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Politics

Government Must Prioritize Labor Measures Amid Unemployment Rate Increase – VILLANUEVA

Senator Joel Villanueva has called for the immediate passage of significant labor measures in light of the current survey results of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) estimating a big increase on the number of jobless Filipinos in the last quarter of 2016. The survey reports that 25.1 percent of the 1,500 adult respondents have no […]

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Politics

Wider Access to Mental Health Care Needed – ANGARA

Senator Sonny Angara has joined the calls for the immediate passage of a bill that aims to establish a national mental health policy in the country to ensure that mental health care is made available even to ordinary Filipinos. In his co-sponsorship speech of Senate Bill 1354, Angara stressed that the government should heed the […]

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Politics

Free Tuition Policy in SUCs Not Anti-Poor -GATCHALIAN

The implementation of a free tuition policy in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) would significantly improve the financial position of working-class households that are struggling to cope with the high cost of tertiary education, Senator Win Gatchalian said on Wednesday as he scored critics for attempting to brand the policy as “anti-poor”. In a statement, […]

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Politics

We Need a Modern, Relevant Citizen Service Act for the Filipino Youth – PIMENTEL

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III filed a bill for mandatory training of Filipino college students for their possible mobilization in the service of the nation during times of emergencies and contingencies in the form of natural and man-made calamities and external and internal security threats. Senate Bill 1322, filed by Pimentel on February 9, […]

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Politics

Allow Mobile Phone Number Retention to Spur Telco Competition – PIMENTEL

With the Senate now conducting hearings on Senate Bill No. 1302, which seeks to extend the legislative franchise of Smart, the wireless subsidiary of PLDT, Inc., Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III is urging the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to step in and direct the country’s telcos to adopt Mobile Number Portabilty (MNP) to spur […]

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Government

Creation of a Philippine Space Agency is Much Needed – GUEVARRA

  The House committees on government reorganization and on science and technology are now jointly consolidating several proposals to create a Philippine space development and utilization policy and a Philippine Space Agency (PSA) in response to the growing need for a more secure and independent access to space. The two committees recently approved the creation […]

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Politics

Boost Competition in RE Sector to Lower Power Costs – GATCHALIAN

The time has come to foster greater competition in the domestic renewable energy industry to lower electricity costs for consumers, Senator Win Gatchalian declared on Monday. “Swift technological developments have brought us to the point where renewable energy sources can match the production and cost efficiency of conventional power sources such as coal, hydro, and […]

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Politics

Gov’t Agencies Must Converge, Prioritize Local Action Plans, Transition to Low Carbon Economy -LEGARDA

In anticipation of the country’s ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, Senator Loren Legarda today said that the convergence of all government agencies is crucial in addressing the impacts of climate change and transitioning towards a low carbon economy. “Now that all key agencies have expressed their concurrence in the government’s ratification of […]

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Politics

Boosting the Police Force’s Crime-Fighting Capabilities Would Also Benefit LGUs Across the Country – PIMENTEL

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III wants to bolster the police’s crime-fighting capabilities and discipline among the ranks through a “Balikatan-type” agreement with countries known to have advanced crime-solving and -fighting techniques. Pimentel, in a press statement today, did not rule out the United States, but said the annual military exercises between the US and […]

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Politics

House Pushes for Rubber Industry Board Creation – PANGANIBAN

The House committee on agriculture and food has approved the creation of a technical working group (TWG) that will finalize the bill seeking to create a Philippine Rubber Industry Development Board (PhilRubber) which shall be responsible mainly for the promotion, development and growth of the rubber industry by improving its quality and productivity, and expanding […]