INQToday: Marcos defends zero PhilHealth subsidy in 2025
Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:
Marcos defends zero subsidy for PhilHealth in 2025
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R.Marcos Jr. on Monday defended the removal of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) P74-billion subsidy for 2025, citing its remaining reserves.
In a chance interview, Marcos pointed out that even if the government did not grant PhilHealth’s subsidy in the 2025 budget, it would still have a reserve of P500 billion.
Marcos says he’s working on restoring DepEd budget cut
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said he is working on restoring the P10-billion cut from the Department of Education’s (DepEd) 2025 budget as it was “contrary” to the government’s “policy direction.”
Marcos made the pronouncement after the bicameral conference committee reduced DepEd’s budget for 2025 from its original proposal of P748.6 billion to P737 billion.
Article continues after this advertisementImee urges President Marcos to scrutinize budget bill before signing
Sen. Imee Marcos appealed to her younger brother President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to thoroughly check, line by line, the 2025 budget bill before he signs it, warning against the changes made to the proposed funding that allegedly go against the administration’s priorities for next year.
Article continues after this advertisementThe lady senator aired her appeal in an interview on Monday, noting that the president is the “only hope” for important provisions of the national budget not to be deleted.
Filipina inmate Mary Jane Veloso may be able to return home from Indonesia this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday.
DFA Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega said while the chance for Veloso’s arrival is likely, it would still depend on the Philippines’ discussions with Indonesia either on Monday night or Tuesday.
South Korea’s constitutional court kicked off proceedings on Monday over the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has been suspended from office over his failed bid to impose martial law.
Yoon was removed by South Korea’s parliament on Saturday over his short-lived attempt to suspend civilian rule, which plunged the country into its worst political turmoil in years.
Motorists will have to pay more for petroleum products this week, as a price hike of nearly P1 a liter for gasoline and diesel was set starting Tuesday, December 17.
In separate advisories, Seaoil and Shell Pilipinas said gasoline and diesel prices would go up by 80 centavos a liter.
