16 Disyembre,2024 Lunes

15 days to 2025, Merry Christmas

Happy 21st anniversary, Servants of God in Jesus Christ Christian Ministries Incorporated, Rev. Nestor Sadim, Rev. Manuel Soliman, Director Jorge Lopez

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Hse quad comm probes Duterte drug war, EJKs

By Nidz Godino

“For  past 12 hearings, we have heard various testimonies of victims, their families,  police, involved personalities who admitted their roles and participation,  cause-oriented groups, and those whose lives have changed forever due to  irreversible misstep they took that cost them their freedom,” quad comm, led by its lead chairman Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said  House of Representatives was kept busy in 2024, dealing both with political drama and innovations in its legislative function,  biggest move  lower chamber made for the year was  creation of quad committee,  combination of  House committees on dangerous drugs, public accounts, public order and safety and human rights.

Quad  comm’s investigation focused on  war on drugs of former president Rodrigo Duterte;  extrajudicial killings (EJKs) of thousands suspected of involvement in illegal drugs; and Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs), used by Chinese nationals for criminal activities including cyberscams, human trafficking, kidnap-for-ransom, torture and money-laundering.

Aside from  quad comm’s creation, another big step for  House in 2024 was  investigation initiated by  committee on good government and public accountability chaired by Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua.

Chua’s committee focused its investigation into Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds of  Office of the Vice President (OVP) and  Department of Education (DepEd), when she was still its secretary.

Quad  comm, led by Barbers conducted its first joint public hearings on EJKs, POGOs and war on drugs on Aug. 16 at Villa Bacolor Convention Center in Bacolor, Pampanga.

Quad  comm was authorized to conduct  comprehensive joint investigation into  possible connection between illegal POGOs, illegal drugs, EJKs and human rights violations in the course of former president Duterte’s bloody drug war.

Among  resource persons first invited to  quad comm’s first hearing were officials from  Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine Statistics Authority, Department of Foreign Affairs and Bureau of Internal Revenue.

Quad  comm likewise invited former Bureau of Customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban to shed light on his submitted affidavit.

It also invited as resource persons former president Duterte, Senators Ronald dela Rosa, supposedly the chief architect of  drug war and Bong Go,  right-hand man and personal assistant of the former president to shed light on the issue.

Only Duterte appeared before  quad comm while Dela Rosa and Go consistently refused to attend  hearings.

Retired police colonel and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Royina Garma, believed to be personally close to Duterte, testified before  quad comm and revealed that Duterte administration implemented  “reward system” for killers of drug personalities.

Reward  money allegedly ranged from P10,000 to P1 million, depending on  level of  importance of the person to be killed.

During his testimony before  quad comm, Duterte denied  reward and quota system, but admitted that he himself had killed around six to seven people during his war against criminal elements in Davao City while he was still its mayor.

During its 13th and last hearing for the year on Dec. 12,  quad comm issued  yearend summary of its findings that includes some of  proposed measures  resulted from its investigations.

Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales listed  house bills that were crafted as  result of  hearings: HB 10986, or  proposed law on Classifying EJK as  Heinous Crime; HB 10987, proposed Anti-Offshore Gaming Operations Act; HB 10998,  proposed Espionage Law of 2024; HB 11043,  proposed Civil Forfeiture Act; and HB 11117,  proposed Fraudulent Birth Certificate Cancellation Law.

Gonzales recalled calling for creation of  quad comm when he delivered  privilege speech on Aug. 5 following  apparent links in  investigations into  P3.6 billion worth of shabu seized in Mexico, Pampanga; P1.3 billion worth of shabu discovered in Mabalacat City, Pampanga, and illegal activities linked to POGOs.

He vowed  quad comm  will continue its work in January with even greater focus and determination, “Today, we only end  inquiry for the year; but we are already preparing for next year.”

Quad comm vice chair and Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop seconded Gonzales’ commitment.

Acop presented  report titled “A Tale of Two Shipments,” featuring  arrival in the country in 2017 of metal cylinders containing P6.4 billion worth of illegal drugs and  shipment in the country in 2018 of magnetic lifters containing P3.4 billion worth of illegal drugs.

It showed two shipments both arrived at  Manila International Container Port and allegedly involved some personalities.

During its meeting,  quad comm cited in contempt former PDEA chief Wilkins Villanueva, would be implemented when session resumes on Jan. 13, 2025.

Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Paduano reminded Villanueva of his right to file  motion to lift contempt order on him.

Also cited in contempt was police Col. Hector Grijaldo, who did not attend  hearing despite  quad comm’s repeated invitation.

Quad  comm also lifted  contempt orders issued on Cassandra Ong, who filed  motion to lift  contempt and detention orders on her as she is sick and cannot be detained at the Correctional Institution for Women, which doctors of  CIW and  House confirmed that she is not fit to attend and withstand  congressional hearings; Alice Guo, now detained at the Pasig City Jail; Tony Yang, who is detained under custody of  Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission, sick and currently confined at  St. Luke’s Medical Hospital in Taguig; and police Maj. Leo Laraga, under  custody of  Quezon City Jail.

Barbers would be presenting before  House plenary its initial report dubbed as “quad comm’s progress report” anytime this week.

One of the most striking incidents that left  mark not only on congressmen, but also on the country and international community was when  desperate Vice President Duterte invaded  Batasang Pambansa complex by locking herself up at Room 304 of her brother Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte.

Interestingly, the Vice President claimed  she would stay in the room of her brother until her chief of staff at  OVP, lawyer Zuleika Lopez, is given justice and released from detention at House detention facility.

Lopez was ordered detained for contempt by Chua’s committee after she repeatedly “lied and evaded to give direct answers” to  members of the committee investigating real meaning of her letter to  Commission on Audit asking it not to provide any documents pertaining to its use of  P500-million OVP and P112.5-million DepEd confidential funds, respectively.

The Vice President has consistently refused to recognize and attend  hearings of Chua’s committee.

What made matters worse was when the Vice President went on  Zoom press conference with members of  media covering  OVP threatening to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez while claiming that her own life was under threat.

Kill  threat made by the Vice President is now  subject of investigation by  NBI.

Akbayan and the Makabayan party-list bloc in the chamber have filed separate impeachment complaints against  Vice President based on  pieces of evidence and testimonies from  resource people,  appeared in both  investigation conducted by quad comm and Chua’s committee.

Chua explained  ending  probe would allow  Armed Forces of the Philippines to conduct its investigation into allegations that two military officers received portions of  confidential funds from Duterte’s offices.

16 Disyembre,2024 Lunes

15 days to 2025, Merry Christmas

Happy 21st anniversary, Servants of God in Jesus Christ Christian Ministries Incorporated, Rev. Nestor Sadim, Rev. Manuel Soliman, Director Jorge Lopez

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Headlines

FMJ to fix DepEd budget cut – Angara

By Nidz Godino

“This, despite the President’s SONA ,State of the Nation Address where he asked Congress to help bridge  digital divide,” Department of Education, (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara said  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.has vowed to turn things around for DepEd, after both chambers of Congress cut DepEd’s proposed 2025 budget by P12 billion.

In  statement, Angara lamented how lawmakers’ “promises and nice words” had led to budget cuts that he said could derail  DepEd’s flagship computerization program.

Angara said  budget cut was  deviation from common practice among lawmakers to increase President’s proposed budget for education.

“In past years, Congress has increased the President’s proposed budget for DepEd and education…for whatever reason, nakalulungkot na hindi ito mauulit sa 2025 budget, pero ang maganda dito, mismong si President Bongbong ang nagsabi sa aming reremedyohan niya ito,” Angara said.

Bicameral  conference committee last week reduced to P737 billion, from P748.65 billion,  DepEd’s 2025 funding allocation in  reconciled version of  General Appropriations Bill (GAB).

Of the amount cut, P10 billion will be slashed from  DepEd’s computerization program,  aims to provide public schools with gadgets, equipment, software and training for teachers and students.

Meanwhile, public school teachers said  cuts were contradictory to  government’s commitment to deal with  learning crisis.

“Decision to slash P12 billion from  DepEd’s budget for 2025 amidst  ongoing learning crisis starkly contradicts  government’s commitment to prioritizing education, as mandated by  Constitution,”  Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) said.

Coalition chairman Benjo Basas said  budget cuts on computerization program would be  disservice to Filipino students, as  deficit could have been used to fill  massive digital gaps in public schools.

“By deprioritizing this initiative, Congress risks exacerbating existing inequalities and leaving millions of students unprepared for  demands of  modern, technology-driven world,” TDC said.

Basas said  reduction also delivers  blow to  welfare of public school teachers “already overworked, underpaid, and often forced to shoulder classroom expenses out of their own pockets due to insufficient government support…teachers and learners are  lifeblood of  education system, yet their welfare is too often sidelined in favor of programs with limited impact or, at times, purely controversial…stakeholders must unite to demand  higher education budget  genuinely addresses  sector’s needs… welfare of teachers, who form  backbone of the system, and learners, who represent its future must never be compromised,” TDC added.

House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro strongly condemned  Marcos administration’s P12-billion budget cut for DepEd, calling it  clear manifestation of  government’s anti-education and anti-poor policies.

