Author: user user

There is ‘no turning back,’ Sen. Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson said on Wednesday as he flagged at least two suspected ‘ghost’ infrastructure projects in Taguig City, the political bailiwick of Senate Minority Floor Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.

‘Taguig ghost infra projects update: We have documented at least [two] case studies so far. Too many P100 million slope protection and drainage projects totaling P2.085 billion out of [Cayetano’s] P6.79 billion insertions under the 2025 GAA (General Appropriations Act),’ Lacson, citing initial findings by his team, said in a post on X.

He earlier said he was gathering documentary and testimonial evidence about the alleged budget insertions for 70 projects in Taguig City, adding that 68 of these were implemented.

‘So, only 2 projects, equivalent to around P75M, are left unreleased or unobligated. In short, a total of P6.715 billion was spent. While you do the math, we will keep digging,’ Lacson had said.

Barbs traded

He and Cayetano have been trading accusations since the weekend, with the latter questioning the alleged doubling of Lacson’s networth. Lacson, while stressing that he had earned his wealth through legitimate means, clapped back by saying he was still counting informants and witnesses, directly or through intermediaries, who were willing to provide information and evidence to put Cayetano in jail.

He added that one of those who had volunteered to speak up about ghost projects in Taguig City was the senator’s brother, Lino Cayetano.

The Inquirer tried to reach Senator Cayetano through his media officer for comment although he had yet to respond as of this writing.

But in a previous Facebook livestream, Cayetano had challenged Lacson to prove his claim, stressing that there are no ghost projects in Taguig.

‘If you can show one, someone should be held accountable,’ he said.

Parallel probe

The National Bureau of Investigation has also started an investigation into the alleged Taguig ghost projects following Lacson’s claims.

Over the weekend, Sen. Erwin Tulfo, the current chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee, warned Cayetano to brace himself for the resumption of the hearing on the flood control mess as Lino Cayetano would be among those who will be invited to testify.

Philippines With Metro Manila’s historic P85 daily wage increase set to take effect this week, a group of financial executives said the government’s next challenge is pursuing reforms that would prevent higher labor costs from weakening job creation and spilling over into inflation.

In a statement, the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (Finex) said that while the wage hike is a welcome move, it should be accompanied by measures that would help businesses-particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)-cope with higher labor costs.

‘The discussion should therefore move beyond the wage increase itself and focus on the broader policy measures needed to sustain both higher incomes and economic growth,’ Finex said.

‘Efforts to reduce red tape, streamline permitting processes, improve regulatory predictability, and accelerate digitalization can help businesses become more productive and competitive. Equally important are measures to lower major input costs, particularly electricity, logistics, and transportation, which continue to weigh heavily on Philippine enterprises and consumers alike,’ it added.

The Department of Labor and Employment announced on June 30 an P85 daily wage increase for around 1.1 million minimum wage earners in Metro Manila, raising the daily minimum pay to P780 from P695.

It is the largest increase ever approved by the National Capital Region’s wage board.

The increase will be implemented in two tranches, with the initial P60 taking effect on July 19 and the remaining P25 on Jan. 20, 2027.

Malacañang has confirmed the wage increase will proceed as scheduled despite calls from the Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF) to suspend its implementation over concerns that higher labor costs could prompt businesses to raise prices or lay off workers.

As it is, the hike comes as the Philippines continues to contend with elevated inflation driven by the oil shock. Inflation settled at 6.4 percent in June, with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas expecting the full-year print to average also 6.4 percent.

Finex urged the Marcos administration to continue pursuing reforms that would strengthen investor confidence and attract more domestic and foreign investments.

‘Greater investment expands productive capacity, creates quality jobs, introduces new technologies, and raises productivity-the most sustainable foundation for higher wages and improved living standards,’ the group said.

It also called for close monitoring of the wage increase’s impact on inflation, employment, business viability and wage distortion, saying higher wages should be supported by policies that encourage investment, productivity and long-term economic growth.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s ‘Build Better More’ program has been one of the centerpieces of his administration’s agenda.

