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PHL seen hindered  by high power costs in bid to graduate to higher-value manufacturing

ROBERT LINDER-UNSPLASH

THE electronics and service industries form the core of the Philippines’ competitiveness, but its potential as a site for other types of high-value production is hindered by high power costs and gaps in its infrastructure, according to consulting firm Roland Berger.

“Upstream geothermal leadership and a 10% global share of semiconductor ATP (assembly, testing and packaging) give the Philippines competitive niches, complemented by world-scale BPO (business process outsourcing) revenue,” it said in a report.

“However, Asia’s second-highest electricity prices, limited wafer fabrication, a 40% export dependence on China and the US, and costly, slow logistics constrain the shift into higher-value production and broader markets.”

Other key challenges include infrastructure gaps, natural disaster exposure, and limited high-value-add midstream industries, it said. 

The report noted the country’s geothermal, solar, wind and hydro resources, and incentives from the Renewable Energy Act, which hold the potential to lower carbon intensity and present investment opportunities in clean-power infrastructure.

The Philippines is aiming to raise the share of renewable energy in its power generation mix to 35% by 2030 and to 50% by 2040.

The US tariffs on Chinese goods makes the Philippines exposed to a flood of Chinese imports, Roland Berger added.

China remains the Philippines’ the top source of imports, accounting for 30.1% of the total in August.

“Conversely, the country’s relatively low US tariff and protection of key semiconductor exports create a competitive opening – provided policymakers broaden import sources, modernize infrastructure and promote the Philippines as a reliable, cost-effective alternative manufacturing base.”

US President Donald J. Trump in July imposed a 19% tariff on many goods from five Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries — the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

VAT accounts for 62.9% of first-half Customs revenue

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

VALUE-ADDED TAX (VAT) accounted for 62.9% of Customs revenue in the first half, led by collections generated by non-oil imports, the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) said.

In its Midyear Report, the DBCC said the Bureau of Customs (BoC) collected P288.4 billion in VAT, which dominated its overall revenue of P458.8 billion for the six-month period.

VAT revenue rose 5.2% from the end of June.

“Such a rise is primarily driven by the 10.2% or P21.0 billion uptick in VAT collections for non-oil imports, but this was notably offset by the 10.2% decline in VAT collections from oil,” the DBCC said.

The value and volume of non-oil imports rose 10.9% and 1.6%, respectively, while petroleum product imports declined 8.7% by value and 2.1% by volume.

The DBCC said the value of oil imports tracked the decline in Dubai crude prices, the benchmark for petroleum products shipped to Asia. Dubai crude fell from a monthly average of $70.8 per barrel in the first half from $83.0 a year earlier.

“Recently, geopolitical tensions affecting global oil prices have eased, and the global oil supply has been outpacing demand, explaining the drop in Dubai crude oil prices,” it said.

Customs excise tax collections totaled P116.5 billion in the first half, up 2.5%, it said.

“Among the biggest contributors to the positive growth in excise collections was motor vehicles, at 16.5% or P3.2 billion,” it said, which tracked the 2.1% increase in vehicle sales for the first half as reported by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. and Truck Manufacturers Association.

Customs collected P622.468 billion in the eight months to August, up 1.3% year on year. It is expected to collect P958.7 billion for the year and P1.285 trillion by 2030. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Spanish firms being considered for infra, port projects in Casiguran economic zone

FACEBOOK.COM/APECOGOVPH

THE Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) said it is exploring potential partnerships with Spain’s IDOM Consulting, Engineering, Architecture S.A.U. and Fira Barcelona to develop a logistics hub and port infrastructure in the Casiguran ecozone.

In a statement on Tuesday, APECO said it is exploring a possible memorandum of agreement with the firms following an investment mission to Spain.

During the mission, APECO President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gil G. Taway IV said the discussions with IDOM Director for Logistics and Operations Jaume Mas Vilella focused on the development of a food and cold chain hub as well as a port. 