Castro said students, teachers and education support personnel should not be made to suffer due to anomalies committed by Vice President and former DepEd secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio.

The House committee on good government and public accountability is investigating Duterte for her alleged misuse of  confidential funds of Office of the Vice President (OVP) and DepEd when she was still its secretary.

“This budget cut is completely unacceptable and shows where this administration’s priorities truly lie…instead of working towards  UN-recommended education budget of six percent of GDP,  Marcos Jr. administration is doing  opposite by slashing vital education funds, how can we resolve  learning crisis if there is  cut in the budget for education… P10 billion cut in computerization program is  big loss to our students who are desperate to cope with  digital age,” Castro said.

The progressive lawmaker pointed out that while  previous leadership of DepEd was marred with controversies,  solution is not to punish  entire education sector through budget cuts.

“Students, teachers and education support personnel must not suffer because of  anomalies committed by  former secretary Duterte…  answer to corruption is not to decrease funding, but to strengthen accountability measures and increase support for our learners,” Castro said.

For his part, former ACT Teachers party-list representative and now its first nominee Antonio Tinio said  “P10-billion cut from  computerization program would have provided thousands of students access to digital learning tools…this administration talks about economic recovery, but how can we achieve that when we’re compromising our children’s future, we demand  immediate restoration of  P12 billion budget cut, and call for  significant increase in education funding…education is  right, not  privilege,if there is  fund for confidential funds and infrastructure projects, there must be  fund for education of our youth,” he added.

Meanwhile, Makati 2nd District Rep. Luis Campos Jr. has welcomed the President’s directive to increase from P18,000 to P20,000  Service Recognition Incentive (SRI) for  country’s 1,011,800 public school teachers and non-teaching staff.

In  statement, Campos, vice chairman of  House committee on appropriations, said  increase in SRI for DepEd employees can be adequately funded by existing allocations in  2024 national budget, including  Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF).

“We are all for  grant of additional cash incentives and allowances to our teachers and non-teaching staff in recognition of their hard work and to help them cope with  rising cost of living,” he said.

Campos said  MPBF , lumpsum allocation in the budget  can be used to fund deficiencies in  authorized salaries, bonuses, allowances and similar personnel benefits of national government employees.

“Our estimate is that only around P2 billion is needed to cover  increase in  SRI of our teachers and non-teaching staff from P18,000 to P20,000 each,” he said.

Campos said  MPBF has  allocation of P29.7 billion in  2024 national budget, and another P163.3 billion in  proposed 2025 GAB that Marcos is set to sign on Dec. 20.

He said he has been batting for  payment of higher cash benefits to teachers to supplement their basic salaries.

The Makati congressman is the author of House Bill 7840,  seeks to raise to P3,000  World Teacher’s Day Incentive Benefit that honors those engaged in  teaching profession.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman previously said her office will ascertain  funding mechanisms to finalize  release of  money for  SRI of DepEd personnel.

15 Disyembre,2024 Linggo

16 days to 2025, Merry Christmas

Happy 21st anniversary, Servants of God in Jesus Christ Christian Ministries Incorporated, Rev. Nestor Sadim, Rev. Manuel Soliman, Director Jorge Lopez

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Veloso to be moved to Jakarta for transfer process

By Nidz Godino

“Ngayong araw na ito nakatakda ang pag-biyahe ni Mary Jane papuntang Jakarta para simulan ang proceso ng kanyang pag-transfer sa Pilipinas, alinsunod sa utos ng Indonesian Ministry for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections,”  Veloso family’s statement read, citing  Department of Foreign Affairs, Celia and Cesar Veloso said their visit to Mary Jane in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, has been postponed as she is expected to be transferred to the country’s capital.

Drug trafficking convict Mary Jane Veloso is set to be transferred to Jakarta as part of the process to return her to Philippines, her family confirmed on Sunday, December 15.

However, no definite date has been set for Mary Jane’s return to  Philippines.

“Kami, mga magulang at anak ni Mary Jane ay nanghihinayang na hindi kami matutuloy sa pagbisita kay Mary Jane dahil napaghandaan po namin ito at nasasabik namin siyang makasama makalipas ng isang taon mula ng huli naming bisita sa kanya,” Mary Jane’s parents statement read. 

 “Gayunpaman, kami ay masayang masaya dahil malapit na ang pag uwi ni Mary Jane sa ating bansa,” the kin stressed. 

Mary Jane’s family was scheduled for  “compassionate visit” to Mary Jane from December 16 to 18,  would have been their first time seeing her after 14 years of imprisonment.

On November 20, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced Mary Jane would return to the country after years of incarceration in Indonesia.

