SOURCED FROM CURRENT NEWSPAPERS AND JOURNALS
India reached 326 for four, an overall lead of 164 runs, against West Indies at tea on the second day of the first Test here at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Friday.
Scores
WEST INDIES 162.
INDIA 326-4 in 96 overs (KL Rahul 100, Dhruv Jurel 68 not out, Ravindra Jadeja 50 not out, Shubman Gill 50, Yashasvi Jaiswal 36; Roston Chase 2-63).
Jamaica is the only Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country to have benefited from 23 projects funded by the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) Early Childhood Development Innovation Fund that has improved the quality of life of more than 700,000 children in Latin America and the Caribbean.
In a statement, the IDB said that in its eight years of implementation, during which it invested US$10 million, the initiative has also benefited 300,000 parents and caregivers and 5,000 childcare centers in the region.
The 23 projects funded in Jamaica, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and Uruguay explored new ways to boost attendance in early childhood education, improve the quality of interactions between children and caregivers, and address the situation of migrant children.
‘Investing in children’s development is a highly cost-effective strategy. Quality programmes for vulnerable children ages zero to five generate an annual return as high as 14 per cent,’ said Ferdinando Regalia, IDB Social Sector manager.
‘Not making these investments has a high cost for society and undermines the future education, economy, and health of an entire country,’ he added.
To find innovative ways to scale up child development programmes while emphasizing quality, the IDB joined forces with leading civil society organizations-FEMSA Foundation, Van Leer Foundation, María Cecilia Souto Vidigal Foundation, and Porticus-to create the fund.
The alliance came together to finance, design, implement, and evaluate novel and scalable approaches that improve the lives of children under age five in the region, with a focus on the most disadvantaged groups within each country.
The IDB said that in Latin America and the Caribbean, the cost of non-action in early childhood amounts to 1.6 per cent of the region’s gross domestic product (GDP).
It said millions of children in the region still lack essential health, nutrition, and early childhood stimulation services. The average country in the region only allocates 0.34 per cent of its GDP to preschool education, well below the average percentage in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries. This low investment restricts access to quality services and deepens social inequalities.
In addition to its projects, the Early Childhood Development Innovation Fund became a regional knowledge platform. It generated evidence on the most effective interventions and shared resources and best practices through the Community of Practice in Early Childhood Development and the Childhood Development Hub. This effort bolstered collaboration between governments, civil society, the private sector, and academia and laid the groundwork for more effective and sustainable public policies.
‘The achievements of the Early Childhood Development Innovative Fund in Latin America and the Caribbean reflect the IDB Group’s commitment to expanding the impact and scale of development initiatives to fuel sustainable economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean in a way that puts people at the center of development,’ the IDB added.
The leader of the main opposition Free National Movement (FNM), Michael Pintard, is calling on Prime Minister Philip to announce a date for the general election rather than hold a by-election to replace the Environment and Natural Resources Minister, Vaughn Miller, who died last weekend.
Miller, who served as parliamentary representative for the Golden Isles constituency, was found unresponsive last Sunday and pronounced dead at hospital.
General elections are scheduled to be held in The Bahamas by September 2026 to elect all 38 members of the House of Assembly and under the Parliamentary Elections Act, a writ for a by-election must be issued within 21 to 30 days of a vacancy.
Pintard said that with Bahamians facing financial hardship, it would be wasteful for the government to spend millions on a single by-election when national issues remain unresolved.
‘We’re discussing general election,’ he said, adding ‘given the financial challenges that the Bahamian people are facing, it would be interesting to see whether or not this government is prepared, to again, as they did in West Grand Bahama, spent over, we believe, US$10 million on one seat.’
Pintard said Bahamians have real life bread and butter issues that the government needs to dedicate resources to and that a ‘general election will give one party or another a new mandate, and so he ought to go to a general election’.
But asked by reporters on whether the FNM would not contest a by-election, Pintard responded by saying ‘I did not say that. I said exactly what I meant. We ought to go to a general election’.
Prime Minister Davis told The Tribune newspaper that it is too early to be making political decisions.
‘We are mourning at this time and I haven’t given consideration to that,’ he said, regarding a by-election.
‘The law requires me to call it within 60 days. I’m giving consideration to that.’
Meanwhile, former primer minister, Dr. Hubert Minnis, has sidestepped questions as to whether or not he will join the opposition Democratic National Alliance (DNA) and contest the and Killarney constituency, which he represents in the Parliament.
‘I’m wearing pink,’ Minnis said, adding ‘this is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I advise the entire Bahamas to wear pink this month. In Killarney, we’re organizing, at the end of this month, a pink walk for the Killarney residents. To show our respect for the women.
‘Men have breast also and men also get breast cancer. Not as common, but we do. I will be representing the people. Whatever the people want. I will represent Killarney and I will run in Killarney,’ said the medical practitioner.
Minnis, who served as prime minister between May 2017 to 16 September .
‘I’m running in Killarney. However it’s done, you will know, because you will see Minnis name on the ballot. And I’ve told my people as I go through, when you go to that poll, look for Minnis,’ the 70 year-old former FNM leader said.
The DNA was formed in 2011 by former former FNM government minister Branville McCartney. It contested three general elections – 2012, 2017 and 2021-but lost ground with each election and failed to win a seat in Parliament.
Its leader, Arinthia Komalafe, resigned in December 2021 and has since joined the FNM and was recently ratified as that party’s candidate for Carmichael.
THERE is an interesting take on European history happening onscreen and this is the story of Empress Elisabeth of Austria and her love affair and adventure with Franz Joseph of Austria. Bearing the title The Empress (its German title is Die Kaiserin), the tale is a push-and-pull between the grand and the intimate, with the depiction of the empire startling us with how miniscule sometimes the historical antecedents involving these grand personalities that once ruled the narratives of power and conquest in that part of the world.
The tale begins with a very young girl, an impulsive Sisi-the Bavarian Duchess, Elisabeth von Wittellsbach. She is pictured as tomboyish, a lover of horses, in contrast to her sister, the Duchess Helene, who is not only being groomed as the next Empress but is much willing to go through the challenge of being introduced to Franz Joseph of Austria.
As fate would have it, the young Sisi who much prefers to be addressed as Elisabeth sees Franz and is smitten and falls in love with the young man. Franz at this point has taken over the empire.
Ludovika travels with Helene and Elisabeth to Austria for the engagement. That day also happens to be the birthday of Franz and it is during this moment that he will announce his engagement with Helene. Without the knowledge of both their mother and Helene, Sisi and Franz have, more or less, found themselves liking each other. Indeed, during the birthday celebration, Franz announces who he will marry and it is Elisabeth, not Helene.
The wonder of it all is that there is no remorse on the part of Elisabeth; for the family of Elisabeth also, the complication did not last long-it just felt natural that, if the other daughter is not marrying the emperor, then the other one, if she is willing, can always be the empress.
What follows then is how Elisabeth tries to negotiate the court-its affairs and complexities. Along the way, characters like Johann Strauss, the great composer, make an appearance and in the soiree-which is more like a stag party before the wedding-even the mighty Franz Liszt regales the bacchanalia with his piano-playing.
I still have to complete viewing this spectacle of a drama. Handsomely photographed, The Empress is the kind of film that suffuses the screen with the splendor that we associate with desire and conquest. Emotions seem to run high and hot among these characters. Outside of Franz, the emperor, there is his brother Maximilian who, while wholly trusted by the brother, appears to teeter on the edge always of infidelity.
Empress Elisabeth herself is both a tough and a delicate character. Around her, there is the mother-in-law and other ladies-in-waiting who are, I am afraid, merely waiting for their chance to trick the young empress or, at least, expose her own frailties.
At certain points of the film, one gets this notion that only Elisabeth and Franz are the real human characters in this caper; the rest are cardboard characters straight out of illustrated comic magazines.
The Empress is created by Katharina Eyssen; it is written by Katharina Eyssen, Bernd Lange, and Janna Maria Nandzik. It is directed by Katrin Gebbe and Florian Cossen.
Devrin Lingnau, a German actress of Turkish descent, plays Elisabeth; Philip Froissant is Franz of Austria.
Which brings me to another film-Wayward. It is a strange story about young people, which while on the surface it feels like it is reaching out to them, in the end it manages to alienate the very depiction of the said population.
The film centers on two good friends-one a dyslexic and another, for lack of a newer term, a juvenile delinquent. Abbie belongs to a rather comfortable family but a father who demands a lot from her; Leila finds comfort in being with Abbie. In Abbie’s home, Leila is sent away by her friend’s father who does not hide his discomfort about this friend’s wayward habits.
Many things are happening in this film. For one, the film opens with a runaway, a boy who escapes from what would turn out to be the very institution that Abbie’s parents would later bring their daughter to. As this daring escape was taking place, a couple was moving into a countryside home. As this couple is gradually introduced to us, we realized that the ‘man’ of the house is a transgender – a transman. It looks like they are moving back to the hometown of the wife-we describe her as, pardon the term, a real woman-to lead a ‘normal’ life, to start anew. Later in the scene, Leila herself would bring up the modifier ‘queer’ to address Alex, the husband of the young, pregnant woman.
In the town, Alex notices an odd behaviour in many of the residents of the town. One day, upon returning from running an errand for his wife, Alex finds Evelyn, the head of the Tall Pines Academy, an institution that keeps troubled young men and women, in their home.
Leila would soon find Abbie in Tall Pines and with the help of Alex, they would try to uncover the dark secrets of the town.
Mae Martin who plays the transgender policeman, created the series, which made Wayward a gripping if not messy mystery thriller about abandonment, isolation and identity.
Toni Colette’s performance in the film is a tour de force, even if in most part she was stealing the scene from what would have been quiet depictions of events. Her character has been described as committed. The two young actors are a find: Alyvia Alyn Lind as Leila and Sydney Topfliffe as Abbie.
The House of Representatives on Friday wrapped up plenary deliberations on the proposed ?6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2026, hailing it as the ‘best and cleanest’ national budget that prioritizes programs aimed at directly uplifting the lives of Filipinos.
House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Rep. Mikaela Angela B. Suansing assured the public that the chamber is committed to ensuring that the 2026 national budget remains people-centered, transparent, and accountable.
‘We will make sure-in the House of Representatives-that the 2026 budget will be responsive to the needs of the Filipino people, transparent, and clean,’ Suansing said.
The House concluded plenary deliberations on the 2026 budgets of government agencies just past midnight on Friday.
The House Minority Leader is expected to deliver the traditional turno en contra on the proposed 2026 national budget this Monday.
She stressed that the budget priorities reflect the urgent needs of the population, highlighting investments in education, agriculture, health, job creation, and livelihood programs.
‘Our goal is to make it a human-centered budget. That is why our priority is education, agriculture, health, job creation, and livelihood. We want to improve the quality of life of every Filipino. That is what we pray will be the result of the budget we will pass,’ she added.
Suansing also expressed confidence that the measure will gain full support from the chamber.
‘With the help of the whole House and the collective wisdom of all its members, I am confident that we will be able to pass the best budget for 2026-one that truly responds to the needs of our people,’ she said.
Suansing stressed that the budget is not merely a policy document but a ‘backbone of fiscal policy’ and a reflection of government priorities.
Despite these challenges, she said the 2026 spending plan is anchored on a sound macroeconomic framework crafted by the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), projecting 6.0 to 7.0 percent GDP growth, inflation of 2.0 to 4.0 percent, a fiscal deficit of 5.3 percent of GDP, and a sustainable debt-to-GDP ratio of 61.8 percent by end-2026.
Suansing highlighted the redirection of ?255 billion initially earmarked for flood control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to essential services such as education, healthcare, agriculture, and social welfare. The DPWH’s allocation was reduced from ?881.3 billion to ?625.7 billion, while education received ?1.17 trillion, the largest in Philippine history. Healthcare will get ?409.8 billion plus an additional ?89.3 billion from realignments, and social welfare programs, including the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), will receive ?59.1 billion to help about 5.9 million Filipinos.
Agriculture is allocated ?284.13 billion, including ?41.09 billion for farm-to-market roads, irrigation, post-harvest facilities, and crop insurance. Under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk program, one million beneficiaries will receive ?7,000 each. Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment’s TUPAD program will be doubled to ?26.96 billion to assist 4.9 million displaced or disadvantaged workers.
The period of amendments and second reading approval will be on October 10.
In pushing for amendments, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste, vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, wants the DPWH to cancel or re-price ?1.6 trillion worth of ongoing and planned projects. Leviste said this could save the government ?400 billion, which could be redirected to health and education programs next year. He cited the recent termination of a ?95.99-million flood control project in Lemery, Batangas, as an example of how DPWH can enforce cost efficiency under existing procurement laws.
Under the Government Procurement Reform Act (RA 9184) and DPWH contract rules, projects can be terminated ‘for convenience’ if they become economically, financially, or technically impractical-or unnecessary-due to changes in law or government policy, without penalty to the government. Contracts may also be terminated for unlawful acts, such as corruption, fraud, use of substandard materials, or collusive practices.
Leviste noted that the Lemery case demonstrates how DPWH can use these provisions.
‘After all the hearings and protests against corruption in DPWH, there are still over P1 trillion in ongoing projects and another P600 billion in upcoming projects that DPWH can act on,’ Leviste said.
Meanwhile, the House is expected to approve the 2026 General Appropriations Bill on third and final reading by Monday, October 13. Once passed, it will be transmitted to the Senate, after which a bicameral conference committee will reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions.
Sunasing said bicameral sessions will be public.
The 2026 national budget is 7.4 percent higher than the enacted FY 2025 budget of ?6.326 trillion and carries the theme ‘Agenda for Prosperity: Nurturing Future-Ready Generations to Achieve the Full Potential of the Nation.’ Anchored on the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, it aims to prioritize education, healthcare, social protection, and food security.
Speaking just past midnight on Friday, Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III lauded the collective effort that ensured the budget deliberations were both open and comprehensive.
‘Our people can be assured that our process will remain open and transparent,’ Dy assured. ‘When I was elected Speaker, I said we would ensure that every centavo allocated in the budget to every agency would match the needs of our people. We will continue to work together to pass an open, orderly, and clean budget.’
The ADB’s latest Asian Development Outlook is a useful reality check. Slowing global growth, trade tensions and domestic governance problems have combined to nudge the Philippines’ GDP forecast down-modestly for now, but with risks that could turn a small downgrade into a meaningful derailment.
First, the external shock is palpable. The ADB highlights higher US tariffs and broader trade uncertainty as a drag on advanced-economy demand that, in turn, bleeds into the Philippines’ export and investment prospects. The imposition of a 19 percent tariff on Philippine exports to the US raises costs for exporters, and make long-run planning harder for businesses. For an economy that relies on both merchandise exports and foreign investment, the new tariff environment elevates downside risk. It is therefore appropriate that forecasts were trimmed-and that the government treats the change as urgency to diversify markets, upgrade product competitiveness, and support exporters adjusting to higher trade costs.
Second, domestic vulnerabilities matter just as much-if not more. ADB singled out the controversy around flood-control projects as a ‘heightened risk.’ Corruption, contract mismanagement and politicized public works do more than erode public trust; they destroy capital, delay critical infrastructure, and raise the cost of borrowing and doing business. Infrastructure built poorly or stalled by scandal becomes a recurring liability: vulnerable communities remain exposed to flooding, budgetary resources are wasted, and the private sector loses confidence.
Third, the apparent resilience of domestic consumption is a double-edged sword. The ADB and other analysts note that household spending has supported growth amid benign inflation. That is welcome. But deeper inspection shows this consumption is increasingly credit-fueled: higher credit-card use and salary-based loans have helped maintain demand, yet ANZ Research’s warning that some of these practices are ‘unhealthy’ should not be dismissed. Consumption driven by increasing household debt-without significant investment in assets or productive ventures-can obscure fundamental weaknesses. When interest rates or employment conditions shift, the weak link will show up in defaults. Policymakers and regulators should allow domestic demand to support growth while promoting responsible lending, improving financial literacy, and incentivizing savings and productive investment.
Fourth, the inflation outlook allows for policy flexibility, enabling further monetary easing as ADB expects inflation to remain within the BSP target. The BSP has already reduced rates to support growth. However, given global volatility, rate cuts must be data-driven, and temporary support should be linked to structural reforms that ensure financial stability.
The recent ADB downgrade should sharpen political will across the executive, the legislature and watchdog institutions. The Philippines has the demand fundamentals and demographic tailwinds to achieve stronger, inclusive growth. But that path requires greater transparency, fiscal discipline, responsible credit expansion and a proactive diversification of trade and investment ties.
The forecast downgrade serves as a warning, not a verdict. Policymakers need to act swiftly and decisively-addressing corruption that harms infrastructure, safeguarding household finances, and preparing the economy to withstand external shocks. By taking these steps, the Philippines can maintain and enhance its growth potential. Failing to act could turn today’s modest downgrades into more significant losses in the future.
Vientiane, Laos – Hinatuan Mining Corporation – Taganaan (HMC), a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC), has won the Best Practices in Distribution award at the 4th ASEAN Mineral Awards (AMA), held recently in Vientiane, Laos.
The AMA is a biennial event that recognizes excellence in mineral development across ASEAN, with a focus on sustainable practices, technological innovation, and responsible industry leadership.
This is the second recognition for HMC at the AMA. In 2023, the company was named 2nd runner-up in the same category during the ceremony in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
‘HMC’s continuous pursuit of excellence in distribution practices has solidified its position as a leader in the mining industry, further enhancing its reputation for corporate responsibility, efficiency, and sustainability,’ said NAC Senior Vice President and HMC Resident Mine Manager Francisco Aranes Jr.
HMC’s victory is the fourth AMA award earned by the NAC Group since the program’s launch in 2017. That year, Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTN), another NAC subsidiary, won the top prize in the Best Practices in Minerals Mining category, and later secured runner-up honors at the 2nd AMA in Bangkok under the Metallic Mining category.
HMC – Taganaan is one of six mining subsidiaries of the NAC Group. It is situated on the Hinatuan Island in Barangay Talavera within the municipality of Taganaan, Surigao del Norte. It operates within the Surigal Mineral Reservation, focusing on the export of saprolite and limonite ore.
Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed) celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Laser Center under the Department of Dermatology on September 30, 2025, with a meaningful program in collaboration with Breast Imaging Center and Department of Psychiatry at the 8F Tower 2 Auditorium.
With the theme ‘Courage,’ the event honored patients facing skin and breast cancer, as well as those navigating mental health challenges, while paying tribute to the compassion and dedication of the hospital’s doctors, nurses, and staff.
In his opening remarks, Interim Co-President and CEO and Medical Director Saturnino P. Javier, MD, commended the cooperation among the Dermatology, Radiology, and Psychiatry Departments, emphasizing, ‘Unity and collaboration are highlighted by the several departments, and that has always been the flagship of Makati Medical Center-we collaborate at every important activity.’
The program featured Ryan Raymond Y. Bautista, MD, Head of the MakatiMed Wellness Center, who shared an overview of its services; Donna Marie L. Sarrosa, MD, Chairperson of the Department of Dermatology, who traced the history of laser dermatology and introduced Dermagraphix, the country’s first advanced skin cancer detection technology; and Julie Anne Patricia M. Songco, MD, who underscored the role of dermoscopy in early detection through her lecture ‘Dermo-scope: Zeroing in on Early Skin Cancer.’ Socio-civic leader Elizabeth Eder Zobel de Ayala also shared her advocacy for cancer prevention, followed by a message from broadcast journalist Bernadette Sembrano who expressed her appreciation for the hospital for the warmth and excellence she experienced in her every visit. Maria Luz Espinosa, MD highlighted the importance of imaging in breast cancer detection and Genevere Serna-Santos, MD recounted the history of the Breast Imaging Center. In line with Mental Health Awareness Month, Joaquim Gerardo L. Jurilla, MD, a second-year resident, presented on MakatiMed’s holistic approach to care, underscoring that healing goes beyond the physical.
The celebration culminated with ‘An Evening with Music and Advocacy’, starting with a surprise dance number from the LeBran dancers, a group of doctors. The event also featured OPM band Ben and Ben, whose music inspired hope, connection, and comfort among attendees.
