Abbey M.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has reaffirmed the administration's commitment to supporting the agriculture sector to ensure the country's food supply.

According to the President, the government has allocated a substantial budget this year to assist the sector, particularly farmers.

"This means more infrastructure and modern machinery for our hardworking farmers, who are relied upon not only by Zamboanga Peninsula but by the entire Philippines for what we call our food supply," Marcos said.

("Ibig sabihin ay mas maraming imprastraktura at modernong makinarya para sa ating mga masisipag na magsasaka na inaasahan hindi lamang ng Zamboanga Peninsula kung hindi ng buong Pilipinas para sa ating tinatawag na food supply.")

The government has allocated 300 billion pesos for various programs and projects in the agriculture sector.

With this budget, President Marcos said farmers can expect more infrastructure and modern machinery, a significant boost especially for those in the farming community.

The President made this announcement during the inauguration of the newly rehabilitated Mahayag Dam in Zamboanga del Sur earlier today.

Under the Department of Agriculture's budget, 33 billion pesos has been allocated for the construction and rehabilitation of farm-to-market roads, while 731 million pesos has been earmarked for small-scale irrigation projects.

According to President Marcos, the administration will focus on areas with large farming populations and provinces known for producing abundant agricultural products.

"Our priority is provinces that harvest rice, corn, high-value crops, and areas where many farmers are registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture. Most of all, we're focusing on regions where many farmers are most in need," the President said.

("Prayoridad natin ang mga probinsyang umaani ng bigas, mais, mga high value crops, at ang mga lugar kung saan marami sa mga magsasaka ay rehistrado sa ilalim ng Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture. Higit sa lahat, tinututukan natin ang mga rehiyon kung saan marami sa mga magsasaka ang higit na nangangailangan.")

Marcos also renewed his commitment to helping farmers improve their livelihoods.

"You can count on this administration to continue providing our farmers with faster access to various technologies, training, and support to uplift and make your lives more comfortable," he assured.

("Makaaasa po kayong patuloy ang Administrasyong ito sa pagbibigay sa ating mga magsasaka ng mas mabilis na access sa ganiyang sari-saring teknolohiya, sa sari-saring pagsasanay, suporta pa para umangat at maging mas maginhawa pa ang inyong mga buhay.")

Meanwhile, President Marcos met with governors of provinces severely affected by Typhoon Basyang at Malacañang.

The President ordered the early release of funds even before disasters strike, the simplification of processes to expedite aid distribution, and the swift distribution of seeds so farmers can immediately resume planting.

Marcos' directives also include preparing financial assistance and intensifying river clearing operations to reduce the risk of future flooding.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is expanding its "Benteng Bigas, Meron Na" initiative across Metro Manila, aiming to establish at least five outlets selling rice at ₱20 per kilogram in every local government unit in the region.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced the expansion plan in a statement, emphasizing the government's commitment to making affordable rice more accessible to vulnerable sectors.

"The DA envisions establishing at least five ₱20 'Benteng Bigas' outlets in every LGU in Metro Manila," Tiu Laurel said.

"Our goal is simple: bring affordable rice closer to our constituents and ensure vulnerable sectors are directly served. This expansion underscores our firm commitment to food security and to easing the financial burden on Filipino families," the Agriculture Secretary added.

The expanded Metro Manila rollout will prioritize senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, minimum wage earners, members of tricycle operators and drivers associations, farmers, fisherfolk, and other qualified groups.

The DA convened a Technical Working Group meeting together with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Metro Manila local government units to fast-track and harmonize implementation. During the meeting, the MMDA pledged logistical and monitoring support.

"This is a shared responsibility," said MMDA Chairman Atty. Romando Artes. "Affordable rice must reach as many Metro Manila families as possible."

With 16 cities and one municipality in Metro Manila, the expansion could result in dozens of new affordable rice outlets serving households struggling with the rising cost of living.

The National Authority for Child Care (NACC) has clarified that it does not conduct online adoptions and warned the public against fake adoption schemes.

The agency is also raising concerns over the increasing prevalence of baby selling through online platforms.

According to Assistant Secretary for Programs and Services Rowena Macalintal, the NACC has monitored five entrapment operations in 2024 and eight in 2025. Alarmingly, just in the first quarter of 2026, seven cases have already been recorded.

"Since 2024, we've monitored five entrapment operations. In 2025, there were eight, and now, surprisingly, the first quarter isn't even over and we already have seven cases. These are just the operations coordinated with the PNP Women and Children Protection Center. There are other operations by the NBI and the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, and we're coordinating with them to consolidate data," Macalintal said.

As digital platforms continue to expand, they are increasingly being exploited for illegal transactions such as the online selling of children.

The seven first-quarter cases recorded by the Philippine National Police do not yet include ongoing operations by other law enforcement agencies or undetected groups operating through social media.

Macalintal revealed that some cases involve the biological parents themselves selling their own children.

"Unfortunately, some of them are the mothers and fathers of the children themselves. There was one mother who attempted to sell her child via a Facebook group for 12,000 to 15,000 pesos because she wanted capital for a food cart business," she said.

The NACC emphasized that it does not facilitate online adoptions.

"For those who want to adopt, there is no online adoption, so you should not resort to Facebook or the internet to look for a child to adopt," Macalintal stressed.

Meanwhile, the NACC warned that anyone who registers a child who is not their biological offspring as their own legitimate child may face criminal charges and imprisonment of eight to 10 years.

