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Politics

REINSTATE BUDGET CUT OF NBI – GATCHALIAN

Senator Win Gatchalian is seeking to reinstate the cut in the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) 2023 budget to intensify the government’s cybercrime prevention efforts. Gatchalian expressed concern that the National Expenditure Program (NEP) trimmed down the 2023 budget of the NBI to P1.8 billion from 2022’s actual budget of P2.3 billion. This includes the […]

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Politics

PIMENTEL ASKS DEPED ON LARGE BUDGET FOR VOUCHERS

Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel III sought clarification from the Department of Education (DepEd) on the massive increase in its budget for its voucher program as he asked for assurance that the cash grants will go to the intended beneficiaries of the program. “This voucher program being administered by the Department of Education has ballooned […]

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Politics

HOUSE BEGINS PLENARY DEBATES ON 2023 BUDGET

The House of Representatives has commenced plenary deliberation on House Bill 4488 or the 2023 General Appropriations Bill (GAB). In his sponsorship speech, Committee on Appropriations Chairperson AKO BICOL Party-list Representative Zaldy Co said that it is the responsibility of Congress to pass a timely, responsive, and inclusive budget for the Filipino people. Co noted […]

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Politics

OLASO ALLOTS P40M FOR NEW ZAMBOANGA HOSPITAL

Zamboanga City First District Representative Khymer Adan Olaso has earmarked an initial P40 million from his 2023 congressional fund for the construction of another public hospital in his district. Olaso said putting up another public hospital in his district is vital as the population in the area is growing fast. The first congressional district covers […]

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Politics

GOV’T AGENCIES URGED TO SAVE TO EASE INFLATION

Requiring government agencies to set aside 5 percent in budgetary savings could free up to P250 billion out of the P5.04-trillion national budget for 2022 to ease the country’s record-high inflation, a lawmaker said. Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano explained this is one step to addressing high inflation risks caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, […]

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Politics

USE DA’S BUDGET TO GENERATE JOBS – PANGILINAN

Vice-presidential candidate Senator Kiko Pangilinan made a push anew for ramped-up spending in agriculture to buoy activities in the sector and generate jobs. “Mahigit P5 trillion ang budget natin ngayon taon. Dapat taumbayan ang makikinabang, hindi ibubulsa ng iilan habang milyon-milyon sa ating mga kababayan ang walang makain at walang trabaho,” Pangilinan said. “Dapat maramdaman […]

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Politics

CONSULTATION NEEDED IN ‘PET’ PROJECTS – LACSON

For 2022 and beyond, development projects being advocated by lawmakers should undergo at least proper planning and consultation with the proper local authorities as well as implementing agencies. Senator Panfilo Lacson aired this hope as he said the country cannot afford to continue wasting hundreds of billions of pesos in unutilized funds in the budget […]

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Politics

AGRI BACKS ROBREDO PLAN TO DOUBLE PH AGRI BUDGET

The AGRI Party-list expressed support for the plan of Vice President Leni Robredo to double the budget for the agriculture sector to at least P116 billion should she win the presidency in 2022. “Natutuwa kami na binibigyang halaga ni Vice President Robredo ang agrikultura at buo ang suporta namin sa kanyang panukala na doblehin ang […]

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Government

DA NEEDS ADDITIONAL P12-B BUDGET FOR FOOD SECURITY

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is seeking an additional P12 billion (B), on top of the recommended P95-B budget for 2022, to address surmounting food and agriculture global challenges onto the “new world.” “We are entering a ‘new world’ — the global scale of the ‘new normal’ as an offshoot of the COVID-19 pandemic — […]

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Government

DEPED P629-B 2022 BUDGET GETS SENATE OK — BRIONES

The Department of Education (DepEd) successfully defended its approved budget for 2022 amounting to P629.8 billion before the Senate of the Philippines. DepEd and its attached agencies are set to receive a P629.8 billion budget for its National Expenditure Program for 2022, 6% higher than its P595 billion budget in 2021 to primarily support the […]