Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon continued to expose the wealth amassed by Pacifico ‘Curlee’ and Cezarah ‘Sarah’ Discaya, the contractor couple who have drawn much flak in the ongoing investigation into graft-tainted infrastructure projects.

Sarcastically describing them as ‘champions’ in securing government contracts, Dizon on Friday noted that companies owned by the Discayas had managed to secure projects worth almost P78 billion since 2016, or the start of the Duterte administration.

The couple were in the first group of contractors and public works officials sued last month by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) at the Office of the Ombudsman for graft and malversation of public funds.

The Department of Justice, however, later admitted the Discayas to the Witness Protection Program, citing the need for their cooperation in building up more cases.

Referred to PCC

Dizon drew attention to the couple on Friday as the DPWH formally asked another agency-the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC)-to have the Discayas and other contractors investigated further, this time for allegedly rigging public biddings.

According to Dizon, DPWH records showed that the Discaya-owned companies got a total of 1,214 flood control projects from 2016 to this year, all worth P77.934 billion.

‘The Discayas are the champions here,’ Dizon said at a press conference. ‘We are prioritizing the contractors that we slapped with criminal charges. I don’t want to discuss anything about the other contractors since their cases are yet to be filed, but definitely the Discayas are the champions here.’

From 2023 to 2025, he said, their companies were in the ‘Top 2 or 3’ in terms of contracts won.

Citing records from the Land Registration Authority, Dizon said the Discayas also accumulated 18 properties with an estimated market value of P1 billion.

Penalties

He said the couple had actually admitted engaging in rigged biddings in their testimonies before the Senate blue ribbon committee.

Dizon said they could face penalties of up to ‘P300 billion’ from the PCC.

Aside from the Discayas, the DPWH chief referred to the commission several other cases of alleged bidding manipulation.

Recovering people’s money

‘Unlike the previous cases wherein the PCC would do a case buildup and gather evidence by themselves, we believe this would make it easier for them [to act on the case],’ Dizon said. ‘It is important for us to hold (the contractors) accountable and for them to return the money of our taxpayers.’

Dizon said the DPWH had also written to different surety and insurance companies to recover surety bonds amounting to P89 million for flood control projects in Bulacan province that were found to be substandard.

Maguindanao del Sur Gov. Datu Ali Midtimbang has offered a cash reward of P100,000 for any information that would identify and arrest the suspects in the beheading of an Indigenous Peoples’ (IP) elder on Tuesday, Sept. 30.

Midtimbang offered the reward money in a meeting on Friday, Oct 3, with police and military authorities in the province after gunmen attacked and killed Rommel ‘Nel’ Lupos, former village councilman of Barangay Mantao and tribal elder of the Teduray Lambangian people in Barangay Limpongo, Datu Hoffer town, Maguindanao del Sur.

Lupos was resting in his nipa hut in his farm lot in Barangay Limpongo when unidentified gunmen arrived and shot him. Relatives, worried for his failure to return home in the village center, launched a search and found him beheaded just outside his nipa hut.

The governor has personally handed over financial assistance to Lupos’ wife and children, who came to see him after the incident.

Midtimbang also directed the police and military to put up checkpoints in the villages of IPs to protect them from harassment by gunmen out to take over their ancestral lands. Timuay Leticio Datuwata, head of the Timuay Justice and Governance, the indigenous political structure of the Teduray-Lambangian tribe, said Lupos was killed for his refusal to vacate his farm lot as what the gunmen had been telling the IPs in the mountains of Datu Hoffer.

Midtimbang also urged the IP communities in Barangays Limpongo and Mantao to avoid establishing their homes away from each other.

‘It is better if your houses are close to each other so it would be easy for the police and military to protect you,’ Midtimbang said during an emergency peace and order council meeting.

A lane in the southbound direction of Mindanao Avenue near Tandang Sora Avenue in Quezon City was temporarily closed.

In a Facebook traffic advisory, the Quezon City government said the lane closure ‘is due to concrete pouring being carried out in the area.’ It said the activity is part of the construction of the Tandang Sora station of the Metro Manila Subway Project.

‘The activity is expected to end tomorrow afternoon, October 5, 2025 (Sunday),’ the QC government said.

Motorists are advised to take alternate routes while the concrete pouring is ongoing.

The local government assured the public that personnel from the Quezon City Traffic and Transport Management Department and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority are on standby to assist with traffic flow on the said road.

The Diocese of Boac in Marinduque is no longer ‘sede vacante.’

This is after Pope Leo XIV on Saturday named Fr. Edwin Panergo of the Diocese of Lucena as its new bishop.

In a statement on Saturday, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) noted that before Panergo’s appointment, the Diocese of Boac had been vacant since November 2024.

‘During the vacancy, the diocese was administered by Fr. Elino Esplana, who served as diocesan administrator,’ the CBCP said. Father Panergo

Panergo, the 54-year-old newly designated Boac bishop, was born in Lucena City, Quezon.

He serves as rector of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Seminary in Sariaya, Quezon. He is also the director of the Diocese of Lucena’s Commission on Vocation. The bishop-elect studied philosophy at St. Francis de Sales Major Seminary in Lipa City and theology at St. Alphonsus School of Theology in Lucena.

He likewise holds a master’s degree in guidance and counseling from St. Louis University in Baguio City as well as a licentiate in sacred theology from Notre Dame de Vie in Venasque, France.

Panergo was ordained a priest at Lucena Cathedral on September 8, 1997.

Following his appointment in the Diocese of Boac, Panergo will succeed Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit Jr., who led the diocese for about nine years before being transferred to the Diocese of San Pablo in Laguna province last year.

Sen. Loren Legarda reaffirmed her commitment to Indigenous Cultural empowerment and inclusive development during the Ummong Festival held at the Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU) on October 3, 2025.

Addressing local leaders, educators, students, and Indigenous cultural bearers, Legarda emphasized the vital role of Indigenous Peoples in shaping national identity and safeguarding the country’s cultural wealth.

‘In our celebration of Ummong, we forge a chapter of unity, dignity, and renewed hope for our communities,’ Legarda said in her opening remarks, paying tribute to the province’s enduring contributions to its indigenous communities.

The Ummong Festival, now on its fourth year since its launch in 2022, is a cultural gathering organized by NVSU. Rooted in the word ‘ummong,’ meaning fellowship and reverence for one’s origins, the event brings together IP communities from across the province to showcase traditional songs, dances, crafts, and customs, promoting the preservation of indigenous knowledge. Legarda, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts, and a staunch advocate of cultural preservation, highlighted key initiatives she has championed in support of Indigenous rights.

‘With all my heart, I fought for and continue to push for laws and programs that strengthen the rights, culture, and livelihood of Indigenous Filipinos,’ she said, citing the Cultural Mapping Law, National Indigenous Peoples Day, and the establishment of Schools of Living Traditions such as the Kalahan Academy in Sta. Fe.

The four-term senator also underscored the importance of language preservation through the Bantayog ng Wika program, noting the installation of a monument in Bayombong honoring the Gaddang language.

‘We also promote the Bantayog ng Wika to preserve and give honor to our Indigenous languages and traditions,’ Legarda said.

Legarda called for continued support for Indigenous Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), recognizing their role in strengthening local economies.

‘Our support continues in order to strengthen the livelihood and self-sufficiency of communities,’ she affirmed.

Reflecting on the spirit of the festival, Legarda described Ummong as ‘a celebration of unity and respect for our origins, way of life, and wisdom.’ She further urged communities to continue passing on indigenous knowledge and values to the next generation: ‘Let us continue the respect and solidarity, the learning, teaching, and transmission to the youth of the wisdom and skills of your community.’

Sea travel for all vessels in Quezon province resumed at Friday midnight after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) lifted the Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) over the area.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) station in Quezon’s Real town lifted the sea travel ban after Pagasa issued Tropical Cyclone Bulletin No. 17 at 11 p.m. on October 3 announcing that the TCWS over the Polillo Group of Islands in the northern part of the province has also been lifted.

‘In this regard, all trips of vessels plying the route within the area of responsibility of Quezon province are now resumed to their normal operations,’ the PCG said in a public notice signed by Lieutenant Dawn Baterbonia, commander of PCG-Northern Quezon.

The PCG had suspended the voyages for all vessels and watercraft bound for the Polillo group of islands in the Pacific Ocean and General Nakar town last Thursday due to the hoisting of Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 and rough sea conditions caused by Typhoon Paolo (international name: Matmo), which weakened to a severe tropical storm after it passed the northern Luzon landmass on Friday afternoon.

Paolo has left the Philippine area of responsibility, Pagasa said in its 5 a.m. Saturday bulletin

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families now have easier access to free medical consultations and medicine as the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) launched its ‘Alagang Owwa Botika’ program on Friday.

Owwa Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan led the launch of the pharmacy program in Pasay City, designed to provide continued care and support to OFWs and their families even after they finish their stints abroad.

Caunan said the program is part of the ‘Alagang Owwa: Yakap at Gamot’ in partnership with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and private VidaCure Pharmacy.

Under Philhealth’s Yakap (Yaman ng Kalusugan Program), beneficiaries can receive up to P20,000 worth of medicines per year from accredited pharmacies.

In the case of OFWs and their dependents, they may go directly to the Owwa head office in Pasay City or to the Gateway Mall in Quezon City. For those in the south, they may go to Festival Mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa.

The free medical checkups at Owwa may be availed of every Friday with Yakap-accredited doctors.

Prescriptions issued during consultations can then be used to claim medicines at the Owwa ‘botika’ (pharmacy), also in Pasay City, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays to Fridays.

Kimberly Ondona Badong, who had just returned from Oman after developing hypertension, stressed the importance of expanding the program outside Metro Manila.

