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PBBM: Timely GAA passage to avoid budget reenactment PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. certified as urgent the passage of the 2025 General Appropriations Act anew to avoid a reenacted budget with a month to go before Congress goes on Christmas
break on December 20. Mr. Marcos, in a letter addressed to Senate President Francis Escudero dated Oct. 29, said the certification was meant “to ensure the uninterrupted operation of Next page
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 278 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2024
Marcos, Trump affirm alliance
Fil-Ams’ strong support for Trump boosts goodwill amid mass deportation threat By Charles Dantes
P
RESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. assured Filipino immigrants, documented or otherwise, in the United States of his administration’s focus on their concerns following a phone conversation with US Presidentelect Donald Trump on Tuesday.
kilometers per hour, tearing roofs off buildings and flattening homes built with light materials. The President, accompanied by key cabinet members, announced that food packs were being distributed to evacuees and displaced families, each box containing enough supplies to sustain a
Mr. Marcos noted many Filipino-Americans supported Trump in the elections, which he believes could enhance goodwill between the two countries and foster collaboration on key issues affecting undocumented Filipinos in the US. “Filipino-Americans played a major role in the US elections, and it’s something we can build upon to strengthen our relationship further,” Mr. Marcos said, describing the conversation as a “productive congratulatory call.” “The overwhelming support of Filipinos in the United States on your triumphant win is a testament to the deep and enduring friendship between our nations,” Mr. Marcos said in a separate post on Facebook. While the call did not delve into Trump’s immigration policies or specific concerns about Filipino illegal immigrants, the President said his administration is taking proactive steps to address these matters. “We didn’t talk about that. It was just a congratulatory call. But, of course, our ambassador is already working on that,” he said. “It’s a priority for us to ensure that the needs and welfare of Filipino immigrants are addressed. “Our relationship with the US is built on decades of cooperation, and it’s one we will continue to
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ALL IN A DAY’S WORK. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the distribution of various government assistance to communities hit by Super Typhoon ‘Pepito’ during his visit to the Virac Sports Complex in Catanduanes on November 19, 2024. Inset at top right shows the President in a call with incoming US President Donald Trump. PCO/PBBM Facebook page
Typhoon victims can look forward to quick recovery—PBBM By Charles Dantes and Rex Espiritu PRESIDENT Marcos visited the storm-ravaged province of Catanduanes to assess the damage caused by Super Typhoon ‘Pepito’ and assure its weary populace that his administration would spare no effort to ensure their quick recovery.
“Do not hesitate to reach out if there are still unmet needs,” Mr. Marcos told residents on Tuesday. “We are here to ensure that you recover and rebuild from this disaster,” he said referring to ongoing relief operations. He noted the widespread destruction caused by the typhoon, which brought winds exceeding 300
Gov’t officials, employees urged to hold modest Christmas parties By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Marcos strongly urged government officials and employees to tone down their Christmas celebrations this year to demonstrate solidarity with their fellow Filipinos affected by a recent barrage of powerful typhoons. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin relayed the president’s message, saying there was no need for a formal directive as he trusted public servants to voluntarily embrace austerity. “Following the President’s call, we urge all government agencies to avoid
extravagant Christmas festivities this year,” Bersamin said in a statement. “This appeal is in solidarity with the millions of Filipinos who continue to grieve the loss of lives, homes, and livelihoods after six typhoons struck the country in less than a month,” he added. Bersamin encouraged government offices to allocate savings from simplified celebrations to assist typhoon-hit communities. He also underscored the importance of compassion during the holiday season. “The true spirit of Christmas calls us Next page
AGRI PHOTO OF THE YEAR. Manila Standard’s Revoli Cortez bags the Agriculture Photo of the Year during the 17th Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards. His photo, entitled ‘Sustainable Fibers’, shows a farmer drying bangkuang, a natural fiber used for making bags and baskets in Sta. Rita, Pampanga.
House to get experts to vet OVP receipts
Speaker firms up rice trade, tourism with Cambodia
By Maricel V. Cruz
By Maricel V. Cruz SPEAKER Martin Romualdez met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on the first day of his two-day official visit to Cambodia to pursue the commitment of both countries to enhancing cooperation in rice trade, tourism, security, and defense. Next page
BOLSTERING TIES. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, representing Lakas-CMD as
its President, takes part in the opening session yesterday of the Centrist Democrat International (IDC-CDI) Executive Committee meeting presided over by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet in Siem Reap, Cambodia as part of his two-day official trip to the country. IDC-CDI is the primary international political group dedicated to promoting Christian democracy. Originally known as the Christian Democrat World Union, it was renamed in 1999 due to the participation of groups from other religions.
THE mysterious case of “Mary Grace Piattos” is merely the ‘tip of the iceberg’ in a broader issue involving 158 acknowledgment receipts (ARs) that officials from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) must address and clarify, Manila Rep. Joel Chua said yesterday. Chua, chair of the House Blue Ribbon Committee, revealed that the panel is considering engaging penmanship experts to examine and determine the authenticity of all 158 ARs submitted by the OVP to the Commission on Audit (COA). He said the receipts were used to justify the disbursement of
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