The town of Daraga in Albay province, has total assets of P1.029 billion making it to the top of the list among the richest municipal local government units (LGU) for 2017, besting 106 others in Bicol region, according to the Commission on Audit (COA). Daraga, aside from topping the list, […]
Naga City, Bicol’s financial, business, educational and religious capital now has a total net worth of over P4.675 billion, making it the richest local government unit (LGU) in the region, according to the Commission on Audit (COA). The City of Ligao, in Albay province, followed far second, with a total […]
The Department of Social Welfare and Development is seen to continue supporting its 4P’s beneficiaries maybe beyond 2019. This information was confirmed Monday by the agency belying rumors that Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is set to end in 2019. Social Welfare secretary Judy Taguiwalo clarified the misconception and pointed […]
The fiscal administration under President Rodrigo Duterte is boasting of its makeover of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program with the adoption of a “new” approach to fast-track the implementation of two road projects in Luzon. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said that under the hybrid PPP formula, the government selects, […]
Senator Gregorio Honasan II and nine others are seen to face graft charges for alleged involvement in the P29-1 million Priority Development Assistance (PDAF) scam. Ths was learned as Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has ordered the filing of charges against the senator for two counts of violation of the “Anti-Graft […]
Newly elected and first term congressman Amado Espino of the fifth district of Pangasinan was given a preventive suspension order by the Sandiganbayan. On Wednesday the graft court ordered the suspension for 90 days of the former Pangasinan governor who held the post for nine years from 2007 up to […]
Newly elected and first term congressman Luis Raymond Villafuerte of the second district of Camarines Sur was handed down a preventive suspendion order by the Sandiganbayan. On Wednesday the graft court ordered the suspension for 90 days of the former Camarines Sur governor who held the post for nine years […]
Vice-President Ma. Leonor ‘Leni’ Robredo leads the way for a lean budget for 2017 for the Office of the Vice President. The P428.618 million proposed 2017 budget for the OVP is 14.28 percent lower than its 2016 budget, Robredo said Wednesday. Robredo presented the 2017 budget proposal to the Senate […]
Without finger pointing and resorting to the blame game, the Bicol Regional Development Council almost owned the mess and error in the continuing implementation of the construction of the vaunted Bicol International Airport located in Barangay Alobo of Daraga town in the province of Albay. The project was originally seen […]
Construction of the last pillar for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 extension up until Masinag Junction in Barangay Masinag of Antipolo City is nearing completion. The extension that connects with the Santolan station in Pasig City to Masinag covers 3.9 kilometers of elevated guideway. After Santolan, two stations […]
Free at last! That could be one of the first liners former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo may have said after the Supreme Court of the Philippines (SCOTP) dismissed the case that stemmed from the alleged misuse of the P366-million confidential intelligence fund of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) during […]
Fund for the construction of the much delayed project of Bicol International Airport was already approved by the Department of Transportation and Communications. According to Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, DOTC Secretary Abaya called him up last Friday that the P780-million fund for the project has already been awarded. The now […]
More indigent senior citizens of the country are getting P6,000 yearly pension from the Philippine government as one of its poverty alleviation program is poised to add into coverage 443,332 new beneficiaries. Qualified to receive the P500 monthly dole out under the law are senior citizens who are frail, sickly, […]
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) needs a shot in the arm as it might have its last breath after 10 months since it is fast losing blood with its fund payout larger than its members’ monthly contributions and income. This was disclosed by PhilHealth board member Eddie Dorotan, who […]
Next 500 Philippines rich towns, poor towns annual regular income in 2014, the second batch of the 1,502 in the country. While income was arranged beginning from the highest, it is not inferred that the town referred to is really that rich since we do not take into account the […]
Big money projects under the government’s Public Private Partnership program is a crowd drawer among investors. The P171-billion South Line of the North South Railway Project (NSRP) under the public-private partnership (PPP) program has attracted five firms already. Leading the pack of parties interested include Ayala Corp., Metro Pacific Investments […]
The Rich, Richier, Richest. Philippine towns with top regular income in fiscal year of 2014. Of the 1,502 local government units referred to as municipalities (or towns) of the Philippines, many reported high earnings (annual regular income) for the fiscal year end of 2014. Below is a listing of these […]
The project on free Wi-Fi internet access nationwide as envisioned by the Philippine Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as the prime mover is underway. It aims to offer world wide web access in all accessible places in the country, particularly on town plazas, public parks, government offices (national agencies, […]
Proponents for the devolution of government owned and operated hospitals, which before were geared to serve the poor and needy patients, were right after all. Take for example the eight devolved hospitals in the province of Albay. The provincial health office takes pride that it was successful in its operations, […]
This is one good news for real propery owners in Naga City. The local government last January 14th opened an online service for payment of real property tax which definitely exempt people from the hazzle of physically going to payment centers just to pay the bill. The new facility augurs […]
The good news here is that the Philippine Department of Tourism is hosting the ASEAN Tourism Forum from Jannuary 18th up to the 22nd of this year. The other half of the news is way different. After the government foot the bill of P10 billion APEC summit last November 2015, […]
Study shows that for a mega-city comparable to Metro Manila, 25 percent of the total land area should be allotted for roads which should be 8,000 kilometers. But based on Metro Manila Development Authority’s records, the National Capital Region has only 5,000 kilometers of road network, way far from the […]
Three huge National Irrigation Administration projects worth P336,845,505.73 is underway for Ilocos Norte, Bukidnon and Davao Del Sur. The amount is earmarked to rehabilitate, improve irrigation systems and fund the construction of irrigators’ association support facilities. The finalized project contracts under the National Irrigation Sector Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (NISRIP) […]
Billionaire provinces. Of the 81 provinces of the Philippines, 12 earned a regular annual income for fiscal year 2014 of P2 billion and above. Bulacan led the pack among the 9 provinces of Luzon, Visayas (Cebu and Negros Occidental) and Mindanao (Bukidnon). Twenty eight provinces earned between P1-billion and P1.9-billion […]
The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) Terminal Passenger Building project, has received an international recognition from a reputable press institution. Thomson Reuters’ Project Finance International (PFI) hailed the public-private parnership project that was awarded to GMR Infrastructure and Megawide Consortium as the “2015 Best Transport Deal” in Asia-Pacific (APAC) last December […]
The Philippines has a total of 145 cities, either highly urbanized, independent or component as of December 2015. Of these local government units, 41 registered a regular annual income of P1 billion and above. In the lead pack include Quezon, Makati, Manila, Pasig and Davao. Fifty four cities registered an […]
The Philippine government has appropriated P6.5 billion in the 2016 General Appropriation Act (GAA) for the rehabilitation and upgrading of provincial roads in 73 provinces. The Department of Budget confirmed the allocation of funds is performance-based with the recipient provinces chosen on compliance with good governance standards. Dubbed KALSADA (Konkreto […]
List: 53 median Bicol towns annual regular income for FY2014 range between P50M and P99-M. For fiscal year ending December 2014, of the 107 Bicol towns, 53 reported an annual regular income between P99.9-million and P50.04-million. The first six local government units which may soon breach the P100-M mark include […]
34 Bicol towns surpass the P100-Million annual regular income for 2014. For fiscal year ending December 2014, of the 107 Bicol towns, 34 breached the P100-million mark in their annual regular income. The first five local government units include the mining town of Aroroy (Masbate), Daraga (Albay), Labo (CamNorte), Daet […]
The Social Security System (SSS) has earmarked a total of P6.34 billion for the 13th month pensions of over two million pensioners for retirement, disability and death which is scheduled for release to the pensioners’ bank accounts and via mail this December. System Vice President for Benefits Administration Division Agnes […]
The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading on Wednesday the proposed Salary Standardization Law (SSL) for 1.53 million state workers. The measure, House Bill No. 6268, provides the compensation package composed of a salary increase, a mid-year 14th month pay, and an enhanced performance-based bonus (PBB) system. […]
Bicameral conference committee okays proposed 2016 national budget. The proposed 2016 national budget on Wednesday was approved ahead of schedule by members of the bicameral conference committee. The consolidated report, which contains the details of next year’s P3.002-trillion budget, is expected to be ratified by both chambers on or before […]
CLARK AIR BASE, PAMPANGA, Nov. 28 — A deep-throated roar in the sky heralded the arrival of the country’s first two FA-50PHs and return of the supersonic capability of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) Saturday morning. The two aircraft, with tail numbers OO1 and 002, landed at Clark Air Base, […]
The Philippine Senate on Thursday night passed on third and final reading the proposed Php300.2- trillion national budget for 2016 with some major amendments including the Php10.78-billion augmentation to the Department of National Defense budget. Other amendments introduced in the Senate finance committee report included the restoration of the P500 […]
Malacanang on Thursday said President Benigno S. Aquino III will attend the 21st Conference of the Parties for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on Nov. 30. The working visit will enable Aquino to further expand Philippine bilateral ties and cooperation with the Holy See, France, and […]
The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of graft and corruption charges against one-term Albay congressman Rino Lim for the anomalous utilization of his 2007 PDAF amounting to P27 million. Lim, together with five Technology Resource Center officials, Kaagapay Magpakailanman Foundation Inc. (KMFI) representatives and Carmelita Barredo of […]
The Commission on Audit on its 2014 annual financial report has tagged Cebu the richest province of the country. Cebu has an equity of P28.181 billion. Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III said he was glad about the province doing well in equity and assets based on the report. “Well, that […]
Pres. Aquino shows pomp and extravagance in APEC welcome dinner What was once an indoor arena typically used in sporting events was transformed into a lush green wonderland on Wednesday night for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Welcome Dinner hosted by Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III. The welcome dinner, […]
