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Politics

RISK PAY FOR VACCINATORS IN PHARMACIES URGED

Pharmacists and other personnel in private drug stores who will serve as COVID-19 vaccination centers must receive the benefits granted to health workers under the 2022 national budget and other laws, Senator Joel Villanueva said. “Frontline health workers fighting against COVID should be entitled to and receive every benefit that the government can provide. It […]

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Politics

VILLANUEVA TO GOV’T: MAKE RT-PCR TESTS AFFORDABLE

COVID-19 swab test prices “are not written in stone” and the rules in determining them call on the government to order price cuts whenever market conditions warrant, Senator Joel Villanueva appealed. “Hindi po forever ang itinakdang presyo para sa RT-PCR test,” said the chair of the Senate committee on labor and employment, referring to the […]

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Politics

GOV’T URGED: USE LAB NETWORK FUND FOR MASS TESTING

The government should immediately “release and disperse” the P7.92-billion fund in the 2022 national budget for the government’s COVID-19 Laboratory Network so the current surge in the demand for testing could be met, Senator Joel Villanueva said. Villanueva said the amount should be “downloaded without delay” to public health facilities so they can cope with […]

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Politics

NEW OFW DEPT TO DETER ILLEGAL RECRUITERS, FIXERS

Illegal recruiters and fixers preying on hapless overseas Filipino workers seeking employment abroad are now put on notice once the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is established, according to Senator Joel Villanueva. Villanueva, principal sponsor and author of Republic Act No. 11461, has been crafted to eliminate the “nooks and crannies” where fixers and illegal […]

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Politics

SAFETY OF TEACHERS, LEARNERS FROM COVID-19 URGED

Uphold the safety of teachers and learners. Senator Win Gatchalian made this call following the imposition of Alert Level 3 in Metro Manila and the detection of more cases of the Omicron variant. While face-to-face classes or in-person classes in basic education are prohibited in areas under Alert Level 3, Gatchalian pointed out that teachers […]

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Politics

VILLANUEVA LAUDS NEW DEPARTMENT FOR OFWS

Senator Joel Villanueva welcomed the signing of Republic Act No. 11641 creating the Department of Migrant Workers, which seeks to improve the services given to millions of overseas Filipino workers by consolidating all government offices and agencies scattered across the bureaucracy under one roof. “Today, December 30, the day we honor one of the great […]

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Politics

TESDA CAN HELP TYPHOON-HIT AREAS – VILLANUEVA

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has the right skills and personnel, and a wealth of experience to mobilize and organize communities hit by Typhoon Odette over the weekend to help them rebuild their own homes and enable them to be certified to earn a means of living as well, according to Senator […]

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Politics

‘FINANCIAL MUSCLE’ FOR MIGRANT WORKERS DEPT URGED

Ensuring that the Department of Migrant Workers will have sufficient funding is the next big step for the incoming administration next year, according to Senator Joel Villanueva. Villanueva, principal sponsor and author of the Senate Bill No. 2234 creating the DMW, explained that one of the first acts of the next administration is to propose […]

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Politics

BODYCAMS TO CURB SMUGGLING IN BOC — VILLANUEVA

An affordable and available gadget could save Filipino jobs lost to reported rampant smuggling of agricultural products, Senator Joel Villanueva, chair of the Senate labor and employment committee, said. Taking the lead from the police, Bureau of Customs personnel should start wearing body cameras during raids and inspections on imported food shipment, Villanueva said. “If […]

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Politics

DEPARTMENT OF MIGRANT WORKERS GETS SENATE OK

The Senate stamped its approval on the bill creating the Department of Migrant Workers, in a major advance for legislation the administration has pushed as an urgent measure. Senator Joel Villanueva, chairman of the Senate labor committee, hailed the passage on 3rd and final reading of Senate Bill No. 2234, which organizes the proposed Department […]