Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is still hoisted in some areas as Tropical Depression (TD) Verbena maintained its strength, the weather bureau said on Tuesday. The TD packs maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center, and gustiness of up to 90 kph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Philippines suspended classes for Tuesday (November 25) in some areas as tropical depression Verbena made landfall over Bayabas, Surigao del Sur. The tropical depression made landfall in Surigao at 1.30pm (9.30am UAE time) on Monday, according to state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Sunday that a low pressure area (LPA) has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility and it could develop into a tropical depression in 24 hours. Nathaniel Servando, Pagasa chief, said the LPA was last spotted 715 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. It will be named Verbena, the 22nd storm to hit the country this year. LPA forecast to enter PAR as tropical depression in 24 to 48 hours Servando said the LPA was expected to dump 100 to 200 millimeters of rain on Monday over Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Southern Leyte, Leyte, Biliran, Cebu, Bohol, Negros Occidental, Capiz, Iloilo, and Dinagat Island. With such a volume of rain, the Pagasa chief said floods are likely.

As the impact of natural disaster gets harsher and intense due to climate change, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told the local government officials and the Department of Education (DepEd) to look into the mental health aspect and support for children to address trauma caused by the natural calamity. The president flew to Albay province on Tuesday morning and inspected the Cararayan Naga Elementary School in Tiwi town to assess the impact of Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-wong). The president met the members of the Cabinet, national and local government officials in a briefing to assess the impact of the typhoon in the province as well as the ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts on the ground.

FILMINERA Filminera Resources Corporation and Phil. Gold Processing & Refining Corp., two companies operating within the Masbate Gold Project (MGP), reached a health and safety milestone of seven consecutive years-a total of 2,557 days-without any lost time injury case. This achievement represents over 44.9 million worker hours of incident-free operations, a world-class safety performance rarely achieved in the global mining industry.

The maximum sustained winds of Tropical Depression Verbena increase to 55 km/h on Monday evening, November 24 MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Depression Verbena slightly intensified on Monday evening, November 24, while moving toward the province of Bohol. Verbena’s maximum sustained winds increased from 45 kilometers per hour to 55 km/h, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in its 11 pm bulletin on Monday. The tropical depression’s gustiness is up to 75 km/h.

The Philippine Coast Guard said Sunday that 148 persons remain stranded in seaports in Bicol after the effects of Severe Tropical Storm Opong and the Southwest Monsoon.  In its Maritime Safety Advisory, the PCG said the 148 individuals are passengers, drivers and helpers who are in seven seaports: Masbate, Mobo, Mintac, Aroroy, San Pascual, Claveria and Cawayan.  In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, PCG spokesperson Captain Noemie Guiaro-Cayabyab said all of the passengers are in the island province Masbate which suffered the brunt of Opong. These included 62 rolling cargoes and 12 vessels in these ports.  Also taking shelter are 40 vessels and four motorbancas. Guirao-Cayabyab said the suspension of sea travel has been lifted but some seafarers, particularly those in small craft, have decided to stay in port due to the strong waves.

LEGAZPI CITY – Living in a remote area of Masbate province, Princess Nicole Recto feared she would struggle to find a decent, financially stable job that could support her family and meet her basic needs. Recto graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems from the Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology in Mandaon town in May 2024. After graduating, the 23-year-old daughter of a construction worker and a tailor from Barangay Malubi in Aroroy searched for work for several months, even applying in the city, but to no avail.

MASBATE CITY, Masbate (PIA)—Some 30 farmers in Cawayan, Masbate are looking forward to irrigating their rice fields by 2026, as they have been relying on rainfall for decades. On June 23, farmers and government officials participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for a P20 million communal irrigation system in Barangay Maihao. The project is scheduled for completion in April 2026, during the country’s dry season peak. The Maihao irrigation project will be powered by solar energy and is designed to benefit around 30 farmers by initially irrigating 20 hectares of rice fields in the village.

LEGAZPI CITY—Arestado an duwang most wanted person sa magkasuway na mga operasyon kan kapulisan sa banwaan kan Aroroy, Masbate. Segun ki Aroroy Municipal Police Station Deputy Chief of Police Police Captain Antonio Padilla, sa intrevista kan Bombo Radyo Legazpi, binisto an saro sa mga naarestar na pigkonsiderar na Rank No. 1 Municipal Most Wanted Person na si alyas “Bimboy”, 21-anyos, sarong joven, paraoma asin residente kan Brgy. Macabug kan nasambitang banwaan. Naarestar an suspek huli sa ipinaluwas na mandamiento de aresto kan Regional Trial Court Branch 47, Masbate City para sa kasong murder.