MCT DAILY BRIEF | NOVEMBER 1, 2026 | EVENING EDITION
1
DPWH ASKED TO SUPPORT PROJECT PROPOSALS BY NOVEMBER 3
The Department of Public Works and Highways has until November 3 to submit supporting documents for infrastructure projects added to the House version of the proposed 2027 budget, according to Senate statements and reports of an October 30 meeting.
Senate finance committee chair JV Ejercito set the deadline after meeting with Public Works Secretary Giovanni Lopez and Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon. The announced plan is to remove projects lacking complete requirements before plenary deliberations if DPWH cannot supply the documents in time.
In a November 1 statement, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said the Senate majority backed Ejercito’s review. His office said DPWH had committed to the documentation requirement and the removal of unsupported proposals.
The requested records are meant to allow senators to examine whether the proposed work has a technical basis. Reports of the request identify certificates of implementability, programs of work and geotagged photographs among the supporting documents.
For communities expecting a road, bridge or other public facility, inclusion in the House bill does not yet guarantee funding in the final budget. The proposals remain under legislative review. No completed list of removals is established by these announcements, and being added during House deliberations does not by itself establish wrongdoing.
2
OCEANJET 788’S SAFETY CERTIFICATE SUSPENDED AFTER BOHOL DOCKING INCIDENT
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), through its Regional Office VII, suspended the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate of MV OceanJet 788 following an October 31 incident while the vessel was maneuvering to dock at Tagbilaran Port, Bohol. The action was reported on November 1.
An October 31 letter to the operator, Ocean Fast Ferry Inc., says an electrical failure in the bridge engine control and throttle system caused the vessel to lose reverse propulsion at approximately 10:57 a.m. In plain language, the reported fault affected its ability to reverse during docking.
The letter, signed by regional director Engr. Ronaldo P. Bandalaria, made the suspension effective immediately because the incident had raised questions about the vessel’s seaworthiness.
MARINA may reinstate the certificate after a satisfactory survey, evaluation of the available seaworthiness information, or both. Simply undergoing an inspection would not automatically clear the vessel to resume trips.
This restriction applies to OceanJet 788, not to every vessel operated by the company or every ferry serving Bohol. The suspension is a safety measure; the letter does not make a final finding of negligence. It also provides no date for reinstatement.
BOTTOM LINE
DPWH’s document deadline could change which projects remain in the proposed 2027 budget. OceanJet 788 needs satisfactory MARINA clearance before its suspended safety certificate can be restored. Neither announcement supplies a final outcome: the project decisions and the vessel’s reinstatement remain to be verified.
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