Author: gqSbgCfmna

November 21, 2025 | 12:00am

Ralph Recto is now Executive Secretary. As such, he heads the Cabinet. He will hold office in Malacañang beside the President’s.

Recto will be in position to whisper daily into the President’s ears. Among the issues will be the P60 billion he took from our PhilHealth in 2024 when he was Finance secretary.

Most likely, the admin won’t ever return it to us.

Recto misused half of our P60 billion to start the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges. His counsel admitted it to the Supreme Court.

Yet Korea already lent $56.6 million or P3.2 billion for the project. The admin misspent the loan for the Speaker’s vanity Charter Change. Also for flood works with 30-percent kickbacks.

Recto knew that all along. He was Deputy Speaker up to December 2023, when Congress enacted that crooked 2024 budget. He moved to the Executive as Finance chief the following month to implement it.

When the admin ran out of money, Recto scraped the coffers of government-administered funds like our PhilHealth. That P60 billion could have funded more medical procedures for PhilHealth members. It’s now in the pockets of crooked politicos, contractors, and DPWH officials.

President Bongbong Marcos knows it. It was among the issues that infuriated Filipinos to join nationwide protest demonstrations leading up to Sept. 21st, the 53rd anniversary of his father’s plundering martial rule.

On Sept. 20, BBM “ordered” the return of our P60 billion. That was to assuage people’s disgust with high corruption.

He claimed he’ll include it in the 2026 national budget. “That P60 billion will be returned to PhilHealth, not just to ease public fears but so we can use it to expand PhilHealth’s services,” he said.

But look closely at the 2026 National Expenditure Program he submitted to Congress. Our P60 billion is not there.

Frederick Go takes over as finance chief. As erstwhile presidential economic adviser, he lowered tariffs on imported rice supposedly to cheapen retail prices.

In so doing, however, he also slashed the subsidy for three million poor palay farmers. The buying price of palay dropped to half the usual.

USec Rolando Toledo is now Budget officer-in-charge. Expect him to carry on the policies of predecessor Amenah Pangandaman.

Go and Toledo will join PhilHealth’s board due to their positions, like Recto and Pangandaman. Expect them to give away our money to, of all things, road and bridge works.

Three other Cabinet members will stay in the PhilHealth board: Health Sec. Ted Herbosa as chairman, with Social Welfare Sec. Rex Gatchalian and Labor Sec. Benny Laguesma.

Herbosa spent the other half of our P60 billion for pandemic emergency pay of health workers, overdue since 2020.

The pandemic was a public health issue, not an individual health insurance expense. The Dept. of Health, not PhilHealth, should’ve paid for health workers’ back wages. Herbosa is facing three Ombudsman cases for fund anomalies.

That previous board proposed P74-billion subsidy for PhilHealth in 2025. But Congress diverted it again to flood works, for more kickbacks.

PhilHealth was left with zero. No complaint from the five original and two new members of the board. To think that their fiduciary duty as PhilHealth board members is to protect our interest.

We PhilHealth members and dependents consist of:

• 66 million direct contributors, P500 to P5,000 a month, based on income;

• 37 million indigent members whose indirect contributions should come from Pagcor, PCSO, and sin taxes.

But the Duterte and Marcos admins withheld the subsidies.

The government owes our PhilHealth P242.28 billion, including compounded interest, since 2019.

At present we members must first be hospitalized or undergo delicate procedures to benefit from our contributions. If it remits all funds earmarked by law to PhilHealth, we can enjoy other benefits like annual blood and lab works, ultrasound, x-ray, CT scan, MRI. Even basic tooth filling.

PhilHealth managers do not promote the e-Konsulta program. Under it, each member can consult a physician once a year courtesy of our insurance.

But management has allowed racketeers to mangle e-Konsulta. Millions of us members have been registered without our consent as consulting patients in faraway hospitals.

*      *      *

Catch Sapol radio show, Saturdays, 8 to 10 a.m., DWIZ (882-AM).

