(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Monday, 08 December 2025) At 3:00 AM today, the center of Tropical Depression "WILMA" was estimated based on all available data in the vicinity of Matuguinao, Samar (12.2°N 125.0°E) with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 75 km/h. It is moving West Northwestward at 15 km/h. Shear Line affecting the eastern section of Southern Luzon. Northeast Monsoon affecting the rest of Luzon. Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. Moderate to strong winds from northeast to northwest will prevail over the western sections of Mindanao with moderate to rough seas (1.2 to 3.1 meters). Elsewhere, moderate winds from the northwest to southwest to southeast with moderate seas (1.2 to 2.5 meters).


TOP STORIES – Thursday, May 18, 2023

TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online news monitoring)

18 May 2023, Thursday, as of 9:00 a.m.

1. House leaderships:

-Gonzales replaces Arroyo as House Senior Deputy Speaker

-Arroyo says replacement as senior deputy speaker was House's prerogative

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

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/5/17/gonzales-new-house-senior-deputy-speaker.html

2. Marcos to revive Philsucor to help finance sugar cooperatives [Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Philstar, CNN PHL, GMA News]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/870359/marcos-to-revive-philsucor-to-help-finance-sugar-cooperatives/story/

3. Violence vs women applies not only to husbands or fathers but also to women in lesbian relationships [Business Mirror, CNN PHL, Daily Tribune, Malaya, News5, Philstar, Rappler, Manila Bulletin]

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/17/violence-vs-women-applies-not-only-to-husbands-or-fathers-but-also-to-women-in-lesbian-relationships

4. COMELEC approves internet voting for overseas voters in 2025 polls [DZBB, CNN PHL, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin]

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/17/comelec-approves-internet-voting-for-overseas-voters-in-2025-polls

5. LPA spotted off Mindanao, likely to develop into a storm in 3 days [ABS-CBN News, CNN PHL, GMA News, Philstar, Manila Times]

https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/05/18/news/lpa-spotted-off-mindanao-likely-to-develop-into-a-storm-in-3-days/1892043

6. COVID pandemic:

-COVID admissions up but manageable –group

-Metro Manila positivity rate at 25.9%

[GMA News, Manila Times, Inquirer]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1770691/metro-manila-positivity-rate-at-25-9

7. Abandoned bag with over P19 million worth of shabu found in NAIA [GMA News, Manila Bulletin, Inquirer]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1770573/abandoned-bag-with-over-p19-million-worth-of-sha

© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit

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