AS part of his vow to continuously support his constituents including the vulnerable sectors, Caloocan City Mayor Along Malapitan has distributed a total of 106 ‘Bigasan’ Livelihood Packages to persons with disability, senior citizens, solo parents, returning Overseas Filipino Workers and home-based workers.
The livelihood package consists of six sacks of rice along with other business essentials, with the aim of giving its recipients a stable source of income.
In addition, three more beneficiaries received sewing machines and other tailoring materials while another one was provided with a barbecue business package.
The youthful Malapitan acknowledged the challenges faced by members of vulnerable sectors in finding dignified and adequate livelihood and expressed his administration’s initiative of being able to concretely address these concerns in a long-term manner.
“Kaya naman mula noong nagsimula ang ating unang termino, regular nating binibigyan sila ng prayoridad pati mga magulang ng child laborers na magkaroon ng sarili nilang pagkakakitaan, bukod pa sa pag-aalis ng mga sistemang nagdi-diskrimina sa kanila,” the son of equally competent and dedicated ex-mayor and now District 1 Rep. Oscar Malapitan said.
First step to budget reform
Veteran Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco has doubled down his challenge to the House Committee on Appropriations to fully disclose all amendments made by the small committee to the 2025 national budget, calling it the essential first step toward genuine budget reform.
Before discussing the 2026 budget, Congress must first come clean on how the 2025 budget was altered.
“Sa lahat ng bagay, bago ka humingi ng bagong budget, dapat ipakita mo muna ‘yong paggastos sa nakaraang budget. Bago pag-usapan ang 2026 budget, dapat lang na ipakita muna ang 2025 small committee amendments,” Tiangco said.
Cautioning residents over under repair navigational gate
The Navotas lawmaker has appealed to residents to temporarily refrain from passing through the river channel on their boats to give way to repair works on the Tangos-Tanza Navigation Gate.
“Humihiling po ang DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) at ang kanilang contractor ng 3-araw na pagbabawal sa pagdaan ng mga bangka at barko sa Tangos River channel para magsagawa ng iba’t-ibang napakahalagang maintenance at repair work sa nasirang navigational gate,” Tiangco said.
The navigational floodgate was damaged in July 2024 and it collapsed again earlier this year that forced residents including those in neighboring cities to endure massive flooding and displacement.
