But also, what are the mechanics? What type of playstyle is it?’ revealed Rivera.

With so many champions in League of Legends, choosing which character comes next to 2XKO has been a well-thought out task for the team, especially as it is not just about the popularity of the champion but also how they interact in 2XKO while staying true to their origins.

‘There are some things a person might like from a champion in the MOBA. Maybe an attack they use or maybe a voice line or how they move. But a lot of times those skills in the MOBA are designed for the MOBA. We don’t desire a lot of CC in our game where characters are just getting stunned left and right and can’t really move. So we have to be really careful in picking and choosing how we incorporate those aspects of a character in 2XKO while still making it feel true to that champion but also elevating it,’ shared Rivera.

An example would be Blitzcrank, a champion already available in the closed-beta, and how the champion has evolved from what players are accustomed to in League of Legends.

“Blitzcrank has the rocket grab to pull you in, but also wouldn’t it be cool if Blitzcrank could grab the ceiling and swing like a wrecking ball? Or Blitzcrank can spin their arm and build steam because they’re a steam golem. And then you see the steam coming out and the electricity building up. Now all of a sudden their next attack is charged,’ Rivera said, referring to how they incorporated the champions skills from MOBA differently in the fighting game.

Looking to the future of 2XKO

As for esports, Rivera acknowledged the concerns of the fighting game community.

‘There was a little bit of a fear for the fighting game community when they heard that Riot Games was making a fighting game, they thought the fighting game community had built this from the ground up. It’s really the humans, the tournament organizers, the people running the events, the locals that have carried it this far on their backs. It would be a disservice to do anything that could harm that because that’s special,’ said Rivera.

The answer is 2XKO’s First Impact Program.

‘We just announced for our early access the first impact program which is 22 tournaments for the rest of this year. We’re adding a pot bonus to it. If you win as a duo player, a duo team, you get a little additional bonus as well,’ shared Rivera.

With 2XKO’s early access this month, the game’s participation in the 2025 Tokyo Game has been a highlight for the team.

‘This is definitely a huge event for us. It’s the first time Riot Games has ever been at Tokyo Game Show. The history of fighting games starts in Japan. Paying respect to that history is something we’re super stoked to be able to do. To be able to do it here at Tokyo Game Show, it’s insane how big this is. You can feel the love, and us being able to share just a small part of what we’re doing with people that love video games in general, especially fighting game players, has been unbelievable,’ shared Rivera.

2XKO’s early access is now available on PC via the game’s official website. The game will also be released on consoles in the near future.

A new study has warned that 15% to 30% of the Philippines’ land-dwelling vertebrates could vanish, with amphibians and mammals facing the highest risk of extinction.

In a study published in the October issue of Science of the Total Environment journal, researchers from the University of Southern Mindanao found that species endemic to the Philippines – those found nowhere else on Earth – are under severe threat due to rapid habitat loss, overexploitation and lack of research attention.

From deforestation, logging, infrastructure development, to illegal wildlife trade, conditions for animal habitat have been on decline in the Philippines, a country that hosts roughly three-fifths of vertebrate species that are “endemic,” or those found nowhere else on Earth.

Yet, the researchers stressed that much of the country’s wildlife remains understudied-very concerning for a country known to be one of the world’s 17 “megadiverse” nations in need of strong conservation measures.

What they did. The researchers analyzed the ‘life-history traits’ of different species interact with external pressures affecting their survival, based on the International Union for Conversation of Nature’s Red List, which classifies species around the world according to their risk of extinction.

Life-history traits describe the full life cycle of a species, encompassing growth, development, reproduction and death, with specific traits emerging at each stage. It is also linked to a species’ fitness or ability to adapt. They compared these factors with existing data on extinction risk patterns.

1 in 4 could face extinction

The the study found that about one in four species could face extinction if current threats persist. Amphibians had the highest level of endemism and extinction risk. About 24% of the 114 amphibian species assessed were considered vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. Mammals followed closely at 23%.

Habitat loss and overexploitation to blame. The study also discovered habitat alteration and overexploitation as two of the major threats to Philippine terrestrial vertebrates, with species heavily affected by the destruction of their habitats. The Philippines currently records the highest deforestation rate in Southeast Asia.

Amphibians were also considered the most vulnerable to habitat loss, with about 87% in the Philippines severely impacted. Many are habitat specialists found only in mountain ranges and islands, making them more exposed to invasive species that compete for food and disrupt ecological balance.

About 87% of amphibians are severely affected by habitat loss, particularly those only found in isolated mountain ranges and islands. There, they are more exposed to invasive species that compete for food and disrupt ecological balance.

Birds, while more adaptable due their ability to migrate or move across areas, are not spared, as 37% remain affected by deforestation and urban expansion.

The study found that habitat breadth, or the the range of environments a species can survive in, was the most consistent predictor of extinction risk. Species that can only live in limited habitats, such as the Philippine tarsiers in Bohol or the critically endangered Cebu flowerpecker, suffer the most.

Animals for sale. On top of habitat loss, reptiles and mammals face the greatest pressure from hunting and illegal wildlife trade, especially species that are more exotic, since rarity increases their commercial value.

The researchers said this is ‘likely related to the fact that most species have narrow habitat breadths, greater exposure to habitat alterations, direct threats, and rapid environmental changes.’

Larger animals, smaller chances. Body size was another factor correlated with extinction risk. Larger mammals face greater danger because they reproduce more slowly and require larger territories and food resources – traits that make them less resilient to human encroachment.

The researchers said this supports the hypothesis that body mass, combined with habitat loss, increases vulnerability.

Understudied species left behind

Narrowly endemic species with small population sizes that are mostly under represented in studies are likely to face greater risk of extinction and be less prioritized for conservation.

Research efforts, for example, have focused on megafauna such as the Philippine eagle, Philippine crocodile and Tamaraw, leaving equally threatened but lesser-known animals overlooked.

At least 37% of species in the Philippines can already be found in protected areas but are still classified as “data deficient,” the studied found.

What’s needed to address the crisis? The researchers stressed that it will require stronger enforcement of environmental laws, expansion of protected areas as well as research on lesser-known species.

‘Without urgent coordinated action informed by studies… the Philippines risks losing its irreplaceable biodiversity, particularly its unique and rare species,’ they wrote.

The study was conducted by Krizler Tanalgo, Kier Dela Cruz, Angelo Agduma, Asraf Lidasan, Janine Edradan, Ryza Dumayas, Jeanrose Alagdon, Berfelyn Daniela Villaruz, and Glydel Kaye Gatoc.