Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

A widening corruption inquiry into flood control projects threatens to cast a shadow over the Philippines’ growth outlook, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) warned, as intensifying scrutiny may slow the government’s infrastructure push.

Speaking at a press conference in Manila, Andrew Jeffries, the ADB’s country director for the Philippines, said the scandal’s economic impact may show up in the lender’s updated growth forecasts due in December.

For now, Jeffries said the fallout was difficult to quantify, as funds originally earmarked for flood control works are expected to be redirected to other government priorities.

Recall that some P255.5 billion had been slashed from the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) proposed 2026 outlay following President Marcos’ order to conduct a sweeping review of its original P881.3-billion budget.

‘Temporary slowdown’

Malacañang had said the money would be shifted to social services and education, among other key sectors. Even so, the budget department had warned that a ‘temporary slowdown’ in infrastructure spending was likely as the DPWH verifies completed projects and tightens scrutiny of billings and payment claims.

‘That’s certainly a risk to economic projections going forward,’ Jeffries said. ‘More broadly, corruption has broad impacts on economic growth in general and investment sentiment. We’re monitoring that and how that may be affected going forward.’

In its flagship Asian Development Outlook report, the ADB pegged its growth forecast for the Philippines at 5.6 percent for this year. If realized, gross domestic product (GDP) expansion would settle near the low-end of the Marcos administration’s 5.5- to 6.5-percent target for 2025.

Looking ahead, the bank trimmed its projection for 2026 to 5.7 percent, from 5.8 percent previously. This would fall short of the government’s 6- to 7-percent goal, with the ADB mainly attributing the downgrade to external headwinds, including higher US tariffs that could sap investments.

Infrastructure outlays

The government’s growth ambitions hinge partly on keeping infrastructure outlays at 5 to 6 percent of GDP. With investigations into alleged irregularities in flood control projects ongoing, Jeffries said the ADB would hold off on revising its outlook until more data is available.

‘We didn’t see a reason at this point in time to reduce those GDP projections due to that issue. But it’s certainly a heightened risk,’ he said.

Despite the recent revisions, the ADB still ranks the Philippines as Southeast Asia’s second-fastest-growing economy this year and next, trailing only Vietnam. The country is also expected to outpace Developing Asia-a group of 46 economies projected to expand by an average of 4.8 percent this year and 4.5 percent in 2026.

‘The Philippines’ growth outlook remains resilient amid a global environment of shifting trade and investment policies and heightened geopolitical uncertainties,’ Jeffries said.

‘Though these uncertainties pose increased risk, we see strong domestic demand anchoring growth, with sustained investments and an accommodative monetary policy supporting the economy’s expansion,’ he added. INQ

The recent corruption scandal reminded me of the parallel struggles faced by experts and scientists in navigating our research system. In 2024, I wrote a letter (see ‘Access to resources still a problem for researchers’ 1/23/24) describing the challenges of research governance and administration in the Philippines. Sadly, nearly two years later, little has changed.

Many researchers still encounter rules and processes in procurement, hiring, contracting, and financial management that are often complex, inconsistent, or unclear. Sometimes, even small, legitimate expenses are hard to process or reimburse. In a few cases, expenses may be disallowed based on subjective interpretations of unwritten rules rather than clearly written guidelines. These situations contribute to delays in project implementation and discourage some researchers from pursuing their studies.

This results in a system where our experts and researchers, despite their commitment and resourcefulness, spend more time untangling administrative hurdles than advancing knowledge, and improving practice. While these rules are intended to safeguard public funds and ensure accountability, we dare to ask: Are these mechanisms still relevant, effective, and fit for today’s research landscape?

I call on our research leaders, managers, and national agencies, such as the Department of Health and the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, to discuss and address these systemic barriers. I believe it is time to review and rationalize procurement, accounting, HR, and audit rules so that they may continue to protect public funds while enabling researchers to fulfill their work to improve people’s lives.

Team strategy and communication will be key elements for the North and South squads as they open their three-day, three-format duel for the right to be called the first ICTSI Junior Elite Finals champion starting on Wednesday at the ultra-exclusive The Country Club layout in Laguna.

Four-ball action opens up play where each of the four members from three different age-groups of each team will play, leaving the onus on team captains to pick out the proper tandems for the crucial head start.

Alternate play (foursomes) will be the format on Thursday before the culminating singles are held the day after, as the team that wins 24.5 points first will have bragging rights.

‘Keep the ball in the fairway and greens in regulation,’ Team North coskipper Ryan Tambalque said when asked of team strategy. ‘[We want]them [to] enjoy the game. I’m confident in our players-and they’re all good, strong players.

‘Whichever way we pair them, I know they’ll do their best.’

South skipper Alfred Gaccion, meanwhile, exuded quiet confidence.

‘The opposing team is equally equipped, so we’re focusing on a balanced fielding of players,’ Gaccion said. ‘Fortunately, we have strong representatives in every age division.’

Gaccion singled out the girls’ 15-18 division as a potential game-changer as he has a team that is loaded to the brim. Tashanah Balangauan, Crista Miñoza, Precious Zaragosa and Mikela Guillermo make up his squad. INQ

Maynard Ngu, the tech billionaire behind Cherry Mobile now linked to the billion-peso flood control scandal, has resigned from his post as independent director of Altus Property Ventures Inc.

In a regulatory filing on Tuesday, Altus, a wholly owned subsidiary of Gokongwei-led Robinsons Land Corp., said its board of directors had accepted Ngu’s resignation.

It noted that Ngu had resigned ‘due to personal reasons,’ although his exit from Altus comes just days after he was linked to the corruption allegations surrounding anomalous flood control projects being investigated at Congress.

Kickbacks

Last week, former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo alleged that he had coursed P160 million in kickbacks through Ngu.

This, Bernardo said, was supposedly meant for Sen. Francis Escudero.

The former Senate President has since denied his involvement, saying Bernardo’s claims were part of a ‘well-orchestrated plan to attack the Senate and its members,’ and to ‘divert the public’s attention from the real perpetrators.’

As a result, Ngu is among the 21 individuals, including senators, a congressman and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways, that may face charges of graft, bribery and malversation of funds, among others, according to the National Bureau of Investigation. He joins Escudero, Sen. Joel Villanueva, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co.

Independent director

Ngu, who is currently Malacañang’s special envoy to China for trade and investment, had been serving as Altus’ independent director since 2019.

The 46-year-old businessman is the CEO of Cosmic Technologies Inc. and president of Cherry Mobile, Cosmic Mobile Advertising Inc., Versatile Customer Care Solutions Inc., Kosmos Technomobile Inc. and Fimobile Technoloby Inc.

He is likewise the CEO of Land Traders Properties and Development Co. Inc. and Starway Piping Technology Inc.

Ngu, a management and finance graduate of De La Salle University, holds director positions in several other companies.

NCAA’s 101st season will open with a bang as last year’s Final Four teams clash in a double-header to raise the curtain on the league’s new century.

Jose Rizal University athletic director and NCAA Management Committee member Paul Supan said the league wanted to start strong by pitting its best right away.

‘We have the top four teams on the first day and we already have a salvo between all of them,’ he said during the Philippine Sportswriters’ Association’s weekly forum on Tuesday.

After the opening festivities at 12 noon, host school and defending champion Mapua battles Lyceum at 2:30 p.m. at Araneta Coliseum.

The Cardinals and Pirates last met in Season 100’s semifinals, where Mapua prevailed behind Finals MVP Clint Escamis, who erupted for a career-high 33 points in their 89-79 win.

The second game will feature another semifinal rematch, with College of St. Benilde colliding with San Beda. Like Mapua, the Blazers also advanced by ousting the Red Lions in the Final Four.

Beyond basketball, Supan highlighted the NCAA’s broader role in shaping Philippine sports across generations.

‘I’m sure for the past 100 years of the NCAA, we’ve seen athletes from the member schools rise to the elite level,’ he said. ‘For the next 100 years, with the help of the PSC and all the member schools, we hope that we can sustain our contribution to the national training pool,’ he added.

The NCAA kicks off Season 101 on October 1 at Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

The Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) has moved to protect its members from what it calls censorship disguised as revoked access, adopting new measures after the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) briefly barred Spin.ph from coverage in the recent FIVB World Men’s Championship.

In a statement on Tuesday, the PSA said any official or organization that withholds or forfeits a member’s credentials without due process and prior notice will now be declared persona non grata.

The group stressed that media accreditation must never be used as retaliation for critical reporting. ‘Censorship does not always arrive as a law or an organizational rule. Sometimes it comes as a locked gate, a revoked pass or an admonished question,’ the PSA said.

To ensure the rule is not misused, the PSA said it will police its ranks and give continuing guidance on fair and impartial reporting. It will also create a committee to mediate disputes between journalists and sports officials when accreditation is in question.

‘These measures affirm our singular conviction: The PSA cannot, and will not, accept being silenced, not even temporarily,’ the group said, adding that freedom of the press is a constitutional guarantee no sports body can undermine.

The PSA issued the policy after Spin.ph’s credentials were revoked by PNVF president Ramon ‘Tats’ Suzara on Sept. 23 before being later restored. The association said the incident, while resolved, left a ‘chilling effect’ that must not be repeated.

Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc. (IMI), the listed semiconductors and electronics manufacturing arm of the Ayala Group, has shut down its Kuichong facility to consolidate its China business in a single location.

In a regulatory filing on Wednesday, IMI said final production activities in Kuichong ended on Tuesday, Sept. 30. They are now integrating operations into IMI’s Pingshan facility.

‘Throughout this transition period, IMI’s management team will prioritize business continuity and ensure that key customer accounts from IMI Kuichong will be served with minimal disruption,’ IMI said in its disclosure.

‘This strategic move is expected to further improve operational efficiency, increase capacity utilization in IMI Pingshan and further streamline IMI’s footprint in China,’ it added.

This follows IMI’s P635-million exit from its Czech Republic business in June as it sought to cut losses and return to profitability.

Its subsidiary, Cooperatief IMI Europe UA, had agreed to sell 100 percent of IMI Czech Republic to Keboda Deutschland GmbH and Co. KG. /dda

San Beda may have opened the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament with a big win, but the path ahead is anything but easy.

Following the Red Lions’ 96-85 win over the College of St. Benilde at Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, coach Yuri Escueta quickly turned their attention to their next game day. On Sunday at San Juan Arena, the oldest collegiate rivalry between Letran and San Beda takes center stage and the matchup always demands the best preparation.

‘Playing Letran always brings out the best of the coaches and the players knowing they’re our rivals,’ he said. ‘This year, they’re so strong. They’re like an all-star team.’

Bryan Sajonia, who scored a team-high 16 points with three steals to match, will have to exert the same effort or even more in their outing against their longtime rival.

For one, the Knights will have the services of former Perpetual Help stars Jun Roque and Mark Omega along with veteran shooter Deo Cuajao and Titing Manalili, who sat out last season due to academic deficiencies.

Red Lions forward Yukien Andrada knows just how physical that upcoming clash would be. After all, he’s been through most of the rivalry since his rookie year in the NCAA.

‘I’m expecting a very very physical ballgame but we’ll just play the game the San Beda way,’ he said after dropping 11 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo attended Wednesday, October 1, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) hearing on alleged flood-control irregularities.

Bernardo arrived at the ICI office about 10 a.m. Wednesday to testify as a resource person but declined to comment to the media.

Last week, in his testimony before the Senate blue ribbon committee, Bernardo alleged that Senator Francis Escudero and former Senators Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. and Nancy Binay received kickbacks from allocations for public works projects.

He also named Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, whose P4.7-billion in air assets were recently ordered frozen by the government.

Co resigned as a member of the House of Representatives on Sept. 30./cb

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday called on Filipinos to support and nurture the country’s artists as he officially reopened the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) after six months of renovation.

‘As we reopen the doors of the PICC, let us also open ourselves to a greater challenge: to create, to imagine, and to contribute,’ Marcos said in his speech.

‘Support our artists-our painters, our musicians, our performers. For in their creativity, we find not only beauty, but the very soul of our nation. And beyond appreciation, let us take part in that creation ourselves,’ he added.

Marcos urged Filipinos to ensure that the PICC would remain ‘a testament to the artistry, ingenuity, and passion of the Filipino people.’

‘Let it inspire us to carry forward our heritage, so that decades from now, our children, our grandchildren will still look at this place with pride, saying: This is who we are. This is what we can achieve,’ he said. The President was accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos and former First Lady Imelda Marcos, as well as other officials, during the reopening.

In encouraging Filipinos to embrace creativity, Marcos said artistic expression can be found in many forms, including ‘a short reflection written in a notebook, a song hummed at the end of a long day, a painting done by a child, or even a simple story shared with the family.’

‘Every act of creation-no matter how small-is an act of courage. It is an act of hope,’ he said.

Marcos also highlighted the role of the PICC as a cultural venue that embodies the resilience of creativity.

‘If the PICC has shown us anything, it is this: That creativity, when nurtured, endures. That artistry, when given space, inspires. And that every Filipino, no matter who or where they are, can bring light, meaning, and beauty to the world,’ the President said.