Category: Philippine Star

Leading automotive firm Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) is expanding its vehicle offering with the introduction of the all-new ATIV subcompact sedan this month.

In a statement, TMP said the ATIV to be launched on Oct. 24, will have a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) variant, the company’s lowest priced electrified model.

The ATIV is designed to meet the evolving needs of Filipino consumers, particularly professionals and young families looking to make their first or additional vehicle purchase.

‘The all-new Toyota ATIV is another statement of Toyota’s continued mission to bring electrified mobility within reach of more Filipinos,’ Elijah Sue Marcial, first vice president for vehicle sales operations at TMP said.

‘We know choosing your first car and an electrified model at that, can be a bold decision, so the ATIV makes it simple and easy by delivering modern HEV features, while providing peace of mind with reliability, safety, ease of ownership and joy of use,’ she said further.

Available in both hybrid and gasoline options, the ATIV features fuel economy, ease of maneuverability, modern safety and intelligent technology.

It is equipped with safety features such as pre-collision system, automatic high beam, lane tracing assist and lane departure alert.

In addition, all ATIV models include multiple airbags, anti-lock brake system with brake assist, vehicle stability control, blind spot monitor and ISOFIX child restraint systems.

The ATIV HEV variant is priced at P1.198 million, while the same variant in the attitude black mica color is available at a higher P1.208 million.

Meanwhile, the ATIV 1.5 G CVT variant is priced at P1.069 million. The Ativ 1.3 E CVT is available at P980,000, while the 1.3 E M/T variant costs P916,000.

Customers can see the ATIV up close during the launch to be held from Oct. 24 to 26, at the BGC Amphitheater in Taguig City.

Customers can also visit Toyota’s dealerships to learn more and be among the first to get the new ATIV.

Mondelez International and the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) recently signed a memorandum of agreement whereby the snacks company seeks the expertise of DOST-FNRI to develop guidelines on healthy and balanced snacking for Filipinos.

The signing held last September was attended by Mondelez International managing director Aleli Arcilla and DOST-FNRI Director III and OIC-Office of the Director Lucieden Raz. It marks a significant step toward ensuring good nutrition and health by promoting snack recommendations for Filipino adults aged 19 to 59 years old.

‘This engagement is a momentous milestone in support of our Company’s advocacy to snack mindfully,’ said Arcilla. ‘With the completion of this study and the eventual promotion of snack recommendations, we look forward to helping foster healthier snacking habits, ultimately improving the overall well-being of the Filipino people.’

Arcilla adds, ‘We advocate for mindful snacking, which is eating with attention and intention. We encourage our consumers to first understand why they want to snack, and make sure to enjoy their snacking experience by being present in the moment. This means taking out distractions when eating, savoring the smell, taste and texture of their food, chewing slowly and portioning their snacks. Research has shown that snacking mindfully helps avoid overindulgence and helps establish a healthier relationship with food.’

The State of Philippine Snacking

According to the 2024 State of Philippine Snacking report, 98% of Filipinos snack at least once a day; higher than the global average. The State of Snacking is an annual report commissioned by Mondelez International with The Harris Poll to understand consumer snacking behavior all over the world. Now in its sixth year, this report compiled survey responses from October 10-22, 2024, among adults in the Philippines, aged 18 or older.

The report shows that while Filipinos may snack often, an overwhelming 99% of survey responders already engage in mindful snacking behaviors, with 92% agreeing, ‘I appreciate my snacks more when consumed mindfully. Furthermore, the most important piece of snacking advice that consumers have received has been to ‘.enjoy snacks in moderation’ (55%). 80% of consumers look for portion-controlled snacks, while 91% agree, ‘I combine my favorite snack foods with other, more nutritious foods for balance.’

Healthy snacking recommendations for Filipino adults

Through the financial support of Mondelez International, the DOST-FNRI will conduct a study on Filipino snacking habits and establish snack recommendations for Filipino adults aged 19 to 59 years old that provide guidance on caloric needs and nutritional quality needed for snacks. These recommendations can further guide Filipinos with their snacking habits.

