I thank the Commission on Audit for clearing my name twice. First, on the COA report itself when it categorically stated that I did not sign any documents. And second, in today’s hearing when the COA auditor-in-charge confirmed that indeed I did not sign any request, endorsement,

Scrapping the P7.5 billion Calamity Fund in the 2014 national budget, on the false suspicion that it is a presidential pork barrel, will be the real calamity, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto warned today. “In the Richter scale of budgeting disaster, I will rank it at

The Senate has set the ball rolling for an itemized national budget with the demand of one leader that large lump sums in next year’s proposed P2.26 trillion outlay be detailed. Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto has identified an “initial 10 items” worth P96 billion in the

I support the scrapping of PDAF. However, the entire national budget should be more transparent. All projects should be by line item in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) so every local government, district and community will know where the money is spent and what to expect. We

As agricultural damages continue to mount due to the recent onslaught of typhoon Labuyo, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto pushed for the passage of a bill establishing a special insurance program for rice and corn farmers heavily hit by calamities. “This piece of

To reduce crime by five percent next year, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has vowed to respond to crime incidents within 15 minutes and ramp up the number of foot and car patrols by 25 percent. These and other targets are contained in a “promissory note” the PNP has

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto has filed a bill seeking to declare big-time smuggling as a capital offense by imposing the penalty of life imprisonment to anyone who will engage in unlawful importation of goods valued more than P1 million. “Smuggling continues to

Describing it as a “prescription for drugs, doctors, and clinics”, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto today likened the P81.7 billion proposed budget of the Department of Health for 2014 as a “needed shot in the arm for the public health system.” “It is definitely a booster

The Senate Tax Study & Research Office (STSRO) employees pay a courtesy call to Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, former chairman of the Ways & Means committee.

Government’s interest and principal payments on its debts will reach P791.5 billion next year, or a daily disbursement rate of P2.17 billion, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said. While debt service will climb to an all-time high next year, “the good news is that share