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November 21, 2025 | 12:00am

Since its creation almost three months ago, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) have so far come out with five interim reports. The ICI submitted its first-ever interim report last Sept. 29 to the Office of the Ombudsman. In a 32-page report, the three-man ICI chaired by retired Supreme Court (SC) associate justice Andres Reyes Jr. flagged possible anomalies in a P289.5-million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

The ICI asked the anti-graft body to determine “appropriate charges” to be filed against 18 public officials who included Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co and district engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) implicated on the alleged “ghost” flood control projects.

Acting on the ICI complaint, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla officially filed formal charges against Co and his other co-accused DPWH officials before the Sandiganbayan last Tuesday. One count of malversation and two counts of graft were lodged against Co and DPWH Region 4 officials and executives of construction firm Sunwest Inc. owned by Co’s family.

In its second interim report, the ICI recommended to the Ombudsman “appropriate charges” to be filed against Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada as well as Co and DPWH Bulacan district engineers for their alleged roles in a kickback scheme involving flood control projects in the province.

It was on the third, fourth and fifth interim report referrals that the ICI recommended the filing of administrative charges against resigned DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, his former undersecretaries Roberto Bernardo and Maria Catalina Cabral and 8 other DPWH officials. They were charged for grave misconduct, gross dishonesty, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, or violations of the Anti-Graft Law.

In all the five ICI referrals to the Ombudsman, none has yet been officially filed against other key leaders of Congress whose names were frequently dragged into Co’s alleged shenanigans in the DPWH flood control projects. They included former Speaker Martin Romualdez, former Senate president Francis Escudero and Senators Grace Poe and Nancy Binay, all of whom have appeared separately before the ICI as resource persons.

Notably, the ICI has yet to recommend criminal action against controversial couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya whose companies allegedly cornered multi-million-peso worth of flood control projects. Yet, the Discaya couple testified already under oath not only before the ICI but as well as at the Department of Justice (DOJ). Prior to these bodies, the Discaya couple likewise testified in the parallel legislative investigations done by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and the House Infra committee public hearings.

It’s no wonder, the ICI’s creation was questioned for the third time before the SC.

Former Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto Paras, lawyers Manuelito Luna and Ferdie Topacio filed the latest petition at the SC on the constitutionality of Executive Order No.94 that created the ICI. EO 94 issued by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM) on Sept.11 this year, among other things, tasked the ICI to investigate anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects in the past ten years.

The first petition against the ICI was filed by Louis “Barok” Biraogo as a taxpayers’ suit. A high school teacher John Barry Tayam filed the second petition to SC last Oct.29. All three petitions called the ICI as a “redundant and constitutionally suspect” entity that encroaches upon the functions of existing anti-graft agencies. While the ICI was formed with the intention of ensuring accountability, they all warned its establishment posed questions of legality.

At the Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum last Wednesday, Paras and Luna expressed optimism that the SC may finally pay attention to these three petitions on the questioned constitutionality of the ICI. Paras and Jacinto filed their 8-page petition to the SC last Nov.11 reiterating the need for the issuance of temporary restraining order (TRO) against the ICI.

Following the “equal protection clause” of the country’s 1987 Constitution, they argued, there are many corruption and anomalies in the operations of other government agencies and these have been happening not just at the DPWH. Yet, the ICI is “handicapped” without subpoena power, Paras rued. Worse, EO 94 required the ICI to submit its report to the Office of the President (OP) as the “clearing house,” Paras charged.

Both Paras and Luna further cited EO 94 intruded into the constitutional bodies of the Office of the Ombudsman and the Commission on Audit both empowered to investigate corruption and anomalies in the affairs of the government. Paras cited the Ombudsman has motu proprio power to investigate any suspected anomaly in any government entities and to act on even anonymous complaints.

Both Paras and Luna served during the previous administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte. Paras formerly served as Secretary of the Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs while Luna got appointed as ex-Commissioner in the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission (PACC).

