HOUSE leaders led by Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez yesterday credited President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte with the reduction in the number of poor Filipinos by six million.

THE chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations yesterday said lawmakers agreed to do their best to approve the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed next year’s P4.1 trillion national budget tomorrow morning and ratify it on the same day.

A HOUSE leader yesterday said the Philippines should consider following in the footsteps of Malaysia, which has initiated a bacteria to help suppress the dengue virus.

The lady House leader agreed that PISA, a student assessment of 15-year-old learners across 79 countries done by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), should be taken by all stakeholders as an opportunity to reflect on the current plight of the Philippine education system and respond to its needs.

BUHAY Hayaang Yumabong (BUHAY) party-list Rep. Lito Atienza yesterday hailed President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement threatening to file charges of economic sabotage against the two water concessionaires, Manila Water Company Inc. and Maynilad Water Services, Inc., for alleged onerous provisions of their concession agreements.

Despite the inclement weather caused by Typhoon Tisoy that prompted Malacañang and the House of Representatives to suspend work Tuesday, Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, the panel chairman, said his one-on-one meetings with Sen. Sonny Angara, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, to reconcile the conflicting figures of next year’s national budget will push through.

THE House Committee on Ways and Means yesterday began deliberations on a proposed law imposing P10 excise tax on every kilo of single-use plastic bags, which is being blamed for severe flooding in the country and deaths of marine animals.

HOUSE Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez yesterday urged the public to continue rallying behind Filipino athletes and coaches competing in the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) as his colleagues called for an end to the blame game on issues tied to the preparations for the biennial meet.

A congresswoman has filed a bill prohibiting the use of smartphones and other electronic devices in public and private schools by students 15 years old and below to address the worsening mental health crisis among the youth.

CITING lack of evidence, the Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed the last plunder complaint belatedly filed against former President and Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and several officials of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) over the use of the Confidential and Intelligence Fund (CIF).

THE chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations on Sunday assured the ratification of the proposed P4.1-trillion national budget before Congress goes on Christmas break starting December 21, saying the House and Senate staffs were very busy over the weekend preparing the working figures that the bicameral conference committee would reconcile.

EVERY 12 hours, a Filipino – most likely male and aged between 15 to 34 years old – is dying of severe health complications from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a House leader said yesterday on the occasion of World AIDS Day.

TO help minimize road accidents and other land mishaps, Deputy Speaker and Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte yesterday sought to penalize operators of public utility vehicles (PUVs) who allow their drivers to continuously drive for 12 hours straight or more.

CITING lack of evidence, the Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed the last plunder complaint belatedly filed against former President and Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and several officials of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) over the use of the Confidential and Intelligence Fund (CIF).

HOUSE Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez wished the Filipino athletes and coaches competing in the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) the best of luck.