However, for cases covered under 2019 and earlier, individuals who took in children are given an opportunity to rectify the situation under the Simulated Birth Rectification Act, or Republic Act 11222.

The Simulated Birth Rectification Act is a law that provides an opportunity to correct fraudulent birth registrations where a child was registered as one's own despite not being the biological parent.

"Just file your petitions with local government units through your local social welfare and development offices. The simulated birth certificate will be canceled, the true birth certificate will be issued to show the real identity of the child you adopted, and it goes directly to the adoption process. There's no penalty, and even complicit nurses and midwives who conspired in the birth certificate can avail of amnesty under our law," Macalintal explained.

The grace period to legalize such cases is only until March 2029.

On the adoption process, the NACC assured the public that it is free of charge and only requires documents such as police clearance, medical evaluation and tests, and psychological evaluation.

Afterward, the child undergoes assessment by social workers for matching.

The agency reminded parents not to treat their children as commodities or abandon them.

If they cannot provide care, they should approach the NACC. The agency assured that this will not result in abandonment charges as long as it is done through proper channels to ensure the child is placed in a safe and caring environment.

The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations will defer to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) regarding the Chinese Embassy's latest statements against the Senate.

This comes as the committee responds to renewed criticism from Chinese Embassy Spokesperson Ji Lingpen directed at the Senate, following the upper chamber's adoption of a resolution condemning the Chinese diplomat's previous statements against Philippine government officials.

According to Senator Erwin Tulfo, newly elected chairperson of the Foreign Relations Committee, he wants to give the Code of Conduct a chance to be implemented.

"Let's leave this to the Department of Foreign Affairs for now because there is a code of conduct. The good thing about this code of conduct is that before, China didn't want to accept it. They really didn't want to. No code of conduct. 'We will not respect the arbitral ruling.' At least now, since this is a code of conduct being worked on by four countries, according to Secretary Lazaro, it seems China is amenable," Tulfo said.

(Ipaubaya na muna natin sa Department of Foreign Affairs kasi meron code of conduct. The good thing about this code of conduct, dati ayaw nila tanggapin ng China. Ayaw talaga nila. Walang code of conduct. “We will not respect the arbitral ruling.” At least dito, siguro since code of conduct na ito, ginagawa ngayon ng apat na bansa, eh, mukhang according to Secretary Lazaro, mukhang amenable naman daw ang China.)

Meanwhile, Senator Francis Pangilinan stated that based on recent events, the ball is now in the DFA's court to defend Philippine institutions.

"The ball now is in the court of the DFA, and of course the Office of the President. We urge them to act in defense of our institutions. That is our call," Pangilinan said.

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The public will judge whether the House of Representatives treats impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte the same way it handled complaints filed against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

This was the statement from the Makabayan Bloc after the House Justice Panel leadership assured that the committee would apply the same approach in handling impeachment complaints against the Vice President as it did with those against PBBM.

"The public will judge whether they think the handling of both complaints will be equal," said ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio, an endorser of the first impeachment complaint against VPSD.

(Publiko ang huhusga kung sa tingin nila ay magiging pantay ba ang paghandle sa dalawang complaints.)

The majority of House members continue to support the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who remains in a serious rift with Vice President Sara Duterte. 

This is why Tinio believes PBBM's allies will ensure the impeachment complaints against the Vice President pass through the House Justice Committee and even the plenary, unlike the impeachment complaints against PBBM, which were immediately dismissed by the House.

The public, he said, will see whether the House of Representatives provides equal treatment to impeachment complaints against the President and Vice President. Makabayan lawmakers are endorsers of impeachment complaints against both of the government's highest officials.

"If the standards we're talking about were excessively applied to the impeachment complaint against the President to dismiss it, will they do the same or will they be more lenient? So it remains to be seen," Tinio said.

(Publiko ang huhusga kung sa tingin nila ay magiging pantay ba ang paghandle sa dalawang complaints.)

Kabataan Partylist Rep. Renee Co expressed concern over the possible effects of the new rules adopted by the House Committee on Justice regarding the determination of "sufficiency in substance" or the weight of the basis for impeachment complaints, particularly regarding the authenticity of evidence attached to impeachment complaints.

"This additional rule that was voted on is really a hurdle, and we have house justice committee members who said this is impractical and not based on the usual practice or rules of the court, which is more accustomed to these hearings. If there are many attachments, even before the actual hearing, we'll take a long time just hurdling the sufficiency in substance portion," Co said.

(“So itong additional rule na pinagbotohan pa, hurdle talaga yan and we have house justice committee members na that said na impraktikal po talaga ito at hindi po ito nakabatay sa usual practice or rules of the court kung saan mas sanay sa hearings na ito (jc) at kung napakaraming attachments, wala pa sa hearing proper, matatagalan pa tayo sa paghurdle lang ng sufficiency in substance portion.”)

Earlier, House Justice Committee Chairperson and Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro assured that the committee would implement the same deliberation process for impeachment complaints against the Vice President.

"I wish to reiterate, we are assuring the Filipino people that whatever approach, parameters, and deliberation the Justice Committee had with respect to the impeachment complaints against the President, we will be adopting the same for the purpose of evaluating impeachment complaints against the Vice President," Luistro said.

During the House's last plenary session this week, no referral to the House Justice Committee had been made regarding the three impeachment complaints against the Vice President.

Wednesday, February 11 marks the third session day since the first two impeachment complaints against VP Duterte were submitted to Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III's office on February 5. The third impeachment complaint was referred to the Office of the Speaker on February 9.

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