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MANILA, Philippines – Three lawmakers from the House of Representatives maintained that the House-approved ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 reflects the needs of Filipinos, despite concerns over billions of pesos allocated for infrastructure projects.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, October 20, Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro, Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon, and Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua expressed confidence in the House leadership and their fellow lawmakers in preparing the proposed spending measure.
Their statements came after the People's Budget Coalition urged the Senate to remove questionable infrastructure allocations, particularly around ₱170 billion in additional funding for multipurpose buildings and local roads.
The coalition raised concerns about whether the projects were necessary and whether some allocations could involve irregularities.
Luistro, chairperson of the House Committee on Justice, cautioned against drawing conclusions about the proposed budget before Congress completes its deliberations.
She emphasized that the measure remains under legislative review, with the Senate authorized to introduce amendments and both chambers expected to reconcile any differences through a bicameral conference committee.
Luistro also maintained that infrastructure spending should be assessed according to the actual needs of communities.
She said projects that serve legitimate public purposes should not be considered problematic simply because they involve multipurpose buildings or local roads.
However, she stressed that projects that exist only on paper, commonly known as ghost projects, are unacceptable.
Ridon, chairperson of the House Committee on Public Accounts, supported a closer examination of the questioned allocations rather than automatically removing entire categories of infrastructure spending.
He said the primary consideration should be whether the proposed facilities address genuine community needs and benefit local residents.
Among the examples he cited were senior citizens' centers, barangay facilities, and municipal buildings, which may provide essential services to communities.
Ridon maintained that unnecessary projects should be rejected, while those with clear public benefits should be evaluated on their individual merits.
Meanwhile, Chua, chairperson of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, warned that a blanket removal of multipurpose building allocations could affect projects intended to support communities during emergencies.
He pointed out that some multipurpose facilities also serve as evacuation centers for residents displaced by floods and other disasters.
Chua emphasized that infrastructure requirements differ among communities and that lawmakers should consider the intended use and benefits of each project before deciding whether funding should be retained or removed.
Despite the questions surrounding the infrastructure allocations, the three lawmakers maintained that the House-approved spending measure should be given the opportunity to undergo the remaining stages of congressional deliberations.
The proposed ₱7.2-trillion national budget will still be reviewed by the Senate, which may retain, revise, or remove allocations before the final spending measure is reconciled by both chambers.
MANILA, Philippines — Filipino passport holders who frequently travel to Australia can apply for a visitor visa valid for up to 10 years, allowing multiple trips for tourism, family visits, and permitted business activities without applying for a new visa before every visit.
The Australian Department of Home Affairs confirms that the Philippines is among 11 countries whose citizens are eligible for the Visitor visa (subclass 600) under the Frequent Traveller stream.
However, the visa does not allow Filipinos to remain in Australia continuously for 10 years. Each entry is limited to three months, with additional restrictions on the total time visitors may spend in the country.
Under the Frequent Traveller stream, approved visitors may enter Australia repeatedly while their visa remains valid.
Each visit must not exceed three months, and the total period spent in Australia must not exceed 12 months within any 24-month period.
For example, a Filipino granted a 10-year visa could make several short trips to Australia over the years, provided the traveler complies with the permitted stay periods and other visa conditions.
The visa's actual validity period will be specified in the approval notice, as not every successful application is necessarily granted the full 10 years.
The program is available to eligible passport holders from the Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
Applicants must demonstrate that they are genuine temporary visitors and have sufficient funds to cover their stay and departure from Australia.
They must also satisfy applicable health, character, and immigration requirements.
The visa permits holidays, visits to relatives or friends, and certain business visitor activities, including attending meetings or conferences.
It does not authorize employment in Australia or provide a pathway to permanent residence on its own.
Applicants must be outside Australia when submitting the application and when immigration officials decide whether to grant the visa.
According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs, the Frequent Traveller stream carries an application charge of AUD 1,845, substantially higher than the standard Visitor visa Tourist stream for applicants outside Australia, which starts at AUD 250.
Additional expenses may apply for medical examinations, police certificates, biometrics, and payment processing.
For Filipinos who expect to visit Australia regularly, the longer visa validity could reduce the need to submit repeated visitor visa applications.
However, approval is not guaranteed, and the full 10-year validity remains subject to Australian immigration assessment.
