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The government is extending legal assistance to 25 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on death row in various countries.

Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the DMW is committed to defending and protecting the rights of OFWs, including those on death row.

The OFWs on death row are assisted in accessing all opportunities for clemency or sentence commutation, he said.

Cacdac emphasized that the government’s support for distressed OFWs is extended beyond legal aid.

He said psychological, moral and financial assistance are also given to the families of affected OFWs.

The DMW reported that OFWs on death row decreased to 25 from 60 earlier this year following reforms in Malaysia’s sentencing laws and the government’s continued diplomatic engagement.

According to Institute for Risk and Strategic Studies Inc. chair Joey Sarte Salceda, September’s inflation rate of 1.7 percent gives the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas enough room to start cutting policy rates while maintaining price stability.

Salceda believes that after nine straight months of inflation below two percent, the country is now in a period of predictable and steady prices that should be used to encourage investment and growth.

He pointed out that with a core inflation rate of 2.6 percent, underlying pressures are contained. At this level, he said, the BSP can safely begin easing rates to support credit and business expansion.

‘At 1.7 percent headline inflation and 2.6 percent core, the BSP can act confidently. The risk now is not inflation, but slow growth. We should use this window to release liquidity and allow more credit to flow to firms and households,’ he said.

The former Bicol lawmaker noted that the global price environment remains favorable for the Philippines. Gold, oil and fertilizer prices, he noted, have been stable, while world grain prices are well below their 2022 levels.

‘Global commodities are calm. This means we can move proactively without the risk of imported inflation. The data tell us that this is the time to act decisively on growth,’ Salceda said.

He further cited the Philippine Statistics Authority report that national headline inflation rose slightly to 1.7 percent from 1.5 percent in August, while core inflation eased from 2.7 percent to 2.6 percent.

The year-to-date average of 1.7 percent, he said, remains below the midpoint of the BSP’s target range of two to four percent, providing ample space for a 25-basis-point rate cut before the end of the year to support lending and private investment.

The small uptick in September inflation, Salceda said, came mainly from transport and vegetables, while other prices such as meat, rice and utilities either slowed or declined.

‘This is supply-side inflation. Prices rose because of logistics and weather, not because of high demand. The right policy response is to improve supply chains, not to keep interest rates high,’ he said.

Salceda is thus urging the government to take advantage of this calm price environment to secure forward contracts for rice, fuel and fertilizer deliveries during the lean season.

He clarified that these are not import orders, but future delivery agreements that lock in prices and guarantee supply when seasonal shortages occur.

He stressed, ‘We should not wait for prices to rise before we act. The government can secure rice, fuel and fertilizer now at current prices through forward contracting with local suppliers and producers. This is smart planning, not import dependence.’

Salceda explained that such contracts would stabilize costs for farmers during the planting and harvest transitions when the demand for fuel and fertilizer is at its peak.

‘Farmers face their highest input costs right before planting and during drying. If we already locked in prices months ahead, inflation would stay low even when the lean season arrives,’ he said.

Salceda is encouraging the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy to coordinate on this approach. He pointed out that rice, fuel and fertilizer prices move together and should be managed together.

‘If fuel prices rise, fertilizer follows, and then rice becomes more expensive a few months later. We can break that pattern through advance contracting and better logistics coordination among agencies,’ he said.

Furthermore, Salceda elaborated, inflation is expected to remain between 1.5 and two percent for the rest of this year. He added that lower power generation costs, stable oil prices and tariff adjustments on rice will further reduce risks.

‘We are in a low inflation environment. This is the best time to invest, the best time to build and the best time to secure our supply chains,’ he said.

Salceda concluded that this period of stability should be used to generate visible benefits for households and farmers.

‘At 1.7 percent inflation, every peso buys more rice, more fuel, more fertilizer and more security. Stability is not the end goal. It is the foundation on which we must build higher productivity, better wages, and sustained growth for our people.’

Better late than never

As a baby boomer, I still remember when Western Union was the go-to remittance company in the Philippines. Back then, Western Union was the most reliable way to remit money to the Philippines, or at least to my knowledge.

Through the years, however, remittances eventually were coursed more easily and directly through the banking system, but Western Union continues to be a major player in the remittance market in the country, especially in the provinces, with the recipient receiving notification and then proceeding to a physical branch to collect the remittance.

But I was truly surprised to learn that Western Union has only now launched a new mobile app in the Philippines that will finally allow Filipinos to more easily send and receive funds from abroad while enjoying competitive foreign exchange rates.

The Philippines, it turns out, is also the first global market where Western Union is launching an app with both send and request capabilities. With its new mobile app, users who download the app can send funds abroad seamlessly, and through Western Union’s global financial network.

To send funds, app users have the option to pay online securely using the national QR code payment method QR Ph. Users of the app can request funds from senders in the US, Australia, Singapore, the UK and several other global markets with large Filipino communities, simply by filling their receiver info.

Senders will then be able to complete the transaction online from the country they reside in. Receivers have multiple options to access their funds: cash withdrawal at a retail location, deposit to bank account or directly to a digital wallet, depending on the market.

Additionally, when funds are sent from abroad, recipients will be able to redirect the funds to their preferred bank account or digital wallet. Consumers can track their transfers by entering the transaction tracking number in the app.

According to Gregory Laurent, Western Union vice president for the Philippines, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, the launch of the new app is an important milestone to serve Filipino consumers better and connect them to their families and loved ones across the world.

Original Pilipino Music icon Raymond Lauchengco is celebrating his 60th birthday with an all-star concert on November 28, a new song out on October 8 and a book of artworks and stories.

‘As I turn 60 this November and officially become a senior Bagets, I want to celebrate with people I love, friends who’ve made my life the greatest adventure, and music that has filled my life and yours,” Raymond said in a statement. Now, more than ever, I want to share with everyone my favorite stories!”

Taking off from the success of last year’s “Just Got Lucky: The 40th Anniversary Concert,” Raymond returns to The Theatre at Solaire on November 28 for a concert entitled “Everybody Loves Raymond” – a reference to the popular comedy series of the same name.

This one-night-only musical celebration promises an unforgettable evening filled with songs, memories, and masterful performances.

Joining him onstage are powerhouse guests Sharon Cuneta, Ice Seguerra, Mitch Valdes, plus other surprise performers.

“Everybody Loves Raymond” will also support the UP PGH Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, which is celebrating its 65th Sapphire Founding Anniversary this year.

Raymond describes the milestone concert as his most personal yet, though ahead of the show the singer released a version of Odette Quesada’s “My Favorite Story” on all music platforms.

Composed by Odette and her late husband, Bodjie Dasig, with a new arrangement by Marvin Querido, the track speaks of an appreciation for cherished life experiences and captures the essence of Raymond’s music journey.

Raymond is also unveiling a book of essays and artworks, “Dance With The Wind: Art and Stories from the Stillness,” which will be available at the concert and thereafter.

For the singer-artist, these are his humble gifts to the people who’ve stood by him through his more than four decades in the industry. Raymond tells friends and supporters, ‘Hopefully, I can make you smile.”

The Ilagan Isabela Cowboys and the Bataan Risers dispute the eighth and last playoff berth in the North Division of the Manny Pacquiao Presents MPBL 2025 Season at 6 p.m. Wednesday at The Capital Arena in Ilagan City.

Although the Cowboys have the home court edge, the Risers are no pushovers as they won their last three games in the round-robin elimination phase and battered the Pasiguenos, 99-78, in their play-in tussle.

The Cowboys, on the other hand, lost to the Pangasinan Heatwaves, 98-91, in another play-in game.

Whoever wins will face the Abra Solid North Weavers, the No. 1 qualifier, in the best-of-three quarterfinal playoffs.

The Cowboys bested the Risers, 69-67, in the elimination round.

Key players for the Cowboys are Arth dela Cruz, Agem Miranda, Mark Dyke, Allen Mina, Philip Manalang, Macoy Marcos and JR Olegario.

The Risers will be powered by Yves Sazon, Dom Vera, Huber Cani, Chris Javier, Lorenz Capulong, Rhinwill Yambing and Mitchelle Maynes.

Other North playoff qualifiers are No. 2 Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, No. 3 San Juan Knights, No. 4 Caloocan Batang Kankaloo, No. 5 Pampanga Giant Lanterns, No. 6 Pasay Voyagers, and No. 7 Pangasinan Heatwaves.

The South Division playoff qualifiers are No. 1 Quezon, No. 2 Batangas, No. 3 Rizal, No. 4 Basilan, No. 5 Gensan, No. 6 Binan, No. 7 Zamboanga, and No. 7 Mindoro, which advanced after a 92-89 tripping of Cebu in Pola, Oriental Mindoro, last October 6.

Many concerned Filipinos are asking how could such highly-controversial characters like the Discaya couple, Usec. Roberto Bernardo, district engineer Henry Alcantara, and assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez are being seriously considered to turn state witness? Are these people going to be allowed to go scot-free just like that?

It’s important that people be educated about the Witness Protection Program pursuant to Republic Act No 6981. People should know the rationale or the purpose of this program as enunciated by the law institutionalizing it.

It should be clarified that not all who want to avail of this program may be granted such a privilege. The Department of Justice has the power to approve or to deny. There are requirements that must be complied with. First, the applicant must have personal knowledge of the acts and omissions constituting the crime and has executed a sworn statement or testified under oath and is willing to become a witness for the prosecution. Second, he must not be the most guilty.

Third, that he, in connection with his knowledge of the offense, or any member of his family within the second civil degree of consanguinity is subjected to threats to his life, or bodily injury, or there is a likelihood that he will be killed, forced, intimidated, harassed, or corrupted to prevent him from testifying.

The last requirement is that the witness isn’t a law enforcement officer, even if he would be testifying against the other law enforcement officers. In such a case, only the immediate members of his family may avail themselves of the prosecution provided for under this Act. RA 6981 provides that if the DOJ is convinced, after examination of said applicant and after looking at some other relevant facts, that the requirements of the law are fully complied with, the DOJ shall admit the said applicant to the Witness Protection Program. At that point, the witness shall be required to execute a sworn statement detailing his knowledge or information on the commission of the crime and issue the proper certification.

It’s explicitly provided under Section 4 of the said law that resource persons who testify as witnesses before the Senate or the House in investigations in aid of legislation may be admitted into the Witness Protection Program, if he or she so desires, and as recommended by the committee where the testimony was given. The committee recommendation to that effect should be approved by the Senate president or the speaker of the House as the case may be. Based on this specific provision, the Discayas, Bernardo, Alcantara, and Hernandez may be admitted as state witnesses.

The admitted witnesses should have, as a condition precedent, signed a memorandum of agreement containing his obligations, as follows: first, he should testify before and provide information to all appropriate law enforcement officials concerning all appropriate proceedings in connection with or arising from the activities in the offense charged. Second, the witness should avoid committing any crime. Third, the witness should take all necessary precautions to avoid detection by others of the facts concerning the protection provided to him. Fourth, he or she should comply with legal obligations and civil judgments against the said witness.

Fifth, the witness must cooperate with respect to all reasonable requests of officers and employees of the government. Lastly, the witness should always keep the DOJ informed of his whereabouts and activities. It’s also important that the witness’s testimony is really essential to secure the conviction of the more guilty perpetrators of the crime and accused in the case. Also, when he or she is the most guilty, then admission to the program can be denied or withdrawn by the DOJ.

There’s also no assurance that the state witness can be 100% sure that he will not face other criminal and civil cases if and when the facts turn out to warrant a finding of guilt or bad faith. Being a state witness isn’t an absolute shield against prosecution and conviction. Neither is it a total and absolute protection against the retaliation of those who were adversely affected by the state witnesses’ testimony. It is still risky and extremely hazardous.

To become a state witness is to take hold of a double-edged sword. One edge may achieve one’s objectives. The other may not only harm or destroy his strategic goal but even hurt the persons involved in the administration of justice. Think about it. This is a highly-intricate nuance of law.

As the rainy season starts, doing laundry can become a struggle for a lot of us. Clothes take longer to dry, and they often have that musty, kulob smell that makes laundry experience a hassle.

But having no sun doesn’t mean you should bear with damp, smelly clothes. Despite the gloomy weather, there are still some ways to help keep your clothes clean and fresh this rainy season, and that includes changing some habits you thought were harmless to your laundry.

That is why home solutions brand, Midea, is here to help you with the right practices and appliances so you can keep those laundry woes at bay.

Don’t store damp clothes too long

It might seem harmless to delay doing laundry on rainy days, but leaving your damp clothes unwashed for too long can result in a kulob smell.

Midea suggests washing your damp clothes as soon as possible and making sure to dry them thoroughly. A washer-dryer combo can be helpful to get both steps done in one process, saving your time and your clothes from having an unpleasant smell.

For instance, the Midea Luna Inverter Series Fully Automatic Front Load Combo Washing Machine, by its name, has both a washer and dryer. It is powered by HealthGuardS feature that enables faster, stronger washes and pre-wash Steam Care for 99.99% sterilization.

Beat the smell and stains with DIY fixes

That kulob smell can be stubborn, especially in wet seasons when there’s no sunlight to dry clothes, and while fabric conditioner helps, sometimes it is not enough. For an extra boost, consider adding vinegar to your rinse cycle.

And if you’re dealing with muddy stains and tagulamin or mildew, there’s a simple DIY trick you can try at home. Mix equal parts of vinegar and baking soda to create a paste, gently scrub it on the affected area, let it sit for 30 minutes, then rinse to make stubborn stains easier to wash.

Remove the clothes after the cycle ends

One of the habits we usually and admittedly do is to let a finished load sit in the washer or dryer for too long. Surprisingly, while the clothes are already cleaned, leaving them in the washing machine more than necessary can cause that musty smell that everybody hates.

This is where smart appliances come in handy. The Midea Luna Inverter Series with its Wi-Fi Control feature can monitor the wash cycle through smartphones and operate your washing machine anytime, anywhere at your fingertips.

Invest in an efficient washer-dryer combo

The right appliance makes all the difference during the rainy season. The Midea Luna Inverter Series Fully Automatic Front Load Combo Washing Machine is designed for convenience, energy savings, and hygienic cleaning-no matter the weather.

Apart from its reliable features-such as HealthGuardS, which works with Auto Clean and Steam Care, and WiFi Control-this automatic washer-dryer combo also uses Inverter Quattro technology to help save energy with every load.

The Auto Clean feature keeps the drum sterilized to prevent secondary contamination, ensuring consistently high washing performance.

In line with its commitment to helping Filipinos discover happiness at home, Midea continues to innovate and deliver smart and quality solutions that make everyday chores more convenient, rain or shine.

Gretchen Ho has more questions, especially on the Philippines as a high risk country, after she received a call from the Norwegian ambassador.

Gretchen’s post about her senior citizens kin being snubbed at a foreign exchange counter in Norway’s Oslo Airport went viral yesterday.

The host said her kin were denied to exchange their $300 for krone upon hearing that they were from the Philippines, citing corruption and money laundering.

The ambassador told Ho that he was surprised about the incident and said it should not have taken place. He will be meeting with the Norwegian foreign ministry to address the issue.

Ho shared the context behind her viral post. She cited the Philippines being removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) list in February this year after four years on the list.

The FATF is an intergovernmental body established by G7 countries that combat money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing. The Philippines was included in the FATF grey list in 2021.

Gretchen asked in light of the recent incident if the Philippines is back on the FATF high-risk list for money laundering and dirty money, and if it is not the case, she wondered if it was the financial institution’s internal policy on tourists from the Philippines. She also expressed concern on how this incident will influence Filipinos’ future travels.

‘We want to get some clarity on this, if there is a new policy, given recent events, or just a failure to update and disseminate information. I believe getting some clarity would help not just our family, but other Filipinos who have shared similar experiences at the same airport in Oslo, saying they have been declined foreign exchange services upon knowing their country of origin is the Philippines.

‘So are we back on the ‘high-risk’ list for money laundering? Or is this an overeager clerk who was simply not updated on the grey list?’ Gretche wrote.

The issue of corruption has been the talk of the town, with the Senate and Congress conducting their own investigations on the alleged anomalous government flood control projects.

Investigations are still ongoing, with many Filipinos watching the livestreamed sessions wondering when will there be individuals and parties, including high-profile personalities, found guilty and put to jail.

The September 21 rallies in Metro Manila and key cities in the country drove thousands of people from all walks of life chanting an end to systemic corruption.

Another wave of protests are already planned on November 30, the 162nd birth anniversary of Filipino revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio.

In consideration of those affected by recent typhoons and the earthquake that jolted Cebu, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has extended the validity of motor vehicle registrations and driver’s licenses that expired on Sept. 30.

LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said he has directed all regional and district offices to implement the extension and to waive fines or surcharges for late renewals.

‘This is in consideration of the cancellations of government work caused by the recent typhoons and the earthquake that struck Cebu,’ Mendoza said in a statement.

He said the move is part of the LTO’s efforts to ease the burden on the public, particularly motorists who were unable to process their license and registration renewals.

The LTO also extended until Oct. 15 the settlement of traffic apprehension fines.

Today’s column title can apply to the crumbling leadership and integrity of the Senate, it could apply to the many commercial buildings in Bogo, Cebu that crumbled or crashed during the recent earthquake or the Piggatan bridge in the town of Alcala, Cagayan.

Built to break could be ‘by design,’ poor choices or simply by mismanagement. Sadly, it is Filipinos who suffer the consequences – directly or indirectly – with lives, lost wealth or progress.

The Senate has gone through three Senate presidents – Zubiri, Escudero and now Sotto. The new Senate Blue Ribbon committee is now destined to have a rotation from Marcoleta to Lacson to I don’t know who. In contrast their multi-billion building remains unfinished.

What nobody is talking about is where did the disruption in the Senate begin. Or who is the ‘Disruptor?’ Listening to the ‘elected’ and ‘appointed,’ it is apparent that President Bongbong Marcos greatly influenced the changes, based on what Sen. Sotto said regarding a conversation with PBBM.

While Malacañang will disavow this to hell, ‘the testimony of many’ (senators) tells us otherwise. In truth, there is no real separation of powers in the Philippines. It is all about the political majority and who is president.

As far as the ruling party or PBBM is concerned, there are only two major political concerns: the impeachment of Sara Duterte and protecting President Marcos Jr. from the stain of theft and shame now spreading like a virus over government.

Those agendas, however, have become so intertwined that the overhaul of the Senate leadership has turned into a political minefield. You can’t touch one raw nerve without triggering the other. Any wrong move or negative perception by the public can become a political career ender.

And so, we are where we are, you have a thinly split Senate where political colors and alliances are blurred and even questionable, where the once congenial body has turned into a daily dog fight with utter loss of respect and honor.

Meanwhile, here are two important lessons for PBBM and the senators: ‘He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.’ (Proverbs 11:29)

In the context of ‘casting out undesirables:’ ‘Now. when the pharisees heard it, they said, ‘this fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of demons.”

But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: ‘Every Kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.’

There was a time when a hollow block was proudly ‘Jackbilt,’ meaning the company placed its reputation behind hollow blocks that surpassed industry standards for strength and load bearing walls.

But nowadays, any enterprising fellow can put up a backyard hollow block making plant with no permit, no safety standards, not even government rules on the sand-to-concrete ratio or how many days to sun dry homemade hollow blocks.

Having ‘built’ two resorts and two homes, I myself have had issues with adulterated imported cement, hollow blocks that crack and crumble because of low cement content with brown sand or muddy river sand.

Now we have steel bars that may or may not pass Bureau of Standards tests, and we can add to that substandard steel bars made from induction furnaces banned but imported from China.

After the destructive earthquake that hit Bogo, Cebu, I got to watch videos of government buildings, commercial establishments, as well as many homes that crumbled during the magnitude 6.9 earthquake.

While a magnitude 6.9 earthquake is highly destructive, I could not ignore the fact that many of the structures I saw were ‘all flesh and no bones’ – or showed inadequate steel reinforcement.

The front columns of a government office revealed that the palitada or plaster was two times thicker that the concrete post it was covering, obviously to make the column ‘big.’

I thought that the more modern and commercial establishments would be better off but were not. I assume that builders cut corners in terms of amount of steel bars used or the quality of those round bars.

Earthquakes are one thing, but quality and safety standards are within human control. When the local construction and cement industry complained about adulterated imported cement, it took government a while before clamping down.

The same problem happened to backyard-made hollow blocks and an effort was made among local governments to clamp down on these. Unfortunately, it was ningas cogon or a short-lived blaze that died.

Last year and this year, the media called out the problems regarding imported steel bars and conduction furnaces that do not eliminate impurities, resulting in low-grade round bars that easily snap or break where the impurities are.

The DTI tries to do its best but being undermanned and underfunded, they are barely able to scratch the surface or cover all the regions in the Philippines. Congress needs to enact stricter laws regarding imported steel and totally ban the use and importation of induction furnaces.

Lastly, we also need to be stricter on the management side so that major bridges don’t crumble one after another like the Cabangan bridge in Isabela and the Piggatan bridge in Alcala, Cagayan province. Is it poor construction or poor management against overloading?

Popularly called bottoms up budgeting, or BUB for short, it first made its mark during the administration of the late President Benigno Simeon ‘PNoy’ Aquino III. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM), headed then by ex-Batanes representative turned secretary Florencio ‘Butch’ Abad, came up with this catchy term. Launched in 2012 by the DBM, BUB was acknowledged as a key budget reform measure.

Described as ‘grassroots participatory budgeting,’ this involved local communities and citizens being given a say in identifying and prioritizing projects to be funded by the national budget. BUB encourages and promotes participation of local government units (LGUs) to help identify and recommend priority programs and projects for possible funding in the annual budget of the national government. The role of the LGUs in BUB is through their respective regional development councils (RDCs), which are composed of the provincial mayors in each region.

Some of the flood control projects earlier found defective and substandard were undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) without prior consultation with LGU executives. Cases in point were those of Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor and the various LGU executives in many of the flood-prone areas in Bulacan.

Mayor Belmonte discovered to her dismay several flood control projects were undertaken without prior consultation with the city government. The worse part of it, Mayor Belmonte found out from residents in these areas, is that they did not experience flooding in the past. But after the DPWH built these supposed flood mitigating structures, these areas in Quezon City get flooded at the slightest rainfall. On inspection of flood control projects in the province, Gov. Dolor found defective, if not sub-standard cement, iron bars and other materials were used.

All this time, the BUB system was supposedly followed by the DBM in the preparation of the yearly budget, or the General Appropriations Act (GAA) bill submitted to Congress. Called ‘the President’s budget,’ it contains the priorities identified in the National Expenditure Program (NEP). Thus, the proposed budget bill each year is a ‘must’ in the priority measures presented by the President for inclusion in the common legislative agenda with Congress.

But to Abad’s immediate predecessor, erstwhile DBM secretary Benjamin Diokno, BUB was nothing but a buzzword. For Diokno, now senior Monetary Board member, the BUB concept only narrowed down perspective of the bigger picture for the entire country’s economy. Having helped craft 13 out of the 39 budget laws while he was in and out of the DBM in his public service career, Diokno spoke from experience and authority.

Much worse, the DBM itself got ousted from attending and was not even allowed to participate in the deliberations of the bicameral conference committee, or bicam for short. Otherwise known as the ‘third congress,’ the bicam is composed supposedly of equal numbers of senators and House members. They are supposed to reconcile and consolidate the amendments each chamber made to the original DBM version of the GAA/NEP.

The bicam holds its meeting behind closed doors, away from the prying eyes of the press, to conduct the horse-trading and wheeling-and-dealing among lawmakers.

So much more powerful than the bicam, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco earlier revealed, is a ‘small committee’ that actually makes the ultimate pass upon the GAA/NEP. Composed of the Senate president, the Speaker, the Senate finance committee chairperson and the House appropriations committee chief, Tiangco pointed to this ‘small committee’ as the one that gives the go-signal for the approval of the GAA/NEP in plenary sessions of the Senate and at the House.

This came out during the series of Senate and congressional hearings that followed after the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (PBBM). It was at this SONA at the 20th Congress last July 28 when PBBM lashed out at how the 2025 GAA was mangled beyond recognition. PBBM particularly ranted against the ‘initiatives, insertions, errata, SOP’ that went into this year’s budget. Approved by the defunct 19th Congress, many of these lawmakers got re-elected to the present 20th Congress.

In the on-going Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing on the reported ‘ghost’ flood control projects, its current but now resigned chairman, comebacking Senator Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson, noted with concern there was no indication at all that RDCs were consulted. Now Senate President Pro Tempore, Lacson vowed to resume his advocacy for BUB and other budget reforms which he did in Congresses past.

As a profound learning from the discovered anomalies that went into the 2025 GAA, the Senate vows to scrap unprogrammed appropriations starting with the 2026 budget. While it’s too early to tell if the Senate can do this, it can stir up national debate on how to defund sources of corruption in the Congress-approved budget laws. The annual budget process has become fertile ground for the maleficent initiatives and indiscriminate insertions.

Under the guise of amendments to the proposed GAA bill, the congressional hocus-pocus will, however, become more difficult from hereon. The sticky hands among lawmakers will now have to contend with Lacson and like-minded senators.

A few days or several weeks after the SONA each year, the President usually convenes the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). Both the executive branch represented by the President and Cabinet officials and the leaders of Congress agree on their common administration and legislative priority bills.

It was only last Sept. 30, or more than two months after the SONA, that PBBM finally convened the LEDAC at Malacañang Palace. It was attended by the new set of leaders in both chambers of the 20th Congress. Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III and Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III of Isabela met with PBBM.

The Congress leadership changes came in the aftermath of the 2025 GAA brouhaha.

Fortuitously perhaps, the LEDAC meeting got delayed. Or, has PBBM shifted to dark mode in these last three years of his term? His worst enemies can only speculate what he is up to, or how soon he will strike back.