PBBM to ensure every peso of the 2026 GAA will benefit Filipinos

Quezon City, Philippines — The Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) stresses its opposition to Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen)’s planned expansion of the Toledo Power Corp. (TPC) coal plant. Right after the New Year’s, MGen announced that most of their 2026 capital expenditures will be directed to its coal project in Toledo, Cebu.

Communities in Cebu have long been fighting against the existing 82-Megawatt coal-fired power plant operated by TPC. The facilities have been linked to documented environmental harms and negative impacts on residents’ health and livelihood.

“The TPC plant is listed as an environmental critical project (ECP) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Although the DENR issued an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) to the TPC plant, residents claimed that there is no copy of the ECC in any conspicuous location of the project site, as required by the law,” said Estela Vasquez, Visayas coordinator of PMCJ.

Data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) show that the TPC plant releases an estimated annual emission of 496 kilograms (kg) of sulfur dioxide, 349 kg of nitrogen oxides, 69 kg of particulate matter, and 5.6 kg of mercury per acre. These pollutants cause a range of health issues, even in small doses, and especially to vulnerable groups like pregnant women, children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions. TPC should also comply with the health impact assessment (HIA) process to acquire HIA certification, said Vasquez.

“TPC coal plant has made us sick, displaced us from our homes, and destroyed our livelihood for years. We have raised our concerns time and again, but it remains ignored and unchanged. Now our situation has only gotten worse. The plant’s toxic discharges flow directly into the Tañon Strait, the largest marine protected area in the country. This only brings poison and destroys the waters we rely on. Before the TPC plant, we used to catch 20 tubs of fish. Now, a bucket of fish is considered a stroke of luck,” said Florencia Abatayo, a Toledo resident.

Given the environmental, health, and outage issues of the current TPC operating plant, the capitalization plan for the expansion is riskier, according to Ian Rivera, national coordinator of PMCJ. He also added that without investors and offtakers, it will definitely be subject to market and regulatory risks.

“MGen refuses to learn and wants to fail. Their Atimonan One Energy (A1E) project in Quezon has been delayed since 2019 due to unresolved legal and environmental issues. Like A1E, TPC is covered by the coal moratorium. Pursuing the expansion through the infusion of one billion pesos in capital will not erase the project’s unbankability. Meralco should ride on the crest of expanding renewables in the Philippines as clean energy is driving coal’s decline in the Philippines,” Rivera said.

Meanwhile, the people’s stronghold has proven stronger than profits. After years of resistance and a month of receiving the PMCJ and Batangas communities’ letter urging Ayala Corp. to withdraw from a fossil gas project, the latter heeded the peoples’ call and disclosed its discontinuation. This is proof that big corporations cannot act with impunity and treat the climate and the people as expendable. 

“Big businesses should not only consider the people and environment’s well-being but also respond to their sound calls and resolutions. The people and the planet are living on the edge. We can only do so much by hastening our country’s shift to renewables, in line with the global call to triple RE by 2030. Now is the time to veer away from fossil fuels. Start the year right, once and for all,” Rivera ended.

Local government units are raring to do their part in addressing the country’s classroom backlog after years of dismal performance on the part of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines president and Quirino governor Dax Cua said.

“We are ready, we are willing, and we are raring to do our part in addressing the lack of classrooms across the country. Some might call the Department of Education’s target for classrooms built this year ambitious, but I believe that with the help of local government units we can make a great run at it,” Cua said.

Cua’s comment comes as the DepEd announced that it is getting a P65 billion budget to construct 24,964 classrooms in the newly-signed P6.793-trillion national budget.

Cua, a former lawmaker, lauded his former colleagues for recognizing that the “DPWH could use some help” in fulfilling its mandate of constructing classrooms by tweaking provisions in the 2026 General Appropriations Act to allow DepEd to partner with LGUs in building new classrooms.

Since 2018, the DPWH has had sole authority to implement all DepEd-funded school building projects due to a perceived lack of engineers within DepEd.

“We simply cannot have a repeat the past years of poor performance—especially last year where only 22 out of an already low target of 1,600 classrooms were built,” said the governor.

In 2024, 3,181 out of a target 7,267 classrooms were built. Meanwhile in 2023, only 192 out of a planned 6,379 classrooms were delivered.

He said that allowing LGUs to construct classrooms would also help ensure that the facilities are built where they are actually needed.

“Nangyayari din kasi na dahil sa kawalan ng koordinasyon ng magpapatupad ng proyekto sa LGU, outdated na ang data na ginagamit,” he said. (ULAP)

“Hindi tayo papayag na mapunta sa kurakot ang salaping pinaghirapan ng bawat Pilipino.”

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday vowed to ensure that every peso of the PhP6.793-trillion 2026 national budget will be spent in ways that directly benefit the Filipino people.

In his speech during the signing of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the Fiscal Year 2026, President Marcos said that every program or project will undergo rigorous scrutiny to guarantee tangible results for Filipinos, particularly the most vulnerable sectors.

“Sa National Budget ng 2026, malinaw ang direksyon ng inyong pamahalaan: magiging mas masinop, mas maingat, at mas responsable kami sa paggastos ng pondo ng bayan,” the President said.

“Ang bawat programa at proyekto ay dadaan sa masusing pagsusuri upang masiguro na ito ay may malinaw na benepisyo sa mamamayan—lalo na sa sektor na higit na nangangailangan,” the President added.