In focusing on snacks, the project complements the existing food guides by providing information on how snacks can be part of a balanced daily diet.

‘This undertaking with Mondelez International will help support a better understanding of Filipino’s snacking behaviors, to be able to provide more comprehensive guidance on how they should consume their snacks,’ shares Raz. ‘We look forward to understanding more about how and why Filipinos snack.’

Based on the study’s findings, the DOST-FNRI will further provide evidence-based recommendations for healthier snacking habits, promoting better overall nutrition and well-being.

Bearish sentiment could again prevail in the local stock market this week, with investors still searching for positive catalysts to fuel a rally.

‘Market could remain sluggish until more positive news flow emerges. Apparently, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) rate cut proved less of a perk-up. The Davao earthquake following that of Cebu is a bad reminder of climate vulnerability of the economy,’ First Metro Investment Corp. head of research Cristina Ulang said.

Sun Life Investment Management president Michael Enriquez also expects the market to continue its consolidation as the market digests the recent BSP rate cut.

‘Still no significant catalyst for the market this week,’ he said.

In the near term, Reyes Tacandong and Co. senior adviser Jonathan Ravelas said the market is seen to continue trading sideways within the 5,800 to 6,100 levels.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) finished in red territory last Friday at 6,037.79, down by 1.16 percent week-on-week.

The broader All Shares index also declined by 0.74 percent week-on-week to 3,658.44.

‘As of last week’s closing, the local market remains undervalued with a price-to-earnings (PE) ratio of 10.1x. This is below its five-year historical average of 17.3x and the regional average of 18.6x. As of the moment, the PSEi still has the lowest PE ratio among peers,’ Philstocks Financial research manager Japhet Tantiangco said.

Tantiangco said that while there are opportunities for bargain hunting in the coming days, the local bourse may still move with a downward bias.

University of Perpetual Help remains the only undefeated team in NCAA Season 101 basketball wars, and Patrick Sleat is one reason why.

Averaging 10.75 points, 5.25 rebounds, 3.5 assists, one steal and 1.75 blocks in the Altas’ first four games, Sleat made an immediate impact in his first season in the grand old league.

The last time that the Las Piñas-based crew went 4-0 was back in 2015 when Scottie Thompson and Bright Akhuetie were running the show.

His consistent performances during Perpetual’s best start in a decade earned him the distinction of being the first Collegiate Press Corps NCAA Player of the Week this season, presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for the period of October 1-12.

The former FEU Tamaraw’s highlight in this four-game run was a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds, on top of five assists, three blocks and a steal in their 75-65 win over defending champion Mapua University last Wednesday.

With the game tied at 65 with four minutes left, Sleat sealed the Altas’ late 10-0 run to claim the victory and maintain their unbeaten streak.

Prior to that, Sleat had 10 points in Perpetual’s 67-54 win against San Sebastian, followed by a nine-point outing against LPU where they won 73-61.

After that win against Mapua, Perpetual notched its fourth straight win against Arellano University, 72-67, where Sleat had 12 points, three rebounds, three blocks, one assist and one steal.

Sleat edged out teammate Mark Gojo Cruz, Janti Miller of San Beda University, Sean Salvador of Jose Rizal University, Justine Sanchez of College of Saint Benilde, and JC Recto of Mapua University for the citation supported by minor sponsors Discovery Suites and Buffalo Wings N’ Things.

The 24-year-old Sleat admitted he felt at home in Perpetual, especially with head coach Olsen Racela, his former coach at FEU, calling the shots.

‘Halos same lang din pinapatakbo rito [sa Perpetual]. May mga konting lang na adjustments,’ Sleat said.

Even Racela said Sleat’s veteran presence will be one of their key factors in Season 101.

”Yung [experience] ang kailangan namin last year. Nadagdagan din kami ng mga recruits namin from high school to the transferees,’ Racela added.

And La Salle’s woes continued to pile up.

