Recto: Big job, mega-billion budget, 29 M clients await new DSWD chief

17 August 2017, Comment are Off
The next DSWD secretary should be in the mold of the 10 women who had held that post since 1986. If tradition is to be followed, there’s a high bar to be met in choosing the head of an agency that helps those who have fallen through the cracks of society. Recite their names and...

Nat’l budget to jump P1 trillion in 2 yrs but bugged by “underspending, over-appropriations”

16 August 2017, Comment are Off
The national budget will jump to P3.767 trillion in 2018, or by P1 trillion, from its 2016 level of 2.682 trillion, and Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto doubts if agencies have the capacity “to spend their allocations, which essentially are taxes collected from the...

DFA’s OFW help fund to jump 140 percent, to P1.2 billion

15 August 2017, Comment are Off
Still not enough, Recto says, as he bats for single tally of all OFW aid funds The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) fund to assist OFWs in distress will jump two-and-half times to P1 billion in 2018, while a legal fund, also managed by the DFA, will double to P200 million,...

Slow project implementation casts pall on ‘build, build, build’ –Recto

14 August 2017, Comment are Off
Government’s capacity to “build, build, build” infrastructure will be tested by a review of how fast it is building the roads, classrooms, irrigation, hospitals funded by the current year’s budget, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto said. Recto said the Senate review of the...

Give quick-reaction fund to embassies in war-threatened countries—Recto

13 August 2017, Comment are Off
Seoul post’s P109 M budget less than 1% of P28 B SoKor OFWs sent in 3 yrs Philippine embassies in conflict-threatened countries should be given a “quick reaction fund” that would allow them to bring Filipinos out of harm’s way once a crisis becomes full-blown, Senate...

Palace must fix Customs mess or gov’t programs suffer

11 August 2017, Comment are Off
Nation dependent on P1.3 B BOC daily collections; Palace must fix Customs mess or gov’t programs suffer The Bureau of Customs collects revenues which fund public services that we all enjoy. When it fails in its collection, government programs falter. When taxes it is...

Use NBI, intel fund, NAIA big income to smash Maleta Gang

10 August 2017, Comment are Off
Government should arrest the leaders and smash the syndicate of NAIA personnel who have been stealing from the bags of passengers, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto said today. Recto made the call following the arrest of four baggage handlers for allegedly stealing the...

Comelec shouldn’t be distracted by telenovela in prepping for brgy polls

08 August 2017, Comment are Off
Presumptuous to piggyback it with BBL plebiscite P.3 trillion IRA of brgy captains during holdover years Comelec budget jumps 500% to P16B next year   The controversy pummelling embattled Commission on Elections chair Andres Bautista should not “derail nor distract” the...