Filipino travelers can submit applications online through ImmiAccount, the Australian government's official immigration platform.
Applicants should prepare a valid passport, documents explaining their travel purpose, evidence of financial capacity, and other supporting requirements requested during the application process.
The Department of Home Affairs also requires applicants under the Frequent Traveller stream to provide biometric information at an Australian Biometric Collection Centre.
Each family member must lodge a separate application, including children traveling with their parents.
The department currently does not publish a specific processing-time estimate for this visa stream.
Travelers are encouraged to review the latest visa conditions, fees, and application requirements through the Australian Department of Home Affairs before submitting their applications.
MANILA, Philippines — More Filipino families could soon receive government assistance for their children's private school education, with the House of Representatives proposing an additional ₱1.93 billion to extend school vouchers to learners from Kindergarten through Grade 6.
The funding was included in the House-approved version of the proposed 2027 national budget as part of efforts to improve access to basic education and ease overcrowding in public schools.
House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III announced the additional allocation alongside other education funding increases, emphasizing the need to provide students with greater opportunities to continue their education regardless of their families' financial circumstances.
The proposed funding would extend financial assistance to younger learners who currently fall outside the coverage of existing programs such as the Educational Service Contracting (ESC) Program and the Senior High School Voucher Program.
Under the envisioned expansion, eligible students could receive government subsidies to enroll in participating private schools instead of relying solely on public school enrollment.
The assistance is particularly intended for families in communities where public classrooms are overcrowded or where students have limited access to nearby public schools.
By using available spaces in qualified private schools, the program aims to reduce pressure on public school facilities while giving families additional educational options.
The ₱1.93-billion allocation forms part of the additional ₱10.06 billion earmarked by the House for education initiatives in its proposed 2027 budget.
The budget proposal follows another development in Congress involving legislation to expand private basic education assistance.
On September 22, the Senate and House of Representatives ratified the reconciled version of the proposed Private Basic Education Vouchers Assistance Act, combining provisions from House Bill No. 4744 and Senate Bill No. 1981.
The measure seeks to establish a more comprehensive government voucher system covering qualified learners from Kindergarten through Grade 12.
It would update the existing Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education framework and introduce changes intended to improve how financial assistance is allocated and monitored.
The proposed legislation also seeks to strengthen cooperation between public and private schools in addressing classroom shortages and improving access to basic education.
Under the proposed voucher expansion, priority would be given to qualified learners facing limited public school access.
These include students from overcrowded public schools, families living in communities with insufficient classroom capacity, and learners in areas without a nearby public school.
The proposed system is also designed to direct greater assistance toward disadvantaged learners and ensure that participating private schools meet applicable education standards.
However, not all students in Kindergarten through Grade 6 would automatically qualify for a voucher.
Eligibility requirements, subsidy amounts, and participating schools would depend on the final legislation, available funding, and implementing guidelines.
Despite the proposed expansion, parents and guardians should be aware that the additional voucher assistance is not yet available for application.
The ₱1.93-billion allocation remains subject to the completion of the 2027 national budget process.
Likewise, although both chambers of Congress have ratified the voucher expansion bill, ratification alone does not make it an enacted law.
The Department of Education (DepEd) has yet to announce the final application procedures, eligibility requirements, participating private schools, or voucher amounts for the proposed Kinder-to-Grade 6 coverage.
Families are advised to await official announcements from DepEd before preparing applications or making enrollment decisions based on the proposed assistance.
The next steps will depend on the completion of the legislative and budget processes, followed by the issuance of implementing guidelines for the expanded voucher program.
MANILA, Philippines — Iran has stepped up its warnings against the United States, threatening to expand its military targets across the Middle East if President Donald Trump authorizes another round of major attacks.
The warnings come as Tehran strengthens its military defenses amid concerns that large-scale fighting could resume following months of conflict between Iran and the United States.
Iranian officials have warned that a renewed American offensive could provoke retaliation against U.S. military interests and critical infrastructure in neighboring countries
Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, warned on October 11 that American-linked facilities across the region could become targets if the conflict escalates.
Among the potential targets he identified were undersea communication cables, data centers, and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Iranian media also identified energy facilities in Gulf countries, particularly the United Arab Emirates, as potential targets in another military confrontation.
The warnings suggest that Tehran is attempting to raise the potential economic and security consequences of renewed American military action.
