The former chief of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) has called for a comprehensive audit of the country’s P245-billion budget for flood control projects for 2024 amid the massive flooding in the capital region following the onslaught of Super Typhoon Carina (international name Gaemi). Atty, Nicasio Conti, former commissioner of PAGC, now the chief executive officer of research firm Capstone-Intel Corp. said the current budget for flood control under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has been raised from P185 billion in 2023, reflecting commitment to address the flooding issues. “The Filipino taxpayers are hit three times for paying for ineffective flood control projects, incurring personal losses during calamities, and funding the calamity response and rehabilitation efforts,” said Conti in a statement over the weekend. He stressed that public’s trust is undermined when these services fail to deliver, especially given the significant funds allocated for flood control. “The Filipino taxpayers deserve better public infrastructure services including effective flood control projects.” Conti said people pay taxes diligently in exchange for government programs and services, including safety and security during calamities such as typhoons and widespread flooding. However, the massive flooding in Metro Manila, Rizal and Bulacan highlights the mismanagement and possible corruption within these projects. “Due to the improper use and allocation of funds for flood control caused by corruption and substandard projects, taxpayers are short-changed,” he said. The misuse of funds leads to inadequate infrastructure that fails to protect the public effectively. Conti added that families affected by the massive flooding are faced with double whammy for additional costs of rehabilitating flooded homes, damaged properties, appliances, and vehicle. “The public not only suffers from the initial flood damage but also incurs additional expenses for rehabilitation and repairs,” he said. “What is worse is that despite the allocated funds to prevent flooding, these funds are not used properly,” said Conti. The taxpayers’ money is again used for the calamity fund and rehabilitation, thus, resulting to the three-fold burden of taxpayers. the burden thrice: paying for ineffective flood control projects, incurring personal losses, and funding the calamity response and rehabilitation efforts. Atty. Conti stressed that the flood control budget for the DPWH 2024 at ₱245 billion surpassed the overall budget allocation of key executive branches, highlighting the government’s prioritization of infrastructure resilience and disaster preparedness. To illustrate: Department of Labor and Employment Php 44. 8 billion Department of Environment and Natural Resources Php 25.4 billion Department of Justice Php 26.7 billion Department of Tourism Php 2.5 billion Department of Trade and Industry Php 24.4 billion Department of Energy Php 2.2 billion Department of Science and Technology Php 24.1 billion Department of Information and Communications Technology Php 10.8 billion Department of Foreign Affairs Php 24.2 billion Department of Finance Php 32.9 billion Department of Budget and Management Php 2.5 billion Department of Agrarian Reform Php 9.3 billion     ****   For more information and interview opportunities regarding surveys, you may contact Capstone-Intel’s Research and Publications Director, Ella Kristina Domingo-Coronel at 09565711298. Capstone-Intel is a high-impact research company that uses innovative research technologies, tools, and methods to convert data and information into breakthrough insights and actionable intelligence outputs. It is committed to helping its clients solve problems, find solutions, grow markets and constituencies, build reputations, navigate risks, manage crises, and be the country’s leading private research and intelligence agency.

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Research firm Capstone-Intel Corporation said government and private sector support to P-pop groups such as BINI and SB-19 can create jobs and harness the potential of the country’s creative industry. “The growing number of followers of P-pop groups such as BINI and SB-19 unlocks the potential of the creative sector, which is now a source of multi-million dollar revenues in countries such as South Korea, Japan and other countries,” said Ella Kristina Coronel, research director of Capstone-Intel Corporation. The firm conducted a year-on-year sentiment analysis of the top five P-pop groups, with BINI ranking the highest with more than six million engagement score based on the year-on-year sentiment analysis along with BGYO, SB19, VXON, and G22. The scan of available 15,691 Facebook posts about BINI gained a total of 35.2 million reactions, of which 80 percent were “love.” These posts generated 754,634 comments, 2,578,833 shares, resulting in an engagement score of 6,182,904.0. Coronel said the strong social media presence and positive sentiment on P-pop groups from Filipinos online is promising not only for the entertainment but the entire creative industry. These include graphic design, film and video, crafts, fashion, TV and radio, advertising, literature, as well as music and performing arts. She said  the academe, fashion and talent schools can also benefit from the P-pop wave similar to those in Korea and Thailand. Coronel said most members of these P-pop groups went through long-term rigorous training and undergo constant engagement  with fans and the public. The post with the highest number of “love” reactions was about the graduation of BINI Colet and BINI Maloi Senior High School, garnering 323,424 “love” reactions and 42,347 “like” reactions. Also, a student from Technological University of the Philippines (TUP) Visayas created a short clip of BINI Maloi dancing was shared heavily by students to inspire them to pass while taking the final exam. From July 2, 2023, to July 2, 2024, Capstone-Intel Corporation analyzed social media data to understand how Filipino Facebook users perceive five popular P-Pop groups: BINI, BGYO, SB19, VXON, and G22, based on posts, reactions, comments, shares, and overall engagement. “Overall, Filipino Facebook users showed significant interest and positive sentiment towards these P-Pop groups, with BINI and SB19 receiving the most engagement,” said Coronel. “Love” reactions were the most common across all groups, indicating a strong fan base and favorable receptions, she said. Meanwhile, SB19 had 15,118 posts for the same period, which gathered 24.3 million reactions and a high engagement score of 3.9million, while VXON had 855 posts which generated 79,543 reactions and an engagement score of 18,713. Also, there were about 3,924 posts about BGYO which generated 1.2 reactions, and an engagement score of 257,208.  Lastly, there were 1,811 posts about G22, which generated 177,199 reactions and a total of 34,316 engagement score. Coronel cited a study by Deloitte, a global auditing firm which indicated that around 20 million jobs were generated by the sector in 2020 in six European economies-UK, France, Italy, Spain and Turkey; and three large economies in Asia Pacific- Japan- South Korea and Australia “The P-pop wave highly speaks of Filipino culture, thus, should be nurtured by the government and private sector through investments.” She added that the P-pop songs draw closer to the hearts of millions of Filipinos at home and those living and working abroad.”   ****   For more information and interview opportunities regarding surveys, you may contact Capstone-Intel’s Research and Publications Director, Ella Kristina Domingo-Coronel at 09565711298. Capstone-Intel is a high-impact research company that uses innovative research technologies, tools, and methods to convert data and information into breakthrough insights and actionable intelligence outputs. It is committed to helping its clients solve problems, find solutions, grow markets and constituencies, build reputations, navigate risks, manage crises, and be the country’s leading private research and intelligence agency.

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