Category: Philippine Star

Senate finance chair Sherwin Gatchalian flagged the involvement of flood control contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya in the anomalous construction of hospital facilities during the Department of Health (DOH)’s budget deliberation yesterday.

Gatchalian lamented the wasted public funds in uncompleted or idle hospital facilities, citing a 2024 Commission on Audit (COA) report about 123 DOH contracts worth P11.5 billion not completed on time due to poor coordination, approval delays and changes in site locations, among others.

He said the average P100-million budget for the graft-tainted flood control projects could have been used for the construction of a new building for the children’s hospital.

‘This is P11.5 billion that we cannot use and got stuck, because of poor planning, lack of coordination and poor execution. We really need to spend our budget wisely,’ Gatchalian said.

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa mentioned the DOH’s ‘flood control version’ of the scandal, with 400 of their 600 health centers under its health facilities enhancement program left idle because of lack of health care personnel and delayed construction due to contractors’ lapses.

COA supervising auditor for DOH Ameer Gamama said Discaya’s firm St. Gerrard Construction was involved in a P133-million Zamboanga sanitarium project that was left idle despite being 98 percent complete and a P22.45-million DOH satellite project in Zamboanga del Norte that was completed but instead used as a classroom by the Mindanao State University.

Herbosa also lamented lawmakers’ practice of ‘budget insertions’ in the national outlay for DOH projects not part of its health facility development plan, resulting in poor planning and faulty or delayed construction.

Farm-to-market roads

The Department of Agriculture (DA) yesterday said its audit of farm-to-market roads has uncovered P115 million in ‘ghost’ projects from P75 million initially reported, adding to the roster of questionable government infrastructure flagged so far.

‘It’s not that big but it’s still alarming because why are there ghost projects,’ Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. told reporters on the sidelines of the opening day of the 47th meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City.

He said his agency is coordinating with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and that he plans to personally visit the sites.

The agriculture official said the previous day that the contractors behind the P115 million in ‘ghost’ projects were not among the 15 firms earlier identified by President Marcos.

The DA launched the audit earlier this year after the Senate began looking into alleged irregularities in flood control projects, prompting the agency to scrutinize its own road programs.

The country still lacks about 62,000 kilometers of farm-to-market roads, according to the agriculture official, stressing the need to safeguard funds so these can be used for actual construction and improvements rather than lost to anomalies.

Investigate EDCA

Apart from anomalies in flood control projects, militant fishers’ group Pambansang Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said the government should also investigate DPWH’s budget allocation for a military site covered by the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Pamalakaya chairman Fernando Hicap said the DPWH’s Tatag ng Imprastraktura Para sa Kapayapaan at Seguridad appropriated P3 billion for various support of national security, including the expansion of an airstrip in the island town of Balabac in Palawan.

For Hicap, it is unacceptable that public funds are being used for an EDCA site that he said has no benefit for Filipinos and also puts the country’s security at risk.

Aside from the expansion of the Balabac airstrip, Hicap said the DPWH also provided funds to build a hangar at the Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu and the construction of hangars and various military infrastructure at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.

Instead of military bases, Hicap said government funds should be used to build infrastructure that will directly benefit people.

Removal of ethics

The Catholic Educators Association of the Philippines (CEAP) warned that corruption in the government would worsen amid the Department of Education (DepEd)’s proposal to remove the Ethics subject from the General Education (GE) curriculum of higher education institutions as the country is rocked by flood control scandal.

CEAP executive director Narcy Ador Dionisio said that ethics form the conscience of students.

‘Ethics is not optional. It is essential to look at what’s happening to our country today,’ Dionisio said.

‘Ethics forms the conscience of our students and without it, we risk producing graduates who may be competent but lack integrity. Academic knowledge without ethical grounding will never serve the common good,’ he added.

‘We’re talking about good people initially when they graduate from a Catholic school or other schools and eventually, they turn into thieves and this is the same reason why CEAP is firmly opposing the removal of Ethics in the general education curriculum,’ he noted. -Alden Monzon, Emmanuel Tupas, Bella Cariaso

With former Most Valuable Player Clint Escamis hounded by foul trouble, his teammates stepped up and towed the Mapua Cardinals over the Lyceum Pirates in their NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball matchup Wednesday evening.

