Legarda: 2018 Budget Funds Improvement of DSWD Centers for Underprivileged Filipinos

Senator Loren Legarda today said that the 2018 national budget takes care of the needs of underprivileged Filipinos who need refuge through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) centers and institutions.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, said that under the 2018 General Appropriations Act (GAA), additional Php2.080 Billion was allocated under the DSWD budget for the repair, reconstruction or construction of its facilities such as activity centers for street children, residential facilities for the elderly, centers for children in conflict with the law, and temporary shelter for the abused, vagrants, mendicants, and physically, socially and mentally disabled persons.

Legarda: Pay Hike for Soldiers, Police, Funded Under 2018 Budget

Senator Loren Legarda today said that the increase in base pay of military and uniformed personnel in the government is funded under the 2018 national budget.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance and co-sponsor of the Joint Resolution Authorizing the Increase in the Base Pay of Military and Uniformed Personnel in the Government, said that under the 2018 General Appropriations Act (GAA), Php62.8 Billion was allocated under the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF) for the increase in the base pay of military and uniformed personnel.

“This is good news for our soldiers, policemen and other uniformed personnel in government because they will now receive the long overdue salary increase that they deserve,” said Legarda, a reserve officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The base pay schedule of military and uniformed personnel was last increased eight years ago.

“We cannot overemphasize the value of the arduous mission our soldiers and policemen have to undertake in order to maintain peace and order by protecting the people and the State from lawless violence, invasion, rebellion, terrorist acts and other activities that might affect public safety and bring harm to the independence of our nation. It is about time that their base pay is increased to better compensate for the hazards they face in the course of performing their duties,” she added.

The modified base pay schedule applies to all military personnel under the Department of National Defense (DND) and uniformed personnel under the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA).

Ifugao Rice Terraces in 6th Episode of Protected Areas Series

Senator Loren Legarda enjoins the public to watch the sixth episode of the documentary series Our Fragile Earth: Protected Areas of the Philippines, featuring the world-renowned Ifugao Rice Terraces, on January 13, 2018.

“The Ifugao Rice Terraces were carved by the Ifugaos to create rice fields that have intricate irrigation systems and follow the natural contours of the hills and mountains along the Cordillera region. I consider it a living, breathing majestic work of art and nature,” Legarda said.

Legarda: P10M Increase in Capital Outlay, Free Wi-Fi for all SUCs Under 2018 Budget

Senator Loren Legarda today said that all state universities and colleges (SUCs) will each receive an additional Php10 Million in their capital outlay this year for the purchase of school equipment and improvement of facilities within their respective campuses.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, also said that Php327 Million under the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) was allocated to install Wi-Fi in all SUCs in order to aid students with their school research and requirements.