NEWS
SCG’s Sharing the Dream: Helping PH students realize their goals
October 4, 2022 1:30 p.m.
Siam Cement Group (SCG) recently recognized their scholars during their annual turnover event for their Sharing The Dream Scholarship Program. After two years of holding the event online via Zoom, the eager scholars and SCG executives returned to the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) last September 15, Thursday.
“I feel very excited and proud of SCG that we resumed this kind of event to congratulate our scholarship students,” said Country Director Jakkrit Suwansilp.
SCG Country Director Jakkrit Suwansilp encourages their scholars to keep dreaming and turn them into reality to create a better community
Through their Sharing The Dream scholarship program, SCG envisions teaching their students how to become model citizens, who follow the company’s concept of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Good Governance) whenever applicable. Simply put, the company aspires that its scholarship program produces students and citizens who want to make a better community for themselves and others.
For years, SCG’s Sharing The Dream scholarship program supported students from Bulacan, Taguig, Batangas, and Manila schools as they achieved their dreams through education. Although challenging, SCG hopes that its scholars maintain their perseverance in life.
“Continue and follow your dreams,” Suwansilp advised the scholars. “Poverty can’t stop you from your dream. Please continue to dream, but not only dream. Please make it happen. Once you make it happen, you’ll be proud of yourself and make your parents, community, teacher, and country proud.”
Besides the Sharing The Dream scholarship program, SCG supports education in the Philippines in several aspects to further develop quality learning within the country. Another is the Adopt-A-School program, which began five to six years ago in partnership with DepEd.
Suwansilp explained that in the Adopt-A-School program, they work closely with DepEd to renovate schools in rural areas to provide a conducive learning environment for students. Moreover, they also have another program focused on nutrition by providing healthy meals to undernourished students.
An experience worth sharing
This 2022, DepEd recorded more than 27 million enrollees for the academic year 2022 to 2023, more than the previous year’s 26.3 million. These numbers show that despite challenges in society, the youth are eager to learn and work towards a brighter future for themselves and their families.
Poverty is one of the leading causes that keep many Filipinos from attending school. SCG’s scholarship program allowed thousands of students to surpass the struggle and pursue their desired careers.
“I was able to sustain my needs as a student. Aside from that, SCG helps me grow holistically. Last 2019, I was able to go to Thailand and experience meeting other scholars. I realized na sobrang halaga pala maka-meet ng ibang tao, especially from diverse cultures,” said Ly-ann Ferolino, a SCG scholar who graduated from the Batangas State University, Malvar Campus.
Ferolino is now a teacher who helps mold students to become the next global leaders. She believes that her success is by and for SCG.
SCG Sharing The Dream scholarship recipients Lara Jhane Arellano (left) and Ly-ann Ferolino hopes to extend the company’s ESG concepts in their own ways
Meanwhile, Lara Jhane Arellano, a current scholar from Upper Bicutan National High School, is grateful to SCG for their financial support, proving to her and many others that poverty can’t stop dreamers from achieving their goals.
Arellano added that SCG empowered her as a scholar because their support, through the Sharing The Dream program, made her feel capable of achieving her aspirations.
On learning and living
Learning lessons within the classroom isn’t the only way SCG saw its scholars grow. The scholarship program exposed the students to scenarios that tested their mettle.
Now that Ferolino works as a teacher, she constantly adjusts to her profession and community. Nonetheless, she finds the time to enjoy herself because she’s close to living the life she envisioned. Her sense of balance between living and achieving pushes her to become an efficient mentor who prioritizes her well-being.
While some find student life challenging, Arellano found a way to cope with the responsibilities on her shoulders, especially as a student leader. She draws strength, courage, and inspiration from those who believe in her. Although the road to graduation is still some ways before completion, Arellano has laid out a vision of what she hopes to be after she crosses that bridge.
“Years from now, I think I am the person I always wanted to be. I believe in myself na kakayanin ko kung sino man ako tomorrow,” she said.
Arellano also plans to obtain a degree in psychology someday. She shared how SCG inspired her to dream big and pursue that goal. As a scholar, Arellano faces expectations from the company and the people around her. Despite that, she knows how SCG nurtures and believes in her talent, which is why they chose her among their numerous scholarship recipients.
