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Politics

KOKO BACKS UNIFIED PWD ID IMPLEMENTATION

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III expressed his support for the National Council on Disability Affairs’ (NCDA) push to implement a unified identification system for persons with disabilities (PWDs), a measure aimed at addressing the misuse of PWD IDs. The NCDA’s proposed system seeks to eliminate fraudulent issuance of PWD IDs to unqualified individuals.  […]

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Politics

POE BATS FOR MOTORCYCLES-FOR-HIRE LAW PASSAGE

Senator Grace Poe called for revved up action to pass the bill to legalize and regulate motorcycles-for-hire as a safe mode of transportation. “The motorcycle-for-hire bill has been through the long and winding road to passage. Our tank is full,” Poe said during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Services, which she previously […]

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Politics

GATCHALIAN: PROBE BANKS IN POGO MONEY LAUNDERING

Senator Win Gatchalian vowed to intensify inquiry into the possible involvement of banks and other financial institutions in money laundering cases linked to illegal activities of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). For instance, Gatchalian questioned why banks failed to flag P7 billion in transactions that enabled former Mayor Alice Guo and her cohorts to build […]

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Politics

SMUGGLING OF CIGARETTES, VAPES ALARMS GATCHALIAN

Senator Win Gatchalian sounded the alarm over the widespread smuggling and illicit trade of excisable products, including cigarettes and vapes, saying such activities erode revenue collection, pose health concerns, and create peace and order issues. “My worry is a reversal in smoking prevalence trends. We previously had a win-win situation where smoking prevalence was decreasing […]

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Politics

LEGARDA LAUDS SEAFARERS’ MAGNA CARTA IRR INKING

Senator Loren Legarda pins her hopes for better working conditions for Filipino seafarers, after the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of their Magna Carta was signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. recently. The signing of the IRR ensures the full implementation of this landmark legislation, which aims to safeguard the rights and welfare of […]

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Politics

VILLAFUERTE: GIVE PINOY SEAFARERS BETTER LEGAL AID

National Unity Party (NUP) president LRay Villafuerte is counting on better legal protection, cutting-edge training  plus other benefits for our estimated 700,000 mariners following the swift release of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers that aims to look after our sailors here and abroad from the time of their […]

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HELP REINTEGRATE OFWS PARDONED BY UAE – LEGARDA

Senator Loren Legarda welcomed the pardoning of 220 Filipinos detained in the United Arab Emirates by President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan last December. Legarda emphasized that while the pardon is a significant step forward, it must be accompanied by comprehensive measures to help the repatriated individuals reintegrate into society and rebuild their lives. […]

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Politics

SUSTAIN ACTION VS POGO OPERATIONS – GATCHALIAN

Senator Win Gatchalian called for sustained action against Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) to ensure that the industry’s remnants are effectively purged. “More than ever, we need to sustain our efforts to clear out all criminal syndicates that are products of POGOs. We must stay the course to ensure a safer and more secure Philippines […]

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Politics

2025 PH BUDGET ALLOTS P80M FOR CDW SCHOLARSHIPS

The approved 2025 national budget carried Senator Win Gatchalian’s proposal to provide P80 million in scholarships for child development workers (CDWs). A special provision that Gatchalian proposed lodges the P80 million budget under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (TESDA) Promotion, Development, and Implementation of Quality Technical Education and Skills Development Programs. Under this […]

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Politics

PHILHEALTH TOLD: BE TRANSPARENT IN CASE RATE HIKE

Senator Loren Legarda has called for the strict and transparent implementation of recent increases in the benefit package provided by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to its members. These increases cover several medical services, including treatments for ischemic heart disease (coronary heart disease), emergency outpatient services, kidney transplants, and adjustments to 50% of select […]