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Respect the budget
A fair reminder should be issued to the caretakers of public finances and leaders in government that the Supreme Court had ruled that lump sum items such as the Priority Development Assistance Fund and the reallocation of funds in the budget such as in the Disbursement Acceleration Program scheme are unconstitutional. A 2013 decision of the high tribunal was very specific about the pork barrel as invalid, along with similar efforts in the legislature to accumulate discretionary funds. In 2014, the SC also thumbed down the Presidential pork barrel raised through the DAP. In the 2024 National Expenditure Program which is the Executive’s proposed budget submitted to Congress, P215 billion worth of flood mitigation projects were found to use methods that are suspiciously similar to the outlawed PDAF scheme. Based on SC’s landmark decision such budget items are also illegal. The SC ruling not only struck down the PDAF but also “various Congressional insertions” and other similar practices that allow legislators to “intervene, assume or participate” in any of the various post-enactment stages of the budget execution. The difference in the current maneuver is that the insertions are done in the NEP to skirt the “post-enactment stages” of the budget process as specified in the SC ruling. The spirit or substance of the decision was, however, all about removing the discretionary powers of Congress over, what the SC decision stated, as a Constitutional violation: “Such as but not limited to the areas of project identification, modification and revision of project identification, fund release and/or fund realignment, unrelated to the power of Congressional oversight.” The ruling basically disallowed the practice of insertions and realignment since it sought to re-establish check and balance between the legislature and the Palace as the pork barrel scheme is the Executive’s leverage to get members of the legislature to enact its priority laws. After the SC ruling, efforts to create new sources of legislative pork have been a yearly ritual in Congress that even resulted in friction between House leaders and the Department of Budget and Management during the early years of President Rodrigo Duterte. The DAP was created apparently to fill the vacuum created by the PDAF’s removal. Under the Palace scheme under the Aquino administration, savings were centralized under the DAP which was then used as a slush fund for legislators. DAP funds were used in the campaign to oust the late Chief Justice Renato Corona. The SC decision disallowed the following: * The withdrawal of unobligated allotments from the implementing agencies and the declaration of the withdrawn unobligated allotments and unreleased appropriations as savings before the end of the fiscal year and without complying with the statutory definition of savings contained in the General Appropriations Act; * Cross-border transfers of savings of the executive department to offices outside the executive department; and * Funding of projects, activities, and programs not covered by appropriations in the General Appropriations Act. The court also declared void the use of unprogrammed funds despite the absence of a certification by the National Treasurer that the revenue collections exceeded the revenue targets or non-compliance with the conditions provided in the relevant General Appropriations Act. Some P150 billion in public funds, from 2011 to 2013, were channeled to the DAP, which was done through the first two schemes that the SC declared as unconstitutional. The SC made a statement in junking the DAP and PDAF which was to outlaw the use of discretionary or lump sum funds in the budget that usually end up in the pockets of public officials. The P24 billion annual PDAF was a mere part of the huge Special Purpose Funds which in turn is just one of the many lump sums that make up as much as a third of the yearly budget. The ruling was consistent with the public clamor for the removal of all types of lump-sum items in the national budget. Undertaking budget maneuvers such as spending a ridiculous P215 billion for flood control has the obvious aim of providing legislators their pork allocation that contravenes the SC ruling on PDAF and public sentiment on the proper use of the budget. The post Respect the budget appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DBM: P2T in loans to prop up ‘24 budget
The Department of Budget and Management yesterday confirmed the government will borrow over P2 trillion to fund part of the proposed P5.768-trillion national budget for 2024. The fresh borrowing would increase the national debt to above P16 trillion, which equates to P145,339 in debt for each of the 110 million Filipinos, up from P129,798 at the current level of the nation’s overall debt of P14.1 trillion. According to DBM, the borrowing program for 2024 is valued at P2.46 trillion, or 11.46 percent more than the borrowing program for 2023, which stood at P2.207 trillion. The borrowing plan for next year is made up of gross domestic borrowing of P1.853 trillion and gross foreign borrowing of P606.85 billion. In a Palace press briefing, DBM Undersecretary Joselito Basilio said the planned borrowing is “consistent with the medium-term fiscal framework.” The Marcos government has borrowed P1.327 trillion as of the end of June this year. This brought the country’s total sovereign debt to a new record high of P14.15 trillion as of the end of June 2023, up 0.4 percent from the end of May, when it was P14.10 trillion. The Duterte administration also embarked on an aggressive borrowing spree to fund its response and recovery efforts as the pandemic-induced lockdown triggered economic contractions in 2020 throughout the middle of 2021. Debt-GDP ratio Basilio said the government’s borrowing program will gradually decline as the country recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic. “From now until 2025 and 2026, (the government’s borrowing) will peak… by 2027 and 2028, it will go down,” he said. He said the government also aims to reduce the debt-to-gross domestic product or GDP ratio to less than 60 percent by 2025, then further down to 51.1 percent in 2028, and reduce the budget deficit to 3.0 percent of GDP by 2028. The debt-to-GDP ratio represents the amount of the government’s debt stock relative to the size of the economy. As of the first quarter of 2023, the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio stood at 61 percent, down from 63.5 percent in the first quarter of 2022. The Philippines ended 2022 with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 60.9 percent, down from 63.7 percent as of the third quarter of last year — a 17-year high or the highest since 2005. This is the highest debt-to-GDP ratio since 2005 when it hit 65.7 percent, well over the internationally recommended threshold of 60 percent. The post DBM: P2T in loans to prop up ‘24 budget appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Beyond partisan politics
The authoritative Tokyo-based publication Nikkei Asia, which started among those who doubted President Bongbong Marcos’ capability to lead the nation appears to be changing its tune in its latest edition, reflecting the growing global respect that BBM has been reaping in the first of his six-year term. Marcos was able to rise above political vindictiveness to utilize the best that the government can offer for the country’s development, one of the business paper’s assessments went. It cited the case of Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan who served in the same post under the late President Benigno Aquino III. Balisacan said he never expected to take the same post under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Nikkei Asia said Aquino’s parents led the opposition to Marcos’ father, President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., in the 1986 People Power Revolt. “For Balisacan, his appointment is a sign that Marcos’s determination to rework the economy is stronger than any historical baggage,” Nikkei Asia said. “Not even a chance that I thought about being invited to join because I served the Aquino government,” said Balisacan, also director general of the National Economic and Development Authority. “It became clear to me that Marcos wanted to do something about the economy,” he added. The initial reviews of BBM were not very favorable. “Marcos frustrated investors when he skipped debates during the campaign and spoke more about ‘unity’ than the specifics of how he would run the economy,” the Nikkei Asia report went. “But one year after taking office, Marcos has defied some of the most pessimistic predictions on his presidency. He has won the confidence of business, bolstered the alliance with the US, and pledged to respect human rights,” the report said. In BBM’s first year, the Philippines had the distinction of being among the best-performing economies in the region, growing by 7.6 percent in 2022. “Expansion slowed to 6.4 percent in the first quarter but still surpassed analyst projections. Marcos is aiming for growth of up to 8 percent per year from 2024 to 2028,” Nikkei Asia said. In May, Fitch Ratings affirmed its “investment grade” assessment of the Philippines, raising the outlook to “stable” from “negative,” said the report. The business sector experienced a refreshing change in terms of the attention it received from Marcos. “While his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, attacked tycoons, Marcos gave them a direct line via a business advisory council that he holds regular meetings with. He has pledged to revive the public-private partnership program to allow companies to bid for infrastructure contracts,” Nikkei Asia observed. It quoted BDO Capital and Investment president Eduardo Francisco as saying, “Initially, people were not expecting much.” “They were a little, maybe, skeptical. But [the President] has assembled a very good team,” he said. International watchdogs gave Marcos a glowing review. According to Fitch Director Krisjanis Krustins, “the outlook revision (from negative to stable) reflects confidence in continued strong economic growth and sound economic policymaking.” Analysts also noted the “government’s budget discipline and commitment to gradual fiscal consolidation and reform.” “President Marcos knows the country has a lot of problems, but he is willing to spend his political capital to solve them,” Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno was quoted as saying. The business publication acknowledged the positive impact of Marcos concurrently holding the post of agriculture secretary. “Inflation slowed to 6.1 percent in May, after marking a 14-year high of 8.7 percent in January when onions were more expensive than meat. Officials expect price gains to settle within the 2 to 4 percent target by the end of this year,” Nikkei Asia said. The post Beyond partisan politics appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Speaker happy with ratings, vows to work harder
Speaker Martin Romualdez vowed to work harder as he was elated by the latest survey showing that he, along with President Marcos, Vice President Sara Duterte and other high officials in government, enjoys the people’s high approval rating......»»
High approval, trust ratings for Marcos, Sara
President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte received high approval and trust ratings, according to a nationwide survey conducted by the RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc......»»
OCTA: Marcos, Sara get high trust approval ratings
President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte obtained high trust and satisfaction ratings, according to a survey released yesterday by the OCTA Research Group......»»
Duterte admin puts a premium on health, economy: Palace
MANILA - Malacanang is pleased by the results of a recent survey that classified Filipinos' net personal optimism as "very high" despite the impact of the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic on their well-being and the economy.Results of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted from April.....»»
Sara thanks Dabawenyos for high ratings in survey
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio yesterday thanked Dabawenyos for the 93 percent job approval rating she got in a nationwide survey......»»