Malacanang on Friday defended the P10-billion budget for the hosting of the 2015 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), by saying it is the country’s economy that will benefit most from the amount that the Philippines invested for the prestigious event. ”For the attendance alone, it is expected that more or […]
The Philippines is set to sign next month an P89-billion loan agreement with Japanese government to partially finance the North-South commuter rail project (NSCRP) meant to ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila. “The loan agreement for the project will be signed during Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to the […]
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said that there are close to six million voter’s identification (ID) cards still unclaimed in its local offices all over the country. But the poll body was quick to say that voter’s ID is not a requirement in voting in the May 2016 polls. With […]
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) reported that government agency allotments continue to keep ahead of last year’s rates, with 96.4 percent of funds already released to departments and agencies as of September 30. Allotment releases to agencies over the first nine months of 2015 outpaced last year’s figures, […]
P3.002-Trillion 2016 budget gets nod from House of Representatives The House of Representatives on Friday approved on third and final reading the proposed P3.002 trillion national budget for 2016. The approval was made possible after Malacañang certified the measure as urgent. House Bill 6132, or the General Appropriations Bill of […]
Street families, indigenous people and victims of disaster belonging to 203 families are the first batch of beneficiaries of the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer of the Department of Social Welfare and Development who received prepaid cards of the Land Bank of the Philippines. Through the prepaid cards, beneficiaries of MCCT […]
The presence of earth movers, heavy engineering equipments, signals the start of construction of the Legazpi boulevard extension along the northern coastline of the city that will serve also as a sea wall. The P240 million project of the national government is under the auspices of the Department of Public […]
MANILA, May 19 — President Benigno S.Aquino is now worth P69.31M including the increase of about P1.82 million in 2014. A copy of the Chief Executive’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) distributed to members of the Malacanang Press Corps Monday showed that the President’s net worth as […]
DAET, Camarines Norte, May 13 — Not done yet naming, renaming places, streets, etc., honoring former President Corazon C. Aquino? On Monday, Secretary Rogelio Singson of the Department of Public Works and Highways disclosed that another one is coming up. An 8.7 kilometer stretch of public road that runs from […]
OTTAWA, Canada, May 10 — President Benigno S. Aquino III attended the ceremonial tree planting at the grounds of Rideau Hall, the official residence of the governor general of Canada, when he arrived here on Thursday. Governor General David Johnston and spouse Sharon, accompanied the president in planting a red […]
MANILA, May 9 — Surveys says 45% of respondents favor peaceful negotiations with MILF. What can cause a certain lift of joy when it is offered by pollsters? And to whom? For sure, this one does. The recent findings of Social Weather Stations (SWS) put a smile on the face […]
MANILA, April 30 — After the ASEAN presidential trip to Kuala Lumpur, President Benigno S. Aquino III will cross the Pacific with a working visit in Chicago and state visit of Canada. The president is expected to meet with Filipino communities in the second week of May. President Aquino will […]
LEGAZPI CITY, April 18 — Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda is facing a P47 million malverzation charge filed by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) before the Office of the Ombudsman. Unfazed Salceda on Thursday said he is ready to face the charge for alleged ghost deliveries of relief […]
MANILA, April 14 – Line-item budgeting is the way to go for the funding of the proposed Bangsamoro government if Bicolano Senator Francis Escudero will have his way. The senator said on Tuesday he will push for the line-item budgeting of the PhP70-billion that the proposed Bangsamoro government stands to […]
MANILA, April 10 –The P170.7-B North-South railway project- South Line to boost Bicol economy. The Bicol region will get the needed business and economic upliftment in the proposed P170.7 billion North-South Railway Project- South Line. Once completed, it is seen to considerably shorten the travel time from Manila to the […]
MANILA, April 9 — The first quarter of 2015 was over, or three months have passed, and President Benigno S. Aquino III has to issue a directive for all heads of departments and agencies to undertake measures and ensure prompt execution of their budgets for fiscal year 2015 so programs […]
MANILA, March 27 — The Philippines is funding identified big ticket priority and vital government projects sourced through loan grants and developmental assistance programs from Japan. Some of these include four Official Development Assistance (ODA) grant projects amounting to JPY 2.789 billion (approximately PhP 1.195 billion) and two yen loan […]
TIAONG, Quezon, March 24 — The briefing on the P13.1-billion Southern Luzon Expressway-Toll Road 4 (SLEX-TR4) extension project was held here with President Benigno S. Aquino, III in attendance. The 58-kilometer project will link Sto. Tomas, Batangas all the way to Lucena, Quezon. The four-lane project, which was mandated under […]
CAWAYAN, Masbate, March 17 — The appointment of vice-governor Vince Home Revil as acting governor of Msbate province is disrupting government funded projects in this town. Revil allegedly withholds funding of projects alloted to the municpality which are already financed by the provincial government while detained Governor Rozalina Lanete was […]
MANILA, March 16 — Speaking on the funding issues surrounding the proposed Bangsamoro region, Department of Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said, “We must consider the prevailing conditions in the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The region requires strong and consistent funding support to lift it out of poverty.” […]
