Four cities in the National Capital Region (NCR) experienced Intensity IV as a 4.6-magnitude earthquake jolted Quezon province on Tuesday noon, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Phivolcs initially recorded a 5.1 magnitude quake before being lowered to 4.6 magnitude in Quezon province at 12:17 pm.

Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila, and Marikina were the four cities in the NCR that felt Intensity IV. Employees in government offices and private companies left their buildings after the quake, described as a sharp jolt, struck.

Train services were temporarily suspended.

According to Phivolcs' bulletin, the epicenter of the tectonic-origin tremor was located 24 kilometers northeast of General Nakar, Quezon, and had a depth of 11 kilometers.

In a radio interview, Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol said an unnamed fault in the Sierra Madre had moved, causing the quake.

"There were unnamed faults or local faults that traverse the Sierra Madre and one of them moved," Bacolcol said.

Intensity V was felt in General Nakar, Quezon where the epicenter of the tremor occurred.

Intensity III was also felt in San Pedro in Laguna, Infanta and Real in Quezon, Dona Remedios Trinidad in Bulacan, Bacoor in Cavite, and Tanay in Rizal.

Meanwhile, Intensity III was felt in Mauban in Quezon, Angono, Antipolo, Binangonan, Taytay, and Teresa in Rizal, Malabon Navotas, Quezon City, Pasay, San Juan, Taguig, Guiguinto, Malolos, Marilao, Meycauayan, and Pulilan in Bulacan, Palayan, Cabanatuan, and Talavera in Nueva Ecija, Mabalacat in Pampanga, Angeles City, and Binan, AMbitac, Sta. Rosa, and Siniloan in Laguna.

Intensity II in Caloocan, Las Pinas, Paranaque, Valenzuela, Pateros in Metro Manila, Dolores, Polilio, and Sampaloc in Quezon, Dingalan in Aurora, Baliwag, Bocaue, Bustos, Norzagaray, Obando, Pandi, Paombong, and San Miguel in Bulacan, Aliaga, Cabiao, Gabaldon, Gapan, San Antonio, and San Isidro in Nueva Ecija, Indang, Noveleta, Rosario, Silang, Tagaytay, and Ternate in Cavite, Bay, Cabuyao, Calamba, Kalayaan, Los Banos, Magdalena, San Pablo, and Santa Cruz in Laguna; and Intensity I in Lucban in Quezon, Calauan, and Pila in Laguna, Muntinlupa, Calumpit, Hagonoy, and San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan.

Phivolcs said there are no expected damages, but aftershocks are expected from this earthquake.

The quake temporarily halted the operations of MRT-3 for almost 20 minutes and LRT lines 1 and 2 for nearly 45 minutes for safety checks, as stated in the Facebook post of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Sta. Mesa campus of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) announced on their Facebook page the suspension of classes and work from 1:15 pm onwards "to allow for thorough building inspections."

Senator Raffy Tulfo, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services, adjourned the ongoing joint hearing with Public Works and Finance due to the expected aftershocks. Kate Christian Ravelo/DMS