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Romualdez also gave instructions to continue with ongoing congressional investigation on the operation of criminal syndicates responsible for illegal activities linked to POGOs in order to unmask their modus operandi and masterminds.
“Immediately after the SONA of President Marcos, Jr., I met with House leaders and top Secretariat officials last night in my office. I asked them to come up with a proposed legislative
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Tuesday directed the House leadership and top Secretariat officials to come up with, and ensure the swift approval of, a proposed measure that would give flesh to the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. to impose a total ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) in the Philippines.
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measure that will put to a halt all POGO operations in the country effective December 2024 as ordered by the President,” the Speaker said.
“This, however, will not stop ongoing House investigation on the criminal and other illegal activities linked to POGO. Hopefully, the House can learn from the hearings— on their modus operandi and the brains behind these activities— as part of inputs for the proposed measure that we will be
measure that will put to a halt all POGO operations in the country effective December 2024 as ordered by the President,” the Speaker said.
“This, however, will not stop ongoing House investigation on the criminal and other illegal activities linked to POGO. Hopefully, the House can learn from the hearings— on their modus operandi and the brains behind these activities— as part of inputs for the proposed measure that we will be
crafting,” the House leader stressed.
Speaker Romualdez was informed by Secretariat officials that there are several House bills and resolutions now pending before the House Committee on Games and Amusement concerning the operations of POGOs.
These include House Bill (HB) 5082 filed by Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr.; HB 10525 filed by Makabayan bloc Reps. France Castro, Arlene Brosas and Raoul Danniel Manuel.
In a joint statement, Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., Deputy Speaker and Quezon 2nd District Rep. David “Jay-jay” Suarez, Majority Leader and Zamboanga City 2nd District Rep. Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe, and Committee on Appropriations Chair and Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Elizaldy Co also expressed support and commitment to advancing the President’s agenda in Congress.
Gonzales lauded President Marcos for his resolute stance on national sovereignty and the West Philippine Sea.
“President Marcos has reaffirmed our unyielding commitment to our territorial integrity. His unequivocal statement that 'the West Philippine Sea is not our imagination, it is ours,' resonates deeply with the Filipino people,” Gonzales said.
He said the Chief Executive’s emphasis on using proper diplomatic channels to address territorial disputes is “a testament to his pragmatic leadership.”
“As the President rightly pointed out, the Philippines cannot yield and cannot waver. This balanced approach ensures that we uphold our sovereignty while maintaining regional peace and stability,” Gonzales pointed out.
Suarez expressed strong
The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Disaster Response Command Center (DRCC) on Tuesday declared a “red alert” status as the southwest monsoon or “habagat” enhanced by Typhoon Carina continues to drench large parts of Luzon and Visayas islands.
“Secretary Rex Gatchalian has ordered the DRCC and the DSWD Field Offices (FOs) to be on the highest level of readiness as ‘Habagat’ intensifies due to Typhoon Carina,” DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said in a statement.
Dumlao, also the Assistant Secretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG), said a red alert means that “all human and material resources are made available for duty and deployment.”
Based on the July 23 report of the DSWD-Disaster Response Operations Management, Information Center (DROMIC),
the agency has provided an initial PHP190,124 worth of humanitarian assistance to the affected localities in Regions 3 (Central Luzon), 5 (Bicol), and 6 (Western Visayas).
Dumlao said the National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau (NRLMB),
the DSWD’s logistics arm under the DRMG, ensures the replenishment and availability of food and non-food items (FNIs) for resource augmentation to DSWD FOs as the need arises.
“Our DSWD in Western Visayas has provided food and non-food items (FNIs) to the families and persons affected by the effects of Habagat and Typhoon Carina in Iloilo City,” she said.
She said all the affected DSWD FOs are closely coordinating with the affected local government units and other concerned offices for significant updates and any augmentation requests.
The DSWD said Typhoon Carina has so far affected some 224 families or 975 persons in Bataan, Pampanga, Camarines Sur, Masbate, and Iloilo City.
There are 46 families or 152 persons taking temporary shelter in six evacuation centers in Central Luzon and Western Visayas regions.
“The DSWD currently maintains PHP2.5 billion worth of stockpile and stand by funds available for augmentation,” Dumlao said.
Some 1,543,560 boxes of family food packs (FFPs) have been prepositioned in various warehouses and resource centers, of which 129,735 FFPs are at the NROC in Pasay City.
Some 93,516 FFPs are at the Visayas Disaster Resource Center (VDRC) in Mandaue City, and 442,125 FFPs are available at DSWD’s regional offices 3, 5, and 6.
In other DSWD FOs, around 878,184 FFPs are available which may be used to support the relief needs of the affected families through inter-FO augmentation.
PAF assets ready
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said all units in areas affected by bad weather have been alerted for possible humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) missions.
"The Tactical Operations Wing Northern Luzon, Tactical Operations Group 1, 2, and 3 alerted their troops to be on standby alert and ready for probable HADR efforts within their area of responsibilities. Tuesday. >>> READ MORE
The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is adopting a whole-of-government approach to address rice inflation.
Rice inflation, according to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balasican, is multi-faceted and requires measures involving many sectors to address agricultural productivity issues.
“So, if you see this problem is a multi-faceted and the solution requires whole-of-government approach because it involves so many sectors,” Balisacan said during the 2024 Post-SONA Discussions at the Hilton Hotel in Pasay City on Tuesday.
“But clearly, addressing the productivity issue is a main concern because as we have pointed out, we have neglected this sector for so many decades and it’s high time that we pay attention to this – and we are doing that now,” Balisacan said.
“Now, it has become even more critical issue these past few months because inflation in rice has reached over 20 percent and whereas our overall inflation target is 2 to 4 percent. That has created a lot of problems not just for our poor people but also for the macro economy and because that has led to higher interest rates,” he explained.
The Department of Tourism (DOT), under the leadership of Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, vows to deliver more tourism gains for the country following the President’s pronouncement on the need to implement a “multifaceted strategy” for the sector.
With the challenges and evolving landscape of the industry post-pandemic, the President said that the focus has now shifted to experiential tourism which encompasses almost the entire tourism-value chain.
“While our resurgence in this all-important sector is being observed, pre-pandemic data present to us a great challenge that we must surpass; it is a challenge that is well within our grasp. Our infrastructure and digital reforms to the development of tourism sites and the enhancement of the overall tourist experience are all calculated to boost the productivity of the tourism sector. While doing so, we shall interpose the wholesome and hospitable Filipino brand in all the key tourism touchpoints, from tourist arrival all the way to departure,” the President said in his 3rd State of the Nation
The government has allocated PHP42 billion for 2025 to further strengthen the country’s irrigation systems, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Tuesday.
In his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, President Marcos said that although the country posted record palay harvest last year, it only equates to 13 million tons of rice, which falls short of the country’s rice requirement of 16 million tons.
To fill the shortfall, the country has to import, the President said, but the original focus is to boost local palay production.
Balisacan, who heads NEDA, also explained the need to temporarily reduce tariff on foods items particularly rice, noting the overall inflation for the country was dominated by food inflation last year.
The increase in food prices was the result of the Russia-Ukraine war, the onslaught of El Niño phenomenon, and the African Swine Fever that impacted on the country’s local meat production, the NEDA chief explained.
“And while global prices were rising and remain elevated during that period, part of the temporary solution was to reduce the tariff
Speaking at the 2024 post-State of the Nation Address forum in Pasay City, Pangandaman underscored the key features of Republic Act (RA) 12009 or the New Government Procurement Act, which President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed into law on July 20, 2024.
“The New Government Procurement Act (NGPA) is the biggest anti-graft and corruption law in our modern history. So, we're happy that the 20-year-old law is now amended and fully modernized – the process and the procurement system,” she said.
E-marketplace
Pangandaman highlighted one of the alternative modes of procurement, the creation of an “e-marketplace” similar to online shopping outlets like Lazada, Shopee, and Amazon.
With the number of fast food options across the country, there are plenty that serve fried chicken. Although it might not be as common of a fast food dish as burgers, there are still plenty of major chains that serve one of America’s beloved comfort foods.
On Wednesday, USA Today 10Best compiled a top 10 list of the best fried chicken spots from fast food chains in the United States.
Jollibee, a popular Filipino chain with locations all over the Bay Area, notched the top spot among all U.S. chains that serve fried chicken, according to USA Today. It was voted the number one fried chicken spot by USA Today editors.
“A huge thank you to all our fans! USA Today @10Best has named our Chickenjoy the best fast food fried chicken thanks to you!” Jollibee wrote in an Instagram post on Wednesday.
According to USA Today, Jollibee is the largest and fastest-growing Asian restaurant company in the world. It is best known for its Chickenjoy, which is the name of its signature fried chicken.
“Order it in buckets or accompanied by sides — and don’t forget to dip it in their silky gravy,” USA Today wrote.
Jollibee opened its first U.S. restaurant in Daly City in 1998. The fast food chain was founded in 1978 in the Philippines and has since opened more than
Speaking at the post-State of the Nation Address discussions in Pasay City, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the allocation is in line with the priority thrust of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. of achieving food security by strengthening the agriculture sector.
“As [President Marcos] mentioned in his SONA, we are strengthening our irrigation system nationwide. We have allocated PHP42 billion for our irrigation system nationwide next year,” Pangandaman said.
The irrigation budget is part of the 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP), which will serve as Congress’ basis for the General Appropriations Bill (GAB).
In his third SONA on Monday,
Marcos reiterated the government’s commitment to build and rehabilitate more dams to help boost agriculture production and ensure food security.
The government is also focusing on constructing solar-powered irrigation facilities, the President said, citing the newly launched Cabaruan Solar-Powered Pump Irrigation Project in Quirino, Isabela, the largest of its kind in the Philippines.
The Chief Executive also mentioned the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project in Iloilo that could irrigate 32,000 hectares of land.
“Moving forward, irrigation dams will supplement all our other bulk water projects to ensure water security for our people, especially in the underserved areas,” the President said. (PNA)
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman. (PNA file photo by Yancy Lim)
Shopee, and Amazon.
With the platform, government agencies can place orders for common-use supplies and equipment (CSE) through the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM), greatly reducing turnaround time.
“We'll make use of modern technology. For common-use supplies, we will use systems and applications similar to Lazada and Shopee. So, it will just be ‘add to cart’ because we know that a lot of common-use supplies are unavailable in our Procurement Service, in our warehouses. But now, it will be online,” Pangandaman said.
In May, the DBM said the
“But the tourism challenge has already evolved and now requires a multifaceted strategy. The focus now is on experiential tourism. Food, culture, heritage, the arts, education, Halal, Islamic traditions, dive, cruise, farm, and ecotourism, even sports, have now become potent subjects and products of a nation’s tourism,” the President emphasized.
As a response, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco reaffirms the DOT’s commitment to bringing more benefits for the country's tourism industry.
To note, the Department continues to roll out the Philippine Experience Program (PEP) that aims to reintroduce the various tourism offerings through a cultural tourism circuit focused on
The newly-enacted government procurement law, which integrates technology and sustainable and modern techniques, is the “biggest anti-graft and corruption law in modern history,” Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said Tuesday.
A Crowdstrike software issue has caused a global IT outage affecting Microsoft Windows systems, resulting in service disruptions in some industries and key sectors nationwide.
Globe’s core services, which includes call, text and data connectivity however, remain unaffected.
“The issue was isolated to a few Windows-based workstations that our employees use for work for the most part, and some servers that do not materially affect our core services,” said Anton Bonifacio, Globe Chief Information Security Officer.