Gov't eyes P197b for agriculture in 2024, says DBM

THE Marcos administration is seeking a higher allocation of P197.84 billion for the agriculture sector in 2024, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is set to begin hearings today on the P5.678-trillion national budget President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. has proposed to Congress for next year.

Under the 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP), the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its various sub-programs will receive the proposed funding next year.

The DBM said the proposed budget represents a 6-percent increase from the current budget allocation of P186.54 billion.

“The Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing (AFF) sector, having witnessed a growth of 2.2 percent in 2023, accounted for 9.1 percent of the country’s gross domestic product in the first quarter of this year,” it said.

“Recognizing its significant contribution, the government is resolved to increase the AFF's budget allocation for 2024 and thereby sustain its growth trajectory.” Maricel Cruz (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Panelo: Remulla ‘accuser, judge’ of Teves, Bantag

By Rio N. Araja

LAWYER Salvador Panelo on Wednesday blasted Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla for red-tagging suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. and indicting him as the mastermind behind the assassination of Gov. Roel Degamo last March 4.

At the Pandesal Forum at the Kamuning Bakery in Quezon City, Panelo said Remulla "has classified Teves as a terrorist. He said he would work it out at the Anti-Terrorism Council, of which is a member.”

“He charged (Teves). He is the accuser. He is the judge. That’s wrong,” Panelo, the former chief presidential legal counsel and ex-spokesman of President Rodrigo Duterte, stressed.

Just like Teves, dismissed Bureau of Corrections direction general Gerald Bantag was also indicted without the conduct of a preliminary investigation, Panelo lamented. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)