Ghost Projects, Conflict of Interest, at ang Malabong Depensa ni Marcoleta

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

Sa tuwing binabanggit ang “ghost projects,” hindi ito kathang-isip o alamat. Ito’y mga proyektong nakatala sa dokumento, pinondohan ng gobyerno, ngunit hindi kailanman nailatag sa lupa. At ngayon, muling binabalot ng eskandalo ang bansa matapos umalingasaw ang mga ulat hinggil sa flood control projects sa Bulacan at iba pang lalawigan—mga proyektong pinondohan ng bilyon-bilyong piso, ngunit mistulang multo lamang ang ebidensya.

Isa sa sentrong karakter sa kontrobersyang ito ay ang pamilyang Discaya, may-ari ng Elite General Contractor, na nasangkot sa kuwestiyonableng flood control projects. Isang partikular na proyekto sa Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, na bahagi ng programang AGILA flood control, ay nabigyan ng ₱19.29 milyon na performance bond mula sa Milestone Guaranty & Assurance Corporation. Ang nakapagtataka: ang bond na ito ay nagmula sa kumpanyang konektado sa pamilya ni Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta—dahil ang kanyang asawa, si Edna Marcoleta, ay nakaupo bilang Independent Director at Chair ng Audit Committee ng Stronghold Insurance, at non-executive director din ng Milestone mismo.

Dito pumapasok ang tanong: ano ang mangyayari kung ghost project nga ang insured? Ayon sa mga eksperto, kung walang aktwal na proyekto, obligadong bayaran ng insurance company ang gobyerno ng buong halaga ng bond. Pagkatapos, maaari nilang habulin ang contractor—sa kasong ito, ang Discayas—para sa reimbursement. Ngunit paano kung nagyeyelo ang bank accounts ng Discaya companies? At paano kung maging state witnesses ang mga Discaya?

Kung magiging state witnesses ang pamilya Discaya, sila ay magiging immune sa prosekusyon, multa, at forfeiture ng assets. Ang insurance company naman, na kinakatawan ng mga direktor gaya ni Edna Marcoleta, ay mahihirapang makasingil. Sa madaling salita, mas malaki ang tiyansang malugi ang kumpanyang konektado sa pamilya Marcoleta—at posibleng makinabang pa sila kung mapipilitang magbayad ng gobyerno gamit ang insurance bond. Isang malinaw na conflict of interest na hindi idinetalye ni Rodante Marcoleta habang agresibo niyang pinuprotektahan ang mga Discaya at tinutulak na gawing saksi ang mga ito.

Hindi ito simpleng haka-haka. Noong Setyembre 28, 2025, iniulat ng Bilyonaryo na mismong si Edna Marcoleta ang kabilang sa board ng mga insurance firms na pumabor sa mga kontratang hawak ng mga Discaya. Ang pagkakasangkot na ito ay nagpapakita kung gaano kalalim ang ugnayan ng politika, negosyo, at katiwalian.

Kasabay nito, mas lumala ang isyu nang pumutok ang balitang 425 bank accounts ng mga kumpanya ng Discaya at kanilang mga kaalyado ang na-freeze ng Anti-Money Laundering Council. Ayon sa mga report, tinatayang umabot sa ₱180 bilyon ang dumaan sa mga account na ito mula pa 2016 hanggang 2025—malaking bahagi nito’y sa panahon ng administrasyong Duterte. Sa halip na maliwanagan ang publiko, sinubukan pang takpan ang mga alegasyon sa pamamagitan ng disinformation, kabilang na ang maling balita hinggil sa kalagayan ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.

Dagdag pa rito, kinilala rin ng Asian Journal na maraming flood control projects sa Bulacan ang natuklasang wala talagang aktwal na implementasyon—tulad ng mga proyekto na parehong halaga ang nakasaad sa kontrata sa iba’t ibang lokasyon, substandard ang trabaho, o kaya’y hindi talaga naipatayo. Maging ang Senado, COA, at BIR ay naglunsad ng sabayang imbestigasyon upang tukuyin ang lawak ng pandaraya. Sa kabila nito, libo-libong mamamayan ang nagprotesta sa lansangan laban sa “fraud sa flood control.”

