(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Thursday, 17 July 2025) As of 3:00 AM today, the center of Tropical Depression “CRISING” was located at 530 km east of Juban, Sorsogon (13.0°N, 128.9°E). It has maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 70 km/h. It is moving west-northwest at 15 km/h. Tropical Depression Crising is currently affecting Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte, while the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) continues to affect the rest of Mindanao. Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms due to TD Crising. Flash floods or landslides are possible during moderate to at times heavy rainfall. Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and the rest of Caraga will have cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms caused by the Southwest Monsoon. The rest of Mindanao will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms, also due to the Southwest Monsoon. Winds will be moderate from the southwest to west, with moderate seas (wave height: 1.2 to 2.5 meters).


TOP STORIES - Wednesday, January 18, 2023

TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online news monitoring)

18 January 2023, Wednesday, as of 5PM

1. Bilibid case update

-Bantag’s plea to inhibit DOJ prosecutors from probing 2 murder charges denied

-DOJ’s panel of prosecutors resumes Jan. 24 probe on deaths of Percy Lapid, Bilibid inmate

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

https://mb.com.ph/2023/01/18/bantags-plea-to-inhibit-doj-prosecutorsfrom-probing-2-murder-charges-denied/

2. Quake

-Magnitude 7.3 quake rocks Sarangani and Davao Occidental; Magnitude 4.7 quake hits Camarines Norte — Phivolcs

-Phivolcs: No tsunami threat to Philippines from strong Indonesia quake

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

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/scitech/science/857818/magnitude-7-3-quake-jolts-davao-occi9dental-phivolcs/story/?just_in

3. Marcos’ WEF meeting

-Palace: Blair says Marcos' attendance in World Economic Forum sends a good signal

-Mark Villar says Maharlika fund generated interest at 2023 World Economic Forum 

-IMF head says PH an ‘exceptionally well-performing’ country amid turbulence

-Ex-UK PM Tony Blair interested in supporting PH railway projects — DOTr chief Bautista

-Philippines, US hold strategic dialogue on alliance this week

[Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, GMA News, Philstar]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/857808/palace-blair-says-marcos-attendance-in-world-economic-forum-sends-a-good-signal/story/?just_in

4. Senators question 1995 law requiring all locally-produced salt to be iodized; Seek development, revitalization of ‘diminishing’ PH salt industry

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

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/857812/senators-question-1995-law-requiring-all-locally-produced-salt-to-be-iodized

 

5. Onion supply and other commodities

-Customs denies conspiring with smugglers, DA amid onion crisis 

-Struggling to boost production, DA intensifies anti-smuggling fight

-DTI still finalizing updated SRPs of basic goods

-'Poor planning' of agri dept led to onion crisis – Dar

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

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/1/18/Customs-denies-conspiring-with-smugglers-DA-amid-onion-crisis.html

6. DA okay with smuggled sugar sold at Kadiwa stores

-BOC: Over P24 billion worth of smuggled goods seized in 2022

-Villar irked by DENR exec invoking Land Use Act during salt production discussion

-Farm gate price of eggs per tray in San Jose, Batangas, dubbed the egg basket of the Philippines

[DZBB, GMA News, Manila Times, CNN PHL, Inquirer, ABS-CBN News]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/857796/da-okay-with-smuggled-sugar-sold-at-kadiwa-stores

7. Abduction of Cebu activists update

-CHR condemns abduction of Cebu development workers, launches investigation

-Father of abducted Cebu activist fearing for family's safety

-House told to condemn, probe apparent abduction of Cebu activists

-German envoy urges probe of Cebu-based activists’ abduction

-Various activist groups protest for justice for death of Manny Asuncion and other activists at DOJ

[GMA News, Philstar, Manila Bulletin, Inquirer]

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/01/18/2238474/chr-condemns-abduction-cebu-development-workers-launches-investigation

8. Air traffic fiasco

-Independent body now handles investigation on CAAP’s airport fiasco

-CAAP engineer in charge of CNS/ATM system goes on leave amid air traffic fiasco probe

-CAAP eyes air traffic management system upgrade after New Year's day fiasco

-2 CAAP officials distance selves from NAIA crisis probe

-No OFW fired due to Jan 1 NAIA crisis, CAB tells House panel

 [CNN PHL, Manila Bulletin, Inquirer]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1718017/fwd-independent-body-now-handles-investigation-on-caaps-airport-fiasco

9. Hontiveros: Filipinos illegally recruited as crypto-scammers in Cambodia too

[GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/dispatch/857798/hontiveros-filipinos-illegally-recruited-as-crypto-scammers-in-cambodia-too/story/?just_in

© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit