A protest rally was staged in front of the office building of St. Gerard Construction, owned by the Discaya couple, who have been blessed with numerous flood control projects. The protesters, mostly young people claiming to be disaster survivors and environmentalists, threw mud at the gate and shouted invectives, demanding that the contractors be prosecuted. The protest could have turned violent, but fortunately, it did not escalate further, unlike in Indonesia where protesters burned the house of politicians they accused of corruption. However, there is a possibility that the protest in the Philippines could worsen and become a major problem for the contractors and the government if those responsible are not held accountable.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is currently investigating the controversial deals between the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and 15 contractors who cornered multi-billion flood control projects. Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who was previously convicted of graft and corruption, is actively participating in the probe, asking tough questions to Sarah Discaya, co-owner of nine contractor firms. Estrada’s involvement in the investigation has raised questions about his credibility, given his own history of corruption. It remains to be seen whether his participation will help achieve the investigation’s purpose and potentially redeem his tarnished image.
In a separate development, some establishments in Davao City have started imposing fees on vehicles parking in their private parking areas, citing the need to prevent non-customers from occupying spaces meant for legitimate customers. While this move may seem anti-customer, it could actually benefit shoppers who often find themselves without parking spaces due to non-customers occupying them. However, it is essential for the local government to regulate the parking fees to prevent businesses from taking advantage of their customers. Councilor Danny Dayanghirang has already taken note of the potential impact of unregulated parking fees and is likely to take action to address the issue.