On December 10, Marcos also revealed  Indonesian government had urged  Philippine government to refrain from making any announcements about Mary Jane until  formal agreement was reached.

Indonesian government further said  Marcos would have  authority to pardon Mary Jane upon her return.

Mary Jane was arrested in 2010 on drug trafficking charges.

In 2015, she was granted  last-minute stay of execution after her recruiter surrendered to authorities, following  appeal from late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

15 Disyembre,2024 Linggo

16 days to 2025, Merry Christmas

Happy 21st anniversary, Servants of God in Jesus Christ Christian Ministries Incorporated, Rev. Nestor Sadim, Rev. Manuel Soliman, Director Jorge Lopez

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

SoKor president impeached over ML debacle

By Nidz Godino

“Today’s impeachment is the great victory of people,” opposition Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae said following vote South Korean lawmakers  impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed martial law bid, with  opposition declaring  “victory of the people.”

Vote  took place as hundreds of thousands took to  streets of Seoul in rival rallies for and against Yoon, who launched  failed attempt to impose martial law on Dec. 3.

Out of 300 lawmakers, 204 voted to impeach the president on allegations of insurrection while 85 voted against. Three abstained, with eight votes nullified.

With  impeachment, Yoon has been suspended from office while South Korea’s Constitutional Court deliberates on vote.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is now  nation’s interim leader.

Court  now has 180 days to rule on Yoon’s future.

Two hundred votes were needed for  impeachment to pass, and opposition lawmakers needed to convince at least eight parliamentarians from Yoon’s conservative People Power Party (PPP) to switch sides.

Seoul police official told media at least 200,000 people had massed outside parliament in support of removing the president.

On the other side of Seoul near Gwanghwamun square, police estimated 30,000 had rallied in support of Yoon, blasting patriotic songs and waving South Korean and American flags.

The South Korean president has vowed to fight on and doubled down on unsubstantiated claims  opposition is in league with  country’s communist foes.

Main  opposition Democratic Party  said ahead of  vote that impeachment was  “only way” to “safeguard  Constitution,  rule of law, democracy and South Korea’s future.”

“We can no longer endure Yoon’s madness,” spokeswoman Hwang Jung-a said.

At the rally outside parliament supporting impeachment, volunteers gave out free hand warmers  to fight  sub-zero temperatures, as well as coffee and food.

K-pop singer Yuri of the band Girl’s Generation  whose song “Into the New World” has become  protest anthem   had pre-paid for food for fans attending  demonstration.

“Stay safe and take care of your health!” she said on  superfan chat platform.

One protester  had rented  bus so parents at the rally would have  place to change diapers and feed their babies.

Another said they had initially planned to spend their Saturday hiking.

If  Constitutional Court backs his removal, Yoon would become second president in South Korean history to be successfully impeached.

But there is also precedent for  court to block impeachment. In 2004, then-president Roh Moo-hyun was removed by parliament for alleged election law violations and incompetence, but  Constitutional Court later reinstated him.

Court  currently only has six judges, meaning their decision must be unanimous.

Yoon has remained unapologetic and defiant as  fallout from his disastrous martial law declaration has deepened and  investigation into his inner circle has widened.

His approval rating  never very high  has plummeted to 11 percent, according to  Gallup Korea poll released on Friday.

Same  poll showed  75 percent now support his impeachment.

15 Disyembre,2024 Linggo

17 days to 2025, Merry Christmas

Happy 21st anniversary, Servants of God in Jesus Christ Christian Ministries Incorporated, Rev. Nestor Sadim, Rev. Manuel Soliman, Director Jorge Lopez

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

‘Pinay’, 3rd most-searched term on Pornhub — yearend data

By Cynthia Montojo

“Pinay” rose to  third-highest spot on adult entertainment website Pornhub’s most-searched terms list, according to its latest yearend data.

“Pinay” moved up two spots as it overtook “lesbian” while last year’s No. 4 “Japanese” dropped to No. 8. For the fourth consecutive year, the most-searched term was “hentai” coming ahead of “MILF.”

Pornhub attributes  rise of “Pinay” to increasing number of viewers coming from the Philippines,  dropped one spot to third on  list of countries with  most amount of traffic to  website.

France just barely overtook  Philippines on that list likely because of  number of visitors and athletes that were at  Paris Olympics.

Philippines saw  major drop in time spent per visit on website, going from top spot with 11 minutes and 15 seconds to No. 14 with 9 minutes and 1 second. Mexico regained the top spot as the only country this year with over 11 minutes.

Philippines still had  biggest proportion of female viewers as Filipina viewers at 59%, with Argentina, only other country where there were more female viewers (51%) than male.

