MAIFIP

The Bicameral Conference Committee approves the budget increase of P51 billion for 2026 for
the Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program

The MAIFIP aid can be used in both private and public hospitals, regardless of the nature of the
illness

It covers medicines, services, and other medical products

The House of Representatives initially proposed a P49-billion budget for the program but the
Senate version slashed it to P29 billion

However, House committee on appropriations chairperson Mikaela Suansing said the cut affect
over a million beneficiaries

The Department of Health clarifies it removed the need for indigent patients to request a
guarantee letter from politicians to avail the program

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POSITION: DOH Assistance Secretary

NAME: Albert Domingo

“Pag pumunta po kayo sa mga malalaking level 3 hospitals ng mga Local Government Unit, ay
di niyo na kailangan magpakita ng proof na indigent, di niyo na rin kailangang magmakaawa sa
kahit sinong politiko, or kahit sa DOH. Basta nandon ho kayo sa LGU level 3 hospital, ward
accommodation, bayad na ang bill mo.”

Senator Kiko Pangilinan suggests establishing a safeguard to prevent a political patronage

FLOOD CONTROL

Senate Finance Committee Chair Sherwin Gatchalian says the bicameral conference committee
postponed the resumption of its hearing due to a deadlock over the 2026 budget of the
Department of Public Works and Highways
The DPWH urges bicam to restore P45B budget cut across 10,000 projects due to reductions
based on the Construction Materials Price Data (CMPD)

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon insists the CMPD should be applied on a per-project basis, citing
that the costs of construction materials vary according to location

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POSITION: DPWH SECRETARY

NAME: VINCE DIZON

“Some projects require more cement, some require more steel, while others require more
gravel. It depends on the [POW].”

If committee fails to restore the P45 billion budget cut for its proposed 10,000 projects the
implementation of the agency’s projects for next year are affected

Dizon suggests that the DPWH do the budget cut of projects based on their respective project of
works

JOSEPH SY

ART CARD: SY-NESE NATIONAL

HEADLINE BANNER: TRUE IDENTITY

The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency confirms Mining Executive Joseph Sy is a Chinese
national

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported that the fingerprints appearing on Sy’s Philippine
passport matched Chinese national, Chen Zhong Zhen, who applied for amnesty under the Alien
Social Integrated Act
Sy was able to join the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary and gain access to sectors such as
mining and resource extraction

Senator Ria Hontiveros questioned how Sy acquired Filipino citizenship and whether his identity
was legally obtained

In the next hearing, Hontiveros wants to order a subpoena on Sy’s child because its birth
certificate reveals that its parents are Chinese nationals

HEADLINE: REPRESENTATIVE DE LIMA AND A GROUP SAY MULTIPLE CHARGES FILED AGAINST
VICE PRESIDENT DUTERTE RENEW IMPEACHMENT COMPLAINT

ART CARD: NEW IMPEACHMENT COMPLAINT

HEADLINE BANNER: HOLD ACCOUNTABLE

LOWERTHIRDS: DE LIMA AND A GROUP SAY PLUNDER, OTHER CHARGES FILED AGAINST VP
DUTERTE AND 15 OTHERS WAY TO A NEW IMPEACHMENT COMPLAINT

LEAD IN: LEILA DE LIMA AND A GROUP SAY THE NEW COMPLAINTS FILED AGAINST VICE
PRESIDENT SARA DUTERTE AND 15 OTHERS PAVE THE WAY FOR A NEW IMPEACHMENT
COMPLAINT

MAMAMAYANG LIBERAL PARTY LIST REPRESENTATIVE LEILA DE LIMA AND A GROUP SAY THE
NEW COMPLAINTS FILED AGAINST VICE PRESIDENT SARA DUTERTE AND 15 OTHERS OVER THE
ALLEGED MISUSE OF P612.5-MILLION CONFIDENTIAL FUND COULD BE USED FOR A NEW
IMPEACHMENT COMPLAINT AGAINST HER COME FEBRUARY 2026

THE CHARGES FILED ARE PLUNDER, BRIBERY, MALVERSATION, GRAFT, GROSS VIOLATION OF THE
CONSTITUTION AND BETRAYAL OF PUBLIC TRUST

INSERT GRAPHICS: CHARGES FILED

BROKEN DOWN, THE AMOUNT COVERS P500 MILLION CONFIDENTIAL FUNDS ALLOCATED TO
OVP IN 2022 AND 2023 AND P112.5 TO DEPED
INSERT GRAPHICS: CONFIDENTIAL FUND BROKEN DOWN

DUTERTE CLAIMS THIS IS A DIVERSION TACTIC TO COVER BUDGET ALLOCATIONS BEFORE THE
2026 NATIONAL BUDGET IS PASSED

INSERT GRAPHICS: SARA DUTERTE STATEMENT

IN A PRESS BRIEFING, TEACHER SHELALYN BAUN CALLS THE GOVERNMENT TO EFFECTIVELY

POSITION: CHARGEN

CHARGEN: SHELALYN BAUN

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CUE IN: ISA…

CUE OUT: …NIYO

HEADLINE: SENATOR BAM WARNS SENATE ABOUT ALLEGED PLAN TO SLASH EDUCATION
BUDGET IN BICAM

ART CARD: EDUCATION BUDGET

HEADLINE BANNER: BUDGET CUT

LOWERTHIRDS: AQUINO WARNS AGAINST ALLEGED PLOT TO REDUCE P1.38-T 2026 EDUCATION
FUND DURING BICAM

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CHARGEN: BAM AQUINO

POSITION: BASIC EDUCATION SENATE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

THE EDUCATION SECTOR RECEIVES THE BIGGEST BUDGET ALLOCATION EVERY YEAR

HE SAID THERE ARE REPORTS THAT THE EDUCATION BUDGET IS REDUCED TO FUND OTHER
PROGRAMS

THE SENATE ALLOCATED OVER P65 BILLION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN ESTIMATED 30,000
CLASSROOMS, P37 BILLION FOR THE FREE COLLEGE LAW, P30 BILLION FOR ALLOWANCES OF 1.5
MILLION UNDERPRIVILEGED UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, INCLUDING 490,000 LEARNERS FROM THE
PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM, AND P27 BILLION FOR THE SCHOOL-BASED
FEEDING PROGRAM

INSERT GRAPHICS: 2026 NATIONAL EDUCATION BUDGET

STANDUPPER: THE PHILIPPINE EDUCATION BUDGET FOR 2026 IS INCREASED BY APPROXIMATELY

INSERT GRAPHICS: 2025-2026 EDUCATION BUDGET COMPARISON

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SENATOR AQUINO CALLS FOR STRICT MONITORING TO GUARANTEE THAT THE FUND REMAINS
INTACT UNTIL THE PRESIDENT SIGNS THE 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET

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CUE IN: BANTAYAN…