Prayer is best weapon vs. quake: Duterte
Following the series of earthquakes that struck some areas in Mindanao this month, President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said prayer would be everyone’s best weapon against a strong tremor.
Philippine News Agency

Duterte says he was sleeping when earthquake hit Davao City on Thursday
President Rodrigo Duterte said he was at home sleeping when a Magnitude 6.5 earthquake hit parts of Mindanao, including his hometown Davao City.
GMA News

Amid ‘earthquake season’, Duterte orders LGUs to inspect buildings
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered local governments across the country to start inspecting the structural integrity of buildings in their respective jurisdictions.
GMA News

Duterte attending ASEAN Summit in Thailand despite Mindanao quake
President Duterte decided to push through with his participation in the 35th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits in Bangkok, Thailand this week despite the 6.5-magnitude earthquake which rocked parts of Mindanao early Thursday.
Manila Bulletin

President safe, orders government agencies to ensure safety of people in quake hit areas
President Duterte has ordered concerned government agencies to ensure the safety and well-being of residents hit by another strong earthquake in southern parts of Mindanao.
Manila Bulletin

Cracks found in Duterte’s Davao residence; president safe following strong quake
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” T. Go assured the nation on Thursday that President Duterte is safe following a strong earthquake that hit Davao City and other parts of Mindanao.
Manila Bulletin

Duterte visits parents’ tomb ahead of Undas weekend
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday visited the final resting place of his parents in Davao City ahead of the nation’s observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day this weekend.
GMA News

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[ANALYSIS] Duterte to take over water distribution? That spells disaster
It’s like jumping off a frying pan and into the fire. Metro Manila’s water woes are back. Angat Dam’s water level has dropped again (Figure 1), prompting new rounds of water service interruptions last week.
Rappler

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Panelo: De Lima must be hallucinating
Malacañang said detained Senator Leila de Lima must have been hallucinating when she called for President Duterte to officially declare that he was unable to discharge his functions as Chief Executive to let Vice President Leni Robredo take over.
Manila Bulletin

Palace says people don’t take fight against corruption, illegal drugs seriously
If there is something wrong with President Duterte’s war against corruption and illegal drugs, it is the people who do not take them seriously, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
Manila Bulletin

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OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

OVP extends help to North Cotabato quake victims
The Office of Vice President Leni Robredo extended help to the affected families in the aftermath of the 6.6 magnitude earthquake which jolted Tulunan, North Cotabato on October 29.
Manila Bulletin

ELECTION RELATED

Carpio says his retirement means ‘one less vote’ for Robredo in poll protest
Though he "couldn't anticipate" how the sitting Supreme Court justices would decide, former justice Antonio Carpio said Thursday his retirement may mean a tougher time for Vice President Leni Robredo in former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr.'s election protest.
GMA News

DISASTER

Magnitude 6.5 earthquake rocks parts of Mindanao
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake rocked Central and Eastern Mindanao on Thursday, October 31, just two days after a strong tremor killed several people and hurt hundreds of others in the region.
Rappler, GMA News

FAST FACTS: The destructive earthquakes that hit Mindanao
In October 2019, the province of Cotabato suffered from 3 succeeding strong earthquakes: the first with magnitude 6.3 on October 16, the second with magnitude 6.6 on October 29, and the latest, just two days after on October 31, with magnitude 6.5.
Rappler

Death toll reaches 14 following two strong quakes in Mindanao
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has recorded 14 deaths, 403 persons injured, and two missing persons following the magnitude 6.6 and 6.5 earthquake which rocked parts of Mindanao on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively.
GMA News

LOOK: Buildings destroyed by magnitude 6.5 quake that struck parts of Mindanao
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake rocked Central and Eastern Mindanao on Thursday, October 31, leaving a trail of destruction in hard-hit areas. The earthquake, which was tectonic in origin, struck Tulunan, Cotabato, at 9:15 am. It was also felt in Kidapawan City; Bansalan, Davao del Sur; and Matanao, Davao del Sur.
Rappler, Mindanews

LOOK: Davao City condo damaged by strong earthquake
At least 9 people were hurt when a magnitude 6.5 earthquake – the second strong tremor to affect this city in just 3 days – caused more damage to a 5-story condominium on Thursday, October 31.
Rappler

Collapsed condo in Davao advised for condemnation: Mayor Sara
Administrators of the Ecoland Residences 4000 Condominium in Talomo here, were advised to vacate the building right before the 6.5 magnitude earthquake that hit the city on Thursday morning.
Philippine News Agency, GMA News

Village chief killed by falling debris in Cotabato
A village chief in Makilala town, Cotabato, died after being hit by falling debris as another strong earthquake rocked the province and other parts of Mindanao on Thursday, October 31.
Rappler, GMA News

Bato dela Rosa says Mindanao quake was like a prelude to a big explosion
This was how Senator Ronald dela Rosa described the magnitude 6.5 earthquake that hit parts of Mindanao Thursday morning. Dela Rosa said he was at their house in Bato, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur talking with his mother when they felt the tremor.
GMA News

Hundreds stranded after landslide hits Mt. Apo
A landslide struck Mount Apo following a 6.5-magnitude quake that rocked southern Mindanao Thursday, leaving hundreds of workers and residents trapped, a local official said. Jorie Mae Balmediano, spokesperson of the Office of Civil Defense-Soccsksargen, said no one was injured, but the landslide blocked a road in Sitio Tayaban, Barangay Ilomavis in Kidapawan City, Cotabato.
ABS-CBN News, Mindanews

Mt. Apo is shaken, Lumads evacuate
Eight months pregnant, Angel Dumantay, 24, was in her house in Sitio Sudsuhayan (or Purok 6-A) in Ilomavis, a hinterland barangay at the foot of Mt. Apo, when the ground started shaking.
Mindanews

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Mt. Apo is stable: Phivolcs
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) clarified that Mount Apo is still in normal condition following the 6.5 magnitude tremor on Thursday.
Philippine News Agency

Fault movements caused Mindanao quakes not volcanoes: Phivolcs
There is no basis to rumors that the series of quakes felt in parts of Mindanao were caused by any volcanic activities, an official of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said on Thursday.
Philippine News Agency, GMA News

Raise level of preparedness: Phivolcs
With the series of strong quakes that struck parts of Mindanao in a span of two weeks this month, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) urges the public to be ready and prepared for such calamities.
Philippine News Agency

PHIVOLCS searches for ‘hidden fault,’ says more quakes of similar strength possible in Mindanao
The southern Philippine island of Mindanao could possibly experience more earthquakes of similar magnitude until the end of the year, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
GMA News, ABS-CBN News

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Tulunan officials seek help for earthquake victims
Officials of Tulunan town are seeking funds and more relief goods for earthquake victims, after another strong tremor struck the town on Thursday, October 31.
Rappler, GMA News

Davao del Sur residents traumatized by earthquakes, aftershocks
Lala Enanoria, a resident of Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, has had barely any sleep since a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck parts of Mindanao on October 16, followed by an even stronger tremor two weeks later, which brought death and destruction to her town.
Rappler

Malacañang orders quake relief efforts
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered a massive relief assistance effort for communities hit by the latest powerful earthquake in Mindanao, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Thursday.
Manila Bulletin

DOH emergency, rapid assessment teams ready to mobilize
The Department of Health (DOH) expressed readiness to assist individuals affected during a series of earthquakes that struck Mindanao.
Manila Bulletin

DSWD delivers more relief aid to quake victims in Soccsksargen
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has delivered additional relief supplies for more than 3,000 residents of Region 12 (Soccsksargen) affected by the strong earthquake on Tuesday.
Philippine News Agency

PPA, PCG provide swift assistance after Mindanao quake
Following the magnitude 6.5 earthquake that hit several parts of Mindanao Thursday morning, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), both attached agencies of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), immediately mobilized to aid affected citizens.
Philippine News Agency

CBCP appeals for help for Cotabato earthquake victims
The head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has issued an urgent appeal for help for the earthquake victims in the Diocese of Kidapawan in Cotabato.
Manila Bulletin

Mayor Duterte asks for aid, relief to be directed to Davao del Sur, North Cotabato
Hugpong ng Pagbabago chairperson and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte welcomed the offer of relief goods and contributions for the earthquake victims in her city but would rather direct the assistance to people of Davao del Sur and North Cotabato.
Manila Bulletin

#MindanaoQuake 2019: How you can help
Three powerful earthquakes have struck parts of Mindanao within a month, sending many residents in Cotabato province in a "state of panic" .
ABS-CBN News

