Duterte may sign 2021 budget before Christmas – Sotto
Barring “unforeseen circumstances,” President Duterte may be able to sign into law the proposed P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021 before Christmas, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said yesterday......»»
Duterte to sign 2021 budget bill before Christmas
President Duterte is ready to sign the P4.5-trillion budget for next year, rejecting the possibility that the government will be working on a reenacted budget in 2021 amid the coronavirus pandemic, a Palace official said yesterday......»»
House ready for extended session
Congress is expected to approve on third and final reading before adjourning this week for Christmas two bills seeking to extend the validity of the P4.1- trillion 2020 national budget until December next year and the appropriations under the P165.5-billion Bayanihan to Recover as One Act until June 30, 2021......»»
Duterte may sign 2021 budget before Christmas
Senators and congressmen comprising the bicameral conference committee may be able to settle their conflicting positions in the proposed P4.5-trillion national budget soon enough to allow President Duterte to sign it in time for Christmas......»»
Duterte may sign 2021 budget before Christmas – Sotto
Barring “unforeseen circumstances,” President Duterte may be able to sign into law the proposed P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021 before Christmas, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said yesterday......»»
Sotto: President Duterte may sign 2021 budget before Christmas
Sans any unforeseen circumstances, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said President Rodrigo Duterte may sign the 2021 national budget before Christmas. “Before Christmas, we expect the President to sign it or at the latest before the end of the year. ‘Yun ang exact situation ngayon,” Sotto said in an online news forum. Sotto said he […] The post Sotto: President Duterte may sign 2021 budget before Christmas appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Family is and will always be love
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, our Daza Christmas reunions were cancelled in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Fortunately, in 2023, we determined that it was safe to resume our family tradition of getting together on Christmas Day......»»
For 45 percent of Pinoys, Christmas gift budget same as last year
About 45 percent of consumers in the Philippines are sticking to last year’s gift budget for their Christmas shopping this year, according to a study from market research and data analytics firm Milieu Insight......»»
President Marcos to sign budget before Christmas
President Marcos is expected to sign the P5.768-trillion 2024 General Appropriations Act before Christmas......»»
Marcos eyes signing of 2024 budget before Christmas Day
Marcos said that he is still waiting to receive the final bicameral conference committee report on the proposed spending plan for 2024, which was ratified by Congress on Monday......»»
7 Holiday Tipid Tips: Budget-budget din ‘pag may time mga ka-BANDERA!
NAKAPAG-SHOPPING na ba ang lahat mga ka-BANDERA? Kumpleto na ba ang inyong panghanda at pangregalo sa darating na Christmas at New Year? I’m sure, marami pa rin sa ating mga Pinoy ang magkukumahog sa pagbili ng mga gifts at foods for Noche Buena pagsapit ng oras de peligro. Knowing us, devah! Parang mas nag-e-enjoy talaga.....»»
10K cops to ensure safety of Dabawenyos for Holidays
The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) is set to deploy over 10,000 personnel to ensure the safety of Dabawenyos during the holiday season. With an expected 1.5 million tourist arrivals by the end of 2023, the DCPO will be working in collaboration with other security agencies to maintain peace and order. The sendoff ceremony took place on November 24, and the deployment will last from November 28 to December 31 as part of the annual Pasko Fiesta. The DCPO alone has deployed around 9,000 personnel from 20 police stations, while other security personnel will come from regional government agencies. The Head of the Public Safety and Security Office assured the public that the city has tight security measures in place, minimizing the risk of terrorism. The City Government of Davao has allocated a budget of P42 million for the Pasko Fiesta, anticipating a grand Christmas celebration for the Dabawenyos......»»
