BEYOND BUDGET Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. Feb. 21, 2025 is a significant day for our country as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) announced the Philippines’ (PH) exit from its grey list. I am glad that our country has been removed from the list, as it will serve as...
New Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Jay Ruiz will not give his position up after facing an apparent disinformation about him being a co-founder of a private media firm that secured a multimillion-peso contract with a government agency. PCO Secretary Jay Ruiz (RTVM) Ruiz said he...
PEACE BY PEACE In a patriarchal society, men are the first to come to mind when we talk about peace and security. As a retired military officer, I have seen more men in uniform working and fighting for peace – an arena that has been traditionally male-dominated. But this is not the whole...
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman has highlighted last year’s budget deficit, which narrowed more than the agency had expected, reflecting improved fiscal management and revenue performance. “This is the lowest rate recorded since the pandemic started in...
A group of high-ranking Philippine government officials joined an aerial tour conducted by the United States Department of Defense over the South China Sea. (Photo courtesy of US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson) In a post made by US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson on X, she shared a photo...
Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco (third from left) meets with key officials at the DOT Central Office in Makati City on February 27, 2025, to discuss the Philippines' hosting of Terra Madre Asia Pacific 2025. With her are (from left) Network Coordinator Elena Aniere,...
It's expected! The directive of newly minted Secretary Vivencio "Vince" Dizon for "all" the second-tier, holdover officials at the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to submit their "unqualified courtesy resignations" has been expected. Yes, Virginia, in my exit interview with his predecessor,...
The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday, Feb. 27, reaffirmed its commitment to improving learning conditions in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, aiming to bridge educational gaps through increased resources, infrastructure support, and targeted programs. DepEd Secretary...
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian reassured that the ”Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita” Program (AKAP) will have stricter safety protocols and remain transparent, based on the proposed guidelines. In a radio interview on Feb. 27, Gatchalian highlighted the...
Newly appointed Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has suspended the full cashless payment system on expressways, a move that followed the Toll Regulatory Board's (TRB) mandate that all vehicles must be equipped with radio-frequency identification (RFID) for cashless payment by March 15, under...
The Department of Education (DepEd), in collaboration with the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC), is developing a three-year strategic plan to strengthen public-private partnerships in education. (DepEd / MB VIsual Content Grroup) In a statement, DepEd said the action plan for...
BEYOND BUDGET Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. There’s something undeniably special about coming home. No matter how far we go or how much we achieve, it always calls us back. As Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz” famously said, “There’s no place like home.” But home is...
