# Senate Committee on Finance: DEPDev - September 21, 2026

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evh-uXF_qiQ

AI-assisted working draft. AI can make errors. Always check quotations, names, rulings, and other consequential details against the official video.

**[00:55:20.040] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000117)  
Thank you for attending today's briefing on the fiscal year 2027 proposed

**[00:55:30.000] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000118)  
Expenditure Program of the Department of Economy, Planning and Development, its attached agencies and corporations. I hereby call to order. The Chair would like to acknowledge the presence of Senator Panfilo Lacson. Thank you, sir, for joining us. At this juncture, the Chair recognizes the Committee Secretary to acknowledge the resource persons present for the day.

**[00:56:00.000] Committee Secretary** (asr-000119)  
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you. For the briefing on the proposed FY2027 budget of the Department of Economy, Planning and Development or DEPDEV and attached agencies and corporations, namely the Commission on Population and Development or CPD, Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency or PNVSCA, the Public-Private Partnership Center of the Philippines or PPP Center, the Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute or PSRTI, Tariff Commission or TC, Philippine Statistics Authority or PSA,

**[00:56:30.000] Committee Secretary** (asr-000120)  
Development Academy of the Philippines or DAP, and Philippine Institute for Development Studies or PIDS, we would like to acknowledge the presence of DEPDEV Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan together with Undersecretary Joseph Capuno, Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo Abad Santos, Undersecretary Maria Monica Pagunzan, Undersecretary Melbourne Zero Pana, Undersecretary Glenda Rumor, Assistant Secretary Reynaldo Cancio, Assistant Secretary Roderick M. Plans,

**[00:57:00.000] Committee Secretary** (asr-000121)  
Assistant Secretary Jonathan Uy, Assistant Secretary Agnes Tolentino, and Assistant Secretary Flora Sherry Basquinez. For CPD, we have the Executive Director, Undersecretary Lisa Grace Bersales. For PNVSEA, we have Executive Director Donald James Gawe. From PPP Center, we have Executive Director Riza Latore. From PSRTI, we have Executive Director Josefina Almeda. For Tariff Commission, we have Chairperson Marilu Mendoza.

**[00:57:28.640] Committee Secretary** (asr-000122)  
From PSA, we have Undersecretary Claire Denise Mapa. For DAP, we have the President and CEO, Dr. Leocadio Sebastian. And for PIDS, we have Dr. Philip Arnold Tuano, the President. We have also invited the presence of BBM and COA. BBM representatives are present online. We have Ms. Maria Regina Galindez and Mr. Vincent Grace Tejero.

**[00:57:52.720] Committee Secretary** (asr-000123)  
For COA, we have Mr. Anileto Boletse Jr., Mr. James Arnold Fabelion, Mr.

**[00:57:58.640] Committee Secretary** (asr-000124)  
Rebecca Tugay, Ms. Vanessa Gamanos, Mr. Leo Camacho, Ms. Jessa Abiva, Ms. Suzette Pornales, Mr. Jelly Abinoja, and Mr. Jose Aldrin Bontigal. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

**[00:58:10.860] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000125)  
Thank you.

**[00:58:12.700] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000126)  
This juncture, the Chair would like to read this opening statement to our esteemed colleague, Senator Lacson, guests and resource persons, and the Department of Economy Planning and Development and its attached agencies.

**[00:58:23.220] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000127)  
A pleasant afternoon.

**[00:58:25.640] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000128)  
We are here today to deliberate the proposed fiscal year 2027.

**[00:58:28.640] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000129)  
The budget of the Department of Economy Planning and Development, attached agencies, and corporation.

**[00:58:35.680] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000130)  
As we have emphasized during the DBCC briefing, our fiscal space is limited.

**[00:58:41.220] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000131)  
Kaya kailangan talagang piliin natin, nating mabuti kung saan mapupunta ang bawat piso ng ating budget.

**[00:58:48.360] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000132)  
This becomes even more important given the economic challenges confronting our country.

**[00:58:53.960] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000133)  
We continue to feel the effects of external shocks,

**[00:58:57.460] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000134)  
including the conflicts,

**[00:58:58.640] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000135)  
in the Middle East.

**[00:58:59.520] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000136)  
Mataas ang presyo ng langis,

**[00:59:02.080] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000137)  
transportasyon,

**[00:59:02.980] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000138)  
pagkain,

**[00:59:03.660] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000139)  
at iba pang mga pangunahing pangangailangan.

**[00:59:07.060] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000140)  
We are living at a time when the peso is at its slowest,

**[00:59:10.600] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000141)  
while inflation rates are on the rise.

**[00:59:13.620] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000142)  
Our economy grew by only 4.4% in 2025,

**[00:59:17.680] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000143)  
and growth has remained weak this year.

**[00:59:20.260] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000144)  
Inflation remains elevated,

**[00:59:22.460] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000145)  
reaching 6.1% in August,

**[00:59:25.240] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000146)  
and while the poverty rate has declined,

**[00:59:27.400] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000147)  
more than 11 million

**[00:59:28.640] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000148)  
Filipinos are still living below the poverty line.

**[00:59:32.860] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000149)  
These numbers should remind us that economic growth cannot be measured by statistics alone.

**[00:59:37.980] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000150)  
Ang tunay na sukatan ay kung gumaan ba ang buhay ng ating makababayan.

**[00:59:43.220] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000151)  
This is where DEP-DEB plays an important role.

**[00:59:47.340] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000152)  
You help determine where our country is going,

**[00:59:49.860] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000153)  
which investments we should prioritize,

**[00:59:52.040] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000154)  
and which programs and infrastructure projects will produce the greatest and most lasting benefit

**[00:59:57.380] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000155)  
for our people.

**[00:59:59.300] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000159)  
DepDEP will also be the primary government agency to oversee and ensure the fulfillment of the promises of the Master Plan for Infrastructure and National Development, or the MIND Act, once it becomes a law.

**[01:00:13.620] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000160)  
I'm very hopeful that whatever budget given to DepDEP will aid them in preparing for the implementation of the MIND Act.

**[01:00:20.600] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000161)  
As we go through the budget, we want to know whether the resources being proposed for 2027 will allow DepDEP to fully perform its role in shaping our country's development, guiding government priorities, and helping improve the lives of our people.

**[01:00:37.040] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000162)  
At the end of the day, the question is simple. Will this budget help DepDEP do its part in creating more jobs, reducing poverty, raising incomes, strengthening our economy, and giving Filipino families a better quality of life?

**[01:00:50.600] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000163)  
We hope that by the end of today's presentation and deliberations, the answer to that question will be a clear yes. Thank you very much.

**[01:01:00.940] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000164)  
Before calling our guests, I'd like to ask our esteemed colleagues if they have opening statements.

**[01:01:07.980] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000165)  
Senator Lacson?

**[01:01:08.800] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000166)  
None, Your Honor.

**[01:01:10.360] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000167)  
Yes, Senator Tulfo?

**[01:01:12.100] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-000168)  
None, Your Honor.

**[01:01:13.440] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000169)  
Okay, since there are no more opening statements, I now call on Secretary Arsenio Balisacan to deliver his opening statement.

**[01:01:20.600] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000170)  
And to present the 2027 Proposed Expenditure Program of the Department.

**[01:01:28.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000171)  
Thank you, Chair. Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator JV Ejercito, Senator Ping Lacson, and Senator Raffy Tulfo, my colleagues in government and the DEPDev family, good afternoon.

**[01:01:47.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000172)  
We would like to thank our legislators

**[01:01:50.600] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000173)  
for this opportunity to present the proposed budget of DEPDev and its attached agencies for fiscal year 2027.

**[01:02:02.460] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000174)  
I will be discussing the DepDEP's most recent accomplishments, strategic priorities, and budget proposal for fiscal year 2025.

**[01:02:15.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000175)  
I am pretty much aware, Mr. Chair.

**[01:02:20.600] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000176)  
I am pretty sure that you are familiar with the vision and mission of DepDEP and its attached agencies.

**[01:02:30.600] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000177)  
So, in the interest of time, I could skip those and move on to slide number five, our accomplishments.

**[01:02:42.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000178)  
DepDEP's major accomplishments for fiscal year 2025.

**[01:02:45.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000179)  
In the first half of fiscal year 2026.

**[01:02:50.600] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000180)  
As shown on the following slides.

**[01:02:55.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000181)  
The Socioeconomic Policy and Planning Program is the DepDEP's central engine for translating national priorities into actionable policy.

**[01:03:08.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000182)  
And the Legislative Front, a secretariat to the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council, or LEDOC.

**[01:03:17.800] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000183)  
DEPDev facilitated the enactment of 11

**[01:03:21.520] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000184)  
Common Legislative Agenda bills

**[01:03:23.500] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000185)  
in 2025.

**[01:03:25.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000186)  
Overall, 40 of the 64 LEDOC CLA bills of the 19th Congress for about 63% were enacted.

**[01:03:37.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000187)  
The highest passing rate since the 10th Congress.

**[01:03:43.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000188)  
DepDEP provided 1,240 policy recommendations.

**[01:03:49.080] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000189)  
and submitted 147

**[01:03:50.600] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000190)  
position papers in 2025.

**[01:03:54.480] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000191)  
On a quarterly

**[01:03:55.340] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000192)  
and monthly basis,

**[01:03:57.300] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000193)  
we provided technical

**[01:03:59.300] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000194)  
reports to the Office of the President

**[01:04:00.980] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000195)  
and the country's performance

**[01:04:03.080] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000196)  
for key socioeconomic indicators

**[01:04:05.300] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000197)  
such as our gross

**[01:04:07.260] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000198)  
domestic product or GDP,

**[01:04:09.540] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000199)  
inflation, and employment.

**[01:04:12.620] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000200)  
Our

**[01:04:13.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000201)  
regional offices function as

**[01:04:15.280] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000202)  
the Secretariat of the Regional

**[01:04:17.080] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000203)  
Development Councils

**[01:04:19.240] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000204)  
or RDCs.

**[01:04:20.600] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000205)  
We provided technical and secretariat

**[01:04:23.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000206)  
support in the

**[01:04:24.320] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000207)  
formulation of regional

**[01:04:27.360] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000208)  
plans, investment

**[01:04:29.080] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000209)  
programs, and spatial development

**[01:04:31.140] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000210)  
frameworks.

**[01:04:32.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000211)  
In 2025,

**[01:04:35.340] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000212)  
the RDCs held eight

**[01:04:37.120] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000213)  
meetings with the President

**[01:04:38.240] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000214)  
to discuss various matters

**[01:04:40.500] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000215)  
related to regional development

**[01:04:42.540] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000216)  
efforts.

**[01:04:44.660] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000217)  
In 2025,

**[01:04:46.980] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000218)  
they produced the

**[01:04:48.000] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000219)  
Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan,

**[01:04:49.600] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000220)  
the country's first

**[01:04:51.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000221)  
10-year labor market development plan

**[01:04:53.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000222)  
mandated under

**[01:04:55.660] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000223)  
Republic Act No. 11962

**[01:04:58.000] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000224)  
and launched on

**[01:04:59.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000225)  
May 5, 2025.

**[01:05:01.620] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000226)  
It sets the roadmap

**[01:05:03.460] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000227)  
for job creation and workforce

**[01:05:05.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000228)  
development for the next

**[01:05:07.480] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000229)  
decade.

**[01:05:09.360] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000230)  
As Secretariat to the National Innovation

**[01:05:11.800] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000231)  
Council,

**[01:05:13.760] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000232)  
DEPDEV held the 2025

**[01:05:15.460] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000233)  
Presidential Philippine Innovation Awards

**[01:05:18.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000234)  
on November 6,

**[01:05:19.600] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000235)  
2025, recognizing five

**[01:05:22.660] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000236)  
Philippine innovations.

**[01:05:25.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000237)  
Executive Order No. 99

**[01:05:27.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000238)  
Series of 2025

**[01:05:29.200] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000239)  
signed a month earlier

**[01:05:32.000] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000240)  
institutionalized

**[01:05:33.880] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000241)  
this prestigious award.

**[01:05:37.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000242)  
We also

**[01:05:37.600] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000243)  
advanced two significant interagency

**[01:05:39.880] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000244)  
policies.

**[01:05:41.800] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000245)  
Joint Memorandum Circular No.

**[01:05:43.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000246)  
2025-01

**[01:05:45.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000247)  
with the Department of Budget and Management

**[01:05:47.800] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000248)  
which institutionalized

**[01:05:49.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000249)  
program convergence

**[01:05:50.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000250)  
budgeting

**[01:05:51.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000251)  
to ensure that agency budgets

**[01:05:54.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000252)  
aligned around shared priority outcomes

**[01:05:57.660] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000253)  
and joint MC No. 2025-001

**[01:06:03.160] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000254)  
with the Department of Housing

**[01:06:06.260] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000255)  
and Urban Development

**[01:06:09.500] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000256)  
addressing housing

**[01:06:10.700] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000257)  
and procurement policy.

**[01:06:14.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000258)  
Client satisfaction

**[01:06:16.520] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000259)  
with our Secretariat

**[01:06:18.140] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000260)  
and Technical Services

**[01:06:19.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000261)  
across the Economy and Development Council,

**[01:06:22.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000262)  
LIDAC, and Interagency Committees

**[01:06:24.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000263)  
was sustained between 92% and 99%

**[01:06:28.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000264)  
in every period,

**[01:06:29.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000265)  
a strong signal of institutional trust

**[01:06:32.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000266)  
in the Department's convening

**[01:06:34.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000267)  
and coordination role.

**[01:06:38.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000268)  
The National Investment Programming Program

**[01:06:41.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000269)  
is where policy priorities

**[01:06:43.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000270)  
meet resource allocation.

**[01:06:46.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000271)  
Official Development Assistance

**[01:06:48.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000272)  
manage 452 active ODA commitments

**[01:06:55.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000273)  
worth $41.8 billion in 2025.

**[01:07:03.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000274)  
Ninety-five project loans

**[01:07:05.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000275)  
worth $31.7 billion,

**[01:07:09.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000276)  
17 program loans

**[01:07:11.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000277)  
worth $8.0 billion,

**[01:07:14.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000278)  
and 340 grants

**[01:07:16.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000279)  
worth $2.1 billion.

**[01:07:17.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000280)  
U.S. dollars.

**[01:07:21.500] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000283)  
DEPDev updated

**[01:07:22.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000284)  
the Public Investment

**[01:07:23.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000285)  
Program and the

**[01:07:24.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000286)  
Three-Year Rolling

**[01:07:25.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000287)  
Infrastructure Program

**[01:07:26.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000288)  
to guide

**[01:07:27.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000289)  
the fiscal year

**[01:07:28.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000290)  
2026

**[01:07:29.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000291)  
and fiscal year

**[01:07:30.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000292)  
2027

**[01:07:31.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000293)  
budget preparations

**[01:07:32.600] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000294)  
in close coordination

**[01:07:37.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000295)  
with implementing

**[01:07:38.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000296)  
agencies, and

**[01:07:39.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000297)  
updated all

**[01:07:40.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000298)  
16 Regional

**[01:07:41.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000299)  
Development Investment

**[01:07:43.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000300)  
Programs across

**[01:07:44.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000301)  
the period.

**[01:07:46.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000302)  
Programs and projects submitted to the DBM under the Public Investment Program grew from 3,219 in 2023 worth 3.43 trillion pesos to 4,240 in 2025 worth 4.71 trillion pesos.

**[01:08:09.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000303)  
A clear indication of the pipeline's expanding scale.

**[01:08:15.060] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000304)  
We also held two major international engagements last year, the Philippine Development Forum on October 6, 2025 and the Third Regional Network of Investment Promotion Dialogue on November 26, the same year.

**[01:08:35.380] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000305)  
Both platforms for coordinating support for the country's investment pipeline.

**[01:08:41.120] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000306)  
During the period,

**[01:08:43.300] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000307)  
the Department appraised 267 national and regional programs and projects with 98.9% of appraisals within the target deadlines, consistently above our 90% target.

**[01:09:01.220] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000308)  
Client satisfaction with the Investment Coordination Committee and the Infrastructure Development Committee ranged from 95% to 99% throughout the period,

**[01:09:12.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000309)  
reflecting sustained confidence in our appraisal and coordination processes.

**[01:09:19.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000310)  
Mr. Chair, DEPDev also undertakes several important activities under its National Development Monitoring and Evaluation Program,

**[01:09:29.460] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000311)  
which advances accountability

**[01:09:31.500] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000312)  
with respect to the delivery

**[01:09:33.500] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000313)  
of major public investments.

**[01:09:34.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000314)  
In one

**[01:09:38.140] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000315)  
of the year's

**[01:09:38.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000316)  
most

**[01:09:39.160] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000317)  
consequential

**[01:09:39.660] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000318)  
exercises,

**[01:09:40.300] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000319)  
our regional offices

**[01:09:41.220] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000320)  
conducted a rapid

**[01:09:42.220] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000321)  
on-site

**[01:09:42.660] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000322)  
verification

**[01:09:42.980] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000323)  
of

**[01:09:45.480] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000325)  
9,855 flood control projects nationwide,

**[01:09:51.040] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000326)  
physically validating 9,370 of them, or 95%,

**[01:09:56.120] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000327)  
with a combined reported cost of 545.64 billion pesos.

**[01:10:03.300] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000328)  
We submitted six project reports

**[01:10:05.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000329)  
and a comprehensive report directly to the Office of the President.

**[01:10:09.320] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000330)  
As of December 31, 2025,

**[01:10:15.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000331)  
we were monitoring 209 infrastructure flagship projects

**[01:10:20.160] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000332)  
worth a combined 10.6 trillion pesos,

**[01:10:25.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000333)  
nine already completed,

**[01:10:27.520] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000334)  
81 ongoing,

**[01:10:29.300] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000335)  
and 27 approved and moving toward implementation.

**[01:10:34.720] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000336)  
ODA remains the largest funding source,

**[01:10:37.660] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000337)  
backing 80 of these projects,

**[01:10:39.320] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000338)  
worth 5.8 trillion pesos.

**[01:10:43.900] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000339)  
We strengthened the government's evaluation framework this year.

**[01:10:49.120] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000340)  
TEPDEV and DBM issued Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2025-02,

**[01:10:56.160] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000341)  
establishing the revised National Evaluation Policy Framework

**[01:10:59.240] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000342)  
that now governs how government programs are assessed.

**[01:11:06.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000343)  
Mr. Chair, we completed 16 regional projects,

**[01:11:09.320] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000344)  
including regional development reports across the period,

**[01:11:12.040] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000345)  
including the first-ever regional development report

**[01:11:15.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000346)  
for the newly created Negros Island region.

**[01:11:20.160] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000347)  
The Philippines also completed its fourth Voluntary National Review since 2016,

**[01:11:26.820] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000348)  
spotlighting progress on various goals

**[01:11:28.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000349)  
and reaffirming our accountability to the global development agenda.

**[01:11:33.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000350)  
On September 29, 2025,

**[01:11:39.320] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000351)  
we hosted the 12th M&E Network Forum,

**[01:11:42.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000352)  
which highlighted the newly enacted Economy Planning and Development Act.

**[01:11:49.080] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000353)  
Mr. Chair, I also have reports on the performance

**[01:11:53.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000354)  
of the various agencies attached to TEPDEV.

**[01:12:03.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000355)  
We can skip these slides,

**[01:12:06.660] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000356)  
but we can return to them.

**[01:12:09.320] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000357)  
If there is any interest from the Honorable Senators

**[01:12:14.880] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000358)  
in their interest of time,

**[01:12:17.260] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000359)  
so I can go directly to the financial performance,

**[01:12:22.860] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000360)  
if you will.

**[01:12:24.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000361)  
And that's slide 21.

**[01:12:32.480] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000362)  
Okay.

**[01:12:36.040] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000363)  
What I'm now going to do is to proceed to

**[01:12:39.320] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000364)  
highlighting the TEPDEV's financial performance

**[01:12:42.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000365)  
for Fiscal Year 2025

**[01:12:44.520] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000366)  
and first semester of Fiscal Year 2026.

**[01:12:50.900] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000367)  
As of December 31, 2025,

**[01:12:55.560] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000368)  
TEPDEV and its attached agencies

**[01:12:57.880] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000369)  
received total allotments amounting to about 17 billion pesos.

**[01:13:03.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000370)  
Of this amount,

**[01:13:07.160] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000371)  
14.2 billion,

**[01:13:09.300] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000373)  
or roughly

**[01:13:11.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000374)  
83.4% was obligated,

**[01:13:14.820] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000375)  
while 11.89 billion,

**[01:13:16.880] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000376)  
or roughly 83.76% of obligations was disbursed.

**[01:13:22.860] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000377)  
The figures reflect the agency's overall budget execution for 2025

**[01:13:27.160] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000378)  
with the majority of available allotments

**[01:13:30.500] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000379)  
already committed

**[01:13:32.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000380)  
and a substantial portion of obligations already paid.

**[01:13:38.140] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000381)  
Shown in the next slide,

**[01:13:39.300] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000382)  
is the Fiscal Year 2025 financial performance of TEPDEV

**[01:13:44.900] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000383)  
and its attached agencies.

**[01:13:47.880] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000384)  
At the agency level,

**[01:13:50.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000385)  
TEPDEV, the Office of the Secretary,

**[01:13:52.800] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000386)  
recorded an obligation rate of 91%

**[01:13:55.300] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000387)  
and a disbursement rate of 85.7%.

**[01:13:59.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000388)  
Most of the attached agencies also posted high utilization rates.

**[01:14:05.600] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000389)  
The figures show that the majority of the 2025 financial performance

**[01:14:09.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000390)  
of TEPDEV and its attached agencies

**[01:14:10.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000391)  
were utilized,

**[01:14:11.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000392)  
while the remaining balances continue to be monitored

**[01:14:15.340] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000393)  
to further improve budget execution.

**[01:14:21.200] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000394)  
The next slide.

**[01:14:24.280] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000395)  
As of June 30, 2026,

**[01:14:28.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000396)  
TEPDEV and its attached agencies

**[01:14:30.320] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000397)  
have received a total allotment of 17.74 billion pesos.

**[01:14:34.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000398)  
Of this amount,

**[01:14:37.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000399)  
7.01 billion,

**[01:14:39.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000400)  
or 39.48% has been obligated,

**[01:14:44.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000401)  
while 4.76 billion,

**[01:14:46.820] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000402)  
or 67.9% of the obligations has been disbursed.

**[01:14:53.080] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000403)  
For the current year appropriations,

**[01:14:55.960] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000404)  
the obligation rate is 41.89%,

**[01:14:59.120] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000405)  
with

**[01:15:00.000] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000406)  
a 70.09%

**[01:15:02.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000407)  
distribution disbursement

**[01:15:04.260] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000408)  
rate.

**[01:15:06.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000409)  
These figures,

**[01:15:08.140] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000410)  
Mr. Chair, reflect the budget

**[01:15:09.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000411)  
utilization as of the end of June

**[01:15:11.700] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000412)  
with the remaining

**[01:15:13.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000413)  
balances continuing to be utilized and

**[01:15:15.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000414)  
monitored in the succeeding months.

**[01:15:19.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000415)  
Shown in the next slide is the financial

**[01:15:21.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000416)  
performance of DEVDEV and its

**[01:15:23.760] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000417)  
attached agencies as of June

**[01:15:25.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000418)  
30, 2026.

**[01:15:28.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000419)  
At the agency

**[01:15:29.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000420)  
level, DEVDEV, OSEC

**[01:15:31.860] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000421)  
has obligated 49%

**[01:15:34.000] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000422)  
of its allotment

**[01:15:35.200] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000423)  
with a 64.9%

**[01:15:38.560] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000424)  
disbursement rate.

**[01:15:40.620] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000425)  
Among the attached

**[01:15:41.760] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000426)  
agencies, DAP

**[01:15:44.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000427)  
or DAP has the highest

**[01:15:45.600] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000428)  
obligation rate of 99.36%

**[01:15:48.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000429)  
while

**[01:15:49.800] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000430)  
PPP Center has the lowest at

**[01:15:51.700] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000431)  
11.08%.

**[01:15:53.380] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000432)  
These figures are as of June

**[01:15:57.560] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000433)  
30, 2026.

**[01:15:59.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000434)  
And the agencies

**[01:16:01.600] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000435)  
continue to work toward improving

**[01:16:03.480] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000436)  
obligation and disbursement

**[01:16:06.160] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000437)  
performance for the

**[01:16:07.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000438)  
remainder of the year.

**[01:16:10.500] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000439)  
Let me now present

**[01:16:11.860] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000440)  
the trust and priorities of DEVDEV

**[01:16:13.900] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000441)  
for fiscal year 2027.

**[01:16:19.100] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000442)  
Secretary, sorry. Before we continue,

**[01:16:21.820] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000443)  
I would like to acknowledge the presence of

**[01:16:23.540] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000444)  
Senators Raffy Tulfo,

**[01:16:25.560] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000445)  
Erwin Tulfo, and Senator Kiko Pangilinan.

**[01:16:27.460] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000446)  
Please proceed.

**[01:16:28.960] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000447)  
Thank you.

**[01:16:29.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000448)  
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

**[01:16:31.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000449)  
For fiscal year 2027,

**[01:16:34.340] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000450)  
DEVDEV will focus on

**[01:16:35.600] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000451)  
strengthening its role

**[01:16:36.980] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000452)  
as the government's planning,

**[01:16:39.660] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000453)  
policy advisory, and development

**[01:16:41.820] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000454)  
coordination institution.

**[01:16:44.360] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000455)  
First,

**[01:16:46.000] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000456)  
we will intensify proactive

**[01:16:47.800] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000457)  
policy advising,

**[01:16:49.860] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000458)  
governance reforms,

**[01:16:51.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000459)  
and monitoring and evaluation

**[01:16:53.040] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000460)  
to support evidence-based

**[01:16:55.520] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000461)  
decision-making.

**[01:16:57.620] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000462)  
Second,

**[01:16:59.060] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000463)  
we will

**[01:16:59.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000464)  
update the nation's long-term

**[01:17:01.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000465)  
vision, the Ambition

**[01:17:03.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000466)  
Natin 2040,

**[01:17:05.540] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000467)  
to ensure its continued relevance

**[01:17:08.200] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000468)  
amid emerging global

**[01:17:11.760] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000469)  
and domestic challenges.

**[01:17:14.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000470)  
Third,

**[01:17:15.980] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000471)  
we will implement program

**[01:17:17.560] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000472)  
convergence budgeting

**[01:17:18.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000473)  
to strengthen alignment of government

**[01:17:21.720] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000474)  
investments and maximize

**[01:17:23.720] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000475)  
development impact.

**[01:17:25.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000476)  
Fourth, we will

**[01:17:27.760] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000477)  
complete the comprehensive infrastructure

**[01:17:29.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000478)  
development master plan

**[01:17:31.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000479)  
to guide strategic infrastructure investments nationwide.

**[01:17:37.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000480)  
We will also pursue high-impact initiatives

**[01:17:40.060] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000481)  
to address policy and regulatory constraints

**[01:17:42.760] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000482)  
to innovation,

**[01:17:44.800] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000483)  
strengthen the capacities of local governments

**[01:17:47.360] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000484)  
in planning, investment programming,

**[01:17:50.460] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000485)  
and evaluation,

**[01:17:51.660] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000486)  
and translate the outcomes

**[01:17:53.880] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000487)  
of the Philippine Development Forum

**[01:17:55.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000488)  
into concrete reforms

**[01:17:57.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000489)  
and interagency actions.

**[01:17:59.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000490)  
Finally,

**[01:18:01.620] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000491)  
we will continue strengthening

**[01:18:03.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000492)  
DevDev itself through

**[01:18:05.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000493)  
digital transformation,

**[01:18:07.980] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000494)  
knowledge management,

**[01:18:09.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000495)  
organizational development,

**[01:18:11.500] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000496)  
and investment in our people

**[01:18:13.500] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000497)  
and systems, ensuring

**[01:18:15.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000498)  
that the department remains a responsive,

**[01:18:18.380] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000499)  
future-ready institution.

**[01:18:21.260] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000500)  
Let me now turn to the proposed budget

**[01:18:23.760] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000501)  
for DevDev and its attached

**[01:18:25.700] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000502)  
agencies.

**[01:18:28.300] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000503)  
The proposed

**[01:18:29.620] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000504)  
budget for DevDev and its attached

**[01:18:31.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000505)  
agencies amount to 18.47

**[01:18:33.720] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000506)  
billion pesos.

**[01:18:37.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000507)  
By allotment class,

**[01:18:40.540] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000508)  
the proposed budget

**[01:18:41.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000509)  
is largely allocated to maintenance

**[01:18:43.380] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000510)  
and other operating expenses

**[01:18:45.220] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000511)  
or MOE at 12.8

**[01:18:47.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000512)  
billion, representing

**[01:18:49.240] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000513)  
69.28% of the

**[01:18:51.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000514)  
total proposed budget.

**[01:18:53.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000515)  
This followed by

**[01:18:55.480] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000516)  
personal services at

**[01:18:57.060] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000517)  
4.36 billion,

**[01:18:59.620] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000518)  
or 23.63%,

**[01:19:02.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000519)  
and capital

**[01:19:03.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000520)  
outlay at 1.31 billion,

**[01:19:06.140] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000521)  
or 7.09%.

**[01:19:08.460] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000522)  
The next slide

**[01:19:13.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000523)  
presents the breakdown of our

**[01:19:15.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000524)  
proposed 18.47

**[01:19:17.380] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000525)  
billion budget appropriation

**[01:19:19.820] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000526)  
source.

**[01:19:21.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000527)  
The agency-specific budget

**[01:19:23.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000528)  
accounts for the majority

**[01:19:25.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000529)  
at 18.13

**[01:19:28.060] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000530)  
billion, or roughly 98%

**[01:19:29.620] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000531)  
of the total

**[01:19:32.060] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000532)  
proposed budget.

**[01:19:34.560] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000533)  
Meanwhile,

**[01:19:36.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000534)  
341.9 million,

**[01:19:38.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000535)  
or 1.85%,

**[01:19:40.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000536)  
is appropriated

**[01:19:42.200] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000537)  
under automatic appropriations,

**[01:19:44.700] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000538)  
primarily for the payment of

**[01:19:45.960] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000539)  
retirement and life insurance premiums.

**[01:19:50.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000540)  
The remaining

**[01:19:51.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000541)  
4.49 million, or 0.02%,

**[01:19:54.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000542)  
is appropriated under

**[01:19:56.160] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000543)  
special accounts in the general fund,

**[01:19:58.360] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000544)  
covered by the

**[01:19:59.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000545)  
Tariff Commission's Remedies

**[01:20:02.000] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000546)  
Fund and the

**[01:20:03.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000547)  
PSRTI Endowment Fund.

**[01:20:06.880] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000548)  
The next slide

**[01:20:08.360] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000549)  
shows the breakdown

**[01:20:10.340] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000550)  
of our proposed budget by

**[01:20:11.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000551)  
ATAT's agency.

**[01:20:14.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000552)  
Historically,

**[01:20:16.000] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000553)  
PSA gets

**[01:20:16.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000554)  
the biggest chunk

**[01:20:20.260] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000555)  
among the DepDev family.

**[01:20:22.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000556)  
For the fiscal year

**[01:20:24.080] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000557)  
2027, PSA's proposed

**[01:20:26.040] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000558)  
budget is 13.03

**[01:20:28.760] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000559)  
billion pesos.

**[01:20:29.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000560)  
Or 70.56%

**[01:20:34.700] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000561)  
of our total budget.

**[01:20:36.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000562)  
This

**[01:20:38.000] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000563)  
followed by DepDev's

**[01:20:39.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000564)  
proper

**[01:20:41.240] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000565)  
at 2.72 billion

**[01:20:43.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000566)  
or 14.73%.

**[01:20:46.700] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000567)  
The remaining

**[01:20:48.660] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000568)  
2.72 billion pesos

**[01:20:50.760] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000569)  
or 14.71%

**[01:20:53.200] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000570)  
is distributed

**[01:20:54.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000571)  
among the other

**[01:20:56.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000572)  
seven ATAT's agencies.

**[01:20:59.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000573)  
Shown on the screen

**[01:21:02.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000574)  
is the comparison

**[01:21:05.480] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000575)  
of DepDev's budget

**[01:21:06.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000576)  
based on the

**[01:21:07.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000577)  
2026 JA

**[01:21:09.760] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000578)  
and the 2027 NEP.

**[01:21:14.520] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000579)  
The 2027 NEP

**[01:21:16.860] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000580)  
proposes 18.47

**[01:21:18.820] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000581)  
billion,

**[01:21:20.720] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000582)  
an overall 19.8%

**[01:21:22.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000583)  
increase from the 2026

**[01:21:24.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000584)  
JA.

**[01:21:26.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000585)  
The increase is mainly

**[01:21:28.760] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000586)  
driven by the PSA

**[01:21:30.320] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000587)  
with a 4.13 billion

**[01:21:33.800] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000588)  
or 46.34%

**[01:21:38.760] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000589)  
increase.

**[01:21:40.460] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000590)  
Meanwhile,

**[01:21:42.140] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000591)  
the DepDev OSAC's

**[01:21:43.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000592)  
budget decreases

**[01:21:44.960] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000593)  
by 89.17 million

**[01:21:47.120] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000594)  
from 2.81 billion

**[01:21:49.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000595)  
to 2.72 billion.

**[01:21:53.140] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000596)  
Other major

**[01:21:54.000] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000597)  
decreases are seen

**[01:21:55.120] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000598)  
in the PPP Center

**[01:21:56.260] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000599)  
and the DAP.

**[01:21:58.760] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000600)  
Turning to the last part of our presentation, allow me to highlight some of the features of our proposed budget.

**[01:22:13.760] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000601)  
major allocations

**[01:22:15.280] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000602)  
are for the annex

**[01:22:16.320] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000603)  
and parking building project,

**[01:22:19.260] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000604)  
ICT-related expenditures,

**[01:22:21.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000605)  
and rental for our central office,

**[01:22:24.200] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000606)  
and the rehabilitation

**[01:22:25.200] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000607)  
of our regional offices.

**[01:22:28.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000608)  
We have also

**[01:22:28.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000609)  
proposed funding

**[01:22:29.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000610)  
for the Innovation Fund

**[01:22:31.520] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000611)  
as well as

**[01:22:33.280] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000612)  
impact evaluation studies

**[01:22:35.060] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000613)  
to enable us

**[01:22:37.120] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000614)  
to perform effectively

**[01:22:38.360] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000615)  
the related mandates

**[01:22:40.240] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000616)  
in our charter.

**[01:22:42.860] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000617)  
Under PSA,

**[01:22:45.140] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000618)  
the largest allocations

**[01:22:47.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000619)  
are for major

**[01:22:49.080] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000620)  
national programs,

**[01:22:51.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000621)  
particularly

**[01:22:51.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000622)  
the 2027

**[01:22:53.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000623)  
Community-Based

**[01:22:55.960] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000624)  
Monitoring System

**[01:22:57.140] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000625)  
or CBMS

**[01:22:58.060] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000626)  
at

**[01:22:58.320] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000627)  
5.06

**[01:22:59.320] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000628)  
billion pesos,

**[01:23:00.320] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000629)  
and the

**[01:23:01.380] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000630)  
Philippine

**[01:23:03.280] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000631)  
Identification System

**[01:23:04.660] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000632)  
or PhilID

**[01:23:05.540] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000633)  
at 2.37 billion pesos.

**[01:23:10.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000634)  
The proposed budget

**[01:23:12.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000635)  
also supports

**[01:23:14.500] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000636)  
key programs

**[01:23:15.340] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000637)  
and undertakings

**[01:23:16.360] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000638)  
including the statistical

**[01:23:18.260] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000639)  
frame integrating

**[01:23:19.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000640)  
geospatial information,

**[01:23:23.040] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000641)  
Family Income and Expenditure

**[01:23:24.200] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000642)  
Survey,

**[01:23:26.000] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000643)  
the functional literacy,

**[01:23:27.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000644)  
education,

**[01:23:27.800] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000645)  
and mass media survey

**[01:23:29.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000646)  
or FLEMMS,

**[01:23:31.240] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000647)  
the annual survey

**[01:23:32.160] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000648)  
of Philippine business

**[01:23:33.340] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000649)  
and industry,

**[01:23:34.480] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000650)  
as well as the construction

**[01:23:36.280] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000651)  
of the PSA

**[01:23:37.340] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000652)  
Negros Oriental.

**[01:23:41.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000653)  
For the DAP,

**[01:23:44.220] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000654)  
significant requirements

**[01:23:45.480] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000655)  
include the DAP

**[01:23:46.500] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000656)  
education and training program

**[01:23:48.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000657)  
at 608.5 million pesos

**[01:23:50.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000658)  
and research and technical

**[01:23:52.880] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000659)  
assistance

**[01:23:53.360] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000660)  
at 204 million pesos.

**[01:23:56.800] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000661)  
For PIDS,

**[01:23:57.800] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000662)  
we are requesting

**[01:24:00.060] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000663)  
funding for its

**[01:24:01.120] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000664)  
socioeconomic policy

**[01:24:02.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000665)  
research program

**[01:24:03.160] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000666)  
and the construction

**[01:24:04.860] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000667)  
of the PIDS office building

**[01:24:06.500] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000668)  
at UP Diliman.

**[01:24:09.240] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000669)  
The PPP Center's

**[01:24:11.280] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000670)  
major funding requirements

**[01:24:12.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000671)  
include the implementation

**[01:24:14.900] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000672)  
of the project development

**[01:24:16.340] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000673)  
and monitoring facility

**[01:24:17.760] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000674)  
or PDMF

**[01:24:19.160] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000675)  
and the agency's

**[01:24:21.000] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000676)  
rent expense.

**[01:24:23.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000677)  
Finally,

**[01:24:25.320] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000678)  
PSRTI's major programs

**[01:24:27.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000679)  
are aimed at

**[01:24:27.800] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000680)  
enhancing the Philippine

**[01:24:29.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000681)  
statistical system,

**[01:24:31.960] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000682)  
local government's capacity

**[01:24:33.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000683)  
building,

**[01:24:34.480] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000684)  
and SDG progress monitoring

**[01:24:36.340] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000685)  
while CPD proposes

**[01:24:39.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000686)  
funding for its

**[01:24:40.500] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000687)  
ICT-related projects.

**[01:24:43.860] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000688)  
That concludes

**[01:24:45.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000689)  
our presentation,

**[01:24:46.620] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000690)  
Mr. Chair,

**[01:24:47.500] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000691)  
our Honorable Senators.

**[01:24:49.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000692)  
We welcome your questions

**[01:24:50.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000693)  
and clarifications.

**[01:24:51.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000694)  
Thank you.

**[01:24:52.900] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000695)  
Thank you, Secretary.

**[01:24:54.880] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000696)  
At this point,

**[01:24:55.460] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000697)  
I'd like to open the floor

**[01:24:56.640] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000698)  
to our

**[01:24:57.120] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000699)  
colleagues

**[01:24:57.800] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000700)  
to ask

**[01:24:58.140] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000701)  
questions.

**[01:24:59.500] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000702)  
First to arrive

**[01:25:00.340] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000703)  
is

**[01:25:01.100] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000704)  
Senator Panfilo Lacson.

**[01:25:03.100] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000705)  
Sir, you have the floor.

**[01:25:04.340] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000706)  
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

**[01:25:05.560] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000707)  
I'm particularly interested

**[01:25:07.120] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000708)  
in the implementation

**[01:25:09.020] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000709)  
of the National ID System.

**[01:25:12.420] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000710)  
You know,

**[01:25:13.140] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000711)  
when we were crafting

**[01:25:14.060] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000712)  
the National ID System law,

**[01:25:17.020] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000713)  
ako kasi yung

**[01:25:17.880] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000714)  
principal sponsor.

**[01:25:20.340] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000715)  
Our intention was to integrate

**[01:25:22.120] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000716)  
and consolidate,

**[01:25:23.320] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000717)  
di ba?

**[01:25:24.200] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000718)  
Lahat ng government IDs

**[01:25:26.100] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000719)  
kasi maraming tayong

**[01:25:27.360] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000720)  
functional IDs.

**[01:25:28.980] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000721)  
Ang count namin

**[01:25:29.820] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000722)  
at that time was

**[01:25:30.580] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000723)  
at least 33 IDs.

**[01:25:33.580] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000724)  
And we wanted to,

**[01:25:35.800] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000725)  
or our objective

**[01:25:36.760] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000726)  
was to consolidate

**[01:25:37.720] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000727)  
and integrate

**[01:25:38.540] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000728)  
into just one

**[01:25:39.940] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000729)  
singular ID

**[01:25:41.360] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000730)  
called

**[01:25:41.860] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000731)  
the National ID.

**[01:25:44.060] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000732)  
So,

**[01:25:44.620] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000733)  
ang question ko po is,

**[01:25:46.200] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000734)  
how much has been spent

**[01:25:47.460] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000735)  
so far

**[01:25:48.020] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000736)  
since

**[01:25:49.160] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000737)  
the law was passed

**[01:25:50.500] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000738)  
in 2018?

**[01:25:52.060] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000739)  
It's been 8 years.

**[01:25:53.700] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000740)  
Ang natatandang kong

**[01:25:54.600] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000741)  
timeline natin dito

**[01:25:55.620] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000742)  
for full implementation,

**[01:25:57.360] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000743)  
was 5 years.

**[01:25:59.040] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000744)  
If I'm not mistaken,

**[01:26:00.380] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000745)  
or less, ano?

**[01:26:01.580] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000746)  
So, how much has been spent

**[01:26:03.340] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000747)  
so far?

**[01:26:04.720] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000748)  
And,

**[01:26:05.580] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000749)  
what or how much more

**[01:26:06.980] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000750)  
do you need

**[01:26:07.460] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000751)  
to fully implement?

**[01:26:09.400] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000752)  
Irarattle ko na lahat yung

**[01:26:10.620] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000753)  
rattle up ko na lahat yung

**[01:26:11.540] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000754)  
questions, ano?

**[01:26:12.360] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000755)  
Sunod-sunod.

**[01:26:13.340] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000756)  
Para sunod-sunod na rin

**[01:26:15.000] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000757)  
yung sagot.

**[01:26:16.160] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000758)  
What are the challenges

**[01:26:17.180] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000759)  
that you are facing,

**[01:26:18.900] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000760)  
ano?

**[01:26:21.240] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000761)  
Na nakita nyo

**[01:26:22.600] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000762)  
para hindi na

**[01:26:24.200] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000763)  
pupuli implement?

**[01:26:25.980] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000764)  
And then,

**[01:26:26.440] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000765)  
another issue,

**[01:26:27.360] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000766)  
issue is,

**[01:26:28.480] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000767)  
how are you

**[01:26:29.440] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000768)  
addressing

**[01:26:29.920] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000769)  
the problem

**[01:26:32.180] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000770)  
of late registration

**[01:26:33.340] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000771)  
of birth?

**[01:26:35.680] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000772)  
Kasi, I understand

**[01:26:36.480] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000773)  
I was talking

**[01:26:37.280] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000774)  
to some intelligence

**[01:26:38.200] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000775)  
personnel

**[01:26:39.120] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000776)  
from the

**[01:26:39.920] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000777)  
armed forces.

**[01:26:41.440] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000778)  
I think they have

**[01:26:42.240] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000779)  
already discovered

**[01:26:43.100] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000780)  
thousands.

**[01:26:44.520] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000781)  
And, most of these

**[01:26:45.340] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000782)  
late registration

**[01:26:46.840] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000783)  
of birth

**[01:26:47.560] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000784)  
cases

**[01:26:49.960] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000785)  
from

**[01:26:50.860] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000786)  
China.

**[01:26:55.020] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000787)  
So,

**[01:26:55.980] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000788)  
there could be

**[01:26:57.340] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000789)  
a national security

**[01:26:58.900] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000790)  
issue involved here.

**[01:27:01.160] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000791)  
That's why we're interested

**[01:27:02.420] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000792)  
na mapuli implement na itong

**[01:27:05.300] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000793)  
national ID

**[01:27:06.000] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000794)  
para hindi na tayo magulo.

**[01:27:07.720] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000795)  
Thank you.

**[01:27:08.460] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000796)  
Then, I'll ask

**[01:27:09.140] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000797)  
further questions later.

**[01:27:12.460] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000798)  
My colleague from PSA

**[01:27:14.200] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000799)  
can directly answer

**[01:27:15.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000800)  
the question,

**[01:27:15.700] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000801)  
Your Honor.

**[01:27:16.620] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-000802)  
Yes, Usec Mapa.

**[01:27:18.620] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000803)  
Thank you very much,

**[01:27:19.680] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000804)  
Mr. Chair,

**[01:27:20.200] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000805)  
Your Honor.

**[01:27:21.600] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000806)  
Yung national ID

**[01:27:22.980] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000807)  
mula po nung 2018,

**[01:27:24.300] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000808)  
tama po kayo,

**[01:27:24.980] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000809)  
Senator,

**[01:27:26.140] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000810)  
hanggang 2026,

**[01:27:27.340] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000811)  
ang

**[01:27:27.940] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000812)  
nabigay sa kanya

**[01:27:29.820] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000813)  
na pondo

**[01:27:30.340] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000814)  
is about

**[01:27:30.780] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000815)  
26.21

**[01:27:32.360] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000816)  
billion pesos.

**[01:27:34.700] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000817)  
Tapos,

**[01:27:35.520] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000818)  
yung na-obligate

**[01:27:36.200] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000819)  
na po ng

**[01:27:36.660] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000820)  
Philippine Statistics Authority

**[01:27:37.900] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000821)  
ay mga nasa

**[01:27:38.740] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000822)  
24 billion,

**[01:27:40.220] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000823)  
more or less.

**[01:27:41.460] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000824)  
Hindi pa tapos

**[01:27:42.000] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000825)  
yung 2026.

**[01:27:43.780] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000826)  
Yung ating

**[01:27:44.840] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000827)  
na-rehistro

**[01:27:45.820] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000828)  
na mga

**[01:27:46.400] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000829)  
citizens

**[01:27:47.840] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000830)  
nasa

**[01:27:48.740] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000831)  
97 million.

**[01:27:50.880] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000832)  
So, parang yung

**[01:27:51.320] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000833)  
average cost

**[01:27:52.180] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000834)  
per registrant

**[01:27:53.960] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000835)  
is mga

**[01:27:54.320] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000836)  
250 to

**[01:27:55.460] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000837)  
260 pesos.

**[01:27:57.340] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000838)  
So, 97 million po.

**[01:27:58.940] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000839)  
Yung population

**[01:28:00.120] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000840)  
natin,

**[01:28:00.780] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000841)  
estimate ngayong

**[01:28:01.540] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000842)  
2026,

**[01:28:03.080] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000843)  
is 114 million.

**[01:28:05.220] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000844)  
So, mayroon pa tayong

**[01:28:06.180] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000845)  
mga hindi na-rehistro

**[01:28:07.400] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000846)  
na 17 million.

**[01:28:09.120] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000847)  
Ang karamihan nito,

**[01:28:09.960] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000848)  
dalawa yung

**[01:28:10.580] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000849)  
big bulk.

**[01:28:12.180] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000850)  
The first one

**[01:28:13.240] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000851)  
are the 0 to 4,

**[01:28:14.460] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000852)  
yung mga bata.

**[01:28:15.460] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000853)  
Hindi pa naman sila

**[01:28:16.160] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000854)  
kailangan i-rehistro

**[01:28:17.160] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000855)  
pero nag-re-register

**[01:28:18.160] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000856)  
na rin kami.

**[01:28:19.140] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000857)  
Siguro yung gap

**[01:28:20.220] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000858)  
natin dyan

**[01:28:20.780] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000859)  
is mga 7 million

**[01:28:21.940] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000860)  
out of the 17.

**[01:28:24.280] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000861)  
And then,

**[01:28:24.880] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000862)  
the big bulk

**[01:28:25.540] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000863)  
na malaki pa

**[01:28:26.820] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000864)  
yung hindi na-rehistro.

**[01:28:27.340] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000865)  
Hindi na-rehistro

**[01:28:27.760] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000866)  
yung overseas Pilipinos.

**[01:28:30.020] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000867)  
Before,

**[01:28:31.220] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000868)  
pumupunta kami palagi

**[01:28:32.440] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000869)  
ang Middle East.

**[01:28:33.500] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000870)  
Marami doon

**[01:28:34.040] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000871)  
hindi registered.

**[01:28:35.360] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000872)  
But because of the

**[01:28:36.340] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000873)  
current security concern,

**[01:28:38.760] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000874)  
hindi nakakapunta

**[01:28:39.500] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000875)  
yung Philippine Statistics Authority.

**[01:28:40.780] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000876)  
But once

**[01:28:41.280] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000877)  
it is opened,

**[01:28:42.900] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000878)  
we will continue

**[01:28:43.840] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000879)  
the registration.

**[01:28:45.340] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000880)  
So, yung bulk po

**[01:28:46.220] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000881)  
na nandito sa

**[01:28:47.160] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000882)  
bansa natin,

**[01:28:48.140] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000883)  
yung mga adults,

**[01:28:49.400] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000884)  
except for very few,

**[01:28:50.980] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000885)  
we have already

**[01:28:51.680] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000886)  
registered them

**[01:28:52.540] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000887)  
to the National ID System.

**[01:28:55.080] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000888)  
What's important,

**[01:28:55.980] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000889)  
siguro,

**[01:28:57.700] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000890)  
yung sa

**[01:28:58.260] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000891)  
National ID,

**[01:28:59.540] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000892)  
yung uses niya.

**[01:29:01.140] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000893)  
Yung gamit kasi niya

**[01:29:02.420] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000894)  
is authentication

**[01:29:03.040] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000895)  
to verify

**[01:29:04.500] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000896)  
whether you are

**[01:29:05.480] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000897)  
that person

**[01:29:06.160] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000898)  
utilizing

**[01:29:07.280] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000899)  
demographic,

**[01:29:08.900] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000900)  
of course,

**[01:29:09.920] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000901)  
and biometrics.

**[01:29:11.460] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000902)  
So, yung ibang ID kasi,

**[01:29:12.840] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000903)  
demographic lang yun.

**[01:29:13.900] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000904)  
So, pwede natin

**[01:29:14.540] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000905)  
ma-fake.

**[01:29:15.480] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000906)  
But yung

**[01:29:16.500] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000907)  
National ID,

**[01:29:17.880] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000908)  
it captures

**[01:29:18.560] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000909)  
both demographic

**[01:29:19.560] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000910)  
and biometric.

**[01:29:21.560] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000911)  
Itong 2026,

**[01:29:22.740] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000912)  
substantial po

**[01:29:23.660] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000913)  
yung authentication

**[01:29:24.400] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000914)  
na

**[01:29:24.980] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000915)  
gamitin.

**[01:29:25.980] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000916)  
Ginamit yung

**[01:29:26.840] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000917)  
National ID,

**[01:29:28.000] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000918)  
both for government

**[01:29:28.960] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000919)  
and private

**[01:29:30.960] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000920)  
authentication,

**[01:29:32.280] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000921)  
114 million

**[01:29:33.700] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000922)  
from January

**[01:29:34.880] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000923)  
to September 15

**[01:29:37.100] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000924)  
ang nag-authenticate

**[01:29:38.940] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000925)  
utilizing the

**[01:29:39.920] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000926)  
National ID.

**[01:29:41.300] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000927)  
And the bulk of this

**[01:29:42.340] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000928)  
are from the

**[01:29:43.440] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000929)  
private sector,

**[01:29:44.880] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000930)  
yung financial.

**[01:29:46.120] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000931)  
So, the private sector,

**[01:29:47.760] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000932)  
particularly the banks

**[01:29:48.600] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000933)  
and financial agencies,

**[01:29:51.520] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000934)  
feels that the National ID

**[01:29:53.880] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000935)  
is the database itself.

**[01:29:55.980] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000936)  
It's a clean,

**[01:29:57.480] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000937)  
valid database

**[01:29:59.220] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000938)  
of

**[01:29:59.700] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000939)  
individuals.

**[01:30:00.000] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000940)  
Kaya ginagamit nila ang ating national ID system for authentication. Either facial recognition or di kaya yung fingerprint. So we feel, although mayroon tayong delay per timetable, one, because of the COVID, medyo nahihirapan tayo din sa COVID.

**[01:30:19.960] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000941)  
But right now, ang ating projection sa authentication versus registration, kasi sa mga national ID ng ibang bansa, tinitingnan nila ilan ba yung nag-authenticate versus nag-register.

**[01:30:32.440] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000942)  
So ang ating projection ngayong taon, mga nasa 1.5 times na-registered. So that would be about 150 million. But as we progress, aabot tayo dapat sa mga 4 to 5 authentications per registered person.

**[01:30:49.960] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000943)  
So dapat mga nasa 4 million to 5 million per year. Yun po yung datos ngayon, Mr. Chair, Your Honor.

**[01:30:59.380] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000944)  
On the question sa late registration, I agree sa observation. Ang registration kasi sa birth certificate, una, it's a universal right. Everybody, Pilipinos, must be registered.

**[01:31:17.260] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000945)  
That's why the Philippine Statistics Authority is really putting program for the registration. Right now, Your Honor, ang ating registered persons, mga 97% of the total population.

**[01:31:33.340] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000946)  
So mayroon pa tayong mga 3% na hindi pa na-register. So multiply again by about 114 million, so mga 3.5 million pa ang hindi re-registrado. Substantial number ay nasa BARM.

**[01:31:44.340] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000947)  
About half of the registered sa BARM.

**[01:31:47.260] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000948)  
Now, ito rin po, dahil may late registration tayo, hindi kasi natin pwedeng itigil yung late registration kasi kawawa naman yung mga Pilipino na wala silang birth certificate. But of course, may problem tayo na yung mga non-Filipinos that are registered.

**[01:32:05.320] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-000949)  
Mr. Chair, with the indulgence of [unclear], can I interject?

**[01:32:09.640] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-000950)  
Yes, sir.

**[01:32:10.140] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-000951)  
Sa late registration, kasi matagal na itong pinag-usapan ni Park sa mga previous hearings, I raised this question.

**[01:32:14.940] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-000952)  
Yung sa late registration, where will it end?

**[01:32:17.260] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-000953)  
Sabi mo, walang katapusan ito. Dapat meron. Dapat darating yung time na wala ng late registration. Sa ngayon kasi, ang tanong ko, so paano yung compliance sa personal appearance, paano nyo po in-implement sa late registration?

**[01:32:29.980] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-000954)  
Kasi dito nagkakaproblema eh. Maraming mga Chinese nationals, hindi lang Chinese nationals, even other nationals, nakakalusot na nakuha sila ng Filipino citizenship through late registration. So how can we avoid that?

**[01:32:42.220] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-000955)  
Sabi mo kasi, it will be ongoing yung late registration.

**[01:32:47.260] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-000956)  
Sa akin, the way I foresee it, sana magkaroon ng stop. Sa ngayon pa lamang siguro, I suggest, magkaroon tayo ng tinatawag ng amnesty na I'll give you one year. Lahat. Dapat.

**[01:32:56.380] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-000957)  
Lahat ng registration by after a year, tapos na. And then the following year, tablado na lahat and then umpisa na tayo from scratch.

**[01:33:04.860] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000958)  
Tama po yun, Your Honor, Senator. Mayroon nga ang PSA na proposal for the President to issue an executive order para kunin na natin itong, ano na lang, konti na lang, 3% of our population.

**[01:33:17.260] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000959)  
Na para lumabas sila at yung mga fees, kasi minsan may mga hand runs sa late registration, may mga bayad, na para wala na talagang bayad.

**[01:33:28.780] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000960)  
And nag-introduce ang PSA two years ago, Your Honor, Senators, ng isang step para magkaroon nga ng personal appearance. At yun yung registration sa national ID.

**[01:33:41.340] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000961)  
So we issued a memo that if you are a late registrant sa birth certificate,

**[01:33:47.260] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000962)  
you must have to appear so that the national ID team can get your biometric and demographic.

**[01:33:53.600] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000963)  
But I agree with you, Senator Raffy, na kailangan talaga may time limit para at least makover yung substantial percentage.

**[01:34:01.500] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-000964)  
So in that way, wala ba kayong plano na hanggang kailan matapos itong registration system natin?

**[01:34:07.440] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000965)  
We have actually a program, Your Honor, Senator, yung birth registration assistance program at nabawasan po kasi noong 2020,

**[01:34:15.180] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000966)  
ang ating late registration ay mga close to 4 million. And since then, we're able to register about 600,000.

**[01:34:23.040] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000967)  
Hinahanap namin sila, pababa na rin naman yung number of unregistered.

**[01:34:29.520] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000968)  
And as I've mentioned, the PSA actually proposed to the Office of the President for an issuance of an executive order, precisely yung sinabi ninyo,

**[01:34:38.180] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000969)  
na parang one year para supportahan lahat, lalabas yung mga hindi registered.

**[01:34:42.760] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000970)  
But at least after that, konti na lang talaga yung...

**[01:34:45.180] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000971)  
yung unregistered individuals natin. Your Honor, thank you.

**[01:34:50.640] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000972)  
Sir Chairman, yeah. Yusef Gad, Dennis, how many more national and local government units or agencies use their own IDs?

**[01:35:01.500] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000973)  
Yung baka nakakonsolidate sa national ID.

**[01:35:04.440] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000974)  
Okay. May mga agencies na gumagamit ng kanilang ID pa rin, Your Honor. Pero yung gamit, sabi ko nga kanina, yung gamit kasi ng national ID,

**[01:35:15.180] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000975)  
the authentication. So for example, yung mga social protection programs natin, like 4Ps, lahat sila, ang ginagamit na database is the national ID database.

**[01:35:25.740] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000976)  
At yung iba pa, like Dolly 2Pod, we started also, na authenticated sila using the national ID database.

**[01:35:32.460] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000977)  
Kasi nakikita namin kung may mga duplicates eh, because of your biometrics. So doon nakikita na ikaw pala yun.

**[01:35:40.120] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000978)  
And as we discussed, sa mga social protection program, we really encourage that...

**[01:35:45.180] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000979)  
the agency will utilize as the database, the national ID database, because of the biometric authentication.

**[01:35:52.600] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000980)  
Now, does the PSA have any effort to purge yung ating system of yung mga pictures or dubious?

**[01:36:03.440] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000981)  
Yes, duplicate. Not only duplicate, yung nakapremise doon sa data registration na dubious yung pag-acquire ng national ID.

**[01:36:13.820] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000982)  
Yes, Your Honor.

**[01:36:15.180] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000983)  
Yes, Your Honor. Yung una muna, doon sa late registration ng non-Filipinos, the PSA is very proactive.

**[01:36:22.520] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000984)  
How many have already been purged?

**[01:36:24.400] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000985)  
About 1,600 po yung nabigay, nablock na namin sa system at automatically pinapadala namin sa Office of the Solicitor General.

**[01:36:33.820] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000986)  
Kasi po yung cancellation ng birth certificate ay talagang through court.

**[01:36:38.860] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000987)  
And that's why mayroon tayong CRBS, Civil Registration of Vital Statistics.

**[01:36:45.180] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000988)  
We have a bill in the Senate and we are actually requesting, kasi may provision kaming nire-request na administrative cancellation na lang yung subvert registration.

**[01:36:56.660] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000989)  
Kasi may hirap po talaga pag-court.

**[01:36:59.000] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000990)  
But we are already, automatically may investigation tayong ginagawa through PSA.

