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Politics

SOLON URGES BIGGER BUDGET FOR WITNESS PROTECTION

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel wants Congress to provide a bigger budget to the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Program (WPSBP), amid the spate of violent crime, including the Oct. 3 contract killing of veteran radio commentator Percival Mabasa, better known as Percy Lapid. “The WPSBP seems to be working well. […]

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Politics

PIMENTEL FLAGS P544-B LUMP-SUM IN DPWH BUDGET

Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel III has flagged the P544 billion lump-sum appropriations lodged under the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH)’s proposed budget for 2023. “This is no small amount. The P544 billion lump-sum funds is equivalent to 75 percent of the total appropriation of the DPWH for next year,” Pimentel said. DPWH […]

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Government

P3.5-B DOT BUDGET GETS HOUSE OK – FRASCO

After swift proceedings lasting less than two hours, the Department of Tourism (DOT) gets the nod of the lower chamber for its proposed budget for the fiscal year 2023. “On behalf of the Department of Tourism, I express my profound gratitude to the esteemed members of the House of Representatives for their invaluable support as […]

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Politics

REALIGN FUNDS TO BEEF UP DEPED BUDGET – PIMENTEL

Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel III urged Congress to consider a realignment of the Department of Education’s P150- million confidential funds. Pimentel questioned the necessity for such huge funding for a civilian agency tasked to promote education, not security concerns which are the very purpose of confidential and intelligence funds. “Hindi lang namin kukwenstyunin. Mag-attempt […]

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Government

OPLE THANKS HOUSE FOR APPROVAL OF DMW BUDGET

Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople expressed her deepest thanks and gratitude to the House of Representatives for its approval yesterday of the department’s proposed P15.2Bn 2023 budget. Quezon Representative Jayjay Suarez defended the appropriation which proposes a budget of P3.5B for the Office of the Secretary and the various units and bureaus under its supervision. […]

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Politics

REINSTATE BUDGET CUT OF NBI – GATCHALIAN

Senator Win Gatchalian is seeking to reinstate the cut in the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) 2023 budget to intensify the government’s cybercrime prevention efforts. Gatchalian expressed concern that the National Expenditure Program (NEP) trimmed down the 2023 budget of the NBI to P1.8 billion from 2022’s actual budget of P2.3 billion. This includes the […]

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Politics

PIMENTEL ASKS DEPED ON LARGE BUDGET FOR VOUCHERS

Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel III sought clarification from the Department of Education (DepEd) on the massive increase in its budget for its voucher program as he asked for assurance that the cash grants will go to the intended beneficiaries of the program. “This voucher program being administered by the Department of Education has ballooned […]

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Politics

HOUSE BEGINS PLENARY DEBATES ON 2023 BUDGET

The House of Representatives has commenced plenary deliberation on House Bill 4488 or the 2023 General Appropriations Bill (GAB). In his sponsorship speech, Committee on Appropriations Chairperson AKO BICOL Party-list Representative Zaldy Co said that it is the responsibility of Congress to pass a timely, responsive, and inclusive budget for the Filipino people. Co noted […]

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Politics

OLASO ALLOTS P40M FOR NEW ZAMBOANGA HOSPITAL

Zamboanga City First District Representative Khymer Adan Olaso has earmarked an initial P40 million from his 2023 congressional fund for the construction of another public hospital in his district. Olaso said putting up another public hospital in his district is vital as the population in the area is growing fast. The first congressional district covers […]

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Politics

GOV’T AGENCIES URGED TO SAVE TO EASE INFLATION

Requiring government agencies to set aside 5 percent in budgetary savings could free up to P250 billion out of the P5.04-trillion national budget for 2022 to ease the country’s record-high inflation, a lawmaker said. Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano explained this is one step to addressing high inflation risks caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, […]