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Politics

MINDORO OIL SPILL VICTIMS GET P1.6B OF P3B CLAIMS

A total of 35,576 individuals and entities have filed an aggregate of P3 billion in compensation claims in connection with the sunken M/T Princess Empress’s massive oil spill a year ago, Surigao del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel, a member of the House committee on ecology, said. “Of the P3 billion in compensation claims, nearly P1.6 […]

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PIMENTEL LAUDS 1ST PH NAVY SUBMARINE PURCHASE

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s approval of the third phase of the military’s modernization plan, which includes the procurement of the country’s first submarine warship, has been welcomed by Surigao del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel, one-time chairperson of the House committee on strategic intelligence. “We have to build up the capability of our armed forces to […]

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JICA EYED AS MINDANAO RAILWAYS PROJECT SPONSOR

Surigao del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel sees the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as the “logical fallback funding source” for the construction of the massive Mindanao Railways Project (MRP) after the Philippine government backed out from loan negotiations with China. “Our sense is, Japan is our best recourse, considering that JICA is already helping our Department […]

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NAT’L TREASURY EYES P20B FROM MALAMPAYA ROYALTIES

The national treasury expects to rake in P20.2 billion in royalties from the Malampaya natural gas field this year, Surigao del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel said. “The amount is P5.7 billion or 22 percent less than the P25.9 billion in gas royalties that the government earned from Malampaya in 2022,” Pimentel explained. “The government anticipates […]

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P50B FOR AFP MODERNIZATION IN PROPOSED 2024 BUDGET

Amid the simmering maritime dispute between Manila and Beijing, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration has increased to P50 billion the budget for the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program (AFPMP). “The AFPMP is set to receive another P50 billion in fresh funding in the 2024 national budget,” Surigao del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel said. […]

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CA TO SCRUTINIZE PROMOTION OF 25 MILITARY EXECS

The bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) has received the appointment papers of 25 newly promoted senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). “The CA received their appointment papers from Malacañang on June 27,” Surigao del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel, CA assistant minority leader, said. “The batch is composed of a major general […]

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SOLON SAYS MAHARLIKA WEALTH FUND WILL CREATE JOBS

Surigao del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel foresees the planned state-run Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) venturing into infrastructure development solutions, instead of merely holding passive assets such as fixed-income instruments, equities and bonds. “If we look at Indonesia, they are actually using their newly established sovereign wealth fund to attract private partners that can co-invest in […]

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GIVE AFP CHIEFS FIXED 3 YEAR TERMS – PIMENTEL

The chairman of the House Strategic Intelligence Committee called for the immediate passage of a measure seeking to prescribe a fixed three-year tour of duty for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff. Surigao del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel made the call after Malacañang named Lt. Gen. Andres Centino as the AFP’s […]

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P34B ROW FUND TO COMPLETE GOV’T INFRA PROJECTS

The national government has allocated up to P34 billion next year for right-of-way (ROW) payments as the Duterte administration lays the groundwork for the sustained construction of large, multiphase public infrastructure projects, Surigao del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel said. “The ROW payments next year will assure the full completion of several ongoing projects under the […]