The third day of bicameral conference committee deliberations on the proposed ₱6.793-trillion 2026 national budget was suspended on Monday, Dec. 15, amid a deadlock over the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) budget. Senate Finance Committee Chair Sherwin Gatchalian said the...
Senator Imee Marcos on Saturday, Dec. 13 flagged the sharp increase in the Department of Education’s (DepEd) classroom construction budget, despite the agency’s rather lackluster 23 percent absorption rate. During Bicameral Conference Committee deliberations on the proposed 2026 national...
With the annual Congress holiday break just around the corner, it seems that several individuals who were cited in contempt during previous hearings could remain in detention at the Senate during Christmas and the New Year--perhaps even longer. This was according to Senate President Vicente "Tito"...
Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan has warned that Filipinos will continue to suffer from high food prices, prevalent hunger, and malnutrition if there is no adequate support for the agriculture sector. The senator emphasized that increased public investment was essential to ensuring food security,...
Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go pushes for the extension of the estate tax amnesty to the end of 2028, which could generate additional revenue while easing the burden for Filipinos settling their debts on inherited properties. This measure is among the priority tax measures the Department of...
Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara reaffirmed his commitment to sustained reforms in the basic education sector as a growing network of organizations from the public, private, and advocacy communities expressed strong support for DepEd and its ongoing initiatives. In a statement...
A move is underway in the Senate to lower the value-added tax (VAT) imposed on purchased goods and services. Under Senate Bill No. 1552 filed by Senator Erwin Tulfo, Section 106 of the National Internal Revenue Code would be amended to bring down the current 12 percent VAT to 10 percent. The...
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson clarified that more than P79-billion has likely been lost to ghost flood control projects dating back to 2016, not counting substandard ones. Lacson said that the initial figure of P180-B was an “extrapolation.” Lacson said this was based on...
The camp of former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. on Wednesday, Dec. 3, claimed that he was never given the chance to explain or defend himself before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI). His official spokesperson, Atty. Maria Carissa C. Guinto, stated that Revilla has not...
Former Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday, Dec. 3 addressed the recommendation by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to refer her for further investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman, asserting that the move confirms the allegations against her are unfounded. “The ICI’s...
Senator Raffy Tulfo on Wednesday, Dec. 3, pushed for mandatory driver’s licenses and registration for e-trike users, warning that the absence of clear regulations has made traffic enforcement nearly impossible amid rising reports of road incidents involving the vehicles. During a consultative...
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said on Wednesday, Dec. 3, that more than P180 billion has likely been lost to ghost flood control projects dating back to 2016, not counting substandard ones. Lacson said he and Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian arrived at this...