“IDOM’s expertise in large-scale infrastructure will help strengthen the ecozone’s logistics and agri-industrial capabilities,” Mr. Taway said.

“It complements the agricultural and fisheries-based economic activities in Casiguran, giving our farmers and fisherfolk direct and closer access to markets.”

APECO’s pitch involves a feasibility study for a five- to 10-hectare food and logistics hub.

Mr. Taway also noted IDOM’s interest in participating in the design of port facilities. It is looking to support investment-ready projects pre-vetted by partners like the Asian Development Bank.

“IDOM’s proposal aligns with our goal to make Casiguran the Fishing Capital of the Pacific and our vision of boosting agricultural output while promoting value-adding activities for Aurora’s agri-based industries,” Mr. Taway said. “This partnership can help us build the infrastructure backbone that supports food security, investment, and job creation.”

APECO also met with Fira Barcelona International CEO Ricard Zapatero to discuss the development of a convention center.

Fira, one of Europe’s largest consulting firms for exhibitions, is majority-owned by the Catalonia regional government and the Barcelona city government.

The company said it was willing to assist APECO in conducting a feasibility study. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Emirates recruiting PHL aircraft maintainers

EMIRATES.COM

EMIRATES GROUP, the Dubai-based airline, said it is recruiting aircraft engineers and technicians in the Philippines.

“Our engineers enjoy a rewarding career in Dubai, working on the world’s largest fleet of widebody aircraft as part of a dynamic, multicultural team of talented professionals… We are building a future-ready workforce capable of supporting our global operations with precision and excellence,” Emirates Philippine Country Manager Saeed Abdulla Miran said in a statement.

Emirates said it is looking to hire about 750 aircraft maintainers globally.

The airline is organizing a recruitment roadshow in Manila on Oct. 14-15, it said.

“The recruitment initiative taps into the Philippines’ strong and growing aviation talent pool,” it said.

Emirates started serving the Philippines in 1990. It offers 28 weekly flights, or about 22,700 weekly seats, between the Philippines and Dubai. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Farmers say P20/kilo a fair price for palay

A farmer threshes newly harvested palay grains at a ricefield in Mogpog, Marinduque in central Philippines, March 22, 2016. — REUTERS

RICE FARMERS from Central Luzon said the government is not doing enough to raise the price of palay (unmilled rice), and called P20 per kilo a fair price for their harvest at farmgate level.

The farmers from Region III, the country’s leading producer of the grain, said in a briefing that they support the repeal of the Rice Tariffication Law, which liberalized rice imports and imposed tariffs on inbound rice shipments brought in by private traders.

The briefing in Quezon City organized by the Nagkakaisang Magsasakang Novo Ecijano (NAMANE) highlighted the government’s failure to achieve food security.

“Sa baba po ng halaga ng palay, wala na kaming tinatanaw na kinabukasan,” (With palay prices so low, we see no future in rice farming),” NABATE Spokesman Crisostomo Marzan said.

Palay prices are currently at P10-11 per kilo, with some regions reporting prices as low as P8.

Mr. Marzan said farmers are unable to support their families at these prices, adding that they consider P20 per kilo to be fair.

The National Food Authority (NFA) lists a buying price of P23-30 per kilo for dry palay and P17-23 for wet palay, depending on location. The NFA can buy only a small percentage of the harvest because of storage or budget constraints.

The NFA has insufficient funds, trucks, and dryers to buy directly from farmers, Mr. Marzan said, adding that the Rice Tariffication Law has made the Philippines too dependent on imports.

NAMANE said the Department of Agriculture (DA) has refused to engage with the group, and announced plans to protest at the Quezon Memorial Circle on Oct. 15.

The circle is the site of the two key agriculture-related agencies — the DA and the Department of Agrarian Reform. — Andre Christopher H. Alampay

Philippines rejects ‘misleading’ foreign claims on South China Sea boundaries

BW FILE PHOTO

By Adrian H. Halili, Reporter

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday rejected what it called misleading claims by certain countries about the extent of Philippine territory in the South China Sea, saying these distort historical and legal facts.

