Jasha Gamao

The Philippines has enacted Republic Act No. 12287, known as the "Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Act," which allows the government to implement preventive measures before disasters occur rather than responding only after destruction happens.

The law enables the declaration of a "State of Imminent Disaster" when forecasts and risk assessments by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and regional councils identify probable disasters with potentially catastrophic impacts, such as approaching super typhoons or projected severe flooding.

Under the new law, the president can declare this state for areas ranging from barangays to entire regions based on NDRRMC recommendations. Local chief executives can similarly issue declarations within their jurisdictions upon recommendation from regional DRRM councils.

Once declared, the government can mobilize resources for public advisories, deploy response teams, conduct preemptive or forced evacuations, procure and distribute relief goods to vulnerable populations, and implement contingency plans to protect agriculture and food supplies.

The legislation mandates the inclusion of Anticipatory Action Funds in the General Appropriations Act. These funds, along with the National DRRM Fund, will be disbursed immediately upon declaration, eliminating previous bureaucratic delays that hindered swift pre-disaster response.

To prevent abuse, the law prohibits the creation and spread of false disaster information and the manipulation of assessment reports. Violators face fines ranging from P50,000 to P500,000, imprisonment, or both.

The State of Imminent Disaster is automatically lifted when the hazard occurs or when subsequent risk assessments indicate the projected impacts will not materialize, ensuring resources are allocated only when necessary.

Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada sponsored the legislation, which provides a legal framework for early intervention in disaster situations to minimize loss and protect Filipino citizens.

This new law promises a future where the country is not just resilient but truly prepared, minimizing loss and safeguarding the well-being of its citizens against nature’s worst.

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The Senate Committee on Science and Technology held a pivotal public hearing on November 4, 2025, on the proposed Philippine National Budget Blockchain Act. This groundbreaking bill is poised to revolutionize how public funds are tracked, aiming to institutionalize unprecedented transparency and accountability in the nation's finance management. 

Instead of traditional opaque record-keeping, the measure proposes leveraging blockchain technology—the same innovation behind cryptocurrencies—to create an immutable, public ledger for the national budget. The initiative is being closely watched as a potential global model for combating corruption by harnessing cutting-edge digital technology.

The core of today's heated deliberation centered on the bill's mandatory disclosure of public budget data, which Senator Bam Aquino championed as the "backbone of the bill." The committee scrutinized mechanisms designed to ensure that every single peso appropriated from the national budget is traceable, auditable, and easily accessible to the Filipino public. 

This means citizens could theoretically follow government expenditures in near real-time, making it significantly harder for funds to be misused or siphoned off. Lawmakers emphasized that true accountability begins with absolute and unfettered public visibility of government spending.

A key provision, Section 5 of the bill, explicitly transforms budget transparency from an optional courtesy into a strict legal obligation. Under this section, all government agencies would be mandated to upload their budget documents onto a dedicated blockchain-based platform named "Cadena" (Spanish for "chain"). 

The use of Cadena ensures data is verifiable, traceable, and fully auditable because once information is recorded on the blockchain, it cannot be secretly altered or deleted. This digital safeguard is intended to eliminate "ghost projects" and hidden transactions that often plague traditional accounting systems.

Should it pass, the Philippine National Budget Blockchain Act promises to usher in a new era of digital fiscal integrity. By adopting a technology renowned for its security and permanence, the Senate aims to build public trust and significantly deter graft and corruption at all levels of government. 

The next stages of the legislative process will focus on the technical implementation of the Cadena system and addressing concerns about data security and accessibility for all government units. Ultimately, this bill is a bold statement that the fight for a clean government can be won through radical transparency powered by innovation.

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President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has signed a landmark piece of legislation, Republic Act No. 12253, or the Enhanced Fiscal Regime for Large-Scale Metallic Mining Act. This new law dramatically updates the tax rules for big mining companies in the Philippines, promising a more equitable distribution of the nation's mineral wealth. 

Driven by the goal of ensuring the government and Filipino people receive a fair share of revenues, this reform is expected to generate an additional ₱25.08 billion in revenues from 2026-2029, or approximately ₱6.26 billion annually.

The new regime, which applies to all large-scale metallic mining operations, introduces a tiered, profit-based royalty system. For mines operating outside mineral reservations, royalties will range from 1% to 5% of income, with a minimum royalty applying even when profits are low or zero. 

Mines inside mineral reservations will continue to pay a 5% royalty on gross output. A significant new feature is the Windfall Profits Tax, an extra levy of 1% to 10% on profits that exceed a high margin, ensuring the government captures a larger share during commodity booms.

Crucially, the law implements stringent measures to enhance transparency and oversight in the mining sector. It establishes a "Ring-Fencing Rule," treating each mining site as a separate taxpayer. 

This prevents companies from offsetting losses from one project against the profits of a more successful one, a loophole long utilized by large operators. Furthermore, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Bureau of Customs (BOC) are authorized to audit all mineral sales and exports, a move designed to minimize revenue leakage and ensure accurate declarations.

A central pillar of the reform is a fairer revenue-sharing scheme that directly benefits host communities. The law mandates that 40% of mining taxes will go directly and immediately to Local Government Units (LGUs). 

This provision is intended to ensure that communities bearing the brunt of environmental and social impact from mining operations are also the primary beneficiaries of the wealth generated. Ten percent (10%) of royalties from mineral reservations are also earmarked for essential initiatives like mineral exploration, research, value-adding, and downstream industries.