Ngunit bakit tila todo-todo ang pagtatanggol ni Marcoleta sa mga Discaya? Sa isang sesyon ng Senado, direkta siyang tinanong: “Why are you so protective of the Discayas?” Ang sagot, ayon sa mga obserbador, ay malinaw—dahil ang kanyang pamilya mismo ay may interes na nakataya.

Sa mas malawak na konteksto, hindi na bago ang ghost projects sa bansa. Noong nakaraang taon, mismong Philippine Star ang naglabas ng opinyon hinggil sa “ghost projects, ghost expenses,” na nagiging pugad ng katiwalian. Ang Tookitaki blog naman ay naglatag ng “Anatomy of the Scandal,” kung saan malinaw na nakasaad ang modus: contractor monopolies, misallocation of funds, at paggamit ng infrastructure projects bilang daluyan ng political at financial gain.

Kung pagbubuuin, malinaw na ang kasong Discaya–Marcoleta ay hindi isang isolated incident kundi bahagi ng mas malawak na pattern ng katiwalian. Ito’y nagpapakita kung paanong ang mga ghost project ay hindi lamang naglalaho bilang multo sa mga dokumento, kundi kumakain ng bilyon-bilyong pondo na dapat sana’y para sa kaligtasan ng mga Pilipino laban sa baha.

At kung tatanungin kung mauunawaan ba ng mga tagasuporta ni Marcoleta at ng mga hardcore DDS ang mga komplikadong conflict of interest at financial trail na ito? Ayon mismo sa mga eksperto: “Hindi.” Sapagkat sa mata ng bulag na panatiko, walang kabuluhan ang katotohanan, at tanging ang depensa ng kanilang idolo ang may saysay.

Subalit para sa mga mamamayang naghahanap ng hustisya, malinaw ang tanong: hanggang kailan tayo magpapabulag sa mga multo ng katiwalian?

The Most Significant, Trending Issues and Stories Currently Shaping Public Discourse in the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

Major Issues & Questions

1. Flood-control corruption scandal & mass protests

What exactly are the anomalies and irregularities in flood-control and infrastructure projects?

Who are the public officials, contractors or lawmakers implicated, and how will accountability be enforced?

Will the protests sustain pressure for institutional reforms, or lead to superficial fixes?

How will this scandal affect public trust, governance, and the Marcos administration’s legitimacy?

Context & developments:

Whistleblowers testified to the Senate that many flood-control, road, and infrastructure projects have been built substandardly or overpriced to hide kickbacks. 

Protests erupted across Manila and other cities under banners like “Baha sa Luneta” and the “Trillion Peso March,” demanding transparency and accountability. 

Over 200 arrests were reported during these protests. 

The Department of Finance estimates losses from the alleged corruption at around ₱118.5 billion over 2023–2025. 

The scandal touches a sensitive nerve: flooding is a recurrent threat in the Philippines given monsoon and typhoon seasons. Many feel that “flood control projects” should have been among the most trusted public investments. 

This is arguably the defining political crisis of 2025 in the country: it tests whether institutional checks, civil society pressure, and media exposure can force meaningful change.

2. Super Typhoon Ragasa (Nando) & climate vulnerability

How well prepared were local governments and national agencies in responding to the typhoon?

Will this event renew calls for better climate adaptation, disaster mitigation infrastructure, and accountability in disaster-related spending?

How will recurring severe weather events further strain social services, agriculture, and vulnerable communities?

Context & developments:

Typhoon Ragasa made landfall in northern Luzon, bringing extremely strong winds and storm surges, triggering evacuations, power outages, road disruptions, and flooding. 

The Philippines is one of the world’s most disaster-prone nations. Floods, typhoons, and sea-level rise disproportionately impact the poor, coastal communities, and farming and fishing livelihoods. 

