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Senator Ping Lacson scored an early win in his efforts to ensure transparency in the budget process, after he set two demands to which Senate finance committee chairman Win Gatchalian agreed. Following a “solution-finding discussion”, Lacson said Gatchalian agreed to name the proponents of the amendments on the floor, to put it on record. “We agreed […]
The Department of Health (DOH), as supervising agency of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) assured that health benefits of the national health insurance agency will continue with or without subsidy from the forthcoming General Appropriations Act. All of its inpatient, outpatient, and special benefit packages continue to be available. Since August 2024, the PhilHealth […]
Senate President Chiz Escudero expects to see intense scrutiny on the flood control programs of the government when the Senate begins its plenary debates on the proposed P6.352 trillion national budget. With so many parts of the country devastated by the onslaught of Tropical Storm Kristine, Escudero is certain the flood control budget will be […]
Senator Grace Poe underscored the need for a separate funding for animal welfare in the 2025 national budget to ensure the protection and humane treatment of animals. “We will look at the fiscal space and see how much can be appropriated. But that item in the budget for animal welfare has to be very specific,” […]
Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee said he will push for a bigger budget for agriculture once deliberations begin for the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) at the House of Representatives. “Kahapon sa DBCC (Development Budget Coordination Committee) briefing, natalakay itong pagkaltas sa pondo ng agrikultura. Nakahanda po tayong amyendahan ang budget para dito para madagdagan […]
The House of Representatives ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the disagreeing votes of House Bill (HB) 8980 or the Fiscal Year 2024 General Appropriations Bill (GAB). Appropriations committee chair Zaldy Co said the House contingent fought hard to keep budget provisions on legacy projects of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “Pagkain, trabaho, kalusugan, edukasyon at […]
The Senate ratified the harmonized version of the 2024 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) which contains the proposed P5.768 trillion budget for next year. The House of Representatives also ratified the bicameral conference committee report. After the ratification by both Houses of Congress, the government’s spending plan bill will be transmitted to Malacanang for President Ferdinand […]
Senator Bong Go underscored the importance of efficient government spending, especially in light of the ongoing Senate plenary budget deliberations. Go also emphasized that prioritizing the needs of the less fortunate and ensuring their welfare must remain a top consideration. “So far, we are on the right track, ‘yung schedule ay nasusunod naman po. I […]
After extensive deliberations and negotiations, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the P5.768-trillion national budget for next year, just before Congress adjourns for a month-long break.Speaker Martin Romualdez lauded the timely passage of the 2024 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), stating that it not only demonstrated the commitment of the House to […]
In anticipation of the influx of cancer patients seeking treatment at the government health facilities, Senator Sonny Angara assured that there are funds under the national budget for this purpose. The head of the Philippine General Hospital’s Cancer Institute, Dr. Jorge Ignacio, recently noted that the state-run institution is “bracing for the worst” in the […]