Come hell, high water,Christmas comes
Despite challenges from inflation and other difficulties because of the geopolitical shifts, Filipinos still look forward to celebrating Christmas on expectations of bonuses and the observance of family traditions. Based on historical data, Kantar, the world’s leading marketing data and analytics company, expects households to increase their spendings on food and beverage during the holidays compared to ordinary months. “The Christmas spirit is felt as early as September. Spending in the fast-moving consumer goods typically starts in December when Filipinos receive additional disposable income through their 13th month pay and other incentives,” Nino Nierva, account director, Worldpanel Division, Kantar Philippines, said. “What we’ve observed, based on our analyses of the spending habits of over 5,000 households’ year-on-year, is that Filipinos spend mostly on food and beverage items from December to January versus the rest of the year.” There is a spending uplift of 7 percent in the total FMCG segment during the height of the Christmas season last year, or from December 2022 to January 2023, compared to other months, or from February to November. This translates to approximately P6 billion more spent every month within the holiday period. Specifically, Filipinos spent 11 percent more on food and 9 percent more on beverage categories during the holidays. This trend also extends to dairy products (6 percent higher), which include all-purpose cream and condensed milk that are key ingredients of fruit salad, a staple Christmas dessert in the country. In contrast, the health and beauty category takes a back seat during this same period based on a 4 percent decline in growth last year, according to Kantar’s study. Season of eating, shopping Data from Kantar further showed that holiday feasts must-haves will continue to take-over the shopping baskets of Filipinos in the remaining months of the year. These items, which registered significant growth in December 2022, are expected to remain a priority for households. These are spreads (up 34 percent), canned fruits (up 25 percent), alcoholic beverages (up 24 percent), noodles and pasta sauces (up 21 percent), lechon sauce (up 17 percent), condensed milk (up 9 percent), mayonnaise (up 8 percent), and all-purpose cream (up 6 percent). However, Kantar notes that inflation continues to impact FMCG in terms of pack size and brand choices. In particular, households, strapped for cash, may buy less holiday meal staples like pasta sauces or cheese, and may choose to purchase more affordable brands of canned fruits, all-purpose cream and noodles. Tight budget not a problem While Filipinos continue to patronize sari-sari stores, they will still visit hypermarkets, supermarkets and groceries to check their options during the holiday season. According to Kantar, Filipinos still buy from sari-sari stores and they spend an average of P1,309 per month during the holidays. This is followed by hyper and supermarkets where 7 out of 10 homes visit the channel with an average monthly spend of P1,559. Aside from their own purchases, households will likewise make extra room in their pantry for FMCG products that they receive as gifts. The post Come hell, high water,Christmas comes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Universal Health Care Coordinating Council to be created
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the proposal to establish the Universal Health Care Coordinating Council responsible for supervising the execution of the UHC Act to fix the country’s fragmented healthcare infrastructure. In a Malacañang Press Briefing, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said the council will function as a platform for addressing pertinent issues that could arise during the execution of the UHC legislation. "The President approved the Department of Health’s proposal of creating a Universal Health Care Coordinating Council through an executive order. So, we would be crafting and drafting this," Herbosa said. "We will standardize the health policies. The council will serve as a national governance body that will oversee the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act nationwide, the project and estimate total national cost for UHC and also implementation of the Universal Health Care at local government level," he said. Herbosa said that the council would consist of various government agencies. These include the Department of Health, the Departments of Interior and Local Government, Information and Communications Technology, Budget and Management, and Finance, in addition to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and the Professional Regulation Commission, among others. Furthermore, Herbosa emphasized that any concerns or issues arising in the implementation of the UHC Act can also be raised before this governing body. Herbosa pointed out that the Local Government Code of 1991 had decentralized the country's healthcare system, which the UHC Act has been striving to reintegrate since its enactment. He also mentioned that a total of 71 local government units have committed to amalgamating their healthcare schemes with the UHC system. Herbosa further mentioned that President Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of the Interior and Local Government to accelerate the evaluation of Executive Order (EO) No. 138 and include certain elements of it in the reforms for Universal Health Care financing through amendments. Executive Order 138 was issued by Marcos' predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte, in 2021 to implement the Mandanas Ruling of the Supreme Court. This ruling declared that local government units (LGUs) should receive 40 percent of all government tax collections, not limited to national internal revenue taxes. “So, the Department of Health is very pleased with the President has given full support to the department’s vision of transforming the healthcare system of the Filipino through the Universal Health Care Act,” Herbosa said......»»
