Globe continues to deliver critical support to communities affected by Typhoon ‘Tino’, with accelerated restoration efforts across the Visayas and Mindanao. The company has deployed technical teams, activated Libreng Tawag and Libreng Charging (LTLC) stations, and is preparing for wider relief operations in severely impacted areas.

Globe services have been fully restored in the hardest-hit areas of Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte in Mindanao. In the Visayas, Aklan, Antique, Biliran, Bohol, Capiz, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Northern Samar, and Siquijor have also achieved 100% network restoration. Ongoing restoration continues in the hardest-hit provinces of Cebu, Leyte, and Negros Occidental, where Globe teams remain deployed to expedite full recovery.

In partnership with Ayala Foundation Inc. (AFI) through Brigadang Ayala, Globe has begun relief efforts for affected communities. The first batches of food assistance include 500 food packs distributed to Barangay Dumlog in Talisay City and another 500 food packs delivered to Barangay Bonbon in Cebu City, both in coordination with local government partners.

Additional relief deployments are being coordinated with local government units and partner organizations to reach more families in need across the Visayas and Mindanao.
To support residents in these high-impact communities, Globe activated the following Libreng Tawag, Libreng Charging, and Libreng WiFi(LTLCW) sites to provide free calls, device charging, and WiFi access: Brgy. Bacayan Gym, Cebu City, Cebu, November 5 to 7, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Libreng Tawag and Wifi); Poblacion, Tolosa, Leyte November 5 to 7, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Libreng Tawag and Wifi); Visayas State University (VSU), Baybay City, Leyte, November 5 to 7, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Libreng Tawag and Wifi); Brgy. Handumanan Gym, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, November 5 to 7, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Libreng Charging only); Chapel of Phase 1, Villa Leyson, Bacayan, Cebu City, Cebu November 6 to 8, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Libreng Tawag, Charging, and WiFi); Talisay City National High School, Talisay City, Cebu, November 6 to 8, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Libreng Tawag, Charging, and WiFi); Lobby, Consolacion Municipal Bldg, Consolacion, Cebu, November 6 to 8, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Libreng Tawag, Charging, and WiFi); Chapel of Phase 1, Villa Leyson, Bacayan, Cebu City, Cebu, November 6 to 8, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Libreng Tawag, Charging, and WiFi); Brgy. Estefania Barangay Hall, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental November 6 to 8, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Libreng Charging only); and Ayungon Municipal Hall, Ayungon, Negros Oriental

November 5 to 8, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Libreng Charging only).
To help affected customers stay connected and supported, Globe has extended its Alagang Globe initiatives across the provinces of Antique, Biliran, Bohol, Cebu, Eastern Samar, Iloilo, Leyte, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Southern Leyte in the Visayas, as well as Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte in Mindanao. Globe Prepaid and TM – Free unlimited calls and texts to all networks, plus 100MB for all apps and 100MB for Facebook and Viber for one day. Globe Postpaid and GFiber Postpaid – Extended payment due dates for affected areas. Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi – Free 5GB open access data for three days for eligible users. GFiber Prepaid – Promo extension for three days in affected areas and donations for Disaster Relief – Customers can donate their Globe Rewards points or via GCash to Rise Against Hunger Philippines to fund meal packs and relief aid for affected families.(PR)

ORMOC CITY– The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 4th District Engineering Office completes the construction of a one-storey, three-classroom school building at Anislag Elementary School in Brgy. Anislag, Isabel, Leyte.

Funded under the FY 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the project has a contract cost of P 7,459,499.56 and a total floor area of 341 square meters. Moreover, the new classrooms are expected to help decongest existing classes and provide a safer, more comfortable learning space for students of Anislag Elementary School.

The building was officially turned over to the school on October 30, 2025, in a ceremony attended by Leyte 4th District Representative Richard I. Gomez, Isabel Mayor Atty. Bennet S. Pongos Jr., members of the school faculty, barangay officials, and project engineers from DPWH Leyte 4th DEO. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) office in Eastern Visayas has announced a P20,000 reward for anyone who can locate and return its real-time water quality monitoring device that went missing off the coast of Ormoc City during the onslaught of Typhoon Tino.

In a public notice, the EMB said the device is part of its monitoring system designed to track and maintain the coastal water quality of Ormoc Bay.

The agency urged anyone who may find the equipment to report it through their official Facebook page or return it to the Fishery, Coastal and Aquatic Resources Management Division in Barangay Alegria, Ormoc City, or to the Ormoc City Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO).