**[01:37:04.460] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000991)  
And then once ma-establish namin na hindi talaga ito Pilipino, we block them.

**[01:37:08.720] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000992)  
And we have blocked so far, close to 1,600.

**[01:37:10.560] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000993)  
Can you submit to the committee the list of those...

**[01:37:15.180] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000994)  
late registration cases na na-purge nyo na?

**[01:37:18.620] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000995)  
So we can pursue further investigation?

**[01:37:21.380] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-000996)  
Yes, Your Honor.

**[01:37:22.940] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000997)  
To deal with these people and those responsible behind the late registration.

**[01:37:28.080] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000998)  
Because this is a big, you know, scam ito, di ba?

**[01:37:32.180] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-000999)  
Yes.

**[01:37:32.880] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001000)  
Alam nyo rin naman, we've heard of 500,000 pesos per late registration of birth and so forth and so on.

**[01:37:38.720] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001001)  
But I'm more particularly concerned about the national security issue.

**[01:37:45.180] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001002)  
Kasi kung may mga sleeper agents, mga sales dito, delikado tayo, di ba?

**[01:37:53.300] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001003)  
And we're talking of thousands or even tens of thousands of these people.

**[01:37:58.620] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001004)  
Well, you can just imagine.

**[01:38:01.640] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001005)  
Yes, Your Honor.

**[01:38:02.780] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001006)  
Every time we have the data on block, tawag namin doon block kasi binablock namin sa system,

**[01:38:08.880] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001007)  
this information are shared with our national security agencies,

**[01:38:14.060] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001008)  
including po yung Bureau.

**[01:38:15.180] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001009)  
Yes, Your Honor.

**[01:38:15.760] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001010)  
But we can provide the Senate, the committee, on the names po.

**[01:38:19.620] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001011)  
Yes.

**[01:38:20.100] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001012)  
Earlier on, kasi nagkaroon ng issue, I was called by dating Secretary Carl Chua

**[01:38:27.220] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001013)  
because there seemed to be a problem with the PILSIS number.

**[01:38:34.060] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001014)  
Kasi sa batas, nakalagay on its face, di ba?

**[01:38:37.760] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001015)  
But I think I was told that the World Bank had some concerns about data privacy.

**[01:38:45.180] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001016)  
So tinago natin yung PILSIS number,

**[01:38:47.560] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001017)  
ang nakalagay sa ating card, on its face, yung temporary or not the real PILSIS number.

**[01:38:56.000] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001018)  
Di ba?

**[01:38:56.760] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001019)  
Yes, Your Honor.

**[01:38:57.720] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001020)  
So how do we resolve that?

**[01:38:59.480] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001021)  
Okay.

**[01:38:59.940] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001022)  
Ang promise ko sa kanya noon, maybe we need to amend the law para maalis yung on its face.

**[01:39:08.620] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001023)  
Kasi I agree that the PILSIS number should be hidden somewhere.

**[01:39:14.580] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001024)  
Pero binibigyan niyo maliit na card eh.

**[01:39:16.560] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001025)  
Yung iba, nawala na eh.

**[01:39:18.540] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001026)  
Ako ay, you know, milagaw sa notes ko eh.

**[01:39:22.700] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001027)  
Kaya memoryado ko yung aking PILSIS number.

**[01:39:25.420] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001028)  
But how about those who lost that piece of paper and what they only have is the temporary or the not the PILSIS number?

**[01:39:35.600] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001029)  
Yun ang problema.

**[01:39:36.100] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001030)  
Yung nakalagay, tama po kayo, Your Honor, Senator, yung nakalagay dun sa ating card, ano?

**[01:39:42.360] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001031)  
Yung what we call the PILSIS card.

**[01:39:44.580] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001032)  
Yung PILSIS number.

**[01:39:45.160] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001033)  
But tokenized po yan siya.

**[01:39:47.040] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001034)  
Ibig sabihin at the back end, nakalink po siya dun sa ating PILSIS number.

**[01:39:52.120] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001035)  
But I agree, baka dun sa ating proposed amendment to the PILSIS Act,

**[01:39:58.500] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001036)  
ayusin na lang natin na hindi dapat naka-expose yung PILSIS number.

**[01:40:03.460] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001037)  
Kasi siya lang po yung mag-isa talaga.

**[01:40:04.800] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001038)  
Otherwise, we keep violating the law.

**[01:40:07.080] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001039)  
In a way po.

**[01:40:08.180] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001040)  
Pero nandoon naman po, wala ka print siya.

**[01:40:10.740] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001041)  
Yeah.

**[01:40:12.700] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001042)  
Kasi kung offline,

**[01:40:14.580] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001043)  
hindi na makikita.

**[01:40:16.440] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001044)  
Pag offline na authentication,

**[01:40:17.920] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001045)  
ginagawa lang po namin ngayon na mag-introduce kasi may bago namang technology.

**[01:40:21.860] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001046)  
In fact, one of the section dun sa PILSIS Act is the introduction of technology.

**[01:40:25.260] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001047)  
Pwede na pong ma-link pa rin kahit na offline authentication, Your Honor.

**[01:40:29.540] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001048)  
Now, another common violation of the law,

**[01:40:32.300] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001049)  
yung the requirement of a second ID.

**[01:40:36.060] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001050)  
Hindi lahat ng transactions with the government agencies as well as private institutions,

**[01:40:42.700] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001051)  
pumapayag na yung,

**[01:40:44.580] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001052)  
ah, singular ID.

**[01:40:46.080] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001053)  
Nangingin na second ID.

**[01:40:47.240] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001054)  
And I'll read to you, ah, section 19,

**[01:40:49.360] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001055)  
penal provision.

**[01:40:51.160] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001056)  
Meron ditong, ah,

**[01:40:52.880] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001057)  
pag hindi tinanggap without just and sufficient cost,

**[01:40:57.360] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001058)  
ah, shall refuse to accept, acknowledge, and or recognize the PIL ID or PSN.

**[01:41:03.060] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001059)  
Subject to authentication.

**[01:41:05.100] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001060)  
Meron ditong,

**[01:41:05.920] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001061)  
shall be fined in the amount of 500,000 pesos.

**[01:41:09.720] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001062)  
So, I don't think this is being implemented, no?

**[01:41:13.700] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001063)  
Because of the,

**[01:41:14.380] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001064)  
ah, failure, ah, in the implementation.

**[01:41:17.280] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001065)  
In the full implementation.

**[01:41:19.320] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001066)  
Yeah.

**[01:41:19.760] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001067)  
And I don't want this to be a dead letter law.

**[01:41:22.500] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001068)  
Ah, sa ngayon po, ah, Your Honor, yung, ah, ah, Senator, yung aming strategy, ah, una, ah,

**[01:41:28.660] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001069)  
first, yung datos natin, yung mga hindi tumatanggap, bumababa na yung number.

**[01:41:33.100] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001070)  
So, nung simula kasi mataas talaga.

**[01:41:34.960] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001071)  
Pero ngayon, kasi every month po, tinatrack namin ito from the field offices and feedback mechanism,

**[01:41:41.180] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001072)  
bumababa na siya.

**[01:41:42.260] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001073)  
Ang aming munang, ah, Your Honor, Senator, is, ah,

**[01:41:44.380] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001074)  
discussion, particularly with the regulatory agency,

**[01:41:47.840] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001075)  
in particular, Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

**[01:41:49.920] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001076)  
So, every time may mga financial, ah, institutions tayo na hindi tumatanggap,

**[01:41:54.240] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001077)  
we, ah, we write the BSP and report them.

**[01:41:57.720] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001078)  
Ah, yung mga agencies naman, ah, na government agencies, yun sa lahat na namin,

**[01:42:02.180] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001079)  
ah, ang mga naiwan na lang ngayon, ah, Your Honor, Senator, yung mga nasa probinsya.

**[01:42:06.300] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001080)  
So, yung mga rare na nakikita namin, it's in the province.

**[01:42:09.820] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001081)  
Siguro baka yung hindi nabasa yung memo, but we are, ah, ah, putting in, ah,

**[01:42:14.260] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001082)  
a strong information campaign on this.

**[01:42:16.720] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001083)  
So, encouragement muna ngayon, ah, Your Honors, ah, Mr. Senator, yung aming ginagamit.

**[01:42:20.760] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001084)  
I'm not sure if you're at liberty to, ah, inform the committee at this point, ano,

**[01:42:25.080] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001085)  
but I heard, during the initial phase of the implementation, medyo nagkagulo

**[01:42:29.380] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001086)  
because meron niya tanakialam sa kontrata.

**[01:42:34.480] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001087)  
The, ah, without giving any details, ano, would you confirm that?

**[01:42:40.660] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001088)  
Ah, we had, ah, sa operation siguro, ah, Your Honor, ah, Senator,

**[01:42:44.260] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001089)  
ang, ang operations natin na nagkaroon tayo ng problema is the printing of the physical card before.

**[01:42:49.380] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001090)  
So, ah, but, but this was, ah, settled already, ah, two years ago.

**[01:42:53.660] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001091)  
We, ah, withdraw, ah, from the memorandum of agreement with the Bank of Central Pilipinas

**[01:42:58.160] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001092)  
because the service provider was not able to deliver as promised.

**[01:43:02.720] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001093)  
And, ah, we are now, ah, starting with a new service provider.

**[01:43:06.040] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001094)  
So, kung may problem po, ah, yun siguro naisip ko na, na problem.

**[01:43:10.420] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001095)  
So, without, you know, without giving details, more or less, you admit,

**[01:43:14.260] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001096)  
no, nagkaroon ng, ah, glitches.

**[01:43:17.500] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001097)  
Ah, yeah, glitches, pero, ah, I'm not, I'm not, ah, about, about the, ah, issue on the contract.

**[01:43:23.520] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001098)  
But there was a glitch on the printing.

**[01:43:24.940] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001099)  
Narinig ko major glitch yun, eh, kasi meron nakasingit, eh.

**[01:43:29.380] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001100)  
Ah, yung...

**[01:43:30.100] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001101)  
You're there already, di ba?

**[01:43:31.960] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001102)  
Di, ah, ano, siguro, ah...

**[01:43:33.380] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001103)  
Siguro marami nagpapasin itong batas, eh.

**[01:43:35.440] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001104)  
Yes, ah, yes, eh.

**[01:43:37.240] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001105)  
And you would know.

**[01:43:38.260] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001106)  
Ang, ang, ang, ah...

**[01:43:39.360] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001107)  
Never mind, never mind.

**[01:43:40.020] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001108)  
Yeah, what, what I can...

**[01:43:41.080] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001109)  
Nakaintindihan na tayo.

**[01:43:42.100] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001110)  
Okay, thank you very much, ah, Your Honor.

**[01:43:43.660] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001111)  
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

**[01:43:44.260] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001112)  
Thank you.

**[01:43:45.240] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001113)  
Just to add doon sa [unclear] ni Senator Lacson, some agencies are requiring two, di ba?

**[01:43:53.540] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001114)  
Two government IDs.

**[01:43:55.540] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001115)  
It's the, the, is this, ang, ang, rason ba dahil wala tayong signature doon sa PhilSys natin?

**[01:44:00.800] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001116)  
I'm sorry, ano, if I may add.

**[01:44:02.460] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001117)  
Yes, please.

**[01:44:03.100] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001118)  
That was beyond his control.

**[01:44:04.720] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001119)  
O nga.

**[01:44:05.380] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001120)  
Ede, pero yun ba ang, isa, ibang isa sa rason?

**[01:44:07.840] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001121)  
Yung glitch na sinabi ko.

**[01:44:08.940] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001122)  
Ah, glitch, okay.

**[01:44:09.900] Senator Panfilo Lacson** (asr-001123)  
I'm not a member of that.

**[01:44:11.260] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001124)  
Okay, just to clarify.

**[01:44:12.220] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001125)  
Okay.

**[01:44:13.340] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001126)  
Di ba, yung ano, ano...

**[01:44:14.220] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001127)  
Is it the reason yung dahil walang pera may, walang signature?

**[01:44:17.500] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001128)  
Maraming mga rason na nangyayari, ano.

**[01:44:20.600] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001129)  
Una, Your Honor, first, any new na iniintroduce natin may mga adjustments talaga.

**[01:44:28.120] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001130)  
And sabi ko nga, we agree at the start talagang mataas yung ating, mataas yung ating non-acceptance

**[01:44:33.740] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001131)  
or nagre-require ng additional ID.

**[01:44:36.720] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001132)  
But the numbers, because we are tracking it, and we can share with you the monthly report that we have,

**[01:44:42.960] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001133)  
it's going down.

**[01:44:45.360] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001134)  
And right now kasi, Your Honor, yung gamit ngayon ng national ID is really the authentication using facial recognition or the fingerprint.

**[01:44:56.020] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001135)  
And yun yung ginagamit, like for example, yung mga fintech natin.

**[01:44:59.080] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001136)  
So, that's not...

**[01:45:00.040] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001137)  
require anymore the signature.

**[01:45:02.260] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001138)  
But I have to admit that at the start,

**[01:45:04.200] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001139)  
parang yun yung naging problema.

**[01:45:05.980] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001140)  
That's why the others asked for

**[01:45:07.540] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001141)  
other

**[01:45:08.920] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001142)  
identification.

**[01:45:11.580] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001143)  
Okay, Senator Kiko Pangilinan,

**[01:45:14.020] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001144)  
then Senator Tulfo.

**[01:45:14.840] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001145)  
If there is already a national

**[01:45:17.920] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001146)  
ID, why require

**[01:45:19.940] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001147)  
two?

**[01:45:22.900] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001148)  
That's

**[01:45:23.460] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001149)  
why, Your Honor,

**[01:45:25.140] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001150)  
the Banco Central as

**[01:45:27.440] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001151)  
one of our partners,

**[01:45:28.600] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001152)  
is very

**[01:45:29.860] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001153)  
clear sa instruction.

**[01:45:32.920] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001154)  
Ang reading ko naman dito

**[01:45:34.420] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001155)  
is that, as I said, the numbers

**[01:45:36.100] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001156)  
of requiring

**[01:45:38.240] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001157)  
two is now decreasing.

**[01:45:40.740] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001158)  
For example, I understand, sorry.

**[01:45:43.200] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001159)  
The SEC

**[01:45:44.260] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001160)  
requires two.

**[01:45:46.160] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001161)  
If you register a new company,

**[01:45:48.540] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001162)  
why two? Why not just a national

**[01:45:50.580] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001163)  
ID?

**[01:45:52.460] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001164)  
Di ba?

**[01:45:53.700] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001165)  
We will reach out.

**[01:45:55.140] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001166)  
May passport,

**[01:45:57.280] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001167)  
kailangan.

**[01:45:58.600] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001168)  
May lisensya, kailangan may ID.

**[01:46:01.100] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001169)  
In fact, I don't think they

**[01:46:02.900] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001170)  
I don't think they acceptin

**[01:46:05.080] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001171)  
sa SEC for some strange

**[01:46:07.100] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001172)  
reason.

**[01:46:09.140] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001173)  
But yeah, two.

**[01:46:11.660] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001174)  
Anyway,

**[01:46:12.860] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001175)  
so you're saying

**[01:46:14.120] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001176)  
as time goes by

**[01:46:17.020] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001177)  
and with your interventions

**[01:46:19.320] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001178)  
and your campaigning

**[01:46:20.800] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001179)  
to promote it,

**[01:46:22.220] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001180)  
more and more

**[01:46:23.880] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001181)  
will accept.

**[01:46:25.840] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001182)  
But I think, you know, government is

**[01:46:27.920] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001183)  
government.

**[01:46:28.600] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001184)  
It should be quick enough to

**[01:46:29.820] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001185)  
decide, di ba?

**[01:46:32.500] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001186)  
That the national ID

**[01:46:34.560] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001187)  
should suffice.

**[01:46:36.340] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001188)  
Yes, Your Honor.

**[01:46:38.500] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001189)  
Yung datos kasi na nakikita namin,

**[01:46:40.280] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001190)  
for example, in 2025, the whole 2025,

**[01:46:42.500] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001191)  
only 30 million, 30.6

**[01:46:44.680] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001192)  
million authentication were made.

**[01:46:46.740] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001193)  
But in 2026,

**[01:46:48.560] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001194)  
from January to September 15,

**[01:46:50.560] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001195)  
114 million authentications

**[01:46:52.580] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001196)  
were made. So, as I mentioned

**[01:46:54.520] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001197)  
kanina, yun yung sabi ko na,

**[01:46:56.020] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001198)  
the data suggests that

**[01:46:57.680] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001199)  
the

**[01:46:58.600] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001200)  
transition is now

**[01:46:59.820] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001201)  
accelerating and

**[01:47:01.900] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001202)  
yes, yes.

**[01:47:04.800] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001203)  
So, yun po yung datos natin ngayon,

**[01:47:07.080] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001204)  
Your Honor. Thank you very much.

**[01:47:09.200] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001205)  
Yes, Senator Tulfo.

**[01:47:10.800] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001206)  
Mr. Chair, meron pala akong

**[01:47:12.700] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001207)  
opening statement and then

**[01:47:14.660] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001208)  
after that, one suggestion.

**[01:47:15.580] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001208-split-2)  
Please proceed.

**[01:47:17.260] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001209)  
Mr. Chairman,

**[01:47:18.780] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001210)  
I would like to propose a strategic

**[01:47:20.580] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001211)  
initiative for the Senate

**[01:47:22.440] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001212)  
to address critical vulnerabilities

**[01:47:25.100] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001213)  
in the Philippine

**[01:47:26.580] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001214)  
Civil Registry System.

**[01:47:28.600] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001215)  
The current framework is highly

**[01:47:30.580] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001216)  
susceptible to identity laundering,

**[01:47:33.160] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001217)  
fraud, and birth

**[01:47:34.240] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001218)  
simulation as highlighted

**[01:47:36.540] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001219)  
by the high-profile

**[01:47:37.680] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001220)  
Go'o Huangping, yung alis Go'o,

**[01:47:40.300] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001221)  
alam natin lahat, national security case.

**[01:47:43.020] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001222)  
Because standard Philippine

**[01:47:44.100] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001223)  
statistic authority forms

**[01:47:46.060] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001224)  
omit crucial parental details

**[01:47:48.540] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001225)  
such as exact dates of

**[01:47:50.600] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001226)  
birth, former or dual

**[01:47:52.380] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001227)  
nationalities, and known

**[01:47:54.260] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001228)  
aliases, foreign nationals, and

**[01:47:56.440] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001229)  
transnational criminal entities,

**[01:47:58.600] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001230)  
have systematically exploited

**[01:48:00.680] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001231)  
late birth registrations.

**[01:48:03.500] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001232)  
Given that the Philippines

**[01:48:04.520] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001233)  
registers 1.2 million

**[01:48:07.500] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001234)  
to 1.4 million births annually,

**[01:48:10.260] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001235)  
this regulatory gap

**[01:48:11.720] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001236)  
creates a massive window

**[01:48:13.180] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001237)  
for identity manipulations.

**[01:48:15.540] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001238)  
To permanently resolve this structural

**[01:48:17.000] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001239)  
weakness, I am recommending to the

**[01:48:19.180] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001240)  
DOJ to explore

**[01:48:20.340] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001241)  
and find ways to coordinate

**[01:48:23.340] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001242)  
with the ALG in amending

**[01:48:24.920] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001243)  
all primary PSA Civil

**[01:48:27.100] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001244)  
Registry entry forms,

**[01:48:28.600] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001245)  
birth, marriage, and death,

**[01:48:30.400] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001246)  
to mandate the inclusion of

**[01:48:32.060] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001247)  
parents' exact dates of birth,

**[01:48:34.140] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001248)  
full aliases, previous nationalities,

**[01:48:36.660] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001249)  
and dual or foreign

**[01:48:38.040] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001250)  
citizenships. Implementing

**[01:48:40.380] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001251)  
these comprehensive data enhancements

**[01:48:42.500] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001252)  
provides immediate interagency

**[01:48:44.240] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001253)  
benefits and strategic advantages

**[01:48:46.500] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001254)  
across Philippine law enforcement

**[01:48:48.300] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001255)  
and national security

**[01:48:50.400] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001256)  
sectors. First, it

**[01:48:52.300] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001257)  
resolves the late registration crisis

**[01:48:54.140] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001258)  
by introducing automated

**[01:48:56.200] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001259)  
lineage verification,

**[01:48:58.600] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001260)  
according to Exact Parental Data.

**[01:49:00.540] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001261)  
Exact Parental Data allows

**[01:49:02.540] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001262)  
PSA algorithms to

**[01:49:04.660] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001263)  
cross-reference historical

**[01:49:06.640] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001264)  
records, making it mathematically

**[01:49:09.000] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001265)  
near impossible to invent

**[01:49:10.780] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001266)  
fictitious lineages

**[01:49:12.840] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001267)  
through weak secondary proofs

**[01:49:14.720] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001268)  
like affidavits. Second,

**[01:49:16.900] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001269)  
it strengthens border control for the

**[01:49:18.740] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001270)  
Bureau of Immigration by preventing

**[01:49:20.680] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001271)  
foreign nationals from obtaining

**[01:49:22.580] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001272)  
fraudulent passports and eliminating

**[01:49:24.420] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001273)  
identity toggling

**[01:49:26.100] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001274)  
during dual citizenship

**[01:49:28.240] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001275)  
audits. Third,

**[01:49:30.580] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001276)  
for law enforcement agencies like the Bureau of

**[01:49:32.340] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001277)  
Immigration, PNP, and NBI and PIDEA,

**[01:49:34.960] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001278)  
standardizing aliases

**[01:49:36.380] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001279)  
at the civil baseline prevents

**[01:49:38.580] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001280)  
criminals from using alternate

**[01:49:40.680] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001281)  
names to evade

**[01:49:42.460] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001282)  
arrest warrants while enabling

**[01:49:44.460] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001283)  
rapid forensic kinship, matching

**[01:49:46.600] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001284)  
and trafficking, and exploitation

**[01:49:48.300] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001285)  
investigations. Finally,

**[01:49:50.880] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001286)  
it empowers the intelligence community

**[01:49:52.700] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001287)  
NICA, ESA, etc.

**[01:49:54.860] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001288)  
to disrupt ghost

**[01:49:56.440] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001289)  
identities used by foreign

**[01:49:58.100] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001290)  
actors and map complex

**[01:50:00.020] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001291)  
relational

**[01:50:01.480] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001292)  
databases linking suspect

**[01:50:04.080] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001293)  
entities to illicit networks.

**[01:50:06.020] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001294)  
Ultimately, this structural reform represents

**[01:50:07.960] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001295)  
a multi-generational defense line

**[01:50:09.940] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001296)  
for Philippine national security

**[01:50:11.500] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001297)  
and I am recommending that the Civil

**[01:50:13.960] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001298)  
Register General and the PSA

**[01:50:16.260] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001299)  
alongside the DOJ and DLG update

**[01:50:17.980] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001300)  
these mandatory standard forms. Now,

**[01:50:20.280] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001301)  
I have here a sample of

**[01:50:21.680] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001302)  
certificate of birth

**[01:50:23.680] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001303)  
of the PSA.

**[01:50:28.100] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001304)  
Father and mother,

**[01:50:29.400] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001305)  
wala, hindi naka-specify yung date

**[01:50:31.380] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001306)  
of birth ng parents.

**[01:50:33.920] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001307)  
Pwede ba natin i-add

**[01:50:35.500] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001308)  
from now on? Magkaroon tayo ng

**[01:50:38.040] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001309)  
kunting amendment dito na pag nakalagay yung

**[01:50:39.840] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001310)  
father

**[01:50:40.240] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001311)  
nung bata, tapos ilalagay yung

**[01:50:43.880] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001312)  
birth certificate, ay birth date ng father

**[01:50:45.620] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001313)  
and then mother

**[01:50:46.320] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001314)  
nung bata, ilalagay yung

**[01:50:48.840] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001315)  
birth date ng mother. And then when they

**[01:50:51.960] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001316)  
show up para mag-fill up

**[01:50:54.040] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001317)  
nitong birth certificate, then they have to show proof

**[01:50:55.880] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001318)  
na talagang yun yung birth certificate nila.

**[01:50:58.100] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001319)  
Etcetera. Or kung hindi para mas

**[01:50:59.780] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001320)  
mapabilis, yung number na lang

**[01:51:02.060] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001321)  
ata na pwedeng

**[01:51:04.200] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001322)  
hanapin. In that way, maiwasan

**[01:51:06.020] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001323)  
natin yung nangyari tulad kay Alice Goo.

**[01:51:08.200] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001324)  
What do you think?

**[01:51:09.060] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001325)  
Yes, Your Honor, we support that.

**[01:51:12.460] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001326)  
And sabi ko nga kanina,

**[01:51:14.440] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001327)  
Your Honor, mayroon tayong

**[01:51:15.840] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001328)  
nakasalang na CRBS

**[01:51:17.980] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001329)  
bill sa Senate

**[01:51:19.760] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001330)  
and some of those that you mentioned

**[01:51:21.960] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001331)  
are actually in the

**[01:51:23.640] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001332)  
proposed bill. Yung ating civil

**[01:51:25.760] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001333)  
registration law kasi is really an

**[01:51:27.760] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001334)  
old bill.

**[01:51:28.100] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001335)  
At nagkaroon lang tayo

**[01:51:30.140] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001336)  
ng mga adjustment

**[01:51:32.000] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001337)  
doon. So we are requesting

**[01:51:33.780] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001338)  
actually na given our

**[01:51:35.760] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001339)  
experiences na from the

**[01:51:37.880] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001340)  
previous cases

**[01:51:40.140] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001341)  
like what you mentioned, Your Honor,

**[01:51:43.040] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001342)  
pwede nating ilagay

**[01:51:44.380] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001343)  
dito sa ating bagong

**[01:51:46.020] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001344)  
batas. But kung

**[01:51:48.100] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001345)  
pwede naman magawa na

**[01:51:50.100] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001346)  
itong may additional date of birth

**[01:51:52.220] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001347)  
of the parents doon sa bagong form

**[01:51:53.960] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001348)  
and if it is under the

**[01:51:56.080] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001349)  
power authority of the Civil Register General,

**[01:51:58.100] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001350)  
we will do so, Your Honor.

**[01:52:00.980] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001351)  
Last na lamang, ano,

**[01:52:02.340] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001352)  
I think this was

**[01:52:04.180] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001353)  
last year or a couple of years ago,

**[01:52:06.240] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001354)  
na nalaman ng

**[01:52:08.200] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001355)  
NBI sa Mindanao,

**[01:52:10.380] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001356)  
there were, I think,

**[01:52:11.820] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001357)  
6,000 or something, yung mga

**[01:52:13.980] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001358)  
bogus late registration from

**[01:52:15.880] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001359)  
foreign nationals and it's

**[01:52:18.080] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001360)  
being investigated. Yung ba, na nalinis

**[01:52:19.900] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001361)  
yun sa system ninyo and then,

**[01:52:21.500] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001362)  
nag-coordinate ba sa inyong NBI kung anong ginawa nila doon

**[01:52:23.740] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001363)  
sa mga foreign nationals na bogus or

**[01:52:25.560] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001364)  
dubious yung pagka-attain,

**[01:52:28.100] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001365)  
pagka-piliin nila ng

**[01:52:29.820] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001366)  
late registration?

**[01:52:31.900] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001367)  
Yes, Your Honor. Ito po yung siguro yung

**[01:52:33.920] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001368)  
may mention yun, yung galing sa

**[01:52:35.720] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001369)  
Santa Cruz Municipality of Santa Cruz in

**[01:52:37.980] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001370)  
Davao province.

**[01:52:39.170] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001370-split-2)  
Yes, exactly.

**[01:52:40.240] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001371)  
Yun po, na-block na natin yun.

**[01:52:42.660] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001372)  
We are coordinating with

**[01:52:44.000] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001373)  
the National Bureau of Immigration,

**[01:52:46.060] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001374)  
the National Bureau of Investigation

**[01:52:48.320] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001375)  
and pinadala na rin po namin sa

**[01:52:50.220] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001376)  
Bureau of Immigration and other

**[01:52:51.960] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001377)  
national security agencies, yung mga

**[01:52:54.180] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001378)  
names, so that kung

**[01:52:56.220] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001379)  
nandun sa kanilang database,

**[01:52:58.100] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001380)  
they can also track them.

**[01:53:00.280] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001381)  
So, we are working with NBI

**[01:53:02.060] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001382)  
in Mindanao.

**[01:53:04.140] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001383)  
In fact, may mga collaboration kami,

**[01:53:06.060] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001384)  
not just in one particular area, but

**[01:53:08.040] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001385)  
in other areas also to check

**[01:53:09.680] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001386)  
the local civil registry offices.

**[01:53:11.840] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001387)  
Okay. Anong mga ginagawa nyo yung steps

**[01:53:13.840] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001388)  
or putting a system in place

**[01:53:15.940] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001389)  
na para hindi na maulit itong maraming

**[01:53:17.960] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001390)  
mga kalusot na mga foreign nationals

**[01:53:19.780] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001391)  
na nabangit nga ni Senator Ping

**[01:53:21.820] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001392)  
Lapson, mga sa sleeper cells

**[01:53:23.860] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001393)  
na mag-register sila

**[01:53:25.640] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001394)  
to late registration.

**[01:53:28.100] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001395)  
And hindi dapat sila karapat-karapat magkaroon

**[01:53:30.160] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001396)  
ng birth certificate ng Pilipino hanggang sa

**[01:53:32.040] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001397)  
magkaroon ng passport. Meron na ba kayo

**[01:53:34.020] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001398)  
yung system in place para hindi na maulit ito?

**[01:53:35.840] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001399)  
Yes, Your Honor. Yung

**[01:53:38.160] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001400)  
sabi ko nga kanina, we

**[01:53:40.000] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001401)  
actually recalibrated,

**[01:53:42.500] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001402)  
strengthened our late

**[01:53:43.980] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001403)  
registration protocol.

**[01:53:46.940] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001404)  
Ang una, kailangan mag-appear

**[01:53:48.560] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001405)  
siya, ang person na yon,

**[01:53:50.320] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001406)  
at kailangan, among others,

**[01:53:52.220] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001407)  
mag-register siya sa

**[01:53:53.360] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001408)  
national ID

**[01:53:54.840] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001409)  
system.

**[01:53:58.100] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001410)  
At the same time, yung mga late

**[01:54:00.200] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001411)  
registration covering the years

**[01:54:02.380] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001412)  
2010 hanggang 2023,

**[01:54:04.440] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001413)  
ito po ay nakasubject sa

**[01:54:06.100] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001414)  
audit ng Philippine Statistics Authority.

**[01:54:08.920] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001415)  
Pinupuntahan po namin, ito po yung

**[01:54:10.420] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001416)  
mga close to 50,000

**[01:54:12.040] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001417)  
na na-assess namin as

**[01:54:14.000] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001418)  
possible fraudulent.

**[01:54:17.240] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001419)  
And hinahanap po namin

**[01:54:18.320] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001420)  
sa mga barangay

**[01:54:20.660] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001421)  
yung tao na na-register.

**[01:54:22.380] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001422)  
So we have also a report on this,

**[01:54:24.140] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001423)  
Your Honor.

**[01:54:25.940] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001424)  
Okay. Update na lang pala doon sa mga

**[01:54:28.100] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001425)  
kaso na i-file against those civil

**[01:54:30.220] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001426)  
registrars involved

**[01:54:31.480] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001427)  
doon sa

**[01:54:32.680] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001428)  
anomalya

**[01:54:36.940] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001429)  
ng late registration.

**[01:54:38.360] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001430)  
Ano nangyari doon sa mga late

**[01:54:39.580] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001431)  
civil registrars?

**[01:54:41.140] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001432)  
May mga local civil registrar tayo,

**[01:54:44.560] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001433)  
Your Honor. We will send you the

**[01:54:46.500] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001434)  
detailed.

**[01:54:48.020] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001435)  
But one is that may mga

**[01:54:50.260] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001436)  
kaso sila and

**[01:54:51.860] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001437)  
they were under first.

**[01:54:54.160] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001438)  
Kasi ang local civil registrars

**[01:54:55.960] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001439)  
ay under sa authority ng local

**[01:54:58.000] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001440)  
chief executive. So we are

**[01:54:59.880] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001441)  
requesting the local chief executive na

**[01:55:01.760] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001442)  
i-under sila sa administrative cases.

**[01:55:04.380] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001443)  
Marami na pong natanggal.

**[01:55:05.840] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001444)  
And then we are also sending

**[01:55:07.880] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001445)  
their names to the

**[01:55:09.600] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001446)  
National Bureau of Investigation

**[01:55:12.040] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001447)  
and other national security

**[01:55:13.960] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001448)  
agencies. Your Honor, the Philippine

**[01:55:15.820] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001449)  
Statistics Authority is providing quarterly

**[01:55:17.980] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001450)  
report on

**[01:55:19.160] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001451)  
our audit and our

**[01:55:22.040] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001452)  
efforts to clean

**[01:55:23.960] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001453)  
the civil registry system

**[01:55:25.400] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001454)  
to the Senate. But we

**[01:55:27.920] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001455)  
will provide the copies of

**[01:55:29.800] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001456)  
this report. Nakapang limang report

**[01:55:31.680] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001457)  
na po yata kami on the progress

**[01:55:33.920] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001458)  
of our audit and investigation.

**[01:55:36.080] Senator Raffy T. Tulfo** (asr-001459)  
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

**[01:55:37.240] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001460)  
Thank you. Senator Kiko

**[01:55:39.800] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001461)  
Pangilinan.

**[01:55:40.980] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001462)  
Well, on that point, just for

**[01:55:43.760] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001463)  
the information of USEC

**[01:55:45.380] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001464)  
Mapa and Secretary

**[01:55:47.700] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001465)  
RC.

**[01:55:50.360] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001466)  
And for the information

**[01:55:51.840] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001467)  
of Senator Raffy,

**[01:55:54.200] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001468)  
the Civil Registration

**[01:55:55.840] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001469)  
and Vital Statistics Bill,

**[01:55:57.920] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001470)  
is pending

**[01:56:00.080] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001471)  
under the

**[01:56:02.160] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001472)  
Committee on Justice, of which I am chairperson.

**[01:56:04.340] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001473)  
And this is

**[01:56:05.980] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001474)  
actually a measure that is sponsored by

**[01:56:07.840] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001475)  
the Senate President.

**[01:56:10.040] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001476)  
And we've had a committee hearing

**[01:56:12.020] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001477)  
and we are now going through the

**[01:56:13.880] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001478)  
technical working group. So we expect to

**[01:56:15.920] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001479)  
be able to pass this

**[01:56:16.940] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001480)  
to provide the

**[01:56:19.860] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001481)  
necessary tools

**[01:56:21.480] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001482)  
for us to address the challenges

**[01:56:23.540] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001483)  
raised earlier by Senator Raffy.

**[01:56:26.680] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001484)  
Maybe the good

**[01:56:27.740] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001485)  
Secretary,

**[01:56:27.920] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001486)  
Secretary can lobby

**[01:56:29.760] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001487)  
with the House

**[01:56:30.580] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001488)  
because I understand

**[01:56:33.880] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001489)  
it is also still on the committee level

**[01:56:35.860] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001490)  
to address this.

**[01:56:38.920] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001491)  
Just for the information

**[01:56:40.080] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001492)  
of the Chairman and our colleagues.

**[01:56:42.880] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001493)  
May I proceed?

**[01:56:44.840] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001494)  
Yes, please proceed.

**[01:56:45.720] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001495)  
Thank you.

**[01:56:47.680] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001496)  
We'd like to...

**[01:56:49.920] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001497)  
I will take off

**[01:56:51.960] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001498)  
from where we started

**[01:56:53.260] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001499)  
in the DBCC

**[01:56:55.280] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001500)  
with the remarks,

**[01:56:57.920] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001501)  
when I asked about why

**[01:56:59.800] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001502)  
rice prices

**[01:57:00.640] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001503)  
continue to remain

**[01:57:03.700] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001504)  
high. Inflation is, if I'm not

**[01:57:05.940] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001505)  
right, price inflation year on year is about

**[01:57:07.860] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001506)  
19%, if I'm not

**[01:57:10.000] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001507)  
mistaken.

**[01:57:11.700] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001508)  
Despite the fact that we've

**[01:57:13.640] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001509)  
precisely

**[01:57:14.180] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001510)  
imported

**[01:57:17.620] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001511)  
5 million

**[01:57:19.660] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001512)  
metric tons.

**[01:57:23.480] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001513)  
And it was

**[01:57:25.280] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001514)  
a BSP governor

**[01:57:27.120] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001515)  
Remalona.

**[01:57:33.380] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001516)  
Yes.

**[01:57:34.900] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001517)  
I have a friend, Ramulete,

**[01:57:37.080] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001518)  
Remalona.

**[01:57:40.300] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001519)  
Remalona, who said

**[01:57:41.520] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001520)  
that

**[01:57:43.420] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001521)  
the raising

**[01:57:45.680] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001522)  
of the tariffs

**[01:57:46.600] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001523)  
worked for a while.

**[01:57:50.180] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001524)  
Or bringing down of the tariffs

**[01:57:51.940] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001525)  
worked for a while and then something happened.

**[01:57:54.200] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001526)  
If you will remember.

**[01:57:57.120] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001527)  
And we'd like to go...

**[01:57:58.280] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001528)  
What is that something that happened?

**[01:58:00.100] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001529)  
Because you'd like to think after 5 million

**[01:58:02.540] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001530)  
metric tons of rice being

**[01:58:04.340] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001531)  
flood, well,

**[01:58:06.820] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001532)  
theoretically flooding the market,

**[01:58:08.520] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001533)  
we shouldn't have a

**[01:58:10.000] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001534)  
19.4%

**[01:58:11.620] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001535)  
year on year

**[01:58:14.540] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001536)  
rise inflation. Of course, there are

**[01:58:16.480] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001537)  
other factors, such as

**[01:58:18.640] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001538)  
the war in

**[01:58:20.600] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001539)  
Iran,

**[01:58:22.000] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001540)  
oil prices, fertilizer, etc.

**[01:58:25.380] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001541)  
And then,

**[01:58:26.160] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001542)  
we put tight

**[01:58:27.120] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001543)  
sanctions on the whole of El Nino.

**[01:58:29.080] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001544)  
So, I worry.

**[01:58:31.160] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001545)  
So, could you give us

**[01:58:33.020] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001546)  
your sense,

**[01:58:35.460] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001547)  
Sec. Arcee, of what's

**[01:58:37.640] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001548)  
going on?

**[01:58:40.120] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001549)  
Dr. Sebastian is angry.

**[01:58:42.280] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001550)  
Maybe he can also add to the discussion.

**[01:58:45.540] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001551)  
You're right, Mr. Chair.

**[01:58:49.380] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001552)  
Your Honor,

**[01:58:50.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001553)  
we

**[01:58:52.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001554)  
looked at the

**[01:58:55.260] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001555)  
experience

**[01:58:56.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001556)  
of the

**[01:58:57.120] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001557)  
market

**[01:58:59.460] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001558)  
and what happened to retail prices

**[01:59:01.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001559)  
and farmgate prices

**[01:59:03.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001560)  
at the time when we

**[01:59:06.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001561)  
reduced the

**[01:59:08.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001562)  
tariff

**[01:59:09.140] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001563)  
to 15%

**[01:59:11.560] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001564)  
when retail prices

**[01:59:14.340] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001565)  
were high

**[01:59:15.480] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001566)  
and inflation was

**[01:59:17.240] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001567)  
a major concern at the time.

**[01:59:21.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001568)  
And

**[01:59:22.080] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001569)  
to our

**[01:59:24.220] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001570)  
surprise,

**[01:59:25.960] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001571)  
the

**[01:59:26.200] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001572)  
inflation was not

**[01:59:27.080] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001573)  
as high as we expected.

**[01:59:28.080] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001574)  
The retail prices did not behave

**[01:59:29.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001575)  
as we expected.

**[01:59:31.140] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001576)  
For several months,

**[01:59:32.760] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001577)  
retail prices remained high.

**[01:59:34.960] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001578)  
Despite, yes, the

**[01:59:36.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001579)  
reduction in tariff and the

**[01:59:38.960] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001580)  
falling world prices.

**[01:59:40.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001581)  
Because world prices started also to

**[01:59:42.300] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001582)  
come down. So, we were expecting.

**[01:59:45.560] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001583)  
So,

**[01:59:46.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001584)  
we had a recent paper on this.

**[01:59:49.000] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001585)  
Mr. Chair, I could share it with you.

**[01:59:50.920] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001586)  
Please go.

**[01:59:51.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001587)  
I think you used it in one of your

**[01:59:54.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001588)  
papers.

**[01:59:55.080] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001589)  
But,

**[01:59:55.620] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001590)  
but essentially, it's like a combination of facts.

**[02:00:00.000] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001591)  
But one that we could not exclude is the possibility that you have an anti-competitive market in the retail sector.

**[02:00:10.520] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001592)  
And that's why we have been asking our Philippine Competition Commission to investigate the industry.

**[02:00:21.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001593)  
Both in the, not just in the, I think it's not so much in the retail, it's in the trading, the wholesaling, and the importation.

**[02:00:33.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001594)  
That is where I think, where we see the rigidity in the prices.

**[02:00:42.380] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001595)  
Because we also, Congress passed the Agri-Economic Sabotage Law,

**[02:00:49.280] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001596)  
which includes hoarding.

**[02:00:52.400] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001597)  
profiteering, price manipulation.

**[02:00:56.560] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001598)  
And that is all, but that's not the complete story, Mr. Chair.

**[02:00:59.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001599)  
As I said, it's a complicated thing.

**[02:01:01.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001600)  
There is also problems with bottlenecks in the logistics that prevent markets from functioning smoothly.

**[02:01:13.380] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001601)  
And also in the way we use trade policy, I think.

**[02:01:19.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001602)  
As you know, because the way we have been, we make decisions on importation and I think those quantitative restrictions are affecting the way the market functions.

**[02:01:38.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001603)  
So the market can't effectively function.

**[02:01:43.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001604)  
And when you put all this together, you have that problem.

**[02:01:49.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001605)  
And so until now, the major contributor to inflation, food inflation, is rice.

**[02:01:56.280] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001606)  
And nationwide inflation, too, because of rice inflation.

**[02:02:01.460] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001607)  
And that's why it's critical.

**[02:02:03.100] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001608)  
Now, just going back to the anti-competitive market, for example, in 2020-2024, the Competition Commission, of which you used to chair,

**[02:02:17.920] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001609)  
recommended a penalty of about 2.6 billion pesos for the onion cartel.

**[02:02:26.660] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001610)  
I understand the penalty has not been implemented.

**[02:02:33.900] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001611)  
It is still on appeal.

**[02:02:38.800] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001612)  
It's already 2026.

**[02:02:40.860] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001613)  
So that, too, gives you a sense of why.

**[02:02:47.920] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001614)  
The anti-competition intervention, I mean, forces continue to do their thing.

**[02:03:01.500] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001615)  
Would you have a status of that case?

**[02:03:05.500] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001616)  
2024 ni-recommenda, 2.6 billion, unprecedented, fine.

**[02:03:10.820] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001617)  
I'm sure you're familiar with that, considering you were.

**[02:03:16.100] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001618)  
You were.

**[02:03:17.920] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001619)  
You headed that commission.

**[02:03:21.200] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001620)  
Do we see any light at the end of the tunnel that cases will be filed?

**[02:03:26.280] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001621)  
Because the recommendation was to fine them.

**[02:03:29.360] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001622)  
The penalty was about 2.6 billion, but hindi pa na-enforce.

**[02:03:37.800] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001623)  
Go ahead, sir.

**[02:03:39.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001624)  
I have no information about that, Mr.

**[02:03:42.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001625)  
As to the current status, I was no longer the chair when...

**[02:03:47.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001626)  
The decision was...

**[02:03:49.080] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001627)  
Yes, yes.

**[02:03:49.740] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001628)  
So this is under...

**[02:03:51.120] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001629)  
PCC is now with OP?

**[02:03:54.380] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001630)  
It's an independent...

**[02:03:55.760] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001631)  
It's headed by Mike Aguinaldo.

**[02:03:59.420] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001632)  
Yes, yes.

**[02:03:59.940] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001633)  
Well, anyway, that's one concern na hindi efektibo itong PCC in enforcing its recommendations.

**[02:04:13.400] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001634)  
It was just a recommendation.

**[02:04:14.860] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001635)  
It is still pending.

**[02:04:15.960] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001636)  
It has not been two years after.

**[02:04:17.920] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001637)  
More than two years.

**[02:04:20.000] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001638)  
Kasi 2004.

**[02:04:21.540] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001639)  
So 2024, 2025, 2026 na ngayon.

**[02:04:26.860] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001640)  
And I believe it was July 2024.

**[02:04:30.220] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001641)  
So that's a concern.

**[02:04:31.920] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001642)  
Now, just some...

**[02:04:35.240] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001643)  
Yung 9.7% poverty levels, how did that happen?

**[02:04:41.800] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001644)  
I mean, parang counterintuitive.

**[02:04:45.200] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001645)  
Nag-Iran war.

**[02:04:46.980] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001646)  
Tumaas ang presyo.

**[02:04:47.920] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001647)  
Tumaas ng gasolina.

**[02:04:50.500] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001648)  
Mataas ang inflation ng food.

**[02:04:54.500] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001649)  
Bumagsak ang poverty levels from last year.

**[02:04:58.640] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001650)  
Was it 16?

**[02:05:01.000] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001651)  
15?

**[02:05:02.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001652)  
Let me explain.

**[02:05:03.940] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001653)  
Yes, go ahead.

**[02:05:04.760] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001654)  
Yes, yes.

**[02:05:05.160] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001655)  
I think that, yeah.

**[02:05:07.200] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001656)  
The data that we are capturing is 2023 versus 2025.

**[02:05:15.360] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001657)  
The data was 2025.

**[02:05:17.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001658)  
Not 2026.

**[02:05:18.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001659)  
The inflation in 2025 was very low.

**[02:05:23.140] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001660)  
1.6%, something like that.

**[02:05:27.940] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001661)  
The 9.7% inflation is 2025.

**[02:05:32.200] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001662)  
2025.

**[02:05:32.900] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001663)  
Okay.

**[02:05:33.700] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001664)  
That was the 9.7%.

**[02:05:35.300] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001665)  
And the decrease, comparing that with the conditions, economic conditions during that period, 2023 to 2025,

**[02:05:44.900] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001666)  
across income growths, or what's called income deciles, you see that households' incomes increased by almost, in nominal terms, over 20% in those periods.

**[02:06:02.620] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001667)  
It was a period, quite unusual, I would say, because it was a period of low inflation.

**[02:06:10.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001668)  
Income growth was quite widespread across.

**[02:06:14.900] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001669)  
Households.

**[02:06:17.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001670)  
So it was not an inequitable growth.

**[02:06:22.220] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001671)  
You can see the same percentage growth across the households' income classes.

**[02:06:31.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001672)  
And yes, and the labor market was also at its best.

**[02:06:38.820] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001673)  
It was a period when unemployment was declining, underemployment was declining.

**[02:06:43.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001674)  
The 2026 is a different story because the Middle East conflict, the oil price, sharp price, oil price increases, the deceleration of growth because of the scandal, partly because of scandal and the high inflation.

**[02:07:05.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001675)  
So some of those gains could have been eroded.

**[02:07:10.160] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001676)  
Wipe out.

**[02:07:10.600] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001677)  
I don't think it is wipe out.

**[02:07:13.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001678)  
But I don't think, I really don't think that's wipe out.

**[02:07:15.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001679)  
But could have been eroded by those high inflation.

**[02:07:21.140] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001680)  
And now, unemployment is also beginning to, beginning, has also increased in recent quarters.

**[02:07:30.100] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001681)  
Just one more question on the...

**[02:07:32.940] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001682)  
Yes, before it skips my mind, I follow up.

**[02:07:36.860] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001683)  
Where is the country headed in the next two years in terms of the, or using the following indicators?

**[02:07:43.020] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001684)  
Inflation, national debt, atsaka yung peso versus the U.S. dollar and other currencies?

**[02:07:53.820] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001685)  
The last one is quite difficult to know, Your Honor, because the value of the peso does not depend just on our actions, but also actions of other countries.

**[02:08:10.860] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001686)  
Now that the Fed is strengthening.

**[02:08:13.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001687)  
It's raising its policy rates, you would expect a lot of pressure on the peso because dollar-denominated assets will become now much more attractive.

**[02:08:26.280] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001688)  
So, but there are other, of course, factors that how investors and our local population, both consumers and producers, see the future.

**[02:08:43.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001689)  
And I think that if we can, as I keep saying, that if we can address the common variables that have led to this pessimism, to this negative sentiments that happened in the last quarters, three quarters, we could be on a recovery.

**[02:09:06.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001690)  
So, I think that there are some good news.

**[02:09:13.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001691)  
That happened lately, and I hope that that will temper now the sentiments, and I hope that there will are emerging solutions to the Middle East conflict, because that's the big uncertainty in the world economy right now.

**[02:09:31.540] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001692)  
We were expecting just a few months ago or a few weeks ago that oil prices would finally be at $80 per barrel.

**[02:09:41.700] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001693)  
But now it's back to...

**[02:09:43.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001694)  
To 100% because of, you know, certain actions that outside of our control.

**[02:09:48.800] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001695)  
So, it's really a very uncertain world.

**[02:09:53.040] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001696)  
You know, that's the least that I could say.

**[02:09:57.020] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001697)  
What's our projected national debt in June of 2028?

**[02:10:02.460] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001698)  
We are still working on a fiscal consolidation.

**[02:10:07.120] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001699)  
As you can see in the budget, the budget, the increase in the budget was very...

**[02:10:13.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001700)  
Small.

**[02:10:15.340] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001701)  
In fact, in real terms, it's likely flat.

**[02:10:18.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001702)  
It's more like a flat, no?

**[02:10:21.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001703)  
Just to make sure that we are managing our fiscal issues, the fiscal space.

**[02:10:30.820] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001704)  
And I think that we have agreed among the economic managers and discussed with the president that we need to...

**[02:10:43.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001705)  
To strong...

**[02:10:45.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001706)  
To reorient our borrowing, to focus only on capital outlay and infrastructure, for example.

**[02:10:54.660] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001707)  
Yeah.

**[02:10:56.060] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001708)  
Kasi parang [unclear] na tayo ng borrowing even for MOOE, ano?

**[02:11:04.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001709)  
I mean, some countries don't do that.

**[02:11:07.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001710)  
They only borrow for capital outlay.

**[02:11:09.260] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001711)  
And I think that that's a direction that we should take.

**[02:11:12.520] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001712)  
And...

**[02:11:12.860] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001713)  
And...

**[02:11:13.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001715)  
we are taking. And our fiscal consolidation program is geared for that.

**[02:11:19.340] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001716)  
Hopefully, there will be no extra pressure for us.

**[02:11:23.360] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001717)  
The problem is really our vulnerability energy.

**[02:11:28.160] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001718)  
Because we have little space that whenever, you know, world prices rise, we are hit quickly.

**[02:11:37.620] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001719)  
Because we don't have the kind of energy situation that our neighbors...

**[02:11:43.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001720)  
have.

**[02:11:44.760] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001721)  
Thank you, Sir [unclear].

**[02:11:45.720] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001722)  
Thank you, Senator Kiko.

**[02:11:46.420] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001723)  
Thank you.

**[02:11:46.800] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001724)  
Yes, sir, Senator Pangilinan

**[02:11:47.200] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001725)  
Just a few more questions.

**[02:11:51.160] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001726)  
You know, we...

**[02:11:52.220] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001727)  
The anti-agric...

**[02:11:53.440] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001728)  
I just want to go back to that, no?

**[02:11:55.120] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001729)  
Economic sabotage.

**[02:11:56.080] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001730)  
May we request the DepDev to give us your position paper after two years.

**[02:12:02.880] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001731)  
Unfortunately, you still don't have big-time smugglers being jailed.

**[02:12:11.320] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001732)  
And then, of course, the PCC.

**[02:12:13.020] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001733)  
The PCC Commission has yet to finalize its penalties on the Onion Cartel.

**[02:12:20.180] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001734)  
There is a disconnect in the Council because it seems like the enforcement arm of the Council does not include the BOC and the DA.

**[02:12:33.060] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001735)  
And what I'm told is that kasi hindi mapagkatiwalaan yung dalawa.

**[02:12:37.960] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001736)  
They are in the Council, but they're not in the enforcement.

**[02:12:43.020] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001737)  
They're not in the enforcement entity.

**[02:12:47.100] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001738)  
I think that, you know...

**[02:12:51.700] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001739)  
They're the ones who know.

**[02:12:54.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001740)  
They're the ones who are guarding.

**[02:12:56.340] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001741)  
They're the ones mandated.

**[02:12:57.660] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001742)  
But when it comes to the enforcement for agri-smuggling, both the BOC and the DA are not in the enforcement bureau.

**[02:13:08.300] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001743)  
So, can you give us a position?

**[02:13:13.020] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001744)  
I think it was an overreaction.

**[02:13:15.500] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001745)  
It was like a pendulum swing to the extreme.

**[02:13:18.460] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001746)  
Dahil maraming smuggling, hindi nagagawa yung trabaho, et cetera.

**[02:13:23.280] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001747)  
Huwag niyo isama.

**[02:13:25.020] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001748)  
Lalo gumulo yung sharing of information, et cetera.

**[02:13:31.680] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001749)  
Hindi angkop.

**[02:13:34.880] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001750)  
Nagtuturoan pati.

**[02:13:36.540] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001751)  
So, maybe the DepDev can give us your position paper.

**[02:13:41.140] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001752)  
Let's...

**[02:13:41.540] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001753)  
Maybe you need to revisit that.

**[02:13:43.020] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001754)  
That portion or provisions of the law.

**[02:13:46.460] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001755)  
Kasi 10 milyon pesos lang ang kailangan para makakulong ng non-bailable offense.

**[02:13:53.200] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001756)  
10 milyon pesos lang.

**[02:13:55.020] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001757)  
Panay ang announce ng gobyerno na billion ang nakukumpis ka.

**[02:13:59.000] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001758)  
500 milyon dito ng sigarilyo.

**[02:14:03.700] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001759)  
100 milyon ng karne.

**[02:14:07.900] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001760)  
Pero, yung nakakulong, bodegero.

**[02:14:13.020] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001761)  
So, ano nangyari ron?

**[02:14:18.400] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001762)  
Sa halagang 10 milyon lang.

**[02:14:20.800] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001763)  
Meron daw ilan.

**[02:14:23.140] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001764)  
But, that's not enough.

**[02:14:24.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001765)  
If you're confiscating billions, then you should be jailing big-time smugglers.

**[02:14:32.940] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001766)  
To the tune of billions.

**[02:14:34.600] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001767)  
So, anyway, that one.

**[02:14:36.160] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001768)  
I'm sorry, I'm particular about that.

**[02:14:38.340] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001769)  
Because it's really killing our local agri

**[02:14:43.020] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001770)  
and fishery sector, when all these...

**[02:14:45.020] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001771)  
Ang malungkot pa doon, yung pinapasok na mga produkto,

**[02:14:49.020] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001772)  
eh baka ano pa, siya salvage value.

**[02:14:52.220] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001773)  
Kasi unfit na for human consumption doon sa China.

**[02:14:57.320] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001774)  
Dadalin dito, smuggled.

**[02:15:00.000] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001775)  
Tapos, sasabunin ng formalin,

**[02:15:03.940] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001776)  
tapos ibebenta sa merkado.

**[02:15:06.320] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001777)  
So, and then, when you look at all the,

**[02:15:09.620] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001778)  
not all, but the items that are seized,

**[02:15:13.000] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001779)  
unfit for human consumption,

**[02:15:14.560] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001780)  
may E. coli, salmonella, etc.

**[02:15:17.700] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001781)  
So, well, anyway,

**[02:15:19.920] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001782)  
so maybe you can give us your position

**[02:15:21.840] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001783)  
because we'd like to revisit the law

**[02:15:23.480] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001784)  
and provide the council with more teeth.

**[02:15:27.960] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001785)  
My last question,

**[02:15:31.300] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001786)  
or last two questions,

**[02:15:33.620] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001787)  
the issue of, again, I go back to smuggling.

**[02:15:37.160] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001788)  
We had a hearing in March

**[02:15:38.800] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001789)  
regarding onion importation.

**[02:15:42.120] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001790)  
The PSA had their projected harvest.

**[02:15:48.980] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001791)  
Senator Ping was there.

**[02:15:51.140] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001792)  
And then the BPI, DA,

**[02:15:53.500] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001793)  
had a different set of data.

**[02:15:57.960] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001794)  
The PSA had a lower requirement

**[02:16:02.700] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001795)  
for the gap in terms of the supply deficit.

**[02:16:06.820] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001796)  
But the DA had a larger.

**[02:16:09.140] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001797)  
And therefore,

**[02:16:10.300] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001798)  
nasunod yung DA,

**[02:16:13.900] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001799)  
nag-import ng in excess,

**[02:16:16.800] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001800)  
at least more than what PSA said.

**[02:16:20.380] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001801)  
So I said,

**[02:16:22.340] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001802)  
we identified,

**[02:16:23.940] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001803)  
we allocated 100 million for the PSA last year,

**[02:16:27.200] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001804)  
for the PSA.

**[02:16:27.960] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001805)  
The surveying and the research.

**[02:16:30.580] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001806)  
So I said,

**[02:16:31.380] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001807)  
why don't you come up with a memorandum of agreement

**[02:16:33.480] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001808)  
between the DA and the PSA and the DepDev

**[02:16:36.500] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001809)  
so that we have one set of data?

**[02:16:43.700] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001810)  
I'd like to think,

**[02:16:45.060] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001811)  
DepDev,

**[02:16:46.320] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001812)  
I don't know.

**[02:16:48.860] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001813)  
But you're the researchers.

**[02:16:52.800] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001814)  
You're the statisticians.

**[02:16:54.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001815)  
That's not DA.

**[02:16:56.580] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001816)  
DA should be the employer.

**[02:16:57.960] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001817)  
Implementor, et cetera.

**[02:17:00.200] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001818)  
So nagka-conflict sa datos,

**[02:17:02.940] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001819)  
mas malaki yung data ng DA

**[02:17:04.480] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001820)  
for some reason.

**[02:17:07.060] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001821)  
So nag-import ng mas malaki.

**[02:17:11.220] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001822)  
Yes.

**[02:17:12.580] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001823)  
Tapos sa panahon.

**[02:17:15.140] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001824)  
So can you clarify that?

**[02:17:18.460] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001825)  
Yes, sir.

**[02:17:19.440] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001826)  
Kasi I also,

**[02:17:20.600] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001827)  
I share the sentiment of Senator Pangilinan.

**[02:17:24.080] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001828)  
I authored the anti-agriculture smuglilo in 2016.

**[02:17:26.840] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001829)  
Tapos nag-evolve,

**[02:17:28.680] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001830)  
dati kasi smugling lang.

**[02:17:30.220] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001831)  
Nag-evolve naman.

**[02:17:32.080] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001832)  
Dahil nagkaroon ng gantong batas,

**[02:17:35.460] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001833)  
left and right naman ang issuance ng importation permit.

**[02:17:38.440] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001834)  
Kaya nga nag-agadag ng anti-agriculture economic sabotage ngayon.