Duterte endorsement still holds power – Pulse exec
Despite criticisms over his administration’s war on drugs and handling of the COVID-19 crisis, President Duterte’s endorsement power will still matter come 2022 elections given his high approval and trust ratings, according to Pulse Asia Research director Ana Maria Tabunda......»»
Palace agrees with Imee Marcos that fight is over if Duterte decides to run for VP
While President Rodrigo Duterte has not decided on whether to run for vice president next year, Malacañang agrees with Sen. Imee Marcos that the "fight is over" if he does because of his high trust and satisfaction numbers......»»
China to donate 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to PH — Palace
Malacañang said Saturday that the Chinese government will donate 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines as the two countries reaffirmed ties and cooperation against the pandemic. Chinese State Counselor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (DFA OFFICIAL TWITTER ACCOUNT/ MANILA BULLETIN) The Office of the President (OP) made the statement as Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi made a 40-minute courtesy call to President Duterte in Malacañang Saturday. In a statement, the OP said that Wang assured Duterte of China’s commitment to support the Philippines’ efforts to combat COVID-19, a disease that originated in Wuhan, China. “He (Wang) announced that China will donate 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to the Philippines. He likewise affirmed China’s resolve to do everything to ensure that vaccines become a global good,” Malacañang said. According to Malacañang, Duterte lauded the continued high-level engagement between the Philippines and China even amid the pandemic and stressed the importance of both sides delivering on the promises of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation. Duterte stressed that cooperation on public health must be strengthened, particularly access to safe and effective vaccines, to safeguard the health of the people and in order to hasten the economic recovery of both nations and their neighboring countries. “The recovery of nations… sits on the back of stronger economies,” Duterte told Wang. “China plays a very key role in reviving our region’s economy. Let us do all we can to revive economic activities between the Philippines and China,” he added. Malacañang said that Duterte thanked China for its continuing support and cooperation in the country’s fight against COVID-19 in terms of medical equipment and supplies and sharing of experiences and expertise as well as in the repatriation of Filipinos. Economic cooperation Wang declared that China will continue to support the Philippines’ recovery through enhanced economic cooperation. He likewise reiterated his country’s determination to complete pending infrastructure projects. The Palace said that Wang underscored China’s commitment under President Xi Jinping to work closely with the Philippines to sustain the positive trajectory of the valued and special bilateral relations. At the start of his presidency in 2016, Duterte has expressed his desire to build stronger relations with China — even temporarily setting aside the country’s victory over the West Philippine Sea in The Hague to make it happen......»»
Duterte 91% rating is costly for pollster
The rather high 91 percent approval and trust ratings garnered by President Duterte in the latest Pulse Asia survey are beginning to look quite costly for the private pollster’s professional reputation......»»
Populist leaders like Duterte poll well during crises — political scientist
Populist leaders thrive in times of crisis, a political scientist said on Monday in response to the high approval and trust ratings credited to President Rodrigo Duterte by a recent poll......»»
Palace hails Rody& rsquo;s high trust rating
Malacanang on Monday thanked the Filipino people for giving their trust to President Rodrigo Duterte who received high approval and trust scores in the latest Pulse Asia survey amid the COVID-19 pandemic......»»
Ambiguous
Next year’s elections will probably be a bore. It is, after all, a midterm exercise where the administration controls a supermajority in Congress and basks in comparatively high approval ratings......»»
Ex-President Duterte is lone 2024 Datu Bago awardee
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / March 5)—Former President Rodrigo Duterte, who also served as mayor for over two decades, will be the lone 2024 Datu Bago awardee. Davao City Councilor Pilar Braga, who also chairs the Datu Bago Awards Organization (DBAO), said it is high time for Duterte to receive the award as the “most deserving […].....»»
Ruru Madrid learns from action idols, rides high on ratings
Ruru Madrid further strengthens his foothold in the action genre with the GMA Primetime Telebabad show, “Black Rider.” It’s a follow-up to the action and adventure-filled “Lolong,” with the drama-fantasy “The Write One” as, in a way, a breather from the genre and a reminder of his versatility......»»
BBM, Duterte threats and sleep deprivation
In December 2023, President Marcos Jr. scored an approval rating of 71 percent, up six points from 65 percent in October 2023, according to OCTA Research Group which polled 1,200 respondents during Dec. 10-14. Error margin was three percentage points, quite high, if you ask statisticians......»»
High ratings spur House to work harder – Speaker
Speaker Martin Romualdez yesterday expressed his gratitude to the Filipino people for the high trust and performance ratings he received, as shown in a recent survey conducted by the OCTA Research group......»»
Sara: Baste quit call made out of ‘brotherly love’
Vice President Sara Duterte said she has not spoken to her brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, about his call for President Marcos to resign, which she stressed was more out of “brotherly love” to protect her from the shabby treatment she has been receiving from people within the Palace inner circle......»»