Emergency jobs readied for quake-hit workers
IN THE wake of the earthquake swarm that hit Mindanao, the Department of Labor and Employment is preparing to offer emergency employment assistance to displaced workers. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said they are allocating an estimated P100 million for the assistance to affected workers.
Sunstar Manila

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DENR advises LGUs to revisit geohazard maps; orders MGB to fast track updates
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has called on local government units (LGUs) nationwide to revisit the geological hazard maps distributed by the national government and use them as a guide for disaster preparedness and management.
Manila Bulletin

DepEd orders weekly disaster drills in Soccsksargen schools
An official of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Region 12 (Soccksargen) directed all public and private schools in the region to conduct weekly earthquake and other disaster-related drills after two powerful earthquakes jolted the area this week.
Philippine News Agency

Andanar: National gov’t on top of quake situation
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar assured that the national government was on top of the situation following the series of earthquakes which rocked Mindanao this October.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine News Agency

Pimentel urges gov’t agencies to aid quake-stricken Mindanao
Senator Aquilino Pimentel III on Thursday called on all government agencies to come to the aid of earthquake-stricken Mindanao.
Manila Bulletin

Japanese gov’t conveys sympathies to Mindanao quake victims
The Japanese government has conveyed its sincerest condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims and those who were affected by the series of earthquakes that jolted Mindanao over the past several days.
Manila Bulletin, GMA News

Japan, US send sympathies to Mindanao-quake victims
The Japanese and the United States embassies in Manila on Wednesday extended sympathies to the Philippines, particularly the victims of the earthquakes that hit Mindanao on Tuesday.
Philippine News Agency

MINDANAO

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

‘I lost a lot of friends,’ says Carpio on SC stint
Retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said tongue-in-cheek that he may have lost “a lot of friends” during his stint in the Supreme Court (SC) because he has always been a stickler for evidence.
Manila Bulletin

Supreme Court stops order for PNB to deposit $4.4-M in Marcos ill-gotten wealth case
The Supreme Court has permanently stopped the Sandiganbayan from enforcing an order for the Lucio Tan-led Philippine National Bank (PNB) to remit to the government $4.4 million that is part of a still pending Marcos ill-gotten wealth case filed decades ago.
GMA News

Sereno ouster lowest point of the SC – Carpio
The ouster of former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno was the lowest point of the Supreme Court, according to retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio.
Manila Bulletin

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Senators vow to prioritize bill creating department for disaster resiliency
Senators expressed belief Thursday that it is now time to prioritize bills seeking to create a department for disaster resiliency and emergency management to strengthen the country’s disaster risk reduction and management efforts.
GMA News

Sotto pushes anew for public safety department in LGUs
Senate President Vicente Sotto III has renewed his proposal to create a Department of Public Safety in local government units for better disaster and emergency response and traffic management system.
Manila Bulletin

Angara bats for more social welfare attaches to help OFWs
Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara on Thursday urged the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to deploy more social welfare attaches to help overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in distress.
Manila Bulletin

House of Representatives

Bayan Muna refiles Evacuation Center bill amid Mindanao quakes
In light of the series of earthquakes that rocked several parts of Mindanao this month, a bill was refiled at the House of Representatives mandating the establishment of an evacuation center in every two to three contiguous barangays in the country.
GMA News

Stricter disposal of cadaver sought as author airs fears of burying criminal activities
The disposal of a human cadaver without the approval of a deceased person’s next of kin will be penalized under a bill filed by a neophyte Quezon City lawmaker.
Manila Bulletin

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION

Status of balikbayan boxes, parcels can now be monitored online
Claimants can now monitor their parcels and balikbayan boxes through a system launched by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) that tracks the status of the packages online.
Manila Bulletin

CTA clears controversial businessman Cedric Lee of tax evasion charges
Controversial businessman Cedric Lee was cleared anew of tax evasion by the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) for the failure of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to present the original copies of the income tax return (ITR) of his company during the trial.
Manila Bulletin

Three oil firms complies with Customs marking program
Three petroleum corporations in the Philippines had their products dosed with official fuel marker in support of the nationwide implementation of the government’s Fuel Marking Program, an official of the Bureau of Customs said Thursday.
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DILG rectifies NegOcc town’s ‘failed’ rating in clearing ops
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has corrected the “failed” rating initially given to the Municipality of Binalbagan in Negros Occidental on its compliance with the road clearing operations.
Philippine News Agency