**[02:17:41.780] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001835)  
That's the Conserve Center Pangilinan.

**[02:17:44.220] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001836)  
How can we do to improve better this one,

**[02:17:49.960] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001837)  
the reinforcement para magkaroon ng direksyon tungkol na natin?

**[02:17:53.400] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001838)  
Sometimes it's frustrating to hear

**[02:17:55.540] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001839)  
the statement.

**[02:17:56.840] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001840)  
The state of our agriculture,

**[02:17:58.000] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001841)  
na talagang they import at the wrong time.

**[02:18:00.900] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001842)  
Di ba?

**[02:18:01.400] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001843)  
Yung patay,

**[02:18:02.700] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001844)  
yung local industry natin,

**[02:18:03.840] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001845)  
pinababayaan na ano na.

**[02:18:06.180] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001846)  
Parang napabayaan na import na na import.

**[02:18:08.400] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001847)  
So sige,

**[02:18:09.020] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-001848)  
we would like to hear from you.

**[02:18:11.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001849)  
Thank you,

**[02:18:12.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001850)  
Mr. Chair and Your Honor.

**[02:18:15.520] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001851)  
This is a long-standing issue.

**[02:18:18.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001852)  
Recall that before PSA was reorganized,

**[02:18:23.120] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001853)  
there was a Bureau of Agricultural Statistics

**[02:18:25.340] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001854)  
that collects data.

**[02:18:26.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001855)  
I would collect data.

**[02:18:29.620] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001856)  
But what,

**[02:18:32.200] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001857)  
and then PS,

**[02:18:33.040] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001858)  
the National Statistics Office

**[02:18:36.260] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001859)  
was also collecting data.

**[02:18:38.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001860)  
And those two data do not match,

**[02:18:42.160] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001861)  
do not agree by a wide margin.

**[02:18:44.820] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001862)  
And there were many studies pointing to

**[02:18:48.480] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001863)  
the need to integrate the two

**[02:18:51.820] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001864)  
by removing the data collection

**[02:18:54.720] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001865)  
for purposes of statistics.

**[02:18:56.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001866)  
Statistical compilation,

**[02:18:59.560] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001867)  
especially compilation in support of

**[02:19:01.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001868)  
the national income accounts

**[02:19:03.760] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001869)  
away from implementing agencies

**[02:19:07.060] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001870)  
so that there is a more credible

**[02:19:09.800] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001871)  
sample-based statistically valid sampling methods

**[02:19:16.260] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001872)  
applied so that the data

**[02:19:18.320] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001873)  
are nationally representative.

**[02:19:21.000] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001874)  
So that was the decision.

**[02:19:23.240] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001875)  
But of course,

**[02:19:24.760] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001876)  
over time,

**[02:19:26.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001877)  
the Department of Agriculture

**[02:19:29.560] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001878)  
realized that they still would have to collect

**[02:19:33.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001879)  
their own data for administrative purposes.

**[02:19:38.380] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001880)  
And so that's where we are still at now.

**[02:19:43.300] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001881)  
But on the other hand,

**[02:19:44.800] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001882)  
we have been,

**[02:19:47.480] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001883)  
I think PSA and DA have been coordinating

**[02:19:50.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-001884)  
toward unifying their processes.

**[02:19:52.660] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001885)  
Yes, because I asked them to.

**[02:19:53.860] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001886)  
And I told them,

**[02:19:55.660] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001887)  
maybe,

**[02:19:56.840] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001888)  
and they acceded.

**[02:19:59.060] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001889)  
I said,

**[02:19:59.420] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001890)  
you can make a memorandum of agreement

**[02:20:02.420] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001891)  
between PSA and BPI-DA

**[02:20:06.060] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001892)  
or whoever it is in DA

**[02:20:08.240] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001893)  
that's collecting the data.

**[02:20:09.760] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001894)  
And you agree

**[02:20:10.560] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001895)  
that after you collect the data,

**[02:20:12.980] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001896)  
you will have one figure.

**[02:20:15.060] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001897)  
I mean, I don't think that's difficult to do.

**[02:20:17.560] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001898)  
But it has to be

**[02:20:19.120] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001899)  
at the cabinet secretary level.

**[02:20:21.320] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001900)  
We, you know,

**[02:20:22.020] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001901)  
when you were with NEDA,

**[02:20:24.340] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001902)  
you chaired NEDA,

**[02:20:25.660] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001903)  
I was with the,

**[02:20:26.600] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001904)  
we were together in the NFA council,

**[02:20:30.260] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001905)  
we had a memorandum of agreement

**[02:20:32.820] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001906)  
between the NFA and the BOC

**[02:20:34.740] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001907)  
that we only have one,

**[02:20:37.040] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001908)  
then,

**[02:20:37.920] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001909)  
only one document

**[02:20:40.060] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001910)  
for rice importation.

**[02:20:42.060] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001911)  
Whatever we had in NFA,

**[02:20:44.360] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001912)  
the BOC had the same.

**[02:20:47.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001913)  
So that every time rice imports came in,

**[02:20:51.000] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001914)  
we only had one document.

**[02:20:52.200] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001915)  
So nag-uusap kami,

**[02:20:54.260] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001916)  
and it was just by way of agreement.

**[02:20:56.600] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001917)  
So maybe the PSA and the DA-BPI,

**[02:21:00.580] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001918)  
sana before we go to plenary,

**[02:21:02.240] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001919)  
meron na kayong memorandum of agreement

**[02:21:04.060] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001920)  
para naman isa lang yung figurang ninyo.

**[02:21:09.340] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001921)  
I don't think you need to be a rocket scientist

**[02:21:11.760] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001922)  
to reconcile data.

**[02:21:14.980] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001923)  
Yes.

**[02:21:15.600] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001924)  
Go ahead, sir.

**[02:21:16.220] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001925)  
Yeah.

**[02:21:16.780] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001926)  
Thank you, Mr. Chair, Your Honor.

**[02:21:19.320] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001927)  
I agree on the statement

**[02:21:21.020] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001928)  
that any plan should be based on a single data.

**[02:21:25.720] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001929)  
And after that,

**[02:21:26.580] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001930)  
after that discussion,

**[02:21:27.740] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001931)  
Your Honor,

**[02:21:28.800] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001932)  
the Department of Agriculture and the PSA

**[02:21:31.440] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001933)  
discussed and talked with Secretary Laurel.

**[02:21:35.540] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001934)  
And we have already

**[02:21:36.220] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001935)  
that memorandum of agreement

**[02:21:38.240] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001936)  
stating that for official statistics

**[02:21:40.100] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001937)  
on output,

**[02:21:42.020] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001938)  
the PSA's data will be...

**[02:21:44.200] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001939)  
Can we have a copy?

**[02:21:45.120] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001940)  
I also talked to Secretary Kiko about that.

**[02:21:47.640] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001941)  
And he was kind enough to say

**[02:21:49.520] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001942)  
he will look into it

**[02:21:50.380] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001943)  
and he has no...

**[02:21:51.880] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001944)  
In principle, he does not object.

**[02:21:53.760] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-001945)  
Yeah, we will provide the...

**[02:21:55.340] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001946)  
So henceforth,

**[02:21:56.580] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001947)  
we will have one data.

**[02:21:58.260] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001948)  
Correct.

**[02:21:58.900] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001949)  
Okay, good.

**[02:22:00.140] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001950)  
Thank you, Lord.

**[02:22:01.340] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001951)  
Now,

**[02:22:02.120] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001952)  
my last question, actually.

**[02:22:05.080] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001953)  
Yung El Nino.

**[02:22:08.280] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001954)  
During our time,

**[02:22:10.360] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001955)  
SEC-RC,

**[02:22:11.920] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001956)  
we had an interagency task force on El Nino.

**[02:22:15.280] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001957)  
Do we have that now?

**[02:22:18.220] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001958)  
Somebody said yes.

**[02:22:24.700] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001959)  
And

**[02:22:25.340] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001960)  
what are the interventions

**[02:22:27.420] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001961)  
to be undertaken by this task force?

**[02:22:29.900] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001962)  
Because you have to factor that in

**[02:22:32.600] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001963)  
in terms of our...

**[02:22:34.000] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001964)  
the impact on the incomes,

**[02:22:36.940] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001965)  
economy, food,

**[02:22:39.580] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001966)  
agri-sector.

**[02:22:44.180] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001967)  
Would you care to answer us,

**[02:22:45.880] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001968)  
Yusek Abad-Santos?

**[02:22:46.960] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001969)  
Yes, Mr. Chair, Your Honor.

**[02:22:48.200] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001970)  
The task force was reconstituted

**[02:22:50.420] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001971)  
by an executive order by the President.

**[02:22:52.860] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001972)  
And

**[02:22:53.220] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001973)  
it's now...

**[02:22:55.340] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001974)  
now headed by the Department of Defense,

**[02:22:58.240] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001975)  
by the Department of National Defense,

**[02:23:00.260] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001976)  
mainly as the chair of the NBRMC.

**[02:23:05.680] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001977)  
And again,

**[02:23:06.680] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001978)  
for the past months,

**[02:23:08.300] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001979)  
like the past four months,

**[02:23:09.380] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001980)  
there have been meetings conducted

**[02:23:11.040] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001981)  
by the

**[02:23:13.140] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001982)  
technical working group of the task force

**[02:23:16.260] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001983)  
in terms of the different

**[02:23:19.020] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001984)  
key member agencies

**[02:23:20.780] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001985)  
or the core members,

**[02:23:21.960] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001986)  
which are

**[02:23:22.480] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001987)  
the Department of Energy,

**[02:23:24.240] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001988)  
Department of Agriculture,

**[02:23:25.340] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001989)  
or NIA,

**[02:23:28.000] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001990)  
and Department of Health and the ALG

**[02:23:30.380] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001991)  
to look at their different interventions

**[02:23:32.940] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001992)  
in the anticipation of

**[02:23:35.540] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001993)  
the

**[02:23:36.680] DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos** (asr-001994)  
incoming El Nino.

**[02:23:39.680] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001995)  
Okay.

**[02:23:40.180] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001996)  
Maybe from the point of view of the DEV,

**[02:23:42.640] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001997)  
you can submit to us your

**[02:23:44.900] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001998)  
your

**[02:23:46.280] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-001999)  
recommendations as to interventions of the task force,

**[02:23:49.500] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002000)  
no?

**[02:23:52.600] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002001)  
So that we can address

**[02:23:54.280] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002002)  
uh...

**[02:23:54.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002003)  
incomes of the farmers and

**[02:23:56.940] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002004)  
will drop,

**[02:23:58.840] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002005)  
you know,

**[02:23:59.320] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002006)  
their output will drop,

**[02:24:03.200] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002007)  
supply harvests will drop,

**[02:24:06.480] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002008)  
as if it's not bad,

**[02:24:09.120] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002009)  
you know.

**[02:24:10.360] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002010)  
So it can get worse

**[02:24:11.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002011)  
before it gets,

**[02:24:13.900] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002012)  
sabi nga nila,

**[02:24:14.440] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002013)  
worse.

**[02:24:15.140] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002014)  
So hopefully we can

**[02:24:16.640] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002015)  
have timely intervention.

**[02:24:18.660] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002016)  
So at least from the point of view of the DEV,

**[02:24:21.180] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002017)  
what do you anticipate will be the impact?

**[02:24:24.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002018)  
What interventions will have to be undertaken?

**[02:24:26.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002019)  
I'll raise this question also with

**[02:24:28.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002020)  
uh...

**[02:24:29.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002021)  
with the budget of the

**[02:24:31.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002022)  
Defense Department.

**[02:24:33.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002023)  
Sorry, there's something that was slipped.

**[02:24:35.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002024)  
So, one more.

**[02:24:36.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002025)  
This is

**[02:24:37.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002026)  
concerning the MAV on pork.

**[02:24:40.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002027)  
Uh...

**[02:24:41.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002028)  
This was brought to my attention by

**[02:24:43.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002029)  
pork producers,

**[02:24:44.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002030)  
pork

**[02:24:45.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002031)  
hog raisers.

**[02:24:47.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002032)  
Their concern is that

**[02:24:49.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002033)  
maybe I can clarify this lang sa plenary, but

**[02:24:52.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002034)  
just to, just to give us, uh,

**[02:24:54.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002035)  
initially your,

**[02:24:56.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002036)  
your insights,

**[02:24:57.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002037)  
ano na ba ang nangyari?

**[02:24:58.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002038)  
Kasi,

**[02:24:59.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002039)  
negative

**[02:25:01.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002040)  
4.5 na ang inflation ng pork.

**[02:25:04.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002041)  
Uh,

**[02:25:05.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002042)  
so, well, that's a good sign, but, uh,

**[02:25:07.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002043)  
are we exhausting yung, uh, MAV

**[02:25:11.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002044)  
for that?

**[02:25:12.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002045)  
Baka naman hindi na kailangan.

**[02:25:14.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002046)  
Uh,

**[02:25:15.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002047)  
and, uh, moving forward,

**[02:25:18.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002048)  
they said they weren't consulted or they were,

**[02:25:20.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002049)  
there was not,

**[02:25:21.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002050)  
there was insufficient consultation.

**[02:25:23.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002051)  
Uh,

**[02:25:24.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002052)  
moving forward,

**[02:25:25.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002053)  
if you will make some adjustments,

**[02:25:27.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002054)  
can we make sure that they are,

**[02:25:28.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002055)  
uh,

**[02:25:29.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002056)  
part of the consultation process?

**[02:25:31.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002057)  
Uh,

**[02:25:32.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002058)  
go ahead,

**[02:25:33.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002059)  
uh,

**[02:25:34.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002060)  
Secretary.

**[02:25:35.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002061)  
We understand,

**[02:25:36.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002062)  
uh,

**[02:25:37.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002063)  
Your Honor,

**[02:25:38.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002064)  
that,

**[02:25:39.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002065)  
uh,

**[02:25:40.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002066)  
that the,

**[02:25:41.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002067)  
uh,

**[02:25:42.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002068)  
executive order that implements the revised,

**[02:25:43.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002069)  
uh,

**[02:25:44.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002070)  
MAV,

**[02:25:45.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002071)  
na,

**[02:25:46.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002072)  
was,

**[02:25:47.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002073)  
uh,

**[02:25:48.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002074)  
not implemented,

**[02:25:49.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002075)  
uh,

**[02:25:50.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002076)  
was,

**[02:25:51.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002077)  
uh,

**[02:25:52.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002078)  
in the Department of Agriculture.

**[02:25:53.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002079)  
So,

**[02:25:54.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002080)  
uh,

**[02:25:55.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002081)  
uh,

**[02:25:56.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002082)  
so it's,

**[02:25:57.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002083)  
it's nothing,

**[02:25:58.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002084)  
it has not changed yet.

**[02:25:59.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002085)  
Uh,

**[02:26:00.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002086)  
uh,

**[02:26:01.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002087)  
but we just want to clarify with respect to the,

**[02:26:03.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002088)  
uh,

**[02:26:04.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002089)  
prices.

**[02:26:05.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002090)  
Uh,

**[02:26:06.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002091)  
it's indeed true that,

**[02:26:07.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002092)  
uh,

**[02:26:08.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002093)  
uh,

**[02:26:09.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002094)  
since the beginning of this year,

**[02:26:11.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002095)  
uh,

**[02:26:12.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002096)  
today,

**[02:26:13.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002097)  
we witnessed,

**[02:26:14.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002098)  
uh,

**[02:26:15.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002099)  
uh,

**[02:26:16.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002100)  
decrease in the prices of pork.

**[02:26:17.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002101)  
Uh,

**[02:26:18.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002102)  
uh,

**[02:26:19.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002103)  
but,

**[02:26:20.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002104)  
uh,

**[02:26:21.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002105)  
the,

**[02:26:22.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002106)  
um,

**[02:26:23.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002107)  
uh,

**[02:26:24.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002108)  
in 20,

**[02:26:25.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002109)  
between 24,

**[02:26:26.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002110)  
20,

**[02:26:27.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002111)  
in 2025,

**[02:26:28.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002112)  
uh,

**[02:26:29.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002113)  
um,

**[02:26:30.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002114)  
from August,

**[02:26:31.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002115)  
uh,

**[02:26:32.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002116)  
of,

**[02:26:33.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002117)  
uh,

**[02:26:34.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002118)  
2024 to August of 2025,

**[02:26:35.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002119)  
uh,

**[02:26:36.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002120)  
prices of pork were actually rising,

**[02:26:37.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002121)  
and then it started falling since,

**[02:26:39.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002122)  
uh,

**[02:26:40.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002123)  
uh,

**[02:26:41.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002124)  
August or,

**[02:26:42.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002125)  
uh,

**[02:26:43.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002126)  
this year,

**[02:26:44.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002127)  
no?

**[02:26:45.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002128)  
So,

**[02:26:46.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002129)  
uh,

**[02:26:47.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002130)  
if you combine the two,

**[02:26:48.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002131)  
uh,

**[02:26:49.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002132)  
periods,

**[02:26:50.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002133)  
prices are flat,

**[02:26:51.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002134)  
so it's,

**[02:26:52.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002135)  
uh,

**[02:26:53.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002136)  
it's just the,

**[02:26:54.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002137)  
the,

**[02:26:55.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002138)  
the fall this year is just,

**[02:26:56.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002139)  
uh,

**[02:26:57.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002140)  
compensating for the,

**[02:26:58.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002141)  
uh,

**[02:26:59.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002142)  
for the rise in,

**[02:27:00.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002143)  
um,

**[02:27:01.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002144)  
in 2024 and 2025.

**[02:27:02.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002145)  
Uh,

**[02:27:03.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002146)  
so it's,

**[02:27:04.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002147)  
uh,

**[02:27:05.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002148)  
but of course,

**[02:27:06.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002149)  
if it continues,

**[02:27:07.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002150)  
uh,

**[02:27:08.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002151)  
for,

**[02:27:09.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002152)  
uh,

**[02:27:10.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002153)  
the long haul,

**[02:27:11.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002154)  
then it,

**[02:27:12.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002155)  
that's,

**[02:27:13.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002156)  
uh,

**[02:27:14.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002157)  
something to worry about.

**[02:27:20.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002158)  
If it's not been implemented,

**[02:27:26.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002159)  
as you say,

**[02:27:27.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002160)  
and they say they want to be consulted,

**[02:27:28.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002161)  
maybe we can reach out to them,

**[02:27:30.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002162)  
uh,

**[02:27:31.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002163)  
through the,

**[02:27:32.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002164)  
the Tariff Committee.

**[02:27:33.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002165)  
Uh,

**[02:27:34.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002166)  
I can relate to you,

**[02:27:35.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002167)  
uh,

**[02:27:36.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002168)  
endorse to you their concerns.

**[02:27:38.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002169)  
Um,

**[02:27:39.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002170)  
thank you,

**[02:27:40.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002171)  
thank you,

**[02:27:41.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002172)  
Secretary.

**[02:27:42.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002173)  
For clarification,

**[02:27:43.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002174)  
Mr. Chair,

**[02:27:44.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002175)  
the,

**[02:27:45.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002176)  
uh,

**[02:27:46.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002177)  
because it's a MAV,

**[02:27:47.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002178)  
that's a DA matter.

**[02:27:48.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002179)  
Yes,

**[02:27:49.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002180)  
oh,

**[02:27:50.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002181)  
yes,

**[02:27:51.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002182)  
that's correct.

**[02:27:52.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002183)  
But the Tariff Commission is chaired by you.

**[02:27:53.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002184)  
Right.

**[02:27:54.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002185)  
Committee,

**[02:27:55.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002186)  
rather,

**[02:27:56.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002187)  
the Tariff Committee.

**[02:27:57.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002188)  
Um,

**[02:27:58.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002189)  
and therefore,

**[02:27:59.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002190)  
the consultations are done by the Committee.

**[02:28:02.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002191)  
Uh,

**[02:28:03.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002192)  
uh,

**[02:28:04.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002193)  
the MAV Council.

**[02:28:05.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002194)  
The MAV Council is different,

**[02:28:06.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002195)  
uh.

**[02:28:07.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002196)  
No,

**[02:28:08.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002197)  
but you are part of the MAV Council.

**[02:28:09.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002198)  
Yeah,

**[02:28:10.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002199)  
but the Tariff and Related Matters,

**[02:28:11.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002200)  
uh,

**[02:28:12.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002201)  
is another,

**[02:28:13.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002202)  
uh,

**[02:28:14.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002203)  
committee.

**[02:28:15.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002204)  
Your vote in the Tariff Council,

**[02:28:16.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002205)  
uh,

**[02:28:17.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002206)  
is a different,

**[02:28:18.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002207)  
uh,

**[02:28:19.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002208)  
the MAV Council,

**[02:28:20.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002209)  
the MAV Council will,

**[02:28:21.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002210)  
will,

**[02:28:22.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002211)  
uh,

**[02:28:23.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002212)  
will help,

**[02:28:24.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002213)  
of course,

**[02:28:25.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002214)  
no?

**[02:28:26.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002215)  
Uh,

**[02:28:27.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002216)  
for changes in the tariff,

**[02:28:28.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002217)  
because of,

**[02:28:29.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002218)  
say,

**[02:28:30.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002219)  
trade remedies,

**[02:28:31.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002220)  
and that goes to,

**[02:28:32.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002221)  
uh,

**[02:28:33.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002222)  
the Tariff Commission.

**[02:28:34.780] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan** (asr-002223)  
Okay,

**[02:28:35.780] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002224)  
okay.

**[02:28:36.780] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002225)  
Thank you for the clarification.

**[02:28:37.780] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002226)  
Thank you,

**[02:28:38.780] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002227)  
Secretary Pangilinan.

**[02:28:39.780] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002228)  
Next to,

**[02:28:40.780] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002229)  
uh,

**[02:28:41.780] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002230)  
ask questions is,

**[02:28:42.780] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002231)  
uh,

**[02:28:43.780] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002232)  
Senator Erwin Tulfo.

**[02:28:44.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002233)  
Thank you,

**[02:28:45.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002234)  
Mr. Chair.

**[02:28:46.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002235)  
Uh,

**[02:28:47.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002236)  
just,

**[02:28:48.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002237)  
of the

**[02:28:49.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002238)  
investment,

**[02:28:50.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002239)  
uh,

**[02:28:51.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002240)  
pledges

**[02:28:52.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002241)  
by countries

**[02:28:53.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002242)  
visited by

**[02:28:54.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002243)  
PBBM

**[02:28:55.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002244)  
since he took office

**[02:28:56.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002245)  
in 2022,

**[02:28:57.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002246)  
how many,

**[02:28:58.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002247)  
so far,

**[02:28:59.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002248)  
sir,

**[02:29:00.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002249)  
have fulfilled those

**[02:29:01.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002250)  
pledges?

**[02:29:02.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002251)  
Alam ko po,

**[02:29:03.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002252)  
ang daming niya pong binisita.

**[02:29:04.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002253)  
And then,

**[02:29:05.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002254)  
every time he visits,

**[02:29:06.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002255)  
eh,

**[02:29:07.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002256)  
yun naman talagang purpose niya.

**[02:29:08.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002257)  
I was still Secretary of the SWD.

**[02:29:09.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002258)  
I keep on hearing

**[02:29:10.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002259)  
from them,

**[02:29:11.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002260)  
they're saying,

**[02:29:12.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002261)  
like,

**[02:29:13.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002262)  
uh,

**[02:29:14.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002263)  
we're pledging this,

**[02:29:15.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002264)  
pledging that,

**[02:29:16.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002265)  
eh,

**[02:29:17.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002266)  
several billions of dollars already.

**[02:29:19.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002267)  
How many,

**[02:29:20.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002268)  
so far,

**[02:29:21.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002269)  
have,

**[02:29:22.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002270)  
eh,

**[02:29:23.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002271)  
ikang made those pledges,

**[02:29:24.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002272)  
eh,

**[02:29:25.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002273)  
a reality,

**[02:29:26.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002274)  
ah,

**[02:29:27.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002275)  
Mr. Secretary?

**[02:29:28.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002276)  
Ah,

**[02:29:29.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002277)  
I would have to consult my,

**[02:29:30.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002278)  
ah,

**[02:29:31.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002279)  
Secretary Goh,

**[02:29:32.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002280)  
who was then,

**[02:29:33.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002281)  
ah,

**[02:29:34.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002282)  
the person on top of the monitoring

**[02:29:35.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002283)  
of these,

**[02:29:36.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002284)  
ah,

**[02:29:37.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002285)  
commitments.

**[02:29:38.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002286)  
Ah,

**[02:29:39.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002287)  
but he then,

**[02:29:40.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002288)  
ah,

**[02:29:41.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002289)  
moved to,

**[02:29:42.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002290)  
ah,

**[02:29:43.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002291)  
DOF,

**[02:29:44.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002292)  
so it's now,

**[02:29:45.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002293)  
ah,

**[02:29:46.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002294)  
it's,

**[02:29:47.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002295)  
ah,

**[02:29:48.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002296)  
your honor.

**[02:29:49.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002297)  
So I,

**[02:29:50.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002298)  
I,

**[02:29:50.820] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002299)  
I could ask them to share us,

**[02:29:51.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002300)  
ah,

**[02:29:51.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002301)  
the information,

**[02:29:52.160] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002302)  
and I can submit it to you.

**[02:29:53.440] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002303)  
Please do so,

**[02:29:54.120] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002304)  
because,

**[02:29:54.640] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002305)  
I

**[02:29:54.880] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002306)  
believe,

**[02:29:55.400] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002307)  
um,

**[02:29:56.520] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002308)  
that's what we really need,

**[02:29:57.600] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002309)  
like,

**[02:29:58.120] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002310)  
investments,

**[02:29:58.760] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002311)  
more investments

**[02:29:59.760] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002312)  
for this country.

**[02:30:00.680] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002313)  
And I believe may mga naging, ah, uh,

**[02:30:05.000] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002314)  
Most of them were fruitful and it did happen, Mr. Secretary. So hindi naman nasayang yung pagbisita ng ating Pangulo.

**[02:30:13.180] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002315)  
My next question, sir, is would you happen to know na number, I don't know, I want to ask you this. I'm kind of surprised kasi there was a survey, sir, it says ito pong World Happiness Report 2026. Believe it or not, the Philippines ranks as the fourth happiest in Southeast Asia.

**[02:30:37.900] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002316)  
I don't know for what reason bakit tayo happy and dami naman yung problema natin dito.

**[02:30:43.400] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002317)  
Would you happen to know, ito ba yung nakarating na sa inyo, pinag-aaralan na ba ninyo bakit tayo rank fourth? Well, sa Southeast Asia. Pero overall po, sir, sa worldwide, pang 56 po tayo. Why is that?

**[02:31:01.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002318)  
That's one metric that some people conceived to supplement or even.

**[02:31:13.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002319)  
Some to replace the traditional indicators like GDP, Mr. Chair. But usually the indicators are based on perceptions. So they're not quite strictly comparable to the traditional metrics that we have.

**[02:31:43.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002320)  
Like employment or inflation or GDP. It's more akin to, I believe, how social weather station surveys people's perception and the state of the economy or well-being, Mr. Chair.

**[02:32:03.980] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002321)  
So, yeah, Butan is the one that has been the advocate of this.

**[02:32:13.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002322)  
Gross domestic happiness as a measure of well-being for countries. And there are some countries that actually want that idea, but still not part of the global mainstream for compilation of statistics.

**[02:32:43.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002323)  
Especially involving welfare.

**[02:32:45.940] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002324)  
Kasi kung titignan mo, Mr. Secretary, sa social media, kung ano-ano sinasabi, parang wala ng pag-asa itong ating bayan. Kung anong-anong paninira na politika, et cetera, mahal na kuryente, mahal na bilihin.

**[02:32:59.820] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002325)  
Dapat it will, ika nga, yung ating minimum wage, et cetera. So, not that far with other countries. Pero, I don't know. I would appreciate it, sir.

**[02:33:13.180] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002326)  
If you would look into this, I just want to find out why. Why are we ranked fourth happiest in Southeast Asia? We're the fourth, our people are the fourth happiest people in ASEAN, sir.

**[02:33:26.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002327)  
I will look into that and what data factors that they consider in compiling the data, Mr. Chair.

**[02:33:37.420] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002328)  
All right. I have another question, sir.

**[02:33:41.260] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002329)  
I find the bill.

**[02:33:43.180] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002330)  
When I came here in the Senate last year, on the lifetime validity of PWD IDs, inincorporate na po ba ang PWID sa national ID? Kasi ito pong reklamo ng PWDs. Every year or two years or three years, they have to go to the city hall, to the munisipyo. They have to travel, lalo na po yung may problema sa mobility.

**[02:34:09.100] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002331)  
Inconvenient nga naman. So, I filed a bill na maging gawin na po.

**[02:34:13.180] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002332)  
Itong lifetime. Habang nabubuhay yung PWD, tawag na siya mag-renew na mag-renew. Dahil kita naman, may kapansanang, putol ang paa, etc. na makalakad.

**[02:34:26.020] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002333)  
Na-incorporate ba ito sa national ID or wala pa po? Wala pang plano dito?

**[02:34:43.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002334)  
Mr. Chair, it's now under discussion with the National Council of Disability Affairs. I think it's with the board.

**[02:34:56.040] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002335)  
And once we have that recommendation, we'll pass it on to PSA for action.

**[02:35:01.960] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002336)  
All right. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Another point I want to raise with you, your office. I also filed a bill on Philippine Oil Reserve.

**[02:35:14.000] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002337)  
Maaaring po bang malaman ang posisyon po ng DepDev? How will this strongly help our country's economy in terms of oil shortage?

**[02:35:23.140] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002338)  
Actually, I've been speaking to some of the representatives of ADNOC in Abu Dhabi.

**[02:35:31.480] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002339)  
They're very willing, Mr. Secretary, to put up storage facilities. Matter of fact, they want to put up storage facilities in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

**[02:35:41.000] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002340)  
All we have to do is we have to come up or we have to identify an area where they can put the storage facilities. Depende daw po sa ating kung gano'ng kalaki. And they're looking at around 50 million barrels they want to store.