SC denies Senate certiorari petition
To maintain the separation of powers between the three departments of the government, the Court cannot exercise a power that belongs to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. This was stated in an SC en banc decision penned by Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, denying the petition for certiorari and prohibition filed by the Senate of the Philippines challenging the constitutionality of a memorandum issued by then President Rodrigo Duterte. In 2021, the SBRC started an investigation on the budget utilization of the Department of Health following a report from the Commission on Audit that there was a deficiency of P67,322,186,570.57 in public funds intended for the government’s Covid-19 response. The committee then conducted hearings on the following matters: the DoH’s underutilization of its 2020 budget; the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines by local government units; unspent funds, misstatements, irregularities, and deficiencies of the DoH, as found by CoA; and payment claims issues between the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and private hospitals. Concerned officials from the executive department, including then DoH Secretary Francisco Duque lll, attended the hearings. But then Pesident Duterte, through Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, stopped the executive officials from attending the hearings, by issuing a memorandum dated 4 October 2021 directing all officials and employees of the Executive Department to cease attending the SBRC hearings on the government’s disbursement of the Covid-19 funds. The Memorandum also asserted that the SBRC inquiry has turned into a preliminary investigation of sorts meant to identify the persons allegedly liable for irregularities that existing statutes already defined and punish. It claimed that the SBRC has stepped into the mandates of other branches of government. Viewing the memorandum as an obstruction to the Senate’s constitutional function to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation, Senate Resolution 131 was passed, authorizing the filing of the present petition before the Court. In denying the Senate’s petition, the Court found that it failed to meet the requisites for a petition for certiorari to prosper. The post SC denies Senate certiorari petition appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marawi Port rehab almost complete — PPA
The Philippine Ports Authority on Friday said the rehabilitation of the PPA-regulated Marawi Port in Lanao Del Sur is almost complete, in time for the Marawi Liberation Anniversary next year. According to PPA spokesperson Eunice Samonte, the reconstruction of Marawi Port to date is at 70 percent. The port was totally devastated during the Marawi siege in September 2017. “Regarding the improvements and developments in Marawi port, Phase I of the project is expected to be completed by February 2024, hence, it will be fully operational by October 2024,” Samonted said. On the other hand, she said the ongoing MRRP-Port Facilities (civil works) Project at Port of Marawi (MAA-Sector 8), Marawi City, Lanao del Sur is a new port construction developed through the Task Force Bangon Marawi initiative by the Office of the President for the recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of the city of Marawi affected by the fighting between government forces and the Islamic State. “The project covers the construction of facilities such as a backup area of about 8,000 square meters, a one-story Passenger Terminal Building (with 132 seating capacity) of about 265 sq.m., a one-story fish port, and a berthing facility for Fastcraft and a RoRo ramp,” she said. In addition, prior to the implementation of the project, the only existing facility in the Port of Marawi is a causeway that is being used by the fish folks, Samonte said. In 2021, the PPA, through the General Appropriations Act for 2021, received P242,750,191.04 approved budget for the contract payments under the contract for the civil works (of) the Port of Marawi (Most Affected Area — Sector 8), Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. The post Marawi Port rehab almost complete — PPA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
On tight Christmas budget? Gabbi Garcia gives thrifty tips
Here is a rundown of Christmas gift ideas, from Korean star Lee Min-ho's stylish pick to Gabbi Garcia's surprising yet practical beauty gift ideas. .....»»
