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Dateline Iloilo, 3rd flr. Street anne bldg. Luna St. , La Paz, Iloilo City (2025)

Q: What is the address?

3rd Flr. Street Anne Bldg. Luna St. , La Paz

24/11/2025

SORSOGON EXECS SAY LGU HAS ALREADY COMPLIED WITH COA’S 2021 AOM

The Provincial Government of Sorsogon said that its past and present local executives have already complied with the audit observation memoranda (AOM) issued by the Commission on Audit (COA) in 2021 in connection with projects carried out during the period.

This means that the complaint filed recently against Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who once served as provincial governor, and the province’s present and former officials with the Office of the Ombudsman lacked merit and basis, and at best, a product of politicking and harassment.

In a statement signed by acting Provincial Accountant Sheena Gacosta Credo, Provincial Internal Audit Officer Atty. Cesar Balmaceda, and Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Ron Ely Espinosa, the provincial government said the allegations against present and former local officials, including member of the Bids Awards Committee, failed to verify if the AOM had already been complied with in accordance with the recommendations of the COA.

“These COA reports are from the different Audit Observation Memoranda issued to the officials of the Province of Sorsogon. However, the complainant has not verified if the concerned personnel had satisfactorily complied with the recommendations of the COA with respect to AOMs as reported in COA reports for 2021,” the provincial government said.

“Following the reply, explanations and actions of respondents to the AOMs issued, the COA had not issued any suspension or disallowance to said allegations complained of by Mr. Aceron because the reply, explanations and actions of the respondents complied with the COA’s recommendations as per COA Report 2022,” according to Sorsogon officials.

18/11/2025

grabe nga akusasyon sa utod kag bayaw.

hatred can be sensed sa babaye nga ini!

18/11/2025

when your personal interest is greater that your love for your family!

Zandro Marcos to Sen. Imee Marcos: Hindi ito asal ng Isang tunay na Kapatid.

15/11/2025

PRESS STATEMENT
14 November 2025

Atty. Ramon S. Esguerra
Counsel for
Senator Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero

Bernardo’s claims against Senator Chiz are not new. These allegations have been denied and and refuted before.

There is no direct evidence presented in the testimony of Bernardo linking Senator Chiz to any criminal act. Speculations and insinuations are not evidence. These are at best hearsay, lack basis, and are self-serving statements that will not stand in any court of law.

We believe that these allegations are merely designed to besmirch and destroy Senator Chiz’s reputation, as well as that of the Senate.

We are confident that the facts and evidence will vindicate Senator Chiz, show that these allegations against him are malicious and baseless, and prove that he is innocent.

12/11/2025

*PRESS RELEASE*

CHIZ: INFRA PROJECTS MUST BE BACKED BY FEASIBILITY STUDIES*

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero is pushing for the institutionalization of budget transparency and accountability safeguards for all infrastructure projects introduced in the national budget as a way of preventing irregularities and the abuse and misuse of government funds.

To ensure that only government infrastructure projects that are technically and financially viable are included in the national budget, Escudero has filed Senate Bill Number 1461 or the proposed Infrastructure Appropriations Integrity Act.

Under the measure, all infrastructure projects will have to incorporate mechanisms such as station numbers, geotagging, geodetic coordinates, and other technology-based methodologies that will allow anyone to locate these at any time.

“Ang geotagging ay isa sa pinakamahalagang mekanismo para makita natin kung ano ang estado ng isang proyekto—kung may ginagawa ba talaga o naka tengga lang ito habang tuloy-tuloy na nagpapalabas ng pondo ang gobyerno,” Escudero said.

The bill also states that no government infrastructure project should be included in the national budget and implemented unless it has gone through a thorough feasibility study.

The technical and financial bases for the projects, including the detailed unit price analyses, standard cost of materials, and quantity estimates should be properly and accurately documented for the perusal of all, particularly the public.

“This documentation is a requirement and condition sine qua non for inclusion of any infrastructure project in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) and the General Appropriations Act (GAA). All proposed projects must be vetted otherwise it should not receive a single centavo in public funds,” Escudero said.

Budget splitting or the division of the appropriations for infrastructure projects in phases will also be prohibited for whatever reason.

“Splitting of government contracts has long been prohibited under Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Law. This is to prevent the schemes that are intended to circumvent the law and budget policies in order to facilitate corruption,” the former Senate President said.

In the ongoing reviews and investigations being conducted on the government’s flood control programs, several problems were discovered including substandard construction and materials, overpriced procurement, and in some instances the non-existence of projects or what is more commonly referred to as ghost projects.

Escudero recently wrote to Senate Committee on Finance Chairman Senator Sherwin Gatchalian to adopt the transparency and accountability safeguards contained in SBN 1461 as a general provision in the 2026 national budget or as a special provision under specific agency appropriations.

