Low pressure area enters PAR, may strengthen into first storm of 2025—PAGASA

 

(PHOTO: PAGASA FACEBOOK PAGE)

By Jel Santos

Published Jun 6, 2025 11:25 am

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Updated Jun 6, 2025 02:08 pm

A low pressure area (LPA) entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) early Friday morning, June 6, and may develop into the first tropical cyclone of 2025 within the next 24 hours, state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

“Nakapasok na po ng Philippine Area of Responsibility yung ating mino-monitor na low pressure area dito sa may Pacific Ocean as of 2 a.m. (The low pressure area we’ve been monitoring over the Pacific Ocean entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility as of 2 a.m.),” PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja reported.

As of 3 a.m., the agency said the system was spotted 945 kilometers east of the Visayas. 

Etareja noted that the chance of it intensifying into a tropical depression is now “moderate.”

“Base sa ating latest analysis po, kung kahapon ay mababa pa ‘yung tyansa na ito ay maging isang ganap na bagyo, ngayon ay moderate na po yung tyansa o katamtamang tyansa (Based on our latest analysis, if yesterday the chance of it becoming a full-fledged storm was low, today the chance is moderate),” he said.

Should the system develop into a tropical depression by Saturday or Sunday, it will be named “Auring”—the first named storm of both June and the year 2025.

Rain expected in multiple regions

Estareja said the LPA is expected to move closer to the Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas on Friday, and approach land by the weekend.

“So possible pang mabago ang scenario na nakikita natin for this weather disturbance pero ang sure tayo magpapaulan ito in many areas of Bicol Region, Visayas, and CARAGA Region (The scenario for this disturbance may still change, but what’s certain is that it will bring rain to many areas in the Bicol Region, Visayas, and CARAGA Region),” the weather specialist said.

He added that as the system moves closer to land, it will enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat, bringing rains not just to Luzon but also to western portions of the Visayas and Mindanao.

Monsoon rains in Metro Manila, Luzon

“Ngayong araw po, dahil sa epekto ng southwest monsoon at trough of the low pressure area, mataas ang tyansa ng ulan sa Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Bicol Region at MIMAROPA (Today, due to the effects of the southwest monsoon and the LPA’s trough, there is a high chance of rain in Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, and MIMAROPA),” Estareja said.

PAGASA said light to moderate rains, occasionally heavy, are expected especially in Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro, where residents are warned to be alert for possible flooding and landslides.

Meanwhile, the bureau said Northern and Central Luzon will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms.

“May tyansa pa rin po ng mga pulo-pulong pag-ulan at pagkidlat, paglukog dulot po iyan ng habagat at wala namang kinalaman sa low pressure area (There’s still a chance of isolated rain and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon, and these are not related to the low pressure area),” the weather specialist clarified.

Muslims celebrate Eid'l Adha in Zamboanga City

 

MUSLIMS gather at the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex in Zamboanga City for their congregational prayers in celebration of Eid’l Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice on June 6.  (City Hall PIO)

By Liza Jocson

Published Jun 6, 2025 03:04 pm

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Thousands of Muslim residents celebrated Eid’l Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice by participating in community prayers and visiting family and relatives here on Friday, June 6.

A big group trooped to the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex in the morning to participate in congregational prayers.

Similar gatherings were held in hundreds of mosques all over the city.

In his message, Mayor John Dalipe asked all Muslims to also honor the diverse traditions being celebrated in Zamboanga City as they mark this significant occasion in the Muslim religious calendar.

“May this occasion bring peace, prosperity, and unity to our beloved city,” Dalipe said.

Republic Act 9849 declares the 10th day of Zhul Hijja, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar, a national holiday for the observance of Eid’l Adha.

Siquijor under state of calamity due to power crisis

 

SIQUIJOR Gov. Jake Villa discusses the power crisis in the province during a press conference at the Provincial Capitol on Thursday, June 5. (Calvin Cordova)

By Calvin Cordova

Published Jun 5, 2025 08:20 pm

CEBU CITY — A state of calamity has been declared in Siquijor due to the power crisis that the province is currently experiencing.

Gov. Jake Villa announced that the declaration of state of calamity was unanimously approved during the regular session of the provincial board on Tuesday, June 3.

“We want the public to know, especially the Siquijodnons, that the challenge has become unbearable. We have been experiencing daily blackouts for almost a month already,” Villa said in a press conference at the Siquijor Provincial Capitol on Thursday, June 5.

Villa lamented that for the past month, the province has been experiencing blackouts from four to six hours a day.