Implementing SCG’s ESG
SCG’s Sharing The Dream scholarship program also teaches its students about the concept of ESG. Each scholar has their way of practicing the tenet in their profession or life.
Ferolino serves as an example for her students. Since her trip to Thailand left a significant and positive mark on her, she drew inspiration from a project that hopes to teach students proper segregation. With her initiative, she hopes to extend SCG’s way of giving back to the community by instilling a sense of empathy within her students.
On the other hand, Arellano, who is a STEM student, always thinks of where she could practice her passion for the better. She often looks for organizations to join that coincide with the ESG concept.
SCG also employs many of its scholars to guide toward an ESG-centric path. Some of the companies under SCG include Mariwasa Siam Ceramics Inc., SCG Marketing Philippines, Inc., SCG Packaging or United Pulp and Paper Company, SCG BuilkOne Philippines, Inc., and SCG International Philippines, Inc.
Thousands of Filipinos realized their dreams of a better life and future by receiving a quality education. SCG proves that poverty shouldn’t hinder students who want to learn more about making the world a better place for themselves and everyone else.
NEWS
Rep. Atayde: No ghost projects in QC’s first district
3:30 p.m. October 27, 2025
Quezon City First District Representative Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde reiterated that there are no “ghost projects” in his district, following a personal inspection of seven flood control and drainage projects in his district.
“There are no ghost projects with us. There’s no ghost in District One. There’s no basis for claims that these exists. Maybe there’s just a need for proper coordination so information about the projects is accurate,” Atayde said after visiting sites in Barangay Bahay Toro, Del Monte, Project 6, and San Antonio.
Atayde’s visit confirmed findings from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Quezon City 1st District Engineering Office, which stated in a September 19 letter that “all projects are verifiable on site,” referring to the seven projects questioned due to alleged lack of coordinates.
According to the DPWH, out of 66 alleged ghost projects reported in the media, only seven were located in Atayde’s district, where all of them were found to be completed or ongoing, with proper documentation, correct coordinates, and photographic evidence.
Verified projects included four flood control structures along Culiat Creek and Dario Creek in Barangay Bahay Toro, rehabilitation of Drainage Road 3 in Project 6, the West Riverside Pumping Station in Barangay Del Monte, and a flood control structure along San Francisco River in Barangay San Antonio.
Atayde said five of the seven projects were completed, while two were suspended due to pending issues.
He also visited two additional flood control projects to assess their status – one completed along Dario Creek and one suspended along Mariblo Creek.
Atayde assured to his constituents that public funds were used properly and allegations of ghost projects are “baseless”.
“The projects are not ghosts – they can be seen, touched, and are beneficial. It looks like Halloween came early for some people,” Atayde said.
He also called on those who accused him of benefiting from these projects to verify their information first.
Atayde emphasized he couldn’t benefit from these DPWH projects as they’re already in the National Expenditure Program (NEP), and he couldn’t unilaterally include them in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) as he’s not a member of the bicameral conference committee.
“We all want to end corruption and jail the corrupt, but we won’t succeed if we punish the wrong people,” the lawmaker said.
He further reiterated the DPWH’s assertion that there are no ghost projects in Atayde’s district.
“The evidence speaks for itself, and the evidence speaks the truth,” Atayde said.
NEWS
COA uncovers more fraud in Bulacan flood control projects, files new reports with ICI
6:30 p.m. October 26, 2025
The Commission on Audit (COA) has submitted four additional Fraud Audit Reports to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), exposing further irregularities in flood control projects managed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office.
These reports detail cases of mismatched sites, ghost projects, and the use of substandard materials, leading to significant public funds being misspent.
SYMS Construction Trading
Balagtas River Project (P46.35 million): Despite full payment, no real construction was found at the approved site. DPWH representatives directed COA to a different location where a structure made of unsuitable materials and exposed steel bars was observed. DPWH’s own records showed 0.00% completion.
Maycapiz-Taliptip River Project (P92.59 million): This project was reported as 100% accomplished and fully paid, yet COA found no flood control structure during inspection, labeling it a “ghost project.”
L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc. and M3 Konstract Corporation (Joint Venture)
Barangay Piel, Baliuag Project (P96.50 million): Satellite imagery revealed an existing flood control structure at the approved site even before the contract began. DPWH pointed COA to an incorrect site, where an existing structure failed to meet project specifications.