**[02:35:57.960] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002341)  
So kung malalagyan. Pero when we were computing, it's a Department of Energy, it will take like about 500 hectares for that 50 million barrels. Because we consume like around 450,000 barrels per day.

**[02:36:15.060] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002342)  
Saudi Arabia is also, Aramco is also interested, Mr. Secretary, in the same deal. Bahala po tayo sa lupa, sila po ang magkukonstruct.

**[02:36:26.600] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002343)  
No money out po sa atin. Pati yung reserve po, yung fuel, ilalagay po nila. Well, double purpose din po sa kanila yun para kung magkakaroon na naman ng gera or something to that effect like closing Strait of Hormuz, Arabian Sea, etc.

**[02:36:45.240] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002344)  
Meron na po silang pagkukunan na labas sa country nila. That's what their plans are. And then, what do we get out of it will be the first priority.

**[02:36:55.860] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002345)  
So, number two, hindi naman totally bawaba na malaki yung price. Pero may konting effect because hindi na po itatransport kung meron na po mga storage facilities. I believe DOE also is making or talking with Japan, Ministry of Energy, METI.

**[02:37:21.080] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002346)  
So, yun po. Yung tatlong...

**[02:37:25.860] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002347)  
Aspect po na yun. Yun ang tanong ko sa inyo. Anong position nyo rito, Secretary?

**[02:37:32.320] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002348)  
I think the cost of energy and security, Mr. Chair, Your Honor, is very, very high as we have experienced it. So, we should explore options like what you're...

**[02:37:55.860] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002349)  
proposing, Your Honor. And this one that's the most fiscally and economically viable. Of course, even for oil reserve storage, there are possibly other ways of achieving that. And we need to look at what is the most advantageous, especially from a fiscal point of view.

**[02:38:25.860] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002350)  
Space viewpoint because our fiscal space is so challenging. And we should undertake such measure.

**[02:38:39.860] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002351)  
Of course, there are other things that...

**[02:38:51.860] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002352)  
Other things that we need to do.

**[02:38:55.860] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002353)  
To complement that measure, Mr. Chair, like increasing the mix of our energy. It should be seriously considered too because we are so vulnerable in having just a few sources. I'm talking about, for example, the need to perhaps even consider nuclear energy to the extent that these are

**[02:39:21.860] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002354)  
technologically manageable. And we can assure of the safety of such technology because that's very cheap also from a source of energy. And so, yeah, I completely agree. We should move into diversifying our sources and making sure that we need the power when we need the most.

**[02:39:48.540] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002355)  
Mr. Secretary, I believe on your next cabinet meeting, you might want to...

**[02:39:51.880] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002356)  
I'm going to have to inform or remind the President because I believe on his visit in Dubai,

**[02:39:56.480] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002357)  
he was already informed of their interest in building storage facilities. I believe Secretary Garin was also informed about it.

**[02:40:09.140] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002358)  
So, and just recently, Saudi Arabia also made a proposal wherein they want to build storage facilities. If we have all these countries' storage facilities,

**[02:40:20.420] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002359)  
I guess we won't have any problems. Hindi po tayo kakaba-kaba pag nagkaroon po ng mga gera in the very near future dahil nandito po yung kanilang facilities.

**[02:40:29.600] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002360)  
Another thing, Mr. Secretary, I want to bring to your attention. I don't know. Gusto ko sanang paimbestigahan because I'm the chairman of the Committee on Energy.

**[02:40:39.020] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002361)  
Unfortunately, we're in the process of conducting impeachment trial and then meron po kami budget hearing. But I really would love to get my hands on this issue.

**[02:40:50.420] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002362)  
About our electricity rate. I found out, Mr. Secretary, maybe your office, maybe you can help us out. You can help my committee look into this because we have a problem with our power.

**[02:41:05.500] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002363)  
It's one of the most expensive or the most expensive in the sea. But Mr. Secretary, when I did my research a couple of days ago, about 60% of our power, electricity, the source is coal.

**[02:41:20.340] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002364)  
60%.

**[02:41:20.420] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002365)  
About 10% to 15% is a bunker fuel. Pero how come the rate is so high, Mr. Secretary? And so I looked into it and I saw the problem.

**[02:41:34.960] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002366)  
We get most of our coal from Jakarta. It's like 3 pesos per kilowatt hour. Bunker fuel per kilowatt hour is like about 25, 35 pesos. So there's a big difference.

**[02:41:47.300] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002367)  
3 pesos po itong isa. 35 po itong isa. Pero pag dumating na po sa WESEM, sa spot market, pumapantay na po yung coal.

**[02:42:02.380] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002368)  
At ang reason, kasi daw yung shipment. And I don't think, Mr. Secretary, na from 3 pesos, aabot sa 35 pesos ang coal dahil sa shipment.

**[02:42:15.240] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002369)  
Pinapantay po. Nagkakaproblema po tayo sa WESEM.

**[02:42:17.220] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002370)  
Sa spot market. Pumapantay po yung 3 pesos na coal sa bunker fuel. I guess if we can address this issue, if we can call the attention of WESEM, and probably the ERC can help us out, control this.

**[02:42:33.940] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002371)  
I believe, Mr. Secretary, magiging affordable kahit papano yung electricity natin. Hindi po, sir. Ang ginagawa po sa spot market, dito po yung bunker fuel, dito po yung coal.

**[02:42:46.080] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002372)  
Pinapantay po nila. You get what I mean? Wala na po yung difference eh.

**[02:42:54.280] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002373)  
Eh dapat po mas mura dahil coal po tayo. Hindi naman po bunker. Bunker is only 15%.

**[02:43:00.320] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002374)  
We use like about 60%. So maybe, Mr. Secretary, through your office, maybe you can call the attention of the WESEM para po ikang matignan po ito.

**[02:43:12.160] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002375)  
Because there's really a big disparity, Mr. Secretary.

**[02:43:16.080] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002376)  
And if we can do something about this, I guess we can bring the electricity rate down, Secretary Balisakan.

**[02:43:24.880] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002377)  
Look into it, sir.

**[02:43:27.100] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002378)  
Thank you, sir. That's what we found out recently. And I was informed by my contacts in the Energy Department na yan nga daw po ang problema.

**[02:43:42.140] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002379)  
Alright, sir.

**[02:43:46.080] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002380)  
Under the 2025 COA report, Mr. Secretary, the NEDA Building Improvement Project, Phase 1, 2, and 3, with a combined contract cost of 641.556 million, remain not completed due to risk, contingencies, and other circumstances not adequately considered by both the agency and the contractor.

**[02:44:13.760] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002381)  
Resulting in project delays.

**[02:44:16.080] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002382)  
Resulting in project delays and multiple contract amendments, extensions, which affected the timely delivery of intended benefits to end-users. Moreover, payment for variation orders arising from the erroneous as found plans submitted by the contractor resulted in increased costs to the agency and further contributed to delays in project completion.

**[02:44:40.960] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002385)  
May project delays po ang NEDA building, improvement project with a combined contract cost worth 641 million.

**[02:44:49.900] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002386)  
Madaming contract amendments and extensions.

**[02:44:53.640] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002387)  
Naayos na po ba itong problema na ito, Mr. Secretary?

**[02:45:00.000] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002388)  
Yes, Mr. Chair, but I have my Undersecretary Monica Pagunsan here who is in charge of our building project to brief you on that.

**[02:45:18.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002389)  
But what you mentioned is correct. We only found later after digging the basement for the basement of the building that the structure of the building adjacent to what we are trying to build was not stable because I believe some defects in the earlier construction.

**[02:45:44.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002390)  
What is the problem initially on your investment?

**[02:45:48.400] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002391)  
Before we go to the Undersecretary, I don't have any problem as a design. Is it the contractor's fault trying to save money? What is it?

**[02:46:01.860] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002392)  
No, I believe what happened, the design was correct, Your Honor. But when the contractor, after digging the grounds, where the building would be put up is just…

**[02:46:18.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002393)  
It was adjacent to an existing building and it turned out that the walls for that older building was quite weak and unstable so that the contractor was so concerned that that might collapse and so they had to do some remediation to prevent possible collapse of the walls.

**[02:46:48.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002394)  
But Monica knows the details better than I do.

**[02:46:54.800] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002395)  
Go ahead, Undersecretary, ma'am. Go ahead.

**[02:46:57.920] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002396)  
Mr. Chair and Senator Tulfo, first of all, we have two constructions. One is for the renovation of the old building.

**[02:47:11.620] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002397)  
That was a renovation that does not really have… we don't really have visibility because we don't…

**[02:47:18.400] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002398)  
We don't have the as-built plan. So that when you go into the renovation process, you eventually find some things that were not really visible during the inspection, which really have to do an investigation.

**[02:47:36.560] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002399)  
But these are only minor, no? But we really have to correct them.

**[02:47:44.160] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002400)  
Another one is there was a delay because at that time…

**[02:47:48.400] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002401)  
We have asked for help from DPWH to retrofit that old building.

**[02:47:57.140] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002402)  
There was a… and that was a contract entered into by DPWH.

**[02:48:02.420] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002403)  
That is why when DPWH was doing the retrofitting, we did not accept the result, no?

**[02:48:16.560] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002404)  
Of the first…

**[02:48:18.400] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002405)  
The completion. In other words, we did not accept the project. That was why there was also a delay in the execution of the renovation.

**[02:48:31.680] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002406)  
Kaya nga, ma'am, saan ho naging problema? Lack of foresight? Kanino pong kasalanan? Is it the contractor?

**[02:48:37.080] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002407)  
Of course, when you do renovation, Undersecretary, there will be plans. Good thing po, nakita ho ninyo bago may madisgrasya, di po ba may mamatay.

**[02:48:48.400] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002408)  
Kunting lindo lang ho yan. Tama si Secretary. Baka may mga masaktan. So, it was good. Pero my question is, lack of foresight? Yung planning? O yung ikang drawing ng architect?

**[02:49:03.080] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002409)  
I mean, they should have submitted plans for the repair, Undersecretary.

**[02:49:10.480] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002410)  
There are really cases, Senator, that we really have to rely on as-built plans.

**[02:49:18.400] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002411)  
Unfortunately, there was none. We can no longer find the as-built plan which was done in 19… I mean, the building was built in 1972.

**[02:49:28.740] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002412)  
We cannot find that. So that, when we came up with a plan, we were not able to see certain issues that still needs to be addressed.

**[02:49:44.480] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002413)  
But really, the main delay there was that the implementation…

**[02:49:48.400] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002414)  
The implementation of the retrofitting, which we cannot also go ahead. We had to complete the retrofitting first before we can continue with the execution of the plan.

**[02:49:59.240] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002415)  
Which we consider na there was really no… The plan was alright. It's in order. However, the delay really was on.

**[02:50:18.240] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002416)  
On the retrofitting, and as well as certain areas that we need to correct in the design of the building based on the as-found when we did a deeper investigation of the project.

**[02:50:37.340] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002417)  
So, we did our best. I think there was… Our designers did… They may not have anticipated this.

**[02:50:47.680] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002418)  
However, dahil as-found… We did not find it during the design stage. Dahil it's… You really have to open up the certain areas before you do remediation.

**[02:51:05.560] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002419)  
Kasi ma'am, kung may mga… Kung ang problem po ninyo, yung pagiging stable ng building when you construct it, meron po dapat ikaw nga mga tinatawag tayo na soil.

**[02:51:17.680] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002420)  
Ito ba yung malambot? Kasi may mga projects po tayo, take the case of that skyway they built in Iloilo, sagging po at sumasayaw-sayaw ngayon because hindi po sila nag-soil test.

**[02:51:33.480] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002421)  
Kaya yung foundation ng tulay ko sa Iloilo, gumaganoon. Under investigation nga din po. Kasama po yun dyan sa flood control issue. Kasi nga po yung contractor iniimbestigahan na ngayon dahil hindi nga po stable.

**[02:51:47.680] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002422)  
Wala po bang ginawang soil test ang ika nga contractor o yung engineers na ika nga nagagawa po ng building na yan para ika nga masiguro na safe po na magtayo ng building dyan?

**[02:52:06.520] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002423)  
We did have a soil testing, Mr. Chair, but really… And we did even go into the investigation of the entire building, of the old building.

**[02:52:17.680] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002424)  
And that was also the basis for the design, for the structural design of the building.

**[02:52:23.740] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002425)  
It's just that naabutan po kami. We had to retrofit and strengthen the foundation of the old building.

**[02:52:37.880] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002426)  
Yung nare-refer po ng kuha namin, it's on the size of the particular…

**[02:52:47.680] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002427)  
Building. I mean, the size of that particular area wherein we really do have to make some variation order because of as found nga na po na we need to address.

**[02:53:03.080] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002428)  
So ano hong status ngayon ng construction po na yan? Naka-hold po?

**[02:53:06.940] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002429)  
No, sir. We are now at the… There are different phases kasi. For the first phase, we're already on 96%.

**[02:53:17.680] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002430)  
For the second phase… No, sorry. For the first phase, it's 90.75%. For the second phase, it's at 96.67%.

**[02:53:37.680] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002431)  
And the last phase, it's at 87.06%. That is as of August…

**[02:53:47.680] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002432)  
Ah, September 30, 2026. And we are looking at… September 30 pala, sorry.

**[02:54:03.120] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002433)  
August 31, 2026. And we are expecting to transfer by January, Mr. Senator Tulfo.

**[02:54:15.220] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002434)  
All right, ma'am. I'm satisfied.

**[02:54:17.680] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002435)  
I'm satisfied with your answer. Parang kinakabahan ho kayo.

**[02:54:20.060] DEPDev Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan** (asr-002436)  
Kinakabahan ho talaga ako. Kaya I was not expecting that I'm going to answer this question.

**[02:54:25.220] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002437)  
You blame Secretary Balisakan. Anyway, going back to you, Secretary Balisakan, sir.

**[02:54:34.320] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002438)  
Last August 2026, I don't know if this was already asked kanina by my colleagues, the Senate created the Reinvigorate Investment and Sustainable Economic Growth or RISE.

**[02:54:47.680] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002439)  
Ad-hoc committee to address the recent slowdown in the Philippine economy. I am the vice chair of this ad-hoc committee, Mr. Secretary. May mga nakikita ba kayong legislative reforms and long-term policy interventions aimed at sustainable economic growth?

**[02:55:08.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002440)  
We have, Your Honor, the LEDAC, the Reform…

**[02:55:17.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002441)  
Our legislative list of LEDAC reflect the priorities of the administration to speed up recovery and sustain economic development, Your Honor.

**[02:55:34.800] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002442)  
It's a long list, but about 23 of those are committed by both houses of Congress, by the leaders of the both houses.

**[02:55:47.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002443)  
And the executive to pass by June of next year. Hopefully, we get…

**[02:55:56.060] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002444)  
One of those, for example, is on the energy, the amendment to the EPIRA, Your Honor, to address this high cost of power.

**[02:56:06.280] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002445)  
The others have to do with improving accountability and transparency, access to…

**[02:56:17.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002446)  
Information that we believe will help improve the sentiment of our people, particularly the investing community and our economy.

**[02:56:32.960] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002447)  
Mr. Chair, I mean, Mr. Secretary, is it true because of the economy slowed down last year because of our expenses, government spending, particularly in construction?

**[02:56:47.680] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002448)  
Dahil nga po, ang center of attention was the flood control by the public works and highways, so nag-slow down.

**[02:56:55.240] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002449)  
Do you think we will do better this year? I mean, the Senate is funding now construction, I mean, funds for infrastructure by the public works and highways by next year, 2027.

**[02:57:08.080] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002450)  
Do you think it will greatly help? Because right now, sir, last year or this year, talaga nag-slow down po yung ating economy.

**[02:57:17.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002451)  
Definitely, Your Honor, because the last two quarters, at least, saw a sharp contraction of public investments, particularly related to the infrastructure, and that easily cleaved off at least one percentage point growth of GDP.

**[02:57:43.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002452)  
It's quite an enormous impact.

**[02:57:47.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002453)  
Then if you combine that with the effects of the Middle East conflict, which led to sharp increases in inflation, that substantially tempered down the sentiments of consumers,

**[02:58:09.320] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002454)  
because those combinations of high prices and lower income growth…

**[02:58:17.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002455)  
Both meant that their purchasing power was badly affected, and so that, if you look at the consumption side of the economy, also explained the slowdown, because the consumption is a big part of the economy, it's almost a two-third of the economy is just in the consumption, and that slowed down substantially as a result of this weak sentiments of the investment.

**[02:58:47.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002456)  
And because private sector infrastructure or private sector investment is also very much related with public sector investment, when the public sector investment collapsed, the private sector was also affected severely.

**[02:59:09.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002457)  
So, all this put together led to the situation where we are…

**[02:59:17.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002458)  
But I believe that we are starting to recover, Mr. Chair.

**[02:59:30.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002459)  
Our colleagues in DBM assured us that the releases of budgets of all agencies and the current pace of disbursements…

**[02:59:47.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002460)  
Of contracts, or at least for those that have no, with clear records, could go, and that should…

**[03:00:00.560] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002461)  
allow us to see recovery of construction.

**[03:00:06.220] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002462)  
And you can imagine the amount of construction that could happen

**[03:00:11.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002463)  
because last two quarters, as I said,

**[03:00:14.540] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002464)  
we had almost like 30% contraction per quarter.

**[03:00:21.160] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002465)  
And all those unspent money there would have to now be spent

**[03:00:25.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002466)  
in the last quarter of, at least in the last quarter of this year,

**[03:00:31.460] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002467)  
plus their budget for this year, for this quarter.

**[03:00:34.820] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002468)  
So you have enormous resources that would have to be mobilized.

**[03:00:39.860] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002469)  
And so if our infrastructure agencies, particularly DPWH,

**[03:00:45.540] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002470)  
but also the DepEd for their school classrooms,

**[03:00:51.820] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002471)  
DA for their farm-to-market roads and irrigation,

**[03:00:55.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002472)  
and so on, there's a lot of that, Mr. Chair.

**[03:00:59.240] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002473)  
Thank you, Secretary.

**[03:01:00.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002474)  
Mr. Chair, before I go back to the plenary,

**[03:01:04.780] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002475)  
I would just like to tell this body that I support

**[03:01:09.200] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002476)  
for the passage of the budget of the DEP-DEV.

**[03:01:15.060] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002477)  
And if there is any more or anything that they would like to add on,

**[03:01:20.360] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002478)  
we will see at the plenary.

**[03:01:22.640] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002479)  
So I will be supporting, rest assured,

**[03:01:25.100] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002480)  
I support, Mr. Secretary,

**[03:01:27.340] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002481)  
for the passage of this budget for 2027 of the DEP-DEV.

**[03:01:32.360] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002482)  
Thank you, Secretary.

**[03:01:34.220] Senator Erwin Tulfo** (asr-002483)  
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

**[03:01:35.660] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002484)  
Thank you, Senator Erwin Tulfo.

**[03:01:39.220] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002485)  
Anyway, going back to what we discussed,

**[03:01:42.180] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002486)  
I was interested in the query of Senator Tulfo.

**[03:01:48.360] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002487)  
That's why this budget season,

**[03:01:52.180] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002488)  
we really have to accelerate spending and growth.

**[03:01:55.100] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002489)  
So that we will be able to play catch-up.

**[03:01:57.760] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002490)  
Talagang malaki-laki nga abuli natin.

**[03:02:01.820] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002491)  
Is ito, no?

**[03:02:02.740] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002492)  
Tama, 2% lang tayong GDP this year compared to 4% last year, Secretary?

**[03:02:07.760] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002493)  
4.4 tayo for the full year next year.

**[03:02:12.520] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002494)  
We're still hoping to get at least the low end of our target,

**[03:02:16.960] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002495)  
which is 3.5 to 4.5.

**[03:02:18.620] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002496)  
The low end is 3.5.

**[03:02:19.820] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002497)  
If we can get as close as possible to the lower end,

**[03:02:23.960] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002498)  
I think that will be half.

**[03:02:25.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002499)  
Happy because the first two quarters

**[03:02:27.720] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002500)  
are already, you know, continue to be...

**[03:02:31.340] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002501)  
Talagang grabe effect sa atin nung itong flood control.

**[03:02:36.860] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002502)  
More than a year already.

**[03:02:39.120] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002503)  
And we're still reeling from it.

**[03:02:40.920] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002504)  
Hopefully, baka yung ating public spending

**[03:02:44.960] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002505)  
will be able to catch up.

**[03:02:48.180] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002506)  
Sana itong third quarter,

**[03:02:49.660] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002507)  
pero maka-aabot pa ng third and fourth, no?

**[03:02:52.380] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002508)  
Third quarter siguro.

**[03:02:54.220] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002509)  
Maka-aabot.

**[03:02:55.100] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002510)  
Hopefully.

**[03:02:56.400] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002511)  
Hopefully.

**[03:02:57.040] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002512)  
That's why yung sabi ko nga dito, Sec,

**[03:02:59.300] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002513)  
you have to strike a balance right now.

**[03:03:01.660] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002514)  
Although, of course, we are for accountability

**[03:03:03.740] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002515)  
dun sa mga nagkasala,

**[03:03:06.040] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002516)  
the biggest scandal ever.

**[03:03:08.660] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002517)  
But we need to accelerate the growth also

**[03:03:12.180] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002518)  
through increased public spending.

**[03:03:16.140] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002519)  
We agree, Mr. Chair.

**[03:03:18.960] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002520)  
I'll just have a few questions, Secretary.

**[03:03:22.020] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002521)  
Just take note of the, ano na lang, no?

**[03:03:23.960] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002522)  
Yung mga...

**[03:03:25.100] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002523)  
Yung mga issues and concerns of the Senators

**[03:03:30.920] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002524)  
so that we can prepare for the plenary debates.

**[03:03:35.900] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002525)  
Malamang baka matanong ulit or may follow-up.

**[03:03:39.620] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002526)  
So, sa mga agencies concerned,

**[03:03:42.000] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002527)  
sa mga USEC, ASSEC,

**[03:03:43.400] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002528)  
please prepare for those.

**[03:03:47.040] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002529)  
Doon sa Regional Development Councils,

**[03:03:49.360] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002530)  
ito po, amount of 164 million is appropriated

**[03:03:52.580] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002531)  
to the Regional Development Councils

**[03:03:54.120] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002532)  
for the provision of support.

**[03:03:55.100] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002533)  
Services to RDCs,

**[03:03:57.600] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002534)  
as well as monitoring and evaluation

**[03:03:59.340] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002535)  
of the implementation of plans, programs, policies, projects.

**[03:04:04.300] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002536)  
Given the recent issues involving flood control projects,

**[03:04:07.520] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002537)  
how can DEP-DEV strengthen the role of Regional Development Councils

**[03:04:11.860] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002538)  
in the planning process?

**[03:04:13.580] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002539)  
Not only in identifying and prioritizing infrastructure projects,

**[03:04:17.040] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002540)  
but also in ensuring that projects are implementation-ready,

**[03:04:22.740] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002541)  
monitoring of actual implementation,

**[03:04:24.040] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002542)  
and what projects should continue to receive funding.

**[03:04:29.500] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002543)  
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

**[03:04:31.800] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002544)  
We appreciate the support given to the RDCs last year's budget.

**[03:04:40.120] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002545)  
And we hope that we can get additional resources for the RDCs

**[03:04:45.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002546)  
because the RDCs are not DEP-DEV, Mr. Chair.

**[03:04:53.120] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002547)  
We coordinate...

**[03:04:54.040] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002548)  
We are the services secretariat to the RDCs,

**[03:04:56.500] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002549)  
but what constrain the RDCs are the resources available

**[03:05:03.480] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002550)  
for coordination, mobilization,

**[03:05:07.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002551)  
and with more resources,

**[03:05:13.540] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002552)  
we could improve the performance of our RDCs,

**[03:05:22.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002553)  
particularly in ensuring that...

**[03:05:24.040] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002554)  
that there are enough implementation-ready projects

**[03:05:31.500] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002555)  
identified at the regional level,

**[03:05:34.360] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002556)  
and these are also consistent with the priorities at the national level.

**[03:05:40.260] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002557)  
And as you must have seen,

**[03:05:43.520] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002558)  
the table of Senator Gatchel Jan, Your Honor,

**[03:05:47.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002559)  
where he showed that only about 40%, roughly,

**[03:05:54.040] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002560)  
or even less,

**[03:05:56.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002561)  
of the high-priority projects of our RDCs

**[03:05:59.620] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002562)  
are reflected in the NEP.

**[03:06:06.520] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002563)  
And then when it comes out,

**[03:06:08.560] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002564)  
it could be even lower or higher,

**[03:06:10.560] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002565)  
depending on who inserted what.

**[03:06:12.860] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002566)  
But we need to do better than that, Your Honor.

**[03:06:17.460] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002567)  
So there's now a coordination,

**[03:06:21.820] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002568)  
a stronger coordination between DEP-DEV,

**[03:06:24.040] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002569)  
and DBM to ensure that the RDC process gets more robust

**[03:06:32.960] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002570)  
so that there is a higher proportion of those projects

**[03:06:36.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002571)  
represented in the NEP.

**[03:06:44.660] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002572)  
Thank you.

**[03:06:45.640] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002573)  
Still in connection with the Flag of Los Canales,

**[03:06:48.100] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002574)  
how can we strengthen the coordination between RDC and the DPWH

**[03:06:51.220] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002575)  
so that projects are properly...

**[03:06:54.040] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002576)  
revalidated, prioritized,

**[03:06:55.740] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002577)  
and monitored before government funding is given?

**[03:06:58.180] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002578)  
Anyway,

**[03:06:59.240] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002579)  
siguro itong pag-requirement ng RDC,

**[03:07:02.280] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002580)  
it's the same guy,

**[03:07:05.000] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002581)  
but at the same time,

**[03:07:05.720] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002582)  
siguro, Sec,

**[03:07:06.300] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002583)  
do you think that requiring RDC approval in projects now,

**[03:07:11.620] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002584)  
at least magkaroon ng tamang direction

**[03:07:13.880] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002585)  
and we'll spend money wisely,

**[03:07:17.960] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002586)  
yung funding wisely,

**[03:07:18.920] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002587)  
na hindi na yung...

**[03:07:20.700] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002588)  
May iwasan na ba natin yung magkaka-project?

**[03:07:24.040] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002589)  
Para lang pagkapirahan na...

**[03:07:26.040] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002590)  
It happens, eh.

**[03:07:27.920] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002591)  
Sorry, ah.

**[03:07:28.460] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002592)  
Parang nakikita ko, talaga,

**[03:07:29.600] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002593)  
I go around and I notice that some...

**[03:07:32.280] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002594)  
There are some projects that are...

**[03:07:34.120] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002595)  
Sabi ko nga, hindi naman tayo mayamang bansa,

**[03:07:36.300] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002596)  
sayang yung project.

**[03:07:38.420] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002597)  
May mga seawall na pagkalaki-laki,

**[03:07:40.380] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002598)  
billion yata,

**[03:07:42.060] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002599)  
na wala namang pinuproteksyon ng community.