Mapua escaped Lyceum, 90-89, in a double overtime thriller.

There, Escamis played just 21 minutes and 19 seconds before fouling out in the first overtime. He finished with eight points, four rebounds and two assets to go with two steals as he struggled from the floor on a 4-of-15 clip.

After the game, the guard said he is happy with the way the other Cardinals picked up the slack in the grind-it-out win.

‘Sobrang saya ko kasi syempre, hindi lang naman ako yung Mapua e. One to 15-man lineup kami, pwede maglaro, pwede mag-bench, pwede mag-start,’ he said.

‘Kahit sino sa amin, maaasahan yun. Yun lang yung gusto ko, gusto ko [i-emphasize] sa kanila. Yung just be ready all the time when your number’s called. No emotions, pag pinasok ka, ready ka,’ he added.

Escamis was called for three early fouls in the first quarter of the game.

He was able to keep himself from committing his fourth foul until the 5:17 mark of the fourth, and he was finally whistled for his final foul with 3:27 remaining in overtime.

Still, his teammates stepped up, led by JC Recto, who finished with 16 points, nine rebounds, five steals and three assists. EJ Sapasap also had 16 markers and four boards for the Cardinals.

But the hero of the night was Marc Cuenco, who tallied 14 points, including a split from the line with 6.8 seconds remaining in the second overtime to push Mapua ahead for good.

Escamis admitted that it was ‘very frustrating’ for him to watch from the sidelines and be unable to help his teammates when the game went into deep waters, but he emphasized that he trusts his fellow Cardinals.

‘I just cheered them on, kinausap ko sila, like veteran advice, and they pulled out the win.’

And with this, Escamis underscored that it is a ‘good experience’ for them to have such a game to start their title defense bid.

”Di na kami magsha-shy away sa mga ganito moments. Especially yung mga rookies, mga bagong pasok. Ano lang agad sila, mga honed na agad sila sa mga ganitong sitwasyon,’ he said.

‘Pero kailangan namin mag-improve para sa defense kasi we were grateful na panalo kami, pero dapat yung margin of panalo dapat di umabot sa ganiyan.’

Mapua will be back in action next Wednesday, taking on Perpetual Help at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Tropical Cyclone Paolo has strengthened into a tropical storm, triggering the hoisting of Wind Signal No. 1 over more areas in Luzon on Thursday morning, October 2.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA reported Paolo 705 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon, with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gusts up to 80 kph.

The storm is moving west-northwest at 20 kph.

Wind Signals

With Paolo gaining strength, PAGASA has raised Wind Signal No. 1 over 21 more provinces, along with Catanduanes.

Signal No. 1 (strong winds in 36 hours)

Luzon

Mainland Cagayan

Isabela

Quirino

Nueva Vizcaya

Apayao

Abra

Kalinga

Mountain Province

Ifugao

Benguet

Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Sur

La Union

Pangasinan

the northern portion of Zambales (Palauig, Masinloc, Candelaria, Santa Cruz)

Tarlac

Nueva Ecija

Aurora

the northern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel, San Ildefonso)

the northern portion of Pampanga (Magalang, Arayat, Candaba, Mabalacat City)

the northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar) including Polillo Islands

and the northern portion of Catanduanes (Pandan, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga)

Under Wind Signal No. 1, only light damage to infrastructure is anticipated, unless structures are poorly built or made of light or makeshift materials.

Intermittent rains are expected to soak these provinces by Friday, October 3, as Paolo approaches landfall.

According to the heavy rainfall outlook, Cagayan and Isabela could receive over 200 millimeters of rain tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the following provinces are forecast to get 100 to 200 millimeters:

Quirino

Aurora

Apayao

Abra

Benguet

Kalinga

Mountain Province

Ifugao

Nueva Vizcaya

Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Sur

La Union

Pangasinan

Heavy rain of 50 to 100 millimeters is also forecast in Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales and Bataan.

PAGASA warned it may raise a gale warning over the coastal waters of Northern and Central Luzon by Thursday afternoon due to expected rough to very rough seas.

Forecast track

As it moves west-northwest, Paolo is expected to hit Isabela or northern Aurora by Friday morning, but its track could veer south if the high-pressure system north of the storm strengthens.