“Some countries have been articulating an erroneous opinion that intentionally misreads certain treaties upon which the extent of Philippine territory is partly based,” it said in a statement, without naming the countries involved.

The agency said it remains vigilant against any effort to spread misinformation about the Philippines’ territorial boundaries. “It will continue to assert and preserve its territorial integrity, and strongly uphold its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in accordance with international law,” the DFA said.

The agency said the Philippines has full sovereignty over its archipelago and other territories, including Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) and the high-tide features of the Kalayaan Island Group (Spratly Islands).

It said the country’s rights to these maritime features are “incontrovertible and firmly founded on international law, legal principles, effective control and recognition through international treaties and agreements.”

The DFA cited the 1898 Treaty of Paris and the 1900 Treaty of Washington as defining instruments that established the limits of Philippine sovereignty.

“These treaties clearly and firmly state the extent of Philippine territory as well as their meaning derived from the consistent demonstrations of sovereign authority and jurisdiction exercised by the Philippines over its territory through the centuries,” it said.

It added that the country’s 1935, 1973 and 1987 Constitutions further clarify the legal basis and extent of the national territory.

The statement comes amid rising tensions in the South China Sea, where Beijing continues to assert its sweeping “nine-dash line” claim covering over 80% of the disputed waterway. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in 2016 that China’s expansive claim had no legal basis under international law — a decision Manila has repeatedly invoked and which Beijing continues to ignore.

The waterway remains a major global trade route, with more than $3 trillion worth of goods passing through annually. Manila has recently increased maritime patrols and diplomatic protests in response to Chinese incursions in areas within its exclusive economic zone.

Meanwhile, the Philippines remains confident that the resignation of French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu would not disrupt talks for a visiting forces agreement between Manila and Paris that aims to deepen security cooperation.

“We are now in the final round of negotiations,” Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. told a Senate budget hearing. “Hopefully, their country acts on it given the occurrences in France now. I am confident that their foreign policy will not change.”

Mr. Lecornu announced his resignation on Monday amid a political crisis in France.

France first proposed the military pact in 2023, followed by the signing of a letter of intent between Mr. Teodoro and Mr. Lecornu. The deal seeks to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation through joint training, strategic collaboration and defense industry development.

Mr. Teodoro said he had also received a letter of intent from the UK for a similar agreement. “In particular, land forces, because the UK’s land force is more like the Philippine Army than larger armed forces,” he said. “We will learn a lot from them.”

The Philippines and the UK last year agreed to craft a defense and security cooperation framework covering training, peacekeeping operations, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, weapon development and research.

Manila has been expanding its defense partnerships as tensions rise in the South China Sea, where China continues to block Philippine vessels within the country’s exclusive economic zone.

The Philippines has strengthened military exercises with the US and Australia and is pursuing security arrangements with other allies.

“All of these countries that we have entered a status of visiting forces agreement with respect the arbitral award and recognize that China’s nine-dash line is baseless,” Mr. Teodoro said. “They respect the sovereign rights [of the Philippines] in its exclusive economic zone.”

Marcos appoints Justice secretary as ombudsman

JESUS CRISPIN C. REMULLA — PHILIPPINE STAR/JOHN RYAN BALDEMOR

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has appointed Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla as ombudsman, filling a key post that has been vacant since the retirement of Samuel R. Martires in July.

“The administration remains firm in its commitment to fight corruption wherever it exists,” the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a statement on Tuesday. “There will be no sacred cows, no exemptions and no excuses.”

Mr. Marcos said Mr. Remulla’s appointment reaffirms his administration’s dedication to transparency, fairness and the rule of law in public service.

The appointment comes as the government intensifies efforts to root out corruption, particularly in infrastructure projects. In August, Mr. Marcos created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to investigate questionable public works deals.

The commission is tasked with filing cases before the Office of the Ombudsman, which handles administrative, civil and criminal complaints against government officials.