He said among the reasons for the power supply problem in the province was the malfunctioning six generators of Siquijor Island Power Corp. (SIPCOR).

SIPCOR, the island’s power provider, is under the Prime Asia Venture Inc. (PAVI) and joined Siquijor in 2015 through a 20-year deal with the Province of Siquijor Electric Cooperative (Prosielco).

Villa said some generators need overhaul.

With some generators not functioning, the province is experiencing two megawatts short of their total demand of 9.4 megawatts of power supply.

These generators are diesel-operated, independent, and are not connected to the grid, which means that other provinces cannot augment their power deficits.

“We are off-grid, we are dependent on the generator itself,” Villa said.

With the declaration of the state of calamity, the province will be able to release calamity fund to address the power crisis

The province has a calamity fund of P14 million.

Villa explained that the immediate measure that the province could take following the state of calamity declaration is the rental of two generators from Cebu.

The province needs to shell out P2.8 million to rent to generators for two months.

The two generators have a capacity of two megawatts, enough to address the province’s power crisis, said Villa.

The governor’s press briefing was interrupted by a blackout.

Prosielco has purchased a generator with a capacity of two megawatts from Palawan.

Villa said the state of calamity will be lifted once the power supply becomes stable.

As a long-term solution, Villa said Prosielco will conduct a competitive selection process by inviting more power players to the province.

A solar power plant is being constructed in the town of Maria that is expected to augment additional power supplies in the coming years.

Fortunately, Villa said, the province’s hospital is not affected by the power crisis as it has its own generator and solar panels.

Villa explained that the power crisis has to be addressed immediately as it might affect the province's economy, especially tourism.

Tourism has been a vital player in the province’s economy.

“Last year, our tourist arrivals hit 1.3 million,” Villa said. “If we lose our tourists because they are not satisfied with the services of the establishments, this would interrupt and disrupt our economy. It is tantamount to economic sabotage.”

Without elaborating further on economic sabotage, Villa said that the province is looking into the possibility of taking legal action against SIPCOR.

The power crisis may also affect the province’s peace and order situation, Villa said.

The governor said he is being unfairly blamed for the province’s unstable power supply.

“People are blaming me. In fact, I have been receiving threats through text messages because the power crisis is being blamed on me,” said Villa.

Unprotected sex, online porn, dating apps driving HIV cases among youth — DOH chief

 

By Jel Santos

The rise in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cases among young Filipinos is driven by high-risk sexual behavior, including unprotected sex, online pornography, and dating apps, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said Thursday, June 5.

As of the first quarter of 2025, the health department has recorded an average of 57 new HIV cases per day.

“Tumaas ang risky behavior. So, number one, easy access to pornography online; number two, mga dating apps; number three, hindi gumagamit ng protection, unprotected sex (Risky behavior has increased. First, easy access to online pornography; second, dating apps; third, lack of protection, unprotected sex),” Herbosa said during a media briefing, when asked about the reasons behind the rise in HIV cases.

Such behavior, he noted, makes testing and prevention more difficult, especially among adolescents.

Per Herbosa, the youngest reported HIV case is a 12-year-old child from Palawan who is already sexually active.

The DOH chief also raised concerns about the impact of social stigma on testing uptake.

“Napansin ko, tumataas iyong HIV kasi mataas pa rin ang stigma sa atin (I’ve noticed HIV cases are rising largely because of the stigma),” said Herbosa.

To improve access, he said the DOH has lowered the age of consent for HIV testing to 16. 

However, Herbosa pointed out that treatment still requires parental consent, which remains a barrier for minors who test positive.

“Ang problema, kailangan din namin ng parental consent ng start of treatment, so, that’s another legislation na kailangan namin (The problem is we still need parental consent to begin treatment, so that’s another law we n

According to Herbosa, addressing the rise in youth infections will require not just medical services, but legislative reforms, funding, and public education.

“Kita ninyo na to battle HIV ay kailangan ko ang legislation, kailangan ko ang funding, kailangan ko ng information campaign (You can see that to battle HIV, I need legislation, I need funding, and I need an information campaign),” he said.

Meanwhile, Herbosa emphasized that HIV is no longer a death sentence and can be managed like any chronic condition if diagnosed early and treated consistently.

“Hindi na po death sentence ang HIV sa panahon ngayon… Maintenance lang ang kailangan po, katapat niyan para na lang siyang high blood or diabetes (HIV is no longer a death sentence nowadays… It only requires maintenance, like hypertension or diabetes),” he noted.

The DOH chief said they have already intensified efforts to expand access to free anti-retroviral (ARV) medication and streamline patient services in public hospitals.