When it comes to age, nearly half of viewers are 18 to 24 years old while 28% of viewers are 25 to 34 years old. The remaining 27% are viewers aged 35 and above.

Around 97% of viewers in the Philippines use Pornhub on their phones,  1% increase that still makes it highest percentage out of any country this year.

Similar to processed data last year, site found  27.2% drop in Philippine traffic on January 15,  when Cebu’s Sinulog Festival was celebrated this year, compared to average day.

“Twink,” “anime,” and “Pinoy” are still  three most-searched terms on PornhubGay.

Most-searched terms in the Philippines are still “Pinay,” “Pinoy,” “Japanese,” and “hentai,” with “anime” rounding up the Top 5 after rising three spots.

Interestingly, “pinay dirty talk” and “hentai anime” saw big jumps as they rose 18 and 12 spot respectively to finish as Nos. 8 and 9.

“Hentai” overtook “Japanese” as  most-viewed porn category in the Philippines while “Reality” sneaked in ahead of “Asian” and “Lesbian.”

Site  also had insights for Relative Categories and Trending Searches, or when users in  country have viewed  particular category and searched trends more compared to the rest of the world.

Users in the Philippines viewed videos of “Reality,” “Hentai,” and “Korean” a whopping 642%, 465%, and 278% more than the rest of the world, respectively.

Searches  also churned out big numbers in the Philippines: 668% for “beautiful sex,” 623% for “extreme squirting,” 520% for “hot Asian big tits,” 403% for “best friend’s wife,” and 349% for “Japanese nurse.”

Lexi Lore and Johnny Sins returned as pornstars most viewed by Filipinos after missing last year’s Top 5. Also joining them are local adult star Sharinami, Eva Elfie, and Alex Adams.

Eva, Alex, and Johnny all made  most-searched pornstars Top 10 at Nos. 5 to 7 in succession. Lexi was at No. 20 which was a 12-spot increase from last year, and was the second-highest riser behind Sara Blonde who went up 19 spots to No. 12.

TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

Luke 1:30-33

³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

15 Disyembre,2024 Linggo

16 days to 2025, Merry Christmas

Happy 21st anniversary, Servants of God in Jesus Christ Christian Ministries Incorporated, Rev. Nestor Sadim, Rev. Manuel Soliman, Director Jorge Lopez

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Headlines

Slashing  of DepEd’s 2025 budget justified

By Nidz Godino

“Secretary Angara may argue that education funding is sacrosanct, but Congress cannot keep throwing good money after bad…this is not about depriving education; it’s about ensuring proper fund use and accountability,” 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez said House of Representatives has stood firm on slashing P10 billion from  Department of Education (DepEd)’s 2025 computerization budget, calling out  agency’s alleged glaring inefficiency and fund mismanagement.

Dismissed  objections of DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara,  earlier criticized lawmakers for  budget cut.

 “While it’s unfortunate that Sec. Sonny inherited  problems and scandals left behind by his predecessor, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, Sec. Angara knows that  law is clear: unused funds must be accounted for before new allocations can be made, now that he’s education secretary, he should focus on fixing DepEd’s internal mess instead of crying foul about budget decisions,” he said.

Citing DepEd’s poor track record, the lawmaker pointed to  Commission on Audit (COA) report,  revealed DepEd’s disbursement of only P2.075 billion of its P11.36-billion 2023 budget for ICT equipment.

“This isn’t just inefficiency , it’s negligence,” Gutierrez pointed out, adding that DepEd’s failure to deliver on its mandate justifies Congress’ decision to reallocate funds.

At  budget hearing last September, DepEd ICT director Ferdinand Pitagan admitted that 12,022 laptops for teachers and 7,558 for non-teaching personnel remained undelivered by end-2023.

“And that’s just for 2023, we’re not even talking about  computerization budget for 2024 and  year is almost over,” Gutierrez said.

Critics scored department for  laptop procurement mess under Duterte’s term as DepEd chief, during  overpriced units drained resources without meeting schools’ needs.

“Excuses are wearing thin,” Gutierrez said “we know it’s extremely difficult for Secretary Angara to defend DepEd’s lack of action when  Philippines is already at rock bottom in global education rankings…  teacher-to-computer ratio of 30:1 is unacceptable and we have VP Sara to blame for it.”

Philippines ranked 76th among 81 countries in reading and mathematics in 2023 PISA assessment. Analysts argue that DepEd’s delays in delivering ICT resources have only deepened  crisis.

With  education sector in disarray, lawmakers insist  cut is not  attack on education but  wakeup call for DepEd to prioritize effective governance over bloated budgets.

With Malacañang vowing to enact  national budget program for 2025 before Christmas, Sen. Pia Cayetano  intends to question before  Supreme Court  move of  bicameral conference committee of Congress to give zero subsidy to  state insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

Cayetano said she as  lawyer would study  proposed P6.352-trillion national budget as she questioned budget cuts on key agencies like  Departments of Health and Education.

She said  bicam move to remove government subsidy for PhilHealth violates  Sin Tax Law,  mandates  portion of tax collected from vices should be used for universal health care.

“We passed  Sin Tax Law that requires that 80 percent of revenues from tobacco products and sugar-sweetened beverage must be allocated to PhilHealth…for 2025, that amount of sin tax collection is P69 billion…under  bicam, zero…by law, it is required to deliver that fund, iolation of  Sin Tax Law… I am seriously considering questioning this in  Supreme Court because that is  law that we passed,” Cayetano said.

While she understands  Senate leadership’s position that PhilHealth does not deserve government subsidy because of its unused P600 billion in reserve funds, Cayetano said  government is mandated to give support for PhilHealth’s payments of premiums for indirect contributors.

“Clearly, PhilHealth is not managing their funds properly… I’d like to believe there are improvements…but are we improving fast enough, I am just posing those questions because it has reached  point government may not fund them anymore, even though by law, they are required to be funded…we are now at stalemate,” Cayetano said.

Cayetano,  seeking reelection,  remains ally of  administration even though she is questioning  budget cuts in  2025 budget.

“I am ally of  administration… I will not say  administration is not giving education and health  priority….what I am saying is that I respect the process, I respect that there may be differences in opinions in terms of setting priorities,” Cayetano said.

She expressed disappointment that  bicam had to cut the budgets of  DOH by P25.80 billion, DepEd (P11.57 billion), Commission on Higher Education (P26.91 billion) and the University of the Philippines (P641.38 million).

“This is outside  administration…it’s  bicam process only that I am making  observation on,” she added.

Former senator Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, vowed to scrutinize  bloated budget of  Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for 2025.

Lacson said  DPWH budget increased from P900 billion in  2025 National Expenditure Program, to P1.113 trillion in  reconciled budget after Congress convened as  bicameral conference committee.

Lacson  would look into  DPWH budget if he gets elected again as senator in next year’s midterm elections.

“God willing and with  enlightened electorate, in  exercise of congressional oversight, among others, I pledge to scrutinize each and every additional item that caused  spike in  agency’s budget, among other items in  2025 General Appropriations Act,” Lacson said.

He said  DPWH is known for its poor implementation of projects and utilization of funds  secretly inserted by lawmakers.

“Assuming it comes from congressional insertions, let me reiterate my usual and oft-repeated concern about  attendant poor or lack of proper planning and vetting by  DPWH,  has  proper authority to implement these ‘whimsically inserted’ budgeted items that could very well end up in either unutilization of funds or poor implementation that will not be responsive to  needs and priorities of the country and its communities,” Lacson said.

He questioned  bicam’s move to give  whopping increase to DPWH while drastically reducing  budget of  DepEd.

Lacson said this “blatantly violates Art XIV Sec 5(5) of Constitution, declares  ‘The State shall assign  highest budgetary priority to education and ensure  teaching will attract and retain its rightful share of  best available talents through adequate remuneration and other means of job satisfaction and fulfillment.’”

He urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to use his veto power and restore DepEd’s budget and reverse DPWH’s bloated funding.

“Only the President can save the Constitution from becoming wastebasket-bound by exercising his line item veto power once  Enrolled Bill lands on his desk,” he said.

Senate finance committee chair Grace Poe earlier defended  P288.7-billion increase in  DPWH’s budget, saying there are foreign-assisted projects next year that need government funding.

While senators were critical of  DPWH’s billions of pesos worth of poorly implemented flood control projects, Poe said there are audit guidelines for monitoring DPWH projects to prevent corruption and make possible  blacklisting of unscrupulous contractors. 

14 Disyembre,2024 Sabado

17 days to 2025, Merry Christmas

Happy 21st anniversary, Servants of God in Jesus Christ Christian Ministries Incorporated, Rev. Nestor Sadim, Rev. Manuel Soliman, Director Jorge Lopez

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Headlines

Angara, teachers decry P12 B budget cut

By Creselda Canda-Lopez

“Sad to learn that both houses of Congress have decided to decrease by P12 billion  budget  President proposed for DepEd for 2025. .. reverses  trend in recent years where Congress added even more to  education budget, save for one year during pandemic,”  Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara posted on X, Secretary Sonny Angara and teachers’ groups have decried Congress’ decision to cut  DepEd’s 2025 budget by P12 billion.

