The Department of Agriculture (DA) has identified substandard and non-existent farm-to-market roads (FMRs) across two provinces in Mindanao, based on the initial findings of its ongoing audit to investigate alleged corruption. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said on Monday, Sept. 29,...
The combined damage of three successive tropical storms and the southwest monsoon (habagat) on the agriculture sector is now close to ₱2 billion, according to the latest report of the Department of Agriculture (DA). The DA said on Monday, Sept. 29, that 10 regions have reported damage and losses...
The Marcos administration is considering extending the ongoing suspension on rice imports until the end of the year, as the policy continues to fall short of improving the prices of palay (unmilled rice) amid a strong harvest, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA). Agriculture Secretary...
Reducing the value-added tax (VAT) to 10 percent from the current 12 percent would erode the government’s fiscal consolidation, with total revenues expected to decline by an average of ₱330 billion annually, or one percent of the country’s economic output. “From our estimates, the reduction...
State-run think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) is urging lawmakers to expand and amend major education-related bills to address persistent gaps in access, funding, and governance across the sector. In a statement, PIDS Senior Research Fellow Connie B. Dacuycuy outlined...
The Department of Energy (DOE) reported 18 electric cooperatives (ECs) affected by the onslaught of Typhoon “Opong” and the southwest monsoon. In a statement on Monday, Sept. 29, the DOE reported that 18 electric cooperatives (ECs) are facing partial power interruptions, while Masbate Electric...
State-run Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) has clarified that the handling of the bank accounts of the Department of Public Works and Highways ' (DPWH) contractors did not involve irregularities, countering insinuations that it was complicit in alleged flood control corruption. This...
The Philippines has sought to restructure disbursement estimates and project targets for a World Bank loan aimed at enhancing teachers’ competencies, as its implementation stalled due to late budget releases and procurement issues. In a Sept. 28 restructuring paper, the World Bank said that since...
The United States (US) has once again flagged the long-standing issue of corruption in the Philippines as one of the biggest hurdles to attracting American and other foreign investments. In its annual investment climate statement published over the weekend, the US Department of State (DOS) listed...
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has ordered the swift procurement of construction materials to repair the Moises R. Espinosa Airport, also known as Masbate Airport, which faced heavy damage from the onslaught of Typhoon Opong. In a statement on Saturday, Sept. 27, Acting Transportation...
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is looking forward to a proposed ₱20-billion annual investment in the livestock sector, which will take effect once signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. before the month of September ends. Speaking at a breakout session of the Arangkada...
Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Usec. Roberto Bernardo believes almost all project biddings are rigged. Bernardo said this during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing investigating the anomalous flood control projects in the country on Thursday, Sept. 25. He was asked by...
