Jasha Gamao

PASAY CITY—The Philippine Senate delivered a strong legislative action on Monday, December 15, 2025, unanimously approving two significant measures on Third Reading with a vote of 17-0-0. 

Leading the charge is Senate Bill No. 1506, or the proposed CADENA Act, an acronym for the "Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability Act." This critical legislation, sponsored by Senator Bam Aquino, mandates the full and public disclosure of all government transactions through the creation of a digital budget portal. 

By establishing this portal, the Senate directly targets improved transparency, heightened accountability, and expanded public participation in the complex Philippine budget process, effectively using technology to combat corruption and foster good governance.

The chamber also swiftly approved Senate Bill No. 604, sponsored by Senator Robinhood Padilla. This measure directly addresses institutional reforms by amending Article I, Section 5 of Republic Act No. 9997, otherwise known as the "National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Act of 2009." 

The amendment is designed to strengthen the function and structure of the Commission, aiming to enhance its capability to serve the welfare and address the specific needs of the Muslim Filipino community across the nation. 

Both bills now move one step closer to enactment, signaling the Senate's commitment to both fiscal transparency and minority rights protection.

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Hussein Loraña powered through the Men's 800m final at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand on Monday, December 15, 2025, seizing a decisive gold medal and bolstering the Philippines' growing haul. 

With an electrifying pace, Loraña clocked a blistering 1:48.80, outracing his regional competitors in a phenomenal display of middle-distance running. This victory is a significant contribution to the national team's success, demonstrating the country's dominance on the track. 

The race was a fierce battle for the top spot, but Loraña's powerful finish proved insurmountable, leaving the crowd captivated by his golden run.

Trailing the champion were the runners from the host nation and Malaysia. Thailand's Joshua Robert Atkinson claimed the silver medal, finishing with a time of 1:49.24, while Zahari Wan Muhammad Fa. Wan of Malaysia secured the bronze with 1:49.85. 

Loraña’s win marks another milestone in the Philippines' triumphant journey at the Games, maintaining the momentum of success.

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PASAY CITY—The Philippine Senate on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, passed on second reading the proposed Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act.

The legislation, deemed a priority following a Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting just the day before, is poised to reshape public access to government finances. 

This swift action reflects a clear legislative commitment to addressing long-standing calls for greater oversight in public spending, catapulting the bill through the chamber and closer to becoming law.

The core feature of the CADENA Act is the establishment of a CADENA Digital Budget Portal.  This online platform is designed to be a one-stop shop for citizens seeking comprehensive data on the national budget. 

It guarantees public access across all critical phases of the budgetary process, from initial budget planning and preparation to legislation, authorization, procurement, execution, and final fund management. 

This level of mandated disclosure promises to open up previously unclear government spending records, placing the power of oversight directly into the hands of the Filipino public.

By successfully hurdling the second reading, Senate Bill No. 1506 has reaffirmed its status as a landmark transparency measure. The bill’s momentum, energized by its inclusion in the recent LEDAC agenda attended by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and congressional leaders, signals strong executive and legislative backing. 

Its proponents argue the CADENA portal will serve as a powerful deterrent against corruption and misuse of public funds, transforming the way Filipinos monitor and engage with their government’s financial operations.

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PASAY CITY—The Philippine Senate actively advanced its health care agenda on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, moving to expand specialty care for senior citizens and streamline medical assistance for the financially vulnerable. 

In a determined push for quality and affordable health services, the chamber commenced interpellations on two critical measures, underscoring the legislative commitment to the nation's well-being. This deliberate action sets the stage for potentially significant reforms in the country’s health system infrastructure and financial coverage.

A central piece of the Senate’s recent session was the deliberation on Senate Bill No. 1509, which mandates the establishment of the Philippine Geriatric Center. This proposed tertiary specialty hospital under the Department of Health (DOH) aims to provide holistic and dedicated medical, rehabilitative, and palliative care for the growing population of Filipino senior citizens. 

By creating a National Geriatric Health Registry and ensuring the center's services are integrated into the existing Universal Health Care framework, the bill seeks to institutionalize high-quality, scientifically-backed, and accessible care for the elderly.

Concurrently, the Senate began discussions on Senate Bill No. 1593, which seeks to create the Universal Health Care Medical Assistance Program (UMAP). This measure aims to abolish bureaucratic hurdles, such as the guarantee letter system, by integrating and professionalizing the government’s existing Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Persons (MAIFIP) Program. 

UMAP promises to make life-saving inpatient care universal and immediate, especially for indigents and patients facing catastrophic illnesses, while explicitly prohibiting political patronage in the distribution of aid. The legislative efforts collectively demonstrate a strategic, two-pronged approach to tackle both the accessibility of specialized care and the financial barriers preventing Filipinos from receiving prompt medical treatment.

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PASAY CITY—The Senate is moving decisively to tackle the nation's severe classroom shortage by opening the period of amendments for Senate Bill No. 1482, known as the proposed Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act. 

Bill Sponsor, Senator Bam Aquino initiated the fine-tuning process on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, signaling a rapid push toward legislative enactment. This measure is designed to cut down the massive classroom backlog that has long plagued the education system.

The CAP Act mandates a significant shift in the approach to school infrastructure by authorizing the active participation of local government units (LGUs) and accredited non-government organizations (NGOs). 

This strategy aims to accelerate the pace of construction by mobilizing resources beyond the national government's current capacity. By delegating key support roles to LGUs and NGOs, the Senate is pushing for a streamlined, collaborative effort to deliver much-needed classrooms across the country, ensuring students gain access to conducive learning environments sooner.

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