**[03:07:44.920] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002600)  
So, do you think, Secretary,

**[03:07:46.260] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002601)  
ito pong...

**[03:07:47.560] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002602)  
By requiring RDC approval,

**[03:07:50.540] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002603)  
because we're requiring them right now,

**[03:07:52.740] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002611)  
So, by requiring RDC approval,

**[03:07:56.580] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002612)  
we will prevent scandals

**[03:08:01.020] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002613)  
or itong mga projects

**[03:08:02.940] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002614)  
that are not really needed

**[03:08:05.100] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002615)  
and yung scams and corruption.

**[03:08:08.360] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002616)  
Yeah.

**[03:08:09.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002617)  
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

**[03:08:10.800] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002618)  
We are undertaking a number of initiatives

**[03:08:15.500] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002619)  
to improve the quality

**[03:08:18.960] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002620)  
of our infrastructure projects.

**[03:08:22.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002621)  
One is this greater monitoring efforts

**[03:08:32.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002622)  
of our, not just DEPDEV,

**[03:08:34.660] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002623)  
but by other agencies as well.

**[03:08:37.520] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002624)  
And with the proper use of technology,

**[03:08:40.040] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002625)  
we can enhance that monitoring.

**[03:08:44.280] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002626)  
So, we are working with,

**[03:08:46.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002627)  
again, with DBM

**[03:08:47.600] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002628)  
and our infrastructure agencies

**[03:08:51.460] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002629)  
toward coming up with a...

**[03:08:52.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002630)  
a monitoring system.

**[03:08:55.340] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002631)  
My undersecretary here,

**[03:08:57.140] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002632)  
Kapono,

**[03:08:57.620] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002633)  
is leading that effort.

**[03:09:01.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002634)  
The other one is,

**[03:09:02.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002635)  
as I mentioned earlier,

**[03:09:05.260] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002636)  
Mr. Chair,

**[03:09:05.980] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002637)  
is that we do require now

**[03:09:09.060] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002638)  
that infrastructure projects

**[03:09:11.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002639)  
like flood control

**[03:09:12.820] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002640)  
have to be based on master plans

**[03:09:17.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002641)  
and confirmed

**[03:09:19.720] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002642)  
and approved

**[03:09:22.160] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002643)  
by the government.

**[03:09:22.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002644)  
So, we are working with

**[03:09:22.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002645)  
master plans.

**[03:09:24.620] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002646)  
And that's what we will need

**[03:09:27.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002647)  
to monitor closely.

**[03:09:31.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002648)  
The third initiative is,

**[03:09:36.340] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002649)  
Mr. Chair,

**[03:09:38.460] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002650)  
is for,

**[03:09:41.800] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002651)  
is this effort of DBM

**[03:09:43.600] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002652)  
and DEPDEV

**[03:09:46.660] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002653)  
to have a common platform

**[03:09:51.300] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002654)  
for monitoring

**[03:09:52.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002655)  
the infrastructure?

**[03:09:54.380] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002656)  
At the moment kasi ho,

**[03:09:55.980] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002657)  
dalawang sistema yan,

**[03:09:58.320] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002658)  
may si DBM may system siya,

**[03:10:02.260] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002659)  
si DEPDEV may system siya,

**[03:10:05.140] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002660)  
kung minsan hindi nag-uusap yung

**[03:10:06.880] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002661)  
dalawang system,

**[03:10:08.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002662)  
so yung what was planned

**[03:10:10.280] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002663)  
was not budgeted.

**[03:10:13.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002664)  
So, our efforts now

**[03:10:15.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002665)  
is to just want to have,

**[03:10:18.000] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002666)  
to adopt one system

**[03:10:20.080] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002667)  
so that

**[03:10:21.260] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002668)  
we can have a system

**[03:10:21.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002669)  
that is a

**[03:10:22.860] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002670)  
projects

**[03:10:22.980] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002671)  
who'd have to come

**[03:10:25.240] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002672)  
from the public investment program

**[03:10:28.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002673)  
and that public investment programs

**[03:10:30.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002674)  
are the

**[03:10:30.800] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002675)  
are the

**[03:10:31.600] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002676)  
programs, projects,

**[03:10:33.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002677)  
and activities

**[03:10:34.860] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002678)  
that are

**[03:10:36.560] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002679)  
that are

**[03:10:39.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002680)  
supportive

**[03:10:41.360] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002681)  
of the

**[03:10:42.380] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002682)  
Philippine Development Plan

**[03:10:43.960] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002683)  
are considered priorities

**[03:10:45.880] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002684)  
for the

**[03:10:47.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002685)  
PDP.

**[03:10:48.520] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002686)  
So, dapat doon ng kagaling ho

**[03:10:50.160] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002687)  
yung

**[03:10:50.540] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002688)  
yung

**[03:10:51.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002689)  
project, hindi sa kung saan-saan

**[03:10:53.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002690)  
nalang pinupulot at

**[03:10:54.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002691)  
pinapapunduhan.

**[03:10:58.160] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002692)  
So, hopefully,

**[03:10:59.480] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002693)  
we'll get the system running.

**[03:11:01.360] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002694)  
Sad to say, but maraming nasayang na

**[03:11:03.340] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002695)  
pera doon sa mga

**[03:11:04.800] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002696)  
projects na

**[03:11:07.580] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002697)  
walang convergence,

**[03:11:09.540] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002698)  
na talagang walang

**[03:11:11.140] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002699)  
RDC, wala sa master plan.

**[03:11:13.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002700)  
I think

**[03:11:14.620] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002701)  
Secretary Kim of DVM

**[03:11:17.620] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002702)  
has expressed

**[03:11:19.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002703)  
a strong commitment to this initiative

**[03:11:21.300] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002704)  
and we hope that that's something that

**[03:11:23.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002705)  
we can leave, that

**[03:11:25.380] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002706)  
this administration can leave for

**[03:11:27.120] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002707)  
the next administration, that we have

**[03:11:28.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002708)  
a

**[03:11:29.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002709)  
institutionalized

**[03:11:32.220] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002710)  
way of

**[03:11:34.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002711)  
planning and budgeting

**[03:11:37.140] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002712)  
projects

**[03:11:39.040] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002713)  
in ways that

**[03:11:40.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002714)  
are useful

**[03:11:43.060] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002715)  
for

**[03:11:43.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002716)  
the people.

**[03:11:47.020] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002717)  
I said, last thing,

**[03:11:48.840] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002718)  
I think we met

**[03:11:50.120] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002719)  
yung NIA

**[03:11:51.440] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002720)  
budget hearings.

**[03:11:54.340] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002721)  
Anyway, they're requesting

**[03:11:56.000] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002722)  
for quite a big

**[03:11:58.220] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002723)  
amount, but sabi ko nga,

**[03:12:00.780] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002724)  
siguro it's about time that

**[03:12:02.180] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002725)  
we look at the long term, na hindi

**[03:12:04.160] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002726)  
lang yung patsipatsi

**[03:12:05.820] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002727)  
project, yung small

**[03:12:07.960] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002728)  
projects. Ang kailangan natin,

**[03:12:10.420] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002729)  
I think, aside from

**[03:12:12.320] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002730)  
working on how we will have

**[03:12:14.280] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002731)  
the irrigation canals

**[03:12:16.140] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002732)  
and all of this, kailangan

**[03:12:18.180] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002733)  
may mga water

**[03:12:18.840] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002734)  
retention facilities na rin,

**[03:12:20.540] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002735)  
water detention or water retention,

**[03:12:23.080] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002736)  
na from sa taas pa lang,

**[03:12:25.380] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002737)  
upstream, may mga

**[03:12:26.840] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002738)  
small dams na,

**[03:12:28.160] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002739)  
cascading, para

**[03:12:30.960] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002740)  
pagdating dito sa baba,

**[03:12:33.340] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002741)  
mabagal na, tsaka na-control mo na,

**[03:12:35.300] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002742)  
and at the same time, during the

**[03:12:36.880] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002743)  
rainy season, we have so much

**[03:12:39.220] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002744)  
rain, sobra-sobra,

**[03:12:40.880] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002745)  
baha tayo. Pag dry season,

**[03:12:43.020] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002746)  
tuyong-tuyo naman, diba?

**[03:12:45.360] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002747)  
Wala tayong retention,

**[03:12:46.540] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002748)  
diba? So, I think,

**[03:12:48.840] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002749)  
dapat ito yung mga pagtulong,

**[03:12:50.700] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002750)  
could help with NIA,

**[03:12:53.380] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002751)  
aside from the

**[03:12:54.800] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002752)  
irrigation projects,

**[03:12:56.720] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002753)  
yung usual canals, yung mga

**[03:12:58.940] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002754)  
daanan, I think yung

**[03:13:00.780] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002755)  
water impounding, retention

**[03:13:02.440] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002756)  
facilities should be

**[03:13:04.520] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002757)  
already

**[03:13:05.980] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002758)  
be implemented, no?

**[03:13:09.000] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002759)  
Ang nangyayari sa ngayon, ang nangyayari

**[03:13:10.860] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002760)  
itong past few years, dahil

**[03:13:12.980] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002761)  
nausit ang flood control,

**[03:13:15.240] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002762)  
river, ano, yung mga

**[03:13:16.540] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002763)  
revetment, slow protection,

**[03:13:18.840] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002764)  
sinimento na lahat

**[03:13:21.120] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002765)  
ng

**[03:13:21.380] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002766)  
sinimento na lahat ng

**[03:13:23.920] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002767)  
ng ilog, daanan,

**[03:13:27.680] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002768)  
bumilis yung takbo ng tubig,

**[03:13:30.360] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002769)  
hindi na natin

**[03:13:31.080] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002770)  
na re-retain, hindi na natin nasa sala

**[03:13:33.080] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002771)  
dito, bumilis pa yung takbo, kaya na

**[03:13:34.640] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002772)  
kaya na babaha ka agad dito.

**[03:13:37.800] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002773)  
Probably, Deb can

**[03:13:38.900] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002774)  
coordinate with NIA.

**[03:13:41.920] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002775)  
Yun ang ano ko eh,

**[03:13:42.900] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002776)  
what I

**[03:13:43.380] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002777)  
I

**[03:13:43.820] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002778)  
I

**[03:13:43.980] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002779)  
, ah, I, ah,

**[03:13:47.520] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002780)  
told NIA that we will support, no?

**[03:13:49.400] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002781)  
Yun dapat mara na silang water retention and

**[03:13:51.300] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002782)  
retention facilities, aside

**[03:13:53.340] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002783)  
from the usual irrigation, no?

**[03:13:55.400] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002784)  
Para, at least two birds with

**[03:13:57.340] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002785)  
one stone, we prevent flood,

**[03:13:59.760] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002786)  
flood, we mitigate flood,

**[03:14:02.100] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002787)  
para na control natin

**[03:14:03.600] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002788)  
yung speed, yung velocity.

**[03:14:05.380] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002789)  
At the same time, we retain water pag

**[03:14:07.200] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002790)  
dry season, lalo na may

**[03:14:09.100] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002791)  
elenyo pa tayo ngayon, no?

**[03:14:11.360] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002792)  
At least pag dry season, meron tayong tubig,

**[03:14:13.420] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002793)  
diba? So, Sek,

**[03:14:15.240] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002794)  
anong tingin nyo doon?

**[03:14:17.120] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002795)  
You are correct,

**[03:14:19.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002796)  
Mr. Chair. We should

**[03:14:21.340] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002797)  
have done this long time ago. I

**[03:14:23.060] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002798)  
remember when I was

**[03:14:25.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002799)  
still much younger, and I

**[03:14:27.060] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002800)  
used to go to, my

**[03:14:29.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002801)  
Chinese friends brought

**[03:14:31.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002802)  
me around. They have

**[03:14:33.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002803)  
a lot of those

**[03:14:34.320] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002804)  
cascading, cascading

**[03:14:37.360] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002805)  
Ang nangyari, Sec

**[03:14:39.580] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002806)  
Sinemento, revetment, lahat

**[03:14:41.200] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002807)  
ng tulay na, lahat ng

**[03:14:43.180] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002808)  
ilog natin, bumilis yung tubig.

**[03:14:44.900] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002809)  
And even Vietnam, I mean, so there are

**[03:14:47.260] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002810)  
many places where you can

**[03:14:49.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002811)  
see that it works.

**[03:14:51.280] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002812)  
And I hope that this

**[03:14:53.140] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002813)  
will form part of

**[03:14:54.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002814)  
the long-term infrastructure

**[03:14:57.060] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002815)  
roadmap.

**[03:15:00.000] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002816)  
Mr. Chair, that

**[03:15:01.360] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002817)  
when we plan for this

**[03:15:03.560] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002818)  
system, these are long-term

**[03:15:05.900] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002819)  
so that we need to

**[03:15:07.760] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002820)  
But even if it's long-term, I guess

**[03:15:11.860] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002821)  
Secretary, we have to start already.

**[03:15:13.700] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002822)  
Ang nangyari, as you mentioned, this should

**[03:15:15.900] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002823)  
have been started years ago pero

**[03:15:17.420] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002824)  
ngayon, ang iniisip pa rin

**[03:15:19.200] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002825)  
ng flood mitigation, flood control

**[03:15:21.700] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002826)  
kung paano mawala yung tubig

**[03:15:23.860] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002827)  
hindi paano lang ma-retain

**[03:15:25.560] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002828)  
at mapabagal. So,

**[03:15:27.560] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002829)  
I think we really have to look

**[03:15:29.060] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002830)  
at long-term now and look at

**[03:15:31.080] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002831)  
treat water, treat flood

**[03:15:33.160] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002832)  
treat water, not as

**[03:15:34.860] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002833)  
na hindi ito

**[03:15:37.000] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002834)  
permission, dapat ito resource, diba?

**[03:15:39.280] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002835)  
Parang ganun dapat ang

**[03:15:40.240] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002836)  
baguhin siguro yung

**[03:15:42.740] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002837)  
ano natin, yung

**[03:15:43.720] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002838)  
concept at perception.

**[03:15:48.480] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002839)  
The President, Mr. Chair, has actually a directive

**[03:15:51.120] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002840)  
to

**[03:15:51.880] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002841)  
DEF-DEF and infrastructure

**[03:15:54.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002842)  
agencies to

**[03:15:55.980] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002843)  
dapat may

**[03:15:58.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002844)  
convergence

**[03:15:59.040] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002845)  
at come up with

**[03:16:02.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002846)  
a

**[03:16:03.520] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002847)  
clear

**[03:16:06.000] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002848)  
master plan for

**[03:16:08.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002849)  
flood control

**[03:16:10.660] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002850)  
and one that

**[03:16:13.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002851)  
is also

**[03:16:13.980] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002852)  
where the funding is also

**[03:16:17.080] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002853)  
identified or clear. So,

**[03:16:20.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002854)  
we have this ongoing effort

**[03:16:22.620] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002855)  
Mr. Chair

**[03:16:24.820] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002856)  
to

**[03:16:25.660] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002857)  
to

**[03:16:27.700] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002858)  
to

**[03:16:29.040] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002859)  
come up with even just the

**[03:16:32.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002860)  
construction of initial cisterns

**[03:16:35.900] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002861)  
for Metro Manila.

**[03:16:37.600] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002862)  
We are

**[03:16:40.080] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002863)  
what is that? MMDA is a request for a budget, no?

**[03:16:45.280] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002864)  
Yeah, anyway, we'll have that as part of our long-term

**[03:16:55.280] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002865)  
Yes, I'm glad to hear that. We really have to do it.

**[03:16:58.880] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002866)  
We should have done this yesterday. So, gawin na natin, diba?

**[03:17:03.820] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002867)  
So, thank you, Secretary, it's nice to hear from you, no?

**[03:17:06.960] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002868)  
From you, yung mga kailangan natin talaga meron tayong master plan.

**[03:17:10.780] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002869)  
You know that I filed the MIND Act bill, one of my party bills, this Congress, precisely because of our country, cannot afford to restart or abandon major infrastructure roadmaps every six years whenever a new administration takes over.

**[03:17:27.320] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002870)  
Presidents may come and go, no? Kailangan na big-ticket items should transcend presidencies, legacies may differ, but priorities may change, but the infrastructure that builds our nation must outlast any administration.

**[03:17:43.960] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002871)  
So, considering DepDEP's mandate, would DepDEP support the MIND Act and its objective of institutionalizing a long-term National Infrastructure Master Plan that will transcend changes in administration?

**[03:17:56.460] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002872)  
Yes, sir.

**[03:17:57.160] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002873)  
Definitely, Mr. Chair. In fact, the new charter, the charter of DepDEP, which you yourself co-authored, Mr. Chair, has that provision that DepDEP has to be the custodian of the long-term Master Plans. Particularly for infrastructure. And we hope that the bill will strengthen that function.

**[03:18:36.000] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002874)  
We definitely make sure that DEPDev will be the primary agency tasked to implement the master plan. Kayo kasi, kayo yung study, kayo naman ang may expertise dito. And I think that will be the blueprint that will set the direction in the future.

**[03:18:57.160] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002875)  
The next 50 to 100 years dapat ang tingin natin, Sec, hindi na yung six-year term, which is siguro yun ang naging problema natin because of the political system, yung mga presidente, administration, who are looking at the short and medium term.

**[03:19:13.800] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002876)  
So, I think it's DepDEP who has that vision, supposedly, na talagang long-term na tayo ang ating vision.

**[03:19:21.720] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002877)  
Okay.

**[03:19:27.160] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002878)  
Under the proposed MIND Act, infrastructure must be built as a connected ecosystem, not as standalone impulse projects. Ang problema natin, patsi-patsi ang mga proyekto at walang isang long-term master plan. Our agencies still tend to plan and implement projects separately. So paano natin sinisiguro ng DEPDev na magkakaugnay, magkabatay na sa isang national master plan ang mga infrastructure projects ng DPWH, DOTr, DA, LGUs at iba pang ahensya?

**[03:19:50.700] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002879)  
So, what can we do to make sure that they will now be based on a Master Plan?

**[03:19:55.900] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002886)  
based on master plan in the future?

**[03:19:58.800] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002887)  
Sek, anong tingin nyo?

**[03:20:01.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002888)  
I think the institutional

**[03:20:04.080] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002889)  
arrangements,

**[03:20:10.080] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002890)  
Mr. Chair, in their bill

**[03:20:11.980] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002891)  
would have to ensure

**[03:20:13.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002892)  
that indeed

**[03:20:15.080] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002893)  
when

**[03:20:16.980] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002894)  
there's a change in administration,

**[03:20:22.200] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002895)  
there's a smooth

**[03:20:23.460] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002896)  
transition

**[03:20:25.820] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002897)  
so that the new administration

**[03:20:28.080] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002898)  
becomes aware

**[03:20:30.660] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002899)  
and

**[03:20:32.660] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002900)  
start

**[03:20:36.260] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002901)  
from what was

**[03:20:37.080] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002902)  
from where

**[03:20:40.220] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002903)  
its predecessor

**[03:20:41.360] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002904)  
stops.

**[03:20:43.500] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002905)  
Usually kasi ang nangyayari,

**[03:20:45.320] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002906)  
just like

**[03:20:46.380] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002907)  
what you

**[03:20:48.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002908)  
expressed,

**[03:20:50.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002909)  
Mr. Chair, is that

**[03:20:52.220] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002910)  
hindi lang administration

**[03:20:54.520] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002911)  
even with a change

**[03:20:55.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002912)  
in the Secretary

**[03:20:57.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002913)  
of the Implementing Agency,

**[03:21:00.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002914)  
kung ayaw niya yung

**[03:21:01.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002915)  
current plan,

**[03:21:02.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002916)  
magbago siya ng

**[03:21:05.260] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002917)  
sarili niyang

**[03:21:08.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002918)  
plano.

**[03:21:11.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002919)  
Kaya doon nagkagulo-gulo yung

**[03:21:13.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002920)  
alignment of infrastructure,

**[03:21:15.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002921)  
for example, hindi nagtugtong-tugtong

**[03:21:18.320] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002922)  
yung mga

**[03:21:18.980] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002923)  
LRT,

**[03:21:20.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002924)  
the

**[03:21:21.380] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002925)  
expressway,

**[03:21:24.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002926)  
the, I'm talking,

**[03:21:25.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002927)  
even the subway

**[03:21:27.720] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002928)  
and the expressway,

**[03:21:29.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002929)  
they do not strengthen

**[03:21:33.240] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002930)  
its other.

**[03:21:35.200] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002931)  
So, what

**[03:21:36.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002932)  
we hope to happen,

**[03:21:40.600] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002933)  
Mr. Chair,

**[03:21:42.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002934)  
is that

**[03:21:42.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002935)  
when a secretary

**[03:21:44.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002936)  
changes or departs

**[03:21:47.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002937)  
from the plan,

**[03:21:48.980] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002938)  
from the master plan,

**[03:21:49.900] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002939)  
he has to

**[03:21:50.980] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002940)  
go to the

**[03:21:52.880] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002941)  
Economic Development Council,

**[03:21:55.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002942)  
which is chaired by the Secretary of the Implementing Agency,

**[03:21:55.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002943)  
which is chaired by the President,

**[03:21:56.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002944)  
for approval

**[03:21:59.480] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002945)  
for such a change.

**[03:22:02.320] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002946)  
To change or deviate.

**[03:22:03.040] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002947)  
Or to deviate, yes.

**[03:22:04.960] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002948)  
And not just

**[03:22:06.040] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002949)  
decide on its own.

**[03:22:09.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002950)  
Ganun ang nangyayari sa mga noho.

**[03:22:11.160] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002951)  
May alam na ng isang department

**[03:22:12.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002952)  
na may dadaan na LRT doon.

**[03:22:15.300] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002953)  
Elinagyan ng flyover

**[03:22:16.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002954)  
ng another agency.

**[03:22:18.460] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002955)  
Nasira na yung

**[03:22:19.720] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002956)  
alignment that the infrastructure

**[03:22:22.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002957)  
becomes far more expensive

**[03:22:25.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002958)  
to complete.

**[03:22:25.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002959)  
And then, na-delay.

**[03:22:28.260] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002960)  
That's the worst.

**[03:22:30.320] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002961)  
So, I think

**[03:22:31.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002962)  
a simple institutional

**[03:22:33.240] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002963)  
improvement as that could help

**[03:22:35.960] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002964)  
improve the

**[03:22:38.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002965)  
continuity of

**[03:22:39.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-002966)  
infrastructure programs.

**[03:22:43.460] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002967)  
Thank you.

**[03:22:44.600] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002968)  
Sek, meron lang akong ano, no?

**[03:22:46.100] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002969)  
Of course, yung

**[03:22:47.140] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002970)  
Northside Commuter Railway

**[03:22:49.760] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002971)  
and the Metro Medina Subway System,

**[03:22:52.240] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002972)  
the main

**[03:22:54.280] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002973)  
railway projects

**[03:22:55.360] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002974)  
or

**[03:22:55.740] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002975)  
one of the major

**[03:22:56.940] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002976)  
infrastructure programs

**[03:22:58.820] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002977)  
of government now

**[03:23:00.320] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002978)  
is Full Blast, no?

**[03:23:02.420] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002979)  
Kasi bubuhay na itong

**[03:23:04.060] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002980)  
Central Luzon,

**[03:23:04.780] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002981)  
Southern Tagalog Area.

**[03:23:06.820] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002982)  
And of course,

**[03:23:07.460] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002983)  
Metro Manila, no?

**[03:23:08.380] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002984)  
I always view

**[03:23:10.420] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002985)  
these railways

**[03:23:12.200] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002986)  
as not only

**[03:23:13.040] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002987)  
for convenience

**[03:23:13.860] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002988)  
but it stimulates

**[03:23:17.160] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002989)  
economic growth

**[03:23:17.820] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002990)  
and it spreads out

**[03:23:18.780] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002991)  
the development.

**[03:23:21.320] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002992)  
Ang ano ko lang dito,

**[03:23:22.620] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002993)  
Sek,

**[03:23:22.880] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002994)  
nangihinayang po ako

**[03:23:23.960] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002995)  
kasi yung pungminda

**[03:23:25.660] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002996)  
ng railway system, no?

**[03:23:28.860] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002997)  
And the South Long Haul

**[03:23:30.080] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002998)  
which was supposed to be started

**[03:23:33.300] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-002999)  
during the last administration,

**[03:23:35.700] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003000)  
unfortunately,

**[03:23:36.520] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003001)  
because of

**[03:23:37.120] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003002)  
factors,

**[03:23:39.860] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003003)  
hindi,

**[03:23:40.600] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003004)  
this remains suspended, no?

**[03:23:42.440] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003005)  
Kasi China ito,

**[03:23:43.500] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003006)  
hindi na tuloy.

**[03:23:44.760] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003007)  
Yung NSCR and

**[03:23:46.880] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003008)  
Metro Medina Subway Project

**[03:23:49.380] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003009)  
are both Japan,

**[03:23:50.540] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003010)  
JICA,

**[03:23:51.080] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003011)  
and ADB.

**[03:23:52.620] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003012)  
However, yung South Long Haul

**[03:23:54.040] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003013)  
and Mindanao Railway,

**[03:23:55.660] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003014)  
China Eximbank yata ito, no?

**[03:23:58.420] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003015)  
Na hindi na natuloy.

**[03:24:00.520] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003016)  
So, ang tanong ko lang,

**[03:24:02.080] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003017)  
are there efforts

**[03:24:02.800] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003018)  
by the DEF-DEF

**[03:24:03.700] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003019)  
to push

**[03:24:06.900] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003020)  
or to help also

**[03:24:08.900] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003021)  
look for potential

**[03:24:10.360] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003022)  
takers, funders,

**[03:24:12.580] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003023)  
and proponents

**[03:24:13.800] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003024)  
or implementers

**[03:24:15.460] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003025)  
of the project?

**[03:24:16.240] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003026)  
Of course, there are.

**[03:24:18.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003027)  
And we strongly support

**[03:24:20.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003028)  
the efforts

**[03:24:22.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003029)  
to improve

**[03:24:25.660] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003030)  
the infrastructure,

**[03:24:26.880] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003031)  
access to infrastructure,

**[03:24:28.700] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003032)  
particularly efficient infrastructure

**[03:24:31.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003033)  
system.

**[03:24:33.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003034)  
Sir Chair,

**[03:24:36.080] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003035)  
my understanding is that

**[03:24:37.880] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003036)  
we are,

**[03:24:40.380] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003037)  
through the Department of Finance,

**[03:24:43.320] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003038)  
still

**[03:24:43.860] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003039)  
open to

**[03:24:46.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003040)  
and in fact facilitating

**[03:24:48.380] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003041)  
for the entry of other

**[03:24:50.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003042)  
potential

**[03:24:52.880] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003043)  
players.

**[03:24:59.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003058)  
for example,

**[03:25:00.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003059)  
this

**[03:25:00.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003060)  
there is a discussion

**[03:25:04.340] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003061)  
with Spain

**[03:25:05.800] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003062)  
and France

**[03:25:06.720] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003063)  
regarding the

**[03:25:08.220] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003064)  
financing of this

**[03:25:09.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003065)  
South Luzon

**[03:25:12.960] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003066)  
Longhaul

**[03:25:13.840] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003067)  
South Longhaul

**[03:25:14.800] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003068)  
and

**[03:25:16.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003069)  
the

**[03:25:18.960] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003070)  
the key there

**[03:25:21.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003071)  
Mr. Chair

**[03:25:21.800] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003072)  
is that

**[03:25:22.280] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003073)  
because

**[03:25:24.120] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003074)  
the

**[03:25:24.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003075)  
the

**[03:25:25.120] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003076)  
the

**[03:25:25.200] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003077)  
the

**[03:25:25.660] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003078)  
earlier consultant that

**[03:25:27.280] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003079)  
was tasked to prepare the feasibility

**[03:25:29.500] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003080)  
study was

**[03:25:31.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003081)  
by China.

**[03:25:33.000] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003082)  
And of course,

**[03:25:35.460] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003083)  
if other parties

**[03:25:37.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003084)  
would now

**[03:25:38.460] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003085)  
come,

**[03:25:40.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003086)  
the technology could be

**[03:25:43.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003087)  
different. So if it's Spain or

**[03:25:45.360] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003088)  
France, they

**[03:25:47.360] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003089)  
may prefer their own

**[03:25:48.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003090)  
technology. So that the

**[03:25:51.280] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003091)  
preparation, we would

**[03:25:53.360] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003092)  
have to start essentially

**[03:25:54.460] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003093)  
almost like a start.

**[03:25:56.780] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003094)  
Preferably rito, yung manufacturer

**[03:25:59.480] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003095)  
or may expertise.

**[03:26:01.240] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003096)  
Just like Japan.

**[03:26:03.240] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003097)  
I think when we, just to

**[03:26:05.300] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003098)  
give you

**[03:26:05.760] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003099)  
information, we were

**[03:26:08.440] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003100)  
in Spain a few years

**[03:26:10.820] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003101)  
ago with Senate President

**[03:26:13.080] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003102)  
Manosimig Zubiri, kasama rin si SP

**[03:26:15.100] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003103)  
Wynn that time, for

**[03:26:17.140] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003104)  
a parliamentary visit. And we had

**[03:26:18.920] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003105)  
a chance to have

**[03:26:20.560] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003106)  
a courtesy call with the king

**[03:26:23.040] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003107)  
himself.

**[03:26:24.460] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003108)  
And they are very much

**[03:26:25.500] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003109)  
interested to

**[03:26:26.580] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003110)  
go back and invest in the Philippines

**[03:26:29.340] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003111)  
because meron silang sentimental

**[03:26:31.560] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003112)  
value kasi dati tayong

**[03:26:33.440] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003113)  
colony. So they would want to go

**[03:26:35.500] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003114)  
back. So magandang

**[03:26:36.340] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003115)  
ma-explore natin yung

**[03:26:39.260] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003116)  
Spain. Kasi meron tayong roots.

**[03:26:41.240] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003117)  
And at the same time, they are, I think,

**[03:26:42.660] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003118)  
they have a manufacturing for

**[03:26:45.260] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003119)  
locomotives. Yung CAF, I think, is

**[03:26:47.000] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003120)  
Spaniard. Yung CAF is

**[03:26:48.900] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003121)  
one of the popular brands

**[03:26:50.800] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003122)  
for

**[03:26:51.120] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003123)  
railway.

**[03:26:54.460] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003124)  
Mga engines,

**[03:26:56.220] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003125)  
ma-locomotives.

**[03:26:58.180] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003126)  
Yun, Sek.

**[03:26:59.200] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003127)  
For info lang. I think

**[03:27:01.040] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003128)  
Spain was really interested

**[03:27:02.920] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003129)  
also in considering

**[03:27:05.120] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003130)  
going back to the Philippines.

**[03:27:07.380] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003131)  
We are exploring

**[03:27:09.380] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003132)  
all other possibilities.

**[03:27:11.480] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003133)  
In fact,

**[03:27:12.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003134)  
the recent visit of

**[03:27:15.040] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003135)  
the President to India,

**[03:27:17.460] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003136)  
that this

**[03:27:19.200] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003137)  
issue about

**[03:27:21.120] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003138)  
railway was also part of the

**[03:27:22.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003139)  
discussion. And we

**[03:27:24.460] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003140)  
know India, that's what

**[03:27:27.580] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003141)  
it's good at, building railways.

**[03:27:30.660] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003142)  
Wala nila.

**[03:27:31.460] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003143)  
Naro gauge yata sila eh.

**[03:27:32.700] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003144)  
I think now it's the world

**[03:27:34.720] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003145)  
is now standard gauge. Pero okay din naman ng

**[03:27:36.480] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003146)  
India. Ang ano ko lang, Sek,

**[03:27:38.740] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003147)  
I really would want to push this. I've been

