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NUP leader files bid to correct ‘ambiguities’ in 1987 Charter By Maricel V. Cruz
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 178 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2025
TOP CONTRACTORS OF FLOOD-CONTROL PROJECTS
NO. OF PROJECTS
AMOUNT
1. Legacy Construction Corporation
133
P9,558,821,107.67
2. Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp.
106
P7,489,133,751.7
CONTRACTORS
3. St. Timothy Construction Corporation
105
P7,324,820,807.62
4. QM Builders
96
P7,674,023,245.78
5. EGB Construction Corporation
95
P7,789,080,188.9
6. Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.
88
P5,998,705,617.57
7. Centerways Construction and Development Inc.
88
P5,444,745,973.18
8. Sunwest, Inc.
79
P10,147,835,285.7
9. Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp.
61
P4,856,993,286.23
10. Triple 8 Construction & Supply, Inc.
60
P3,999,801,063.43
ing review of the 1987 Constitution and correct “enduring ambiguities” DEPUTY Speaker and National Unity and deficiencies that weaken its legal Party (NUP) chairman Ronaldo Puno foundations and undermine its reliabilhas called for a constitutional conven- ity as the nation’s supreme law. Next page tion (Con-Con) to undertake a sweep-
15 firms got P100b flood-control deals
PBBM notes disturbing assessment, says ‘a little painful’ probe may include allies Lawmakers back OME 15 contractors cornered almost P100 billion – or about 20 percent of the total amount of flood-control infra probe, seek projects across the country – from July 2022 to May 2025, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said. to identify names By Charles Dantes
S
In a press conference yesterday, Mr. Marcos bared the initial findings of the audit he ordered in his recent SONA will give the public “an idea of how these (flood-control projects) have been conducted.” ‘’The total cost of all of the projects since July 2022 until today is P545 bil-
lion. I don’t know about you but that is a very big number. By any measure, that is an enormous number,’’ he said as he launched the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website where the public can report their observations on flood-control projects in their respective areas. Next page
SUMBONG SA PANGULO. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. speaks during a press
By Charles Dantes, Fraye Cedrick Anona and Katrina Manubay NO SENATORS were involved with the 15 contractors identified by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as having cornered close to P100 billion worth or a fifth of the total flood-control projects in the country, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva on Monday said. “I can only speak for this (Upper) house, not the other house. And as far as I’m concerned as the majority leader of the Senate, I don’t see any senators involved in any of these 15 construction firms,” Villanueva said in a press conference. Asked if he believes there are members of the House of Representatives who are involved in infrastructure contracts, Villanueva said: “It’s easy to confirm that. I will just give you documents. They can speak better on the issue.”
11. Royal Crown Monarch Construction & Supplies Corp.
60
P5,794,777,137.84
12. Wawao Builders
60
P4,371,973,515.33
13. MG Samidan Construction
60
P5,258,979,677.17
14. L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc.
Chinese ships collide while harassing PCG vessel
59
P5,225,681,315.28
By Rex Espiritu
15. Road Edge Trading & Development Services
59
P4,628,050,538.92
DOF eyes ban on investments by GOCCs in online gambling By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Department of Finance (DOF) is considering a ban on governmentowned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) from investing in online gambling firms. “I think that makes a good policy,” Finance Secretary Ralph Recto told reporters on the sidelines of the EJAP
TRUMP-PUTIN ZELENSKYY MEET IN THE WORKS WORLD / A6
PSE SINKS BELOW 6,300 ON ECON WOES BUSINESS / B1
briefing where he launched the sumbongsapangulo.ph, website where citizens can directly report to the President on the status of government flood control projects in their areas. PCO
A CHINESE Navy warship and a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel collided with each other early Monday morning while attempting to bully a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) patrol craft in a deadly cat-and-mouse game approxi-
mately 10.5 nautical miles east of Panatag Shoal. “This resulted in substantial damage to the CCG vessel’s forecastle, rendering it unseaworthy,” Commodore Jay Tarriela, the PCG’s spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) said shortly after the incident.
Next page
He pointed out that despite Chinese forces’ aggressive tactics, the PCG still offered assistance to the crew of the damaged Chinese vessel, particularly with man-overboard recovery and medical aid for any injured CCG crew members. Next page
Economic Forum 2025, when asked if the agency planned to prohibit GOCCs from investing in gambling companies. Recto was responding to the P1billion investment the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) had made in DigiPlus Interactive Corp. He said the Finance Department is currently investigating GSIS’s investNext page
CA junks plea to reverse ruling on Dengvaxia
FRIENDLIES COLLIDE. A China Coast Guard (CCG) ship pursuing a Philippine Coast Guard ship was damaged yesterday after it
By Rio N. Araja
collided with a reinforcing Chinese Navy vessel off Scarborough Shoal. PCG
THE Court of Appeals has reaffirmed its previous decision favoring the ruling of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court that consolidated the Dengvaxia civil cases into one family court. The CA’s former Special Seventh Division, in a July 16 resolution a copy of which was obtained by the
PH holds talks with US to exempt some products
Next page
By Othel V. Campos THE Philippines is in talks with the United States to exempt certain local products from tariffs, according to Secretary Frederick Go, the Special Assis-
tant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA). Go said yesterday that discussions are ongoing under a non-disclosure agreement. The government is seeking to protect products that the US does not
produce domestically, making them potential candidates for exemption. “We’re working on getting several of our exports exempted,” Go said, adding that US firms are expected to continue Next page