Budget weaponized to defeat poverty
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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. whipped up agencies to come up with proposed budgets that would help in the battle against poverty and improve the welfare of all Filipinos.
The pursuit of inclusive growth was the main agenda of the Chief Executive’s activities last week, compiled through a collaboration between Daily Tribune and the Bureau of Communications Services of the Presidential Communications Office.
Some 220 Filipinos were pardoned by the leader of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the country’s celebration of its 53rd National Day, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced on Monday.
“My beloved countrymen, I am delighted to announce that on the occasion of the 53rd National Day of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan granted pardons to 220 Filipinos,” President Marcos said in a video message.
“We extend, of course, our heartfelt gratitude to His Highness and to Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, whom I also had the honor to meet, for this very compassionate gesture,” he added.
The 2024 inflation target was likely achieved with a year-to-date average of 3.2 percent following last December’s 2.9 percent inflation rate, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) announced.
In a statement, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan noted last year’s average inflation rate was a significant improvement from the 6 percent in 2023.
Balisacan said the government’s efforts to temper inflation “have been largely successful.”
“Despite the risks we encountered throughout the year, our combined efforts to temper inflation have largely been successful. We will build upon this momentum as we commit to keep the inflation rate within our target range in 2025,” he said.
Early in December last year, the Development Budget Coordination Committee announced its decision to retain the annual inflation target of 2 percent to 4 percent through 2028.
President Marcos ordered government agencies to reexamine the administration’s programs contained in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) that were defunded by Congress.
The President instructed the agencies to focus particularly on those programs critical to the socioeconomic plans.
“We have to reexamine them so that the programs that we wanted — that we put in the NEP — can somehow be restored,” he said during the 18th Cabinet meeting in Malacañang.
“For the rest of the departments, I need you to give me the priorities — the things that we prioritized in the NEP that were removed in terms of budgeting, in terms of appropriations,” Marcos added.
No musing on ML, term extension
Malacañang stood firm that neither martial law nor a term extension was on the President’s agenda following the reorganization of the National Security Council (NSC). Marcos earlier issued Executive Order 81 reorganizing the NSC.
In a briefing, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the Marcos administration is focused on advancing the country’s economic prosperity, improving the health and welfare of the Filipino people, and completing his legacy projects.
“What he has in mind is the economic prosperity of the country, the health and welfare of the people, especially those who are in the lower classes and the prioritization of his legacy projects,” Bersamin said.
No moral authority
Former chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo has no moral authority to question the decision of President Marcos to issue Executive Order 81, which reorganized NSC, according to Executive Secretary Bersamin.
The reorganization of the NSC resulted in the removal of Vice President Sara Duterte from the council.
In a press briefing, Bersamin recalled that former president Rodrigo Duterte had excluded former vice president Leni Robredo from Cabinet meetings.
“I read something that reminded me that Panelo, during his time as a presidential adviser, advocated for the exclusion of then Vice President Leni Robredo [from the Cabinet],” he said.
Matobato who?
Executive Secretary Bersamin asserted that Malacañang had no connection to confessed hitman Edgar Matobato who has reportedly left the country.
“We have nothing to say about that because we have no connection with Mr. Matobato. Whatever his purpose is in going out, we cannot control that,” Bersamin said.
The executive secretary made the remark when asked to comment on New York Times reports that Matobato, an alleged hitman of the Davao Death Squad, had left the country with his wife and two stepchildren.
The Executive Secretary defended the DPWH’s higher budget compared to the DepEd’s.
He said the administration complied with the constitutional requirement to prioritize the education sector, and that the DepEd is not the only agency in the education sector because it also includes TESDA, SUCs and CHEd.
Also, if the Philippine Military Academy, Philippine National Police Academy and other offices with primary responsibility for education were to be included, the education sector would have the bigger budget.
Flagship projects on track
In a Malacañang briefing, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista assured that the implementation of the government’s flagship projects that would boost the transportation sector were “still on time” despite “right-of-way” (RoW) issues.
To resolve the matter, Bautista said the President ordered the DoTr to “coordinate with all government agencies.”
He likewise cited the Inter-Agency Committee for RoW Activities for National Railway Projects, an inter-agency committee created under Administrative Order 19 issued by President Marcos last year.
Finish EDSA rehab
The rehabilitation project aims to address long-standing issues with the highway and enhance the overall commuting experience for millions of Filipinos. The DPWH said it expects the rehabilitation to be completed this year.
Aside from EDSA’s rehabilitation, the DPWH will also finish other major infrastructure initiatives this year, including the Zamboanga Sibugay bridge, two bridges in Sulu, and the Central Luzon Expressway.
These initiatives are part of the administration’s broader efforts to invest in infrastructure to stimulate economic growth, improve connectivity, and enhance the quality of life for Filipinos nationwide.
Holistic approach vs flooding
The President ordered a holistic approach to mitigate flooding.
The Department of Public Works and Highways said the President ordered that projects be resilient and implemented holistically due to climate change.
According to the DPWH, three dams in the Sierra Madre mountains will be built to confine floodwaters and regulate their flow to protect Metro Manila from flash floods. They will also continue to pursue the Pasig-Marikina Flood Control Program.
The Voice USA champ honored
The President, with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, honored The Voice USA Season 26 Grand Champion Sofronio Vasquez for bringing pride to the country.
Vasquez is the first Filipino and Asian to claim the prestigious title. Marcos lauded Vasquez for his generosity and humility.
Vasquez, a 33-year-old dental graduate from Ozamiz City, thanked the First Couple for the recognition.
Seafarers’ Magna Carta IRR signed
Mr. Marcos witnessed the signing of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers on Wednesday, three months after the law’s enactment.
In his speech, the President highlighted key features of the IRR, including the establishment of One-Stop Shop Centers for Seafarers and provisions ensuring fair medical treatment and access to free legal representation.
The President emphasized that the IRR “envisions a well-prepared and competitive maritime workforce” by enhancing access to advanced training and requiring maritime education institutions to upgrade to cutting-edge facilities, equipping seafarers and cadets to compete globally.
President Marcos joined Filipino Catholics in celebrating the Feast of Jesus Nazareno on 9 January.
In his message, the President cited the observance as one of the “greatest reflections of the depth of Filipino devotion.”
“As thousands walk barefoot in prayer and sacrifice, we are reminded that no burden is too heavy when carried with faith. May this day inspire us to care for one another and hold firm in the belief that our better days are ahead,” the Chief Executive said.
The Marcos administration made inroads in addressing involuntary hunger and malnutrition by serving last year 300,000 Filipinos out of the one-million target under the “Walang Gutom Food Stamp Program,” a social welfare official said.
The administration introduced the program in 2023. It provides P3,000 monthly food credits for food-poor Filipinos nationwide.
“We’re scaling it up, last year we onboarded 300,000 out of the one-million target,” Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Edu Punay said.
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