After moving across land, Paolo is expected to emerge over the West Philippine Sea by Friday afternoon and leave the Philippine area of responsibility by Saturday morning, October 4.

The storm is projected to reach severe tropical storm strength by Friday morning and may briefly intensify into a typhoon before landfall. The highest Wind Signal likely to be raised is No. 3, though Signal No. 4 remains possible.

Alex Eala endured what’s easily one of the longest matches she’s ever played, gutting out a 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (3-7), 7-5 win over Belgian Greet Minnen to progress to the Suzhou Open quarterfinals at the Sungent International Tennis Center in China yesterday.

With her fortitude and resilience, the fourth-seeded Eala emerged triumphant in the match that lasted over three hours, booking a Last 8 face-off with Swiss sixth seed Viktorija Goluvic.

Goluvic, with a career-high singles WTA ranking of No. 35 and currently at No. 90, made short work of Czech Republic’s Linda Fruhvirtova, 6-2, 6-0, in making the quarters.

Eala, on the other hand, needed to dig deep to overcome the power-hitting Minnen and reach a fourth straight quarters. For making the Last 8 at Suzhou, the Filipina ace is now guaranteed of $3,450 cash prize (over P200,000).

Eala survived a rollercoaster ride in the opening set, blowing away a 3-0 lead but then fighting back from 0-3 down in the tiebreak.

But Minnen, the WTA No. 72 with a career winnings of over $3 million, was a tough nut to crack, striking back in the second-set tiebreaker.

The fierce duel extended all the way to the third with Eala eventually prevailing on the third match point as Minnen’s power shot went long.

Minnen hammered nine aces as against Eala’s three. The Filipina, however, had the last laugh, scoring a total of 127 points as against Minnen’s 119.

Pope Leo XIV has expressed sympathy for the victims of the Cebu earthquake, relayed through the Apostolic Nuncio following the magnitude 6.9 tremor that claimed dozens of lives.

‘The Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Charles John Brown, called me to convey the Holy Father’s heartfelt sympathies for all the survivors of the earthquake, and his prayers for the eternal repose of the victims,’ newly-installed Cebu Archbishop Alberto Uy said in a Facebook post. The magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck at 9:59 p.m. on Monday, September 30, with the epicenter located five kilometers deep and about 21 kilometers northeast of Bogo City, Cebu.

In response, Uy on Tuesday, October 1, ordered a structural assessment of all churches and rectories in the affected areas.

He also instructed parishes in the northern part of Cebu that were severely affected by the seismic activity to refrain from using their church buildings until safety assessments are completed.

As of writing, the death toll has risen to 72.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has recorded at least 3,036 aftershocks following the initial tremor.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has suspended the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) and other preparations for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the poll body has ordered all election officials nationwide to terminate preparations for the barangay and SK elections as the law resetting the electoral exercises to Nov. 2 next year has become effective.

‘Up to now, no temporary restraining order has been issued by the Supreme Court regarding the resetting of the barangay and SK elections,’ Garcia said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay yesterday. ‘In the meantime, the law stopping the conduct of the elections on Dec. 1 has become effective and there is no point to proceed with the filing of COCs.’

The filing of COCs for the barangay and SK elections was supposed to start yesterday.

The Comelec, Garcia said, would come up with a new calendar of activities for the holding of the electoral exercises next year. He said the poll body waited until yesterday for the high tribunal’s action on a petition questioning the law that reset the elections.

He said procurement of necessary election materials for the barangay and SK elections would proceed. Only the filing of COCs, observance of election and campaign periods have been terminated.

The Comelec has spent P2 billion of the P11.5-billion budget allocated for the barangay and SK elections, Garcia said, noting that Congress has allotted an additional P7.46 million to the remaining P9.5-billion budget to be used for the election next year.

Two executives have left the boardroom of courier giant LBC Express Holdings Inc. in another leadership shakeup for the company that is trying to sustain its return to profit.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, LBC said directors Miguel Camahort and Jason Rosenblatt have resigned effective yesterday.

Camahort served as president and CEO of LBC, until the courier announced in August that it was promoting chief finance officer Enrique Rey Jr. as its new head.

LBC appointed a new president and CEO to make way for Camahort’s retirement. Camahort left LBC at a time when it was just returning to profit on the success of its cost-cutting interventions.