Mr. Remulla’s appointment followed his recent clearance from kidnapping and arbitrary detention complaints filed by Senator Imee R. Marcos in connection with the controversial arrest of ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

The Justice chief was later included in the Judicial and Bar Council short list for the ombudsman post, submitted to Malacañang on Oct. 7.

At a press briefing, acting PCO Secretary Dave M. Gomez defended the President’s choice, saying the nominee “underwent a very rigorous selection process provided for by our Constitution and laws.”

A former Cavite representative, Mr. Remulla also served as Cavite governor before joining the Marcos Cabinet in 2022. As Justice secretary, he was known for supporting the government’s drug rehabilitation framework and the cleanup of the Bureau of Corrections after several high-profile scandals.

The Office of the Ombudsman is constitutionally mandated to promptly act on complaints against government personnel, including officials of state-owned corporations. Under the law, it must prioritize cases involving senior officials, grave offenses and those concerning large sums of public funds or property.

Political observers said Mr. Remulla’s appointment could reshape the administration’s anti-corruption agenda.

Justice Undersecretary Fredderick A. Vida will serve as officer-in-charge of the Justice department, Mr. Remulla told reporters after his appointment.

Ms. Marcos told reporters his appointment could be used to imprison Vice-President Sara Duterte Carpio.

“It seems like everything is ironed out,” she told reporters in mixed English and Filipino. “I have already expected this with how the ombudsman has dismissed [Mr. Remulla’s] cases so quickly.”

Gary D. Ador Dionisio, dean of the De La Salle–College of St. Benilde School of Diplomacy and Governance, described it as “one of the most pragmatic and consequential moves” of the Marcos administration so far.

“At a time when public trust in institutions is fragile, the decision raises both hope and doubt — hope that a seasoned lawyer and former legislator can strengthen the fight against corruption, and doubt that his political proximity could undermine the very independence the office is sworn to uphold,” he said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

Mr. Ador Dionisio said Mr. Remulla is expected to take decisive measures in carrying out his office’s mandate, which could put him on a collision course with the Dutertes and other administration allies as he pursues the government’s campaign against corruption.

The Vice-President has a pending case before the Ombudsman following allegations of her misuse of public funds when she was Education secretary.

Earlier this year, she faced impeachment raps before the Supreme Court ruled the articles of impeachment were unconstitutional.

Hansley A. Juliano, a political science lecturer at the Ateneo de Manila University, said Mr. Marcos had long intended to appoint Mr. Remulla to the post, viewing him as a political counterweight to the Dutertes.

“The Remulla family is nothing but a pragmatic political dynasty,” he said via Messenger chat. “They’re not known to be ideologically loyal to anybody, if how they ran Cavite is any indication.”

Mr. Remulla is likely to act based on shifting political tides — aligning with the Marcos administration for now but remaining open to reconciling with the Dutertes if their influence grows again, he added. — with Adrian H. Halili and Erika Mae P. Sinaking

Probe body assures no cover-up in flood scandal

MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL PROVINCIAL POLICE

By Erika Mae P. Sinaking

THE Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Tuesday assured the public that it would not tolerate any cover-up in its investigation of irregularities in flood control projects.

“The ICI is after the truth, so definitely the commission will not allow any whitewashing,” ICI Executive Director Brian Keith F. Hosaka told reporters in a Viber message. “It is very crucial that the commission carefully untangles this web of corruption. This is not a simple modus.”

The statement followed strong calls from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines for transparency and accountability in the probe, warning that any attempt to conceal wrongdoing could further erode public trust.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has also pressed for transparency, saying the Senate’s own budget process would be “open in all stages.”

Despite growing pressure for openness, the ICI continued to hold closed-door hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday. Those summoned this week included former Public Works Secretary and Senator Mark A. Villar, along with contractors Pacifico F. Discaya II and his wife Cezarah Rowena C. Discaya.

The ICI has rejected calls to livestream its sessions, citing the need to protect the integrity of the investigation and avoid “trial by publicity.” Mr. Hosaka said confidentiality was necessary to build solid cases for possible criminal, civil and administrative action.

