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Politics

‘DOKTOR PARA SA BAYAN’ GETS P2.6B IN 2022 BUDGET

Funding for medical scholarships will be boosted to about P2.6 billion in 2022, as the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act, which aims to produce thousands of physicians, goes on full blast, the law’s principal sponsor, Senator Joel Villanueva, said. Villanueva said the P2.6 billion will be distributed to state universities offering a doctor of medicine […]

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Politics

DEVOLVE SCHOOL BOARDS TO LOCAL GOV’TS – GATCHALIAN

With the national government set to fully devolve basic services and facilities to local government units (LGUs) in 2022, Senator Win Gatchalian says local school boards should be strengthened in their capacity to deliver educational programs and services. Executive Order No. 138, which was signed earlier this year, called for the full devolution of certain […]

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Politics

SENATE TO PROBE BENECO-NEA STANDOFF – GATCHALIAN

Senator Win Gatchalian has filed a resolution calling for a full-blown inquiry into the management standoff between Benguet Electric Cooperative Inc. (BENECO) and the National Electrification Administration (NEA). Gatchalian noted that while reports showed that regular services of the electric cooperatives, which had been interrupted by the forcible takeover by NEA-appointed officials last October 18 […]

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Politics

MORE EMERGENCY FUNDS FOR ELECTRIC COOPS URGED

From the P200 million allocation in next year’s emergency response funds for electric cooperatives, Senator Win Gatchalian expressed his support to increase the appropriation for the Electric Cooperatives Emergency and Resiliency Fund (ECERF). The ECERF was institutionalized as a ready fund that can be tapped by ECs for faster restoration of electricity and power facilities […]

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Politics

STRENGTHEN DIGITAL EDUCATION – GATCHALIAN

Following the recognition of “Valenzuela Live” as an outstanding local governance program at this year’s Galing Pook Awards, Senator Win Gatchalian reiterated the need to accelerate the adoption of technology in the delivery of education. Valenzuela Live or the Valenzuela LIVE Online Streaming School utilizes Facebook Live to stream classes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The […]

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Politics

GATCHALIAN: KEEP CHILDREN SAFE IN COVID RECOVERY

Amid the celebration of the National Children’s Month this November, Senator Win Gatchalian pressed the need to ensure that COVID-19 recovery efforts will uphold the rights and welfare of children. Gatchalian pointed out that school closures and restrictions on children’s movement took their toll on the well-being and safety of children. While the government has […]

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Politics

SENATE CAN PROBE MALAMPAYA DEAL — GATCHALIAN

Senator Win Gatchalian debunked the Department of Energy (DOE) for accusing the Senate of “causing undue delay to the timeline of the Malampaya consortium corporations” in relation to the ongoing review of the shares’ sale in the Malampaya gas field. “It is unfair to accuse the Senate of delaying any timeline or work program of […]

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Politics

MORE FUNDS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE – GATCHALIAN

Senator Win Gatchalian sounded the alarm on the budget cut to the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council and its consequences to young learners and their long-term development. For Fiscal Year 2022 the ECCD Council, an attached agency of the Department of Education (DepEd), is allocated P71.9 million, 59% lower than its P173.5 million-budget […]

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Politics

SENATE TO PROBE BENGUET ELECTRIC COOP MESS – GATCHALIAN

Senator Win Gatchalian pressed the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to ensure the continuing and uninterrupted supply of electricity in Baguio City and all 13 towns in Benguet province amid the leadership crisis in Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO). This, even as NEA Administrator Emmanuel Juaneza gave word to Gatchalian in a recent budget hearing at the […]

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Politics

GATCHALIAN TO TESDA: ADDRESS JOBS-SKILLS MISMATCH

While the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (TESDA) annual budget has increased over the past years, Senator Win Gatchalian said the agency should address the persistent high rates of jobs-skills mismatch among Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET or tech-voc) graduates. Using TESDA’s Individual Graduate Tracer Surveys for the years 2013, 2014, and 2017, the […]