Meanwhile, Rosenblatt is leaving his directorship in LBC to focus on other assignments abroad. LBC said it may be difficult for Rosenblatt to balance responsibilities if he stays in the company.

Currently, Rosenblatt serves as a partner and head of Southeast Asia private equity head for Ares Private Equity Group, which he joined in 2023 and is based in Los Angeles, California.

LBC is facing renewed optimism that it can stay in profit, as it is now led by Rey who has taken care of its financials since 2015 prior to his promotion.

Rey has served the LBC Group for close to two decades now, having been appointed as director of LBC Mundial Inc. from 2005 to 2008 and of LBC Systems Inc. from 2008 to 2010.

LBC posted a profit of P194.79 million in the first half, reversing its net loss of P251.66 million a year ago. Although LBC sustained a five-percent revenue decline to P6.98 billion, it managed to mitigate impact by slashing costs by four percent to P5.34 billion.

The company is undertaking cost-cutting efforts to nurse its finances back to health. This led the courier to reduce branches and personnel across the Philippines.

LBC projects revenue to pick up in the second semester, particularly during the holiday season, when remittance and shipping activities traditionally reach their highest.

Recently, LBC has received a show cause letter from the Securities and Exchange Commission to explain the delay in its submission of its sustainability report for 2022, which the courier said it is now addressing.

As the PBA met the media to launch its 50th season yesterday, the pro league brought in tow the newest member of the family – Pureblends Corp..

Officially on board after the completion of its purchase of NorthPort, Pureblends is carrying the Titan Ultra Giant Risers banner to start its PBA journey.

Their designated representative to the board, Emilio Tiu, attended the team’s first public function with much excitement.

‘We’re very happy we are formally accepted by the PBA,’ Tiu said as he joined his peers in the PBA board and commissioner Willie Marcial in the event that served as curtain raiser for the golden season that starts Sunday.

‘Since last year, we’ve already had the intention of joining the PBA because of the product exposure and the quality of the players. But we waited for this year because we feel this is the right timing, being the 50th year of PBA,’ he added.

He explained Pureblends decided to use Titan Ultra, a male dietary supplement the company is rolling out soon, for it felt it would be ‘an impact product.’

With a squad led by veterans Calvin Abueva, Joshua Munzon, Aljun Melecio, Von Pessumal and young guns Fran Yu, Chris Koon and Mario Barasi and coached by John Cardel, Tiu promised a competitive Giant Risers crew.

‘I have to admit we’re still young but we have a complete lineup and we have four or five veterans who can guide the young ones. We’ll give the strong teams a fight,’ said the Pureblends exec.

Titan’s arrival is one of many exciting changes on tap for the season.

Four new coaches are making their debut in Magnolia’s LA Tenorio, Phoenix’ Willy Wilson, Terrafirma’s Ronald Tubid and Pampanga Vice Gov. Dennis Pineda of Converge while Cardel, formerly with the Dyip, is on a comeback with the Pureblends franchise.

Aside from Tiu, there are two other fresh faces on the board in Jason Webb of Magnolia and former NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio of Terrafirma.

The PBA has lined up a loaded opening weekend.

On Saturday, the 12 teams engage with fans in a meet-and-greet at the Smart Araneta Coliseum then join the stars and personalities of yesteryears in a homecoming event at the Meralco Theater.

On Sunday, the Leo Awards for Season 49 at Novotel Manila precedes the formal opening ceremony at the Big Dome before Manila Clasico rivals Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia, with Tenorio on the other side this time, fire the first salvo in the Philippine Cup.

‘At 50, we are healthy, we are strong and ready to face the next 50 years, for the next generation of players will emerge, where fans can interact with them in a digital and social media space. The PBA remains solid now at 50 and look forward to the next 50 with much enthusiasm,’ PBA chairman Ricky Vargas said in a video message from overseas.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed 70 criminal complaints against former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo and several of her relatives over alleged falsification and violations of the Anti-Dummy Law.

The complaints accuse Guo and her family of misrepresenting their citizenship to establish businesses and acquire real estate in Marilao, Bulacan.

In a statement on Thursday, October 2, the NBI said the cases were lodged before the Malolos, Bulacan Prosecutor’s Office by its Bulacan South District Office (BUSDO).

