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Senate President Francis Escudero and Speaker Martin Romualdez assured the timely passage of House Bill 10800, the General Appropriations Bill (GAB), which outlines the proposed P6.352-trillion national budget for 2025. Romualdez, during a Palace briefing, confirmed that the GAB would be submitted for third and final reading by Wednesday night (last week), making it ready for swift transmission to the …

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has given the green light for the inclusion of 10 Enlisted Men’s Barrios (EMBO) barangays in the two legislative and councilor districts of Taguig City. In a resolution issued on September 25, the Commission en banc approved recommendations from the Election Records and Statistics Department (ERSD) and the Office of the Deputy Executive Director for …

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is advocating for a reorganization of water management in the country through the establishment of a Department of Water Resources. “It’s a department because we aim to reorganize everything. Initially, we intended to overhaul the entire water management process in the Philippines. However, due to the pressing challenges posed by climate change, we must focus …

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) renewed its appeal recently for the immediate release of the MV Galaxy Leader crew, who have been held captive by the Houthi group since November 2023. The call coincided with the observance of the 2024 World Maritime Day, emphasizing the crucial role that Filipino seafarers play in promoting “global peace and prosperity.” “We take …

A police officer has implicated former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma in the 2020 assassination of board secretary and retired general Wesley Barayuga. During the seventh hearing of the House of Representatives Quad Committee on alleged extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration, Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza of the Police Drug Enforcement Group revealed that he was contacted …

The recent completion of the Panguil Bay Bridge in Mindanao is a shining example of how infrastructure development can serve as a catalyst for economic growth in the Philippines. As the country’s longest sea-crossing bridge, it drastically reduces travel time between Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental, improving connectivity and opening new opportunities for trade, tourism, and investment in previously …

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has formed a technical working group (TWG) aimed at enhancing its regulatory oversight of traditional medicines and health supplements.  The new task force, known as “Taskforce Thomson,” will be responsible for crafting policies and regulations in line with existing laws, rules, and regulations to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of these products. Taskforce …

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has approved an ordinance updating the incentives provided to medium and large enterprises as part of ongoing efforts to further propel the city’s economic growth and development. Belmonte signed Ordinance No. SP-3296, S-2024, amending Ordinance No. SP-2219, S-2013, to offer better and more customized fiscal incentive packages to medium to large businesses in the city. …

By Rose de la Cruz As inflation cooled to 3.3 percent in August (from 4.4 percent in July), government’s optimism of better days ahead for the economy might just be dampened with food prices expected to rise bigtime during the Christmas season brought about by the heavy holiday demand for family and corporate gatherings. Inflation cooled because of cheaper food, …

By Rose de la Cruz With the Philippine Senate’s ratification of the Free Trade Agreement with South Korea, not only would exporters of fruits like bananas and pineapples benefit from the trade accord but investments from SK would also flow in. At least this is what is contained in the FTA that both countries signed in September last year. What …