NAVOTAS City Rep. Toby Tiangco has called on Manila 6th District Rep. Benny Abante Jr. to stop spreading fake news in his attempt to defend the small committee that mangled the 2025 national budget.
“Nakalulungkot na kailangan pang magpakalat ng fake news si Cong. Abante para lang ipagtanggol ang small committee na tumalakay sa 2025 budget na pinamunuan ni Cong. Zaldy Co,” Tiangco said.
He then reminded Abante to be more circumspect in issuing statements, correcting the latter’s claim that he had only recently raised issues on the budget process recently.
“Madali naman mag-research. For the record, I questioned the budget process in 2012, 2014, and 2015. After that, napagod na ako and admittedly hindi na ako nag-question kasi tulad ngayon, independent din ako noon at maa-outvote lang ako,” Tiangco explained.
The 2025 GAA has been described as the worst budget in history.
Amendments were made twice: first, by the small committee composed of only four members of the House of Representatives, and second, by the bicam composed of contingents from both the House and the Senate.
While the bicam has a signed report, the small committee has yet to furnish one. According to Tiangco, this means either “no report exists or it is being deliberately withheld and at this point, only Cong. Zaldy Co can answer this.”
Navotas, Action ink MOA for school-based feeding project
Mayor John Reynald Tiangco said the local government has entered into a partnership with A Child’s Trust Is Ours to Nurture, Inc. for the establishment of a community-based kitchen at the Tanza Elementary School.
Tiangco and ACTION founder and president Hajime Yokota signed the memorandum of understanding formalizing the collaboration, which seeks to improve the health and nutrition of 100 select children from the public school through the Akamegane Kitchen Project.
Named after its founding supporter, Japanese comedian and TV host Ryota Yamasato, the Akamegane Kitchen began operations on August 28, 2025.
“We welcome this partnership with ACTION, Inc. and its supporters. Proper nutrition plays a vital role in learning, and through this project, we hope to give our children a better chance to achieve their full potential,” Tiangco said.
The project will run until August 2028, with both parties conducting annual assessments to determine its impact and sustainability.
