//
SEP
27
2019

‘Time to end the national bad habit of frequently scrapping brgy polls’

We have postponed the barangay elections six times since 1988. The proposed scrapping of the one scheduled in May 2020 will be the 7th. If it pushes through, it will be the 3rd under the Duterte administration, and the first three-peat of its kind in history. House and Senate
SEP
26
2019

DOH shortchanged of P28.3 B in sin tax shares

The Department of Health and PhilHealth should not be begging for funds. They should automatically be getting what is due them from the TRAIN Law. But for 2020, the two agencies’ sin tax dividends are P28.3 billion short of what Republic Act 11346 guarantees. This results in
SEP
24
2019

‘P3 M to produce 1 PMA grad, P507K for UP’

PMA cadets are “Iskolars ng Bayan” too, whose studies are shouldered by taxpayers. In fact, on a per student subsidy, they occupy the top tier in the country’s million-plus public college student population. Using the previous four years’ appropriations and reported number of
SEP
23
2019

SBN-1065: Local Build Build Build Program Act

An Act Accelerating Public Sector Investments In Local Infrastructure, Establishing For The Purpose The Local Build, Build, Build, Program, Providing Funds Therefor, And For Other Purposes This bill seeks to accelerate public infrastructure spending at the grassroots level by
SEP
22
2019

P7.4 B science scholarship budget to include 1,927 PhD, 4,264 MA students

Government will be funding the studies of 44,475 science scholars next year – including 1,927 in PhD and 4,264 in Masters programs – as part of the “national talent pool the country needs to win the future,” Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said. The 2020 cost of the
SEP
21
2019

Recto to DOH: Use P1.23 B ‘advertising, publication, travel’ budget to fight fake news vs. vaccines

The Department of Health (DOH) wants to spend P629 million for advertising next year, just one of its many information-related expenses in 2020 that can be tapped to fight the fake news on vaccines, which has kept many children from getting them. This was pointed out by Senate
SEP
20
2019

Due to patient surge, Recto said 5 QC specialty hospitals must get bigger budget

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto today batted for an increase in the government’s budgetary subsidy to five specialty hospitals in Quezon City which draw patients from all over the country. These are Philippine Heart Center (PHC), the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP),
SEP
18
2019

“The billions in national penalty we pay for our slow justice system”

With the signing of the revised rules on GCTA, it is hoped that our Justice and prison officials will work overtime like elves in Santa’s workshop to bring the genuinely sick, infirm, old, terminally-ill prisoners home to their families this Christmas. The President is correct –
SEP
17
2019

On China Telecom-AFP deal

If the Secretary of DND was left clueless about the China Telecom-AFP deal in his own backyard, then maybe it is time to install a radar system in his office. If this deal can fly stealthily under the nose of the man responsible for our nation’s defense, then it raises anew the
SEP
16
2019

PSR-0134: Inquiry on the Mass Transit Roadmap of the Government

Resolution Directing The Senate Committee On Public Services To Conduct An Inquiry, In Aid Of Legislation, On The Mass Transit Roadmap Of The Government, With The End In View Of Determining Its Viability And Ensuring A Safe, Reliable, Efficient And Affordable Public Transit