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Joint DOJ-DILG panel set to conclude review of GCTA manual
The Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) are set to finish in two weeks the revision of the uniform manual on the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law.
Manila Bulletin

Congestion, lack of doctors blamed for NBP deaths
The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said that lack of medical staff and the current condition of the inmates at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) caused the national penitentiary to record the highest number of deaths among BuCor’s operating units, with at least 29 deaths being recorded just in October.
Manila Bulletin

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Armed Forces of the Philippines

PNPA cadet rushed to hospital after suspected hazing
A Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) cadet was rushed to the hospital on Tuesday due to stomach pains after undergoing suspected hazing, an academy official told reporters.
GMA News

Philippine National Police

PNP cleansing continues with 9,172 facing raps
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) stressed that internal cleansing in the Philippine National Police (PNP) will continue amid the controversy hounding the organization, stressing that 9,172 personnel are currently facing administrative raps.
Manila Bulletin

PNP reorganization continues
Brig. Gen. Rolando Anduyan has been named as the regional director of Northern Mindanao regional police in a minor revamp caused by the suspension of a police general over a graft case.
Manila Bulletin

IAS: 70% of police disciplinary recommendations ignored from 2015-2017
Authorities took no action on 70% of the recommendations for disciplinary measures pitched by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Internal Affairs Service (IAS) from 2015 to 2017.
GMA News

IAS a neglected office in PNP, says inspector general
The watchdog of the members of the Philipine National Police (PNP) has been neglected since its creation, PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS) chief Inspector General Manager Alfegar Triambulo has said.
GMA News

Only 28.25% of police lieutenant colonels pass Napolcom test
Only 76 or 28.25 percent of the 269 police lieutenant colonels passed the National Police Commission (Napolcom) Police Executive Service Eligibility (PESE) written examination conducted on August 25, 2019, it was learned on Thursday.
Manila Bulletin

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

Bangko Sentral sees even lower inflation for October
Cheaper petroleum and rice—two of the top drivers of inflation—is likely to restrain the consumer price index for October to an even slower pace versus the already low level reported in the previous month, according to the planners of the central bank.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

PH electronics exports at risk due to trade war
Philippine electronics exports are at significant risk of being harmed if China—the country’s top market—gets its consumer electronics slapped with tariffs next month in the ongoing US-China trade war, an Oxford-based research firm said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

Infra spending jumped 53.9% in September
Public spending on infrastructure climbed 53.9 percent to P100.3 billion in September, but nine-month expenditures on these capital-intensive projects remained below government target due to underspending at the beginning of the year.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

Sandiganbayan convicts ex-Navy Officials for malversation charges filed in 2006
The Sandiganbayan Second Division has convicted two former high-ranking Philippine Navy officers – Rear Admiral Constancio Jardiniano, Jr. and Lieutenant Commander Manuel Gimena – of their malversation charge in relation to the misappropriation of public funds belonging to the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) back in 2006.
Manila Bulletin

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

West Philippine Sea

Retiree Carpio wants to convince PRRD, 7 percent of Filipinos to assert arbitral ruling on WPS
Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said he wants to convince President Rodrigo Duterte to assert the arbitral ruling of the West Philippine Sea.
Manila Bulletin

LABOR

TRANSPORTATION

Dalian train dry run extended until Nov.
The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) on Thursday announced the extension of the trial period of the rail line’s first Dalian train set to allow further observation of its performance.
Philippine News Agency

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Waze’s review of Manila’s traffic condition ‘a waste’: Palace
It was a “waste” for traffic navigation application Waze to assess Metro Manila as the world’s “worst city” for motorists, Malacañang said on Wednesday.
Philippine News Agency

HEALTH

Duque wants national government control over health services in poor LGUs
Returning to the national government control over health care in poor local government units (LGUs) could address the “patchy” implementation of certain programs, according to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.
Rappler

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DOH: Sin tax proposal on salty products needs further discussion
The Department of Health (DOH) said its proposal to impose an additional tax on salty products still needs further discussion with other government agencies and stakeholders.
Manila Bulletin

Bayan Muna to DOH: Why resurrect the Asin Tax?
Imposing taxes on food with high salt content would be detrimental to poor Filipinos as it will only jack up the prices of commodities they consume most of the time, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate said Thursday.
GMA News

Senators slam DOH over proposal to raise taxes on salty products
Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday hit the Department of Health (DOH) for proposing the imposition of additional taxes on salty products.
Manila Bulletin

‘Asin’ tax anti-poor, inflationary, highly regressive – House leaders
Congressmen are not taking the proposal of the Department of Health (DOH) to impose “sin taxes” on salty products with a grain of salt, branding it as anti-poor, inflationary, and highly regressive.
Manila Bulletin

KMU hits DOH for proposal to tax salty foods, including daing
Labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) on Thursday slammed the Department of Health (DOH) for looking into a proposal to impose taxes on salty foods, claiming that the department was using health as a justification for the measure.
GMA News

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TB drug price slashed in global push to thwart killer disease
French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi slashed the price of a key anti-tuberculosis drug on Thursday, boosting the battle against the world's deadliest disease alongside the US launch of tests for a new treatment.
Rappler

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Go to fight proposed cut of DOH budget
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Thursday said that he would continue to fight the proposed cut of the 2020 P160.15 billion budget of the Department of Health (DOH) which was P9.3 billion lower than the current 2019 budget.
Manila Bulletin

P30M donated to PGH as Mayor Isko, companies chip in for cancer patients
A total of P30 million has been donated to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) by personalities led by Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno for the sake of children with cancer and patients of liver ailments.
Manila Bulletin

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

DA, Landbank distribute loan aid to Pangasinan farmers
Some 1,497 rice farmers from different municipalities of Pangasinan have received their cash cards containing PHP15,000 loan through the Survival and Recovery Assistance (SURE Aid) program of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Land Bank of the Philippines, and the Agricultural Credit Policy Council.
Philippine News Agency

No ‘Undas’ break for NFA palay procurement
The National Food Authority (NFA) will continue its palay procurement operations during the All Saints’ Day weekend to accommodate farmers who want to sell their crop.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

EDUCATION

PH Gov’t, German uni sign agreement for the creation of Phil Studies program
Ruhr University Bochum (RUB), known as one of the largest and leading universities in Germany, has signed an agreement with the Philippine government for the creation of a Philippine studies program and the promotion of Philippine culture.
Manila Bulletin

CHED continues to review, change policies in higher education
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman J. Prospero De Vera III directed the review and revision of some of the policies of the commission in order to keep pace with the recent changes and trends in higher education landscape.
Manila Bulletin

ENERGY

Power co-ops trim system losses in first 6 months
Electric cooperatives under the supervision of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) were able to pare down their system losses or unbilled electricity during the first half of 2019.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

POVERTY

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

HOUSING

TOURISM

DoT partners with ADB for sustainable tourism development
IN preparing a tourism development program that will ensure sustainable and livable environment for El Nido and Coron, two fast-growing destinations in Palawan province known for their pristine natural beauty and diverse marine life the Department of Tourism (DoT) partners with the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The Manila Times

[ANALYSIS] ASEAN tourism message for China: Welcome, but diversify!
"It's more Chinese in the Philippines" might – or might not – be a universally welcomed goal of the Philippine Department of Tourism given the ebb and flow, and the positive and negative consequences, of large numbers of tourists from China in Southeast Asia.
Rappler

Bill to declare Polillo islands, Mauban as tourism zones
Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga has proposed to declare the Polillo Group of Islands and the municipality of Mauban, Quezon as national tourism zones.
Manila Bulletin

Boracay Beach Inspires New, Foreign-Invested Tourism Zones In The Philippines
The Philippine government is taking a lesson from the rehabilitation of Boracay that shut down the island paradise for six months last year. Now, the clean and safe state of its famous white-sand beaches is being cited as the inspiration behind government efforts to promote a slate of other master-planned zones for tourism development.
Forbes

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

[OPINION] If you're tired and weary of the fight against climate change, read this
Last September was the most hopeful I’ve felt in a long, long time. The month didn’t start out that way though. Both the United Nations General Assembly and the UN Climate Change Summit had descended upon New York, where this Filipina now lives. 
Rappler

Asia vulnerable to rising sea levels
New research published Tuesday finds that previous projections for the number of people who will be impacted by sea level rise have been too optimistic.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Water crisis

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

Facebook profit climbs along with user base
Facebook on Wednesday, October 30, reported that its quarterly profit grew along with its user base as it grapples with concerns ranging from political ads to cryptocurrency.
Rappler

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR