The Senate will be uncompromising in removing some P42-billion in appropriations for “ayuda” or social assistance programs from the unprogrammed appropriations in the proposed 2026 budget bill, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said on Tuesday, October 28. Lacson said the...
A Senate finance subcommittee approved the proposed 2026 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for plenary approval on Monday, Oct. 27, subject to discussion and the submission of requested documents. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Senator Sherwin Gatchalian stated in the...
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian questioned on Monday, Oct. 27, the 104 percent increase of farm-to-market road (FMR) appropriations from P16 billion to P32 billion under the General Appropriations Bill (GAB). "Kasi nakita po namin sa GAB na lumaki ang pondo ng FMR from P16 billion to P32 billion...
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday, Oct. 22, expressed concern over the P6-billion reduction in the allocation for the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program. During the Senate hearing on the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) proposed 2026...
Senator Rodante Marcoleta questioned on Tuesday, Oct. 21, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure 's (ICI) independence when it 's asking assistance from different government agencies. Marcoleta pointed this out during the finance subcommittee 's deliberations of the...
A Senate finance subpanel deferred the approval of the proposed P625.78-billion budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for 2026 on Monday, Oct. 20. In a chance interview following the panel 's eight-hour deliberation, Gatchalian said that more than P340 billion may...
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian questioned on Monday, Oct. 20, several "red flags" that he found among the revised projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under its proposed 2026 budget. Gatchalian, chaiman of the Senate Committee on Finance, disclosed his findings during the...
Given how sensitive the public reacts when it comes to the issue of corruption, a simple accusation--even based on a rumor--can instantly tarnish someone 's reputation. This is why, for Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, hard evidence is important when discussing these matters. "Di rin naman pwedeng...
The General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2026, the government’s proposed spending measure for its operations programs and projects, is now available on the House of Representatives’ website. https://docs.congress.hrep.online/legisdocs/third_20/HBT4058.pdf Senate Finance Committee chairman...
Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Ralph Recto on Tuesday, Oct. 14, said corruption in government infrastructure programs, particularly flood control projects, has hampered the country’s economic growth and affected the government’s ability to meet its revenue targets. During the Senate...
The Civil Service Commission (CSC) said on Monday, Oct. 13, that about 83,000 first-level government positions remain unfilled and are open to senior high school (SHS) graduates. This was according to CSC chairperson Marilyn Yap, who stated that they must at least pass the sub-professional civil...
The Commission on Audit (COA) will soon require all its employees to file detailed conflict-of-interest declarations, part of a series of reforms following anomalies uncovered in the country 's flood control and infrastructure projects. COA Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba said this on Monday,...
