Andaya: Senate’s Budget diversions worth P83.9-B
A SENIOR HOUSE legislator said that the Senate made P83.9 billion worth of adjustments to the 2019 Budget, continuing the word war between the chambers over the 2019 General Appropriations Bill four months into the year.
Palace has ‘no choice’ but to veto contested Budget items — Drilon
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has “no choice but to veto” the items in the 2019 national budget identified by Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III as “unconstitutional realignments,” Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon said.
Supreme Court TRO sought on Chico River project
THE Makabayan bloc asked the Supreme Court (SC) to issue a temporary restraining order and declare as unconstitutional the Chico River Irrigation Pump Project funded by China which would cost $62 million.
DA to ban pork imports from Cambodia after ASF outbreak
AGRICULTURE SECRETARY Emmanuel F. Piñol said he will immediately move to ban pork imports from Cambodia after the emergence of confirmed cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) there.
Gov’t completing documentation on projects to be exempt from election spending ban
MALACAÑANG on Thursday said the government is currently completing documentation on infrastructure projects it is seeking exempts for from the 45-day Commission on Elections (Comelec) ban on public works.
Estonian firms seeking to be National ID suppliers
ESTONIAN companies have expressed interest in bidding for supply contracts for the national ID system, the Finance department said.
PHL must properly manage single-use plastics problem — WB
THE WORLD BANK (WB) is urging Filipinos to avoid the usage of single-use plastics to help protect marine life, noting that eight million tons of plastic go into the ocean each year.
Maynilad welcomes concession contract review
MAYNILAD Water Services, Inc. is open to any state review of its concession agreement after the president’s spokesman announced President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s plan to look into all government contracts with foreign and private entities, including those with the water concessionaires.
Legislators caution against reneging on contracts, support arbitration
SENATE Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon cautioned against cancelling government contracts found to be onerous, after a review was ordered by President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
Andaya says ‘no basis’ for Sotto’s budget reservations
HOUSE appropriations committee chair and Camarines Sur 1st District Rep. Roland G. Andaya Jr. said in a letter that Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III’s reservations about the 2019 national budget have no legal basis.
Indonesia declares priority status for PHL agricultural goods
THE Indonesian government will implement a “Philippines First Policy” that will prioritize the Philippines as a source of agricultural goods whenever there is a need to import, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said on Tuesday.
US-China trade war offers opportunities for PHL
THE Philippines stands to gain from an escalating China-US trade war, with the possible redirection of trade favoring Southeast Asian economies.