MANILA, Mrch 1 – Detained Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. is expected to seek a pass to be with son who was reportedly shot and wounded by himself in accident yesterday. The family lawyer said the shooting was an accident. He clarified that Cavite vice governor Jose Lorenzo “Jolo” Bautista III […]
LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 27 — Calls and suggestions to declare Xian Lim as persona non grata in Albay, which was first suggested and mentioned on this site, yet Governor Joey Sarte Salceda did not yield, saying doing so contradicts their campaign to promote Albay. The tsinito charm and attraction of […]
On Friday the graft court Sandiganbayan sent Masbate Gov. Rizalina Seachon-Lanete to the detention facility in Bicutan, Taguig City. She joins alleged pork barrel brains queen Janet Lim-Napoles and fellow suspect Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes. Atty Laurence Arroyo legal counsel of the embattled governor said he was hoping that Lanete […]
Metro road projects to ease traffic will cause gridlocks during construction MANILA, Feb. 16 – The Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) will start in April the construction of another major infrastructure project aimed at easing the flow of traffic in Metro Manila. Commuters are aware that once the […]
Legal counsel quits on Senator Bong Revilla MANILA, Feb. 12 — The lead counsel of detained Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla had formally severed his legal relations with the senator in a two-page document submitted to the anti-graft court reveals Thursday. Lawyer Joel Bodegon, in his manifestation sent to the Sandiganbayan […]
CBSUA engineer gets P247-K grant for water lily harvester Bicolano engineer Joel Sadol has been commissioned by the Department of Science and Technology for the fabrication of an improved water hyacinth harvester seen to benefit local fisher folk and handicraft makers in Camarines Sur. The grant of P247,000 for Engr. […]
Lanete, 4 other former House members face plunder and graft The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday filed plunder, graft and malversation charges against five former members of the House of Representatives before the Sandiganbayan over alleged fraudulent transactions involving P339 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or “pork barrel” […]
MANILA, Dec 2 — The National Government registered a P2.5 billion fiscal deficit in October, even as expenditures continued in a slower pace than revenues. But instead of delving into the details of the deficit, the National Economic Development Authority, in a statement, was more into highlighting the positive notes […]
We are crunching figures here. This time, we discuss how the six Bicol provinces spent the people’s money in 2009. Selected were five current operating expenditures which ate up much of the operating income of, and by comparison with, all six provincial local government units. General Public Service The province […]
Proponents for the devolution of government owned and operated hospitals, which before were geared to serve the poor and needy patients, were right after all. Take for example the eight devolved hospitals in the province of Albay. The provincial health office takes pride that it was successful in its operations, […]
Fund for the construction of the much delayed project of Bicol International Airport was already approved by the Department of Transportation and Communications. According to Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, DOTC Secretary Abaya called him up last Friday that the P780-million fund for the project has already been awarded. The now […]
The Bureau of Internal Revenue has collected P101.8 billion for the month of October 2014. The tax revenue collected is 6.5% or P6.2 billion more than in October of 2013. For October this year,2014, collections from operations amounted to P99.64 Billion, which is P6.42 billion or 6.88% more than in […]
Lanete, 4 other former House members face plunder and graft The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday filed plunder, graft and malversation charges against five former members of the House of Representatives before the Sandiganbayan over alleged fraudulent transactions involving P339 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or “pork barrel” […]
MANILA, Oct. 10 — The Philippine government is spending around P7.1 million for President Benigno S. Aquino III’s presence in the 7th Bali Democracy Forum from October 9 to 10 in Indonesia, according to Malacanang. The amount covers expenses for transportation, accommodation, food, equipment and other requirements of the president […]
P3.002-Trillion 2016 budget gets nod from House of Representatives The House of Representatives on Friday approved on third and final reading the proposed P3.002 trillion national budget for 2016. The approval was made possible after Malacañang certified the measure as urgent. House Bill 6132, or the General Appropriations Bill of […]
The Ombudsman has found probable cause to criminally charge a former member of the House of Representatives representing a district of Masbate province before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan, in connection with the alleged misuse of the pork barrel funds. Current Masbate governor and former congressional district representative Rizalina L. Seachon-Lañete […]
Newly elected and first term congressman Luis Raymond Villafuerte of the second district of Camarines Sur was handed down a preventive suspendion order by the Sandiganbayan. On Wednesday the graft court ordered the suspension for 90 days of the former Camarines Sur governor who held the post for nine years […]
But while Bicol LGUs earn millions (in pesos), it does not follow that the constituents are also that rich. On the contrary, not much has changed on more than majority of the people’s earnings and income. Many families are still below the poverty threshold level around the region. So that there is the strong contrast of the government awashed with money and the people stricken in poverty.
The advocacy organization Social Watch Philippines alleges that the 2015 General Appropriations Act (GAA), which President Benigno S. Aquino III will sign before the end of the year, is very much loaded with pork barrel funds. The budget watchdog said in a report that vulnerabilities in the 2015 national budget […]
There is no stumbling block on the surge of Camarines Norte’s capital of Daet to the top of regional ranking by income of Bicol municipalities for the year 2005. Albay province’s top earner Daraga did not even take the second spot and was relegated to number 3. LGU Labo (again, of Camarines Norte) ranked second.
MANILA, March 16 — Speaking on the funding issues surrounding the proposed Bangsamoro region, Department of Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said, “We must consider the prevailing conditions in the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The region requires strong and consistent funding support to lift it out of poverty.” […]
For income year of 2007, the local government unit of Libon eclipsed the always front runner first class Albay town of Daraga which slid one notch lower. Libon earned over P113M against Daraga’s P109.8M. Polangui followed in far third with P84M. Coming close was Bacacay with P83.6M annual income.
Here is the unofficial financial data about the Philippine provinces on tax revenue for fiscal year 2009. Tax revenue include real property, tax on business and other taxes. Of the 80 provinces, 11 collected property tax over P155M. The list is topped by Pangasinan with collection of P437,984,080; followed by […]
MANILA, Nov. 9 — The Philippine government is spending P24 million for President Benigno Aquino III’s newest trips abroad to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation-Economic Leaders’ meeting and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit. President Benigno S. Aquino III is set to attend the 25th Association of Southeast Asian […]
CAWAYAN, Masbate, March 17 — The appointment of vice-governor Vince Home Revil as acting governor of Msbate province is disrupting government funded projects in this town. Revil allegedly withholds funding of projects alloted to the municpality which are already financed by the provincial government while detained Governor Rozalina Lanete was […]
Billionaire provinces. Of the 81 provinces of the Philippines, 12 earned a regular annual income for fiscal year 2014 of P2 billion and above. Bulacan led the pack among the 9 provinces of Luzon, Visayas (Cebu and Negros Occidental) and Mindanao (Bukidnon). Twenty eight provinces earned between P1-billion and P1.9-billion […]
There are similarities between the cities of Davao and Puerto Princesa. Both have large land area than any of the cities one can locate in the country. Same cities are outside of Metro Manila. Before, respective residents claim either of the two LGUs was the biggest in the Philippines in terms of territory covered. Checking their websites and Wikipedia recently, it seems that has been settled.
In a seemingly desperate but obsessed dream of guiding Daet into becoming a city, the local officials are into a frenzy of proposed redevelopment projects. According to mayor Tito Sarion, “… we are presently in the process of implementing large-scale facelift projects such as the P30-million local government center, P30-million […]
MANILA, Dec. 10 — President Benigno S. Aquino III will be no-show in the 25th ASEAN-ROK commemorative summit in Busan, South Korea. Earlier, reported here that the president will be off to South Korea on December 11-12, 2014 for the symbolic commemorative meet. Palace assistant spokesperson Abigail Valte told reporters […]
MANILA, May 19 — President Benigno S.Aquino is now worth P69.31M including the increase of about P1.82 million in 2014. A copy of the Chief Executive’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) distributed to members of the Malacanang Press Corps Monday showed that the President’s net worth as […]
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) needs a shot in the arm as it might have its last breath after 10 months since it is fast losing blood with its fund payout larger than its members’ monthly contributions and income. This was disclosed by PhilHealth board member Eddie Dorotan, who […]