Some of the flood-control projects under scrutiny (from the corruption scandal) are precisely the types of infrastructure meant to protect communities during such storms — raising questions about quality, oversight, and priorities. 

In short: Ragasa underscores how climate risk and governance overlap. Poorly executed infrastructure is not just a financial scandal — it is a public safety risk.

3. Extension of rice import ban & food security / inflation

How will prolonged constraints on rice imports affect supply, price stabilization, and farmer welfare?

Can domestic production keep pace to prevent shortages or panic buying?

What trade-offs will the government need to manage (price controls, tariffs, subsidies)?

Context & developments:

On September 26, 2025, President Marcos extended the 60-day suspension on rice imports (both regular milled and well-milled varieties), in order to support local farmers and control domestic rice prices. 

The Philippines remains a major rice importer (several million metric tons annually). 

Earlier in 2025, rice prices surged ~24.4% (year-over-year), though they later fell ~17% by August, helping inflation ease. 

Inflation has been relatively low in 2025 (~1.7% for Jan–Aug), within the government’s target range. 

This is a high-stakes topic: rice is the staple food for most Filipinos, so any disruption or price spike has major social and political implications.

4. Energy transition: decline in coal use, rise in LNG and renewables

How fast can the Philippines shift from coal to cleaner energy while ensuring affordable, reliable power?

What regulatory, infrastructure, and investment changes are needed to support renewables and natural gas?

Will the transition address local pollution, climate commitments, and resilience to energy supply shocks?

Context & developments:

For the first time in ~17 years, the Philippines is on track to record an annual decline in coal-fired electricity generation — driven by a surge in liquefied natural gas (LNG) usage. 

In early to mid-2025, gas-fired generation rose ~25% year-on-year, making up ~17.5% of power output. 

The government has a moratorium on new coal power projects (in effect since 2020). 

But renewables still lag behind national targets, and infrastructure, grid stability, financing, and policy design remain hurdles. 

Energy is a long-term game. The shift now will determine whether the Philippines can meet its climate goals while preventing energy shortages or price shocks.

5. Former President Duterte charged at the ICC

Will the case proceed, and what are its legal and diplomatic ramifications?

What impact does this have on justice for victims of the “war on drugs”?

How does it frame the Philippines’ international standing and human rights obligations?

Context & developments:

Rodrigo Duterte, former president, has been charged by the International Criminal Court (ICC) with crimes against humanity over alleged extrajudicial killings during his anti-drug campaign in 2013–2018. 

The Duterte legal team argues that since the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019, the ICC lacks jurisdiction, and also raises issues of mental fitness and process violations. 

Human rights groups note that under President Marcos Jr., deaths tied to the drug war have continued, albeit less frequently, and impunity remains a challenge. 

This case is consequential: it tests whether large-scale abuses will ever be prosecuted, and whether international institutions retain leverage when national politics resist accountability.

6. Territorial tensions & shifting security alignments

How will the Philippines balance its sovereignty in the South China Sea amidst increasing Chinese maritime assertiveness?

Is deeper cooperation with Taiwan (and indirectly with the U.S.) a new strategic pivot?

What are the domestic and diplomatic risks of accelerating defense ties in a delicate regional balance?

Context & developments:

Manila has accused Chinese coast guard vessels and a Chinese navy helicopter of harassing Philippine fishery vessels near disputed shoals. 

Behind the scenes, the Philippines has quietly begun stronger security cooperation with Taiwan (e.g. coast guard coordination) despite adherence to the One-China policy. 

Analysts view this as a recalibration: balancing economic ties with China, defense needs, and regional security pressures. 

In sum: This issue is less flashy day-to-day, but fundamental to the country’s long-term security posture.

Big Picture Takeaways & What to Watch

Legitimacy under pressure: The Marcos Jr. administration faces a crucible. The flood-control scandal may reshape governance norms if not handled transparently and decisively.

Climate and infrastructure are now political: Natural disasters illuminate the consequences of weak infrastructure, poor performance, and corruption. The public is increasingly linking climate risk with governance risk.