As a former legislator for three terms at the House of Representatives, Paras noted, EO 94 tacitly directed the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to look for funds to finance the initial expenses of the ICI. To date, there is no statute passed by Congress which appropriates public money to fund the ICI. The DBM released P41.4 million to the ICI last Nov. 5 charged to the contingent funds of the OP under the 2025 budget.

Paras argued EO 94 also blatantly usurped the legislative power of Congress in creating the proper body. Paras suggested PBBM should wait for the present 20th Congress to pass into law a legislated Independent People’s Commission (IPC).

The IPC bill principally authored by Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III was unanimously endorsed for passage into law by his colleagues. It needs counterpart bills filed at the Lower House earlier filed by Mamamayang Liberal party list Rep. Leila de Lima and Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno. Sotto earlier urged their House colleagues to just adopt the Senate version to fast track its approval by both chambers of Congress within this year.

That is, if PBBM will even sign it into law to replace the ICI.

November 21, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has warned that increasing the number of commissioners could only cause deeper divisions and result in further delays in reaching final decisions, particularly in rate cases.

This concern arises amid a proposal to expand the current five-member regulatory body to nine under the proposed amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).

ERC chairman and CEO Francis Saturnino Juan said they submitted a position paper to the House of Representatives, expressing reservations about the move.

“What we’re saying is that this is more of a reaction to what was happening (case backlogs), and the failure is not due to the current structure but rather to something else,” Juan said in a chance interview.

Under a proposed amendment to EPIRA, the collegial body will increase to nine members, with Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao having three commissioners each in a bid to address regulatory backlogs.

The ERC, however, argued in a position paper that bringing in additional commissioners does not necessarily improve case resolution rates or speed up decision-making.

“Instead, it is likely to institutionalize gridlock. An increase in the number of voices may result in more protracted debates, deeper divisions and greater challenges in achieving the majority consensus necessary for critical decisions,” it said.

The commission emphasized that the reform seeks to resolve a problem that does not exist while “creating a new one.”

“The ERC’s challenge is not primarily a lack of personnel, but a lack of highly competent and experienced personnel,” the paper stated, underscoring the agency’s struggle to compete with the private sector for top-tier talent.

The ERC, under then-chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta, had supported the move to restructure the agency, noting that the current setup is not suited to deal with many stakeholders.

Unlike before, when state-run National Power Corp. had acted as the sole generator and utility provider, the power sector now consists of one transmission operator, over 200 generation firms and more than 100 distribution utilities.

Enacted in 2001, EPIRA reforms and liberalizes the country’s power industry by unbundling it into distinct sectors  – generation, transmission, distribution and supply – to promote greater competition in the electricity market.

According to Juan, the ERC had been set to attend a meeting on the proposed amendments to EPIRA following an invitation from former Presidential Legislative Liaison Office undersecretary Adrian Carlos Bersamin.

But that meeting is now in limbo after Bersamin resigned amid allegations raised by embattled former lawmaker Zaldy Co, who linked him to the alleged P100-billion insertions in the 2025 national budget.

November 21, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) saw its core net income expand by more than half in the first nine months on the back of improved operational efficiency across its key businesses and sustained cost management efforts.

SMC reported a 54-percent increase in core net income to P60.3 billion, excluding foreign exchange and one-off items, in the first three quarters.

Operating income rose by 13 percent to P137.4 billion, while consolidated EBITDA grew by 16 percent to P194.3 billion.

SMC said that strong contributions from the food, spirits, power and infrastructure units helped offset external pressures on the fuel and oil segment.

Total consolidated revenues for the nine-month period reached P1.1 trillion, slightly lower year-on-year due to softening crude prices and the de-consolidation of select power assets.

“Despite factors outside our control, we delivered strong results and continued making steady progress on our major projects,” SMC chairman and CEO Ramon Ang said.

Ang said the group is preparing for higher consumer activity in the final quarter of the year as holiday demand picks up.

From January to September, San Miguel Food and Beverage Inc. generated consolidated revenues of P302.9 billion, up by four percent year-on-year, led by Ginebra San Miguel and San Miguel Foods.

Petron Corp. also achieved higher sales, posting combined volume of 84.7 million barrels for Philippines and Malaysia.

SMC attributed Petron’s growth to improvement in Philippine retail and commercial sales. However, due to lower Dubai crude prices, revenues decreased by 10 percent year-on-year to P594.9 billion.

SMC Global Power Holdings Corp., meanwhile, recorded revenues of P118.8 billion, 23 percent lower year-on-year due to the deconsolidation of Ilijan and Excellent Energy Resources Inc. as well as softer coal and spot market prices.

Revenues of SMC Infrastructure grew by seven percent to P29.6 billion, supported by higher traffic across all toll roads, with average daily vehicle count  of up to 1.07 million.

For SMC’s cement business, consolidated revenues stood at P25.5 billion, down by six percent year-on-year, amid the continued influx of cheap imports and weaker volumes.

November 21, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Investments approved by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) doubled from January to November, reflecting strong investor confidence.

In a statement, the BCDA said its approved investments jumped by 99.5 percent to P63.97 billion during the 11-month period from the P32.06 billion a year ago.

These investments are expected to provide 8,476 employment opportunities, 29 percent higher than the 6,565 jobs generated by the approved investments last year.

The growth is concentrated across BCDA-managed economic zones, particularly in New Clark City in Tarlac and Camp John Hay in Baguio.

Those that signed contracts with the BCDA this year are Eagle-K GC Corp.; Eagle-K RV Corp.; the consortium of Global Heavy Equipment & Construction Corp., ATD Waste-to-Energy Corp. and Uttamenergy Ltd.; Science Park of the Philippines Inc.; Sta. Clara International–Saekyung Realty and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for developments in New Clark City.

Meanwhile, investors that entered into contracts with the BCDA for developments in Camp John Hay are Istana Development Corp. and Meridian Commercial Centers Inc.; Ayala Land Inc.; Stern Real Estate; Top Taste and Trading Inc.; Amare La Cucina and Prime Collective Corp.

BCDA president and CEO Joshua Bingcang said the latest performance shows the growing investor confidence in its investments hubs.

“This achievement underscores BCDA’s vision to be the catalyst for a future where strategic infrastructure development translates into sustainable, investment-led growth, simultaneously creating the platform for more and better job opportunities for all Filipinos,” Bingcang said.

The BCDA is aiming to encourage more firms to invest in its master-planned developments.

“We remain optimistic and actively encourage our investors to partner with BCDA as we make a vital headway in our mission to contribute to national economic and inclusive development,” Bingcang said.

Earlier, he said that the BCDA aims to approve P70 billion worth of investments this year.

Created under Republic Act 7227, the BCDA is mandated to help strengthen the Armed Forces of the Philippines, while building great cities and creating economic opportunities through the establishment of integrated developments, business centers and communities.

November 21, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Ayala-led Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has strengthened its support for the country’s energy security agenda through a significant role in the P47.07-billion financing package for Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. to bankroll the acquisition of major gas assets in Batangas.

The funding facility will support Prime Infra’s purchase of a 60-percent stake in First Gen Corp.’s gas-fired power portfolio and its liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, which form a core part of the Philippines’ gas-to-power value chain. First Gen will retain the remaining 40-percent interest.

The Philippine Competition Commission cleared the transaction in October, enabling Prime Infra to expand its presence in the domestic energy market.

The acquisition covers more than 2,000 megawatts of combined gas-fired generation capacity along with one of the country’s principal LNG import terminals. These assets are seen as vital to managing rising demand, easing supply constraints and improving overall system reliability.

“This partnership reflects BPI’s continued support for projects that reinforce the country’s energy resilience,” BPI institutional banking head Louie Cruz said. “We value leveraging our expertise in structuring complex, large-scale financing facilities that enable industry players to deliver viable and reliable energy solutions for the nation.”

BPI, one of the country’s largest lenders and a long-time financial partner of the Razon Group, has decades of experience in arranging syndicated loans for infrastructure projects of national importance.

The listed bank said its involvement in the deal aligns with its mandate to back investments that contribute to long-term economic stability.

Prime Infra president and CEO Guillaume Lucci described the acquisition as a strategic step toward ensuring dependable power supply during the country’s transition to cleaner sources.

November 21, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Community mall pioneer WalterMart is expanding its clean energy shift, with more locations across Luzon set to run on renewable power from Lopez-led First Gen Corp.

WM Shopping Center Management Inc. (WMSCMI), the developer of the WalterMart malls, has signed another deal with First Gen, this time to deliver 47 megawatts (MW) of geothermal energy to 45 retail centers.

The agreement covers W Department Store, WalterMart Supermarket and Abenson outlets across Metro Manila, as well as central and southern Luzon.

The deal also includes the Citadines Bay City Manila Hotel in Pasay and Ascott Bonifacio Global City Manila, both owned by the WalterMart Group.

The electricity supply will come from the Unified Leyte Geothermal Power Plant owned and operated by First Gen subsidiary Energy Development Corp.

“The commitment to clean power enables our malls to operate responsibly and efficiently, reducing our carbon footprint while creating a greener future for the communities we serve,” WMSCMI chairman Abraham Uypeckcuat.

This latest deal builds on the ongoing partnership between the two companies for the installation of solar facilities across WalterMart malls in Quezon, Zambales, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Bulacan and Rizal.

WalterMart first tapped First Gen in 2019 for the installation of a solar power facility on top of a mall carpark building in Nasugbu, Batangas.

“As WalterMart continues to grow and open new community spaces across the country, First Gen will be ready to power every expansion and deliver what is truly a baseload source of renewable energy,” First Gen president and COO Francis Giles Puno said.

Currently, WalterMart has 45 community malls nationwide, 25 of which are expected to be powered by solar energy before the end of the year.

This is aligned with WalterMart’s goal of sourcing 20 percent of its electricity requirements by year-end.

First Gen, one of the country’s leading renewable power developers, operates over 1,700 MW of capacity from solar, wind, hydro and geothermal energy sources.

The Philippine Star

November 21, 2025 | 12:00am

The Philippine delegation received support from farmer groups and community organizations after emphasizing that the country’s tobacco policies should reflect its priorities, resources and the realities of communities dependent on tobacco farming.

The 11th Conference of the Parties (COP) is being held in Geneva, Switzerland, from November 17 to 22, where countries discuss tobacco control policies.

In his opening statement on November 17, Ambassador Carlos Sorreta noted that while the Philippines supports long-term diversification, transitions must be socially and economically responsible to avoid harming tobacco-reliant communities.

“We must ensure transitions are responsible as we diversify livelihoods and sustain investments, consistent with our laws and the Convention,” he said, adding that implementation should respect “sovereignty and different national contexts.”

The delegation clarified that new proposals are not binding and adoption will depend on how well they align with Philippine laws and inter-agency procedures. This approach was welcomed by groups warning that abrupt or overly restrictive measures could affect rural economies.

The Northern Luzon Alliance (NLA), representing lawmakers from tobacco-growing areas, said the delegation helped prevent measures that didn’t match local agricultural realities.

“We appreciate the Philippine delegation for considering the welfare of farmers and communities in tobacco-growing provinces and ensuring proposals do not impose unrealistic quotas or phase out tobacco sales,” the group said, noting that such measures could have disrupted rural livelihoods.

The Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) highlighted tobacco’s long-standing role in rural economies, saying it remains a primary source of income in nearly 20 provinces. They added that the delegation’s approach reflected an understanding of local realities.

“In protecting farmers and their communities, the Philippine delegation acted with fairness and care. Their approach considered those most affected and supported both livelihoods and future stability,” the group said.