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Politics

HOUSE RATIFIES BILL RAISING STATUTORY RAPE AGE

The House of Representatives ratified the bicameral conference committee report on a measure raising the age of statutory rape from the current 12 years old to 16 years old to protect young people from sexual exploitation and abuse. During the plenary session, the chamber approved the final version that reconciles the disagreeing provisions of Senate […]

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Politics

BAYBAYIN BILL GETS HOUSE OK – NIETO

The House Committee on Basic Education and Culture chaired by Pasig City Representative Roman Romulo approved House Bill 10469 or the “Philippine Indigenous and Traditional Writing Systems Act”. The measure is primarily authored by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and Manila 3rd District Representative John Marvin Nieto. House Bill 10469aims to promote, protect, and conserve the country’s […]

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Government

DENR BACKS TAMARAW CONSERVATION BILL IN CONGRESS

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu has expressed his strong support for a bill seeking to conserve the critically endangered Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis). Cimatu issued the statement following calls for the passage of House Bill (HB) 8299 or the proposed Tamaraw Conservation Management Act in response to the pressing need to […]

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Politics

BILL RAISING STATUTORY RAPE AGE GETS SENATE OK

The Senate passed on third and final reading a bill which seeks to raise the age of sexual consent from the current 12 to 16 years old in a bid to protect young people from all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse. With 22 affirmative votes, no negative vote, and one abstention, the Senate approved […]

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Politics

SENATE OKS BENEFITS OF DECEASED PROSECUTORS BILL

The Senate passed on third and final reading a measure granting benefits to the surviving legitimate spouse and dependent children of deceased retired members of the National Prosecution Service (NPS). With 22 unanimous votes of senators physically and virtually present, Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2373, or An Act Granting Survivorship Benefits to the Surviving Legitimate […]

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Politics

GORDON: MOVE AGE OF SEXUAL CONSENT FROM 12 TO 16

Senator Dick Gordon, Chairman of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, sponsored Senate Bill No. 2332 or the bill defining the crime of statutory rape and other acts of sexual abuse from 12 to 16 years of age. “We advocate to increase the age of sexual consent, through multisectoral partnerships with the judiciary, social […]

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Politics

TAX-FREE POLL DUTY HONORARIA BILL GETS HOUSE OK

The House of Representatives on Monday approved on final reading a measure exempting election servers such as members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) from having their honoraria subjected to income and other withholding taxes. With 202 affirmative votes, 0 negative votes, and no abstention, the chamber passed on third reading House Bill 9652, […]

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Politics

BILL BANNING SINGLE-USE PLASTIC GETS HOUSE OK

The House of Representatives approved on final reading a bill banning single-use plastic to better address the pollution linked to these disposable items. With 190 affirmative votes, zero negative votes, and one abstention, the chamber passed on third reading House Bill 9147, which seeks to regulate the production, importation, sale, distribution, provision, use, recovery, collection, […]

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Politics

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION BILL GETS HOUSE PANEL OK

The House of Representatives has moved closer to passing a measure introduced by Camarines Sur Representative LRay Villafuerte that aims to prohibit and criminalize discrimination on various fronts.  Villafuerte’s House Bill (HB) No. 4647 was among several legislative proposals consolidated and approved recently by the House committee on human rights that bans discrimination on the grounds of […]

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Politics

REP. NOGRALES BATS FOR PASSAGE OF ANTI-VAWC BILL

As the world commemorates International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Rizal 2nd District Rep. Fidel Nograles urged Congress to immediately pass a bill seeking to expand the punishable offenses under the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 (Republic Act 9262) to help stem the tide of VAWC cases, which […]