OpinYon Batangas

11/09/2025

10/09/2025

10/09/2025

Fresh from her WTA 125 win in Guadalajara, Alex Eala made a strong start at the WTA 250 Sao Paulo Open, crushing French qualifier Jasmine Mansouri in straight sets.

Eala, currently ranked World No. 61, wasted no time showing her class, racing to a 6-0 first set in just 32 minutes. She kept her momentum in the second, powering through with her trademark baseline shots and sealing the match 6-0, 6-2. 💪

The victory sends her straight into the Round of 16, where she’s set to face Argentina’s Julia Riera (World No. 188).

10/09/2025

Meralco just announced that electricity rates will be a little lighter on the wallet this month. ⚡️ Thanks to lower charges from their power suppliers and the stronger peso against the US dollar, the overall rate is set to decrease by P0.19 per kilowatt-hour.

Here’s how much you could save on your bill:
🔹 200 kWh – around P37 less
🔹 300 kWh – around P56 less
🔹 400 kWh – around P74 less
🔹 500 kWh – around P93 less

OpinYonistas, with today’s rising expenses, every peso saved counts.

09/09/2025

Former DPWH Bulacan assistant engineer Brice Hernandez has accused Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva of pocketing millions in alleged “kickbacks” from flood control projects.

During a House inquiry, Hernandez claimed that some DPWH engineers acted as “bagmen” for politicians. He specifically named Estrada, Villanueva, Usec. Robert Bernardo, and District Engineer Henry Alcantara.

According to Hernandez, Estrada supposedly allocated P350 million for Bulacan projects in 2025, with a 30% cut allegedly going back to him. He also alleged that Villanueva released P600 million worth of projects in 2023, with the same 30% SOP (share of project) delivered to his home in Bocaue.

He further accused Alcantara of being the “chief implementor” of the scheme.

💥 Estrada quickly fired back.
The senator strongly denied the accusations and even dared Hernandez to a lie detector test in public. “Talk is cheap. I’m ready to prove these are all lies,” Estrada said.

OpinYonistas, what’s your take? Are these allegations signs of deep-rooted corruption, or just political mudslinging?

08/09/2025

At the Senate hearing on the controversial DPWH flood control projects today, contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya made explosive claims against several government officials. 🚨

In their sworn statement, the couple insisted:
“We never did ghost projects and we diligently inspect all of our completed projects.”

But here’s where it gets serious. They also declared they’re ready to testify as state witnesses to reveal the alleged corruption involving the House, DPWH, and other officials.

According to them, after winning project bids, DPWH officials would approach and demand a cut (between 10% to 25%) to make sure the project isn’t delayed. 😱

The Discayas named several lawmakers and officials allegedly involved, including:
• Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo
• Quezon City Rep. Arjo Atayde
• Rep. Marcy Teodoro
• Terence Calatrava, Former Undersecretary of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas of the Philippines
• USWAG Ilonggo Party-list Rep. Jojo Ang
• Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas
• AGAP Party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones
• San Jose del Monte Bulacan Rep. Florida Robes
• Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona
• Former congressman Benjamin Agarao, Jr.
• Former congressman Florencio Gabriel Noel
• Occidental Mindoro Rep. Odie Tarriela
• Quezon Rep. Reynante Arrogancia
• Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo
• Former congressman Teodorico Haresco, Jr.

Mr. Discaya also revealed that it is an "open secret" that higher-ups who also get their share refer to House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co.

The couple didn’t mince words, saying: “After we win the bidding, officials come to us to ask for their share of the project amount.”

What do you think, OpinYonistas? Will this testimony finally lead to accountability? Or will it just be another political circus?

07/09/2025

Celebrating the birthday of our Blessed Mother today! 🌸

Mama Mary, we thank you for your endless love, gentle guidance, and powerful intercession. On your special day, we honor your faith, humility, and your "yes" that brought us closer to Jesus. 💙🙏 May you continue to cover us with your mantle of protection and lead us always to your Son.

02/09/2025

01/09/2025

Contractor Sarah Discaya clarified on Monday that a viral video making the rounds online was “spliced” to make it seem like her family only got rich after landing projects with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Speaking at a Senate hearing on questionable flood control projects, Discaya said her family has been in the construction business for 23 years, starting with local government projects.

“It’s not true na sa DPWH lang kami yumaman. Our family was already in construction long before that. Ang hirap nga makasingil sa LGU,” she said.

Discaya is linked to construction firms like St. Gerrard and St. Timothy Construction Corp. These companies were among the 15 contractors flagged for bagging P100 billion worth of flood control projects -- around 20% of the DPWH’s P545-billion budget.

She admitted their firms only began bidding for DPWH projects in 2012 and started securing big flood control contracts around 2016. To defend her family’s earnings, she vowed to submit tax records to senators.

🎯 But here’s the catch:
St. Gerrard was suspended by DPWH in 2015 and blacklisted in 2020. Despite this, its license was renewed in 2023, valid until 2026.

St. Timothy Construction Corp. was tied to an unfinished Bulacan river project, yet its license was also renewed in 2025 and valid until 2027.

When asked how these renewals happened, the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) explained that a DPWH blacklist is time-bound and gets lifted once a project is marked as completed.

OpinYonistas, are you following this story too?

28/08/2025

It is concerning that there is this news item about our immigration authorities preparing to report an American pastor accused of abusing many children in Pampanga.

28/08/2025

Lifestyle vlogger and singer Claudine Co has gone offline after receiving heavy backlash for flaunting her lavish lifestyle, while the nation struggles with flood control project controversies.

Claudine deactivated her YouTube channel (with 340k+ subscribers) and Instagram account following strong criticism of a vlog showing her boarding a private jet to La Union. Because of her way of living, she was oftentimes referred online as a "Disney Princess" of the Philippines, along with other female children of several government contractors.

Claudine is the daughter of former Ako Bicol Congressman Christopher Co, co-founder of Hi-Tone Construction, and niece of Elizaldy Co, CEO of Sunwest Group of Companies and ex-chair of the House Committee on Appropriations. Both Hi-Tone and Sunwest are on the list of top contractors that bagged billions worth of flood control projects flagged by the president.

What's your take on this, OpinYonistas?

27/08/2025

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) said it will investigate the 40 luxury cars owned by contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya, whose collection went viral online.

BOC explained that with this many high-end vehicles involved, the agency needs to check if the import duties and taxes were properly declared and paid.

The Discayas, who reportedly bagged P31.5-B worth of flood control projects, admitted in a vlog that they own the luxury fleet. Aside from cars, the couple also showcased imported artworks that may also be checked.

BOC will coordinate with the LTO to verify car documents, such as certificates of payment, and cross-check them with BOC records. If irregularities like wrong declarations or unpaid taxes are found, the agency may pursue a fraud investigation.

The Discaya couple has yet to issue a statement regarding this issue.