Lawyer: Sarah Discaya’s heart sign misinterpreted, we’re very sincere

The ‘heart’ sign of contractor Cezarah ‘Sarah’ Discaya on her recent appearance at the Department of Justice (DOJ) was ‘misinterpreted.’

Her lawyer, Atty. Cornelio Samaniego III, said this in an ambush interview at the office of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Tuesday.

Samaniego emphasized that her client Sarah, along with her husband Pacifico ‘Curlee’ Discaya, was sincere about wanting to be state witnesses in the investigation on flood control anomalies across the country.

The contractor couple attended for the first time the hearing of the ICI on the flood control anomalies investigation this Tuesday.

‘Maybe we just misinterpreted that. Actually, it (finger heart) means a lot – peace, love,’ Samaniego clarified.

The lawyer argued that Sarah’s finger heart was given a ‘not-good meaning’ by the media and the public.

When specifically asked what the contractor meant when she made the sign at the DOJ, Samaniego said, ‘love and peace.’

According to Samaniego, the recently mentioned action of Sarah does not manifest ‘insincerity,’ saying that they are very sincere in participating in the investigation.

‘The mere fact that we appeared before the Senate, House, DOJ, and then ICI – we’re very sincere. That’s why we are all tell-all,’ the lawyer of the contractor couple said.

‘What sincerity are you asking from the couple? We’ve already given it all,’ he added.

Earlier, DOJ spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano IV said Sarah’s heart sign was ‘a sign of insincerity and complacency.’ ‘The heart sign and the remarks of Ms. Sarah Discaya are all taken into account in the assessment and evaluation of the persons involved,’ Clavano said.

The Discayas are included among the contractors that are under investigation for alleged involvement in anomalies in flood control projects. /apl

Price freeze up in Masbate after over P42 million in agri losses

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Office in the Bicol region have imposed a price freeze on all basic agricultural commodities across Masbate province after extensive damage caused by Typhoon Opong (international name: Bualoi ).

In a phone interview on Tuesday, DA Bicol information officer Lovella Guarin said the price freeze aims to ease the burden on affected communities after the storm ravaged major agricultural areas in the island province last Friday.

She said that a total of 1,394 farmers and fisherfolk were affected, with over 1,000 hectares of farmland devastated.

According to the initial assessment, 781 hectares were damaged, while 219 hectares were destroyed. The combined production loss amounted to 1,236 metric tons.

Guarin noted that the rice sector was heavily impacted, with 637 farmers affected and losses totaling nearly 394 metric tons, valued at P5.64 million. The hardest-hit area for rice was Masbate, where 487 farmers reported losses of 256 metric tons, valued at P3.84 million. Other affected provinces include Albay, Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte.

‘Based on initial reports collected from the ground, about P42.85 million worth of agricultural crops have been lost across the Bicol region so far due to Opong,’ Guarin said

Metro Manila, other areas to experience rain Tuesday due to easterlies

Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon are expected to experience cloudy skies with chances of rain on Tuesday due to the effect of the easterlies, according to the state weather bureau.

Based on its morning forecast, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the easterlies, or the warm winds coming from the Pacific Ocean, are forecast to bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms to the following areas:

Metro Manila

Bicol Region

Bulacan

Rizal

Quezon

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms may persist in the rest of the country, also due to the easterlies.

Meanwhile, Pagasa weather specialist Obet Badrina said they are monitoring a cloud cluster outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) but noted that it currently does not have any direct effect on any part of the country.

‘We are monitoring it to see if it could possibly become a low-pressure area (LPA) in the next few days,’ Badrina said.

Aside from the cloud cluster, no cyclones or LPAs are currently being monitored inside or outside the PAR. /das

LTO extends registration, license renewal deadline; waives penalties

The validity of motor vehicle registration and driver’s licenses expiring on September 30 will be extended to October 3, in consideration of those affected by inclement weather, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) announced on Tuesday.

‘The validity of all motor vehicle registration expiring on 30 September 2025 and driver’s license due for renewal on 30 September 2025 shall be extended and no penalties shall be collected until 03 October 2025,’ the memorandum signed by LTO Chief Vigor Mendoza II read.

The LTO also scrapped penalties for delayed renewals of vehicle registration and driver’s licenses.

Similarly, those with traffic apprehension cases will also be given an extension to settle their matters.

‘The 15-day period for the settlement of traffic apprehension cases, effective 26 September 2025, shall be extended until 03 October 2025,’ the memorandum continued.