**[03:27:40.780] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003148)  
pushing for this for so

**[03:27:42.740] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003149)  
long. Because especially in Mindanao,

**[03:27:44.740] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003150)  
why it's very important?

**[03:27:46.600] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003151)  
Because Mindanao is the

**[03:27:48.660] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003152)  
richest among the islands.

**[03:27:49.960] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003153)  
Sa mga natural sources, sa lahat,

**[03:27:52.860] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003154)  
sa taba ng lupa.

**[03:27:54.460] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003155)  
But because of decades of strife,

**[03:27:56.980] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003156)  
conflict,

**[03:27:58.840] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003157)  
it has not really reached its potential.

**[03:28:01.240] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003158)  
Kaya lang, saya ngayon,

**[03:28:02.980] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003159)  
now that we have the banks,

**[03:28:04.440] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003160)  
more organic law, meron tayong peace

**[03:28:06.700] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003161)  
ngayon, for several

**[03:28:08.620] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003162)  
years now. But I think

**[03:28:10.760] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003163)  
we need to follow it up with economic

**[03:28:12.780] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003164)  
development. Ang tingin ko,

**[03:28:15.040] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003165)  
the only way we can solve

**[03:28:16.400] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003166)  
yung talagang magkaroon

**[03:28:18.680] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003167)  
ng opportunity ang buong Mindanao

**[03:28:20.880] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003168)  
and reach its full

**[03:28:22.600] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003169)  
potential is to have

**[03:28:24.420] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003170)  
a railway system around.

**[03:28:26.100] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003171)  
Kasi yung mga, siguro, pansin nyo yung

**[03:28:28.400] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003172)  
gulo noon, sa western side,

**[03:28:30.600] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003173)  
MILF,

**[03:28:33.940] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003174)  
ASG,

**[03:28:36.300] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003175)  
MNLF, BIFF,

**[03:28:38.900] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003176)  
Central Mindanao, lahat na lang letra.

**[03:28:40.500] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003177)  
Ang dami na.

**[03:28:41.800] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003178)  
Sa eastern side naman, CPP, NPA,

**[03:28:44.480] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003179)  
may insurgency. It's because of

**[03:28:46.540] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003180)  
lack of opportunity in Mindanao. Mayaman

**[03:28:48.500] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003181)  
ng Mindanao eh. Kaya lang, because of

**[03:28:50.500] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003182)  
the lack of opportunity, ang dali nila

**[03:28:52.300] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003183)  
mang hikayap. Ang daling kumulungan.

**[03:28:54.420] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003184)  
Kumuha ng support noon.

**[03:28:56.560] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003185)  
Kasi nga, guto man tao. But I think

**[03:28:58.580] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003186)  
with the railway system, we spread

**[03:29:00.640] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003187)  
out the growth. Hindi lang

**[03:29:02.560] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003188)  
kagendi oro, hindi lang

**[03:29:04.160] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003189)  
Davao ang

**[03:29:05.820] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003190)  
magkakaroon ng development.

**[03:29:08.660] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003191)  
We will create growth areas all

**[03:29:10.480] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003192)  
over. Parang yun ang

**[03:29:12.040] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003193)  
tingin ko eh. By creating growth nodes,

**[03:29:14.900] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003194)  
growth development areas,

**[03:29:16.380] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003195)  
magkaka-industrial parka, for terminals,

**[03:29:19.780] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003196)  
commercial centers.

**[03:29:21.460] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003197)  
So, I think we

**[03:29:22.460] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003198)  
am hoping that

**[03:29:23.320] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003199)  
we'll be able to do that.

**[03:29:24.420] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003200)  
So, DepTev will be

**[03:29:25.540] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003201)  
also pushing, still continue

**[03:29:27.760] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003202)  
to push for the Mindanao

**[03:29:29.640] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003203)  
railway system. And ganoon din yung

**[03:29:31.380] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003204)  
South Long Haul. It will, Bicol

**[03:29:33.520] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003205)  
is one of the

**[03:29:34.600] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003206)  
beautiful provinces na mayaman. Pero

**[03:29:37.480] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003207)  
because of

**[03:29:38.240] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003208)  
distance, parang sa inyong isolated.

**[03:29:41.960] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003209)  
Poor region sila.

**[03:29:43.580] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003210)  
Ang ganda-ganda ng Bicol, diba?

**[03:29:45.660] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003211)  
So, Sigur Sek, can

**[03:29:47.040] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003212)  
DepTev ba no? Really push for this

**[03:29:49.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003213)  
to... Definitely,

**[03:29:51.740] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003214)  
Mr. Chair, because

**[03:29:54.420] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003215)  
for me, in particular, I see

**[03:29:57.240] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003216)  
the need to connect the country.

**[03:30:00.000] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003217)  
efficiently.

**[03:30:02.180] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003218)  
That's the only way we can make growth

**[03:30:04.260] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003219)  
more inclusive.

**[03:30:06.040] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003220)  
Otherwise, growth

**[03:30:08.120] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003221)  
will continue to be

**[03:30:09.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003222)  
Manila-centric and that's not

**[03:30:12.400] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003223)  
a good future for

**[03:30:14.160] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003224)  
the country. We have to

**[03:30:16.080] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003225)  
create

**[03:30:16.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003226)  
many more growth opportunities.

**[03:30:20.680] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003227)  
In fact,

**[03:30:21.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003228)  
when

**[03:30:23.520] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003229)  
Sec. Jimmy

**[03:30:26.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003230)  
Bautista was still

**[03:30:27.700] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003231)  
the OTR, we were actually

**[03:30:29.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003232)  
discussing and pushing for

**[03:30:32.080] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003233)  
the

**[03:30:33.540] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003234)  
preparation of the

**[03:30:35.720] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003235)  
even free feasibility study

**[03:30:37.820] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003236)  
bringing the train

**[03:30:39.600] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003237)  
from Manila

**[03:30:42.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003238)  
or from Clark

**[03:30:43.780] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003239)  
all the way to Cagayan.

**[03:30:46.500] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003240)  
Isabela and

**[03:30:47.660] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003241)  
Nobiskaya and Cagayan are so rich

**[03:30:49.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003242)  
and have so much high

**[03:30:51.260] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003243)  
potential for agriculture

**[03:30:52.920] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003244)  
but

**[03:30:53.360] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003245)  
they cannot be competitive

**[03:30:57.340] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003246)  
unless

**[03:30:59.500] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003247)  
they have

**[03:30:59.640] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003248)  
because the transport cost

**[03:31:01.100] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003249)  
using the usual bus system

**[03:31:03.620] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003250)  
or truck system

**[03:31:04.960] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003251)  
is expensive.

**[03:31:07.240] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003252)  
Rail is still the cheapest way

**[03:31:09.440] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003253)  
of moving goods

**[03:31:11.260] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003254)  
and most environment

**[03:31:13.560] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003255)  
friendly.

**[03:31:14.940] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003256)  
So,

**[03:31:16.020] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003257)  
sana meron.

**[03:31:17.200] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003258)  
Yung mga truck kasi,

**[03:31:18.460] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003259)  
lahat ng dadaan na may tong pa.

**[03:31:21.880] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003260)  
So,

**[03:31:22.200] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003261)  
our transportation cost is really expensive.

**[03:31:25.520] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003262)  
So, I think that will be good also.

**[03:31:27.020] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003263)  
So,

**[03:31:27.180] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003264)  
magkaroon ng

**[03:31:28.320] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003265)  
transportation.

**[03:31:29.640] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003266)  
Line, especially cargo

**[03:31:31.080] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003267)  
for the Cagayan Valley area.

**[03:31:35.660] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003268)  
Okay, thank you.

**[03:31:37.840] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003269)  
With regards,

**[03:31:38.860] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003270)  
siguro just a question for PPP.

**[03:31:41.420] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003271)  
Since I was the one who

**[03:31:43.620] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003272)  
authored and sponsored

**[03:31:45.120] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003273)  
the PPP code.

**[03:31:48.980] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003274)  
Tanong lang,

**[03:31:49.920] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003275)  
what exactly is the role of PPP Center

**[03:31:51.680] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003276)  
ensuring that government PPP projects

**[03:31:53.920] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003277)  
succeed?

**[03:31:55.940] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003278)  
Because in August,

**[03:31:56.940] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003279)  
the administration's

**[03:31:59.060] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003280)  
first PPP,

**[03:31:59.640] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003281)  
UPPJH Cancer Center project

**[03:32:03.020] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003282)  
failed to attract a single bidder.

**[03:32:05.520] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003283)  
So, what went wrong?

**[03:32:06.460] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003284)  
And what is the PPP Center

**[03:32:07.960] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003285)  
doing to help national agencies

**[03:32:10.120] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003286)  
and LGUs develop projects

**[03:32:11.620] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003287)  
that are truly viable,

**[03:32:12.880] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003288)  
bankable,

**[03:32:13.580] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003289)  
and attractive to investors?

**[03:32:15.760] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003290)  
Executive Director,

**[03:32:17.920] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003291)  
Rizal Latore,

**[03:32:18.820] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003292)  
you may want to answer.

**[03:32:20.380] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003293)  
Yes,

**[03:32:20.860] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003294)  
thank you for the question,

**[03:32:22.160] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003295)  
Mr. Chair.

**[03:32:22.760] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003296)  
So, for the PPP Center,

**[03:32:24.580] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003297)  
we're the primary

**[03:32:25.520] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003298)  
government agency

**[03:32:27.140] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003299)  
that is responsible

**[03:32:28.160] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003300)  
in providing

**[03:32:28.640] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003301)  
transportation,

**[03:32:29.740] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003302)  
technical assistance

**[03:32:30.920] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003303)  
to the implementing agencies

**[03:32:33.140] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003304)  
from the project development

**[03:32:34.980] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003305)  
up to evaluation,

**[03:32:37.500] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003306)  
approval,

**[03:32:38.260] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003307)  
and monitoring

**[03:32:39.820] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003308)  
ng mga PPP projects.

**[03:32:42.620] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003309)  
Now, in response po dun sa

**[03:32:44.460] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003310)  
UPPJH Cancer Center,

**[03:32:47.360] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003311)  
as we all know,

**[03:32:49.300] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003312)  
last August 4 po

**[03:32:50.340] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003313)  
was the deadline

**[03:32:51.800] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003314)  
for the submission of bid.

**[03:32:53.620] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003315)  
Unfortunately,

**[03:32:54.620] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003316)  
there was none.

**[03:32:56.240] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003317)  
No private company submitted the bid.

**[03:32:58.840] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003318)  
But there were four po,

**[03:33:00.980] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003319)  
Mr. Chair,

**[03:33:01.780] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003320)  
who actually bought

**[03:33:02.720] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003321)  
the bid documents.

**[03:33:04.740] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003322)  
Now, PPP Center,

**[03:33:06.260] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003323)  
together with UPPJH,

**[03:33:08.160] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003324)  
UPE Management,

**[03:33:09.940] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003325)  
met with those bidders

**[03:33:12.380] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003326)  
and secured their feedback

**[03:33:14.820] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003327)  
on why they eventually

**[03:33:16.460] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003328)  
did not submit the bid.

**[03:33:18.840] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003329)  
Among the reasons po

**[03:33:20.440] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003330)  
cited by the prospective bidders,

**[03:33:22.960] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003331)  
kasi po from the time po

**[03:33:24.100] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003332)  
na na-approve yung project,

**[03:33:26.040] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003333)  
up to the time po

**[03:33:26.980] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003334)  
ng date ng submission

**[03:33:28.120] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003335)  
ng bid management,

**[03:33:28.840] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003336)  
masyado na pong matagal

**[03:33:30.160] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003337)  
yung tinakbo ng oras

**[03:33:33.080] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003338)  
and the cost of the project

**[03:33:36.000] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003339)  
as far as the prospective bidders

**[03:33:38.940] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003340)  
are concerned

**[03:33:39.680] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003341)  
are actually way too high already

**[03:33:42.380] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003342)  
because of what happened

**[03:33:43.400] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003343)  
the past six months po

**[03:33:44.960] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003344)  
in our economy.

**[03:33:46.120] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003345)  
So, yun po yung primary reason.

**[03:33:48.920] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003346)  
But at least two out of the four

**[03:33:51.760] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003347)  
prospective bidders

**[03:33:52.840] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003348)  
still expressed that they do want

**[03:33:55.180] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003349)  
to support the government

**[03:33:57.300] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003350)  
in this initiative.

**[03:33:58.840] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003351)  
And we are now discussing

**[03:34:02.040] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003352)  
how we can revive the project

**[03:34:04.840] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003353)  
and update the assumptions

**[03:34:06.440] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003354)  
used for the UPPJH Cancer Center.

**[03:34:10.160] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003355)  
So, are there any

**[03:34:11.520] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003356)  
mga potential PPP ventures

**[03:34:15.360] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003357)  
that you're looking at

**[03:34:16.400] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003358)  
in the coming year?

**[03:34:19.320] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003359)  
You think that has a big chance

**[03:34:22.440] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003360)  
of pushing through?

**[03:34:25.200] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003361)  
Yes, Mr. Chair.

**[03:34:26.160] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003362)  
Swiss people, there are more than

**[03:34:28.840] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003363)  
250 PPP projects

**[03:34:31.380] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003364)  
that we are monitoring

**[03:34:32.560] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003365)  
in our pipeline

**[03:34:33.640] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003366)  
under different stages

**[03:34:34.760] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003367)  
of development.

**[03:34:36.200] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003368)  
Combined po yan

**[03:34:36.940] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003369)  
for national implementing agencies

**[03:34:38.760] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003370)  
and the local government units.

**[03:34:41.040] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003371)  
However, we are closely,

**[03:34:43.080] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003372)  
like, you know,

**[03:34:43.520] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003373)  
when I say closely,

**[03:34:44.540] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003374)  
week on week,

**[03:34:45.760] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003375)  
monitoring po yung progress

**[03:34:47.820] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003376)  
about 10% of that.

**[03:34:49.840] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003377)  
So, we're looking at

**[03:34:50.680] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003378)  
25 to 30 PPP projects

**[03:34:52.920] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003379)  
that we are expecting

**[03:34:54.240] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003380)  
to be awarded

**[03:34:56.120] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003381)  
within this administration po.

**[03:34:58.840] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003382)  
Okay, thank you.

**[03:35:00.380] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003383)  
I'm hoping that

**[03:35:01.240] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003384)  
there will be

**[03:35:03.760] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003385)  
some projects

**[03:35:05.740] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003386)  
that will really be,

**[03:35:06.740] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003387)  
that will really materialize.

**[03:35:09.880] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003388)  
If I may add, Mr. Chair,

**[03:35:11.840] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003389)  
what we have been seeing also

**[03:35:13.740] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003390)  
as significant progress

**[03:35:15.500] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003391)  
and achievements

**[03:35:16.120] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003392)  
that we have for PPPs po,

**[03:35:17.780] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003393)  
yung po mga projects

**[03:35:18.700] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003394)  
that have been long delayed

**[03:35:19.960] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003395)  
for like decades,

**[03:35:21.500] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003396)  
we see them getting approved

**[03:35:23.000] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003397)  
and implemented

**[03:35:23.840] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003398)  
and, you know,

**[03:35:24.880] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003399)  
expected to operate

**[03:35:25.860] PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre** (asr-003400)  
in the next few months po.

**[03:35:28.840] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003401)  
Okay, thank you.

**[03:35:30.420] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003402)  
Of course, I'm looking at that.

**[03:35:31.660] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003403)  
Being the author of this code,

**[03:35:33.420] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003404)  
I'm hopeful

**[03:35:34.900] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003405)  
and that it becomes successful

**[03:35:37.880] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003406)  
kasi ang ano ng target naman natin dito

**[03:35:39.660] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003407)  
to help in infrastructure development eh.

**[03:35:43.180] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003408)  
Diba?

**[03:35:44.060] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003409)  
PPP, nandyan yung hopefully

**[03:35:45.560] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003410)  
master plan.

**[03:35:47.000] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003411)  
We all know,

**[03:35:47.740] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003412)  
we all need

**[03:35:48.460] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003413)  
this

**[03:35:49.660] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003414)  
these measures

**[03:35:52.480] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003415)  
or laws

**[03:35:54.340] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003416)  
that nandyan yung backbone

**[03:35:56.500] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003417)  
to set the proper direction.

**[03:35:58.840] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003418)  
In the future.

**[03:36:00.640] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003419)  
Okay, thank you.

**[03:36:01.460] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003420)  
Siguro last na po

**[03:36:02.560] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003421)  
doon sa community-based

**[03:36:04.560] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003422)  
monitoring system,

**[03:36:05.700] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003423)  
probably PSA

**[03:36:07.020] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003424)  
for fiscal year 2027,

**[03:36:09.800] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003425)  
there's a higher budget

**[03:36:10.800] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003426)  
for the PSA

**[03:36:11.560] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003427)  
because of the

**[03:36:12.440] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003428)  
conduct of the 2027

**[03:36:14.700] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003429)  
community-based monitoring system.

**[03:36:17.860] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003430)  
Bilyon ang nindayaan ng gobyerno

**[03:36:19.340] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003431)  
taon-taon sa ayuda

**[03:36:20.280] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003432)  
at iba pang social protection programs.

**[03:36:23.060] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003433)  
Are we already using

**[03:36:24.280] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003434)  
the updated CBMS data

**[03:36:26.060] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003435)  
to make sure that

**[03:36:27.120] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003436)  
government assistance,

**[03:36:28.840] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003437)  
reaches the people

**[03:36:29.720] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003438)  
who actually need it?

**[03:36:31.840] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003439)  
And how often is CBMS data updated?

**[03:36:35.060] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003440)  
Thank you very much.

**[03:36:35.920] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003441)  
Mapa.

**[03:36:37.340] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003442)  
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

**[03:36:38.780] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003443)  
Yung ating previous na CBMS

**[03:36:41.320] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003444)  
na lahat ng mga LGUs

**[03:36:43.260] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003445)  
ay napunan ng datos,

**[03:36:45.240] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003446)  
ito po yung 2024 CBMS

**[03:36:48.060] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003447)  
at yung budget ng CBMS

**[03:36:51.380] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003448)  
during the time

**[03:36:52.040] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003449)  
kasi kasabay siya ng census.

**[03:36:53.940] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003450)  
So mga less than 5 billion.

**[03:36:55.700] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003451)  
At ito po yung ginamit

**[03:36:57.480] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003452)  
tamang-tama

**[03:36:58.160] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003453)  
dahil mayroon na yung

**[03:36:58.640] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003454)  
mayroon tayong krisis,

**[03:37:02.780] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003455)  
nagkaroon tayo ng bagong listahan

**[03:37:05.840] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003456)  
doon sa mga binibigyan ng ayuda.

**[03:37:08.320] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003457)  
If you recall, Mr. Chair,

**[03:37:10.220] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003458)  
yung uplift,

**[03:37:11.600] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003459)  
Group 1, Group 2, Group 3,

**[03:37:13.280] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003460)  
7.5 million households,

**[03:37:15.280] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003461)  
galing po yun sa

**[03:37:16.120] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003462)  
relatively new data

**[03:37:19.060] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003463)  
from the community-based

**[03:37:20.120] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003464)  
monitoring system.

**[03:37:21.140] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003465)  
In addition to the use of CBMS

**[03:37:23.120] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003466)  
for national social protection programs,

**[03:37:25.960] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003467)  
ang pinaka-importante rin,

**[03:37:27.040] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003468)  
binibigay namin ito

**[03:37:27.860] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003469)  
sa mga local government,

**[03:37:28.640] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003470)  
para sa kanilang

**[03:37:30.400] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003471)  
local level planning.

**[03:37:31.980] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003472)  
At marami na rin po

**[03:37:32.780] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003473)  
yung mga LGUs na gumagamit

**[03:37:34.620] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003474)  
ng community-based monitoring system.

**[03:37:36.780] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003475)  
Ayon sa CBMS Act,

**[03:37:38.340] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003476)  
yung CBMS ay gagawin

**[03:37:39.720] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003477)  
every three years.

**[03:37:41.140] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003478)  
So ito po ay

**[03:37:42.740] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003479)  
nag-request ng

**[03:37:44.180] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003480)  
Philippine Statistics Authority

**[03:37:45.360] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003481)  
ng panibagong pondo

**[03:37:46.960] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003482)  
para sa pag-update

**[03:37:48.100] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003483)  
ng community-based

**[03:37:49.520] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003484)  
monitoring system for 2027.

**[03:37:51.680] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003485)  
Dahil po 2024 siya,

**[03:37:53.520] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003486)  
of course,

**[03:37:54.280] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003487)  
naging advantageous siya

**[03:37:55.420] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003488)  
from the COVID,

**[03:37:56.840] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003489)  
but we had also crisis

**[03:37:58.120] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003490)  
itong 2026.

**[03:37:59.360] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003491)  
So I'm sure,

**[03:38:00.260] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003492)  
marami rin tayong mga households

**[03:38:01.940] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003493)  
na baka

**[03:38:03.080] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003494)  
bumaba yung well-being.

**[03:38:05.620] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003495)  
Hopefully,

**[03:38:06.520] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003496)  
ito po ay masama naman

**[03:38:08.020] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003497)  
sa 2027

**[03:38:09.020] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003498)  
community-based monitoring system.

**[03:38:10.980] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003499)  
Mr. Chair,

**[03:38:11.700] PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa** (asr-003500)  
thank you.

**[03:38:12.700] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003501)  
Thank you.

**[03:38:13.520] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003502)  
Anyway,

**[03:38:14.620] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003503)  
I guess that's about it.

**[03:38:16.080] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003504)  
Pero ano ko lang,

**[03:38:17.920] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003505)  
Sek,

**[03:38:18.200] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003506)  
siguro talagang dapat

**[03:38:19.280] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003507)  
yung

**[03:38:20.820] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003508)  
long-term plan natin

**[03:38:23.980] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003509)  
ng gobyerno natin

**[03:38:25.080] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003510)  
really for

**[03:38:26.320] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003511)  
jobs in opportunity,

**[03:38:28.120] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003512)  
opportunities to

**[03:38:28.740] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003513)  
improvement of infrastructure

**[03:38:30.160] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003514)  
and tsaka magkaroon tayo

**[03:38:31.660] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003515)  
ng master plan.

**[03:38:34.000] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003516)  
Dapat natin pag-isipan

**[03:38:35.140] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003517)  
kung paano natin

**[03:38:35.860] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003518)  
must stimulate economic growth

**[03:38:37.180] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003519)  
kasi hindi ako naniniwala

**[03:38:39.480] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003520)  
ang ano eh.

**[03:38:40.760] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003521)  
Ayuda tayo

**[03:38:41.500] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003522)  
buong buhay natin eh.

**[03:38:42.760] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003523)  
Diba?

**[03:38:43.180] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003524)  
This is not sustainable.

**[03:38:44.560] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003525)  
Diba?

**[03:38:45.560] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003526)  
Diba?

**[03:38:45.860] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003527)  
Saan natin kukunin yan?

**[03:38:46.880] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003528)  
Mangungutang tayo

**[03:38:47.780] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003529)  
tapos ayuda nang ayuda.

**[03:38:49.200] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003530)  
Dapat yung investment natin,

**[03:38:50.780] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003531)  
yung utang natin,

**[03:38:52.180] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003532)  
tama kayo, Sek.

**[03:38:54.040] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003533)  
Dapat ito,

**[03:38:54.540] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003534)  
nakalimit sa capital investment.

**[03:38:56.280] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003535)  
Those have the top returns

**[03:38:57.500] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003536)  
to the economy.

**[03:38:58.740] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003537)  
Diba?

**[03:39:00.380] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003538)  
Definitely investments

**[03:39:01.640] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003539)  
on infrastructure,

**[03:39:03.840] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003540)  
railway system,

**[03:39:04.800] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003541)  
airport supports

**[03:39:05.580] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003542)  
are,

**[03:39:06.660] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003543)  
will cost a lot.

**[03:39:07.960] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003544)  
But I think

**[03:39:08.500] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003545)  
the return sa economy

**[03:39:09.760] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003546)  
will be enormous.

**[03:39:11.760] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003547)  
Kailangan talaga eh.

**[03:39:12.660] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003548)  
Diba?

**[03:39:12.880] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003549)  
Kailangan talaga natin

**[03:39:13.760] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003550)  
mag-invest.

**[03:39:15.920] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003551)  
That's the only way

**[03:39:17.020] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003552)  
we can create growth areas,

**[03:39:19.440] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003553)  
stimulate economic growth

**[03:39:20.620] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003554)  
and growth,

**[03:39:22.020] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003555)  
spread out the development

**[03:39:23.340] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003556)  
para

**[03:39:23.700] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003557)  
I think jobs and opportunities

**[03:39:26.240] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003558)  
sa trabaang ano natin,

**[03:39:27.540] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003559)  
long-term.

**[03:39:28.120] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003560)  
Diba?

**[03:39:30.340] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003561)  
Sustainable programs

**[03:39:32.080] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003562)  
and projects

**[03:39:32.700] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003563)  
and hindi dapat ayuda

**[03:39:34.240] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003564)  
ang ating po

**[03:39:36.080] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003565)  
tinitignan na

**[03:39:37.040] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003566)  
parang programa.

**[03:39:38.740] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003567)  
Ito, so ano lang yan?

**[03:39:40.820] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003568)  
Dapat short-term lang yan

**[03:39:42.420] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003569)  
or medium-term.

**[03:39:44.300] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003570)  
Diba?

**[03:39:44.620] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003571)  
Kasi,

**[03:39:45.840] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003572)  
kailangan natin

**[03:39:46.800] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003573)  
buhayin

**[03:39:48.280] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003574)  
economy natin.

**[03:39:50.100] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003575)  
Again,

**[03:39:51.260] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003576)  
for jobs and opportunities

**[03:39:52.740] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003577)  
in the future.

**[03:39:54.160] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003578)  
Okay?

**[03:39:55.280] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003579)  
So,

**[03:39:57.140] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003580)  
with that,

**[03:39:57.540] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003581)  
we will submit

**[03:39:58.140] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003582)  
the rest of our questions

**[03:39:59.080] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003583)  
to the agencies

**[03:39:59.720] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003584)  
for the appropriate answers.

**[03:40:01.320] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003585)  
Yung mga iba po para

**[03:40:02.220] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003586)  
sasabihin na lang namin sa inyo

**[03:40:04.100] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003587)  
para makapaghanda kayo

**[03:40:05.280] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003588)  
for the plenary

**[03:40:06.060] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003589)  
defense and debates.

**[03:40:09.000] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003590)  
So,

**[03:40:09.640] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003591)  
pakihandaan nyo na lang

**[03:40:10.660] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003592)  
sa mga

**[03:40:11.280] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003593)  
respective agencies

**[03:40:13.520] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003594)  
para ho,

**[03:40:14.160] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003595)  
once I defend,

**[03:40:16.540] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003596)  
I will be ready

**[03:40:18.400] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003597)  
to have

**[03:40:19.480] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003598)  
to answer the queries

**[03:40:20.760] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003599)  
from the

**[03:40:21.800] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003600)  
legislators

**[03:40:22.480] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003601)  
on the floor.

**[03:40:23.780] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003602)  
I will need your expertise

**[03:40:25.000] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003603)  
dahil ako hindi expert.

**[03:40:26.880] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003604)  
Hindi ako

**[03:40:27.240] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003605)  
ekonomista.

**[03:40:28.920] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003606)  
I hate numbers.

**[03:40:30.040] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003607)  
Kaya,

**[03:40:30.180] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003608)  
kailangan kong

**[03:40:31.000] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003609)  
expertise ninyong lahat.

**[03:40:33.720] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003610)  
No?

**[03:40:34.260] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003611)  
Okay?

**[03:40:34.520] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003612)  
So,

**[03:40:34.680] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003613)  
please prepare for the

**[03:40:35.820] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003614)  
questions

**[03:40:36.740] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003615)  
or potential

**[03:40:38.140] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003616)  
issues and topics

**[03:40:39.640] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003617)  
that might be asked

**[03:40:40.840] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003618)  
during the plenary.

**[03:40:42.600] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003619)  
The committee chair

**[03:40:43.500] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003620)  
would like to thank everyone,

**[03:40:44.660] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003621)  
Secretary Balisakan,

**[03:40:45.840] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003622)  
the undersecretaries,

**[03:40:48.420] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003623)  
of course,

**[03:40:49.080] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003624)  
the heads of agencies,

**[03:40:50.380] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003625)  
the same resource person

**[03:40:51.380] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003626)  
for actively participating

**[03:40:52.840] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003627)  
on our

**[03:40:53.360] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003628)  
discussions today.

**[03:40:54.940] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003629)  
There being no other

**[03:40:55.680] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003630)  
further questions,

**[03:40:56.480] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003631)  
the budget,

**[03:40:57.240] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003632)  
of the Department

**[03:40:58.280] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003633)  
of Economy Planning

**[03:40:59.380] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003634)  
and Development,

**[03:41:01.060] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003635)  
including

**[03:41:01.480] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003636)  
the Satatch Agencies

**[03:41:02.480] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003637)  
and Corporations,

**[03:41:03.880] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003638)  
Commission on Population

**[03:41:05.060] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003639)  
and Development,

**[03:41:06.840] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003640)  
Philippine National

**[03:41:08.240] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003641)  
Volunteer Service

**[03:41:09.240] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003642)  
Coordinating Agency,

**[03:41:11.600] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003643)  
Public-Private

**[03:41:12.460] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003644)  
Partnership Center

**[03:41:13.360] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003645)  
of the Philippines,

**[03:41:15.080] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003646)  
Philippine Statistical

**[03:41:16.280] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003647)  
Research and Training

**[03:41:17.360] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003648)  
Institute,

**[03:41:18.820] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003649)  
Tariff Commission,

**[03:41:20.060] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003650)  
Philippine Statistics

**[03:41:20.880] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003651)  
Authority,

**[03:41:22.180] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003652)  
Development Academy

**[03:41:23.320] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003653)  
of the Philippines,

**[03:41:24.400] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003654)  
and Philippine Institute

**[03:41:25.400] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003655)  
for Development Studies,

**[03:41:27.240] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003656)  
is now deemed

**[03:41:27.860] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003657)  
submitted

**[03:41:28.260] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003658)  
for the plenary

**[03:41:29.180] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003659)  
consideration

**[03:41:30.020] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003660)  
subject of the discussion

**[03:41:32.200] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003661)  
and the submission

**[03:41:33.000] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003662)  
of the documents.

**[03:41:34.560] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003663)  
This briefing

**[03:41:36.200] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003664)  
is hereby suspended.

**[03:41:37.380] Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito** (asr-003665)  
Thank you.

**[03:41:39.320] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003666)  
Thank you so much,

**[03:41:40.560] DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan** (asr-003667)  
Mr. Chair.