Philippines’ leading super finance app, GCash, through official lending arm Fuse Financing Inc., is extending a 30-day due date extension for GLoan and GGives borrowers impacted by Typhoon Tino.
This applies to borrowers whose loans are due between November 5 and 7, 2025 and residing in areas hardest hit by the typhoon: Guian (Samar), Cebu City, North Cebu, South Cebu, Dinagat Islands, Silago, Southern Leyte, and Toboso, Negros Occidental.
Eligible accounts will automatically receive a one-month due date extension. For example, a loan originally due on November 5 will now be due on December 5. During this period, Automatic Debit Arrangement feature will be temporarily disabled, allowing customers to prioritize emergency needs and recovery. No additional interest, late fees, or penalties will be charged during the extension period.
Eligible borrowers will also receive SMS notifications detailing their new due dates and guidance on managing repayments. Other locations may be included as the government declares additional areas under a state of calamity. Customers with clarifications can file a ticket through GCash Help Center or talk to Gigi inside the GCash App. (PR)
In the immediate aftermath of Typhoon Tino, the Philippine Air Force, through the Tactical Operations Group 8 (TOG 8 ) under the leadership of its Group Commander, Col. Alexon B Ramos, PAF (GSC), joined hands with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) VIII led by its officer-in-charge, Rey Gozon and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) VIII to conduct a Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) over the hardest-hit areas of Homonhon and Suluan Islands in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, and parts of Southern Leyte on 05 November 2025.
The mission aimed to provide vital information for faster and more focused disaster response and recovery operations across the region.
From the skies, the team witnessed the widespread damage left by storm: communities battered, yet resilient. In line with this continuing effort, on 06 November 2025, TOG 8, in partnership with OCD VIII and DSWD, delivered 180 hygiene kits to the affected residents of Bontoc. Subsequently, on 07 November 2025, the team delivered 250 food packs in Hinunangan and 250 hygiene kits in Guiuan, extending relief and hope to families striving to rebuild their lives.
Through these joint efforts, TOG 8 reaffirms its unwavering commitment to serve, protect and uplift the Filipino people, proving once again that in every storm, the Philippine Air Force stands ready to response. (PR)
’BAKWIT.’ The people of Alangalang held a reenactment of their ancestors’ relocation from their old settlement to its present day location on Nov.7. The event was held as the town marked its 142 founding anniversary.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
’BAKWIT.’ The people of Alangalang held a reenactment of their ancestors’ relocation from their old settlement to its present day location on Nov.7. The event was held as the town marked its 142 founding anniversary. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
ALANGALANG, Leyte– On a sunlit afternoon of November 7, the streets of this town came alive with a vibrant journey into the past as townspeople, students, and officials gathered to witness “An Bakwit,” a reenactment of the historic relocation of the municipality from its old settlement in Buquid (now Barangay Cavite) to its present town proper.
Once held in the early hours of November 8, the reenactment was moved to the afternoon to allow more residents, especially the younger generation, to witness the tribute to their ancestors.
“We want the people of Alangalang, especially our youth, to truly appreciate our history,” said Mayor Lovell Ann Uy-Castro. “This is a way for them to understand the sacrifices and courage of those who came before us.”
The event doubled as a friendly competition, with participants from local government offices, national agencies, schools, barangays, and private organizations donning period attire. Each group paraded from Barangay Cavite to the town proper, recreating the historic evacuation complete with props and carefully staged storylines.
The original settlement of Alangalang, nestled near the Mainit River, was prone to severe flooding, putting lives, livelihoods, and the community’s survival at constant risk. Driven by necessity and resilience, the residents moved to higher ground, forming the town proper that stands today.
Through “An Bakwit,” Alangalang not only honors its 142nd founding anniversary but also keeps alive the courage, unity, and perseverance of its forebears—a reminder that the past shapes the identity and spirit of the present community.
TACLOBAN CITY– James Karl B. Calipes, representing the provincial statistics committee (PSC) of Northern Samar, was awarded the regional champion. Calipes, a certified public accountant, works at the Northern Samar Electric Cooperative (Norsamelco) main office in Bobon, Northern Samar.
The second-place winner was Norberto E. Milla of Visayas State University (VSU) Baybay City, representing the Regional Statistics Committee VIII (RSC – 8). Assistant Professor Rovinson D. Gaganao of Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) – Main Campus, representing PSC Eastern Samar, garnered third place.
