Philippines

A House Vanished Into the River Before Their Eyes—Now More Pampanga Families Face the Same Threat

LUBAO, PAMPANGA, Philippines — What began as another day of relentless monsoon rains turned into a nightmare for families living near a river in Lubao, Pampanga, as powerful currents tore away at the riverbank and sent homes collapsing into the raging water. At least five houses were destroyed, forcing 30 families, or 107 residents, to evacuate, according to a report aired by GMA News on Saturday. The disaster unfolded as the riverbank continued to erode, leaving nearby homes dangerously expose

August 30, 2026

Philippines

Marikina River Breaches Critical 18-Meter Mark—What Happened Next Has Residents on Alert

MARIKINA CITY, Philippines — The Marikina River breached the critical 18-meter mark late Saturday night, August 29, prompting authorities to raise the third and highest alarm level as relentless rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon, or Habagat, continued to batter Metro Manila and nearby areas. The river's water level reached 18.4 meters at 11:35 p.m., after first crossing the 18-meter threshold at around 10:29 p.m., according to data cited by GMA News and the Marikina City government. The t

August 30, 2026

Philippines

Baby Rescued in a Bucket as Habagat Floods Rise in Cavite—Then a Sinkhole Deepens in Tarlac

MANILA, Philippines — As relentless rains from the Southwest Monsoon, locally known as Habagat, battered parts of Luzon, a dramatic rescue in Cavite captured the urgency of the unfolding weather crisis: a young child was brought to safety using a bucket after floodwaters rose too quickly for rescuers to bring in a boat. The rescue happened in Barangay Niog, Bacoor, Cavite, where residents along First Street in Sto. Niño, Purok III were forced to evacuate as floodwaters rapidly climbed. Accordin

August 30, 2026

Philippines

Baha Na Naman? Speaker Dy Nagbabala: Hindi Lang Flood Control ang Sagot—May Mahalagang Dapat Iligtas sa Sierra Madre

MANILA, Philippines — Habang muling kinakaharap ng ilang bahagi ng bansa ang banta ng matinding pag-ulan at pagbaha, iginiit ni House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III na hindi sapat ang pagtatayo lamang ng mga flood-control project upang maprotektahan ang mga komunidad. Ayon kay Dy, kailangang sabayan ng pangangalaga sa mga kagubatan, watershed at iba pang natural ecosystem ang mga proyektong pang-imprastraktura—at kabilang sa pinakamahalagang dapat bantayan ang Sierra Madre Mountain Range, ang

August 30, 2026

Philippines

₱11.49M Penalty After Deadly Pampanga Building Collapse—But the Violations Found Raise Even Bigger Questions

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga — The contractor and owner linked to the devastating collapse of a nine-story building in Angeles City are facing ₱11.49 million in unpaid workers’ benefits and occupational safety and health fines, after the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) upheld their liability in a resolution issued this month. The decision comes months after the tragedy that claimed at least 30 lives, turning the construction disaster into one of the country's most serious workplace tragedie

August 29, 2026

Philippines

The Storm Hasn’t Arrived Yet—But LGUs Are Being Told to Act Now Before It’s Too Late

MANILA, Philippines — The most important decisions during a disaster may be the ones made before the first warning siren sounds. As the Philippines continues to experience the effects of the southwest monsoon, or Habagat, and remains vulnerable to tropical cyclones, local government units (LGUs) are being urged to strengthen preparations before heavy rains, flooding, landslides, and powerful storms put communities in danger. The message is increasingly clear: disaster response should not begin

August 29, 2026

Philippines

Iloilo Rolls Out Job Fairs, Health Drives and Government Help Desks for Civil Service Month 2026

ILOILO, Philippines — Looking for a job, government assistance or free health-related services? September could bring a series of opportunities for Ilonggos as the Iloilo Provincial Government rolls out a month-long lineup of activities for the 126th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary. The celebration goes beyond activities for government workers, with programs designed to reach the wider public—including job fairs, health and wellness campaigns, animal health services and government assistan

August 29, 2026

Philippines

AFP Raises Alarm Over Raided Steel Plant, Cites Possible Entry Point for Undocumented Chinese Nationals

MANILA, Philippines — A steel plant in Misamis Oriental that was raided by Philippine authorities earlier this year may have been used as a possible entry point for undocumented Chinese nationals, according to an Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) official, raising fresh questions about immigration enforcement and national security in the strategically sensitive area. AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Rear Admiral Roy Trinidad, said authorities are looking into the possibility th

August 29, 2026

Philippines

Capiz Moves to Give PDEA a Permanent Home—What Could It Mean for the Province’s Drug War?

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — The Capiz provincial government is moving to strengthen its partnership with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as Governor Fredenil H. Castro and agency officials discuss plans to identify a site for a permanent PDEA provincial office—a development that could further boost coordination in the province’s continuing campaign against illegal drugs. The meeting was held on August 28, 2026, at the Office of the Governor at the Capiz Provincial Capitol, where officials

August 29, 2026

Philippines

Capiz Builds New Water Lifelines in Its Barangays—But Why Is Constant Monitoring So Crucial?

CAPIZ, Philippines — Small water impounding systems may not be as large as major dams, but for communities facing changing weather conditions and growing pressure on water resources, they can play an important role in capturing and conserving water. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Capiz has intensified its field monitoring and inspection of Small Water Impounding Systems (SWIS) constructed in several barangays across the province, as authorities work to ensure that

August 29, 2026