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Politics

ENSURE VENTILATION IN JAILS AND DETENTION FACILITIES – GORDON

With a staggering jail congestion problem in the country, Senator Dick Gordon called on the government to ensure space and ventilation in jails and detention facilities because the crowded facilities are the major cause of the spread of infectious diseases among inmates. Gordon, chairman of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, pointed out that […]

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SANITATION IS FUNDAMENTAL TO ECONOMIC GROWTH – VILLAR

Sanitation is fundamental to both good health and social and economic growth, Senator Cynthia Villar said as she stressed anew the importance of proper waste disposal and personal hygiene in achieving self-sufficiency. Villar, who is the chairperson of the Senate Committees on Agriculture and Food & Environment and Natural Resources, urged families in crowded areas […]

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WITH SIGNING OF NATIONAL FEEDING PROGRAM, NO CHILD SHOULD GO HUNGRY AGAIN – POE

No child should go hungry again with the signing into law of the National Feeding Program, Senator Grace Poe, one of the main authors of the measure, said. Now Republic Act No. 11037, Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act was signed on June 20. “Hunger strikes to the very core of our humanity. Children, […]

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Politics

CHARTER DRAFT RECOGNITION OF IP GOOD NEWS – PANGANIBAN

A party-list solon representing indigenous peoples lauded the draft charter recently approved by the Consultative Committee (ConCom) for recognizing the welfare and rights of IPs, particularly the provision mandating that seats be reserved for IPs in the legislative department under Article VII. The 22-member Con-Com that formally convened in February this year unanimously approved the […]

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Politics

REVIEW FISCAL POLICIES OF GOCCs – BINAY

Senator Nancy Binay called out the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) to fully review fiscal policies of government owned and controlled corporations particularly those which were flagged by the audit commission. According to Binay, the GCG, being the government’s central advisory and oversight body over the public corporate sector, can start reviewing policies and fiscal […]

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PROMOTE TOURIST SPOTS IN AURORA – ANGARA

Senator Sonny Angara said that apart from Baler, other beaches and tourist spots in Aurora should also be promoted in order to sustain tourism growth in the province and to spread the benefits of tourism to other municipalities. “In order to sustain the tourism growth of Aurora, we need to expand. Kilala na ang Baler. […]

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Politics

SUPPORT BAMBOO AND RATTAN INDUSTRY – VILLAR

Senator Cynthia Villar shone the spotlight on the implementation of laws as well as legislative initiatives to develop the bamboo and rattan industry in the Philippines during a parallel session on “A Vision for Bamboo and Rattan in ASEAN” at the Global Bamboo and Rattan Congress held in Beijing, China. Villar, chair of the Committee […]

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Politics

INCREASED BANK TRANSACTION FEES ILL-ADVISED, ILL-TIMED – PIMENTEL

Senator Aquilino Koko Pimentel III questioned the “wisdom and timing” of a leading banking institution’s announcement to impose new and increased fees on numerous customer transactions, calling the move “an uncaring corporate act to milk more money from the bank’s own customers.” The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), the third largest bank in the […]

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Politics

ELIMINATE ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION – ANGARA

Senator Sonny Angara is calling for the passage of the Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination bill which aims to eliminate all forms of discrimination. Angara’s bill seeks to penalize discriminatory practices based on age, racial or ethnic origin, religious belief or activity, political inclination or conviction, social class, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expressions, marital or […]

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Politics

FORMATION OF WESM’s INDEPENDENT MARKET OPERATOR TO BENEFIT FILIPINO CONSUMERS – GATCHALIAN

Senator Win Gatchalian welcomed the creation of an independent body that will handle the wholesale electricity spot market (WESM) as mandated by EPIRA or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Republic Act No. 9136). “After a delay of almost 10 years, DOE has moved to institutionalize an independent market operator which will handle the electricity […]