Month: November 2025
Super Typhoon Uwan seen from space as it barrels toward northern Luzon
MANILA, Philippines (November 9) – Satellite images from Japan’s Himawari-8 weather satellite show Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-Wong) rapidly intensifying over the Philippine Sea, its massive cloud cover now spanning the entire Luzon landmass and much of the Visayas. At 11 a.m. on Sunday, November 9, PAGASA said Uwan’s eye was located 320 kilometers east
BIR Officer Shot Dead in Ipil; Killing Follows Slay of Two Security Guards at Same Office
Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay — A Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) employee was shot dead on the spot by motorcycle-riding assailants on the night of November 7, 2025, just three days after two security guards assigned to the same office were also killed by still unidentified suspects. The latest victim was identified as Ian Jude Soriano
UP expert: Forests loss worsens floods — a warning Mindanao can no longer ignore
IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay – The massive flooding that struck Cebu during Typhoon Tino serves as a stark warning for Mindanao, where hills and forests are vanishing fast in the name of “development.” According to Dr. Mahar Lagmay, executive director of the University of the Philippines (UP) Resilience Institute, the country’s worsening floods can no longer
Zamboanga Sibugay rolls out unified radio network to boost security, emergency coordination
IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay – The provincial government has launched a Unified and Centralized Radio Communication System, a province-wide network designed to enhance coordination among security, law enforcement, and emergency response agencies. The new system links the military, police, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, disaster response units, and barangay offices under one communication platform,
Explainer | Is Typhoon Fung-Wong (Uwan) Really Bigger Than the Philippines? Here’s the Science Behind the Claim
In the swirl of social media posts about Typhoon Fung-Wong — locally known as Uwan — one claim stands out and spreads quickly: that the storm is “bigger than the Philippines.” At first glance, the satellite images seem to confirm it. The circular mass of clouds appears to engulf nearly the entire archipelago. But is
Five Bangsamoro governors back Chief Minister Macacua’s leadership amid postponed BARMM polls
COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Efforts to promote political unity in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) gained momentum after the region’s five governors signed a manifesto of support recognizing the leadership of Chief Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua. Macacua, who has been overseeing BARMM’s ministries and support agencies since his appointment by President
Death toll from Typhoon Kalmaegi rises to 114; corruption in flood-control projects blamed for devastation
MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Kalmaegi, the deadliest storm to hit the Philippines this year, has claimed at least 114 lives and left 127 others missing after triggering massive floods and landslides across Cebu and nearby provinces, authorities reported on Friday, November 7. The typhoon’s torrential rains inundated entire communities, washed away bridges, and displaced tens
Report: Asia leads global renewables growth but remains world’s coal hub
MANILA, Philippines – Asia is emerging as the world’s fastest-growing region for renewable energy, but it remains heavily dependent on coal, underscoring the complexity of its energy transition, according to a new report by Energy Tracker Asia released on December 19, 2024. The report, titled The State of Asia’s Energy Transition and the Outlook for
PAGASA monitors potential super typhoon outside PAR
ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY, Philippines – State weather forecasters are closely monitoring a developing tropical system outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), which may enter the country’s jurisdiction by the weekend and could intensify into a typhoon — or possibly a super typhoon. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Thursday, November
Navy, police seize ₱41M smuggled cigarettes off Basilan, Zamboanga City
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Authorities seized more than ₱41 million worth of undocumented foreign-brand cigarettes in separate maritime operations off Basilan and Zamboanga City on Sunday, November 2, in what officials described as part of their continuing campaign against smuggling in Western Mindanao waters. Rear Admiral Constancio Arturo Reyes Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Naval
Zamboanga Sibugay cops nab suspect, seize high-powered firearm in Ipil checkpoint
IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay — Police arrested a man and seized a high-powered firearm during a joint checkpoint operation in Barangay Tiayon, Ipil, early Thursday, November 6, authorities said. The operation, led by the Zamboanga Sibugay Police Provincial Office (ZSBPPO) under Provincial Director Colonel Barnard Danie Dasugo, was conducted in coordination with the Ipil Municipal Police
Investor confidence rises as Cotabato City records major decline in crime
COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Local business leaders are upbeat about Cotabato City’s improving investment climate as crime rates continue to fall under Mayor Bruce Matabalao’s administration. In his State of the City Address (SOCA) on Tuesday, November 4, Matabalao said the city recorded only 21 crime incidents across its barangays in the past 12 months—almost
