Pauline Pancho

Secretary Dizon met with newly licensed Civil Engineer Dave Rusty Recososa—the son of viral jeepney driver Tatay Edwin Recososa, who gained praise online for giving free rides to passengers after his son passed the Civil Engineering Licensure Exam during a visit to Davao City with President Marcos.

Dizon personally encouraged Dave to join the department’s transformation efforts, after Dave was offered a civil engineering position at the DPWH Davao Regional Office.

Dave is among the young professionals being recruited to fill more than 2,000 job vacancies nationwide as the DPWH pushes for a stronger, more innovative engineering workforce.

“Maganda 'yung pagpasok mo kasi marami tayong gagawin next year.” Dizon said.

“Kailangan natin ng fresh blood. Bago.” He then joked that they needed young engineers “'Yung hindi kamukha nila Brice Hernandez, nila Alcantara,” which drew laughs from the group.

He also praised Tatay Edwin for his sacrifices as a daily jeepney driver—efforts that helped Dave finish his studies and ultimately secure the opportunity to serve in government.

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PASAY CITY—The Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform delivered a stark warning on Thursday, December 4, 2025, declaring that rampant agricultural smuggling has escalated beyond an economic crime to become a full-blown national security crisis. 

As the Senate resumed its inquiry into the country’s deepening food and agricultural problems, legislators underscored that the illicit trade constitutes a coordinated assault on the nation's food security and sovereignty. 

Senate Committee Chairman on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform Senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan emphasized, “Food security is a national security concern; therefore, agri-smuggling is a threat to our national security.”

Senators voiced profound dismay over what they perceive as a systemic failure by government agencies to curb the activity, which they say involves sophisticated foreign syndicates—notably Chinese exporters—working hand-in-hand with local collaborators and exploiting corruption within state ranks.

The inquiry revealed the syndicates' brazen methods: utilizing dummy firms and deliberately misdeclared shipments to flood ports across the nation with contraband goods. This illicit activity is not just undermining the livelihood of local farmers; legislators warned it is destabilizing food prices and directly threatening the country’s overall economic and political stability. 

The committee emphasized that the scale and coordinated nature of the smuggling operation highlight a dangerous vulnerability in national borders and regulatory systems, painting a grim picture of sophisticated criminal organizations exploiting weaknesses in governance for immense profit.

The senators are now pressing for immediate and decisive action, demanding a higher level of interagency cooperation and accountability to dismantle the syndicates.

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Commissioner of the Independent Commissioner for Infrastructure (ICI) Rogelio “Babes” Singson has formally submitted his resignation, ICI Chairperson Retired Justice Andres Reyes confirmed today, December 3, 2025.

According to Reyes, Singson tendered his resignation effective December 15, 2025, with the option to extend until December 21, 2025.

Reyes shared that Singson stepped down due to health concerns, noting that “the very intense and stressful ICI work is taking a toll on his aging body.”

Singson, a former Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), has been serving as ICI Commissioner, overseeing critical infrastructure oversight and coordination.

Further updates on the appointment of his replacement or interim arrangements have yet to be announced.

Commissioner of the Independent Commissioner for Infrastructure (ICI) Rogelio “Babes” Singson has formally submitted his resignation, ICI Chairperson Retired Justice Andres Reyes confirmed today, December 3, 2025.

According to Reyes, Singson tendered his resignation effective December 15, 2025, with the option to extend until December 21, 2025.

Reyes shared that Singson stepped down due to health concerns, noting that “the very intense and stressful ICI work is taking a toll on his aging body.”

Singson, a former Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), has been serving as ICI Commissioner, overseeing critical infrastructure oversight and coordination.

Further updates on the appointment of his replacement or interim arrangements have yet to be announced.

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The Senate will resume its 30th plenary session on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, after a brief suspension caused by a fire in a third-floor office of the Senate building on November 30.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III ordered the reopening of the session at 1 p.m., where senators will continue deliberations on the 2026 General Appropriations Bill.

The temporary halt was needed to allow the cleanup and restoration of the Session Hall, which was affected by water leakage from firefighting efforts. The incident was declared under control by the Bureau of Fire Protection at 7:43 a.m. on Sunday.

Sotto assured that the Senate is fully prepared to proceed with its legislative work as scheduled.

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