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Government

DA: ALLOW NFA TO SELL, BUY RICE AT LOWER PRICES

At the third meeting of the ‘Murang Pagkain’ Super Committee, the Department of Agriculture (DA) proposed the restoration of the National Food Authority’s (NFA) power to buy and sell rice at lower prices. DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized the need for restoring the NFA’s power to directly intervene in the rice market by […]

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Politics

ADDITIONAL ALLOWANCE FOR SOLDIERS GETS BICAM OK

The Bicameral Conference Committee on the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) has successfully concluded its deliberations, approving a P6.352 trillion national budget that prioritizes the welfare of the Filipino people, including the increase of subsistence allowance for soldiers from P150 to P350 or a total of P10,500 a month.  Speaker Martin Romualdez, lauding the efforts […]

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Politics

BARMM POLLS RESET GETS HOUSE OK ON 2ND READING

The House of Representatives approved on second reading House Bill (HB) 11144 proposing that the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) be held in May 2026.  Bill proponent and Lanao del Sur Representative Zia Alonto Adiong explained that the rescheduling of the BARMM elections is being pushed for the […]

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Politics

HOUSE PANEL EYES REGULATION OF CONFIDENTIAL FUNDS

The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability chaired by Manila Representative Joel Chua is now preparing two bills aimed at regulating (1) the allocation and utilization of confidential and intelligence funds and (2) special disbursing officers (SDOs). The bills are being crafted based on the results of its investigation into the alleged misuse […]

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Politics

57 AS PNP RETIREMENT AGE GETS HOUSE PANEL OK

The House Committee on Public Order and Safety, chaired by Santa Rosa City Representative Dan Fernandez, approved with amendments, House Bill 11140, seeking to raise the compulsory age of retirement for officers and non-officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP).  The bill, primarily authored by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, recommends 57 years as the compulsory […]

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Politics

BILL VS FAKE BIRTH CERTIFICATES GETS HOUSE OK

The House Committee on Population and Family Relations, chaired by Isabela Representative Ian Paul Dy, approved in principle House Bill 11117, also known as the “Fraudulent Birth Certificate Cancellation Law.”  Originally approved on Nov. 27 this year, the panel reconvened to reconsider the approval of HB 11117 as a stand-alone measure, since its previous approval […]

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Politics

ACHARON CITES PH ANTI-CORRUPTION GAINS

House Committee on Appropriations vice chairperson and General Santos City Representative Loreto Acharon lauded the advances the Philippines has made in the campaign against corruption. In his privilege speech, Acharon cited the steady rise of the country in the list of countries considered as least corrupt in the corruption perception index of the Transparency International, […]

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Politics

HOUSE TO SEND DELEGATES TO WASHINGTON INTEL FORUM

The House of Representatives will send a delegation to the 10th Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum (PISF), a leading international security forum, to increase understanding of global threats and create actionable solutions to counter these threats. Deputy Speakers Tonypet Albano of Isabela and Raymond Democrito Mendoza of the TUCP Partylist will head the delegation to the December […]

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Politics

HOUSE OKS MOTORCYLE CRIME PREVENTION ACT AMENDMENT

The House of Representatives approved on second reading the measure rationalizing the safety measures and penalties relative to the operation of motorcycles, amending for the purpose Republic Act (RA) 11235, otherwise known as the “Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act.” According to Iloilo City Representative Jam-Jam Baronda, House Bill (HB) 11113 seeks to address issues raised about […]

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Politics

HOUSE PANEL STARTS PROBE ON FOOD SMUGGLING

The ‘Murang Pagkain Supercommittee’ convened recently to begin its inquiry into smuggling and price manipulation of basic goods and essential commodities, with the end-goal of crafting legislation to achieve zero hunger and promoting food and nutrition security.  The supercommittee is composed of the committees on ways and means chaired by Albay Representative Joey Salceda, trade […]