Wealthy nations must do their fair share to help countries that are least responsible for the climate crisis, yet bear its brunt, Nepal’s foreign minister told AFP on Thursday. The Himalayan nation suffered one of the worst catastrophes in its history late last month when a tsunami-like flood, triggered by a high-altitude glacial mountain collapse along the Nepal-China border, cut a swathe…
Reduced rainfall may be experienced in the coming months as the El Niño phenomenon continues to rapidly strengthen and may persist until the first half of 2027, according to the PAGASA. Ana Solis, chief of PAGASA’s Climate Impact Assessment and Prediction Section, said warming ocean temperatures are driving the further intensification of El Niño. “Base sa ating monitoring at assessment, a strong…
As the state weather bureau PAGASA warned that a “very strong” El Niño is rapidly strengthening, a new report estimates that the Philippines could record about 6,500 additional heat-related deaths from this year until early 2027. The Climate Impact Lab said the country may experience “6,500 ± 410 additional heat deaths” during the period, as extreme temperatures intensify. The report noted that…
Quezon City considers itself the green lung of Metro Manila, and with reason. La Mesa watershed alone accounts for nearly one quarter of the city’s total land area, complemented by the expansive UP Diliman campus and Quezon Memorial Circle at its center. This forms a continuous green mass that anchors not just the city’s environmental quality but Metro Manila’s as a whole,…
With the perceived ouster of career health officials, Malacañang now stands accused of putting institutional stability and expert leadership at risk for political convenience. The uproar follows the exit of Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire and other veteran DOH officials in what appears to be a politically motivated shake-up. About 55 professional medical groups signed a joint statement expressing concerns of what…
The Laguna Lake is fast deteriorating into the country’s “biggest septic tank,” Biñan City Rep. Walfredo “Arman” Dimaguila Jr. warned on Saturday, August 2. In an interview on DZRH News’ Special on Saturday, Rep. Dimaguila urged the Marcos Jr. administration to take urgent and science-based action to rehabilitate the vital water body affecting millions across Southern Luzon and Metro Manila. “Magkakaroon na…
The Iran war is showing why the Philippines can’t afford to neglect its farmers
A war thousands of kilometers away is beginning to ripple through something as basic as the Filipino dining table. The conflict involving Iran has pushed oil prices higher, disrupted key shipping routes, and strained global supply chains—especially for fertilizer, a critical input for food production. Farmers are already feeling the pressure. Fertilizer prices have surged by as much as 30% to 40%,…