07/11/2025

CHIZ: ENSURE PRICE STABILITY OF BASIC GOODS IN TYPHOON-AFFECTED AREAS

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has reminded authorities to ensure that prices of basic goods and prime commodities remain stable during this critical time in the provinces severely affected by Typhoon Tino.

As the principal author of Republic Act No. 10623, which amended the law to provide protection to consumers by stabilizing the prices of basic commodities during disasters and emergency situation, Escudero said prices should be closely monitored to stop the abuse and exploitation by unscrupulous merchants.

“Nakikiramay tayo sa pamilya ng mga nasawi dahil sa hagupit na hatid ng bagyong Tino. Napakabigat din ng pinsala sa mga tahanan at negosyo mula sa matinding pagbaha. Ang dasal natin ay makabangon agad ang mga apektado ng bagyo,” he said.

“Ang pinakamahalaga para sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo ay ang sapat na pagkain, gamot, at ang materyales para makumpuni ang mga nasirang bahay kaya nararapat lamang na may sapat na bilihin sa mga panahon na ito at walang gulangan pagdating sa presyo ng mga ito,” Escudero added.

RA 10623 expanded the coverage of basic necessities and prime commodities to ensure that consumers are given more protection from undue price increases during times of calamities or disasters.

Basic necessities now include potable water in bottles and containers, fresh fruits, locally manufactured instant noodles, household liquefied petroleum gas, and kerosene. Livestock and fishery feeds were included in the list of prime commodities.

Under the law, price control of basic necessities is in effect for the duration of the state of calamity or emergency but not exceeding 60 days or in the event the President lifts the declaration earlier.

In the case of basic necessities that are wholly imported or deregulated under the existing laws, the price control will only be in effect for a maximum of 15 days.

Any person who commits price manipulation, hoarding, profiteering, and cartel-like activities face heavy penalties that include fines and imprisonment. #

02/11/2025

PRESS STATEMENT GIKAN SA ALPHALAND

ABML: No Property Owned by Sen. Chiz Escudero

The management of Alphaland Baguio Mountain Lodges (ABML) has clarified that Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero does not own any property within the development, contrary to claims circulating online and in private circles.

In a text message, ABML said that while the residential village does not publicly release its list of homeowners for privacy and security reasons, it was able to verify that no home is listed under the name of Sen. Escudero or any company associated with him.

“ABML, like any other residential village in the country, does not divulge a list of its residents or homeowners. However, we are able to confirm that there is no home listed as owned by Sen. Chiz Escudero or any company associated with him,” according to management.

ABML added that Escudero and his family have occasionally visited the property, as seen in social media posts by various individuals, but such visits should not be mistaken for ownership.

“We are aware that he and his family are occasional visitors to the property, as can be gleaned from numerous social media posts by various parties. Mrs. Escudero, being a long-time member of Alphaland Balesin Island Club, is allowed the privilege to use the facilities of ABML,” the ABML official said.

Located in Itogon, Benguet, Alphaland Baguio Mountain Lodges is one of the country’s premier mountain residential developments, known for its luxury lodges, high-altitude views, and exclusivity. It is a sister property of the Alphaland Balesin Island Club in Quezon province, both developed under the Alphaland Corporation brand.

Escudero’s 2024 Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) does not include any declaration of ownership or business interest related to Alphaland or real estate in Baguio or Benguet.

23/10/2025

*CHIZ: PEOPLE, LGUs MUST HAVE A SAY IN INFRA PROJECTS*

ABML, like any other residential village in the country, does not divulge a list of its residents / homeowners. However, we are able to confirm that there is no home listed as owned by Sen Chiz Escudero or any company associated with him. We are aware, however, that he and his family are occasional visitors to the property as can be gleaned from the numerous social media posts by various parties. Mrs. Escudero, being a long time member of Alphaland Balesin Island Club, is allowed the privilege to use the facilities of ABML.

Let the people who know best about what they need decide on what projects should be implemented in their respective areas.

In the forthcoming 2026 General Appropriations Act and beyond, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said this should be the guiding principle in proposing infrastructure projects, and their inclusion in the national budget, and in the release of funds for their implementation.

“Sa dami ng mga lumitaw na problema sa mga government infrastructure projects kabilang na ang mga substandard at ‘ghost’ flood control projects, kailangan talaga na gumawa ng makabuluhan na solusyon para hindi na nasasayang ang pera ng bayan sa katiwalian,” Escudero said.

The veteran legislator explained that most, if not all of the abuses committed with regard to the funding of infrastructure projects, are the result of the arbitrary moves of legislators, in connivance with officials in the Executive branch, to introduce items that never passed scrutiny at any point of the budget process.

“This is the very issue being raised with regard to insertions in the budget”, said Escudero, who noted that these projects came out of nowhere and were included in the national budget without anyone really knowing if they were feasible, needed or even real.

