Jasha Gamao

MANILA – Malacañang brushed off Vice President Sara Duterte’s formal announcement of her 2028 presidential bid, saying it was long expected. 

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro clarified in her press briefing on Thursday, February 19, that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remains undeterred by the development. 

"Hindi naman po kasindak-sindak 'yung paga-announce na siya ay tatakbo sa pagkapangulo dahil ramdam na ramdam na po, even before, ang kanyang pangangampanya sa labas.” Castro said.

She added that the Vice President’s intentions had been clear for some time, making the official declaration more of a formality than a surprise.

“So, hindi po nakakagulat na siya ay mag-announce na siya’y tatakbo,” Castro continued.

"Therefore, it is not alarming that she announced that she will run [for President],” Castro told reporters, emphasizing that the Palace had long observed Duterte’s active movements across the country. 

According to the Press Officer, the Vice President’s "campaign-like" activities on the ground were evident well before the announcement, removing any element of surprise. 

The Palace stressed that the administration remains focused on its current mandate despite the early stirrings in the political landscape.

PASAY CITY – The Senate of the Philippines greenlit several landmark measures on Wednesday, February 18, aimed at uplifting the country’s most vulnerable sectors. 

During Session No. 46, lawmakers passed Senate Bill No. 1624 on final reading, establishing the Congressional Commission on Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Security (AGRICOM) to modernize and strengthen the country’s agricultural policies. 

The chamber also approved SBN-1629, which mandates the establishment of multi-faith prayer and quiet rooms in public spaces, and SBN-155, a reform measure aimed at reducing "red tape" for indigent Filipinos seeking emergency government financial assistance.

Beyond these approvals, the Senate resumed floor debates on two other priority bills. 

SBN-1508 seeks to empower the Department of Health (DOH) to directly manage hospital bed capacity to prevent overcrowding, while SBN-1822 aims to expand inclusive support systems for persons on the autism spectrum. 

These measures signal a proactive legislative push to ensure that essential government services, from food security and healthcare to social support, remain accessible and responsive to the needs of marginalized Filipinos.

PASAY CITY – Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan and the Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform took a major step on Wednesday, February 18, to address years of systemic neglect, tackling a suite of bills aimed at protecting Filipino small-scale fishermen. 

The hearing highlighted a dual-front crisis: continued harassment by the Chinese Coast Guard and illegal encroachment by large Philippine commercial vessels into municipal waters. 

Lawmakers stressed that these "frontline heroes" of food security have long endured from both foreign aggression and local industrial overreach, underscoring the need for a legislative shield to restore their livelihood and dignity.

To deliver immediate relief and long-term structural change, the committee discussed the Municipal Fisherfolk Protection Act and the Pantawid Pambangka Act, which seeks to provide essential fuel subsidies amid rising costs. 

The legislative package also includes the Bantay Dagat Welfare and Incentives Act to strengthen local sea patrols, and a proposal to elevate the current fisheries bureau into a full-fledged Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. 

By amending the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, the Senate aims to institutionalize these protections, ensuring that the country’s most vulnerable sector receives not just temporary aid, but a permanent voice at the economic table.

PASAY CITY – Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown signaled increasing demand for Filipino professionals during a courtesy meeting with Senator Raffy Tulfo on February 18.

Highlighting the strong track record of the 400,000 Filipinos currently in Australia, the ambassador said the country is aggressively seeking more nurses and skilled workers to strengthen its healthcare and technical sectors. 

The partnership is also expanding into education, with new initiatives allowing Filipino post-graduate scholars to work and bring their families to Australia, while ensuring they return home with specialized skills in critical fields like agriculture.

Beyond labor cooperation, the meeting underscored a growing strategic alliance marked by defense and economic commitments. 

Ambassador Innes-Brown cited the expansion of Australian investments in Philippine infrastructure and renewable energy, a move projected to generate 45,000 local jobs. 

Senator Tulfo also expressed gratitude for Australia’s donation of drones to the Philippine Coast Guard, noting their role in enhancing maritime security and territorial monitoring in the West Philippine Sea. 

Both officials pledged to further strengthen ties, focusing on regional stability and shared economic growth.

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PASAY CITY – The Senate of the Philippines greenlit several landmark measures on Wednesday, February 18, aimed at uplifting the country’s most vulnerable sectors. 

During Session No. 46, lawmakers passed Senate Bill No. 1624 on final reading, establishing the Congressional Commission on Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Security (AGRICOM) to modernize and strengthen the country’s agricultural policies. 

The chamber also approved SBN-1629, which mandates the establishment of multi-faith prayer and quiet rooms in public spaces, and SBN-155, a reform measure aimed at reducing "red tape" for indigent Filipinos seeking emergency government financial assistance.

Beyond these approvals, the Senate resumed floor debates on two other priority bills. 

SBN-1508 seeks to empower the Department of Health (DOH) to directly manage hospital bed capacity to prevent overcrowding, while SBN-1822 aims to expand inclusive support systems for persons on the autism spectrum. 

These measures signal a proactive legislative push to ensure that essential government services, from food security and healthcare to social support, remain accessible and responsive to the needs of marginalized Filipinos.