Jimmy Santos kalit nga mibisita sa ‘E.A.T.’ , Dabarkads nahimong emosyonal
Gisorpresa sa beteranong kumedyante nga si Jimmy Santos ang iyang mga kanhi kauban sa “Eat Bulaga” nga “E.A.T.” na karon nga makita sa TV5. Nakalitan ang mga audience apil na ang mga Legit Dabarkads nga naa sa studio sa “E.A.T.” apil na sila si Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Paolo Ballesteros, Ryzza Mae Dizon ug Allan K. Ang pagbisita ni Jimmy sa noontime show niadtong adlaw nga Sabado, Oktubre 14, kabahin sa selebrasyon sa 77th birthday ni Joey. Sa “Gimme 5” segment sa “E.A.T.” gipaila-ila ni Wally Bayola si Jimmy isip si Daddy Ethan, ang driver sa bag-ong Legit Dabarkads nga si Atasha Muhlach para sa ilang skit. Makita ang pagkakurat sa tanan sa dihang mi-gawas si Jimmy nga mura og wala gyud matiguwang. Nahimo usab nga emosyonal sila si Paolo, Allan K, Wally, ug Bossing Vic sa pagbisita ni Jimmy sa studio aron personal nga motimbaya kang Joey. “Happy birthday. Alam mo naman na hindi kita makalimutan,” sey ni Jimmy nga nag bitbit pa og cake. “Nakatambay lang ako e, tapos naimbitahan akong mag-drive. Okay din,” dugang ni Jimmy. Gipangayuan ni Vic si Jimmy sa iyang birthday message para sa Henyo Master. Sey ni Jimmy, “I’d like to greet you a happy, happy, happy birthday. Whatever happens in this country, I still love you all three times a day.” Dugang niya, “Especially those people surrounding the vicinity, I miss you all. Thank you very much. Still, ‘Eat Bulaga’ is here to stay.” Dali siya nga gikoreksiyonan ni Bossing Vic sa iyang paghisgot sa “Eat Bulaga”, “Mali, ‘E.A.T.’! Wala kang kupas.” Giusab ni Jimmy ang iyang gi-sulti, “E.A.T. pala is here to stay. Thank you so much!” Katapusan nga nakita si Jimmy sa original nga “Eat Bulaga” niadtong 2021 sa Christmas episode ng “Bawal Judgmental.” Bisan og tua na siya sa Canada, makita gihapon si Jimmy sa iyang mga fans sa mga vlog nga iyang gi-post sa iyang YouTube channel. ALSO READ: Jimmy Santos ‘nangalakal’ sa Canada, ibinandera ang halaga ng pagre-recycle.....»»
Bong Go to DTI: More livelihood opportunities for poor
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go expressed his support for the proposed budget for the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and its attached agencies during the Senate Finance sub-committee hearing on Tuesday, 3 October. He however appealed to the concerned agencies of government, particularly DTI, to address rising prices of commodities, mitigate the impact of inflation, and provide more livelihood opportunities for the poor to help them recover from the pandemic and other recent crises. “Bigyan po ninyo ng mas maraming oportunidad na makabangon ang mga mahihirap. Ang maayos na kabuhayan ang isa sa mga magiging susi sa pagginhawa ng pamumuhay ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino,” he explained. “Trabaho po ng DTI na bantayan rin ang mga presyo ng bilihin lalo na ngayon na lumalala ang inflation. Bagamat hindi natin kontrolado ang global factors na nagdudulot nito, sikapin dapat ng gobyerno na pagaanin ang hirap na dinadala ng ating mga kababayang pinakanangangailangan,” he appealed. Go’s stance comes in the wake of the recent Pulse Asia survey, conducted from 10 to 14 September, which showed that poverty and inflation were identified as two of the most pressing concerns. It is for this reason that the senator has urged the government to prioritize the creation of better job opportunities as a crucial step towards alleviating the suffering of the people and stabilizing the country's economy. “Nais kong iparating ang aking suporta para sa proposed budget at mga programa ng DTI. Ang DTI ay may malaking papel sa pagpapalago ng ating ekonomiya at pagpapabuti ng kalagayan ng ating mga negosyante at manggagawa,” said Go. Through Senator Mark Villar who presided over the budget hearing, Go manifested his support for DTI as it plays a pivotal role in shaping the economic landscape of the country, considering that it is responsible for crafting and implementing policies, programs, and projects that promote a competitive and innovative business environment. “Sa pagtugon sa mga hamon ng kasalukuyang panahon, napakahalaga na maglaan tayo ng sapat na pondo para sa DTI upang maipagpatuloy nila ang kanilang mahalagang mga proyekto at programa. Sa tulong ng mga programa ng DTI, mas mapapaunlad natin ang sektor ng negosyo sa bansa at mas magkakaroon tayo ng mas maraming pagkakataon para sa trabaho at kabuhayan,” he added. Moreover, Go said that the department is entrusted with the vital task of supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that constitute the backbone of the Philippine economy. These businesses are crucial in generating employment and driving economic growth. Go highlighted Republic Act No. 11960, or the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Philippines Act. Authored and co-sponsored by Go, the OTOP Philippines Program is a government-led initiative that allows each town or city in the country to capitalize on a unique product or service that embodies its identity, culture, and traditions. “Sa tulong ng batas na ito, ating pinapalakas ang mga lokal na negosyo sa bawat bayan at siyudad sa bansa. Ipinapaabot natin sa kanila ang suporta na kinakailangan nila upang mapanatili ang kanilang operasyon at maabot ang mas malawak na merkado,” Go said, adding that by leveraging local resources, the program not only invigorates economic activities but also fosters cultural preservation. Meanwhile, Go also co-sponsored Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2021, which aims to institutionalize the Shared Service Facilities (SSF) project under DTI. The proposed measure seeks to amend RA 6977 or the Magna Carta for Small Enterprises as amended by RA 9501, also known as the Magna Carta for MSMEs. If enacted, the SSF program would offer more cost-effective solutions to MSMEs by providing access to shared facilities and services that will help them improve the quality and productivity of their products, including equipment, tools, and machinery that they can use to upgrade their production processes that are typically expensive for individual MSMEs. During the previous administration, Go advocated for the Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PPG) program which seeks to aid micro, small, and medium enterprises in crises and provide livelihood opportunities to more Filipinos. “Sa programang ito, tuturuan ang mga benepisyaryo na magnegosyo at bibigyan ng suporta para palaguin ito. Masarap sa pakiramdam kapag pinaghirapan at pinagpawisan ang iyong negosyo, napalago ito, at naiuwi sa pamilya ang kinita mula dito,” he said. He continues to support the implementation of the program to help more Filipinos in need of government support amid trying times. Last year, Go successfully appealed for the budget allocation for the PPG program during the deliberations on the 2023 budget of the DTI. “Marami pong nawalan ng trabaho, maraming nagsara na negosyo dahil po sa pandemya kaya naman napakahalagang maipagpatuloy ang programang ito,” he said. “Isa itong paraan upang maipakita natin ang ating malasakit sa mga Pilipinong apektado ng iba't ibang krisis, mula sa nakaraang pandemya hanggang sa mga kasalukuyang kalamidad, at mabigyan sila ng bagong pag-asa na magkaroon ng maayos na kabuhayan,” he added. Furthermore, Senator Go filed SBN 420, which aims to establish the Rural Employment Assistance Program (REAP) that will be operated under the purview of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). The primary objective of this proposed program is to offer temporary employment opportunities to individuals experiencing economic hardships, poverty, displacement, or seasonal unemployment. By creating such opportunities, REAP can assist those affected in achieving financial stability during challenging periods. The post Bong Go to DTI: More livelihood opportunities for poor appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Villanueva urges DA to address over 3.5K unfilled positions
The Department of Agriculture should address the lingering problem of unfilled positions in its agencies, Senate Minority Leader Joel Villanueva stressed Thursday. During the Senate’s Finance Subcommittee B hearing on the proposed 2024 budget of the DA and its attached agencies, Villanueva grilled agriculture executives over the increasing number of unfilled positions in the department from 2021 up to 2014. In his presentation, Villanueva said he number of unfilled positions has increased from 3,451 in 2021 to 3,579 a year later, in 2022. Although it went down to 3,566 in 2023 and the number remained until 2024, Villanueva lamented that the number is still higher than in 2021. “Walang diperenseya. Walang nangyari. Baka naman po ‘yung position diyan ay inutil talaga, mahirap i-fill up, mataas 'yung requirement tapos ang baba ng sweldo kaya walang naga-apply. But you let us know,” he said. Villanueva also questioned the department’s 5,765 job orders and