Tag: DepEd

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Reconvening the Bicam to Correct the Constitutional Issue in the 2025 Budget

While we respect the President’s sole authority whether or not to exercise his veto power on the recently legislated 2025 national budget, the Constitution, specifically Article XIV Sec 5 (5) is unequivocal in giving “education the highest budgetary priority.”

With that being said, in choosing not to veto, he can still correct this constitutional infirmity by appealing to Congress to reconvene the bicameral conference and rectify the budget imbalance between the education and infrastructure sectors and be compliant with the 1987 Constitution, while the Enrolled Bill is not yet submitted for his signature and approval.

I believe it will not take one whole day to do it.

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On the Slash in the DepEd’s Budget

Only the President can save the Constitution from becoming wastebasket-bound by exercising his line item veto power once the Enrolled Bill lands on his desk.

How so? The bicameral conference committee reduced the DepEd budget to P737 billion and increased that of the DPWH to P1.113 trillion.

This blatantly violates Art XIV Sec 5(5) which declares that “The State shall assign the highest budgetary priority to education and ensure that teaching will attract and retain its rightful share of the best available talents through adequate remuneration and other means of job satisfaction and fulfillment.”

Continue reading “On the Slash in the DepEd’s Budget”

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On Sonny Angara’s Appointment as DepEd Secretary

Win one, lose one. Senate’s loss, DepEd’s gain. Sen/Sec Sonny Angara carries with him eminent qualifications, wealth of experience as he faces new challenges in his public service career. Godspeed!

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#PINGterview: Enough Funds for COVID Vaccines in 2021 Budget

In an interview on CNN Philippines, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
* funds for COVID-19 vaccines in the 2021 budget
* more agencies with cuts in the 2021 budget

MORE DETAILS:
 Continue reading “#PINGterview: Enough Funds for COVID Vaccines in 2021 Budget”

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Lacson Renews Call for Transparency in Congressional Amendments to the 2021 Budget

Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson renewed his call to fellow lawmakers for transparency, “particularly our amendments in the 2021 budget bill.”

Lacson stressed transparency is crucial to dispel suspicions of “compromises and personal interests in our proposed amendments.”

“If we have nothing to hide, we have to make our amendments public, as I have done in my case, so those amendments can be scrutinized by the media as well as the public. It is the mandate of Congress to make amendments to the budget bill; we cannot just adopt the National Expenditure Program in toto,” he said in an interview on DZRH radio Friday evening.

Continue reading “Lacson Renews Call for Transparency in Congressional Amendments to the 2021 Budget”