Recto wants P17.5 B ‘mega lump-sum’ for civil society used in fight vs hunger

29 October 2014, Comment are Off
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will disburse P17.5 billion worth of grants to civil society and local governments next year and a senator wants part of this earmarked for food production and processing projects that will benefit malnourished children....

Recto : Use part of P7.6B CCT overhead for school feeding

28 October 2014, Comment are Off
Budget space can be carved out of the P7.6 billion administrative cost of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in expanding feeding programs for malnourished children, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said today. Recto said the overhead expense of...

Tap unspent P180-B Malampaya, energy royalties for emergency power needs

19 September 2014, Comment are Off
Unspent royalty payments from Malampaya and other energy projects are expected to reach P180 billion by the end of year making it an abundant source of funds for projects government may undertake once Congress grants President Aquino emergency powers to tackle the looming energy...

Senate OKs bill granting PhilHealth insurance to all seniors

18 September 2014, Comment are Off
The Senate on Wednesday has passed on second reading the measure providing mandatory PhilHealth coverage to all senior citizens regardless of their social or economic status. Senate Bill 712, authored by Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, would automatically enroll all...

Tap P3.6 B travel tax collection to build restrooms so tourists won’t ‘self pee’ anywhere – Recto

13 September 2014, Comment are Off
Government was told to earmark part of its P3.6 billion annual travel tax collection for the building of roadside rest rooms so that local and foreign tourists bound for the “sun, sea, sand, shopping” destinations will not “self pee” anywhere. Sen. Ralph Recto made the...

Gov’t to spend P92.3 B for new teachers, classrooms, books, labs

10 September 2014, Comment are Off
Government will be spending P92.3 billion next year to hire more teachers, build classrooms, close logistical gaps and meet the growing needs of 25 million public school students. Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto described the proposed outlay as “unprecedented” both in...

Gov’t asks for P4.6 B for APEC hosting needs

07 September 2014, Comment are Off
Is traffic-choked NCR ready for APEC summit 14 months from now? Are we ready for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit? With 14 months to go before 21 heads of government will converge in Metro Manila for the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting, Sen. Ralph Recto wants to...

Gov’t urged to take PNR funding challenge

04 September 2014, Comment are Off
What about the PNR? While its focus – and resources – seem to be concentrated on the breakdown-prone Metro Rail Transit, Sen. Ralph Recto said government should also turn its attention to MRT’s poor cousin – the Philippine National Railways, “an aging workhorse which still...