contract of service personnel. He asked if these personnel have no chance to fill the vacant permanent positions in the department. “What would you feel if you were one of the 5,765 job order personnel? Would you be able to sleep at night or pray, hoping that the numbers would somehow change in the next two years? Is there a chance to change it?” Villanueva asked. In response, the DA officials said they are in the process of filling up the positions. DA assured the Senate that a substantial number of vacant positions will be occupied by next year. Villanueva then suggested the DA should conduct a “right-sizing” in its agency if it would really be hard for them to fill in the existing positions. The post Villanueva urges DA to address over 3.5K unfilled positions appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Approvals drop
Double-digit drops were seen in the trust and approval ratings of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, as published by Pulse Asia. These numbers may have been normal for certain officials of past administrations, but for Marcos and Duterte, these figures could be unsettling. We must be reminded that our top officials were elected by the majority of the voting public in a virtual landslide against their competition. Further, this steep decline was not realized by our previous populist president. Thus, this should be taken seriously by our leaders. President Marcos Jr. downplayed the decline, saying he was “not surprised” by it. He correctly pointed out that among the reasons for the drop would be the government’s failure to lower the price of rice — a campaign promise often repeated. Another reason could be his concurrent holding of the Agriculture Secretary position, which is a delicate Cabinet post since it relates directly to bringing food to the table of every Filipino. Rice matters in the Filipino household. The United States Department of Agriculture reported that the Philippines is now the world’s top rice importer, overtaking China. According to its report titled “Grain: World Markets and Trade,” the USDA projected that the Philippines would reach 3.8 million metric tons of rice imports for the marketing year 2023-2024, compared to China’s decreased projection of 3.5 million MT. This is a sad statistic, considering the Philippines used to be known as a leading rice producer, even the go-to country for our neighbors to learn about rice production. Our Banaue Rice Terraces is a heritage and tourist site that may very well belong in a museum since rice irrigation may be a thing of the past. Food security was a campaign promise that should be endeavored to be achieved. There is no rice crisis because of the incessant importation of rice by prominent businessmen, but it has become difficult to encourage other investors to put their capital into rice farming. The government should provide the answer by incentivizing farmers and businesses to invest in rice farming, but all this is easier said than done. As for our Vice President, her ratings drop should be related to the controversial confidential and intelligence funds she defended heavily in the budget hearings. I cannot fathom a worthy explanation for why the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education should have P650 million in these funds without proper accounting and explanation. As for the reported realignment of these funds by the House of Representatives to agencies tasked with the protection of our national sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, we are still waiting to see if this will happen after it hurdles the Senate and is later signed by the President. The ratings drop may be ignored, but it’s continuing cannot be risked. The ratings can be expected to rise, especially if the surveys are taken during the Christmas season when the Filipino nation becomes forgiving. The leadership should take concrete action on how to cause an uptick, such as by providing concrete solutions to the promises made during the campaign. If something can be learned from former President Rodrigo Duterte, it would help to be very visible locally to show your genuine and sincere compassion and empathy for your countrymen. But as I have written before, it is unfair to compare two leaders with varying styles. Let’s trust our President, and he has the privilege of time to make a huge turnaround. For comments, email him at darren.dejesus@gmail.com. The post Approvals drop appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»