PASAY CITY, Philippines – Lawmakers are racing against time to finally pass the P3.7 trillion proposed 2019 national budget as they have until Friday (February 8) to extend session and to finalize the provisions of the bill.

House Committee on Appropriations Chair Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. said the proposed budget may possibly reach the table of President Rodrigo Duterte for signature by next week.

The senators will hold a caucus on Wednesday night to discuss the outcome of discussions at the ongoing bicameral conference committee especially on matters involving the alleged ‘pork insertions’ in the proposed budget.

Once everything is clear, the bill will likely proceed to ratification.

For his part, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he is likely to support the position of Senator Panfilo Lacson who is calling on President Duterte to veto the alleged ‘pork insertions’ in the bill, if necessary.

“Kung nararapat at kung talagang maliwanag na pork, bakit hindi? Dapat i-veto,” Sotto said.

Senator Sonny Angara, meanwhile, said the passage of the proposed national budget remains their top priority at this point.

Angara argued that unless the proposed budget is passed, the government will have no choice but to operate with a reenacted budget until July.

“Walang defined item for 2019. Maybe if there are savings in agencies, then they will use that, or there are funds na, unprogrammed funds, hindi natuloy ang project, doon nila kukunin ang pondo,” Angara explained.

Under a reenacted budget, all pending projects of the government for this year will definitely be affected.

Among them is the preparation for the upcoming 2019 midterm elections, specifically the lack of funds for honoraria for teachers who will serve as election officers in the polls. – Marje Pelayo (with reports from Nel Maribojoc)

Tags: duterte, pork insertions, proposed 2019 national budget, Senate

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the telecommuting act or the work from home bill.

This law institutionalizes telecommuting as an alternative work arrangement for employees in the private sector.

Telecommuting refers to a work arrangement that allows an employee in the private sector to work from an alternative workplace with the use of telecommunication or computer technologies.

An employer in the private sector may offer a telecommuting program to its employees on a voluntary basis and should not be less than minimum labor standards set by law including that for health, safety of workers, schedule and workloads, work hours and social security.

The secretary of labor and employment shall issue the appropriate implementing rules and regulations of this act in consultation with the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council within 60 days from the effectivity of the law. — UNTV News and Rescue

Tags: duterte, work from home

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte discusses the pressing concerns of the country during a dialogue with Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo at the Malacañan Palace on September 11, 2018. VALERIE ESCALERA/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

In a one-on-one interview with his chief legal counsel on Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte assured the public that his economic managers are addressing the issue of high inflation rate in the country.

“The economic managers are working on it already, we have a Cabinet meeting right after this and then I’ll also have the chance to ask questions,” he said.

The inflation rate in the country rose from 5.7 percent in the month of July to 6.4 percent in August 2018.

This is the highest inflation rate reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in nine years.

However, the Chief Executive said that no country is immune to inflation.

Duterte had earlier blamed US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies for the high inflation rate in the Philippines. — Rosalie Coz

Tags: duterte, inflation, sal panelo