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Volume 24 - No. 36 • 12 Pages
T h e F i l i p i n o A m e r i ca n C o m mu n i t y N e ws pa p e r
Volume 18 - No. 17 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages
September 5-11, 2025
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Ghost projects put PH flood-control funds under siege DATELINE USA
Philippine flood-control funds face unprecedented scrutiny as probes uncover alleged ghost Shift in federal contracting projects, clustered contracts, and billions in possible losses amid Senate hearings and COA audits from the AJPress NEWS TEAM across America
goals cuts support for disadvantaged businesses
The U.S. government is raising overall small-business contracting goals but cutting back special targets for minority, women, and disadvantaged firms, reshaping who benefits from billions in federal contracts
by AJPress Manila — What should have protected communities from floods has instead become a storm of scandal. The Philippines’ multibillion-peso flood-control program is under fire after internal audits, congressional hearings, and whistleblower admissions exposed possible “ghost projects,” clustered contracts, and unexplained wealth among contractors.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. disclosed that of more than 9,000 flood-control projects initiated since 2022, over 6,000 were flagged for inadequate or unusual specifications. His administration’s portal for citizen reports has since been flooded with tips, amplifying pressure on authorities. Bulacan case: A P55.7M project on paper At the heart of the scandal is a Bulacan case where a suspended DPWH engineer admitted to certifying a P55.7-million project as complete de-
Hontiveros calls on Marcos to “lead by example” by releasing his SALN; Palace says he’s “ready”
WASHINGTON, D.C. The federal government is changing the way it awards contracts to small businesses. While overall targets for smallbusiness awards are going up, the special goals meant to help disadvantaged groups such as minority-owned, women-owned, and businesses in underserved areas have been cut back to the minimum levels required by law. A step back from equity goals In January, the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that agency goals for disadvantaged businesses would return to the basic floors set by Congress: 5% for minorityowned firms, 5% for women-owned, 5% for veteran-owned, and 3% for businesses in economically struggling areas (HUBZones).
by AJPress
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HUD orders nationwide audits of immigration status in public housing WASHINGTON, D.C. — Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner has directed public housing authorities (PHAs) across the country to conduct 30-day audits of resident files to verify citizenship or eligible immigration status. The move is part of a Trump administration initiative to ensure federal housing benefits are not extended to ineligible non-citizens. The order follows a March 24 memorandum of understanding (MOU) between HUD and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that set up data-sharing and enforcement coordination. At the signing, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said, “If you are an illegal immigrant, you should leave now. The gravy train is over.” HUD has also embedded a full-time staff member at DHS to oversee the effort. What the directive means • Audit deadline. PHAs have 30 days to complete immigration status checks. HUD has not yet published a formal Public and u PAGE 4
spite not verifying the work. Identified in hearings as Henry Alcantara, the engineer acknowledged signing off without personal inspection. He faces administrative and possible criminal charges, though no conviction has been made. Contract clustering and scrutiny Investigators are zeroing in on Wawao Builders, reportedly awarded nearly P9 billion in contracts nationwide, including P5.9–6 billion in Bulacan u PAGE 2
YOUTH VS. CORRUPTION. Youth groups launch the coalition Youth Against Kurakot (YAK!) in Quezon City on Wednesday, September 3, to mobilize students and young leaders against corruption. The movement seeks to hold erring politicians and government officials accountable amid controversies over alleged irregularities in flood control projects. PNA photo by Ben Briones
MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros has welcomed President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s directive ordering lifestyle checks on government officials involved in flood control projects, but urged the Chief Executive to set the example by making his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) public. Hontiveros said on Thursday, August 28, that the lifestyle-check campaign would only carry real weight if Marcos included himself and his family in the process. She added she was prepared to undergo the same review, pointing out that she has “a middle-class lifestyle” that can withstand scrutiny. “Kung talagang seryoso ang pamahalaan sa lifestyle check, dapat magsimula ito sa pinakamataas na opisyal ng bansa” (“If the government is truly serious about lifestyle checks, it should start with the highest official in the country”), Hontiveros said. “The president should lead u PAGE 2
Senate panel moves to arrest 2 contractors who skipped flood control hearing The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee cited two contractors in contempt for skipping its flood-control probe, clearing the way for arrest warrants to compel their testimony by AJPress MANILA — The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Monday, September 1, 2025, cited in contempt two contractors who failed to appear at its hearing on alleged irregularities in government flood-control projects. The move clears the way for arrest
warrants to compel their attendance. Committee chair Sen. Rodante Marcoleta approved a motion by Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, seconded by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, to hold the absentees in contempt in preparation for the issuance of arrest orders. u PAGE 4 Vice President Sara Duterte
Photo from Facebook/@MayorIndaySaraDuterte
Alice Guo faces another round Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez ICC bars Duterte family from disclosing visit details of criminal and admin cases bow out of US Open doubles Vice President Sara Duterte confirmed the ICC by Kathleen de Villa Inquirer.net
MANILA — Dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo is facing another round of criminal and administrative cases — including graft — over erroneous payment of taxes for one of the properties used in the Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo) that once operated in the Tarlac town during her term. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) chief Jaime Santiago on Thursday said the complaint, Alice Guo
File photo
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Canadian Leylah Fernandez, with Filipino and Ecuadorian roots, impressed alongside Venus Williams in a spirited US Open doubles run that ended in the quarterfinals by AJPress
NEW YORK — The unlikely partnership of tennis great Venus Williams and rising star Leylah Fernandez came to a close on Tuesday, September 2, at the 2025 US Open. Their spirited run ended in the quarterfinals against world No. 1 team Taylor
Townsend of the United States and Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic, who powered through to a 6-1, 6-2 victory. The unlikely partnership, which brought together the 45-year-old Williams and the 23-year-old Fernandez, captured the imagination of fans throughu PAGE 3
barred her family from sharing details of visits with former President Rodrigo Duterte, who remains detained in The Hague ahead of a September 23 confirmation-of-charges hearing by AJPress
THE HAGUE / MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte has confirmed that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has directed her family not to publicly share information from their visits with her father, for-
mer President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been in ICC custody since March over alleged crimes against humanity tied to the Philippine government’s anti-drug campaign. Speaking outside the ICC Detention Centre in The Hague, u PAGE 3