In the middle of a losing skid to fall outside the Top 4, the Green Archers absorbed another blow with the MCL injury of ace forward Mason Amos nearing the end of the first round in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.

‘I have faith in you, Lord,’ said Amos after his MRI results confirmed the suspected right knee injury he suffered late in La Salle’s 82-78 loss to National University over the weekend at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in España.

Amos will be out for at least 4-6 weeks, putting back-to-back finalists La Salle in further jeopardy for the rest of the second round of action with its Final Four bid and a title redemption tour hanging in the balance.

The 6-foot-7 Filipino-Australian transferee exited the match in the 7:03 mark of the fourth quarter following a hard collission with NU’s Gelo Santiago.

Amos, according to head coach Topex Robinson, heard something popped in his right knee that prompted his immediate transport to the Makati Medical Center.

A transferee from Ateneo and a standout in Gilas Pilipinas, hopes were high for Amos in his La Salle debut, after serving his eligibility last year, in carrying the torch following the graduation of two-time UAAP Kevin Quiambao.

He’s averaging 8.2 points, 3.2 assists and 2.8 rebounds through five games as the Green Archers limped to a 2-3 slate so far with two losses in a row in a tough post-Quiambao era.

Included in La Salle’s struggle was a 93-84 loss to University of Santo Tomas in the opening week before trailing by as many as 33 points in an 81-74 loss to Ateneo and NU.

The wins by the Green Archers were also by the slimmest of margins, escaping Adamson, 60-58, and Far Eastern University, 74-72, ahead of duels against winless but dangerous UE as well as fierce rival UP to end the round.

As corruption is an issue that affects us all, its impact on various industries cannot be denied. However, despite massive corruption issues recently brought into the spotlight in the Philippines, the property market remains resilient as stakeholders focus on improving compliance and transparency initiatives.

‘While corruption remains a long-standing concern, the Philippine property market continues to show resilience,’ KMC Savills chief executive officer Joe Curran told The STAR in an email.

‘Investor sentiment has become more discerning rather than withdrawn. Many are now focusing on developers and locations with strong compliance, transparency and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) practices. The government, in turn, has been introducing digital systems for permitting and land titling as well as implementing public financial management reforms to improve accountability and investor confidence,’ he added.

In a recent interview with reporters, Leechiu Property Consultants chief executive officer David Leechiu said the impact of corruption issues on the property market is likely temporary.

‘There might be a pullback in transaction volume, but I don’t think prices are going to fall. I think this is highly temporary,’ Leechiu said.

‘As far as the property market is concerned, we are very blessed because the office market continues to perform very strongly. Despite all the problems of the world and this country, the property market continues to perform very well. Data centers, malls, office tenants and residential tenants are expanding. And what you see, which is the depression in the stock market and the depression in the currency, it’s all sentiment-driven,’ he added.

Caution on luxury market

Asked to comment on reports that the luxury residential segment has seen weaker demand since corruption issues regarding flood control projects surfaced, Curran said there has been some caution.

‘It’s true that the luxury segment has seen some caution, particularly among speculative investors. However, this is balanced by continued interest from end-users, expatriates and overseas Filipinos who view prime developments as long-term lifestyle and investment assets,’ Curran said.

For licensed real estate broker Michelle Daygo, demand in the luxury property market continues to remain strong, noting that she has not personally seen weaker demand since recent corruption issues surfaced.

‘It’s just a certain portion of the buyers that are involved in politics. So, in my case, the take-up of luxury properties is not affected,’ Daygo, president and founder of Kuaima Realty, said in a phone interview.

Daygo emphasized that buyers in the luxury market remain mostly businessmen.

According to LPC, sales in the upper-middle to luxury segments rose sharply in the third quarter of the year, with the luxury segment posting a 214 percent increase in unit sales from the same period a year ago.

With some caution among speculative investors in the luxury market, Curran said developers are responding by elevating quality standards – integrating sustainability certifications, enhancing property management services and aligning more closely with global luxury benchmarks.

