PRESIDENT Arroyo (top photo) delivers her State of the Nation Address at the Batasang Pambansa, where Senate President Manny Villar and House Speaker Prospero Nograles led an audience of lawmakers, Executive officials and diplomats. She defended the highly criticized expanded value-added tax as a “shield” against global developments, reiterating that she would do what it takes to uphold national interest even if it makes her more unpopular. Above, protesters mass up outside on Commonwealth Avenue as Mrs. Arroyo addresses Congress. --RHOY COBILLA, NONOY LACZA

Gas royalty eyed for rice fund

AGRICULTURE Secretary Arthur Yap is pushing for a P7-billion microfinance fund focused on rice farmers to boost production—P4 billion from the government’s Malampaya gas royalties and P3 billion from the value-added tax (VAT) on oil windfall revenues.

VAT-related spending anchor of Sona

PRESIDENT Arroyo on Monday bared her proposed shield from the “immediate blunt-force trauma of the global crisis,” largely funded by proceeds from the value-added tax (VAT) which she again defended and vowed to keep regardless of its repercussions on her already record-low approval ratings.

Business reacts: Focus was unclear going forward

SEVERAL businessmen and analysts were disappointed with President Arroyo’s address to Congress, describing it as something that delved more into what has been done, instead of what needs to be done in the face of the global crises on food and fuel. Those who expressed satisfaction said most of her data on accomplishments are credible, and her call to action on the food-fuel crises deserves support.

Zamora: Sona left out some truths, like Jakarta VAT cut

AS expected, this year’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Arroyo etched deeper the dividing lines between those for her and those against her. 

Telcos cut SMS rates by half as NTC reviews situation

THE SMS or text-messaging rate from any network to any other mobile-phone network has been slashed by half to 50 centavos. The catch is that it will only be effective for three months.

‘Itchy’ ambitions in Senate coup plot

SENATE President Manuel Villar confirmed on Monday a brewing plot by some disgruntled senators to oust him, but said he is confident the alleged plotters could not muster the minimum 13 votes needed to install a new Senate leader.

Senate fast-tracks bills to address fuel and food crises

THE Senate reconvened on Monday to start the second regular session of the 14th Congress, with senators crossing party lines to affirm a bipartisan resolve to speed up passage of priority measures aimed at alleviating the impact of the “twin tsunamis”—the rapidly rising fuel and food prices.

Scrap Jelac, avoid legal fiasco–Nene

SEEKING to avert an awkward situation, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. is pushing to dissolve the Judicial, Executive and Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council (Jelac) days before its first meeting set to be hosted by the senators this week.

GSIS-as-CTPL-provider program halted by CA

THE Court of Appeals (CA) has issued a 60-day temporary restraining order (TRO) enjoining the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC)  from implementing its order anointing the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) as the lone provider of Compulsory Third-Party Liability (CTPL) insurance for private motor vehicles in the country.

Hearings set on cheap drugs IRR

THE newly enacted law on cheaper medicines is now in the process of being implemented by the government, beginning with tackling its more controversial provisions that touch on patent protection. Public hearings by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IP Phils.) will start on Tuesday.

Qantas flight passengers interviewed

IN light of complaints by passengers of the Qantas B747 that made an emergency landing in Manila on Friday that some of them nearly lost consciousness owing to malfunctioning overhead oxygen masks, the Australian National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is asking these passengers to clarify their reports that found their way in the newspapers.

WB wants DENR to reduce staff

DESPITE its meager resources, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is considered by the World Bank as one of the largest public-sector employers in the Philippines.

Pedestrians walk under the concrete awning of a China Banking Corp. branch in Makati City. The bank got approval from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to issue up to P5 billion worth of long-term negotiable certificates of deposit. --NONIE REYES