DARCY & ANNA BUILDERS & TRADING
Barangay Carillo, Hagonoy Project (P74.11 million): Despite a supposed completion date of October 3, 2024, satellite images and COA’s inspection confirmed no structure was built at the approved site.
In all cases, DPWH-Bulacan 1st DEO failed to provide crucial supporting documents to COA, hindering validation of the projects.
Individuals Held Liable
Several individuals from DPWH-Bulacan 1st DEO have been identified as liable, including District Engineer Henry C. Alcantara, Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson D. Hernandez, and Planning and Design Section Chief Ernesto C. Galang, along with various project engineers and company representatives from the involved contractors.
Those implicated may face charges under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Revised Penal Code for malversation and falsification of documents, and violations of COA Circular No. 2009-001 and the Government Procurement Reform Act.
These audit findings will support the ICI’s ongoing investigation into government infrastructure project irregularities. COA Chairperson Cordoba’s directive on August 12, 2025, initiated an immediate audit of all DPWH flood control projects in Bulacan from July 1, 2022, to May 30, 2025. This new batch of reports contributes to the 25 Fraud Audit Reports already submitted to oversight bodies, reinforcing COA’s commitment to transparency and protecting public funds, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for accountability. Additional reports are expected as the audit continues.
NEWS
DITO delivers superior network performance, turning digital aspirations into possibilities
8:11 p.m. August 28, 2025
DITO Telecommunity showcased how superior connectivity transforms Filipino digital aspirations into achievable realities during the successful media launch of the telco’s latest campaign, Kaya DITO, held at Manila House, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
Built on True 5G standalone technology and as validated by a global leader in mobile analytics and insights, Opensignal, as the Philippines’ Fastest Mobile Network, DITO’s ecosystem proves that the Filipino telecommunity’s demand for seamless network connectivity, value-driven services and unified digital experience aren’t distant possibilities, but today’s basic expectations—this challenges what the telco industry has long normalized.
“For too long, outages, dropped calls, and overpriced data have been treated as normal. Let us say it bluntly: It is not normal. Every Filipino has limitless potential when equipped with the right tools, and the game is now changing since DITO has joined the fray and taken up the cause to disrupt the status quo—to deliver inclusive, next-gen technology to the Filipino people. “Kaya DITO!” is our battle cry to symbolically break that cycle, because we truly believe that Filipinos deserve better,” shared by DITO Telecommunity President Eric Alberto in the event.
The Telco that Truly Takes Care of its Users
DITO’s prepaid solutions eliminate the frustration of wasted data through Level-Up Packs with ViLTE technology, making DITO the primary telco offering unlimited DITO-to-DITO HD video calls and unli mobile calls. Combined with Viber and Prime Video inclusions and flexible data packages with longer validity periods, users can now maximize their every peso without worrying about abruptly expiring data allocations.
The Telco that Offers Value-Packed Postpaid Plans
DITOFlexPlan 888 redefines what postpaid should offer—comprehensive inclusions and generous data at prices that make sense for Filipino budgets. Whether you choose SIM-only or device bundles, these plans prove that premium network performance doesn’t have to break the bank, empowering users to pursue their goals without connectivity compromises.
The Telco that Brings True 5G Home Internet Convenience
DITO WoWFi Pro 365 makes home connectivity effortless with a year-long unlimited connection that works when you need it. Families enjoy the convenience of reliable internet for work, study, and entertainment without the inconvenience of data top-ups and complicated installations; just network performance that simplifies your digital life at home. Just ask any of your relatives and friends who have already ditched ordinary WiFi and jumped onto WoWFi— they will tell you what you’ve been missing out on.
The Telco that Built Everything You Need in One App
The DITO App represents one of the industry’s most comprehensive digital platforms, built from the ground up to handle the entire customer journey. From SIM and load purchase to account management and a wide range of OTT apps, users enjoy complete digital control with custom special offers, DITO Rewards points, and 24/7 customer support—managing everything while earning exclusive benefits.
Rep. Atayde: No ghost projects in QC’s first district
COA uncovers more fraud in Bulacan flood control projects, files new reports with ICI
DigiPlus earns first ASEAN Golden Arrow Award for corporate governance excellence
