Malacañang has clapped back at Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte after claiming that the budget for Assistance to Individuals in Crisis (AICS) is being used as a political weapon by the allies of President Marcos. Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro hit...
DAVAO CITY – Davao City first district Rep. Paolo Duterte raised concerns over the inclusion of new discretionary funds in the proposed national budget, citing the lack of accountability over what he described as nearly P1-trillion worth of unresolved corruption. His remarks on Wednesday, Dec....
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Wednesday, December 17 dismissed claims made by Rep. Antonio Tinio alleging the inclusion of a P17.9-billion pork barrel fund for the Senate in the 2026 national budget saying it is just mere “lazy work” or a malicious attempt to...
While Malacañang agreed that the proposal of Senator Panfilo Lacson to opt with reenacted budget rather than a graft-ridden one was a good suggestion, President Marcos remains confident that there is still ample time to pass the proposed 2026 national budget. "Maganda po ang suhestiyon ni Senator...
The bicameral conference committee has approved the proposal to earmark P500-million in financial assistance for Related Learning Experience (RLE) in the 2026 national budget. As it is, students in allied health sciences programs will receive the much-needed financial assistance once the final...
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Tuesday, December 16 floated the possibility of the government working on a reenacted 2026 national budget. Lacson stressed this amid another issue that surfaced, this time involving farm-to-market road (FMR) projects that were not...
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday, December 16 called on the Senate contingent to consider allocating around P15-billion to local government unit (LGU) hospitals so they properly implement the zero balance billing (ZBB) program. This P15-billion will come from the P51-billion fund approved by...
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson reiterated his push for clear and foolproof safeguards in the P6.793-trillion proposed budget for 2026 to prevent abuse and political patronage, especially in at least three contentious issues. In particular, Lacson said there must be no political...
Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada questioned the sudden appearance of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon at the bicameral conference committee meeting tackling the 2026 national budget, saying it is “unprecedented." “For me that was an unprecedented move by the...
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Monday, December 15 appealed to members of the Senate and House of Representatives to reconsider the decision on medical assisistance funds under the proposed 2026 national budget. Ejercito, who couldn’t attend the bicameral conference committee as a...
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon on Sunday, December 14 has urged Congress to restore the funds that were slashed from its budget for next year, making senators skeptical of the agency’s sudden request. Dizon was present during the second day of the bicameral...
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson warned on Sunday, December 14, that restoring the items cut from the proposed budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) at the bicameral conference committee level will reopen the floodgates to insertion. Lacson made this...
