Latest news with #Post-SONADiscussions
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GMA Network
29-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
DILG urges LGUs to enforce discipline in waste management
From discarded refrigerators to old sofas, uncollected waste clogging waterways remains one of the biggest man-made drivers of flooding in urban areas, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is urging LGUs to take action. During the Post-SONA Discussions, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla emphasized the importance of stricter enforcement of waste management ordinances and fostering community discipline. He said that while tropical cyclones can be predicted, human behavior cannot. 'Makikita mo kasi na bawat LGU [local government unit] may hazard map iyan... Alam na namin kung saan puwedeng magka-landslide, kung saan babaha, lahat iyan predictable. Ang hindi predictable, human behavior,' Remulla said. (Every LGU has hazard maps. We already know where landslides or flooding may happen; that's all predictable. What's not predictable is human behavior.) He described how, during cleanup operations, clogged drainage systems yield not just plastic waste but also furniture, beds, and appliances. 'Iyong magdi-drain ka ng kanal at ng river, makukuha mo refrigerator, kama, furniture, kung anu-ano ang makikita mo sa ilalim. And that's all human behavior. And that is correctable if we enforce it properly,' Remulla said. (When you clean canals and rivers, you'll find refrigerators, beds, furniture—all sorts of things. That's human behavior, and it's correctable if we enforce the rules properly.) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in his State of the Nation Address on Monday, called on Filipinos to take disaster preparedness seriously, from participating in drills to following evacuation orders and avoiding dumping trash in danger zones. 'Ang daan ng kalikasan, hindi basurahan iyan, para iyan sa kalikasan talaga,' Remulla said. (Natural waterways are not garbage dumps. They're part of nature and should be treated as such.) To address the issue systemically, the DILG is holding a summit with Metro Manila mayors on Friday to discuss how to institutionalize waste discipline among local communities, especially in flood-prone barangays. 'This is a governance issue as much as it is an environmental one,' Remulla said. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
29-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
PH faces up to P6B in annual foregone revenues from US market access
The Philippines is estimated to incur up to P6 billion in foregone revenues each year from the markets it will open to the United States with zero tariffs under the latest trade agreement between the two countries, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said Tuesday. According to Recto, the foregone revenues cover those collected from the importation of products that the Philippines has agreed to open to the US, which would ultimately benefit Filipino consumers. 'Unang estimate natin is P3 (billion) to P6 billion a year, depende kung lahat 'yan. Remember there's nothing final yet,' he told reporters on the sidelines of the Post-SONA Discussions in San Juan City. 'Assuming ibigay mo what we discussed with them like cars, soys, wheat, pharmaceuticals, soybeans, anywhere from P3 to P6 billion, pero wala pang final lahat 'yan,' he added. (Our initial estimate is P3 to P6 billion a year, depending on the scope. Remember, there's nothing final yet. Assuming we grant what we discussed with them like cars, soys, wheat, pharmaceuticals, soybeans, anywhere from P3 to P6 billion but none of that is final yet.) Just last week, US President Donald Trump announced a new 19% tariff rate for Philippine goods. This is lower than the 20% announced in a letter earlier this month, but higher than the 17% rate announced during the Liberation Day Tariffs in April. Posting on his Truth Social media platform, Trump initially said the Philippines is going open market with the United States with zero tariffs, while the Philippines would pay a 19% tariff. President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr., who had a meeting with Trump before the 19% rate was announced, has since clarified that the zero tariffs on US products would only apply to certain markets such as automobiles. 'Not all imports will go down, so hihingin natin (so we will ask), especially those that do not compete with local industries and beneficial to consumers,' Recto said. Overall, Recto said the 19% rate on Philippine exports is still beneficial to the country, given its comparative advantage to other countries that have been slapped with higher rates. 'We have one of the lowest tariffs in the world if you take a look, so beneficial sa atin dun (so that's beneficial for us). Siyempre tatamaan din 'yung exports natin (Of course, our exports will be hit) initially, but as a whole, it looks like we have a better deal than many other countries,' he said. Economists earlier said the latest agreement will only have a limited impact on the country's economy given its low dependence on American demand compared with other Asian economies, with local exporters bearing the brunt. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
