By JOSEPH ANTHONY A. DAMGO
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday paid tribute to the depth of service and sacrifices his father and namesake, the late former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., did for the Filipino people.
The President led the commemoration of "Marcos Day” in his home province of Ilocos Norte to mark the 107th birth anniversary of Marcos Sr.
The First Family attended a thanksgiving mass at the Immaculate Conception Parish in Batac City, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Marcos Monument.
In his message, the President said his father remains his source of wisdom and inspiration especially now that he is the country’s leader, noting that whenever he is faced with challenges, he would always ask himself, "What would my father do?"
“And I’m always reminded of what was engraved in the museleo when my father was still buried here. And those of you that have been to the mausoleum will remember that it was one single word --- Filipino. And that is the essence of my father,” he said.
The President said his father, although an Ilocano first, loved and served Filipinos his entire life.
He recounted how his father was “willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to defend his country and his people” as a soldier during the war.
The Chief Executive even recalled seeing classified, secret documents of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on Marcos Sr.'s war-time sacrifices during a visit to the United States.
After the war, Marcos Sr. entered politics READ MORE
Speaker Martin Romualdez on Wednesday credited the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the significant decline in rice prices, with some varieties selling for as low as PHP42 per kilo, during his visit to three key markets in Metro Manila.
Romualdez attributed the reduction to the government's efforts to stabilize rice prices and ensure affordability for consumers, particularly the move to READ MORE
MARKET VISIT. Speaker Martin Romualdez visits Nepa-Q Mart in Quezon City on Wednesday (Sept. 11, 2024) to check on the prevailing rice prices. Romualdez confirmed drop in prices as inflation rate for rice slowed down in August with regular and well-milled rice now priced at PHP42 to PHP46 a kilo. (Photo courtesy of House Press and Public Affairs Bureau)
Lawmakers on Wednesday described as baseless the allegation that the leadership of the House of Representatives is attempting to manipulate the allocation of the national budget.
“To say two people from another branch control the budget’s execution is farfetched. It’s almost offensive because we take pride in our work here in the House," Gutierrez said.
House Deputy Majority Leader Jude Acidre said the real issue here is the lack of accountability, noting that the Vice President could make "better use of the time" by personally explaining to Congress how she utilized the OVP's confidential funds in 2022 rather than coursing it through interviews.
“It is very easy to point fingers, but the issue here is not whether [the budget] is being controlled by so many people. The budget is being prepared by the executive, deliberated by the legislative, it’s a matter of public record, nandiyan siya lahat (it’s all recorded),” Acidre said.
In a press conference, 1-Rider Party-list Representative Rodge Gutierrez said the role of Congress is to scrutinize and approve the budget, while the executive is responsible for implementing the budget.
“That’s precisely why it’s called the executive—they implement. We, in Congress, lay out the budget. Once it’s submitted to the executive, they implement it,” Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez said it is "farfetched" to accuse House Speaker Martin Romualdez and House appropriations committee chair Elizaldy Co of budget manipulation.
Vice President Sara Duterte made the allegations in a recorded video interview circulated to the media on the same day she skipped the Sept. 10 committee hearing on the proposed PHP2.037-billion 2025 budget for the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has so far released about PHP31.93 billion to fund the salary increase of government workers in 257 state departments and agencies.
"We are doing everything we can so that we can release the budget to all agencies as soon as possible. Ito po 'yung pinakahihintay ng ating mga kasamahan sa gobyerno (This is what our fellow government workers are waiting). Of course, we also urge the heads of the departments and agencies to distribute immediately the salary differential since 'yung (the) increase po is retroactive starting January of this year," DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said in a news release Wednesday.
Based on the DBM’s latest data, the funds for the salary adjustment have been released to the Office of the President; Office of the Vice President; Congress; DBM; and departments of Agriculture, Education, Energy, Environment, Foreign Affairs, Health, Local Government, Justice, Labor, Migrant Workers, Defense, Public Works, Social Welfare and Trade.
The DBM has distributed the funds for salary increase to the Department of Information and Technology; Department of Science and Technology; state
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The public is urged to report to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) the issuance of PhilHealth cards bearing photos of politicians in line with the government’s anti-epal policy.
“As long as they are enrolled, they can get their health benefit,” she said.
PhilHealth membership comes in two forms -- the direct paying member, those who are employed or are voluntary paying members, and those who are sponsored by the municipal, provincial and national government like the senior citizens and members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) whose payment contributions are downloaded by the national government.
These members have dependents who are also qualified to the PhilHealth benefits.
Under the Anti-Epal law, politicians are prohibited from self-promotion such as putting their photos or names on government programs and projects.
“If somebody else issues the ID, we do not necessary have to accept them especially if they have photos of politicians,” said Dr. Dominga Gadgad, PhilHealth regional vice president for the Cordillera, in an interview Wednesday.
Gadgad said members can get their IDs and member data sheet from any PhilHealth offices.
She also said that members need not be endorsed by any politician to avail of the agency’s benefits.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Wednesday confiscated around PHP136.58 million worth of smuggled agricultural products and cigarettes at Subic Port in Zambales.
“As long as they are enrolled, they can get their health benefit,” she said.
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