According to Mendoza, the aforementioned extensions were also due to cancellation of government work in Metro Manila and other areas affected by the past few cyclones and other weather systems.

‘Aside from Typhoon Opong that hit Bicol Region, Visayas and southern part of Luzon, heavy rains due to southwest monsoons, and tropical cyclones Mirasol and Nando resulted in cancellation of government works,’ the LTO said. /das

House should notify Comelec of Zaldy Co’s seat vacancy – Garcia

The House of Representatives needs to inform the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on the seat vacancy of Zaldy Co following his resignation as a representative of Ako Bicol Party-list, according to Comelec Chairperson George Garcia on Tuesday.

Garcia said that while the poll body is aware that the office of House Speaker Faustino Dy III received the resignation on Monday, the lower chamber still needs to officially inform the Comelec of Co’s resignation.

Garcia noted the process is similar to when a member of a House of Representatives dies and there needs to be a declaration of seat vacancy.

‘If a member resigns, there needs to be a declaration to trigger vacancy from the member of the House of Representatives,’ Garcia, speaking in Filipino, told reporters during an online interview.

Co has resigned from his post as the representative of Ako Bicol Party-list amid allegations of his involvement in the anomalous flood control projects. In his letter to Dy, Co cited ‘the real, direct, grave and imminent threat’ to him and to ‘the lives of my family members.’

With this, Garcia said that the poll body is yet to receive the letter from the lower chamber. He added that it is usually the secretary general informing the poll body of the acceptance of the resignation.

Garcia also said that it is also the secretary general who asks who would replace the seat vacated.

‘Comelec can’t just issue a certificate of proclamation or acknowledgment of the resignation of the member of House of Representatives without the lower chamber’s acknowledgement,’ Garcia stressed in Filipino.

‘It should also be noted that the issue of membership is purely a matter under the discretion of the House of Representatives and cannot be interfered with by the Comelec,’ Garcia added in Filipino.

Garcia noted that as Co resigned, the second nominee will automatically assume the party-list’s first seat while the third nominee will get the second seat.

He explained that this is because the Ako Bicol Party-list secured two seats in the May 2025 midterm elections, garnering a total of 1,072,171 votes. The certificates of nomination of the party-list showed that aside from Co being the first nominee, Alfred Garbin and Jan Franz Chan were named the second and third nominees, respectively.

Tanzania’s Justfit unveils match ball and referee kits for Premier League

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s leading sports equipment manufacturer and retailer JustFit Sports Gear has officially launched its first-ever official Mainland Tanzania Premier League match balls, which are now set to be used in the ongoing competition.

This marks a significant milestone for local sports manufacturing and retail, as the Premier League had previously relied on imported match balls. The launch highlights the growing capacity of Tanzanian companies to produce high-quality sporting equipment for top-tier competitions.

Speaking with The Citizen yesterday, the firm’s managing director, Salim Salim, said the company has signed a two-year partnership with the Tanzania Premier League Board. Salim noted that they have introduced a high-quality match ball that will be used throughout the new season of the Tanzania Mainland Premier League.

In addition to the ball, he said they have also unveiled specially designed referee kits to be worn during all matches in the upcoming league season. “This move highlights the company’s commitment not only to football but also to enhancing the overall professionalism and branding of Tanzanian football,” said Salim.

He explained that the match ball itself is a Tanzanian innovation, reflecting a combination of creativity, uniqueness, and world-class quality. According to Salim, the design meets international standards, demonstrating that local talent can produce equipment capable of competing on a global level.

Salim added that the company plans to expand its product line further and continue collaborating with football authorities to strengthen the sport at all levels. For his part, Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) vice president Athuman Nyamlani commended the firm for the innovation, saying it enabled Tanzanian football to mark another milestone.

“This is a milestone for Tanzanian sports. For the first time, we have a locally designed football that meets professional standards.

We hope it inspires players and young talent across the country to take pride in locally made products,” said Nyamlani. He added that such innovations contribute significantly to the growth and modernization of football in Tanzania.

He noted that having a high-quality local football and referee kits enhances the professionalism of the league and ensures that the domestic game continues to improve in line with international standards. Justfit’s launch is part of a broader strategy to support sports development in Tanzania, promoting both locally manufactured products and a culture of excellence in football .

DOTr offers P820.5-M compensation to acquire MMSP right-of-way

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) offered a total compensation of P820.5-M billion for residents and property owners in Quezon City to acquire right-of-way for the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP).

