Tag: budget transparency
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Imee: The 2026 Budget’s Sneakiest Corners — What We Know About Unprogrammed Spending
Understanding the claims: Is the 2026 budget really “clean”? The charge making rounds in Manila headlines is provocative: the 2026 national budget, totaling P6.793 trillion, is not as clean as some observers claim. The central claim is that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. did not veto any specific spending items. Instead, the lines he struck…
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Watchdogs Urge Marcos to Act on P633 Billion in ‘Pork’ Items in 2026 Budget
Budget Watchdogs Demand Action on P633 Billion in Pork-Labeled Projects The Philippines faces heightened scrutiny as budget watchdogs call on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to take decisive steps against a sprawling list of roughly P633 billion worth of items in the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026. Marketed as development spending, these lines are under…
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Watchdogs Pressure Marcos to Act on P633 Billion in 2026 Budget Pork Items
Budget Watchdogs Call for Scrutiny of 2026 Budget Budget watchdog groups are calling on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to promptly act on a sizeable portion of the proposed 2026 national budget, totaling about P633 billion, that they say carries a high risk of corruption and political patronage. The figure appears within the broader P6.793…
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No Irregularity Found in P2 Million Checks to Leviste and Colleagues, Say Lawmakers
Overview: Clarifying the P2 Million Christmas Bonus Story Questions surrounding a P2-million payout tagged as Christmas bonuses to several congressmen, including Rep. Leandro Leviste, have sparked discussions about propriety and transparency. While some lawmakers have suggested potential irregularities, recent disclosures from involved parties indicate that the issue centers on administrative processes rather than any unlawful…
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P2 Million Christmas Bonus for Congress Members? What’s Really Happening with the 2026 Budget
Scope of the Discussion: P2 Million Per Congress Member? The Philippine Congress could be poised to distribute a per-member amount estimated at P2 million as a “Christmas bonus” as the 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) is signed into law. Reports indicate that the amount could go to all 318 lawmakers, including party-list representatives. The proposition…
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Cabral Left Complete List of Budget Insertions for DPWH Flood Control Projects
Background: A Hidden Ledger in DPWH Flood Control Budgets The Philippine Congress is reviewing new disclosures that could reshape discussions about how flood control projects are funded. A neophyte congressman revealed that the late Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral reportedly left behind a “complete list” of budget insertions tied…
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Senators Promise Tight Safeguards in 2026 National Budget to End Allocables, Ghost Projects
High Hopes for a Transparent 2026 National Budget In a bid to restore public trust and strengthen governance, senators announced on Sunday that the bicameral conference committee has finalized the P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026 with robust safeguards. The emphasis is on transparency, traceability, and active citizen oversight, in response to long-standing concerns about opaque…
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World Bank Loan for Tax Reforms in Pakistan: Fairness and Transparency
Overview: A New Push for Tax Reform in Pakistan The World Bank has approved a new $700 million loan to Pakistan aimed at reshaping the country’s tax system. This comes after a prior $470 million package focused on increasing tax revenue. The latest tranche seeks to deepen tax reforms, enhance fairness, and improve the transparency…
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World Bank Approves $700 Million for Pakistan Tax Reforms to Boost Fairness and Transparency
Overview of the Loan and Its Purpose The World Bank has approved a new $700 million loan to Pakistan aimed at strengthening the country’s tax system, improving budget transparency, and widening the tax base. This follows a prior $470 million package focused on increasing tax collection. Officials say the new funding will help ensure that…
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World Bank Approves $700 Million Loan for Tax Reforms in Pakistan to Boost Fairness and Transparency
Overview of the Loan and Its Goals The World Bank has approved a new $700 million loan to Pakistan, following a previous $470 million package aimed at expanding the tax base. The latest funding is designed to introduce tax reforms that promote fairness, increase transparency in public budgeting, and strengthen revenue collection. The overarching objective…