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VOL. XXXIX • NO. 179 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2025 •
Education, public works get lion’s share in ’26 budget plan By Charles Dantes, Maricel Cruz and Ram Superable THE Department of Budget and Management on Wednesday formally submitted to Congress the government’s proposed P6.793trillion national budget for 2026, outlining a record spending plan aimed at boosting social services, infrastructure, and fiscal stability. Education (P928.5 billion), public works (P881.3 billion), and health (P320.5 billion) remained the top sectors to receive the biggest allocations under the proposed National Expenditure Program for 2026, the same ranking as this year’s budget. Next page
STARTING POINT. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez receives a copy of the P6.793-trillion 2026 National Expenditure Program from Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman yesterday at the Romualdez Hall of the House of Representatives. Infographic shows where the government intends to spend the money. Ver Noveno
CBCP won’t participate in e-gambling conclave Says total ban, not regulation, needed to curb social impact
Air Force beefs up fleet with 5 new Black Hawks By Rex Espiritu THE Philippine Air Force (PAF) has added five new S-70i Black Hawk helicopters to its fleet, officially received during an Acceptance, Turnover, and Blessing Ceremony held on August 13, at the Haribon Hangar in Mabalacat City. The event was led by PAF Commanding General Lt. Gen. Arthur Next page
By Vito Barcelo and Othel Campos
T
HE leader of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said the group will not participate in the government's call for a multi-stakeholder “conclave” meeting if the aim is to regulate online gambling instead of imposing a total ban. This as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said the government will develop its policy on online gambling through broad consultations to address its social impact, especially among vulnerable sectors and young people, without necessarily resorting to a total ban. CBCP president and Kalookan Archbishop Pablo David said they remain committed to addressing the moral implications associated with online gambling activities. “If the purpose of the consultation is to regulate rather than outright ban online gambling, then we are not interested,” the CBCP leader told reporters in an interview.
ON WPS PATROL.
The Arleigh Burkeclass guided missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG-76) , top photo, conducts a freedom of navigation patrol close to Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) where two Chinese vessels collided while chasing a Philippine Coast Guard ship. Bottom photo shows Air Force officials led by PAF commanding general, Lt. Gen. Arthur M Cordura during the ceremonial turnover of five newlyacquired S-70i Black Hawk helicopters at Haribon Hangar, Clark Air Base, in Mabalacat City, Pampanga. PCG/ PAF
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No Pinoys sent to 3rd countries, 69 held by ICE NONE of the 28 Filipinos apprehended and deported by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have been sent to a third country, the Department of Foreign Affairs told senators on Wednesday, adding that around 69 are currently in ICE custody. Citing information from ICE, DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Affairs Eduardo de Vega said the 69 Filipinos being processed by ICE were getting legal assistance from the Philippine government. "There have been deportations, but all of them were to the Philippines. None have been sent to another country," De Vega said. De Vega shared the information in response to Sen. Erwin Tulfo’s inquiry about the possibility of repatriating Next page
House open to 3rd party probe of flood control mess By Maricel Cruz and Ram Superable HOUSE leaders on Wednesday agreed it may be better for a third party to look into alleged irregularities in
flood control projects amid concerns that members of the chamber may be involved in the controversies. The House Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, has started an inquiry
into the flood control projects, which President Marcos highlighted in his State of the Nation Address last month. “Why would a body investigate itself? I think it would be wise and Next page
More Beep cards available next week, says DOTr By Darwin G. Amojelar AN additional 300,000 Beep cards will be distributed to train stations next week in a bid to end the ongoing shortage, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said on
Wednesday. The move follows the President's ordered to resolve the card shortage, which has caused significant delays for passengers on the MRT-3, LRT-1, and LRT-2 lines. “By next week, we will no lon-
ger have a shortage of Beep Cards. Beep Card will be completing a delivery of 300,000 additional cards across MRT-3, LRT-1 and LRT-2. That is how we have computed the shortage,” Dizon said.
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Two US warships go on patrol near Bajo de Masinloc By Rex Espiritu TWO U.S. Navy warships were deployed near Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) on Wednesday, just two days after a collision between two Chinese vessels while pursuing a Philippine Coast Guard ship in the area, according to a Coast Guard spokesperson. The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG-76) and the Independence-
No standoff between PH-Malaysia forces NEWS / A2 class littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS-20) conducted freedom of navigation and overflight patrols around the shoal. According to Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in the West Philippine Sea, a PLA Navy vessel with hull number 568 was observed shadowing the U.S. ships. To confirm the presence of foreign vessels in the area, the PCG—on orders Next page
BSKE RESET TO NOV. 2026 NEWS/ A2