Economic balancing act: Food security, energy transition, inflation management — all must be handled simultaneously, and missteps risk triggering public discontent.

International stakes: How the Philippines responds to the ICC case and maneuvers in the South China Sea will define its diplomatic credibility and freedom to act independently.

Civic engagement rising: The scale of recent protests suggests that younger generations are less tolerant of corruption and demand more accountability.

He Didn’t Just Build a Blog—He Sparked a Revolution in Philippine Media

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

In the ever-shifting battlefield of digital media—where disinformation spreads like wildfire and truth is often drowned in the noise—one Filipino dared to carve out a different path.

Ross Flores Del Rosario, the visionary founder of Wazzup Pilipinas, is not just an online journalist. He is a cultural architect, a storyteller, and a catalyst of community-driven change. What began as a humble lifestyle blog has grown into “Ang Pambansang Blog ng Pilipinas”—a platform that refuses to bend to the tide of propaganda, instead standing as a beacon of integrity, advocacy, and national pride.

From Blog to Movement

“He didn’t just build a blog. He ignited a movement.”

That statement captures what sets Ross apart. Wazzup Pilipinas was never meant to imitate mainstream media. It was designed to amplify the unheard voices, to highlight the resilience of Filipino communities, to tell stories that matter not just to an audience, but to a nation.

Ross tapped into the power of networks—attention, credibility, and influence. Wazzup Pilipinas quickly evolved from a community-centered news and features hub into a trusted online newsroom that speaks to diaspora Filipinos, influencers, travelers, entrepreneurs, civic actors, and changemakers. Its pages blend human-interest stories, local tourism advocacy, accountability reporting, and influencer partnerships, offering a tapestry of the Filipino experience often ignored by corporate newsrooms.

A Platform that Acts

Unlike traditional outlets, Wazzup Pilipinas didn’t stop at storytelling—it became a platform for action.

Ross organized influencer tours across provinces like Rizal, Cavite, and Cebu to promote local tourism. He brought together media networks to cover heritage, food, and culture festivals, while forging partnerships that turned stories into tangible community impact. From tourism boards to grassroots movements, Wazzup Pilipinas amplified the Filipino spirit in ways that transcended screens.

The recognition followed. Regional forums celebrated its role in advocacy. International communities invited Ross to speak, awarding him for his pioneering approach to digital journalism. Abroad, Wazzup Pilipinas has become a reference point for Filipinos seeking credible, community-centered news.

A Battleground for Integrity

But Wazzup Pilipinas is more than a platform of celebration. It is a battleground for truth and accountability.

Ross never shied away from exposing corruption, questioning policies, and defending public interest. At a time when fake news clogs timelines and political machinery manipulates narratives, Wazzup Pilipinas became a trusted watchdog. Its fearless reporting and honest commentaries earned respect—and occasionally backlash—but Ross stood firm. For him, journalism is not just about headlines; it is about civic responsibility and collective empowerment.

Leadership Beyond the Screen

Ross Flores Del Rosario is more than the face of Wazzup Pilipinas. He is a mentor, a convenor, a movement-builder. His recent initiatives, such as the UMALOHOKAN Fest, reflect his belief that media must also be education, advocacy, and art. By merging creative campaigns with civic dialogue, Ross has redefined what a digital media founder can be: not just a publisher, but a leader who listens, acts, and transforms.

The Legacy of Wazzup Pilipinas

In the span of over a decade, Wazzup Pilipinas has grown into one of the most trusted online media brands in the Philippines, commanding over a million monthly views from both local and global audiences. But numbers only tell half the story.

The real legacy lies in how it has reshaped the Filipino digital narrative. It taught us that stories from the margins deserve a stage. It showed us that advocacy and journalism can coexist. And it proved that one man, with vision and integrity, can spark a movement powerful enough to outlast the noise of disinformation.

Ross Flores Del Rosario didn’t just create content. He created a national conscience online.

And in this age of algorithms and artificial noise, that might just be the boldest act of patriotism we’ve seen in the Philippine digital landscape.