An examination of the General Appropriations Acts (GAA) before 2025, alongside the examinations conducted by the Commission on Audit, would reveal the presence of ghost projects and other anomalies in the implementation of infrastructure projects.

Escudero has proposed a solution, one that is so simple and obvious that it would seem impossible that it has not been done before.

In the proposed Grassroots Infrastructure Planning and Budgeting Act filed by Escudero, all infrastructure projects must have prior endorsement of the Regional Development Council and either the Provincial Development Council or the City/Municipal Development Council and their respective Sanggunian before these are included in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted by the President to Congress.

“Doon pa lang sa NEP dapat wala ng nakakalusot na proyekto na hindi kailangan ng isang probinsya o bayan. Kung ano lang ang prayoridad at pinakamahalaga para sa kanila ang dapat na nasasali sa NEP,” Escudero said.

“Mas lalo pang mahalaga ang pag-endorso ng ating mga local government units sa mga proyekto na hinahabol ng mga mambabatas bilang amendment na kadalasan ay naipapasok sa GAA o ang pinal na bersyon ng budget na pinirmahan na ng Pangulo bilang batas,” he added.

The bill states that the prior endorsement of the RDCs and/or the local governing bodies is a requisite or condition sine qua non (absolutely indispensable) for the inclusion of any infrastructure project in the GAA and for the subsequent release of any allotment for its implementation.

“Pag walang endorsement o approval ng RDC, walang pera na ilalabas ang DBM para sa anumang proyekto,” Escudero said.

The Senator from Bicol urged his colleagues in the Senate and the House of Representatives to prioritize the approval of this measure as it will address the issues that have been dominating the national conversation and strengthen the reforms that are being introduced with respect to the budget process. #

18/10/2025

*CHIZ REMINDS HEIs: NO COLLECTION OF STUDENT LOANS IN CALAMITY AREAS*

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero reminded all higher education institutions (HEIs) about the moratorium on the collection of student loans in all areas where a state of calamity has been declared.

With several parts of the country still dealing with the devastating effects of earthquakes and typhoons over the past month, Escudero said families had to deal with “getting their lives back in order, first and foremost.”

“Pinapaalala natin sa ating mga unibersidad, kolehiyo, at pati na din ang mga tech-voc (technical-vocational) institutions na may batas tayo na nagbabawal sa pagkolekta ng mga utang ng kanilang mga estudyante. Sa panahon na may sakuna, ang pinakamahalaga ay ang muling makabangon ang mga nasalanta,” Escudero said.

Under Republic Act 12077, or the Student Loan Payment Moratorium During Disasters and Emergencies Act, payment of all fees and charges by HEIs and technical-vocational institutions (TVIs) is suspended for the duration of the state of emergency or calamity and 30 days after this is lifted.

As one of the authors and sponsors of the law, Escudero said the education of students should never be affected whenever disaster strikes because in many instances, recovering from this is even more challenging than rebuilding lost property.

“Hindi dapat maging dahilan ang kawalan ng pambayad ng matrikula para matigil ang pag-aral ng ating mga estudyante lalo na pag sila rin mismo ay biktima ng bagyo, lindol o anumang sakuna,” he said.

The law states that the availment of the moratorium shall not in any way adversely affect the eligibility of the students concerned for re-enrolment in the succeeding semesters.

Escudero noted that the law encourages the HEIs and TVIs to offer payment relief or assistance programs for the affected students to make it easier for them to pay off their loans.

Any waiver on the benefit of the moratorium on student loan payments or the availment of assistance or subsidies from the government is prohibited.

Escudero was head of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education in the 19th Congress and was a co-chairperson of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2).

He also sponsored and was one of the authors of Republic Act 11984 or the No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act that paved the way for disadvantaged students to take their periodic and final examinations even if they are unable to pay their tuition or other fees.

“Students affected by calamities are classified as ‘disadvantaged’ upon the certification by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. So the inability to pay their tuition should not be an obstacle to the completion of their educational requirements. They can find a way to pay for their loans later,” Escudero said. #

17/10/2025

Maulanon nga Sabado!

15/10/2025

Kampo ni Escudero nagsumite ng counter-affidavit sa Comelec

Ngayong umaga, pormal nang nagsumite ng counter affidavit ang kampo ni Senador Francis “Chiz” Escudero sa Commission on Elections (COMELEC) kaugnay ng isyung lumutang hinggil sa donasyong P30 milyon na natanggap ng kanyang kampanya noong 2022 mula sa isang contractor. Ang nasabing dokumento ay bahagi ng paglilinaw ng panig ng senador.

Ayon kay Atty. Ramon Esguerra, legal counsel ni Senador Escudero, maaga nilang inihain ang counter affidavit bilang pagpapakita ng paggalang sa proseso ng COMELEC at upang agad na maipaliwanag ang kanilang panig.

