Alagang Angara

To better equip the government for a world that is fast becoming more digital and interconnected, the budget of the Department of Information and Communications (DICT) was granted an increase of P6.2 billion under the 2020 General Appropriations Act, Senator Sonny Angara said today.

From the P3.7 billion in the National Expenditure Program that was submitted by Malacañang to Congress last year, the DICT’s 2020 budget was hiked to close to P10 billion in the P4.1 trillion GAA.

Senator Sonny Angara called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to utilize the funds under its budget for the assistance to workers displaced by the eruption of the Taal Volcano.

As chairman of the Committee on Finance that went over the 2020 General Appropriations Act, Angara pointed out that the DOLE has over P120 million that it can tap to provide assistance to the displaced workers, particularly those who reside in the areas within the vicinity of Taal in Cavite and Batangas.

We are praying for the safety of all the communities affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano. For the residents within the vicinity of the volcano, we urge you to take heed of the directives coming from the national government agencies, particularly the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology and the Department of Health, and your local government units. Evacuate if needed and take the necessary precautions to protect you and your families’ health. 

We offer our prayers for Australia as it copes with one of the worst bushfires in the country’s history.

Our heart breaks as we witness the scope of the devastation. The impact of the fires on the Australian wildlife, the images of which have been seen by the entire world, has left us all with mental and emotional scars that will stay with us for the rest of our lives. We laud the wildlife welfare organizations for its efforts to help the injured animals and join in the appeal for donations to support the work they are doing.

Senator Sonny Angara welcomed the announcement of the Supreme Court on the creation of 50 judges-at-large posts as a significant step towards providing swift justice in the country.

Angara, the principal author of Republic Act 11459 or the Judges-at-Large Act, said the implementation of the law will help ensure that justice is served swiftly by freeing up the courts of its dockets.

To aid the government in its efforts to improve the state of education in the country, the Senate is pushing for the revival of the Congressional Committee on Education (EDCOM).

Five senators, led by Sonny Angara, have filed Senate Joint Resolution No. 10 calling for the creation of the EDCOM, which will be composed of five members each from the Senate and the House of Representatives.

As a people , a higher Gross National Happiness, of being  proud of  ourselves , confident in our abilities  and upbeat on the future.  

I wish us all  good health, but  when sickness strikes,  health care that will  heal us.  Better schools for our children , so they can go through life  as far and as fast as their talent  will take them .

Jobs for all Filipinos, one that will put food on the table, roof over  his head, and hope in the hearts of his loved ones.  

For those who feed us, a better year, bumper harvest and bountiful catch.

Year in and year out education is provided with the biggest budget under the General Appropriations Act and for next year’s version of the law, this remains the top priority.   

Senator Sonny Angara said the reconciled version of the P4.1 trillion national budget that was approved by Congress granted an increase of P17.1 billion for the Department of Education (DepEd), the State Universities and Colleges (SUC), and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to fund various programs.    

Government employees and officials will receive increases in their salaries on January 1 next year once Congress approves the final version of the Salary Standardization Law 5 (SSL-5) within the week, Senator Sonny Angara said today.

The Senate approved on third and final reading Senate Bill 1219 with a vote of 21-0-1, shortly after the House of Representatives passed its own version of the SSL-5. Minority Leader Franklin Drilon was the lone senator who abstained from voting on the measure.

With close to 400 medals won by the Philippine contingent in the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), the national team has brought tremendous pride to the country.

Part of the impressive medal haul were 149 gold medals, a feat that was achieved through hard work and a lot of personal sacrifice on the part of the Philippine contingent.