(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Monday, 15 September 2025) Easterlies continue to affect Mindanao. Severe Tropical Storm TAPAH (formerly “Lannie”) – Outside PAR as of 3:00 AM today Location: 910 km west of Extreme Northern Luzon (20.8°N, 113.1°E) Maximum Sustained Winds: 95 km/h near the center Gustiness: Up to 115 km/h Movement: North-northwestward at 15 km/h 🔹 Forecast: CARAGA Region: Cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms due to Easterlies. Moderate to heavy rains may cause flash floods and landslides in some areas. Rest of Mindanao: Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms also due to Easterlies. Winds and Seas: Light to moderate winds from the east to northeast. Coastal waters will be slight to moderate (wave heights: 0.6 – 1.5 meters).


TOP STORIES – Tuesday, February 21, 2023

TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online news monitoring)

21 February 2023, Tuesday, as of 5PM

1. Recent appointees:

-Marcos picks Isidro Purisima as acting peace adviser

-Wilben Mayor named presidential assistant under OPAPRU

-Ex-human rights chair appointed as chair of Amnesty Commission

-Marcos OKs more government appointees

[Inquirer, GMA News, ABS-CBN News, News5]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/861528/marcos-names-isidro-purisima-as-acting-presidential-peace-reconciliation-and-unity-adviser/story/?just_in

2. COVID vaccine procurement:

-COVID-19 vaccines from other countries donated with no strings attached —Dizon

-More than 40M expired vaccines as of December 2 —DOH

[Philstar, ABS-CBN News, CNN PHL, GMA News]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/861519/covid-19-vaccines-from-other-countries-donated-with-no-strings-attached-ex-tf-exec-dizon/story/

3. NPA ambushes search team on downed Cessna plane, 2 soldiers dead

[DZBB, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin]

https://mb.com.ph/2023/02/21/npa-ambushes-search-team-on-downed-cessna-plane-2-soldiers-dead/

4. Ex-Speaker Alvarez seeks decriminalization of marijuana use

[Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, GMA News]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/861511/ex-speaker-alvarez-seeks-decriminalization-of-marijuana-use/story/?just_in

5. DOJ lowers bail amount for indigents to a maximum of P10k; plans more reforms

[Manila Bulletin, Philstar, GMA News, ABS-CBN News]

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/21/23/doj-lowers-bail-amount-for-indigents

6. 7 out of 10 Filipino Catholics pray at least once daily —survey

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

https://mb.com.ph/2023/02/21/7-out-of-10-filipino-catholics-pray-at-least-once-daily-survey/

7. Intramuros, Cebu nominated for 2023 World Travel Awards

[CNN PHL, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin]

https://mb.com.ph/2023/02/21/ph-intramuros-cebu-nominated-for-2023-world-travel-awards/

© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit