Government and Church officials yesterday called on the public to stop causing undue panic and fear by spreading false rumors and text messages that radiation from a nuclear fallout in Japan was hitting the Philippines.

“We ask those who are spreading rumors and false warnings to stop this malicious action that only aggravates the situation and do not help at all,” Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra said yesterday.

Instead, he said the Diocese of Bacolod joins the call of Pope Benedict XVI for prayers for the people of Japan “as we condole with the families of the victims of this calamity.”

Negrenses in Tokyo yesterday said they have not been instructed yet to leave Tokyo to escape radiation from a possible nuclear fallout, but they are facing power and food shortages.

Explosions have rocked two overheating reactors at the ageing Fukushima nuclear plant, located 250 kilometers northeast of Tokyo, after the cooling systems were knocked out by Friday's 8.9-magnitude quake.

The second hydrogen explosion in three days rocked the plant yesterday, sending a massive cloud of smoke into the air and injuring 11 workers. The blast was felt 40 kilometers away, but the plant's operator said the radiation levels at the affected unit were still within legal limits, international wire agencies reported.

Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said the earthquake and tsunami devastation that hit Japan Friday will affect the Philippines with less remittances from Overseas Filipino workers there, and a drop in Japanese tourists and assistance to the country.

Investment bank Credit Suisse put Japan’s economic losses from the quake at no less than $171 billion, although Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda said it was too early to put together a firm figure.

Marañon said the Japanese government is one of the biggest providers of assistance and loans to the Philippines, but with its current difficulties it will have to attend to its internal needs first.