The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) have assured the public of heightened security and extensive preparations for the Feast of the Black Nazarene in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure a peaceful, safe, and meaningful Traslacion for millions of devotees.

In a Palace press briefing on Wednesday, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said security preparations are in full swing for the upcoming Feast of the Black Nazarene on January 9.

“Alinsunod sa direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na panatilihing payapa at makabuluhan ang idaraos na Traslacion, nakaalerto ang pwersa ng PNP, DILG at ibang ahensya ng gobyerno upang siguruhin ang kaligtasan ng mga dadalo sa nasabing kaganapan,” said Castro.

The Palace Press Officer said around 18,200 uniformed personnel will be deployed to secure key areas in Manila during the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

“Makakaasa sa increased police presence and visibility ang mga debotong lalahok sa Traslacion lalo na sa tatlong major areas: sa Quirino Grandstand, sa buong ruta na daraanan na prusisyon, at sa Quiapo Church na huling destinasyon ng imahe ng Poong Nazareno,” Castro said.

For added security, the PNP will implement no-fly zones and set up cell phone signal jammers near the Traslacion areas, according to Castro.

“Nagpaalala naman ang DILG sa mga lalahok na maging alerto at iwasang magdala ng mga matatalim at nakakasugat na bagay, mga paputok at pyrotechnic devices, mga lalagyang babasagin at iba pang ipinagbabawal na kagamitan,” she added.

Castro said authorities also reminded the public that carrying firearms and other weapons is strictly prohibited under the gun ban currently in effect in Manila.

The Palace Press Officer also noted that PNP Chief Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartates Jr. has directed police personnel to remain alert, calm, and humane while carrying out their duties during the celebration.

“Nawa’y maging matiwasay, ligtas at makabuluhan ang selebrasyon ng Pista ng Poong Nazareno para sa lahat ng deboto,” said Castro.

Malacañang has declared January 9, 2026, a special non-working day in Manila City to ensure the orderly observance of the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

The Manila city government has also suspended classes in all levels and work in local government offices on that day in observance of the Feast of the Black Nazarene. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday reminded the newly promoted generals and flag officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to lead with integrity and act as responsible stewards of the nation’s resources.

President Marcos led the oath-taking ceremony in Malacañan Palace for the newly promoted 37 generals and flag officers of the AFP and the lone commissioned graduate of Foreign Pre-Commissioned Training Institutions (FPCTI).

In his speech, President Marcos reiterated the government’s commitment to uphold the welfare of the nation’s protectors with the recent signing of the PhP6.793 trillion National Budget for Fiscal Year 2026.

The President cited his order in December updating the base pay schedule and increasing the subsistence allowance for military and uniformed personnel.

President Marcos said in addition to their duty as the nation’s protectors, the military also has the responsibility of safeguarding public resources.

“More than your role as the protectors of our nation, you must also be among the faithful stewards who guard public resources,” the President directed.

“Be among those who ensure that every peso translates into capability, preparedness, and integrity,” added the President.

Congratulating the newly promoted officials, the Chief Executive said they bear greater responsibilities with their higher rank even as their mission remains unchanged.

“Your higher rank demands sharper judgment and steadier leadership, especially in an era of complex threats, rising geopolitical tensions, and heightened security concerns for our country,” said the President.

“Ang halaga ng isang tunay na pinuno ay nasusukat sa tamang asal at magandang halimbawa na kaniyang ipinapakita, hindi sa taas ng kaniyang ranggo,” the President reminded.

President Marcos also acknowledged the officers’ families who serve as their main source of strength.

Malacañang has declared this Friday, January 9, 2026, a special non-working day in Manila City to ensure the orderly observance of the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

Under Proclamation No. 1126 signed on January 6, the Palace said millions of devotees are expected to flock to the Quiapo Church and the City of Manila during the Feast of the Black Nazarene on January 9.

The proclamation cited the request of the City of Manila to declare January 9 a special non-working day to ensure the orderly procession of devotees and to facilitate the flow of traffic.

“Now, therefore, I, Ralph G. Recto, Acting Executive Secretary, by authority of the President, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. do hereby declare Friday, 09 January 2026, a special (non-working) day in the City of Manila,” the proclamation said. | PND

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is presenting to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. the guidelines for the cash-based Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program, which will target low- to middle-income families.

“Mayroon siyang PhP634 million to cover 20,000 slots and this is across the country. We are scheduled to present the guidelines mamaya kay President BBM kasi ito ang kanyang number one na ibinigay sa amin sa bagong administrasyon ng CHED,” CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley Agrupis said in a Palace press briefing on Tuesday.

The merit-based scholarship encourages students to enroll in the government’s priority programs either in private or state-funded universities and colleges.

Scholars enrolling in state universities and colleges (SUCs) in Metro Manila could get a PhP25,000 per-semester stipend and a PhP4,000 book and connectivity allowance, for a total per-semester benefit of PhP29,000, Agrupis said. The stipend is lower for scholars enrolled in SUCs outside the National Capital Region.

Those studying in private universities within NCR can receive a tuition fee subsidy of PhP75,000, a PhP25,000 stipend, and a PhP4,000 book and connectivity allowance.

The total annual support for students enrolling in private universities is set at PhP208,000 for those in the NCR and PhP98,000 for students outside the NCR.

The slot selection will be done per region, determined by the formula developed by CHED, Agrupis explained.

“We already have here the number of senior high schools per region, and then we designated the top five (students), kasi this is, I call it the triple A scholarship program, based on the general weighted average, iyong top five ang kukunin namin,” she said.

“Mayroon na po silang pag-asa na matupad ang kanilang mga ambisyon at makatulong sa pagbuo ng Bagong Pilipinas,” Agrupis also said. | PND

Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara said the department’s record-high budget allocation will allow the historic hiring of 65,100 teaching and non-teaching plantilla personnel, as well as the long-awaited promotion of approximately 100,000 public school teachers.

In a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday, Angara thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as well as Congress for the PhP1.015 trillion Deped budget under the PhP6.793 trillion national budget for 2026.

Angara said the lack of career advancement has been a major reason why many public school teachers leave.

“Pero dito sa binigay na budget—kaya nga unprecedented din po in terms of promotions—kasi makakapag-promote tayo ng over 100,000 (public school teachers) with the budget given by Congress this year,” Angara said.

Under the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) implemented under Angara’s leadership, DepEd has promoted 16,025 teachers, with 41,183 more teachers processed for the next batch of promotion.

“Ito iyong rason kung bakit umaalis ang ating mga teachers, dahil sa pakiramdam po nila hindi sila na-appreciate ng pamahalaan, hindi sila napo-promote nang husto – halos isang dekada hindi na-promote, hindi tumataas ang suweldo,” Angara explained.

The 30 percent increase in the DepEd’s budget was the biggest increase he has seen in his political career, Angara said.

For the first time, the country met the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) global benchmark for education spending that recommends that countries allocate at least 4 to 6 percent of the Gross Domestic Product or GDP to education.

With its historic budget, Angara said DepEd will boost spending on very important programs, such as the School-based Feeding Program whose budget increased from PhP3 billion last year to over PhP25 billion this year.

The DepEd will also fully fund the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program that provides free tutorials and learning interventions to help struggling students catch up to grade-level standards, especially in Math, Science, and Reading.

“For the first time, binigyan po tayo ng PhP9 billion so lahat po ng eskuwelahan mayroon na tayong tutor under the ARAL Program,” Angara said.

The 2026 DepEd budget also allocated funds for the construction of 24,000 classrooms, far exceeding the original allocation of 5,000 to 6,000 new classrooms.

Angara said for the first time, classroom construction will no longer be undertaken solely by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“So ngayon, mayroon tayong flexibility provision na aside from DPWH, even DepEd, even local government units… And the majority of the projected 20,000 plus classrooms will be built by our local government units or bidded out by our local government units,” said Angara. | PND

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Jose Francisco Benitez on Tuesday expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. after TESDA received the highest budget allocation in its history following the approval of the 2026 national budget.

“Magpapasalamat na rin ako dahil ang budget po ng TESDA para sa 2026 ay ang pinakamalaking budget po ng TESDA sa amin din pong kasaysayan,” Benitez said in a Palace press briefing.

