P28.9-B fund to help LGUs build capacity for devolution

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the P28.9-billion Local Government Support Fund will be deployed for capacity-building projects ahead of the imminent devolution of National Government (NG) services. “We will formulate capacity-building training, and seminars for our LGUs (local government units) to help them — so that by the time we have full […]

UN: Consider SDGs in budget planning

THE United Nations (UN) representative in the Philippines said the government needs to prepare its budget in a manner that would help it better achieve the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs). “Improving the integration of climate and environmental sustainability into national planning processes and private sector business models is an imperative,” UN Resident Coordinator for […]

Police: ICC probe violates Philippine sovereignty

PHILIPPINE police on Monday accused the International Criminal Court (ICC) of violating the country’s sovereignty by reopening its investigation into the government’s deadly war on drugs. The Hague-based tribunal should “give due respect to the judicial processes that we have in our country because we are a sovereign country,” national police chief General Rodolfo S. […]

Farm modernization, more industry, services trade seen key to addressing inflation

By Keisha B. Ta-asan, Reporter THE GOVERNMENT needs to modernize its farms or generate more trade from industry and services to offset a food import policy if it is to adequately address inflation, analysts said. Leonardo A. Lanzona, an economics professor at the Ateneo De Manila, said the government needs to act decisively to bring […]

Sarangani obtains P-B LANDBANK loan for development projects 

LAND BANK of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has approved a P1-billion loan for the Sarangani provincial government to fund development projects.   Sarangani will spend half of the money to buy heavy equipment, P200 million for hospital and medical equipment, and P300 million for the establishment of a provincial agri-fisheries complex, the state-owned bank said in a […]

Journalists still in danger of being killed, harassed under Marcos gov’t, says CPJ

By John Victor D. Ordoñez, Reporter FILIPINO journalists remained at risk of getting killed and harassed under the government of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). “All four of the murders in the Philippines were of radio journalists covering local politics, highlighting the dangers faced by […]

Marcos tells advisors he will certify E-Governance bill as urgent, backs RCEP

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signaled his intent to certify as urgent a measure that will digitalize the bureaucracy to his business-sector advisors. The Palace also announced that Mr. Marcos is pushing the Senate to act on the ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade agreement. Mr. Marcos made his intent to certify […]

DBM considering ‘green’ standards for gov’t procurement

THE Procurement Service (PS) of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is planning to impose a green public procurement (GPP) standard to ensure that the government spends in a sustainable manner. “The establishment of an inter-agency technical specifications review committee is one of the reform initiatives we spearheaded to take government procurement to a […]

UP-MSI researchers push for wastewater-based COVID-19 monitoring after Davao study 

RESEARCHERS FROM the University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) called on government to adopt a wastewater-based monitoring of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) nationwide, saying this method allows for more localized surveillance and targeted mitigation measures.  “Detecting RNA in wastewater could help local government units forecast what barangays are at risk and may need closer […]

Under Anwar, Malaysia can ‘do better’ on climate, using global funds

KUALA LUMPUR – To help Malaysia head off frequent floods and choking air pollution caused by forest fires, new Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim should tap more global green funding to protect nature and tackle the effects of warming, climate change experts say. Ending a decades-long wait to lead the Southeast Asian nation, largely ruled by one coalition since independence, Mr. Anwar, 75, formed a government […]

Congress to focus on passing E-Gov’t bill when session opens

THE House of Representatives will give the proposed E-Government Act its full attention when the chamber resumes session, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said. “The House of Representatives remains committed to pass the priority legislation of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., including measures for digitalization in both government and private transactions that would bolster efficiency, […]

Marcos says cybersecurity upgrades to accompany digitalization push

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. promised a corresponding effort to upgrade cybersecurity alongside his government’s push to digitalize the bureaucracy, the Palace said in a statement. “Security has become a huge issue… that’s what we are trying to design now, a cybersecurity system for sensitive information,” he was quoted as saying in an open forum […]