What does the current spasm in the body politic over the latest manifestations of corruption indicate but that the more things change, the more they remain the same? It wasn’t too long ago when such types as “Pogi,” “Sexy” and “Tanda” were hogging the news, having been accused of receiving ₱224.5 million, ₱183.8 million, and...
Tag: infrastructure
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Lacson ‘pulls the trigger’ on flood control projects, says what Filipinos need is ‘greed control’
Sen. Panfilo Lacson has laid out how billions of pesos in government-funded flood control projects ended up in the hands of corrupt contractors, public works officials and politicians through the years, resulting in persistent massive flooding and inflicting suffering on Filipinos. Making good on his promise to explain the pork barrel insertions in the national budget, Lacson...
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Want more tourists? Fix the airfare and infrastructure problems first
A recent article in Esquire Philippines attempted to settle the debate on whether travel to and in the Philippines is more expensive than elsewhere in Southeast Asia. The Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) defended local pricing, saying hotel rates reflect the high cost of doing business in the country. There is some truth to...
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‘What could have been, what can be done’
If given a three-minute audience with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said former health secretary Jaime Galvez Tan, he will make a strong case for the development of the young population to make the Philippines at par with the fast-growing economies in Southeast Asia. This will be his recommendation to the President: Synergize education, health, agriculture,...
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There’s no way home for some residents of 4 Marawi villages
MARAWI CITY, Philippines—Bantog Panomblayan firmly stomps on broken red tiles abandoned on the ground. “Eto na ngayon ang bahay ko,” he says. “Na-mimiss ko nga ‘to. Nu’ng nakita ko, parang sumama loob ko.” (This is my house now. When I saw these tiles, I felt angry. I miss my home.) The house is gone. Only...