THE proposed 2021 budget was increased to more than P4.5 trillion with the economic team assuming a prolonged pandemic, a Finance Department official said.

THE Senate Committee on Finance has committed to pass on time the P4.5-trillion national budget, which is expected to sustain the government’s efforts to help the economy recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

THE construction of the P10-billion New Cebu International Container Port is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2021, the Transportation department said.

THE Transportation department said it hopes to award in November the contract for the rolling stock package of the Metro Manila Subway Phase 1.

THREE ADDITIONAL solar-powered sewage treatment plants will be built along major river systems in Metro Manila as part of the government’s efforts to rehabilitate Manila Bay, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.

THE Philippines was among the top economies for merchandise trade growth in the 2009-2019 period, the World Trade Organization (WTO) said.

THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) said it collected P91.65 billion from duties and taxes on marked oil products so far in the September-July period.

It has been almost five months since the implementation of the community quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of us had no choice but to stay indoors. Thus, we were forced to entertain, educate, and make ourselves useful within our homes. With the help of the internet and other electronic platforms, we got to binge-watch our favorite shows, shop, buy groceries, start on our fitness goals, finish online courses, play online games, etc. Netflix, Google, Amazon, and even YouTube have somehow helped us to hold on to our sanity during these challenging times.

THE Department of Finance (DoF) has ruled out a new tax on luxury goods this year, saying it is focusing its efforts on passing the remaining tax reform legislation, particularly the proposed Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act (CREATE), which has been repositioned as tax relief for businesses hurting from the pandemic.

NUCLEAR POWER within the next two years is unlikely because of the need to complete the appropriate preliminary studies and pass laws regulating the sector, the Senator who chairs that chamber’s energy committee said.

THE Department of Energy (DoE) is studying the use of small nuclear generators to power off-grid areas, Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said in a statement.

THE construction of the Philippine National Railway (PNR) Clark Phase 2 (Malolos-Clark railway) project’s 6.5-kilometer railway track, an underground station at Clark International Airport, and a depot is set to start within the quarter, Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said.