In his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona), Marcos promised further improvements in transportation and infrastructure. A year later, how many of those promises have been delivered?

Marcos vowed to expand infrastructure projects nationwide, including bridges, roads, railways, airports, ports and housing. He also said more projects would be completed this year and before his term ends in 2028.

With transportation and infrastructure projects affecting mobility and access to opportunities, Filipinos are watching whether projects funded by public money are being completed as promised.

Are we on track?

Several bridge projects have faced years of delays, disrupting the daily lives of many Filipinos.

In his last Sona, Marcos highlighted the repair and completion of bridges as among his administration’s priorities.

He cited the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela, which took 10 years to complete and was damaged on Feb. 27, 2025.

Construction of the P1.2-billion project began in November 2014 and was completed on Feb. 1, 2025.

More than a year after one of its segments collapsed due to overloading, the bridge reopened to light vehicles on March 2.

Marcos also said the rehabilitation of the Guadalupe Bridge in Makati would be completed before his term ends. The project is expected to be finished in February 2028.

The rehabilitation of the Guadalupe and Lambingan bridges in Sta. Ana, Manila, is part of the Metro Manila Priority Seismic Improvement Project, undertaken with assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).

The P10.4-billion project aims to improve the bridges’ resistance to earthquakes.

Marcos had said construction of the 32-kilometer Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge would begin before the end of 2025.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon said Monday that the agency would soon award critical contract packages for the bridge, while the awarding of other packages was underway.

Dizon also said the bridge would not be completed before Marcos’ term ends.

The project aims to cut travel time between Mariveles, Bataan, and Naic, Cavite, from five hours to 45 minutes.

The country’s railway system is also expected to expand under the administration, although some projects will be completed after Marcos leaves office.

A demonstration run for the 33-kilometer Metro Manila Subway Project is targeted for 2028, while full completion is expected by 2032.

Jica is financing the more than P488-billion project under a loan agreement approved in September 2021 by the then-National Economic and Development Authority Board, now the Department of Economy, Planning and Development.

In February 2026, Marcos said the project was ahead of schedule as he led the groundbreaking for the Kalayaan Avenue and Bonifacio Global City stations in Taguig City.

The subway will run from Valenzuela City to Parañaque City, with a spur line to Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) earlier said partial operations of the 22-kilometer Metro Rail Transit Line 7 and the 147-kilometer North-South Commuter Railway were scheduled for the second quarter and the third or fourth quarter of 2027, respectively.

Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez acknowledged that right-of-way acquisition had delayed the construction and completion of railway projects.

The agency continues to relocate families affected by the projects.

The administration also offered discounted train and bus rides in 2025 and 2026.

The ‘Love Bus,’ first launched in the 1970s, was revived in Cebu and Davao to provide free rides.

In March 2026, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority relaunched the service between Robinsons Galleria and Eastwood City.

Last year, the 1+3 Pamilya Pass became available every Sunday on Metro Rail Transit Line 3 and Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2.

A 50-percent fare discount was also offered to persons with disabilities, students and senior citizens on the three rail lines.

In March 2026, the DOTr announced a 50-percent discount for all MRT-3 and LRT-2 passengers because of the conflict in the Middle East.

The DOTr also ordered the sanitation and inspection of MRT-3 trains after photos showing tiny pests inside a train handrail went viral.

A notice to explain was issued to Sumitomo Corp., the train system’s maintenance provider.

Keeping tabs

The conflict in the Middle East, which began in February, triggered a series of major oil price increases that disrupted the livelihoods of many public utility vehicle drivers and operators.

Transport groups, including Manibela and Piston, staged strikes nationwide.

They called for the removal of excise and value-added taxes on fuel products, lower fuel prices, the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law and a fare increase.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board approved fare increases for jeepneys, buses, airport taxis and transport network vehicle services that were to take effect on March 19, 2026.

