Day: October 7, 2025

Manila: The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), on Tuesday asserted its ‘incontrovertible’ sovereignty over the Spratlys (Kalayaan Island Group) and the Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) in the West Philippine Sea as it again criticized misinformation circulating over the features. According to Philippines News Agency, the DFA emphasized that certain states have been alluding to misconceptions about the extent of Philippine territory. The agency clarified that the Philippines’ sovereignty over its archipelago and other territories, including Bajo de Masinloc and the high-tide features of the Kalayaan Island Group, is firmly grounded in international law, legal principles,

Bogo: The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday expressed readiness to ensure the safety and security of communities located near the Bogo Bay Fault in northern Cebu following a recommendation from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to avoid building any permanent structure within a five-meter radius from either side of the fault trace. According to Philippines News Agency, the five-meter zone of avoidance refers to a safety zone meant to prevent construction and settlement directly on or too close to the fault line, which could move or rupture during an earthquake. In a statement, PNP acting chief

Manila: Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Tuesday urged Congress to increase by nearly half the coverage of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to 4.2 million agricultural workers from the current 2.3 million farmers. In a statement, the agri chief emphasized that the move will strengthen efforts to achieve food security and resilience by providing local farmers with a ‘safety net’ against rising production costs and unpredictable weather patterns. According to Philippines News Agency, Tiu Laurel noted that the proposed PHP4.5 billion fund for the PCIC’s subsidy in 2026 remains stagnant, which may ‘undermine’ the government’s capacity to

Sarangani: A magnitude 5 earthquake hit Sarangani, Davao Occidental on Tuesday afternoon, as reported by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). The tectonic quake occurred 118 kilometers southeast of Sarangani Island at approximately 12:13 p.m. and had a depth of 10 kilometers. According to Philippines News Agency, the quake was felt at Intensity I in Alabel, Sarangani. Phivolcs indicated that while aftershocks are likely, there is no expected damage from the earthquake.

Manila: The Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC) has issued an urgent advisory informing the public and healthcare facilities in the region that it has exceeded its authorized bed capacity. As of Oct. 5, the region’s only hospital designed to treat level 3 cases has a 125 percent occupancy in hospital beds. The hospital’s emergency room (ER), meanwhile, is operating at 193-percent occupancy. The ER’s bed capacity is only 60, but the hospital said it has been treating 120 to 130 patients at any given time. According to Philippines News Agency, “In light of this situation, EVMC advises that only level