Dev Flores

The issue of recurring flooding along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), specifically at the Tulaoc section near the San Simon exit in Pampanga, was raised in the House of Representatives.

In a privilege speech by Senior Deputy Speaker and South Cotabato Second District Representative Ferdinand Hernandez, he announced plans to file a House resolution seeking an investigation involving NLEX Corporation, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, the Toll Regulatory Board, the Department of Transportation, and other concerned agencies.

A lawmaker also seeks for review if the improvements amid pavement elevations, siphoning measures, and flood barrier installations were enough. This aims to find out whether there are proven irregularities in preparations, monitoring, and response in the recurring flooding in the area.

He also questioned why toll collection was not immediately suspended amid heavy traffic, emphasizing that collecting tolls comes with a duty to deliver quality service.

“Kung may toll, dapat may serbisyo. Kung may concession, dapat may compliance. Kung may regulator, dapat may enforcement. At kung mabilis maningil ang toll, dapat mabilis din ang accountability. So I return to the question, which I began. Why charge a toll when tollway cannot deliver? This is the question tollway operator and our regulators must answer before this house,” Rep. Hernandez said

“No application, no requests, no public outrage should be necessary. The investigation should also consider automatic refund, toll waivers, rebates and appropriate compensation mechanism for motorist trapped during severe failures, as well as clear standards for when to collection must stop and when motorist may claim compensation for actual injury or lost,” he said

No lawmaker objected to Hernandez’s privilege speech, and it also gained support from colleagues from the chamber.

“Basic naman na dapat anumang service provider or establishment ay hindi mo sisingilin ang kliyente mo kapag sila ay hindi nakatatanggap ng tamang serbisyo. Mas lalo na kung palpak ang serbisyo. Dapat nga may reimbursement sa mga perwisyo na naranasan ng ating mga kababayan dito sa NLEX. Again, we support the call of our deputy speaker,” Akbayan Partylist Rep. Perci Cendaña said

The privilege speech was referred to the House Committee on Rules for appropriate action.

With reports from Evan Alvarez

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) discovered the alleged double entries leading to double payments related to the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, following interviews with two witnesses who appeared at the bureau.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag stated that the newly collected information will require additional days to finalize their investigation.

“Medyo mas lalong dumami pa yung dokumento at I think we will need additional few days for this week para matapos namin dahil nakita namin may parang may lumalabas na mga double entry na double payment kung saan-saan kinuha,” Matibag said

The NBI also discovered multiple contractors involved in the cauldron.

“Iba-iba 'yung contractor niyan,” Matibag said

The NBI Chief added that due to the discrepancy, the five board of trustees of the Philippine Sea Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) will face complaints.

“Siguradong may makakasuhan at siguradong merong pagkakamali,” Matibag said

“Very important yung kanina nakausap namin na witness,” he said

“Kasali na kaagad yung nandoon sa board of trustee nitong PHISGOC. Five na kaagad yun eh, so we're looking at the  other personality based nga doon sa katatapos ko lang na meeting at interview,” he continued

With reports from Benedict Samson

During the House Committee on Appropriations hearing on the Department of Education (DepEd) proposed budget for the next year, the agency explained that the it may not reach critical targets if current funding remain unchanged.

Based on the breakdown of the proposed 2027 budget, only P32.33 billion is allocated for infrastructure capital outlay, lower than the P99.47 billion earmarked for infrastructure in 2026.

In addition, several key departmental programs require additional funding, including the school-based feeding program. While P26 billion was previously allocated for student nutrition, the proposed budget for the program was down to P11 billion.

Furthermore, the requested P16-billion allocation for the ARAL Program was excluded from the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

The department is also appealing for budget augmentation for Special Needs Education (SNED). DepEd requested P1.39 billion for SNED, but only P849.9 million was included in the proposed allocation, leaving a deficit of more than P500 million.

However, the House Committee on Appropriations clarified that it cannot accommodate the full request; that’s why the department was instructed to submit the priority list of essential programs and projects.

“We have to request a new prioritized list,” House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Rep. Suansing said

With reports from Mia Alonzo

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is currently arranging necessary assistance for 14 Filipino seafarers who survived an attack on the MT Sidr while navigating near the Strait of Hormuz.

The DMW is coordinating with the Migrant Workers Office and the Philippine Embassy in Oman to support the surviving crew members, while processing the repatriation of the remains of the two Filipino seafarers who died in the incident.

The 14 survivors are currently staying at a hotel, where they met with the representatives of the vessel’s owner to discuss key concerns, including financial assistance and the arrangement for their return to the Philippines.

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The Philippine National Police (PNP) implemented a fresh round of reshuffles of seven senior officials, including the new leadership in Eastern and Southern Police Districts in Metro Manila.

From Eastern Police District (EPD), PBGen. Melecio Buslig Jr. was reassigned to the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO).

PBGen. Glenn Oliver Cinco will lead the Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA), from the Southern Police District (SPD).

PBGen. Roman Arugay replaced PBGen. Buslig to EPD, while PBGen. Rodel Pastor was appointed as the new leader of SPD.

Meanwhile, PBGen. Jason Capoy was transferred to the Human Rights Affairs Office (HRAO).

PBGen. Romano Cardiño was assigned to PRO8, while PBGen. Rudencindo Reales in PRO-NIR.

The reshuffle is effective today, September 7, 2026.