Bicameral  conference committee on Wednesday reduced to P737 billion, from P748.65 billion,  DepEd’s 2025 funding allocation in  reconciled version of General Appropriations Bill (GAB).

Of the amount cut, P10 billion will be slashed from DepEd’s computerization program,  aims to provide public schools with gadgets, equipment, software and training for teachers and students.

“Infrastructure is important, but so is investing in our people and human capital… digital divide will widen,those who do not have computers will find it hard to catch up,” Angara lamented.on sidelines of his visit to public schools in Iloilo City.

DepEd will explore partnerships with private sector and non-government organizations to provide technology to public schools, Angara said.

Of  P6.352-trillion national budget for 2025, P1.1 trillion will be allocated to  Department of Public Works and Highways.

“Investing in infrastructure is very important, that’s why we have increased  funds of different agencies in relation to this,” Sen. Grace Poe said in her sponsorship speech before  bicam approved  GAB’s reconciled version.

Poe pointed out  despite  budget cut,  DepEd’s 2025 budget increased from this year’s P715.3 billion.

Utilization  rate of  computerization program is at 50 percent in 2023 and 11.92 percent as of June 2024, Poe said, citing Commission on Audit report.

DepEd budget for teaching supplies allowance has been doubled, from P4.825 billion in 2024 to P9.948 billion next year, she noted.

Teachers’ Dignity Coalition said  budget cut will widen digital divide among students and exacerbate  learning crisis following  COVID-19 pandemic.

Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) said  budget cut was alarming.

“We’re seeing suspicious increases in presidential and congressional pork barrel and unprogrammed appropriations. ..these discretionary funds conveniently balloon as we approach  2025 national elections…  timing and nature of these realignments clearly suggest political motivations rather than genuine concern for public welfare,” ACT chairman Vladimer Quetua said.

Education  budget must be increased equivalent to six percent of  country’s gross domestic product, as recommended by international standards, he noted.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said Congress did its best in allocating scarce resources and reconciling differing versions of budget.

Sen. Pia Cayetano was disappointed by budget cuts suffered by  Department of Health (DOH), DepEd, Commission on Higher Education and University of the Philippines.

Meanwhile,  2025 budget restoration for Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) has been welcomed by  Department of Social Welfare and Development.

DSWD’s cash aid program has received  P26-billion allocation for next year.

“We are happy about this because it would mean implementation of social welfare services will continue, it will not be interrupted,” said DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao.

More than four million “near poor” Filipinos have benefitted from  AKAP during its first year of implementation from January to October 2024.

Health benefits provided by  Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will continue with or without subsidy from  General Appropriations Act,  DOH said.

“We reviewed  financial statements of PhilHealth together with its established performance and  DOH is confident that it has enough money to continue and even improve operations,” Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said.

At the end of calendar year 2023,  state health insurer’s accumulated net income was recorded at P463.7 billion.

Following  Universal Health Care Act, PhilHealth has secured  reserve fund of P280.6 billion, good for two years’ worth of benefits and other operating expenses.

PhilHealth counted its surplus fund balance to be at least P183.1 billion at the start of 2024.

14 Disyembre,2024 Sabado

17 days to 2025, Merry Christmas

Happy 21st anniversary, Servants of God in Jesus Christ Christian Ministries Incorporated, Rev. Nestor Sadim, Rev. Manuel Soliman, Director Jorge Lopez

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

3 Boy Scouts succumbed, 11 hurt in jamboree electrocution accident

By J.Lo

Police authorities are looking into electrocution incident killing three Boy Scouts while 11 others were hurt on Thursday in Zamboanga City.

Police Regional Office-9, director Brig. Gen. Bowenn Joey Masauding, said victims’ tent with metal materials , they were to transfer to  strategic spot in  camping site in Zamboanga City hit  dangling power transmission cable.

Electrocution  incident in  highland Abong Abong area left three students, Kevin Iquid, Geoffrey Atillano and Alvin Gaspar, dead.

Sources from Department of Education-9 and employees of  Zamboanga City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) were quoted in radio reports as saying three of eleven other scouts transported by emergency responders to  hospital for treatment of injuries due to accidental electrocution are in critical condition.

Education officials overseeing  scouting jamboree, among them Butch Alejabo and  lawyer Jay-Ar Ortega, had told police investigators  victims got electrocuted when  tent with metal framings they were carrying overhead, to be transferred from one spot to another in  Abong Abong camping site, hit  dangling power line of  Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative.

Masauding said their investigators, officials of  Bureau of Fire Protection and personnel of  Zamboanga CDRRMO, under Mayor John Dalipe, will soon release  common report on the incident.

