These tectonic plates have compressed and lifted parts of the Philippines causing extensive faulting, primarily on a north–south axis.
[6] It is proposed that the Philippine Trench and PFZ represent a 'shear partitioning' mechanism, where the oblique physical motions of subduction at the convergent zone resulted in the development of the major strike-slip fault.
The first stage began at ~10 Ma, when the northern segments of the PFZ developed due to the convergence of the China Sea Crust underneath the nearby Manila Trench.
The largest (M7.0) and most destructive earthquakes are generated along the Guinayangan fault every 30–100 years with slip rates of 20–33 mm/year as determined by GPS and historical records.
Moderate earthquakes (M3.0–5.0) are observed along the Masbate fault with frequent aftershocks indicative of continued displacement and regional slip of 5–35 mm/year.
The northern and southern segments of the Central Leyte fault experiences different seismic activity dependent on regional geology.