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WILDLIFE DAY.
September 4 is celebrated as National Wildlife Day to remind everyone to protect wildlife and their habitats. Edd Castro
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 202 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2025
Dizon fires DPWH engineer Sets lifetime ban on 2 contractors over ‘ghost’ flood control deals
By Pot Chavez, Vito Barcelo, Othel Campos, Ram Superable
P
UBLIC Works Secretary Vince Dizon on Thursday ordered the dismissal of former Bulacan 1st district engineer Henry Alcantara, who earlier admitted signing a completion certificate for a P55-million floodcontrol project that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier found to be non-existent. Dizon also ordered the lifetime blacklisting of contractors Wawao Builders and Syms Construction Trading over “ghost” flood control projects in Bulacan. Next page
Discaya firm rapped for not meeting deadline By Charles Dante
Henry Alcantara
Jail officials in infra mess, recover stolen funds—biz, civil society groups By Othel V. Campos A BROAD coalition of business organizations and civil society groups on Thursday called for the prosecution and imprisonment of public officials found guilty of being involved in substandard or even “ghost” flood-control projects and other infrastructure mess. The signatories, composed of 30 busi-
ness chambers, professional associations and advocacy groups, pushed for the creation of an independent body that would also recover stolen public funds. The coalition said corruption in infrastructure projects robs the Filipino people of resources, exacerbates poverty and erodes public trust. Next page
PROTESTS. Various groups held protest rallies yesterday to vent their anger
against those linked to billions lost to corruption in flood control and other government projects. In Pasig City, top photo, protesters threw mud and spray painted the gate of the office of St. Gerrard Construction. Another group of activists, left inset, lobbed rotten tomatoes at the main office of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Manila. Right inset shows Palace spokesperson Claire Castro showing the unfinished construction of the Philippine Film Heritage building by a company owned by the Discayas. Manny Palmero, Danny Pata
MALACAÑANG yesterday exposed the unfinished construction of the Philippine Film Heritage building in Intramuros, Manila, and raised the possible filing of a case against its contractor. “If they don’t have a valid reason why they didn’t turn it over correctly and according to the contract, they can be sued, first of all, civil liability, there is that,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Next page
Errata sheets will cure defects in NEP—Palace By Charles Dantes, Maricel Cruz
ture Program (NEP) should be coursed lowing proposals from House leaders through errata sheets instead of return- to send it back for revisions. ing the document to the Department of In a Palace briefing, Presidential MALACAÑANG yesterday said corrections to the 2026 National Expendi- Budget and Management (DBM), folNext page
Protesters target Discaya, DPWH offices; Palace urges calm By Charles Dantes MALACANANG on Thursday called for sobriety after flood victims and various groups staged a protest outside the Discaya-owned St. Gerrard Construction in Pasig City, throwing mud and spraypainting the word “magnanakaw” (thief) on the property’s gate in ap-
parent retaliation to alleged anomalies in flood control projects. Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto likewise called for calm saying that he understands the anger and frustration of the people. “But let’s not resort to violence or acts that could potentially lead to violence or injuries,” he said. Next page
ENHANCED BENEFITS. Senate President Francis Escudero and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez applaud after
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signs into law the Enhanced Fiscal Regime for Large-Scale Metal Mining Act (Republic Act No. 12253) during a simple ceremony yesterday at Kalayaan Hall, Malacañang Palace. The new law simplifies and rationalizes the fiscal regime for large-scale metallic mining, while upholding the principles of transparency, accountability, and good governance in the mining industry. Ver Noveno
New mining law seen to boost public benefits By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday signed into law the Enhanced Fiscal Regime for Large-Scale Metallic Mining Act, or Republic Act
12253, a measure that aims to streamline taxation in the mining industry while ensuring greater benefits for the government, local communities, and the environment. Speaking at the ceremonial signing in
Malacañang’s Kalayaan Hall, President Marcos said the new law establishes “a system that is fairer, clearer, and more responsive to the needs of both our people and the environment.” Next page
DOH seeks P260.2b to expand zero billing program nationwide By Ram Superable THE Department of Health is seeking a ₱260.2-billion budget for 2026 to broaden the full implementation of Universal Health Care program across the country.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Thursday told lawmakers that the increased allocation aims to make essential health services more accessible for the people, in compliance with a directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Next page