“We have PhP19 billion in terms of scholarship funds for the first time, kasali na diyan ang aming ongoing efforts on training child development workers nationwide,” the TESDA chief added.

Benitez said training for 9,000 child development workers is already underway, with funding for an additional 9,000 such workers included in the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), as promised by the Office of the President, as part of efforts to help address stunting in the country.

He added that the TESDA budget also covers the rollout of the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) program signed by the President and launched last year.

According to Benitez, over 400 EBET programs were registered in the second half of 2025, and the agency aims to reach nearly 100,000 EBET learners in 2026.

“Nagdagdag din po ng pondo ang ating mahal na Pangulo sa EBET program sa pamamagitan po ng ating Tulong Trabaho sa scholarship program for those particularly not in education, employment, or training, as well as upskilling for those already employed as part of EBET,” he noted.

Benitez said PhP500 million was also included in the GAA for micro-credentials designed for workers to earn modular certifications for specific skills, as well as for programs aimed at mitigating artificial intelligence (AI) disruption in the labor workforce.

The funding also comes from the Office of the President, he added. | PND

Malacañang on Tuesday expressed confidence that the 2026 national budget is legally sound and fully intended to benefit the Filipino people.

“Confident sila na ang ginawa ngayon na budget ang pinaka-malinis, pinaka-maayos at ito ay para sa taumbayan. So, confident po ang Pangulo,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a Palace press briefing.

Castro made the comment in response to reports that some individuals plan to raise questions before the Supreme Court regarding the remaining unprogrammed appropriations in the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), which President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed on Monday.

Castro said that while anyone has the right to file a case before the Supreme Court, the administration is prepared to respond to any petition challenging the constitutionality of this part of the 2026 national budget.

“Of course, kapag sila ay nag-file ng petition sasagot naman po ang administrasyon at tingnan na lamang natin kung ano ang magiging resulta at magiging desisyon ng Korte Suprema,” said Castro. | PND

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the 40.11 percent increase in its budget, now totaling PhP47 billion, which will expand government support for free tuition and financial assistance for college students.

In a Palace briefing on Tuesday, CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis said the budget increase is an indication of President Marcos’ commitment towards fully implementing the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Law and improving Filipinos’ access to higher education.

“We are really very grateful kasi lahat po ng pangako ng ating Pangulo sa SONA 2025 ay na-realize na at marami talagang pasalamat kami sa kaniya kasi ngayon lang po namin nakita. Ako po ay nandoon sa Higher Education for the last 20 years pero ngayon ko lang nakita kung gaano kapursigido ang ating Pangulo sa pagpapatupad ng mga nakalaan sa ating UniFAST Law,” Agrupis said.

Of the PhP47 billion budget, Agrupis said that PhP40 billion is allocated for the implementation of the UniFAST Law, which includes the free higher education or free tuition fee for all students enrolling in state-funded universities, local universities, and colleges, and assistance to students who are going to enroll in private universities in areas without public higher education institutions.

Agrupis added that the budget hike will also help in providing tertiary education subsidies to students in need.

“On top of that, may mga tertiary education subsidy. Nagagalak po ako na lahat po ng ongoing na enrolled ng state-funded university at mga tertiary education na subsidy na kulang noong NEP ay nabigyan na po,” she reported.

The CHED official also said that funding for the Medical Scholarship and Return Service Program (MSRS) increased, which will help support the administration’s goal of establishing at least one medical school in every region to improve nationwide healthcare access.

“Iyong mga medical students natin kasi sa ngayon, we have 26 college of medicine and our target—ang target ng Pangulo ay lahat ng region ay may college of medicine para atendahan ang kalusugan ng ating kapwa Pilipino. Tumaas po siya so both institutional and expansion of scholarship,” Agrupis said.

Agrupis also mentioned the Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program for Senior High School (SHS) who graduated with High to Highest Honors or those with a general weighted average of at least 95% and come from low- to middle-income households.

“We have 20,000 slots of this…Students who are encouraged to enroll in the priority program kahit private or state-funded, mayroon na po silang pag-asang matupad ang kanilang mga ambisyon at makatulong sa pagbuo ng Bagong Pilipinas,” Agrupis said.

