Category: Philippine Star

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has flagged incomplete or ‘ghost’ farm-to-market road projects in two provinces so far, as part of its ongoing audit of infrastructure programs, amid concerns over possible corruption and mismanagement in multibillion-peso flood control projects.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said yesterday two anomalous projects were identified in Davao Occidental.

‘It was two, in 2021 and 2022. We have not seen any recent projects, just those two,’ Tiu Laurel told reporters in a chance interview at the House of Representatives.

He noted that in the overall scope of DA infrastructure initiatives, the scale of the issue was relatively small.

Another project was spotted in Zamboanga del Norte, where a road remains unfinished and unusable.

Tiu Laurel did not provide details, such as the cost or value of the projects, noting instead they are still undergoing validation.

He said the findings will be reported to President Marcos amid the ongoing Senate inquiry on flood control projects that were either poorly built or overpriced, allowing officials and contractors to pocket kickbacks.

The revelations have implicated several lawmakers and government personnel, sparking public outrage and calls for accountability.

At the center of the controversy are billionaire contractors Sarah and Pacifico Discaya, who have since admitted to bribing lawmakers and officials at the Department of Public Works and Highways with hundreds of billions of pesos to secure massive contracts.

Several officials have been dragged into the mess, including former House member Zaldy Co and speaker Martin Romualdez as well as Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva and Chiz Escudero along with former senators Nancy Binay and Bong Revilla.

Host University of Santo Tomas shoots for a third straight win to gain a share of lead with Ateneo when it clashes against fellow unbeaten National University in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.

Game time is at 4:30 p.m. after the La Salle-Far Eastern University duel at 2 p.m., with the Growling Tigers (2-0) banking on their home crowd anew to break a second-spot tie with the Bulldogs (2-0) and join the Ateneo Blue Eagles (3-0) on top of the league nearing the halfway mark of the first round.

The three remain as the only undefeated squads in the squad, with UST being the biggest revelation so far after slaying reigning champion University of the Philippines and La Salle, finalists of the last two UAAP seasons.

Led by super rookie Collins Akowe, momentum and confidence are on the España-based dribblers on the back of a mammoth 87-67 trashing of the Fighting Maroons and a stellar 93-84 comeback over the Green Archers for a statement start.

But while that shored up UST’s tag as this year’s dark horse especially with UP and La Salle still adjusting to the departure of their core led by Finals MVP JD Cagulangan and two-time MVP Kevin Quiambao, the mission is just beginning.

Winning against the Bulldogs, who have also taken care of their first two games, is just a continuation for the Tigers.

‘This is not a statement. We’re just happy that we’re progressing as a team. Right now, we’re just focusing on ourselves and our games, which is now against NU,’ said ace playmaker Forthsky Padrigao, who returned from a one-game suspension with 12 points, nine assists and three steals against La Salle.

‘UST this year is not the same as UST last year. Medyo may confidence na kami ngayon but we have to keep grounded. We just have to stick to what we’re doing,’ said assistant coach Peter Martin.

Starring in the duel is Akowe, who will be in first match against what was anticipated as his collegiate school after graduating from the National University-Nazareth School as UAAP juniors MVP and Best Foreign Student-Athlete, before surprisingly committing to UST.

Count on the readiness of the Bulldogs to finally try to stop the 6-foot-10 Senegalese anchor, who feasted on UP and La Salle with averages of 24.8 points and 18 rebounds.

‘We will be ready no matter what happens talaga. At hindi lang naman si (Collins) ‘yung paghahandaan namin. Buong UST ang paghahandaan namin. We’ll see,’ said Bulldogs mentor Jeff Napa after their wins against FEU, 84-68, and University of the East, 72-57.