Other contestants who vied for the regional championship were: FO1 Kia Joanna A. Merwa (PSC Biliran), John Ray D. Ylanan (PSC Leyte), Christopher J. Llegado
(PSC Samar), and Edil Balagon (PSC Southern Leyte). Contestants were nominated by their respective PSCs and RSC member-agencies.
The board of judges was composed of Regional Director Wilma A. Perante of PSA – RSSO 8, Chief Statistical Specialist Mae R. Almonte, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tacloban Branch Regional Head Victorio III Tingcang, Jr.
The PSA Quiz Bee aims to: (1) promote awareness and appreciation of the importance of statistics; (2) highlight the mandates of PSA and the recent results of its censuses and surveys; and (3) familiarize participants with the concepts and definitions adopted in the generation of official statistics, Civil Registration Services, and the National Identification System.
The PSA Quiz Bee was conducted as part of the 36th National Statistics Month celebration. (PR)
MANILA– In the wake of Typhoon Kalmaegi’s (Tino’s) devastation, the United States is augmenting the Philippine-led response efforts. Through the delivery of emergency shelter, logistics services, and safe water and sanitation, the United States is supporting communities hardest hit by the storm, many of which are still recovering from successive storms and the Cebu Earthquake in September.
The United States and the Philippines are not only ironclad allies—we are friends and partners bound by a shared history, common values, and a steadfast commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. As millions of Filipinos face the challenges left by these disasters, including the loss of family and loved ones, our rapid response stands as a testament to the depth and resilience of our enduring ties, especially in times of crisis. The United States is committed to supporting Philippine-led efforts, working together to save lives, alleviate suffering, and help communities recover from these disasters. To this end, the United States will provide $1 million in immediate life-saving assistance.
With another severe storm forecast to impact the Philippines in the coming days, U.S. disaster assistance will remain closely coordinated with the Government of the Philippines and local organizations to ensure timely and effective relief for those most in need. (PR)
YOLANDA MEMORIAL. Remembering the resilience of Tacloban, 12 years after Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda.’ This sacred ground stands as a testament to the lives lost and enduring spirit of a city that continues to heal and rebuild. ( JOEY A. GABIETA)
YOLANDA MEMORIAL. Remembering the resilience of Tacloban, 12 years after Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda.’ This sacred ground stands as a testament to the lives lost and enduring spirit of a city that continues to heal and rebuild. ( JOEY A. GABIETA)
Following Typhoon Tino’s impact
TACLOBAN CITY — At least four people were confirmed dead while more than 141,000 families were affected after Typhoon Tino pounded Eastern Visayas with strong winds and heavy rains early Tuesday, November 4, triggering floods, landslides, and widespread destruction across the region.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that Tino affected 499,360 individuals, or 141,423 families, in six provinces and 73 municipalities in Eastern Visayas. Of these, 4,903 families or 16,936 individuals are currently staying in 98 evacuation centers, while 82 families or 312 individuals are temporarily taking shelter with relatives or friends.
The DSWD also recorded 2,892 damaged houses—212 totally destroyed and 2,680 partially damaged. The agency has so far provided P24.8 million worth of humanitarian assistance, including 42,155 family food packs, 124 ready-to-eat meals, and 1,767 non-food items, while P110.7 million worth of relief resources remain on standby.
Among the fatalities were one each from Hilongos and MacArthur, Leyte; and two more in Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte, according to a report from the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8).
In Barangay Owak, Hilongos, authorities found an unidentified elderly woman dead along the shoreline on Tuesday morning. The victim, estimated to be between 65 and 70 years old, was believed to have drowned and been carried by strong currents. The Hilongos Municipal Police Station has requested assistance from the Provincial Forensic Unit to identify the woman and determine her exact cause of death.
Meanwhile, in Barangay Romualdez, MacArthur, a 78-year-old man known as alias “Max” died after a macopa tree fell on his nipa hut at the height of the storm around 5:40 a.m.
The two other fatalities were from Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte.
Three people were also reported injured during post-typhoon clearing operations. In Tolosa, a 57-year-old tricycle driver and a 43-year-old farmer sustained minor wounds while removing fallen debris, while in La Paz, a 13-year-old girl suffered a hand laceration after accidentally hitting a galvanized iron sheet while helping clear banana trees.
DSWD Regional Director Grace Subong has personally visited the affected areas, particularly in Southern Leyte, which was placed under a state of calamity on Thursday, November 6, due to the extensive damage brought by Tino. Assessment and validation of damages and affected families are still ongoing in coordination with local government units.