“So, ito po lahat ay katuparan sa mga pangako ng ating Pangulo, sa kaniyang binitiwang promise during the SONA,” she added.

Agrupis said their agency, along with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), will work hard to functionalize the trifocal education system in the country.

“We will be providing a seamless pathway sa lahat at any point in their educational journey, wala pong maiiwan,” she said. | PND

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has assured the public that salary increases, pensions, and retirement benefits of government workers will not be delayed nor reduced under the 2026 national budget, Malacañang said on Tuesday, dismissing circulating claims of funding cuts as false and misleading.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the DBM emphasized that salaries, approved increases, and benefits of government employees remain intact, with funds fully allocated in the respective budgets of their agencies.

“Mayroon pong gustong linawin ang DBM. May kumakalat na balita na maaantala o maapektuhan daw ang salary increases at retirement benefits ng mga guro, kawani ng gobyerno at uniformed personnel sa 2026 national budget. Hindi po ito totoo. Walang tinanggal na pondo,” Castro said in a Palace press briefing.

Castro clarified that the funds were realigned to the appropriate agencies to ensure a more direct, faster, and more transparent release of benefits, particularly for uniformed personnel.

“Ang sinasabing PhP24 billion ay hindi binawas o kinansela, inilipat lang ito sa tamang ahensya para sa mas diretso, mas mabilis at mas malinaw na paglabas ng benepisyo lalo na para sa subsistence allowance ng uniformed personnel,” she said.

“Buong-buo ang sahod at salary increases. Ang salary increases ng kasalukuyang civilian employees at uniformed personnel ay nasa budget ng mga kani-kaniyang ahensya. Walang delay, walang bawas, walang mawawala,” the Palace Press Officer stressed.

“Hindi apektado ang pensyon ng uniformed personnel. Mananatiling buo ang pensyon, ang mga bagong magri-retire sa optional retirement ay dadaan pa rin sa umiiral na proseso,” Castro noted.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday signed the PhP6.793 trillion national budget for Fiscal Year 2026, sustaining the momentum in education reform, health protection, food security, social security, and job creation while strengthening safeguards against corruption.

Castro also assured the public that safeguards are in place to cover any additional requirements for personnel, citing dedicated allocations within the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) for Miscellaneous and Personnel Benefits Fund.

“Kung kailangan naman ng karagdagang pondo para sa mga uniformed personnel na sumasailalim sa optional retirement, meron po tayong nakaantabay na pension and gratuity fund sa GAA,” she added.

“Kung ang mga ito po ay magkulang, mayroon pa rin tayong contingent fund na maaaring matakbuhan. Huwag po tayo magpaninlang, ikalat natin ang katotohanan,” Castro said. | PND

“Hindi tayo papayag na mapunta sa kurakot ang salaping pinaghirapan ng bawat Pilipino.”

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday vowed to ensure that every peso of the PhP6.793-trillion 2026 national budget will be spent in ways that directly benefit the Filipino people.

In his speech during the signing of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the Fiscal Year 2026, President Marcos said that every program or project will undergo rigorous scrutiny to guarantee tangible results for Filipinos, particularly the most vulnerable sectors.

“Sa National Budget ng 2026, malinaw ang direksyon ng inyong pamahalaan: magiging mas masinop, mas maingat, at mas responsable kami sa paggastos ng pondo ng bayan,” the President said.

“Ang bawat programa at proyekto ay dadaan sa masusing pagsusuri upang masiguro na ito ay may malinaw na benepisyo sa mamamayan—lalo na sa sektor na higit na nangangailangan,” the President added.

The President has signed the PhP6.793 trillion 2026 national budget, which aims to sustain the country’s progress in education reform, health protection, food security, social security, and job creation.

President Marcos also assured that his administration will intensify efforts to improve government systems, strengthen accountability, and combat corruption.

The President likewise urged the public to actively participate in the said goals.

“Ang pagbabantay, ang pagtatanong, ang pag-uulat, at ang pakikilahok ay mahalagang bahagi ng isang gumaganang demokrasya. Kasama ninyo kami sa layuning tiyakin na ang budget ng bayan ay para sa bayan,” said President Marcos. | PND