(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 09 July 2025) The Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) continues to affect Mindanao. FORECAST: The Zamboanga Peninsula will experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the Southwest Monsoon. These conditions may lead to possible flash floods or landslides, especially during moderate to occasionally heavy rainfall. The rest of Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms also influenced by the Southwest Monsoon. Winds will be light to moderate from the southwest, with slight to moderate seas (wave height between 0.6 to 2.1 meters).


TOP STORIES - Thursday, December 29, 2022

TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online news monitoring)

29 December 2022, Thursday, as of 5PM

1. DFA pre-departure briefing for President Bongbong Marcos’ state visit to China  

-Marcos to push through with China state visit despite COVID-19 surge

-Marcos to boost ‘durian diplomacy’ in China state visit

-PH expects P12-B grant from China for infra projects

[CNN PHL, GMA News, Inquirer, Philstar, ABS-CBN News, Rappler, Manila Bulletin]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/855770/marcos-to-push-through-with-china-state-visit-despite-covid-19-surge/story/?just_in


2. PH, China to ink deal to prevent 'miscommunications' in West Philippine Sea issue

[CNN PHL, ABS-CBN News, Philstar, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, GMA News, Bloomberg]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/855772/ph-china-to-ink-deal-to-prevent-miscommunications-in-west-philippine-sea-issue/story/?just_in


3. Marcos issues EO directing the continued suspension of e-sabong operations nationwide 

[GMA News, CNN PHL, Philstar, Business Mirror, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/855775/marcos-orders-continued-suspension-of-e-sabong-ops/story/?just_in


4. Richard Santos Clarin named as Games and Amusement Board chairperson – Malacanang

[CNN PHL, ABS-CBN News, Inquirer, GMA News, Philstar, Manila Bulletin]

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/29/22/marcos-names-new-games-and-amusement-board-chair


5. COVID-19 and vaccine update 

-DOH: Not yet time to impose strict rules on Chinese arrivals

-Philippine task force to discuss possible COVID curbs for travelers from China 

-US to impose China COVID testing as virus surge jangles global nerves

-Soaring China Covid cases increase risk of new variants — experts

-DOH: 94.45% of target population vaccinated vs. COVID-19

-Gov't moves to procure bivalent COVID jabs from Moderna, Pfizer

[Inquirer, GMA News, ABS-CBN New, Philstar, Manila Bulletin, Manila Times] ©PIA-PMU

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/29/22/doh-not-yet-time-for-strict-rules-on-chinese-travelers

 

6. PhilSA cautions against expected debris from a Chinese rocket launch

[Philstar, Rappler, CNN PHL, ABS-CBN News, Inquirer] ©PIA-PMU

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/12/29/2234050/philsa-cautions-against-expected-debris-chinese-rocket-launch


7. Inflation to settle within range of 7.8-8.6% - BSP

[Philstar, GMA News, Inquirer, ABS-CBN News] ©PIA-PMU

https://business.inquirer.net/380075/philippine-central-bank-sees-dec-annual-inflation-at-7-8-to-8-6


8. Fireworks related stories

-DOH reports 4 more cases of fireworks-related injuries; total now at 36

-DTI seizes non-certified, unauthorized Christmas lights, fireworks

-Mayor Olivarez orders barangays to designate firecracker zones

[CNN PHL, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin] https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/855778/doh-reports-4-more-cases-of-fireworks-related-injuries-total-now-at-36/story/?just_in


9. Onion price update 

-PH authorities to impose P250 per kilo 

-Hefty penalties await traders, retailers found violating SRP for onion

-DA: Price manipulation, smuggling possible causes of spike in red onion prices  

-Bong Go backs proposed Senate probe on onion price hikes; urges gov’t to intervene

[DZBB, CNN PHL, Manila Bulletin, ABS-CBN News, Inquirer] ©PIA-PMU

https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/12/29/22/ph-authorities-to-impose-p250-per-kilo-price-on-onions


10. Death toll from Christmas weekend floods jumps to 32; agri damage tops P200 M

-P18-M worth of relief assistance delivered to flood-hit areas — DSWD 

-House leaders provide P2M in cash aid to Misamis Occidental flood victims

[GMA News, Philstar, ABS-CBN News, Manila Bulletin, Inquirer] ©PIA-PMU

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1710112/fwd-death-toll-of-shear-line-induced-rains-continue-to-rise-casualties-now-at-32-ndrrmc


11. SIM card registration

-NTC: Over 3M SIM cards enrolled as of 2nd day of registration

-DICT: Almost 500 complaints received since start of SIM card registration period

- Set up kiosks for SIM registration amid 'confusion': Nancy Binay 

-NTC says 180-day period enough for users to register SIM cards 

[Philstar, GMA News, CNN PHL, Inquirer, ABS-CBN News] ©PIA-PMU 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/855756/ntc-over-3m-sim-cards-enrolled-as-of-2nd-day-of-registration/story/?just_in


12. Fire incidents 

-6 dead, 500 families displaced in Quiapo fire 

-10 family members killed in Muntinlupa fire laid to rest 

[CNN PHL, GMA News, Manila Bulletin, Inquirer, News5] ©PIA-PMU

https://twitter.com/inquirerdotnet/status/1608330309904502787

https://mb.com.ph/2022/12/29/4-hurt-500-families-displaced-in-quiapo-fire/


13. Some 533 new BuCor correction officers take oath

[Manila Bulletin, ABS-CBN News, GMA News] ©PIA-PMU

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/855773/bucor-hires-530-new-correction-officers/story/?just_in


13. LPA dissipates but rains to persist due to shear line — PAGASA 

[DZBB, Manila Bulletin, ABS-CBN News] ©PIA-PMU

https://mb.com.ph/2022/12/29/lpa-dissipates-but-rains-to-persist-due-to-shear-line-pagasa/


—Philippine Information Agency | PIA Monitoring Unit—