Categories
Politics

MATCH SKILLS OF OFWS WITH LOCAL JOBS – VILLANUEVA

Senator Joel Villanueva called for an inventory of skills of thousands of overseas Filipinos being repatriated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, urging the government to match the available talent with the existing demand of the labor market. Touted as the largest repatriation of Filipinos since the Gulf war in the 1990s, Villanueva said it was […]

Categories
Politics

VILLANUEVA TO DOH: FIX COVID-19 FUND CHOKEPOINTS

The health department should identify and address its procurement and supply chain chokepoints that seem to be the subject of the latest COA findings of “deficiencies” in the management of some P67 billion in COVID-19 funds in 2020, Senator Joel Villanueva said. “Ang COA report po ay parang MRI scan ng paggamit ng pondo. Itong […]

Categories
Politics

PROPOSED OFW DEPARTMENT TO HAVE 24/7 ‘GLOBAL 911’

One of the urgent mandates of the proposed Department of Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos (DMWOF) is the establishment of a “global 911” system, which Filipinos in need of help abroad can access “anytime, anywhere,” Senator Joel Villanueva said. “A 24/7 global emergency helpline for distressed Filipinos abroad that would do more than just offer […]

Categories
Politics

FORM ‘DELTA FORCE’ CONTACT TRACERS – VILLANUEVA

Senator Joel Villanueva has appealed to the government to utilize the P19-billion DOLE-managed employment assistance fund to finance the additional manpower to expand its contact tracing efforts as COVID cases steadily rise. Villanueva said the “Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged o Displaced Workers” or TUPAD program can be used to deploy a “Delta Force” that […]

Categories
Politics

PROBE FUNDS USED FOR TROLL FARMS – VILLANUEVA

Senator Joel Villanueva joined calls for the Upper Chamber to investigate allegations of public funds financing “troll” farms which were reportedly established to sow misinformation in time for the coming elections in 2022. “Organized trolls are weapons of mass distraction. The seeds of falsehood they plant ripen into hate ready to be harvested by those […]

Categories
Politics

NO BOARD EXAMS ‘HARMFUL’ TO OFWS – VILLANUEVA

The country’s professional licensure system should remain, despite the struggles of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to hold these certification tests the past year due to the pandemic because such assessments boost the credibility of Filipino professionals here and around the world, Senator Joel Villanueva said. “Despite our disappointment with how the PRC has been […]

Categories
Politics

VILLANUEVA: UNIFY APPROACH IN PH EDUCATION REFORM

Senator Joel Villanueva is urging closer collaboration among agencies involved in education so that the government “will have a stronger and unified approach in addressing an education crisis worsened by the pandemic”. As tests and studies reveal the deterioration of the quality of graduates across levels, Villanueva said the Department of Education, Commission on Higher […]

Categories
Politics

READY P6B TAAL QUICK REACTION FUND – VILLANUEVA

The government should brace for any impact brought about by Taal Volcano’s eruption as the unrest could trigger several events “from a NAIA closure that will delay vaccine shipments, to factories in the country’s manufacturing belt suspending work,” Senator Joel Villanueva said. Villanueva suggested that the government put on standby the P6.37 billion Quick Reaction […]

Categories
Politics

MAKE NAT’L JOB RECOVERY PLAN CONCRETE – VILLANUEVA

Senator Joel Villanueva has welcomed Malacanang’s unveiling of its jobs plan, but said work lies ahead in translating a “Powerpoint presentation into paychecks.” “Maganda po ang layunin ng National Employment Recovery Strategy (NERS) na nakikita natin bilang isang panimulang aksyon tungo sa paglilikha ng trabaho at kabuhayan para sa ating mga manggagawa. Nagpapasalamat po tayo […]

Categories
Politics

PROTECT WORKERS AMID PANDEMIC — VILLANUEVA

Senator Joel Villanueva underscored the importance of ensuring the welfare of workers affected by the pandemic as the Senate labor committee started deliberations into several proposed measures. Villanueva’s committee tackled bills on media workers welfare, occupational safety and health standards for workers in the movie and television industry, service incentive leave, registry of skilled workers […]