29-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Gov't vows objective review of flood projects, no witch hunt
The Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC) is now crafting the protocols for the review of ongoing infrastructure projects to ensure that the audit will be objective and will not turn into a witch hunt, a top official said Tuesday. According to Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev) Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon, the RPMC will prioritize the list of flood control projects that will be submitted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). 'While waiting for that list, binabalangkas na po ng grupo namin, ng regional development group namin, iyong magiging protocol ng review para noon magiging objective, hindi naman tayo magiging witch hunting, ganyan,' she said during the Post-SONA Discussions in San Juan City. 'Magiging objective po iyong pagri-review nito at gaya nga ng sinabi ko, mayroon tayong private sector na representative dito at magiging maagap din po kami sa pag-report po nito sa RDC (Regional Development Council) siyempre at sa Pangulo po,' she added. (While waiting for that list, our group — our regional development group — is already drafting the review protocol so that the process will be objective and we won't resort to witch hunting. The review will be done objectively, and as I mentioned, we have a private sector representative involved. We will also be prompt in reporting this to the RDC, of course, and to the President.) In his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, Marcos tasked the DPWH to submit a list of flood control projects in the last three years, which will then be examined to see their progress and if they exist, with the list set to be made public. The RPMC, tasked to provide up-to-date information on the overall status of project implementation and assess project status reports, is chaired by the DepDev, and co-chaired by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). 'Iyong Regional Project Monitoring Committee is actually a committee under the Regional Development Council. So, talaga pong itong grupo na ito consisting of mga regional line agencies po ito, selected agencies po, may kasama rin po itong private sector, may mga private sector reps po sa mga RPMC,' Edillon said. 'So, mayroon po talaga silang mino-monitor na mga proyekto pero iyon nga sa dami nito baka hindi talaga nasusuyod lahat – there's really a prioritization that happens,' she added. (The Regional Project Monitoring Committee is actually a committee under the Regional Development Council. So, this group is really composed of regional line agencies, selected agencies, and it also includes representatives from the private sector. So, they really do monitor projects, but because there are so many of them, it's possible not all are thoroughly reviewed — there's really a prioritization that happens.) The southwest monsoon or Habagat and Tropical Cyclones that hit the country — Crising (international name: Wipha), Dante (international name: Francisco), and Emong (international name: Co-may) — have logged infrastructure damage of P7.355 billion, and a death toll of 31. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
29-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
DBM: Proposed 2026 budget to be submitted to Congress in next two weeks
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Tuesday it will submit the proposed 2026 budget to Congress in the next two weeks, promising greater transparency and accountability throughout the deliberations. Speaking at the Post-SONA Discussions, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the proposed 2026 budget or the National Expenditure Program (NEP), approved at P6.793 trillion by President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr., is now being printed. 'Sa ngayon iniimprenta na po ang ating budget. In two weeks, ibibigay ito sa House of Representatives at tsaka sa Senado,' she said in a panel discussion in San Juan City. (Right now, the [proposed 2026 national] budget is being printed. In two weeks, it will be given to the House of Representatives and the Senate.) Her remarks came a day after Marcos, in his State of the Nation Address (SONA 2025), said that he is willing to operate on a reenacted budget for 2026 and warning that he would veto a budget bill that is not in harmony with his administration's programs and priorities. 