What happens to the vetoed payment for personnel services? The item was among seven UA allocations vetoed by Ferdinand Marcos Jr. when he signed the 2026 General Appropriations Act. Budget Secretary Rolando Toledo said personnel benefits are guaranteed and earned, covering both civilian employees and military and uniformed personnel. Tinio, however, criticized the veto, saying it effectively confirms that new hires and retirement-related personnel requirements could be placed at risk. He also faulted the DBM for addressing only P24 billion previously associated with the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund, rather than the full P43.24 billion vetoed under unprogrammed appropriations.

Leviste thanks lawyer for confirming claimsRep. Leandro Leviste (Batangas, 1st District) holds a press conference on Monday, Aug. 26, 2025 after filing criminal cases against the district engineer who attempted to bribe him. MANILA, Philippines — Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste yesterday thanked lawyer Mae Divinagracia for confirming several of his claims regarding the so-called “Cabral files.”Leviste also thanked Divinagracia for confirming that he lawfully obtained the documents, refuting insinuations that he forcibly took it from the late public works undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral. Divinagracia’s description of the documents corresponds with his copy of the files and other people’s copies secured from the DPWH, Leviste pointed out. Cabral and, more broadly, how testimonies that do not fit certain narratives have been left out of investigations,” Leviste said. Recalling a Sept. 4, 2025 conversation with Cabral, Leviste said the late DPWH undersecretary told him that she felt bad about having been made to tender a courtesy resignation instead of retiring early.

Might makes right? Then US president Barack Obama, who authorized the raid, said, “Justice has been done” – and the world largely agreed with him. * * *Maduro’s capture was more surgical than the US invasion of Panama, ordered by then president George H.W. But that operation to depose a Latin American leader did not raise as much concern as the capture of Maduro. The fear is that if the international rules will be replaced by might makes right, states like ours with no credible self-defense capability are doomed.

Palace squelches Cabinet revamp rumorsMANILA, Philippines — There will be no changes in President Marcos’ Cabinet for now, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro clarified yesterday following a report that an “extensive” revamp could affect as many as nine agencies. “As of now, we have not heard of any impending revamp,” Castro said at a Palace press briefing. According to a report by an online news site, the supposed Cabinet shake-up is meant to address the declining trust and approval ratings of the President. The report noted that while the extent of the reshuffle may vary from agency to agency, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa appears to be on thin ice. The last Cabinet shakeup was in November when Marcos accepted the resignations of then executive secretary Lucas Bersamin and budget secretary Amenah Pangandaman.

Palace sees Chavit’s protest call vs Marcos as seditionMANILA, Philippines — Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson’s call for a “one-time big-time” rally to remove President Marcos is considered inciting to sedition, a Malacañang official said yesterday. “For me, my take, yes, as a lawyer, because provoking people to oust the President is inciting to sedition,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told dzMM. “The question is, did he convince anyone?”Castro said it’s up to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to look into the matter. “The DOJ has the authority to investigate (the issue) motu proprio,” she said. The Armed Forces of the Philippines slammed Singson yesterday as the AFP leadership rejected calls for the military to engage in partisan politics.

‘Bondi Beach gunmen didn’t train in Philippines’MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines welcomed yesterday Australia’s findings that the two gunmen accused of attacking a Jewish celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach did not train in the Philippines. The DFA said the official made the statement in a press conference in Canberra on Dec. 30, 2025. As cooperation on the Bondi investigation continues, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro emphasized the Philippines’ firm commitment to counter terrorism, prevent violent extremism and nurture closer intelligence and law-enforcement cooperation with Australia and other foreign partners. “The Philippines and Australia will continue to jointly address transnational security threats, including terrorism, through sustained information sharing, operational coordination and capacity-building initiatives,” Lazaro said.

Producer prices post slower growth in NovemberData released by the PSA showed that the Producer Price Index (PPI) for manufacturing posted a slower uptick of 0.1 percent in November 2025 from 0.5 percent in October last year. MANILA, Philippines — Factory gate prices picked up at a slower pace in November 2025 as transport equipment prices declined, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said. The November PPI growth was also slower than the 0.5 percent increase in the same month in 2024. Transport equipment contributed 25.8 percent to the slower PPI growth in November 2025. Average PPI growth from January to November last year was at 0.4 percent.

Factory output drops to 4-month low in NovemberMANILA, Philippines — The country’s manufacturing output dipped to a four-month low in November last year due to slower increases in the production of food and refined petroleum products, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). This was the lowest VoPI result seen since the 0.7 percent dip in July 2025. From January to November 2025, average VoPI growth was at -0.1 percent. The PSA said the average capacity utilization rate for manufacturing in November 2025 was at 77.4 percent, slightly lower than the 77.6 percent in October last year. “All industry divisions reported capacity utilization rates of more than 60 percent during the month,” the PSA said.

BSP signals easing cycle nearing its endMANILA, Philippines — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) signaled that its monetary policy easing cycle is nearing its end as inflation remains subdued and within target, even as it acknowledged that the outlook for domestic growth has weakened further amid governance concerns and uncertainty over global trade policy. In a statement, the BSP said the inflation outlook remains benign and inflation expectations are well anchored. “On balance, the Monetary Board views the monetary policy easing cycle as nearing its end. On the policy outlook, Remolona said the BSP is already very close to where it wants to be in terms of the policy rate. This marked the latest move in the BSP’s easing cycle, which began in August 2025.

Just recently, China conducted military drills around Taiwan to highlight how easily and quickly it can seize control over the island nation if it wishes to do so. Rep. Leila de Lima had criticized the move of the US, warning that it was a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty. The Philippines is already limping from a decline in foreign investments and foreign tourists. As a peaceful island nation, we hope that we can skillfully and peacefully co-exist in our global community. The government must truly clamp down on criminality and corruption, one of the political factors that is also destabilizing the current administration.

Urban expresswaysWhat impressed me during my holiday visit to Kuala Lumpur last week are the urban expressways. Filipino traffic expert Rene Santiago told me NLEX and SLEX were built before any of Malaysia’s expressways. Urban expressways around Kuala Lumpur have taken anywhere from two to 10+ years to complete, depending on complexity, phasing and right-of-way issues. This innovative approach helps both flood control and urban traffic flow in a built-up environment. The urban planning of KL must have considered the need to have enough green spaces that are free of any concrete development.

Rockwell eyes P10 billion in bond market returnRockwell yesterday said it has obtained the highest credit rating of PRS Aaa from the Philippine Rating Services Corp. for its planned P10-billion bond issuance. MANILA, Philippines — The Lopez family’s Rockwell Land Corp. is returning to the bond market to raise as much as P10 billion to fund its expansion pipeline, particularly in Metro Manila, Cebu and Pampanga. Rockwell yesterday said it has obtained the highest credit rating of PRS Aaa from the Philippine Rating Services Corp. for its planned P10-billion bond issuance. Obligations assigned with PRS Aaa means the issuer’s capacity to meet financial commitments is extremely strong. Rockwell landed the best credit rating of PRS Aaa for its established brand name and reputable management team.

My new year’s wish: For PBBM to do betterI wish I could say that 2026 brings hope and optimism for the country. In the middle of it all is President Marcos Junior and his style of leadership – one seemingly bereft of ambition (for the country) and urgency. What I wish is for him to do better. I would like Marcos Junior to address, once and for all, the cancers that have impeded national development for decades. There are signs that Marcos Junior may be pushing for consequential reforms.

Business group wants rules on aid distributionMANILA, Philippines — The Makati Business Club (MBC) is urging President Marcos to issue an executive order covering the rules and mechanisms for the disbursement of state financial aid and limiting confidential funds to promote transparency and accountability in the national budget. Marcos vetoed P92.5 billion worth of unprogrammed appropriations in this year’s budget, but retained P150.9 billion in unprogrammed allocations. At Monday’s budget signing ceremony, Marcos said the government will prohibit politicians from taking part in the distribution of any financial aid. Marcos said this would be strictly implemented as the government wants to ensure that the support reaches the intended beneficiaries without patronage. To further strengthen budget transparency, Ferrer expressed support for the proposed Citizens’ Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability or CADENA Act, which seeks to make public spending fully transparent, traceable and accountable.

‘No big fish jailed? Marcos’ term not yet over’MANILA, Philippines — What ever happened to President Marcos’ pronouncement that the big fish behind the flood control mess would not have a merry Christmas? “The ones who were jailed definitely did not have a merry Christmas. If people are waiting, the President is also waiting. They happened only during the administration of President Marcos,” she said.