According to an October 12 assessment by Critical Threats, Iran's statements appear intended to discourage Washington from resuming large-scale attacks by emphasizing the possible regional consequences.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Defense has reportedly instructed U.S. Central Command to complete preparations for possible renewed military operations against Iran.
Axios reported on October 7 that military planning was underway as Trump considered additional strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, energy infrastructure, and other strategic targets.
However, no specific date was established, and the U.S. president had not made a final decision on launching another major offensive.
In response to questions about the preparations, a Pentagon official told Anadolu Agency that the department's responsibility was to develop military options for the president's consideration.
Trump subsequently announced on October 8 that the United States would not launch additional attacks against Iran before the November 3 midterm elections.
The reported preparations therefore do not establish that renewed military strikes have already been authorized.
Iran has also been strengthening security around sensitive nuclear and strategic facilities.
According to The Wall Street Journal, satellite imagery showed additional defensive measures around nuclear sites, including Natanz and the facility known as Pickaxe Mountain.
Iranian officials have also stepped up public messaging and domestic mobilization efforts as the country prepares for the possibility of renewed large-scale hostilities.
The preparations follow months of military confrontation that began in February 2026, when the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran.
Although major fighting has subsided at various points, the broader conflict remains unresolved, with tensions continuing over military activities, regional security, and Iran's nuclear program.
The possibility of another major escalation has raised concerns among Gulf countries, particularly those hosting American military facilities and infrastructure.
Iran's warnings have extended beyond military installations to assets supporting regional energy supplies, communications, and digital services.
In a separate October 18 report, The Washington Post described continued Iranian pressure on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic route for global energy exports.
Disruptions to shipping and energy infrastructure have contributed to concerns about oil prices and the wider economic effects of the conflict.
Diplomatic efforts have continued alongside the military warnings, although major disagreements remain between Washington and Tehran.
MANILA, Philippines — Senators Raffy Tulfo, Robin Padilla, and Alan Peter Cayetano, along with Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, emerged in a statistical tie for the top four positions in an early survey of voter preferences for the 2028 senatorial elections.
The results were released by OCTA Research on Monday, October 19, as part of its third-quarter 2026 Tugon ng Masa nationwide survey.
Tulfo recorded the highest voting preference at 47%, followed by Padilla with 45%, Cayetano with 44%, and Sotto with 42%.
Despite the differences in their percentages, OCTA placed all four personalities within the same statistical rank range of first to fourth, indicating that their relative positions cannot be definitively established from the survey.
Former Senator Grace Poe received a 36% voting preference, while Senator Loren Legarda recorded 31%.
Other personalities included in the survey were former Makati City Mayor Abby Binay with 29%, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid with 28%, and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero with 27%.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara and former Senator Manny Pacquiao each received 25%, followed by broadcaster Ben Tulfo at 23% and Senator Jinggoy Estrada at 22%.
OCTA explained that several personalities had overlapping statistical rankings, particularly among those competing for places within the preliminary top 12.
The latest results also showed changes compared with OCTA's second-quarter 2026 survey conducted in July.
Padilla, who recorded 53.9% in the previous survey, received 45% in the latest round.
Tulfo's voter preference remained relatively stable, moving from 47.4% to 47%, while Cayetano's rating changed from 45.4% to 44%.
Sotto maintained a 42% voting preference across both survey periods.
Meanwhile, Poe's rating moved from 44.5% to 36%, while Legarda's declined from 39% to 31%.
Angara and Escudero registered higher percentages than in the previous survey, increasing from 19.2% to 25% and from 23.2% to 27%, respectively.
OCTA cautioned that comparisons between the two surveys should be interpreted carefully because the lists of prospective candidates presented to respondents were not identical.
The non-commissioned survey was conducted from September 28 to October 4, 2026, involving 1,200 respondents aged 18 and above.
Using face-to-face interviews and probability-based sampling, OCTA asked participants whom they would likely vote for if the May 2028 senatorial elections were held at the time of the survey.
Respondents were allowed to select up to 12 names from a hypothetical list of prospective candidates.
The poll had a nationwide margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points at a 95% confidence level.
OCTA emphasized that the findings represent public preferences during the survey period and should not be interpreted as predictions of election results.
The research firm also clarified that the names included in the survey do not constitute an official or final list of candidates for the 2028 elections.
