Media

Press Release  1 August 2023 India’s rice export ban, Vietnam’s move to halve its exports, typhoons like Egay, and the scuttling of the Ukraine grain deal are “the quadruple whammy” that will hurt the Philippines – the world’s 2nd and 6th biggest rice and wheat importer. “Ito ang...

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐩. 𝐑𝐚𝐥𝐩𝐡 𝐆. 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 The speech was partly a lecture on the Medium Term Development Plan. For those expecting SONA as theatre, what he delivered instead was a teach-in. He traded oratorical flair for as many facts as he...

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐩. 𝐑𝐚𝐥𝐩𝐡 𝐆. 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 SONA is not just a throwback moment for the year gone by, but a battleplan on how we can fast-forward to what we hope to achieve. It is not a mere replay of the past, but a preview of the future,...

Press Release 20 July 2023 Pay-per-use public infrastructure, such as roads and airports, should be affordable to end users, and must be considered – and even disclosed – from the outset, Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto said today. “Kung magkano babayaran sa toll, pamasahe o paggamit...

Press Release 19 July 2023 Former President Duterte’s warm relations with Beijing can be a direct line that could ease tension in the West Philippine Sea such as a stop to Chinese harassment of Filipinos peacefully fishing in the area, Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto said. In...

Press Release 19 July 2023 Now that their pet Maharlika Investment Fund is a law, economic managers should prove their critics wrong, and deliver the earnings they confidently promised during the congressional debates on the measure, Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto said today. “The...

Press Statement of Deputy Speaker and Batangas Rep. Ralph G. Recto June 29, 2023 For tourists, the Philippines’ major draw are sun, sights, sea and shopping.  A slogan by itself is not a powerful lure that will prompt a traveler to pack up and go, unless it fully captures our...

Press Release 26 May 2023 The House-approved bill allowing persons with disabilities (PWDs) to vote early during elections is “the assistive device” that removes an “institutional barrier” that prevents PWDs from exercising their right to vote, Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto said....

Thank you very much for that kind introduction. I endured four years of college lectures, so you can just imagine how excited I am to finally return the favor, and this time torture you with a winding—and windy—speech only a senator can inflict. Let me assure you that I will keep...

This is the speech Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto that was scheduled to deliver if the confirmation hearings on Secretary Judy Taguiwalo had advanced to CA plenary for voting ‘To Serve the People’ Speech Endorsing the Confirmation of Prof. Judy Taguiwalo as...

“Kung ang bata ay kulang sa timbang, tayo ang may pagkukulang” It has been said that politicians love to kiss babies when they run for office. But kiss them goodbye the moment they’re elected. If babies only know how to throw tantrums through tweets, or if they could...

Mr. President: To join the economic cluster of the Cabinet is to become a travelling salesman. Membership in that team means one must travel tens of thousands of miles a year to attract billions in investments, or to borrow money in the billions. A Finance secretary hawks bonds...

Thank you. Magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat. I am happy and honored to be here today. What I’ve noticed is that there is no universal oath that binds politicians, unlike physicians who have their famous “First, do no harm” pledge. But if ever there will be a contest to coin one...

If the middle class’s patriotism is soluble in taxes, the one of farmers can also dissolve in irrigation fees. For years, farmers have been clamoring for a moratorium on irrigation payments. Basically, what they seek is parity—to be treated the same way that conglomerates have...

Mr. Chairman, my dear colleagues : I stand with you today in endorsing the demotion of our dear colleague from a senator of the Republic to its top diplomat. His 19 years in Congress – 9 years in the Bigger House and 10 in the Better House – have prepared him for the grueling job...

Senate Bill 1449: Driver’s License Validity Extension Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph G. Recto Mr. President, distinguished colleagues: This sponsorship speech on the bill extending the driver’s license validity from three years to five years and for its renewal extended to...