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Politics

PASS BILL TAXING E-CIGARETTES – SEN. CAYETANO

Senator Pia Cayetano said she will still push for the passage of a measure seeking to impose higher taxes on electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and vaping products. Cayetano made the statement following President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to ban the use and importation of vaping devices. “The way I look at it is my work continues. Because […]

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Politics

GIVE JUDGES, JUSTICES SECURITY – PIMENTEL

PDP Laban Senator Koko Pimentel III has filed Senate Bill (S.B.) No. 1177 granting “support for the surviving heirs of slain justices and judges.” Pimentel explained that S.B. No. 1177 is in response to the growing list of justices and judges who are threatened and intimidated in the performance of their judicial functions. “Several justices […]

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Politics

GIVE BUDGET FOR ADDITIONAL ‘THINK TANKS’ – GORDON

Senator Dick Gordon has proposed a budget allocation for additional ‘think tanks’ for the Philippines that will act as the policy institute of the country. During the deliberation for the 2020 budget, Gordon recommended having more ‘think tanks’ composed of experts and professionals coming from top universities of the country. “We should have more ‘think […]

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Politics

RELEASE OF TOP SECRET INFO FOLLOWS TACTICAL PROCEDURE – DELA ROSA

Senator Bato Dela Rosa said law enforcement officials strictly follow tactical and strategic procedures in handling classified data concerning anti-crime operations to ensure that criminals will be charged and subsequently be placed behind bars. Dela Rosa said that based on his experience as a law enforcer, there is a need to meticulously follow tactical handling […]

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INTEGRATE ROAD SAFETY EDUCATION IN K-12 CURRICULUM – REVILLA

All elementary and high school students may soon be required to take a road safety and comprehensive drivers’ education if a bill filed in the Senate becomes law. Senator Bong Revilla has filed Senate Bill No. 451 which would integrate basic road safety and a comprehensive drivers’ education in the curriculum of the K-12 program. […]

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HOUSE APPROVES CREATION OF OFW HOSPITAL – TAN

The House Committee on Ways and Means, chaired by Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda (2nd District, Albay), has approved House Bill No. (HB) 168 which seeks to create a hospital for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Authored by Rep. Angelina Tan (4th District, Quezon), the proposed “Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital Act” aims to provide better access to […]

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Politics

HOUSE PANELS APPROVE DDR BILL – TORRES-GOMEZ

The substitute bill seeking to create the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) has been approved, including the amendments discussed, in the joint hearing of the Committee on Government Reorganization chaired by Rep. Mario Vittorio Mariño (5th District, Batangas) and the Committee on Disaster Management chaired by Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez (4th District, Leyte). A technical working […]

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DUTERTE WANTS ‘USE USE USE,’ NOT ONLY ‘BUILD BUILD BUILD’ ON INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS – GO

Senator Bong Go reminded the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) to abide by President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to ensure that infrastructure projects under the “Build Build Build” program will be ready for use to benefit the general public. Go manifested this during the continuation of the Senate plenary deliberations on the agency’s 2020 budget. […]

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Politics

INSTITUTIONALIZE TEACHERS’ P5K CHALK, SUPPLIES ALLOWANCE – GATCHALIAN

Senator Win Gatchalian is eyeing the institutionalized increase of the annual teaching supplies allowance from P3,500 to 5,000, a measure that would spare about 840,000 public school teachers from shelling out more money for classroom activities. While the teaching supplies allowance or ‘chalk allowance’ is provided for annually under the General Appropriations Act (GAA), Gatchalian […]

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Politics

DITO SHOULD IMPROVE INTERNET SPEED, COVERAGE IN 5 YEARS – POE

Senator Grace Poe reminded the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on the commitments of Dito Telecommunity (formerly Mislatel), the country’s third mobile player, to improve internet speed and coverage in the country in the next five years. During plenary deliberations of the proposed 2020 DICT budget, Poe said Dito will face penalties if […]