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Government

INITIAL COST OF DAMAGE TO ECs DUE TO ‘OMPONG’ AT P135M – NEA

The initial cost of damage to electric cooperatives (ECs) in Luzon caused by the onslaught of Typhoon “Ompong” (international name: Mangkhut) has climbed to P135 million, state-run National Electrification Administration (NEA) reported Tuesday. As of noon Tuesday, September 18, the initial amount of damage to the distribution facilities of ECs impacted by “Ompong” was at […]

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Politics

RICE TARIFFICATION BILL TO REDUCE RICE PRICES, PROTECT LOCAL FARMERS – VILLAR

Senator Cynthia Villar said once passed into law, the bill liberalizing the importation of rice in the country will help reduce the price of rice and at the same time provide enough support for local farmers who will be affected by the influx of cheaper rice from abroad. Villar, recognizing that the lifting of import […]

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Politics

NEW NFA ADMINISTRATOR MUST WORK WITH ECONOMIC MANAGERS TO STABILIZE RICE PRICES – PIMENTEL

Senate Trade and Commerce Committee Chairperson Sen. Koko Pimentel III on Tuesday urged retiring Army Chief and incoming National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Lt. Gen. Rolando Bautista to work closely with the government’s economic managers to stabilize rice prices and address problems with supplies of affordable NFA rice. Pimentel said the long queues for NFA […]

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Politics

BAYANIHAN SPIRIT WAS ALIVE WHEN TYPHOON ‘OMPONG’ STRUCK – PIMENTEL

While Typhoon “Ompong” left a trail of destruction in its wake before exiting the country Saturday night, the Filipino bayanihan spirit proved to be very much alive in the face of the typhoon’s onslaught. Senator Koko Pimentel gave full praise to mall chains which opened their doors to the public amid the flooding in various […]

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Politics

CHANGE POLICY IN BUREAU OF CUSTOMS TO ADDRESS SMUGGLING – GORDON

With illegal drugs, particularly shabu, and various smuggled commodities still slipping past the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Senator Dick Gordon has proposed changes in the bureau’s policy to address the unabated entry of smuggled shipments. “Sinabi namin noon na P900 billion ang nawawala sa gobyerno dahil sa uncollected duties and taxes. There has been a […]

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Politics

CREATE DEPARTMENT OF MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT FOR OFWs – VILLANUEVA

The Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development chaired by Senator Joel Villanueva resumed its hearing on Senate Bill No. 146 or the bill creating the Department of Migration and Development (DMD). The said measure was discussed along with three other similar measures filed by Senator Ralph Recto, Senate President Koko Pimentel, and […]

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Government

NEA, ELECTRIC COOPS REACH 66 PERCENT OF NEW CONSUMER CONNECTIONS TARGETS – ITCSD

State-run National Electrification Administration (NEA) and its partner electric cooperatives (ECs) are still on course to meet the goal of delivering 460,000 new consumer electricity connections for this year. According to data from the NEA Information Technology and Communication Services Department (ITCSD), new consumer connections for the January-July period reached 304,674 or 66 percent of […]

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Politics

REVIEW OF PHILIPPINES EDUCATION SYSTEM NECESSARY – GATCHALIAN

Senator Win Gatchalian has been designated by Senate Committee on Education, Arts, and Culture chair Senator Chiz Escudero as chairperson of the Senate Subcommittee tasked to hear Senate Resolution No. 675, which seeks an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the current state of the Philippine education system and the efficacy and effectiveness of existing […]

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Politics

SENATE APPROVES P1.1B DOH SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET FOR DENGVAXIA VICTIMS – GORDON

Senator Dick Gordon commended the passage of the bill seeking to allocate a supplemental budget amounting to P1.16 billion to the Department of Health for the provision of medical assistance to the estimated 830,000 recipients of the Dengvaxia vaccine. House Bill No. 7449 (Committee Report No. 395), sponsored by Senator Loren Legarda and co-sponsored by […]

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Politics

USE MALAMPAYA FUND TO GIVE CONSUMER SAVINGS ON MONTHLY ELECTRIC BILL – GATCHALIAN

Senator Win Gatchalian is pushing for the passage of legislation authorizing the use of the ₱207 billion Malampaya Fund to pay off the stranded contract costs and stranded debt of the National Power Corporation (Napocor), which he said would provide consumer savings for Filipino households on their monthly electricity bill. Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate […]