As part of government efforts to bring down the retail price of rice, the move of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. to remove branding on rice will proceed, despite warnings that it could further sow confusion.

Former Senate president Franklin Drilon raised alarm over the staggering P731.4 billion in pork barrel allocations across 2024 and 2025, a massive amount that has largely remained unchecked.

The Philippines should address this year the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and loss of biodiversity, according to Sen. Loren Legarda.

Citing security concerns, Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino is calling for a probe into the submersible drone recently found in Masbate.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. denied Sen. Raffy Tulfo’s claim that President Marcos seems to have been deceived as Philippine offshore gaming operators are said to be still operating in the country despite the presidential directive.

The investigation of the Senate panel on the alleged scamming and human trafficking in Clark related to Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) can already be terminated as numerous loopholes in existing laws have been exposed, Senate Minority Lea...

Flood control projects need to be investigated, Senate President Francis Escudero said yesterday as he questioned their usefulness amid the multibillion-peso allocation every year.

President Marcos’ approval rating will surely soar if he announces in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) a total ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) firms, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said yesterday.

As an elected official, suspended Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac should present herself to the Senate and help in the probe of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), senators said on Sunday.

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa has no intention of resigning as a member of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino as he and fellow Sen. Bong Go have “nowhere else to go.”

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) should come up with more granular and location-specific heat indexes to guide schools and local government units to remove the “arbitrariness” in class suspension...

Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor Ejercito yesterday expressed elation over the long-overdue release of retirement pay for a total of 145 former employees of the government-run television network Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp. or IBC-13.

The order for the arrest of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOLC) pastor Apollo Quiboloy for contempt is already in effect, according to the House committee on legislative franchises.

Sen. Robinhood Padilla’s actress-wife Mariel Rodriguez has apologized for turning the senator’s office into a health clinic, but clarified that she received a vitamin C drip and not whitening glutathione, as earlier reported.

Foreign business leaders yesterday weighed in on proposals to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution while legal luminaries said they see no need to change the Charter.

The Senate has started discussions on a proposed measure to impose value-added tax (VAT) on foreign streaming platforms like Netflix and HBO Gold operating in the country.

Sen. Grace Poe is urging the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to publicize a complete list of routes and ensure mobility of the commuting public once the public utility vehicle modernization program is implemented.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada does not see any political color in the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division’s ruling that found him guilty of one count of direct bribery and two counts of indirect bribery over his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.

The first hearing of the House committee on transportation has been set for Jan. 10 following Speaker Martin Romualdez’s order to verify reported anomalies in the public utility vehicle modernization program.

Senate colleagues of Sen. Francis Tolentino are discussing his possible replacement as Blue Ribbon committee chairman, saying he has become busy with preparations for his re-election bid in 2025.

Citing humanitarian reasons, the House of Representatives released from detention yesterday two hosts of the Sonshine Media Network International.

Five years after the country’s withdrawal during the previous administration, Sen. Francis Escudero supported the decision of President Marcos to thoroughly study calls for the Philippines to rejoin the International Criminal Court.

Following data breaches in the past months involving several government agencies, the National Privacy Commission will get an additional P100 million for next year to do a better job of protecting the people’s data and fighting cyberattacks, Sen. Grace...

Senators are eyeing an additional P2 billion to finance the government’s supplementary feeding program next year to meet the nutritional needs of 1.8 million kids in public daycare and development centers.

Over P150 million has been earmarked under the proposed P5.768-trillion national budget for 2024 to gather information on basic and functional literacy rates and educational skills qualifications, according to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.

Former vice president Leni Robredo introduced former senator Leila de Lima to a representative from Amnesty International during their reunion in Naga, Camarines Sur on Thursday morning.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has been asked to clarify its guidelines and directives related to the Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB) and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) federation elections to ensure smooth transition.

After the sixth attack of the China Coast Guard on Philippine vessels on a resupply mission in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), a senator is recommending to the executive department the recall of the Philippine ambassador to China as a “high level of con...

After the Philippines withdrew its request for official development assistance from China for a railway project, six other projects under ODA have also been delayed, according to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.

While the executive department is still “perfecting” the Maharlika Investment Fund, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III is calling for the immediate return of P75 billion to the government-run banks.

Two weeks after the confiscation of suspected smuggled imported rice worth P505 million in Bulacan, the Bureau of Customs failed to file charges against those involved, Sen. Francis Escudero said.

The Commission on Appointments confirmed yesterday the ad interim appointment of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., who raised concern over external threats through internal activities by taking control of the local economy and processes.

Despite the designation of Department of Migrant Workers Undersecretary Hans Cacdac to temporarily head the DMW after secretary Susan “Toots” Ople died last month, jockeying for the position continues.

The Department of Education should ensure that its proposed budget for 2024 would cover and address the learning loss resulting from school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.

The Senate hopes to pass the reformed pension system of military and uniformed personnel before yearend, according to Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

A photo of a smiling monkey passed through undetected in the SIM card registration site of telecommunications companies, according to the National Bureau of Investigation.