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Politics

RETAIN 2% SPECIAL TAX RATE FOR MICRO ENTREPRENEURS UNDER PIFITA – GATCHALIAN

Senator Win Gatchalian expressed his opposition to the proposed repeal of the 2% special tax rate for microfinance non-government organizations (NGOs) under the Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act (PIFITA), the fourth tranche of the Department of Finance’s (DoF) comprehensive tax reform program. Gatchalian said microfinance NGOs have been instrumental in providing low-interest, no […]

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Politics

ELECTRIC VEHICLES TO CREATE P490-B SAVINGS PER YEAR – GATCHALIAN

Senator Win Gatchalian expressed optimism that the Electric Vehicles and Charging Station Act may help slash the country’s oil consumption by as much as 146.56 million barrels per year and allow for $9.8 billion or ₱490 billion in savings each year, if implemented correctly. The measure seeks to require private and public buildings and establishments […]

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Politics

ELECTRIFICATION OF ALL PUBLIC PRIMARY, SECONDARY SCHOOLS NEEDED – GATCHALIAN

Senator Win Gatchalian has filed Senate Resolution No. 330 to conduct an inquiry on the electrification of public primary and secondary schools across the country. A September 2019 data from the Department of Education (DepEd) showed that there were 1,664 public primary and secondary schools nationwide that remain unenergized, affecting a total of 380,529 students. […]

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Politics

GOV’T NEEDS TO STOCKPILE FACE MASKS, STRATEGIC MEDICAL SUPPLIES – GORDON

For the country to survive pandemics or epidemics such as the Coronavirus Disease – 2019 (COVID-19) threat, Senator Dick Gordon stressed the need for the government to stockpile face masks, medical gowns and personal protective equipment (PPE) and other strategic medical supplies. During the first hearing conducted by the Committee on Government Corporations and Public […]

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SENATE OKS BILL CREATING ENERGY THINK TANK – GATCHALIAN

The Senate is close to approve on third and final reading a bill creating the Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute (PERPI), the country’s first energy think tank that could bridge research and policy gaps in the energy sector. As the original proponent of the PERPI, Senator Win Gatchalian said energy is one of the […]

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Politics

CHARTER CHANGE NEEDED FOR SENATE TO PARTICIPATE IN TREATY ABROGATION – PIMENTEL

The Constitution may have to be amended if the Senate wants to have a say in the abrogation of a treaty, Senator Koko Pimentel III said. In an interview, Pimentel said the framers of the 1987 Constitution had taken the time to put the provision on the Senate’s participation in the ratification of a treaty […]

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Politics

SUSPEND POGO FIRMS – VILLANUEVA

The allegations of a new racket involving payouts to immigration officers at the NAIA by travel agencies representing foreign workers only show that “happy days are back for the corrupt,” according to Senator Joel Villanueva. Villanueva reiterated the pressing need for suspending Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGO) given the latest incident involving the Bureau of […]

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REVIEW ALL LAWS, PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH – ANGARA

Senator Sonny Angara is pushing for a review of the various programs for the youth to see if these have been effective and to determine the next steps needed to further empower this sector of society. As the chairman of the Committee on Youth, Angara filed Senate Resolution 320 to evaluate the efficacy of all […]

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Politics

INCREASE PENALTY FOR PERJURY – GORDON

Senator Dick Gordon said the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, which he chairs, has approved bills proposing to increase the penalty for the crime of perjury to ensure that the justice system will be respected and no one will mock it. During the committee hearing conducted recently, Gordon pointed out that offenders are not […]

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Politics

DTI GETS INCREASE IN 2020 BUDGET – ANGARA

The government is stepping up efforts to improve the quality of products and services produced in the country in order to boost demand, not only domestically, but globally with an increase in the budget of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in 2020. To carry out initiatives intended to support this effort, Senator Sonny […]