The mother of six said they live in Maguindanao and she hopes services would also be offered at Owwa regional offices.

In her speech, Caunan said the ‘Lab for All’ mobile medical and clinical laboratory truck donated by first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos would also soon be deployed to deliver free diagnostic services such as X-rays, ultrasounds and blood tests.

Caunan assured that the ‘Alagang Owwa Botika,’ which is still in the pilot stage, would soon be offered nationwide.

‘Let’s make every Friday a Yakap Day. We want our OFWs, active, retired or those who have returned for good, to feel that they remain cared for. Even when they are no longer earning abroad, they can still rely on government support for their health needs,’ she said.

Almost 6,000 people across four regions have been affected by Tropical Cyclone Paolo, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

In its situational report issued Saturday, Oct. 4, NDRRMC said 5,979 individuals or 1,833 families were affected across 10 provinces.

A total of 3,368 residents from Regions 1 and 3 were preemptively evacuated before the typhoon intensified, while 4,4317 people remain displaced. Of this number, many are staying in 74 evacuation centers, while others are sheltering outside designated facilities.

As of this writing, there are no records of dead, injured, or missing.

Paolo, which developed into a typhoon earlier this week, brought rains and strong winds over parts of Northern and Central Luzon. The cyclone has since exited the Philippine landmass after crossing the country’s northern areas.

The NDRRMC continues to monitor affected communities for damage assessment and assistance to displaced families. /das

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has authorized the importation of onions, carrots and broccoli in small quantities to alleviate rising food prices due to weather disturbances.

On the sidelines of the 47th Meeting of the Asean Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA has observed significant price spikes in certain agricultural goods based on their recent monitoring.

Tiu Laurel said the price of red onion, for instance, increased to as much as P140 to P160 per kilogram (kg) about one or two weeks ago, ‘which is kind of too much.’

‘I have a feeling that the remaining local are being held back a bit [to maximize profits], so that’s why I ordered silently to import last week,’ Tiu Laurel said.

‘We are now addressing that and hopefully inflation will stabilize . as we have already ordered the importation of white onions, red onions, carrots, broccoli to augment the supply disruption due to storms, rains and floods,’ he said.

Before harvest

The agriculture chief said he allowed the entry of 3,000 to 5,000 metric tons (MT) of red onions until about one month before the harvest season for this commodity starts in February.

As for carrots, Tiu Laurel said the DA allowed the importation of ‘a few hundred tons’ to assess the situation, as prices have surged as well. These can come from China and the Netherlands.

‘The importation of carrots from China is done on a trial basis. It is the first time we have allowed it. Carrots from New Zealand and Australia have been allowed for a long time, but prices are quite high,’ he told reporters.

As of Friday, the farm sector incurred P2.93 billion in losses, according to the DA’s latest bulletin on the southwest monsoon (‘habagat’) and tropical cyclones Mirasol, Nando and Opong.

The weather disturbances damaged 213,164 MT of agricultural produce in 84,267 hectares of land, mostly rice and high-value crops.

Per the DA’s price monitoring of Metro Manila markets, carrot retailed from P200 to P300 per kg as of Sept. 30, higher than last year’s P80-P160 per kg.

Sen. Sherwin ‘Win’ Gatchalian said on Saturday that he believes Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III’s leadership is ‘very stable.’

This came following Sen. JV Ejercito’s recent remark that he, along with four other senators, planned to leave the majority bloc after several former and incumbent senators were tagged as being involved in anomalous flood control projects being investigated by the Senate blue ribbon committee ‘First of all, I see that Senator Sotto’s leadership is stable,’ Gatchalian, speaking in Filipino, said in a radio interview over DWIZ’s ‘Usapang Senado’ on Saturday.

‘In fact, it was from him that this suggestion came, ‘Oh, let’s just amend on the floor to be transparent,” he noted.

Gatchalian, chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, likewise mentioned that they have already agreed not to implement the Certificate of Urgency on the government’s budget.

‘If you remember, second and third readings, only one day, no time to review. Nothing like that anymore. So when we approve on second reading, we will give the senators three days to review one final time before approving the third reading. So Senator Sotto agreed to that suggestion, our President agreed. So that is also a reform to make budget deliberation more transparent,’ the senator explained. ‘For me, the leadership of the Senate [President] is very stable.,’ he reiterated.

When asked if Ejercito or other senators talked to him about the plan of leaving the Senate majority, Gatchalian refused to comment. Will stay with Sotto’s leadership

When asked if he will be staying in the majority, Gatchalian said, ‘Yes, definitely. Will stay with Sen. Sotto.’

Gatchalian affirmed that he talked with Ejercito but refused to give details on what they discussed, saying that he is currently concentrated on the 2026 national budget deliberation and assisting victims of the Cebu quake and the recent cyclone.

‘We talked, but I’m not going to talk about what we talked about or what my feelings are. For me, it’s important that this 2026 budget is done properly, and what’s important to me is how to help those who were hit by the earthquake and cyclone,’ he said.