The President has signed the PhP6.793 trillion 2026 national budget, which aims to sustain the country’s progress in education reform, health protection, food security, social security, and job creation.

President Marcos also assured that his administration will intensify efforts to improve government systems, strengthen accountability, and combat corruption.

The President likewise urged the public to actively participate in the said goals.

“Ang pagbabantay, ang pagtatanong, ang pag-uulat, at ang pakikilahok ay mahalagang bahagi ng isang gumaganang demokrasya. Kasama ninyo kami sa layuning tiyakin na ang budget ng bayan ay para sa bayan,” said President Marcos. | PND

BATANGAS CITY (PIA) — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Batangas has opened the application for the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), providing financial and technical assistance to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the province, January 05.

Through SETUP, DOST-Batangas supports MSMEs in improving productivity and competitiveness by offering zero-interest financial assistance for technology acquisition, along with technical consultancy, workforce training, product testing, and assistance in packaging and labeling.

Qualified MSMEs may avail of financial assistance of up to ₱5 million, payable over three years with a one-year grace period. The program prioritizes enterprises in food processing, metals and engineering, agriculture and forestry, aquaculture, halal products, furniture, gifts and handicrafts, health and wellness, information and communications technology, creative industries, energy and environment, and other regional priority sectors.

SETUP accepts applications from Filipino-owned firms operating in the Philippines that seek to upgrade their existing processes through appropriate technologies. Associations, cooperatives, and community-based groups may also apply through their respective local government units.

Interested applicants must submit a project proposal, letter of intent, business permits and licenses, financial statements, and other required documents to DOST-Batangas.

Through SETUP, DOST-Batangas continues to deliver science- and technology-based interventions that strengthen MSMEs, promote innovation, and contribute to sustainable economic development in the province. (DOST Batangas)

The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Monday outlined plans for the Department for 2026, highlighting the enhancement of the efficiency of the Unified 911 System as the backbone of public safety in 2026.

In a message shared before the DILG family, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla stated that more auxiliary assets will be procured for the government’s lifeline delivery. “This year, we will prioritize additional firetrucks, police vehicles, and emergency response assets to strengthen the Unified 911 system as investments in public safety,” he said.

Last September, Unified 911 was launched to consolidate the country’s emergency hotlines into a single central number and modernize the emergency response system. It achieved a 97.92 percent efficiency rate for the more than 2.4 million handled calls in November 2025 through its National Call Center in Manila and the Regional Command Center in Cebu.

Remulla likewise reaffirmed the responsible and purposeful utilization of public funds in line with the signing of the General Appropriations Act for FY 2026, supporting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for prudent fiscal management and uninterrupted public service delivery.

As the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) achieved the historic zero backlog feat, the DILG is also considering conducting video proceedings of cases involving police personnel to enhance transparency in ensuring due process.

With the Philippines’ chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, the DILG has expressed its commitment to rigorous preparations, serving as the ASEAN Senior Official Meetings on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) – Philippines, and the ASEAN SMART Cities Network lead.

Meanwhile, the DILG Chief acknowledged the Department’s employees for their collective toil, underscoring that national policies are seamlessly translated into local action due to their commitment to excellent public service.

“We will continue building a DILG that is trusted and effective. One that delivers good local governance, ensures public safety, and moves the country forward inclusively,” Remulla emphasized. (DILG)

Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara said the department’s record-high budget allocation will allow the historic hiring of 65,100 teaching and non-teaching plantilla personnel, as well as the long-awaited promotion of approximately 100,000 public school teachers.

In a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday, Angara thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as well as Congress for the PhP1.015 trillion DepEd budget under the PhP6.793 trillion national budget for 2026.

Angara said the lack of career advancement has been a major reason why many public school teachers leave.

“Pero dito sa binigay na budget—kaya nga unprecedented din po in terms of promotions—kasi makakapag-promote tayo ng over 100,000 (public school teachers) with the budget given by Congress this year,” Angara said.

Under the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) implemented under Angara’s leadership, DepEd has promoted 16,025 teachers, with 41,183 more teachers processed for the next batch of promotion.

“Ito iyong rason kung bakit umaalis ang ating mga teachers, dahil sa pakiramdam po nila hindi sila na-appreciate ng pamahalaan, hindi sila napo-promote nang husto – halos isang dekada hindi na-promote, hindi tumataas ang suweldo,” Angara explained.

The 30 percent increase in the DepEd’s budget was the biggest increase he has seen in his political career, Angara said.

For the first time, the country met the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) global benchmark for education spending that recommends that countries allocate at least 4 to 6 percent of the Gross Domestic Product or GDP to education.

With its historic budget, Angara said DepEd will boost spending on very important programs, such as the School-based Feeding Program whose budget increased from PhP3 billion last year to over PhP25 billion this year.

The DepEd will also fully fund the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program that provides free tutorials and learning interventions to help struggling students catch up to grade-level standards, especially in Math, Science, and Reading.

“For the first time, binigyan po tayo ng PhP9 billion so lahat po ng eskuwelahan mayroon na tayong tutor under the ARAL Program,” Angara said.

The 2026 DepEd budget also allocated funds for the construction of 24,000 classrooms, far exceeding the original allocation of 5,000 to 6,000 new classrooms.

Angara said for the first time, classroom construction will no longer be undertaken solely by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“So ngayon, mayroon tayong flexibility provision na aside from DPWH, even DepEd, even local government units… And the majority of the projected 20,000 plus classrooms will be built by our local government units or bidded out by our local government units,” said Angara. (PCO)