“We’re filing our submission early to respect the COMELEC process. Our position is clear: the donation was legal, fully declared, and follows long-standing practice. The law is on our side, and we are confident the COMELEC will find no fault,” ani Esguerra.

Nauna nang binigyang-diin ng kampo ni Senador Escudero na ang campaign donation ay isinagawa nang ayon sa umiiral na batas at regulasyon ng COMELEC. Ito ay idineklara sa tamang panahon at isinama sa opisyal na ulat ng kampanya, alinsunod sa prinsipyo ng transparency at pananagutan sa publiko.

Nananatiling bukas at handa ang kampo ng senador na makipagtulungan sa COMELEC upang maipakita ang buong katotohanan. Ang pagsusumite ng counter affidavit ay hakbang tungo sa mabilis at patas na paglilinaw ng isyu, nang hindi kinakailangang umabot pa sa pormal na kaso. #

01/09/2025

Grab Marks 10 Years of Driving an Inclusive Digital Economy in WesVis with Super-Takbo Run

Grab Philippines celebrates a decade of advancing an inclusive digital economy in Western Visayas with the second leg of its Super-Takbo trilogy, staged at Atria Park District in Iloilo City.

The run underscored the superapp’s commitment to shared progress, highlighting how Grab’s online marketplace drives sustainable growth for drivers, riders, merchants, and local economies through every transaction on the app. The Super-Takbo Iloilo leg drew nearly 3,000 runners from Grab’s “supercommunity” of drivers, merchants, and consumers, spanning race categories from 3K to 21K.

Since launching GrabTaxi in Iloilo in 2015, the superapp has steadily expanded with GrabFood in 2019 and GrabCar in 2020, concurrently growing its fleet of driver-, delivery-, and merchant-partners within its ecosystem. The leading superapp has also since extended its geographical reach to include the entirety of Panay, Antique, Capiz, and Aklan.

Today, the Visayas region is home to more than 10,000 Grab driver- and delivery-partners, making it one of the platform’s most active driver hubs outside of Metro Manila. Among them is Jose Diosdidit Borja Esportono. Esportono is one of the first to join the GrabTaxi fleet when it entered the Visayas a decade ago.

From taxi driver to digitalized transport provider, he quickly saw the viability of on-demand ride-hailing: “Maganda kasi ang kita sa Grab. Hindi kami nagkakaroon ng problema sa dami ng bookings. Maganda rin ang suportang naibigay ni Grab sa mga masisipag na drivers, gaya na lang ng incentives,” he said.

Esportono later transitioned being a GrabCar driver-partner, growing his operations from one vehicle to three — with his children now also behind the wheel. “Maliban sa magandang kita, ang gusto ko rin sa pagiging GrabCar driver ay hawak ko ang oras ko. Mas nabibigyan ko ng oras ang pamilya ko.”

Having experienced this transformative impact, Esportono organized and now leads the “Panay Breakers,” a 60-member community of GrabCar drivers and also a Grab Driver UGNAYAN advocate, focused on building solidarity and community-led programs for TNVS drivers across the region.

Merchants remain another pillar of Grab’s ecosystem, with more than 5,000 MSMEs connected to the platform in the Visayas. Iloilo accounts for a significant share, from homegrown food stalls to family-run shops tapping Grab’s consumer base, digital tools, and delivery network to scale sustainably.

A standout in this community is Luna’s Arrozcaldohan, owned by Helen Barcelona. She underscored how Grab was instrumental in helping their family business, which was established in 1967, not just survive the pandemic, but also grow stronger in its aftermath. What was once two branches in 2020 has expanded into nine today. “Sa tulong ni Grab, napalaki namin ang family business kaya mas marami na kami ngayon mula sa pamilya na nagtutulung-tulungan para sa negosyo,” Barcelona said.

The growth also means more jobs for the community. Each branch now supports six to fifteen staff, turning Luna’s Arrozcaldohan from a small family venture into a livelihood generator for dozens of Ilonggos.

Barcelona added that beyond revenue, what matters to them is the multiplier effect: as the business thrives, more families benefit — both their own and those of their employees.

Grab Philippines Vice President for Cities CJ Lacsican shares: “We’re proud to stand alongside the Iloilo government and every Ilonggo in building a stronger digital economy: one that creates livelihoods for thousands, and helps families turn their aspirations into reality. This event reminds us that progress is never a solo act. On Grab, every role matters — from the users who place their trust in us, to the merchants who grow with us, to the drivers and riders who serve every day. Together, we create a flywheel of service and opportunity that lifts communities upward.”

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Dateline Iloilo

24/11/2025

18/11/2025

18/11/2025

15/11/2025

12/11/2025

07/11/2025

02/11/2025

23/10/2025

18/10/2025

17/10/2025

15/10/2025

01/09/2025

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