Tag: National Budget

The Sandiganbayan, the Philippines’ anti-graft court, on Friday issued arrest warrants for Senator Jinggoy Estrada, former Public Works Secretary Emmanuel Bonoan, and several DPWH engineers over alleged plunder and graft linked to illegal insertions in the 2025 infrastructure budget in exchange for kickbacks totaling P573 million. The orders followed charges filed by the Ombudsman. While graft cases are generally bailable, plunder usually is not unless evidence is weak. Estrada, who plans to post bail, is a sitting senator, who will serve as a judge in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

The government’s Green Lane initiative is accelerating major renewable energy investments, with the Board of Investments stepping up efforts to fast-track four offshore and onshore wind projects worth a combined P360.67 billion. 

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. secured P56.3 billion in investment expansion commitments from four major Japanese firms during business meetings on the sidelines of his State Visit to Japan, promising roughly 10,300 direct and indirect jobs for Filipinos.

Megaworld Corp., along with Travellers International Hotel Group, Inc. (TIHGI) and Southwoods Mall, Inc. (SMI), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with listed real estate investment trust MREIT, Inc. to pursue a strategic property-for-share swap.