Categories
Politics

HONTIVEROS: PROTECT PARTY-LIST SYSTEM VS ABUSE

Senator Risa Hontiveros and Akbayan Party have filed a bill proposing sweeping amendments to the Party-List System Act aimed at guarding against abuses by political dynasties and contractors. Hontiveros’ Senate Bill No. 1656 seeks to bar political dynasties from participating in the party-list system and to prohibit party-list nominees and representatives who have interests in […]

Categories
Politics

GUIDANCE COUNSELORS GET P182M SCHOLARSHIP BUDGET

More than P182 million has been allotted for scholarships in master’s degrees in Guidance Counseling or Psychology and other specializations – allocations that are necessary to resolve the critical shortage of mental health and inclusive education professionals in the Philippine education system. “The historic budget we allotted to the education sector for 2026 includes investments […]

Categories
Politics

BONG GO VISITS BALAY PAHULAYAN IN DAVAO CITY

Senator Bong Go visited the Balay Pahulayan facility of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City recently to check on patient watchers and families staying near the hospital while caring for confined relatives. During the visit, Go spoke with individuals temporarily residing at the facility and distributed assistance aimed at addressing immediate needs […]

Categories
Politics

AFFORDABLE HOSPITAL SERVICES FOR TEACHERS PUSHED

Senator Raffy Tulfo has filed a measure seeking to institutionalize accessible and affordable hospital services for all public school teachers and their dependents. In filing Senate Bill (SB) No. 1585, Tulfo cited a 2023 study published in Acta Medica Philippina which revealed that Filipino teachers experience high prevalence of stress-related disorders, hypertension, and musculoskeletal problems, […]

Categories
Politics

ALAN CAYETANO: SHOW 2026 BUDGET REFORMS ON GROUND

As the P6.793-trillion national budget for fiscal year 2026 moves from legislation to implementation, long-standing concerns raised by Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on the direction and substance of public spending have once again come into focus. Throughout the budget deliberations that led to the approval of the 2026 General Appropriations Act — now […]

Categories
Politics

2026 NAT’L BUDGET TO BOOST CLASSROOM CONSTRUCTION

Senator Win Gatchalian assured that the 2026 national budget will significantly accelerate classroom construction to address the persistent backlog in basic education facilities. Gatchalian said ₱85 billion is allotted for the construction and rehabilitation of classrooms. Of this amount, ₱65.9 billion is allocated for the construction, replacement, and completion of kindergarten to secondary school buildings, […]

Categories
Politics

LACSON VOWS TO BOOST FIGHT VS CORRUPTION IN 2026

In the Year of the Fire Horse, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson will turn up the heat against corruption, even as he hopes President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will bring the same fire to the fight. Lacson said the Filipino people expect no less from their public servants, as they have become more awake and […]

Categories
Politics

INTER-AGENCY PROBE ON DPWH BUDGET INSERTIONS URGED

Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson called for a genuine inter-agency investigation into claims linking Cabinet officials to multibillion-peso budget insertions for Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) infrastructure projects, as he warned that prematurely dismissing them risks the perception of a “cover-up”. Lacson said it is too early for Malacanang to brand claims […]

Categories
Politics

LACSON TO PUBLIC: GUARD USE OF 2026 NAT’L BUDGET

May the force be with us. On this note, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson stressed that public vigilance on the 2026 budget must not stop at its approval and signing into law but must continue through its implementation. Lacson said that while religious and civil society groups monitored the bicameral debates on the crafting […]

Categories
Politics

DENR LAUDED FOR ACTION VS CAMSUR IRON ORE MINING

Senator Kiko Pangilinan lauded the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for its swift action against a Philippine-based mining corporation embroiled in alleged illegal iron ore-extraction activities in Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte. Following reports of illegal mining and extraction activities outside the permissible area and stockpile of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau-V (MGB-V), Pangilinan […]