Chinese identity bared. The probe stemmed from a Senate inquiry earlier this year, which revealed that Guo’s true identity is Guo Hua Ping, a Chinese national. Investigators also identified her relative Shiela Leal Guo, also known as Mier Zhang, as a Chinese national.

NBI findings showed Alice, Shiela, and Siemen Guo acted as incorporators in six firms-including QJJ Group of Companies Inc., QSeed Genetics Inc., and QJJ Slaughter House Inc.-all registered at a shared corporate address on Maligaya Street, Barangay Patubig, Marilao.

The three allegedly declared themselves as Filipinos in the companies’ incorporation papers to secure majority ownership of shares.

Co-incorporators Guo Jian Zhong and Lin Wen Yi were also implicated.

The address is tied to a 4,636-square-meter property bought by Alice Guo on Oct. 5, 2010, for P2 million-a purchase now under dispute.

Breakdown of charges

The NBI detailed the following cases against Guo and her relatives:

30 counts of falsification of public documents tied to incorporation papers, a secretary’s certificate, and a 2021 general information sheet.

30 counts of simulation of minimum capital stock under Section 2 of the Anti-Dummy Law (Commonwealth Act No. 108).

Four counts of falsification of public documents related to business, occupancy, and building permit applications.

Six additional counts of falsification against Guo Hua Ping for allegedly falsifying the deed of sale and documentary stamps in the Marilao property purchase.

Guo is currently detained at the Pasig City Jail on separate charges, including money laundering, qualified human trafficking, graft, obstruction of justice, falsification, and perjury.

She was previously dismissed as Bamban mayor over her alleged ties to illegal gaming hubs and offshore gaming operations in her town, which investigators said were fronts for online scams and human trafficking.

Inflation likely accelerated in September on the back of rising food and fuel costs, though overall price gains are still expected to remain near the lower end of the government’s target band, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said.

The BSP said September inflation may settle within the 1.5 to 2.3 percent range, faster than August’s 1.5 percent.

If realized at the upper end, it would mark the first time in six months, or since February’s 2.1 percent print, that inflation breaches the two percent level, bringing it back within the BSP’s two to four percent target band.

‘Upward price pressures for the month are likely to arise from higher prices of rice and fish. Elevated domestic fuel costs likewise contributed to the upside price pressures for the month,’ the BSP said in a statement.

These, however, may be partly offset by lower vegetable and meat prices as well as cheaper electricity rates.

‘Going forward, the BSP will continue to monitor evolving domestic and international developments affecting the outlook for inflation and growth in line with its data-dependent approach to monetary policy formulation,’ it added.

The Philippine Statistics Authority will release the September inflation data on Oct. 7. This comes ahead of the BSP’s Oct. 9 policy meeting, where investors are watching closely if the Monetary Board will deliver another 25-basis-point rate cut or opt to keep the key rate on hold at five percent.

HSBC ASEAN economist Aris Dacanay said the decision is finely balanced.

‘As the BSP nears the end of its easing cycle, finding the right monetary stance has become an exercise of making small adjustments,’ Dacanay said.

According to Dacanay, food-driven inflation risks should remain a key consideration for policymakers, with supply disruptions from typhoons Nando and Opong expected to exert upward pressure on prices.

He also said that the extension of the government’s 60-day rice import ban by President Marcos could also add to these pressures in the coming months.

At the same time, there is still limited evidence that the economy is losing momentum. The recent depreciation of the peso against the dollar may likewise temper the BSP’s appetite for further easing, as it raises the risk of higher import costs feeding into inflation.

‘That said, we are penciling in a rate hold next week wherein the BSP keeps its policy rate at five percent,’ Dacanay said.

Michael Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., placed his own September inflation forecast at 2.1 percent.

Despite the uptick, Ricafort said that the benign outlook still leaves space for easing.

‘Inflation could possibly pick up to two-percent levels for the rest of 2025, but would still average 1.8 percent for the year, thereby supporting future policy rate cuts that would match US Fed rate cuts,’ Ricafort said.

He cautioned, however, that risks remain from volatile global oil prices, storm damage to food supply and peso depreciation.

The central bank’s Monetary Board has already cut rates by a cumulative 150 basis points since August 2024, with BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. earlier signaling openness to one more cut before year-end.