The real-time water quality monitoring equipment (RTWQME) was earlier deployed in Ormoc Bay on August 20 this year as part of a nationwide program to safeguard the country’s vital water bodies.

Ormoc was among six sites selected to host the technology, along with Lake Sebu in South Cotabato, Sarangani Bay, Siargao Island, Lake Buhi in Camarines Sur, and Boracay Island.
The system continuously measures indicators such as dissolved oxygen, turbidity, salinity, and pH levels—providing real-time data to local and national agencies for effective management of marine and coastal resources.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

Most of these houses are in Homonhon Island

TACLOBAN CITY — Nearly 1,000 houses in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, were either destroyed or damaged after Typhoon “Tino” (international name: Kalmaegi) battered the town early this week.

Based on a report from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) chaired by Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan, 126 houses were totally destroyed while 818 others sustained partial damage.

The hardest-hit areas were the island barangays of Cagusuan, Casuguran, and Culasi, located in the historic Homonhon Island, where Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan first landed in 1521.

In Cagusuan, 21 houses were reported totally destroyed while 203 others suffered partial damage. Casuguran recorded 98 homes completely flattened, while Culasi saw 237 houses partially damaged as strong winds and heavy rains pummeled the town from midnight of Monday until early Tuesday.

Mayor Gonzales-Kwan said most of the affected houses were made of light materials such as nipa shingles and bamboo, which easily gave way to the typhoon’s intensity.
Following the damage assessment, the Guiuan municipal council placed the entire town under a state of calamity on Tuesday to allow the release of emergency funds for immediate relief and recovery efforts.

The local government, with support from the provincial government of Eastern Samar under Governor Ralph Vincent Evardone, has started distributing housing materials to families who lost their homes.

Despite the widespread destruction, the mayor said no casualties or missing persons were reported. However, seven individuals sustained minor injuries, according to the Rural Health Unit.

She added that no major roads or bridges were damaged, allowing relief operations to reach affected communities quickly.

During the height of Typhoon Tino, authorities carried out preemptive evacuations, moving 2,579 families or 9,083 individuals to safer areas to avoid casualties.

“While the extent of damage to homes is significant, we are thankful that no lives were lost,” Mayor Gonzales-Kwan said, adding that the local government remains focused on helping residents rebuild.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

The Philippines’ leading finance super app, GCash, has introduced two new game-changing products — GCash PocketPay, which allows merchants to accept card payments seamlessly, and the GCash Virtual US Account, which enables freelancers to receive salaries straight to their e-wallet accounts without additional charges.

MSMEs are limited to cash only and miss out on additional purchases from credit cards. With the launch of PocketPay, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) can now grow their businesses by accepting card payments directly through an Android smartphone.
The tap-to-pay functionality is especially built for mobile sellers, delivery-based vendors, and pop-up merchants operating outside traditional retail channels. It allows businesses to meet customer demand for card payments without investing in costly hardware. The feature is available with zero transaction fees until December 3, 2025, and can be activated via the GCash for Business portal.

“GCash PocketPay makes accepting card payments available for all MSMEs. It’s an easy-to-use and reliable business solution that meets their needs wherever they are,” GCash for Business Head Jong Layug said.

Apart from initiatives for MSMEs, GCash has also launched an offering targeting Filipino freelancers servicing clients from the United States.

GCash is also addressing a persistent pain point for Filipino freelancers who often lose a portion of their income to costly fees, reducing their take-home pay and delaying access to funds they rely on for daily expenses.

The GCash Virtual US Account, powered by global payments network Meridian1, promises reduced platform fees and forex costs, allowing gig workers to have bigger take-home pay. In addition, the GCash Virtual US Account eliminates high withdrawal fees and hidden charges.

Fully verified GCash users are eligible for account opening. They can transfer funds from different payment platforms, payroll platforms, and marketplaces such as PayPal, Payoneer, Gusto, Deel, Upwork, Freelancer.com, Fiverr, and Onlinejobs.ph.

This feature is seen to boost inflows of dollars into the country from the US, which is a top remittance source for the Philippines. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, about 40% of cash remittances from January to August this year came from the US.

“With the GCash Virtual US Account, we’re enabling Filipino freelancers to take full control of their hard-earned income, allowing them to maximize every peso they earn,” GCash General Manager for International Paul Albano said.

Through GCash PocketPay and GCash Virtual US Account, GCash strengthens its goal of enabling both MSMEs and freelancers by breaking barriers to financial access—whether through effortless card acceptance for small businesses or faster, more affordable cross-border payments for gig workers. (PR)