Good day. Here are the stories of The Manila Times for Sunday, December 28, 2025. Today’s episode is brought to you by Wilcon Depot, The Philippines’ leading home improvement and construction supplies retailer—your Trusted Building Partner. READ: House leadership urged: Guarantee full disclosure of budget allocation THE leadership of the House of Representatives is being pressed to guarantee full disclosure of budget allocations ahead of the Dec. 29 vote on the proposed 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA). The House leaders must release detailed information on how funds are allocated to each congressional district and party-list before lawmakers cast their votes on the national budget, Rep. Tobias Tiangco said on Saturday. Without any disclosure, Tiangco said, the lawmakers have no way of verifying whether certain districts or party-list groups received disproportionate budget increases. READ: Fewer fireworks injuries, road crashes during Christmas period THERE were fewer fireworks-related injuries and road crashes just before and after Christmas Day this year, compared with the same period in 2024, the Department of Health (DoH) reported. The DoH said Saturday that between December 21 and 26, it logged 57 fireworks-related injury cases, 49 percent lower year-on-year. The National Capital Region recorded the highest number of cases at 25, mostly involving males aged 10 to 14 and commonly caused by 5-Star, kwitis, boga, and triangulo. Children and adolescents remained the most vulnerable group for fireworks injuries, despite repeated public warnings against the use of illegal and improvised firecrackers. Road crashes totaled 263 cases, down by 7 percent from 2024. READ: DPWH fast-tracks EDSA rehabilitation roadwork THE ongoing rehabilitation and repair on Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) are in full swing, aimed at completing the job ahead of schedule, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said on Saturday that rehabilitation and maintenance  works are being done 24/7 with augmented equipment and personnel to fast-track the ongoing concrete reblocking and asphalt overlay in preparation for the expected influx of vehicles after the long holiday break. According to Dizon, the DPWH is also in close coordination with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for traffic management. The MMDA and DOTr, Dizon said, deployed additional traffic enforcers to ensure the safety and security of motorists and commuters while the rehabilitation is ongoing. READ: Student’s website tracks public works projects A 16-YEAR-OLD Filipino student in California has created a website that tracks and documents public infrastructure projects and uses artificial intelligence to evaluate construction quality. Gian Alingog, a Computer Science major at the University of California-Sta. Barbara, told The Manila Times in an exclusive interview that envisions his website, the Ovovtec, or One Village, One Volunteer: Trained, Educated, and Community-Centered, Concerned Citizen Confronting Corruption in Construction, to empower more people in monitoring government construction projects in their own communities. Alingog has been a computer programmer since he was 11, was a silver medalist in the National Olympiad in Informatics (NOI) competition in 2025, and a computer science awardee from the Ateneo High School in 2023. He said he discussed with his father, Glovax founder Giovanni Alingog, the country’s flood control projects scandal. BUSINESS: Villar files bill to boost Philippine corn industry, ensure affordable food and feeds SEN. Camille A. Villar has filed Senate Bill (SB) 1591 seeking to strengthen the Philippine corn industry, citing its critical role in national food security, rural employment, and the affordability of staple food and animal feeds. Introduced on Dec. 10, 2025, the proposed measure aims to develop the corn sector, enhance the availability and affordability of quality feeds and staple food, and establish a Corn Competitiveness Enhancement Fund to support farmers and industry stakeholders. In her explanatory note, Villar anchored the bill on Section 1, Article XII of the 1987 Constitution, which mandates the State to pursue equitable economic growth, promote industrialization grounded in sound agricultural development, and protect Filipino enterprises from unfair foreign competition. SPORTS: Dinette, future of PH wrestling show up in SEAG FILIPINO Gabriel Thomas Dinette delivered a massive dominance in the just-concluded 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Chonburi, Thailand together with eight other medalists that could shape up a great future of Philippine wrestling in years to come in global competitions. Dinette beat Vietnamese Van Truong Vu Tran in the gold medal round after a walkover due to injury to take home the 86-kilogram crown of men’s Freestyle at the Pacifc Hall inside the Pacific Park Si Racha in Si Racha, Chonburi province. Dinette’s wins, which came right in the final day of competition, highlighted by his great technical superiority in all matches, including against Thai Chiranuwat Chamnanjan and Singapore’s Weng Luen Gary Chow with the same 4-0 score. READ: Opinion and editorial Marlen Ronquillo is today’s front page columnist, claiming that US President Donald Trump’s National Security Strategy is a consequential document that is being ignored. Today’s editorial asks where are the big fish in the flood control scandal and why have they not been caught. Read the full version in the paper’s opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times. For more news and information, read The Manila Times on print, subscribe to its digital edition or log on to www.manilatimes.net. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and LinkedIn; and be part of our communities on Viber, Telegram, and Mastodon.