Meanwhile, Senator Jose “Jinggoy” P. Estrada has filed a perjury complaint against a former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official who accused him of seeking kickbacks from flood control projects in Bulacan.

In a complaint-affidavit submitted to the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday, Mr. Estrada charged Brice Ericson D. Hernandez, a former assistant district engineer in Bulacan, with making “malicious and fabricated statements under oath” before both the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and the House Committee on Public Works and Highways.

Mr. Hernandez, who is under “provisional acceptance” to the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program, allegedly gave false testimony linking Mr. Estrada to a 30% “kickback” from P355 million worth of flood control projects for 2025.

The senator said the claim was made on Sept. 9, a day after the Senate cited Mr. Hernandez in contempt — a motion Mr. Estrada himself supported.

The case adds another legal dimension to the government’s widening probe into alleged anomalies in DPWH’s flood control projects, which has drawn scrutiny from both houses of Congress and the ICI.

“These malicious statements were deliberate lies made under oath, intended to destroy my name and reputation,” Mr. Estrada said in a separate statement. “The evidence presented in subsequent hearings completely disproves his baseless accusations.”

The ICI and Congress are conducting separate investigations into corruption involving public works projects, including claims of budget manipulation and contractor collusion.

Mr. Hernandez earlier claimed in televised hearings that several lawmakers demanded kickbacks from project allocations — accusations that have roiled the DPWH and prompted denials from several senators.

The Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office is expected to evaluate the complaint and determine whether probable cause exists to pursue charges.

UNICEF: Child marriage persists in Bangsamoro

UNICEF.ORG

CHILD MARRIAGE remains widespread in parts of the southern Philippines despite a law prohibiting the practice, exposing thousands of girls to lifelong risks, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

In Jolo, Sulu, and Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, one in six girls is married before turning 18, the report found, the UN body said in a report released on Monday.

“Child marriage and early unions can interrupt education, compromise health and place girls in roles they are not yet ready for, including motherhood,” Patricia Lim Ah Ken, UNICEF’s child protection chief, said in a statement.

The Philippines ranks 12th globally in the total number of child marriages. The Bangsamoro Women Commission earlier estimated that about 88,600 girls had married before reaching adulthood.

A separate study by Plan International and the Women’s Refugee Commission showed that in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), 15 of every 100 girls marry before age 18, and two before 15 — rates significantly above the national average.

UNICEF cited cultural norms, poverty and weak enforcement of protection laws as key factors behind early marriage in the Bangsamoro region.

In some Muslim communities, early marriage is viewed as a way to prevent what is considered haram, or forbidden, such as premarital sex or pregnancies outside marriage. Economic hardship also pushes families to marry off daughters to ease financial burdens.

“At the age of 16, I already had a child — the greatest blessing in my life,” said a woman from Sulu interviewed for the study. “But it was also difficult, because I had to face so many challenges. I didn’t have a job, so I had to rely on my parents for everything.”

These practices persist despite the passage of Republic Act No. 11596, the 2022 law that bans and criminalizes child marriage. The law penalizes those who facilitate or solemnize underage marriages, but enforcement remains weak in the Bangsamoro region due to limited government reach and sensitivities around religious customs.

Local officials said the law remains poorly understood. “I don’t think there’s any law yet prohibiting marriage below 18. We haven’t heard of it yet, and we haven’t had any training about it,” the report quoted a local official in Tawi-Tawi.

A social worker in Sulu said awareness must be strengthened: “Before it was passed, it probably wasn’t spread in the community.”

UNICEF urged more targeted interventions, including scholarships and alternative learning programs to keep girls in school, livelihood support to reduce economic pressure on families and closer engagement with religious leaders to challenge harmful traditions.

The report said child marriage in the Bangsamoro reflects deep governance and cultural gaps, showing that “laws alone cannot undo centuries-old norms.” — Erika Mae P. Sinaking

Open access law IRR out next week

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the Konektadong Pinoy program will be published as early as next week, after the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) completes its final round of consultations with telecommunications companies this week.

