Categories
Politics

HOUSE LEADER BUCKS POGO REOPENING AMID COVID-19 OUTBREAK

House Minority Leader Benny Abante Jr. has slammed plans to allow Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) to operate in the country as it grapples with the Covid-19 outbreak, categorizing the move as “premature and unwise given our experience with this industry.”“The reopening of POGOs, according to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), is contingent […]

Categories
Politics

GOVT TO SEND CONFLICTING SIGNALS ON ECQ IF POGOS RESUME OPERATIONS – ABANTE

“Resolve issues first, allow operations later.” This sums up the position of House Minority Leader Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. regarding Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) resuming operations in the Philippines. “Gambling, in all shapes and forms, is not essential. It is a vice.” The lawmaker on Wednesday cautioned government against allowing POGOs to reopen given […]

Categories
Politics

SALE OF GOVT ASSETS TO BOOST FUNDS FOR COVID-19 FIGHT BETTER THAN NEW TAXES — ABANTE

If the government needs more funds for programs to help the country deal with the COVID-19 outbreak, selling government assets is preferable to new taxes. This according to House Minority Leader Benny Abante Jr., who in a media interview said he would oppose any proposal for new taxes when Congress resumes its sessions “If we […]

Categories
Politics

GOVT SHOULD PREPARE ‘BAILOUT’ FOR COVID-19 HIT MSMEs –ABANTE

House Minority Leader Benny Abante Jr. on Monday joined calls for government measures to aid the middle class, particular micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) that have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Abante pointed out that the government would have to find ways to extend financial assistance not just to underprivileged families, but […]

Categories
Politics

DECLARE MARCH 22 AS ‘NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER’ – ABANTE

With the country now in the middle of efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, House Minority Leader Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. on Monday urged the President to declare Sunday, March 22 as “National Day of Prayer” as a way to unify a country “that has always turned to faith in the darkest of times.” The […]

Categories
Politics

PASS A LAW BANNING SINGLE-USE PLASTICS — ABANTE

House Minority Leader Benny Abante Jr. lauded the national government for “leading by example” after the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) issued a resolution banning the use of single-use plastics in all government offices, saying on Tuesday that the move highlighted the need to pass a law to permanently prohibit the manufacture, importation, sale, […]

Categories
Politics

TAIWAN TRAVEL BAN LIFTING TO BENEFIT OFWS — ABANTE

Minority Leader Rep. Benny Abante Jr. on Saturday welcomed the government’s decision to remove Taiwan from the list of areas covered by the country’s travel ban, saying the move would benefit the 120,000 overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan and help lessen the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus on the economy. “This is good news for […]

Categories
Politics

KNOCK OUT ILLEGAL SPORTS BETTING, GAME FIXING — ABANTE

“Do a Pacman and knock out illegal sports gambling and game-fixing!” This was the appeal of Minority Leader Benny Abante Jr. to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and other concerned authorities, after Senator Manny Pacquiao suspended a team in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) after evidence showed that its personnel and players were […]

Categories
Politics

ASSESS IMPACT ON POOR OF PROPOSAL TO TAX SALTY FOOD ITEMS — ABANTE

As Congress is set to resume sessions, Minority Leader and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. on Sunday said he and members of the Minority will oppose any proposal to tax salty food, advising government policymakers to instead assess the impact of any tax measure on the poor before recommending its adoption. This […]

Categories
Politics

INCREASE MMDA BUDGET AMID METRO MANILA TRAFFIC WOES –ABANTE

If government is serious on solving Metro Manila’s traffic woes, it should begin by increasing the budget of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to improve the wages of the 3,000 traffic enforcers it employs.  This was pointed out by House Minority Leader and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr., who on Wednesday […]