Statement on the appointment of Dr. Edwin Mercado as new President and CEO of PhilHealth

by Info @Archive | Feb. 5, 2025

Photo: PBBM / Dr. Edwin Mercado / PhilHealth - FB

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) welcomes the appointment of Dr. Edwin M. Mercado as its new President and Chief Executive Officer (PCEO). The entire PhilHealth family extends its full support to Dr. Mercado as he steers the Agency to new heights.

With Dr. Mercado's solid experience in the medical field and proven leadership and management expertise, we are confident that through his leadership, PhilHealth will continue to successfully carry out the mandate of the National Health Insurance Program and fulfill the aspirations of Universal Health Care for the benefit of all 115 million Filipinos.

PhilHealth would also like to extend its deep gratitude to outgoing PCEO Emmanuel R.

Ledesma, Jr. who spearheaded very important reforms in the last two years, especially in the area of claims payments and benefit enhancements.

4 yrs. old, tuturuan mag-masturbate sa iskul... Sex Education, tablado — PBBM

ni Mylene Alfonso @News | Jan. 21, 2025

File Photo: P-BBM / FB

Hindi hahayaan ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. na maipasa bilang batas ang Senate Bill No. 1979, o kilala bilang Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2023.

Binanggit niya ang "katawa-tawa" at "kasuklam-suklam" na mga probisyon ng panukala.

Sa ambush interview sa Taguig City, sinabi ni Marcos na nagulat at nadismaya siya nang mabasa niya ang nilalaman ng SB No. 1979 nitong nakalipas na linggo.

“You will teach four-year-olds how to masturbate; that every child has the right to try different sexualities,” naalala ng Pangulo sa kanyang nabasa.

“This is ridiculous. This is abhorrent. This is a travesty of what sex education should be to the children,” wika ni Marcos.

Inalala rin ng Pangulo ang papel ng magulang sa pagtuturo sa kanilang mga anak kaugnay sa nasabing usapin.

“What about the parents? Wala na silang karapatan na sila ang mag-decide kung ano at kailan tuturuan 'yung bata,” sabi pa niya.

“We all… I’m a parent, and I’m a grandparent. So I feel very strongly about this,” ani Marcos.

Gayunman, nilinaw ng Punong Ehekutibo na buo ang kanyang suporta sa pagtuturo sa mga bata ng kanilang anatomy, reproductive system, mga kahihinatnan ng early pregnancy at ang paglaganap ng human immunodeficiency virus.

“But the woke absurdities they’ve included are abhorrent to me,” paliwanag ni Marcos.

“And I am already guaranteeing, even though it hasn’t been passed yet, if this bill is passed in that form, I guarantee all parents, teachers, and children, I will immediately veto it,” diin pa niya. 

Samantala, umalma naman si Senadora Risa Hontiveros sa naging komento ni Pangulong Marcos.

Tiniyak ni Hontiveros, pangunahing may-akda ng SB No. 1979 kay Marcos na wala siyang dapat ikabahala tungkol sa nasabing panukala.

Ani Hontiveros, maliwanag aniya na wala sa panukala ang salitang “masturbation” at

“try different sexualities”.

“Mr. President, with all due respect, maliwanag na wala po sa bill kahit 'yung salita na “masturbation”. Wala din po 'yung “try different sexualities”, paliwanag ni Hontiveros sa

isang pahayag.

Depensa ng senadora, nakasaad sa Comprehensive Sexuality Education na naglalaman ito ng pagtuturo sa mga bata ukol sa anatomy sa mga kabataan at kahihinatnan ng maagang pagbubuntis.

2025 budget, may anomalya raw... PBBM kay ex-PDu30: Sinungaling

ni Mylene Alfonso @News | Jan. 21, 2025

File Photo: Pangulong Bongbong Marcos at dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte - FB

Nagsisinungaling umano si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte hinggil sa alegasyon niya na may pinirmahang blangko sa 2025 national budget.

Ayon kay Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., alam ni Duterte bilang dating presidente na hindi maaaring magpasa ng General Appropriations Act (GAA) nang may blangkong items.

Ani Marcos, batid din ni Duterte na hindi pa nangyari ang ganitong insidente sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas.

Malinaw aniya na nakasaad sa GAA ang bawat programa at proyekto at kung magkano ang alokasyon sa mga ito.

“He’s lying. He’s a President. He knows that you cannot pass a GAA with a blank. He’s lying. And he’s lying because he knows perfectly well that that doesn’t ever happen. Sa buong, sa kasaysayan ng buong Pilipinas, hindi pinapayagan na magkaroon ng item ang GAA na hindi nakalagay kung ano 'yung project, at saka ano 'yung, 'yung gastos, ano 'yung pondo. So, it’s a lie," paliwanag ni Marcos sa ambush interview sa Taguig City.

"We, ah, I was watching the news earlier today and people were saying, it’s 4,000 pages. Papaano namin bubusisiin 'yan. Para titingnan namin iisa-isa. Hindi na lang. Meron namang kopya, that’s available on the website of the DBM. Tingnan n'yo, huwag na ninyo busisiin isa-isa."

Sinabi ni Marcos na available rin ang nasabing dokumento para suriin ng publiko sa website ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

"Hanapin niyo 'yung sinasabi nila na blank check. Tingnan n'yo kung meron kahit isa. Para mapatunayan na tama ang sinasabi kong kasinungalingan 'yan, That’s my reaction,” hamon pa ni Marcos.

Matatandaang pinuna ni Duterte at Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab ang 2005 national budget dahil wala umano itong bisa at hindi dapat ipatupad dahil sa mga blangko sa Bicameral Report.