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Drilon suspects around P33 billion parked in state trading firm PITC

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Nov 23 12:44 PM

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Monday he suspects over P33 billion in government funds were parked in Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC), a firm under the Department of Trade and Industry. Read more »

Drilon sinita ang pondo ng AFP na natutulog umano sa PITC

Robert Mano, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Nov 21 04:10 AM

MAYNILA - Sinita ni Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon ang P9.6 bilyon na pondo ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) na natutulog anya sa Philippine International Trading Corporations (PITC). Read more »

Senators consider allowing overseas voters to elect congressmen

Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Nov 19 09:58 PM

MANILA - Several senators on Thursday said they consider allowing overseas voters to elect congressmen in a bid to entice more Filipinos abroad to exercise their right to suffrage. Read more »

COVID-19 vaccine might be delayed if coursed through state trading firm: Recto

Katrina Domingo and Sherrie Ann Torres, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Nov 19 02:52 PM

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Wednesday fears a possible delay in the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines if the government will not reconsider its earlier decision to course the purchase through state trading company Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC). Read more »

Senators want 2021 budget hike for DOLE to help jobless Pinoys

Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Nov 18 10:15 PM

MANILA - Several senators on Wednesday were keen on increasing the 2021 budget of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to help millions of Filipinos who may still be unemployed next year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more »

Senators eye new law to save unreleased Bayanihan 2 fund from expiring

Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Nov 18 09:40 PM

Senators on Wednesday agreed to pass a law that would "carve out" the billions of pesos lodged in the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2) before the emergency spending measure expires in mid-December. Read more »

After Duterte remarks vs Robredo, senators lament typhoon relief now 'politicized'

Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Nov 18 03:59 PM

Several senators on Wednesday lamented at how relief efforts for typhoon victims became "politicized" after President Rodrigo Duterte ranted on national television over criticisms that he was not on top of the situation of disaster relief and response operations. Read more »

State trading company being used 'to make it appear' funds are obligated: senators

Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Nov 18 01:48 AM

Several senators on Tuesday questioned the role and efficiency of the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) in government transactions, noting that the state-owned company may only be being used to "make it appear" that budget allocations have already been obligated. Read more »

Senators question DSWD's delayed release of P83 billion in funds amid pandemic, disasters

Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Nov 17 06:57 PM

MANILA - Senators on Tuesday agreed to pass a resolution urging the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to spend some P83 billion left in its coffers, with one saying it is "almost criminal" to withhold funds at a time when a series of calamities has burdened millions of Filipinos. Read more »

'Bayanihan 3 makes no sense': Drilon nixes proposals for third COVID-19 aid package

Katrina Domingo and Sherrie Ann Torres, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Nov 12 02:55 PM

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Wednesday rejected talks of legislating a third COVID-19 aid package, saying the executive department has yet to complete the disbursement of funds under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2). Read more »

Senators eye merging DAR with DA as part of rightsizing bureaucracy

Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Nov 11 06:58 PM

Senators on Wednesday discussed the possibility of merging the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) with the Department of Agriculture (DA) as part of a push to "rightsize" the bureaucracy to save more funds amid the pandemic. Read more »

Senate approves on final reading FIST bill to cushion banks from bad loans

Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Nov 10 07:33 PM

The Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed on final reading the Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer (FIST) Act bill to cushion banks from the possible build up of bad loans due to the COVID-19 crisis. Read more »

Poe wants 3 pct of gov't revenue allotted for disaster fund

Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Nov 09 09:38 PM

Sen. Grace Poe on Monday renewed her push to have at least 3 percent of government revenue earmarked for disaster mitigation, recovery and rehabilitation, saying having a fixed allocation would help the country build back better after calamities. Read more »

Senate minority bloc to push for realignment of P19-B anti-insurgency fund in 2021 budget

Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Nov 09 05:47 PM

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Monday said opposition senators would be pushing to realign the P19-billion anti-insurgency fund under the 2021 budget to address more pressing needs like aid for typhoon victims. Read more »

Panukalang dep't of disaster resilience muling tinalakay matapos ang 'Rolly'

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Nov 03 08:13 PM

Muling lumutang ang panukalang itatag ang Department of Disaster Resilience kasunod ng bagyong Rolly.  Read more »

Drilon nixes proposed budget cut for agencies under corruption probe

Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Oct 30 01:46 PM

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Friday rejected a suggestion that Congress can reduce the 2021 budget of agencies that are set to be investigated over allegations corruption, saying even a "educed budget can still be plundered."   Read more »

DBM: Housing, intel funds can't be compared 'apple to apple'

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Oct 22 08:02 PM

Funds for housing backlogs and those for intelligence operations cannot be compared "apple to apple," the Department of Budget and Management said Thursday, following criticism from some senators.   Read more »

Housing chief says he 'has done his job' to secure 2021 funding as Drilon scores 'meager' budget

Gillan Ropero, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Oct 22 11:53 AM

Housing Secretary Eduardo del Rosario said Thursday he has "done his job" for his agency's P3.87 billion proposed 2021 budget after senators grilled him for supposedly not fighting for its original spending plan worth P76 billion. Read more »

Drilon hits Housing chief for allegedly being unprepared to discuss 2021 budget

Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Oct 21 08:02 PM

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Wednesday reprimanded Housing Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario for allegedly coming to a Senate budget hearing unprepared to answer queries from lawmakers. Read more »

DBM yet to release P34B to agriculture, tourism sectors under Bayanihan 2: senators

Katrina Domingo and Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Oct 20 12:36 AM

MANILA (UPDATED) - The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has yet to release some P34 billion allocated for the tourism and agriculture sectors under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act about 2 months before the COVID-19 aid fund expires, several senators said Monday. Read more »