The economic team of President Marcos was caught off guard when the announcement of a price ceiling on rice was made public on Aug. 31, a Cabinet official confirmed. While in Tokyo for meetings with Japanese ministers, Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno disclosed that the economic managers were...
The Department of Finance (DOF) said the government may lower rice tariffs once Congress adjourns by the end of this month. Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said the economic team recommended a temporary decrease in the current 35 percent rice import tariff rates to address the rising prices of...
The Department of Finance (DOF) said the government has requested tollway concessionaires and operators to waive the toll fee increase for trucks carrying agricultural goods. Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said that exempting trucks is one of the government's steps to address the high costs...
Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno has expressed his endorsement of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan as a strong contender for the role of Department of Agriculture (DA) chief. During last Friday's Chat with SBED, reporters floated the idea that...
The government will return unused loans from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) that were intended for purchasing Covid-19 vaccines, the Department of Finance (DOF) said. Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said during the Chat with SBED briefing last Friday that the World Bank has...
The Department of Finance (DOF) reported that the Official Development Agriculture Sector (ODA) played a vital role in funding agricultural programs and projects during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s first year in office. In a statement on Saturday, Sept. 9, Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno...
The government will continue to attract job-generating investments as the unemployment rate shrunk to 4.8 percent in July, the Department of Finance (DOF) said. In a statement, Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said the government will maintain a sound macroeconomic environment and pursue...
The Department of Finance (DOF) said the Social Security System (SSS) initiatives effectively addressed the digitalization gap for disadvantaged members, particularly those in the informal sector like self-employed individuals who typically have limited access to its services. During the SSS’...
Malacañang has confirmed that it terminated the appointment of Finance Undersecretary Cielo Magno, saying it was "expected" as she "clearly did not support the administration and its programs." Finance Undersecretary Cielo Magno (Photo courtesy of UP School of Economics) Executive Secretary...
The Senate Committee on Finance has approved the proposed budgets of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) and the National Security Agency for next year. NICA has a proposed budget of P1.432-billion under the National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2024, higher than its...
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has successfully pursued the conviction of six individuals involved in an investment scam operated by GDM Finance SARL, marking the 22nd conviction for violations of the country’s securities law. In a joint decision dated April 17 but transmitted...
Sen. Raffy Tulfo said on Wednesday, Sept. 6 that he supports the idea of increasing the confidential funds of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), stating that P1 million is not enough for the agency. Sen. Raffy T. Tulfo speaks with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) during the hearing of the...