According to the DOTr, the MMSP alignment covers 500 meters and affects 33 properties within the gated community where the compensation was offered.

The DOTr said that a total of 32 compensation offers have been to property owners.

Of the P820.5-M, 20 homeowners in the gated community have accepted the compensation totaling P461 million, while ‘negotiations with the remaining property owners are ongoing.’

As of writing, the MMSP right-of-way acquisition status stands at 75 percent, the DOTr reported.

However, the DOTr aims to have full acquisition by March 2026, and it also plans to begin drilling works along the MMSP alignment within the gated community starting January 2026.

Following this development, DOTr Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez expressed his gratitude to the property owners in the Quezon City gated community for their support to the MMSP.

The construction of the MMSP suffered a two-year delay due to right-of-way issues.

With the increase in progress resolving such issues, the DOTr said the MMSP should be operational by 2031.

Once completed, the P488.5-billion project shall be the first underground subway station in the Philippines spanning approximately 35 kilometers, with 17 stations.

The DOTr said the MMSP is expected to service over 500,000 passengers every day from Valenzuela, Quezon City, Pasig, Taguig, Parañaque, and Pasay. /cb

Miner prioritises skills development

Dar es Salaam. As the government opens doors to investors across various sectors, deliberate efforts are needed to ensure Tanzanians benefit not only from financial inflows and technology transfer but also from opportunities to acquire practical skills.

Barrick Mining Corporation, one of the country’s largest investors in the mining sector, has placed education and skills development at the centre of its operations. The company operates in partnership with the government through Twiga Minerals Corporation.

Each year, Barrick’s Bulyanhulu and North Mara mines host students from local universities, offering them exposure to different fields. The company also runs a one-year internship for post-secondary and university graduates, providing mentorship and, in some cases, direct employment.

In addition, a two-year graduate programme trains young professionals in mining and related sectors, with participants either absorbed into Barrick or pursuing careers elsewhere. To support neighbouring communities, the firm operates a first-entry scheme for unskilled youths from villages around its mines.

Participants receive training in mining-related roles, equipping them to secure jobs or apply their skills in other industries. Barrick has also been sponsoring college symposiums through AIESEC, a global youth platform.

Experts from the company mentor students, helping them to prepare for the future, explore career opportunities and develop leadership potential. Speaking during the release of Barrick’s 2024 sustainable strategy implementation report, the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mark Bristow, said education remains a top priority in its investment strategy.

“Barrick continues to prioritise education and will strengthen its investment in the sector to ensure Tanzanians access better learning opportunities,” he said during his recent visit to the country. Interns interviewed by The Citizen praised the mentorship provided during their training and noted the company’s commitment to environmental protection, workplace safety and community development projects in education, health and infrastructure.

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Ugandan presidential candidate vows to scrap Kiswahili, adopt French as national language

By Martha Chacha Dar es Salaam. Uganda’s Common Man’s Party (CMP) presidential candidate, Mubarak Munyagwa, has pledged to abolish Kiswahili as the national language and replace it with French in schools and public institutions.

Speaking at a campaign rally, Mr Munyagwa said the proposal was aimed at deepening Uganda’s ties with Francophone countries across Africa. “We shall ban Kiswahili as a national language.

What we need instead is French,” he declared. “French has a far wider reach.

Burundi speaks French, Congo speaks French, Rwanda speaks French, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, the Central African Republic, all speak French. We do not need Kiswahili; what we need is English and French.

” His remarks come as President Yoweri Museveni’s administration actively promotes Kiswahili to strengthen integration within the East African Community (EAC). Uganda declared Kiswahili a national language in 2022, and it has since been rolled out in schools nationwide.

Kiswahili carries unique significance not only for Uganda but also for the region and the wider continent. It remains the most widely spoken African language, serving as a bridge across Kenya, Tanzania, the DRC, Burundi, Rwanda and beyond.

Recognised by the African Union as a working language, Kiswahili has become a symbol of unity, cultural exchange, trade and political cooperation. In 2017, Rwanda made a decision to designate Kiswahili as one of the official languages of the country, alongside Kinyarwanda, English and French The recognition of Kiswahili is part of the commitments entered in 2007 in the East African Community, an organization founded by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.

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Dizon: Bidding process for DPWH projects will be livestreamed

The Department of Public Works and Highways will livestream the bidding process for its projects to promote transparency, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said on Tuesday. Hosaka also explained that the ‘ICI is avoiding trial by publicity and will not allow it to be used for any political leverage or agency by any individual or group.’ /das/abc