Secretary Henry Rhoel R. Aguda on Tuesday said the DICT initially aimed to release the IRR in the first week of October but opted to extend the timeline to accommodate feedback from key industry stakeholders.

“The final consultation was completed in the first week of October. Publication will happen at the earliest next week,” he said at a Palace briefing in mixed English and Filipino. “Publication will take about 15 days, so before the end of this month, the law will already be in effect.”

The Konektadong Pinoy Act aims to expand internet access and improve digital services across the country, particularly in underserved and remote areas.

Mr. Aguda said the DICT prioritized listening to stakeholder concerns to ensure that the rules are “fair” to both consumers and telecommunication operators.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., he added, directed the agency to make sure Konektadong Pinoy enhances connectivity nationwide while maintaining fair treatment for existing telco players. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

5 senators eyed for Blue Ribbon panel

BW FILE PHOTO

SENATE President Vicente “Tito” C. Sotto III on Tuesday proposed five senators that could be appointed as the new chairperson of the Blue Ribbon committee, after the resignation of Senator Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson.

In a Viber message to a reporter, Mr. Sotto said that Senators Joseph Victor “JV” G. Ejercito, Rafael T. Tulfo, Pilar Juliana S. Cayetano, Francis N. Pangilinan, and Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel could be considered for the chairmanship.

The Senate chief added that the majority bloc is set to meet during a caucus to discuss the appointment of a new head.

On Monday, Mr. Lacson resigned as the chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee following criticism from other senators over his handling of the investigation into anomalous flood control projects.

“In the course of the current investigation, which has implicated some senators in the flood control mess, a number of our colleagues have expressed disappointment with the ‘direction’ of the Blue Ribbon Committee, which this representation chairs,” he said in his resignation letter.

He was also criticized for alleged political bias during the flood control probe, which he has since denied.

“Some senators publicly and secretly pursue the narrative that I am zeroing in on several of my colleagues while purportedly protecting those members of the Lower House perceived to be the principal actors in the budget anomalies related to the substandard and ghost flood control projects,” he added.

Mr. Lacson, who held the Blue Ribbon Committee chairmanship for a month, took over following a leadership shakeup in the Senate due to concerns about former Senate chief Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero’s links to the flood control controversy.

The Senate is investigating irregularities in multi-billion-peso flood control projects, following reports that lawmakers and officials received kickbacks from infrastructure funds allocated since 2022. — Adrian H. Halili

QC ends projects with Discaya firms

A car was submerged in flood water near the corner of Mother Ignacia and Sgt. Esguerra street in Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City after a heavy downpour, Aug. 30. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE Quezon City (QC) government has terminated four infrastructure projects awarded to firms owned by the Discaya family, following a resolution from the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) revoking their licenses over procurement law violations.

“The Quezon City Government has always observed transparency in all its procurement processes, including adherence to competitive bidding, publication, and posting,” it said in a statement on Tuesday.

According to its statement, the Quezon City government immediately conducted a review of its infrastructure projects which found that four projects awarded to the Discaya family or joint ventures linked to them were all terminated.

These projects are the proposed construction of a six-story with deck multi-purpose building; proposed construction of reinforced concrete canal at Ermitaño Creek; proposed construction of Housing 32-Balingasa high-rise housing phase 1-A; and the proposed construction of Housing 32-Balingasa high-rise housing phase 2.

“This is the reason all our infrastructure projects are publicly posted on our website. The Quezon City Government has nothing to hide. We welcome all good-faith examinations of competent legal authorities of our projects and processes,” it said.

“We condemn any and all malicious insinuations that only seek to distract from the actual schemes and perpetrators that have victimized our City and our Country.”

Among the top 15 flood-control contractors earlier identified by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. were Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp. and St. Timothy Construction, both reportedly linked to former Pasig mayoral candidate Cezarah Rowena C. Discaya.

The PCAB has issued a resolution on Sept. 1, revoking the licenses of nine construction companies owned by Ms. Discaya that were tagged in ghost projects. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

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