Through this event, MakatiMed reaffirmed its mission to provide compassionate, innovative, and holistic care, supporting every patient’s journey to healing and wellness.
It’s a banner year for Alvin Aguilar.
The Bacolod City native and founder of Deftac Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu Philippines earned four Coach of the Year awards at the SJJIF World Championships in recently Chiba, Japan-adding another milestone to his nearly 30-year coaching career.
Aguilar, who has led Deftac since 1996, was recognized as Best Coach in four categories: Gi Adults, NoGi Adults, Gi Kids, and NoGi Kids. His team’s strong performance, with the highest collective points and most champions in each division, secured the honors.
‘I’m incredibly proud to share that I received the Quadruple Coach of the Year Award at the SJJIF World Championships in Japan,’ Aguilar posted on Facebook.
He credited the achievement to the entire Deftac community.
‘This is the result of everyone’s effort-from our chapter heads and coaches to the supportive parents and, most importantly, our amazing students,’ Aguilar said. ‘While I may be the face of this award, it truly belongs to all of us.’
Aguilar also expressed gratitude to Sensei Xande Ribeiro and Saulo Ribeiro for their mentorship and inspiration.
The first homegrown Filipino Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Aguilar is also the founder of the Universal Reality Combat Championship. He described his team as not just a group to train with, but a family to fight for.
‘Here’s to greater things ahead for all of us,’ he said.
A BILL seeking to use blockchain technology to let the public track where taxes go and eliminate corruption will be sent to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. with a request for certification as urgent.
During the Senate Committee on Science and Technology’s public hearing on Thursday, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda said he will ask the President to certify Senate Bill (SB) No. 1330 or the proposed Philippine National Budget Blockchain Act as urgent.
This comes after Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, the principal author of the SB 1330, asked Aguda if he would propose to the President certifying the bill as urgent. The measure has suddenly gained urgency amid widespread dismay over how the national budget process has been distorted by politics and corruption. Advocates of blockchain use say it is the best technology for preventing corruption.
In his presentation, Aguda likened the blockchain to a public bulletin board and a GPS tracker, where the public can track how every peso of their taxes will be allocated and spent.
Once the front-facing interface is published, Aguda said this can be accessed through a portal, such as the eGov app, allowing anyone to verify a project’s cost and progress.
Blockchain can help fight corruption through its immutability, as government transactions recorded on the technology cannot be altered or erased, Aguda said, adding that it also promotes transparency by making anomalies easier to spot.
The technology will also empower citizens to access and verify information, while pressuring authorities to act swiftly on project implementation, Aguda added.
‘This will also increase our trust in the government because trust is built when we see each other eye to eye,’ Aguda said.
‘If you will ask me how fast, I think in one year if we really have the political will to do this because we have the technical capability,’ he added.
‘Decentralize public finance’
Meanwhile, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Maria Francesca M. Del Rosario said in the hearing that the government’s goal is to decentralize public finance.
Del Rosario said that putting the documents in the blockchain is easy, having adopted the technology in the DBM’s budgeting process.
This quarter, the DBM launched a production portal that records Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs) and Notices of Cash Allocation (NCAs) as verifiable, on-chain entries in partnership with BayaniChain and ExakIT Services.
It is the country’s first blockchain-backed budget transparency platform, making records tamper-proof while allowing the public to inspect how funds are authorized and released.
While only the SAROs and NCAs are already on a blockchain, Aquino said it only shows the item and whether there is cash available.
‘To really be able to understand where the stealing of funds happens, we have to go to the contract and agency level,’ Aquino said, noting that the records are not with DBM but with the legislators and project proponents.
‘I think what you’re doing is definitely commendable. It’s a great first step. But to address our concern, we have to go to the agencies,’ he added.
Bam’s pitch
In his opening speech, Aquino said putting the national budget on the blockchain answers many concerns in the current system: where the budget process has been opaque, blockchain can make it transparent; where there are insertions and supposedly completed projects, the bidding, awarding and disbursement of funds can be observed in real time.
‘We expect many more solutions against corruption to be proposed, and we need to bring them together and study them in order to achieve the systemic change we are seeking. By no means is this the only solution, but many of us believe it can be one of the major answers to our problems,’ Aquino added.