Education is the great equalizer in society. It is the best way to guarantee that all Filipinos, regardless of station in life, get an equal opportun… - Francis Escudero

• Amendment in the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund and the Pension and Gratuity Fund, requiring the DBM to submit, within the first quarter, to Congress the amounts allocated to the Judicial Branch, Legislative Branch, Constitutional Commissions, and the Ombudsman, and that in no case shall releases to the said offices exceed the amount submitted to Congress also for purposes of utilizing these as savings to augment the budget of these constitutional offices;

After the 2nd World War, the Philippines had the second highest per capita GDP in Asia. Today, we have one of the lowest.

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues.