The Sangguniang Panlalawigan has finally approved the 2026 budget of the provincial government, just two weeks before it would have been forced to use a reenacted budget.
This means the governor now has the go-signal to implement his administration’s programs, projects and activities as spelled out in the 20% Development Fund approved by the Catanduanes Development Council.
Now that the contentious budget issue is over and done with, the administration would have to do something about the provincial board’s denying with finality the appointment of two key Azanza officials: Provincial General Services Office head Senen Razal and Provincial Human Resources Management Officer Atty. Alyssa Anne Sanchez.
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According to one who moves around in political circles, there could be another reason behind the resignation of TGP Cong. Jose Teves Jr. as a member of the Board of Regents of the Catanduanes State University, being the designated alternate of the Chairperson of the House Committee on Higher Education, Rep. Jude Acidre.
In his March 18, 2026 letter to Acidre, the TGP representative said that due to equally important commitments, he may not fully represent the former in the CatSU Boatrd.
Teves, who heads the Party-List Coalition Foundation, Inc., said the group is prioritizing the Party-List Reform Bill and, as Deputy Majority Leader sitting in all committees as ex-officio member, he is expected to attend various committee meetings, including the Justice Committee where the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte is pending.
Incidentally, Rep. Acidre represents the Tingog Partylist, so they must have discussed the move prior to the formal resignation.
The source claims the three-termer TGP solon could be distancing himself from Gov. Patrick Alain Azanza, who also sits at the CatSU Board as representative of the high school alumni.
There are rumors that, if Peter Cua would not be running for governor in 2028, Teves is planning to step in but the sitting chief executive reportedly prefers a close ally for the post in case he runs against Cong. Eulogio Rodriguez.
Incidentally, again, Acidre has chosen Rodriguez as Teves’ replacement in the university governing board.
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Diesel will cost P123.70 per liter at Powerzone stations by the time this week’s staggered fuel price hikes ends by Thursday, March 19.
The island’s biggest fuel dealer follows Shell’s price adjustments, with gasoline price up by P16.60 per liter and kerosene by P6.90 per liter.
Seaoil, Petron and Total are implementing lower price adjustments.
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THE FROG, THE KISS, THE SURPRISE. A senior citizen was walking across a damp meadow when he heard a female voice say, “Sir, I would like to ask a great favor of you.”
He looked around and saw only a frog sitting on a grass pod. “I must be going nuts,” he thought, “There’s no one here.”
The voice then said, “Please, sir. Please help me.”
Again, all he saw was the frog which was looking straight at him.
“Who said that?” he asked rather loudly.
“I did, sir. I’m the frog. I was a beautiful 19-year-old princess but a witch put a spell on me. Please help me.”
The old man picked up the frog and held it in his hand.
“How can I help you?” he asked.
“The only thing that will break the spell is to have a man kiss me in the mouth. Please do it for me, and then I will again turn into a beautiful, sexy, princess, and I will really make you feel young again. I will make great love to you.”
The man closed his hand about the frog and stuffed it into his pocket. “At my age,” he said, “I’d rather have a talking frog.”