Day: October 9, 2025

Manila: Senate Committee on Finance chairperson Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said Thursday the 2026 national budget could be reduced if investigations confirm overpricing in the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) proposed PHP800 billion allocation. According to Philippines News Agency, Gatchalian stated during the Kapihan sa Senado that the Senate is meticulously examining the DPWH budget and may implement a broad reduction to help decrease the country’s budget deficit and debt levels. Gatchalian suggested that if overpricing is confirmed, a reduction of 10 to 20 percent could be applied to the DPWH budget, subject to Senate approval. This would mean

Antique: A total of 44 sea turtle hatchlings have been released back to the sea as part of this municipality’s nature conservation efforts. Jolly Roy Amaran of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) said the hawksbill turtle hatchlings were released Wednesday afternoon in the coastal waters of Barangay Dalipe. According to Philippines News Agency, “Mayor Paul Joseph Untaran led the release of the hatchlings in order to protect and conserve the sea turtles,” Amaran said in an interview Thursday. Amaran noted that the municipal government has set up a turtle conservation center in Barangay Dalipe where residents can

Manila: Malaca±ang announced on Thursday that the government will conduct a careful study of the proposal by Senator Erwin Tulfo to implement a one-month tax holiday aimed at boosting public confidence and alleviating the financial burden on Filipinos amidst ongoing corruption investigations. According to Philippines News Agency, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (SAPIEA) Secretary Frederick Go emphasized that the proposal requires a thorough review by the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) before any decision is reached. Go highlighted the novelty of the proposal, stating that it must be

Legazpi city: The inflation rate in the Bicol Region experienced a slight increase from 1.0 percent in August to 1.1 percent in September, as reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) 5 (Bicol) on Thursday. According to Philippines News Agency, Cynthia Perdiz, PSA-5 director, highlighted that the primary factors contributing to the rise in September’s inflation rate include food and non-alcoholic beverages, such as vegetables, cereal products, and coffee, which saw an increase from -0.4 percent in August to -0.1 percent in September. Significant contributors to the inflation were identified as restaurant and accommodation services with an 8.2 percent inflation

Manila: Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla formally took his oath of office before Acting Chief Justice Marvic Leonen at the Supreme Court session hall on Thursday. In an interview after the ceremony, Remulla stated that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed him to address the current controversies facing the government. According to Philippines News Agency, Remulla emphasized that the President provided no specific orders but expressed the need to resolve the ongoing issues to better the country. Remulla also addressed criticisms from his detractors, highlighting the distinction between political and legal spheres, and called for collective efforts for the nation’s