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ASSISTANCE. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the ceremonial
distribution of training and financial assistance for those affected by the recent typhoons in Baler, Aurora. Under the Bayanihan sa Bukas na May Pag-asa para sa Turismo Program, an estimated 1,197 tourism workers in the province received training certificates from the DOT and cash assistance from the DSWD to support their recovery and livelihoods. With the President were Education Secretary Sonny Angara and Tourism Secretary Cristina Frasco. PCO
PBBM delivers aid to typhoon affected tourism staff in Aurora By Charles Dantes and Othel Campos PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. yesterday led the ceremonial distribution of training and financial aid to tourism workers affected by natural disasters, rolling out the Bayanihan sa Bukas na May Pag-asa sa Turismo (BBMT) program in Aurora province. Speaking at the provincial capitol grounds in Baler, President Marcos said the program, implemented jointly by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and De-
partment of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), aims to help workers recover from calamities such as typhoons Nika, Ofel, and Pepito, which struck Aurora last year and displaced over 100,000 residents across 150 barangays. “The BBMT will provide training for new livelihood opportunities and extend emergency cash transfers to tourism workers hit by disasters,” the President said, stressing that Aurora’s economy, like many parts of the Philippines, relies heavily on tourism. Next page
DOE: OIL PRICES INFLATION FEARS RISE ANEW TODAY BRING DOWN STOCKS NEWS / A3
BUSINESS / B2
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 199 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2025
Dizon starts DPWH-wide purge Orders top-to-bottom mass resignation of Public Works officials
By Charles Dantes, Vito Barcelo, Othel Campos, Maricel Cruz and Ram Superable
P
UBLIC Works Secretary Vince Dizon on Monday began an agency-wide purge as he ordered the mass resignation of officials across the DPWH.
Dizon said the directive covers undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, division heads, regional directors, and district engineers. He also warned that contractors found to be involved in ghost projects will be blacklisted for life. “These ghost projects and substandard projects, I have also cleared it with
our President that the contractors of these ghost projects, first of all, I will impose a lifetime blacklisting, ban, immediately,” he said. “When a project of a contractor is (a) ghost (project) or proven to be substandard, there is no more process, no more investigation – that contractor is Next page
Marcos to form independent body on top of 5 other ongoing probes By Charles Dantes, Rio Araja and Maricel Cruz PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he will soon issue an executive order creating an independent commission to probe anomalies in DPWH flood-control projects. This will be the sixth government
body to conduct parallel investigations into the flood infrastructure deals mess, following separate efforts by the Commission on Audit, Ombudsman, Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The body will serve as an investigative arm and submit recommendations to the government on whether cases Next page
ON THE HOT SEAT. Contractors present at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing pledge to tell the truth before the start of the
session yesterday. Among those who attended the hearing were Sarah Discaya, second from left, president of Alpha & Omega General Contractor and Development Corporation. Also summoned were Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp., L.R. Tiqui Builders Inc., Royal Crown Monarch Construction & Supplies Corp., St. Timothy Construction Corp., Sunwest Inc., Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc., and Wawao Builders. Lino Santos
Senate probe uncovers rigged DPWH biddings By Ram Superable CONTROVERSIAL private contractor and failed Pasig City mayoral candidate Sarah Discaya on Monday acknowledged during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing that her family-
owned companies had at times competed against one another for the same flood control projects. On the other hand, Wawao Builders owner Mark Allan Arevalo invoked his right against self-incrimination as the senators grilled him about alleged
ghost flood control projects. Discaya’s admission came after Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada pressed her to confirm whether her nine firms had simultaneously joined in bids for single contracts. Next page
Napolcom affirms Nartatez as top cop, reshuffles key PNP leadership positions By Vince Lopez
FRESH MANDATE. Officers and trustees of the Philippine Press Institute take their oath of office before Senior
Associate Justice Marvic Leonen (5th from left) at the Supreme Court in Manila. From left: Francis Allan Angelo (Corporate Secretary and Trustee for Visayas), Dexter See (Trustee for Luzon), Antoinette Ruiz (Trustee for Mindanao), Joyce Babe Pañares (Training Director), Juliet Javellana-Labog (Trustee for NCR), Bobby Timonera (Trustee for Mindanao), Joenald Rayos (Treasurer and Trustee for Luzon), and Ariel Sebellino (Executive Director).
4 cyclones forecast to hit PH this month “It is possible that two to four typhoons will enter or develop inside the PAR this month of THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and As- September based on our climate outlook last tronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) sees week,” weather specialist Veronica Torres said in two to four tropical cyclones likely to enter the Phil- a GMA-7 interview. ippine area of responsibility (PAR) this September. Next page
By Rio N. Araja
THE National Police Commission (Napolcom) has officially affirmed the designation of Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. as acting chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), replacing Gen. Nicolas Torre III. In a statement on Monday, the Napolcom explained that the designation was necessary
as Torre, “though relieved from his post,” continues to hold the four-star rank of police general — a rank that by law can only be vested in a single officer at a time. “This move underscores Napolcom’s constitutional mandate to administer and control the PNP, and ensure the continuity of leadership at the helm of the national police force,”
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Chinese not being targetted in PH—DILG chief By Rex Espiritu and Katrina Manubay INTERIOR Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Monday pushed back against China’s issuance of a cautionary advisory to its citizens visiting the Philippines, stressing that Manila does not interfere in the affairs of other countries and expects the same respect in return.
“We don’t make any claims about their country, so why would they make claims about us?” Remulla said when asked about Beijing’s advisory. He pointed out that official records show crime rates in the Philippines are on a downward trend, attributing the decline to stronger intelligence and enforcement networks. Next page