'For the 2026 national budget, I will return any proposed Generation Appropriations bill that is not fully aligned with the National Expenditure Program (NEP),' Marcos said in his fourth SONA. The 2026 expenditure program resulted from about P10.101 trillion budget proposals which were trimmed down due to limited fiscal space and the fiscal consolidation strategy, which targets the gradual reduction of the national government's deficit from 5.5% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025 to 4.3% by 2028. The lion's share of the proposed budget will go to maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) with P2.639 trillion to fund the implementation of government programs and projects, followed by personnel services (PS) expenditures with p1.908 trillion. The Philippine budget process starts with the President and the Cabinet secretaries submitting their proposed appropriations under the NEP. This is then forwarded to the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations for deliberations, where lawmakers may introduce adjustments as long as they stay within the prescribed ceiling. Once changes are finalized, the proposal becomes the General Appropriations Bill (GAB). After approval on third reading, the House transmits the bill to the Senate for its own review. 'Asahan niyo po na ang DBM, katuwang ng ating mga Gabinete, na magiging responsive po ang pagsasagawa ng ating budget. Kung ano po ang kinakailangan ng tao, makikinig po kami diyan, handa po kaming mag-invest diyan,' Pangandaman said. 'Pangalawa, we will also make sure na kung ano ang budget na nakalaan sa atin ay makarating ng mas mabilis sa mga tao. We will be more transparent, we will be more accountable sa mga kababayan natin,' she added. (You can expect that the DBM, together with our Cabinet partners, will ensure that the budget process is responsive. Whatever the people need, we will listen and we are ready to invest in that. Second, we will also make sure that the budget allocated to us reaches the people faster. We will be more transparent and more accountable to our fellow citizens.) Should there be changes in the NEP and last-minute adjustments made by lawmakers, Pangandaman said project implementation would be affected. 'Unang-una po, babagal ang pag-i-implement ng mga proyekto kasi hindi po kami ready diyan eh, ang napag-usapan po namin sa loob ng anim na buwan iyon po iyong alam namin kung paanong i-implement at saka paano isakatuparan,' she said. 'So, kapag magkaroon po ng mga bagong proyekto na hindi po consistent sa ating mga programa, mahihirapan po kaming i-implement itong mga ito – madi-delay po ang mga proyekto kapag hindi po consistent ang ating budget doon sa inaprubahan po ng Executive,' she added. (First of all, the implementation of projects will slow down because we're not prepared for that. What we discussed over the past six months are the projects we know how to implement and carry out. So, if there are new projects that aren't aligned with our programs, it will be difficult for us to implement them — projects will be delayed if the budget is not consistent with what was approved by the Executive.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
29-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
PH mulls higher license fees for online gambling
Philippine financial regulators are eyeing an increase in license fees for online gambling companies, as officials study stricter regulations from the industry after being flagged by the Department of Health (DOH) as a "public health concern." According to Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, the government is looking to increase revenues from the industry, as integrated resorts also involved in online games are now charged 25% of their gross gaming revenues (GGR). 'Pwede gawing (It can be made) 30 [percent], pwede gawing 35 [percent], pwede gawing 40 [percent],' he told reporters at the sidelines of the Post-SONA Discussions in San Juan City. 'We're studying that because if it's too high, baka naman lalo lumago din 'yung illegal (it might lead to a rise in illegal operations), so we're studying that with PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.),' he added. This comes as the DOH has flagged online gambling as a health issue, with President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. saying he will study calls to ban the industry. A number of lawmakers have pushed for a ban given worries that addiction is soaring, with more gamblers drawn to online platforms, even further accelerated by advertisements on social media and e-wallet platforms. 'I am not in favor of gambling, okay? I have never gambled. Hindi ako mahilig. (I am not keen). Dapat 'yung mga kababayan din natin (And I think my Filipinos shouldn't be either). My advice: do not gamble. Having said that, if people gamble, we'd rather regulate it than they go to illegal (gambling),' Recto said Tuesday. At present, Recto said his understanding is that 60% of operations are illegal, while only 40% is legal. From those above board, the DOF is looking to raise P200 billion in revenues this year — P100 billion from brick and mortar, and P100 billion from online. ?Recto also said 'everything is on the table' when it comes to proposals, such as limiting the time of users to cash in, as well as limiting the access of online gambling sites to e-wallets. 'I'm open to all of that, but we will consult with PAGCOR also kasi sila 'yung marami dito. It's their constituency to a certain degree. Mas alam nila (They are more knowledgeable),' he said. For their part, licensed online gambling operators said they are standing united with PAGCOR to call for stronger regulation and not a total ban, as they warned that Filipinos might shift to unregulated sites on the black market. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