13 Disyembre,2024 Biyernes

18 days to 2025, Merry Christmas

Happy 21st anniversary, Servants of God in Jesus Christ Christian Ministries Incorporated, Rev. Nestor Sadim, Rev. Manuel Soliman, Director Jorge Lopez

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Budget signed before Christmas

By Nidz Godino

“Following standard practice,  Congress-approved national budget bill will be transmitted to  Office of the President for review… national budget for 2025 will be signed before Christmas Day,”  Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in  statement President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.is slated to sign into law P6.532-trillion national budget for 2025 before Christmas.

PCO Secretary Cesar Chavez previously said  signing of  spending bill has been tentatively set for Dec. 20.

Militant lawmakers, meanwhile, are questioning what they considered  hasty ratification of  bicameral conference committee report on approved budget.

In  manifestation, Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel of Makabayan bloc questioned specifically  huge increase from P158.7 billion to P531.7 billion in  “unprogrammed appropriations” of  bicam-approved budget program.

“Do all  items slashed from  programmed appropriations like in education go here, unprogrammed appropriations?” Manuel asked.

Manuel  is questioning  bicam conference report “because we have seen new changes, not for  better, but to bring  country away from true progress.”

He also questioned  decrease in  budget of  Department of Education (DepEd), while taking note of  increase in  P7 billion budget for state colleges and universities (SUCs).

Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Agriculture (DA) and  National Irrigation Authority (NIA).

Kabataan representative also cited  “big challenge” facing  Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth),  would be receiving zero subsidy based on next year’s budget.

“While this zero budget for PhilHealth is  big challenge for this agency to live up in expectations to it, it is surprising why there is  cut in  budget of DOH…so how can we expect to have better health care services if there is  P25.8 trillion peso budget cut in DOH as compared to  bicam version of NEP ,National Expenditure Program in our national budget?” Manuel said.

For Senate President Francis Escudero,  zero subsidy for PhilHealth under approved budget program should serve as wakeup call for underperforming agencies.

“For such blunder, this should serve as  wakeup call to them, if not  slap in the face to make them do their job… not right to reward them for their blunder by giving them money they will not use anyway,” Escudero said.

He scored  health insurer for not having  single patient avail of zero balance billing despite its P600 billion allocation.

Meanwhile, Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre said Sen. Ronald dela Rosa was “misinformed” about his criticism of its memorandum of agreement (MOA) with PhilHealth and  Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).

On Wednesday, Dela Rosa  was wondering why PhilHealth and DBP would choose to partner with  party-list and not with  DOH in  development and rehabilitation of health facilities.

“It is worth asking why Senator Dela Rosa is so fixated on attacking this program,  designed to uplift underserved communities…could this be  attempt to deflect attention from  House investigation into extrajudicial killings during his time as police chief…his sudden concern for governance and ethics appears more like  smokescreen to distract from his own accountability issues than  genuine critique of MOA,” Acidre said .

“Tingog Partylist’s participation in underserved and rural communities. is rooted in its mission to improve access to health care, especially in underserved and rural communities. This initiative is not about power or control but about facilitating solutions for local government units (LGUs) to enhance public health care services,  initiative is not about power or control but about facilitating solutions for local government units (LGUs) to enhance public health care services,” Acidre explained.

He said  MOA outlines Tingog’s role in supporting LGUs by helping them access DBP’s financial mechanisms, and provide “fiscal training, capacity building and other initiatives to allow LGUs access to DBP’s credit facility, as well as “direct medical assistance” to patients.

Acidre said Tingog’s involvement is strictly facilitative and does not infringe on  mandates of government agencies.

“Tingog Partylist does not handle funds, manage projects, or encroach upon functions of  Department of Health or  Department of the Interior and Local Government…these agencies remain central to national health care programs,” he stressed.

He rejected Dela Rosa’s criticisms, including claims that  initiative bypasses government agencies.

“MOA does not bypass these agencies. ..Tingog complements, not replaces, their mandates, on accusations of politicization… Tingog’s involvement is grounded in service, not politics, MOA adheres to all legal protocols… financial arrangements are strictly between DBP and LGUs, and no funds are transferred to Tingog… ethics of this partnership should be measured by its intent and outcomes, not by Dela Rosa’s baseless speculations,” Acidre clarified.

He called on Dela Rosa to recognize  true purpose of  initiative.

“Instead of politicizing  well-intentioned initiative, Senator Dela Rosa should focus on addressing  lingering questions about his past and how it has affected  lives of countless Filipinos… Tingog, for its part, remains committed to serving  people, especially those in rural areas who have long been neglected, we call on public to see through this distraction and focus on what truly matters: ensuring that health care reaches every Filipino, regardless of political noise…public service should always prioritize  welfare of  people, not personal or political agendas” Acidre said.