‘These efforts are reinforcing trust in the premium market even amid broader political or governance challenges,’ he added.

Zero tolerance for corruption

Aside from the efforts of the private sector, the government has also introduced measures geared toward addressing corruption in the property sector, particularly the housing market, such as the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development’s (DHSUD) zero-tolerance policy for corruption, which is among its recently launched eight-point agenda.

Senior Undersecretary Sharon Faith Paquiz explained that as part of its zero-tolerance effort, the agency launched a zero-backlog program that aims to resolve pending regulatory cases filed with the agency.

‘When we launched the zero-backlog program, we inventoried more or less 3,100 to 3,500 cases pending since 2020, and we were able to zero it out in a six-week period,’ she said in a press conference last week.

‘What is good about this is that the applications for licenses to sell that have been pending or sleeping in the regional offices for the longest time have been released within a six-week period. It boosts the housing industry by issuing the necessary permits and licenses,’ she added.

Paquiz explained that ‘too many delays breed corruption’ when it comes to the issuance or release of required permits and licenses, as it builds the perception that one must pay for faster processing.

‘The longer the application, the more they will be encouraged to ask how much they need to give for it to be released. This is what we are trying to kill in the department. It has to be released within a certain period of time,’ she said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Improvement in transparency

The Philippines still has room for improvement when it comes to real estate transparency, as it ranks 45th among 89 countries in the Global Real Estate Transparency Index released by Jones Lang LaSalle in 2024. The country posted a composite score of 2.95, placing it among semi-transparent markets. This is three spots lower than its 42nd rank in 2022.

Based on the 2024 report, the Philippines posted its highest rank in the market fundamentals category, ranking 29th, while its lowest rank was in the regulatory and legal category, placing 55th. Other areas analyzed by the report include investment performance (43rd rank), listed vehicles (34th), transaction process (50th) and sustainability (50th).

As part of the country’s efforts to boost transparency in the real estate sector, the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act was signed in June last year. The measure will standardize the conduct of appraisal and valuation in the country through the creation of Philippine Valuation Standards, which push the use of prevailing market values.

In an earlier statement, Santos Knight Frank chairman and CEO Rick Santos said the law is an important step in raising valuation standards in the Philippines and encouraging transparency in the real estate sector.

He noted that global investors look at market transparency when entering emerging markets such as the Philippines, and the measure is a vital instrument to drive more investments to the country.

The law mandates a nationwide update of the Schedule of Market Values (SMVs), which will replace the BIR’s zonal values and local government units’ fair market values. It also covers the creation of a Real Property Information System, which will serve as a database of all real property transactions including sales and leases.

‘If reforms continue alongside greater transparency initiatives, the Philippines is well-positioned to sustain growth in the medium to long term. The country’s young population, strong domestic consumption and continued urbanization will remain key drivers,’ Curran said.

He emphasized that collaboration between the public and private sectors – including digitalization of real estate transactions, infrastructure partnerships and the promotion of sustainable developments – are all positive steps that can mitigate corruption-related risks and help attract more institutional capital into the country.

‘Overall, while corruption remains an ongoing challenge, both the government and the private sector have made visible efforts toward modernization, transparency and stronger governance – factors that are slowly but surely enhancing investor confidence in the Philippine property market,’ Curran said.

National Development Co. private sector board member Arsenio Bartolome believes that the government should move to combine and harness the assets of the Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC), the National Development Co. (NDC) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to grow the Philippine economy.

He even suggests that the government should seriously look into combining the private sector insurance fund, the Social Security System (SSS), with the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to create a bigger fund that would help the government invest in projects that would boost the local economy.

He pointed out that combining the SSS with the GSIS may lead to better benefits for SSS members since the GSIS provides better benefits to government workers.

In an exclusive interview, Bartolome expressed the view that the government should combine the assets of the MIC and NDC with that of the DBP, with the latter as the lone government financial institution focused on national development.

Just like what the government had done with the Philippine National Bank, which was privatized and is now owned by the family of taipan Lucio Tan, Bartolome is of the opinion that the Land Bank of the Philippines, which is also embroiled in the ongoing corruption probe on flood control projects, should also be privatized.

According to Bartolome, who previously headed the PNB and supported its privatization, the merger of the MIC, NDC and DBP would enable the government to focus on one or two major economic projects of national interest that would help spur economic activity, especially amid the slowdown in construction due to the ongoing probe into corruption in flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Bartolome noted that the MIC leadership has been unusually quiet for several months, with rumors swirling about the health of Rafael Jose ‘Joel’ Consing Jr., who was appointed in November 2023.

So far, the only announced investment of the MIC was a partnership with Thai agriculture giant Charoen Pokphand Group for a $1 billion private equity fund focusing on agriculture, food production and digital innovation. Since that announcement, no further update has been communicated by the MIC on the partnership.

Bartolome admits that he has been puzzled by the creation of the MIC from the start, pointing out that a review of its charter shows that its goal of national development is almost the same as the mandate of the NDC. The NDC, he said, could have easily been named Maharlika.

The NDC, Bartolome pointed out, holds most of the real estate assets of the PNB before its privatization and that of the DBP, and easily has more than P10 billion in assets.

In its 2024 annual audit report, it recorded a net income of P1.45 billion, a significant decrease from its 2023 net income of P3.45 billion. However, the 2024 audit report of the NDC questioned the investment property account valuation of P32.011 billion, noting the need to reconcile some variances and inconsistencies in the audit report.

Bartolome stressed the need for the Marcos Cabinet members to coordinate more closely in addressing the country’s economic challenges. ‘You get the impression they are not talking and are being overtaken by politics,’ he said.

‘Where are we going?’ Bartolome lamented, especially with the Philippines now being labeled as corrupt and foreign equity buyers exiting the local stock market, causing the bourse to momentarily fall below the 6,000 level before settling at that level at present.

Furthermore, Bartolome added, ‘In terms of power, we are the most expensive.’

He said the economic managers ‘seem to have lost their direction’ in guiding the economy, with Cabinet members not coordinating on how to steer the economy through the current corruption probe.

All eyes, Bartolome observed, are focused on the Independent Commission for Infrastructure or ICI.

‘How long do you think they should be able to come up with something? Six months? It should be very, very clear. But what if the investigation is wider? If within six months the commission is not able to complete its work, what is the proposal for the economy then?

‘Everything’s down. What does it mean? Nothing moves, nothing works. I think there’s no coordination, no understanding between the Cabinet members, the Department of Economy, Planning and Development formerly NEDA, and the Department of Finance,’ Bartolome lamented.

The NDC private board member also acknowledged the damage caused by talks of political threats and possible military upheaval that are harming the economy, leading to the flight of foreign equity funds and discouraging foreign investors from investing in the Philippines.

All these are happening even as the global economy is trying to deal with the tariff upheaval caused by US President Trump with his ‘Liberation Day’ tariff hikes and his continuing dispute with China, on which he recently announced his intent to slap a 100 percent tariff.

With the corruption probe unearthing eye-popping money laundering, there are also valid fears that the Philippines may once again be included in the Financial Action Task Force grey list, which may result in difficulties for Filipinos accessing funding or their personal foreign bank accounts.

Even though the Philippines has been removed from the grey list, there have been reports that one country has refused to accept Philippine pesos for currency exchange because we are seen as a corrupt country.

Less activity at Manila Golf

One interesting tidbit from Bartolome was his observation about how activity at the Manila Golf Club has subsided following the corruption probe.

Before the probe, Manila Golf was a beehive of activity for big shots with their entourage of bodyguards, necessitating the construction of a new canteen just for security personnel and constantly leading to a congested parking lot.

Nowadays, he chuckles, ‘there are more empty parking spaces.’

Following a reduction last month, the electric concessionaire Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) announced an upward adjustment for the month of October.

In an advisory on Monday, October 13, Meralco said that it will implement a rate increase of P0.2331 per kilowatt hour (kWh).

This increase brings the overall rate for a typical household to P13.3182 per kWh, up from P13.0851 per kWh in September.

For residential customers consuming an average of 200 kWh, this adjustment translates to an additional P47 in their total monthly electricity bill, according to Meralco.

Meralco attributed the rate hike to the generation charge, which rose by P0.1903 per kWh after having seen a P0.2603 per kWh reduction in the previous month.

The jump in the generation charge was primarily driven by the costs associated with independent power producers and power supply agreements, which increased by P0.3622 and P0.3567 per kWh, respectively.

The electricity concessionaire also attributed this to the depreciation of the local currency against the US Dollar, which it said affected 99% of IPP costs and 48% of PSA costs.

The generation charge also reflected the impact of the interim extension of Meralco’s power purchase agreement with First Gas-Sta. Rita plant, as approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission.

The increase, meanwhile, was partially mitigated by a significant decrease in charges from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, or WESM, which went down by P2.0688 per kWh due to a decrease of about 1,000 megawatts in Luzon’s peak demand.

For the period, IPPs, PSAs and WESM accounted for 21%, 74% and 5%, respectively, of Meralco’s total energy requirement.

Transmission and other charges. Transmission, taxes and other pass-through charges collectively registered a total increase of P0.0428 per kWh.

Meralco clarified that pass-through charges for generation and transmission are remitted to power suppliers and the grid operator, while taxes and universal charges are remitted to the government.

Meralco said its distribution charge remains unchanged, seeing no movements since the P0.0360 per kWh reduction implemented in August 2022.

‘Customers also continue to benefit from the ongoing implementation of the distribution-related true-up adjustment, equivalent to a reduction of P0.2024 per kWh for residential customers,’ it said.

Are the anti-corruption forces ready to play the long game?

They have to be, because their foes are. With billions at stake, with their political and family fortunes and the inheritance of their children and great-great-grandchildren at stake, the crooks play to win. And many have a proven track record of success.

These days it might look like the thieves are being drowned in the Great Flood of public opprobrium, but these creatures thrive in dirty water, and their swimming skills can win them an Olympic gold.

Their assets may be frozen and their fleets of luxury vehicles impounded, but these are the ones under their names. There must be other accounts, other fixed assets under other names, in the Philippines and overseas, that they can access outside the radar of the anti-graft and anti-money laundering police.

And a number of them are so well-connected that they can muddle or divert probes, discredit critics and investigators or sue them – and win.

Or else realpolitik can get in the way, and put an end to high-profile probes. We’ve seen this in the Blue Ribbon committee, where Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s resignation as chairman is seen as a way to save his former running mate Vicente Sotto III from losing the Senate presidency.

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), which people had thought would pick up where the Blue Ribbon and House infra comm left off, has instead gone out of its way to protect the presumed innocence of the big shots implicated in the grand looting of national coffers.

If the ICI had been formed earlier and had handled the initial hearings instead of the Senate and House, we would never have seen those photos presented by sacked engineer Brice Hernandez of the huge piles of cash supposedly meant for kickbacks to senators and public works officials. All of those implicated, after all, are presumed innocent until convicted with finality, which could happen when many of us carping critics are already dead.

Meanwhile, speculations continue to swirl over whose house wall Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong crashed into while carrying out what he thought was his mandate as ICI investigator of flood control anomalies.

Magalong is not changing his story that he quit the ICI after a Palace press briefing effectively sent him the message to ‘stand down’ and to ‘stop investigating’ the flood control scandal.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro dismissed this as ‘intrigue.’ She told us on One News’ ‘Storycon’ last week that it was President Marcos himself who had designated Magalong as ICI special adviser and not investigator. Castro said this was after Magalong refused to resign as Baguio mayor so he could concentrate fully on the ICI.

Magalong had said he appeared to have ‘struck a nerve’ and might ‘have hit too close to home.’ But he has since dialed back his pronouncements and seems ready to drop the subject, at least for now.

Castro had asked: ‘Whose nerve?’ She dared Magalong to ‘name names.’

Pressed about it on Storycon, Magalong jokingly likened our line of questioning to ‘torture.’ He told us only, ‘Let’s leave it at that.’ Last Friday, he also skirted telling The STAR’s online show ‘Truth on the Line’ whose home he might have gotten too close to in his probe.

Responding to my question, he said he and Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon have not yet looked into flood control projects in Ilocos Norte, where President Marcos’ son Sandro is a congressman. Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis Singson said last month that the Marcos bailiwick should be among the first to be subjected to the probe, adding that four contractors linked to the Discayas have many big projects in the province.

It’s a valid observation. Magalong told me that Dizon is expected to include Ilocos Norte in the inspections. For the sake of credibility, let’s hope this happens sooner than later.

Magalong told me he had no regrets in his short-lived stint in the ICI, whose members he continues to respect. He also urged people to give the ICI a chance to do its work as the commission sees fit, although he said its proceedings could be partly opened to the public – a divergence from the stand of its chairman.

Presumably, Magalong is happy to have imparted pointers on investigating the anomalies during his interactions with Dizon. Magalong has turned over to his replacement, retired national police chief Rodolfo Azurin, the voluminous notes and documents that he put together in those few days with the ICI.

Magalong’s departure from the ICI, however, continues to fuel speculations about the nerve that he struck. He is rumored to be the choice of disgruntled military officers (and PMA alumni who entered the police), mostly retirees and mid-level officers in the active service, to head a civilian-military junta.

But Magalong, like his fellow PMAyer and veteran mutineer Antonio Trillanes IV, maintained that a coup at this point is in the realm of wishful thinking, leaderless and with no support from the military top brass.

The mayor obviously knows who the disgruntled retired officers are. He indicates that while he sympathizes with their grievances against corruption and other anomalies in government, he disagrees with a leadership change and the proposed means to that end.

Like Lacson, Magalong is instead continuing his anti-corruption advocacy, even as issues are hurled in attempts to discredit them. So far the issue that refuses to go away is the speculation – and not just from the DDS – that they are protecting Marcos’ relatives, starting with resigned speaker Martin Romualdez.

Magalong is working with the Mayors for Good Governance to launch a website where government projects can be uploaded for public scrutiny and monitoring – for costing, implementation and completion, political credit grabbing and related attempts at using public resources for personal ends.

Lacson, who is still being wooed by Tito Sen to return to the Blue Ribbon (yes is yes, no is no, Lacson said), is expected to continue his anti-corruption exposés in his well-researched privilege speeches, no longer constrained by Blue Ribbon rules.

The more tortuous challenge in the long game, however, is in seeing the looters punished. This is the exclusive realm of those in charge of the legal system – a blackhole impervious to any exposé by lawmakers, multimedia and angry netizens.

Do our government leaders know what they are doing? That is, other than enriching themselves at the expense of the national good?

What happened with the 2025 National Budget is Exhibit ‘A.’

BBM said infrastructure programs are a priority, especially the rail transport systems for Metro Manila. But the budget he eventually signed relegated our counterpart funding for these ODA-assisted projects to the unappropriated section.

Donor agencies like JICA have reason to wonder what’s wrong with us. They are faithfully funding projects we urgently need, using the taxes the Japanese people paid and we don’t seem grateful enough to do our part of the deal.

Baba Takashi, JICA’s Chief Representative, diplomatically wondered about that in a recent speech at the Philippine Development Forum. Your budget priorities are often not aligned with your Philippine Development Plan, he observed.

Of course. The priorities set in our budget by our legislators with the connivance of DBM and BBM himself are pork barrel projects. To create fiscal space for pork, counterpart funding for ODA-sponsored infrastructure projects were relegated to unprogrammed status. Bahala na kung may pera pa.

But pork projects with no feasibility studies, no detailed engineering and are not even part of the national development plan are assured of funding. The intention is just to collect the funding, ghost projects lang.

Mr. Baba said: ‘We find that while the Philippine development plan sets the strategic direction, its alignment with the national budget is not always strong. This has caused delays in projects supported by Official Development Assistance (ODA).’

Naku! Mahiya naman sana ang mga opisyales natin. Tinutulungan na nga tayo, binababoy pa natin yung tulong nila.

Mr. Baba also noted the poor coordination by core government agencies, leading to inefficiencies in project rollouts.

Cited are bureaucratic bottlenecks or procedures that delay results on the ground. These include lengthy and unresponsive processes for procurement, approval of contracts, payments, right-of-way acquisition, etc.

After projects were completed, Mr. Baba complained that ‘inadequate funding or lack of long-term planning for maintenance leads to rapid deterioration of facilities and services. This gap undermines the very investment made in infrastructure.’

In other words, sinasayang lang natin ang pera ng mga Japanese taxpayers. If we keep this up, we will lose ODA support. South Korea has announced a pause in assistance due to the massive corruption in public works projects.

‘Let me emphasize that the infrastructure agenda is not just about building roads, bridges or facilities. It is about laying the foundation for inclusive growth and resilience through the combined commitment of government and development partners, backed by reforms and innovative approaches,’ Baba said.

The United States said something similar. In the State Department’s 2025 assessment of the Philippine business climate, it said, ‘Various organizations, including the World Economic Forum, have cited corruption among the top problematic factors for doing business in the Philippines.’

Aside from massive corruption in flood control projects, Sen. Win Gatchalian reports overpriced farm-to-market road (FMR) projects in 2023 and 2024, worth a total of P10.3 billion. These are not known as farm-to-pocket roads for nothing.

Based on Gatchalian’s list, the ongoing concreting of the FMR in Barangay San Roque in Tacloban City, Leyte is considered the most overpriced project, at the cost of P348,432 per meter. The DPWH standard is only P15,000 per meter. Under the 2024 GAA, the project was allocated P100 million for a length of 6.7 kilometers.

Corruption’s impact on our economy is horrible. ‘Investors aren’t fleeing because of weak fundamentals; they’re fleeing because of weak integrity. It’s a stark reminder that corruption is a weapon of mass wealth destruction… When trust breaks down, capital dries up, and everyone – government, business and the public – pays the price,’ SEC chairman Francis Lim said.

But there’s more.

Two flyovers in Iloilo Ungka Flyover (P680 million) and Aganan Flyover (P802 million) in Pavia, Iloilo have remained monuments to waste and possibly corruption. Both remain unusable: Ungka was closed to vehicular traffic after problems (foundations sinking, etc.). Aganan remains unfinished/unusable due to design/foundation flaws.

Both have the same general contractor, same design consultant, same defects, same need to stabilize the soil and similar amounts to rectify the design flaw at around P300 million each.

Worse, these flyovers are probably not needed. I have seen one of these flyovers in a recent visit to Iloilo and it is a shame.

And not to forget, the bridges in Cagayan Valley that recently collapsed. One was not yet officially open to the public and the other took years of delay to complete.

DPWH engineers on these projects should lose their professional license and be fired.

Then there is the sad state of our country’s rule of law, a major reason why investors choose other countries. The reputation of our justice system is the best that money can buy. In other words, as corrupt as everything else in our government.

The DOJ says the rule of law refers to measures to ensure adherence to the principles of supremacy of law, equality before the law, accountability to the law, fairness in the application of the law, separation of powers, participation in decision-making, legal certainty, avoidance of arbitrariness and procedural and legal transparency.

Almost anyone who has had experience with our judicial system has a sad story to tell. The tediousness of the process alone can test the patience of Job. The cost of litigation is why the poor end up in crowded jails for minor offenses while the corrupt politicians accused of plunder roam free.

Failure of law and order is a characteristic of a failed state. While we are not yet quite there, we soon will be at the rate our corrupt leaders are running our country.

So, here we are. Filipinos are running our government like hell. Manuel Quezon must be turning in his grave, never imagining it would get this bad.