Sponsored in the Senate by Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, the new Act moves the Philippine mining industry toward a more stable, transparent, and competitive fiscal environment. 

The combination of new taxes, stricter auditing rules, and mandated revenue sharing aims to solidify state ownership of mineral resources while attracting responsible private investment. 

The law underscores the President's commitment to transforming the country’s natural assets into sustainable growth, better governance, and enduring benefits for all Filipinos.

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President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. signed into law Republic Act No. 12252, an act liberalizing the lease of private lands by foreign investors. This new measure significantly amends the decades-old Investors' Lease Act, extending the maximum aggregate lease period for foreign investors from the previous 75 years to an impressive 99 years. 

Sponsored by former Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, the law aims to establish the stability of long-term lease contracts and provide a more secure environment, ultimately making the Philippines more competitive in attracting substantial foreign direct investments (FDI).

While extending the lease term, RA 12252 introduces robust requirements and strict limitations to protect national interests and ensure genuine investments. 

The law explicitly states that it applies only to foreigners with an approved and registered investment under existing Philippine laws, such as the Foreign Investments Act and the CREATE Act. 

Furthermore, the leased land must be used solely for the purpose of the approved investment, covering projects like industrial estates, factories, and tourism. In a key safeguard, the President of the Philippines reserves the right to impose a shorter lease period for investments in vital services or critical infrastructure if required for national security or priority government objectives.

The new law outlines severe penalties to deter misuse and encourage commitment. Lease agreements can be terminated automatically if the investment is withdrawn or if the leased area is used for unauthorized purposes. 

For tourism projects, a minimum investment of USD $5 million is required, with 70% of that capital mandated to be infused within three years. Lease contracts are also only renewable subject to the mutual agreement of the parties and the foreign lessee showing that it has made social and economic contributions to the Philippines. 

Those who violate the law, such as exceeding the 99-year limit or using the land contrary to existing laws, face a hefty fine of ₱1 million to ₱10 million, or imprisonment for six months to six years.

To guarantee the reliability of the contracts, the Act introduces the registration of the long-term lease with the Registry of Deeds as the "operative act" that makes the lease binding against third persons.

This process, which includes annotation on the Certificate of Title, provides a level of security akin to a Torrens title, meaning a registered lease contract cannot be subject to collateral attack or canceled outside of a direct legal proceeding. 

Moreover, the leasehold right may now be transferred, assigned, or used as security for a loan, a feature that enhances the investment's bankability and unlocks financing opportunities for major projects.

The rationale behind liberalizing land leases is a direct path to economic growth. By offering a stable, long-term tenure, the Philippines attracts large-scale, capital-intensive investments—from manufacturing facilities and agro-industrial centers to world-class tourism infrastructure. 

These large projects cannot be easily pulled out due to the nature of their long-term commitment, directly translating to sustained job creation across numerous sectors. 

Filipino workers can anticipate more stable and higher-quality employment opportunities, a boost in skills transfer, and a significant strengthening of the domestic economy through increased foreign capital, technology, and export capabilities.

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The Senate Finance Subcommittee brought the hammer down on Monday, resuming its intense scrutiny of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) proposed 2026 budget. 

At the heart of the controversy are a staggering 6,187 projects valued at P271 billion, all bearing a bright red flag. 

Senators sought immediate clarification on why these vital infrastructure plans were plagued by serious irregularities, including the mysterious absence of station numbers (making location impossible to verify), outright duplicate entries, and projects reappearing despite being fully funded in the previous year's budget. 

The sheer scale of the flagged funds has put immense pressure on public works officials to justify every peso before the budget is approved.

Facing the heat, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon defended the agency's validation efforts, assuring the committee that the most serious issues were being rapidly addressed. 

He pushed back against the suggestion that thousands of projects were simply duplicates, confirming that they had already verified a significant portion of the listings. 

Addressing the accusations head-on, Secretary Dizon reported that almost 800 seemingly repetitive projects were verified as legitimate continuations, and over 4,000 of the projects initially lacking station numbers have since been corrected.

Despite the progress, the DPWH requested more time to fully justify the balance of the controversial budget items, pushing against a looming Senate deadline. 

This prompted the legislature to issue a warning: any project not satisfactorily accounted for would be immediately removed from the 2026 spending plan. 

Acknowledging the gravity of the situation and the pressure for accountability, Secretary Dizon signaled his acceptance of the Senate’s authority over the matter, submitting to their timetable by stating: "Kung sabihin niyo po Mr Chairman na hanggang kahapon na lang then please feel free to remove the other projects."

Beyond the budget list itself, the hearing also addressed public complaints about redundant and unnecessary road works. Senator Erwin Tulfo called out the recurring issue of newly-paved roads being dug up and repaved repeatedly. 

The DPWH Secretary conceded that this has been a long-standing public concern, but assured the committee that immediate action has been taken to stop the practice. 

In a move to enforce discipline and create clear guidelines, Secretary Dizon confirmed the nationwide suspension: "But for your information po senator pinahinto na po namin as of October 7 ang lahat ng rebracking activities nationwide muna." 

The final decision on the P271 billion remains on a razor's edge, highlighting the intense battle between infrastructure needs and fiscal integrity.

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