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Politics

EXPAND APPLICATION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION FUND TO OTHER NEEDS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION – GO

A public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Local Government tackled a bill which seeks to expand the application of the proceeds of the Special Education Fund (SEF) tax to other needs of the public education system.Filed by Senator Bong Go, Senate Bill No. 396, or “Expanding the purposes and application of the Special […]

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Government

DA ALLOTS P2-B FUND FOR YOUTH AGRI-ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM – DAR

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has approved an initial P2 billion to fund two lending programs for young entrepreneurs who want to start their own agricultural businesses.  Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the DA through the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (DA-ACPC) will implement the agri-entrepreneurship programs for the youth, namely the Young Agripreneurs Loan Program (YALP), and Micro and […]

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Government

LACK OF FUNDING HINDERS ECERF LAW IMPLEMENTATION – NEA

The National Electrification Administration (NEA) said lack of funding is hindering the full implementation of Republic Act No. 11039, also known as Electric Cooperatives Emergency and Resiliency Fund (ECERF) Act aimed to assist the electric cooperatives (ECs) that have incurred damages from calamities, such as Typhoon Tisoy. NEA Administrator Edgardo Masongsong explained that the initial […]

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Politics

GOV’T SHOULD FUND MORE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MED SCHOOLS – PIMENTEL

Senator Koko Pimentel III calls for the national government to fund more scholarships for medical schools, noting that the public will greatly benefit from this starting five years from now. This came after Marikina City passed Ordinance No. 078 Series 2019 or “Libreng Pag-aaral sa Pagdodoktor para sa Marikeños” which offers full medical scholarships to […]

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Politics

DOH IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM TO GET P7.5-B FUND – ANGARA

The Department of Health (DOH) will have a total of P7.54 billion for its national immunization program in 2020, Senator Sonny Angara said. Under the program, vaccines will be administered for free to children, pregnant women, men and women. 2.7 million infants will be given vaccines. More or less 2.7 million infants will be given […]

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Politics

INCREASED FUNDING FOR UHC IMPLEMENTATION NEEDED– GO

The Department of Health’s (DOH) proposed P160.15 billion budget for 2020 was approved on committee level during a Senate public hearing presided by Senator Bong Go, chair of the Subcommittee F of the Senate Committee on Finance. During the hearing, Go expressed his full support for the DOH. However, the legislator also raised concerns regarding […]

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Politics

RESUMPTION OF LOTTO TO ENSURE IMPLEMENTATION OF UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE ACT – ANGARA

Senator Sonny Angara thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for lifting the suspension of Lotto operations of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) as it would ensure the proper implementation of the Universal Health Care Act and other government programs. “Nagpapasalamat tayo sa desisyon ng Pangulo na ipagpatuloy na ang operasyon ng Lotto. (We are thankful for the […]

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Politics

TRANSFORM PHILHEALTH INTO A PROFESSIONAL INSURANCE CORPORATION – ANGARA

Senator Sonny Angara has calls on  government to make sure that all those involved in the “ghost” dialysis scandal hounding the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will not go unpunished. “We need some punitive measures–we need to punish those who are guilty–as well as preventive measures para hindi na maulit,” Angara said. The seasoned legislator, […]

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Politics

TOBACCO TAX HIKE TO PLUG FUNDING GAP FOR UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAM – ANGARA

Senator Sonny Angara said government will be in a better position to fill the massive funding gap for the universal health care (UHC) program with the passage of the tobacco excise tax hike bill. “With the approval by both the Senate and the House of Representatives of the bill seeking higher tobacco excise taxes, we […]

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Politics

SENATE APPROVES TOBACCO TAX HIKE BILL

The Senate has approved on third and final reading a measure seeking to increase the excise taxes on tobacco products in a bid to reduce smoking among Filipinos and generate additional funds for the government’s Universal Health Care program. With 20 affirmative votes and no negative vote, the upper chamber passed Senate Bill No. 2233 […]