Marcos suspended the increases a day before their implementation, saying it was not the right time because of the war in the Middle East.

The suspension provided relief to commuters but drew criticism from the public transportation sector.

Because of the conflict’s impact, Marcos declared a state of national energy emergency.

The government then adopted the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport as a framework for maintaining the domestic energy supply and ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of essential services.

Several investigations into alleged corruption involving flood control and other infrastructure projects were launched in 2025.

The investigations implicated major contractors and several government officials and lawmakers.

The allegations prompted thousands of Filipinos to join anti-corruption protests demanding accountability, particularly from those accused of receiving kickbacks from infrastructure projects. /

First Gen Corp. is injecting additional clean electricity to more properties under Araneta City Inc., the group behind the 35-hectare mixed-use property development in Cubao, Quezon City.

The Lopez-led power firm on Wednesday said that Araneta City has tapped First Gen anew to accelerate its shift to renewable energy.

For this new pact, First Gen will energize four additional properties in Araneta City: the 30-storey Cyberpark Tower 3 office building, the 22-storey mixed-use Aurora Tower, the former Fiesta Carnival site that is undergoing redevelopment and the remaining Fiesta Carnival Arcade.

The power supply totaling 3.4 megawatts (MW) will be sourced from First Gen’s 648-MW Unified Leyte geothermal power plants.

This came nine months after both parties sealed an agreement covering three other Araneta City properties: Ali Mall, New Frontier Theater and Manhattan Gardens.

This meets the power needs of more than 200 retail and service tenants in Ali Mall and New Frontier Theater, as well as the 18 residential towers of Manhattan Gardens.

‘We have been trying to tap renewable energy sources for the past years and we’re happy to be achieving our vision. Our BPO [business process outsourcing] locators have been asking us to source renewable energy. We look forward to growing our partnership with First Gen,’ said Araneta City senior vice president Antonio Mardo.

Araneta City was among the first to adopt the government’s retail competition and open access and retail aggregation program. These initiatives enable consumers to pick their own power providers.

‘Shifting to renewable energy is not just doing good for the environment, but also a means to manage business risks. We thank the Araneta Group for growing with us and allowing us to be their partner as they progress in their sustainability journey,’ added Carlo Vega, First Gen chief customer engagement officer.

First Gen has over 1,700 MW of combined generating capacity from 31 geothermal, hydro, wind and solar plants

Manila Electric Co., is keeping its target of expanding outside Metro Manila and nearby provinces, with Albay as its latest focus.

Speaking to reporters last week, Arnel Casanova, senior vice president and head of strategic distribution utility partnerships at Meralco, said that local government executives in Albay had approached the company to beef up Albay Electric Cooperative (Aleco).

A member-owned distribution utility, Aleco delivers electricity to three cities and 15 towns in Albay.

‘They say they are struggling because businesses planning to move into their municipalities are unable to invest due to unreliable power supply,’ Casanova said.

‘We’re studying that, and hopefully, Aleco will be welcoming us to provide us with the necessary information so we could make a better proposal,’ he added.

At present, Meralco serves more than 8.2 million consumers in the capital region, including Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and portions of Laguna, Batangas, Pampanga, and Quezon.

To recall, the power distribution giant also submitted an unsolicited proposal to partner with South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Socoteco II), whose franchise area covers General Santos City and Sarangani province. Its board, however, turned down Meralco’s offer.

Casanova said the group sent a letter to Socoteco II, urging the latter to launch a competitive selection process instead.

‘To ensure that the process will be more transparent, we encourage them to actually bid it out,’ he said.

The official also reiterated Meralco’s interest in joining the public bidding of Batangas II Electric Cooperative Inc.

Batangas has been experiencing frequent and prolonged outages, affecting businesses.

If Meralco gets hold of these power cooperatives, it would infuse capital to boost their infrastructure, including equipping them with smart systems, smart grids and line upgrades, among others.

In a previous briefing, Meralco maintained that pursuing partnerships with power cooperatives was meant to address their years-long electricity issues.