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Politics

GATCHALIAN: FAST-TRACK TUITION REIMBURSEMENTS

Senator Win Gatchalian urged the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to fast-track the reimbursement of tuition and miscellaneous fees under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (Republic Act 10931), better known as the Free College Education Law. Although CHED reported that 80 percent of the 215 public higher education institutions (HEIs) for the […]

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ANGARA: LET’S KEEP FILIPINO GRADUATES IN PH

Senator Sonny Angara said it is about time the government focuses on keeping Filipino talent here in the country instead of constantly losing them to overseas headhunters. As chair of the Committee on Finance, Angara suggested to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the state universities and colleges (SUC) to put more focus into […]

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ANGARA : REGISTER 90M FILIPINOS IN NAT’L ID BY 2022

Senator Sonny Angara said he expects the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to be able to fulfill its target of registering all 90 million Filipinos for the Philippine Identification System ID (PhilSys ID) before President Rodrigo Duterte ends his term in 2022. During the hearing on the proposed P11.17 billion-budget of the National Economic and Development […]

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BFP SHOULD BE GIVEN RIGHT EQUIPMENT SAYS GORDON

Senator Dick Gordon says the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) should be given the proper equipment and its personnel provided training as he recognized the significant role firefighters play in saving lives during fires and other emergency situations. During the interpellation for Senate Bill No. 1832 or the BFP Modernization Act of 2020, Gordon pointed […]

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PANGILINAN: TAP VIRGIN COCONUT OIL AS VIRUS CURE

As senators continue to deliberate on the coco levy trust fund bill, Senator Kiko Pangilinan said the potential of virgin coconut oil (VCO) as a possible cure for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) can be the impetus needed to develop the Philippine coconut industry, and more importantly, improve the lives of the poorest Filipino farmers. “Sakaling […]

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GO AFTER AGENCIES THAT DON’T ENFORCE LAWS – GORDON

Senator Dick Gordon has called on Congress to go after government agencies that fail to properly enforce laws that have been painstakingly crafted by Congress. Gordon lamented that the whole process of crafting bills and getting them passed on third and final reading takes a lot of time and hard work yet when they are […]

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BINAY TO NEDA, PSA: MONITOR SUCCESS OF GOV’T LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMS

Senator Nancy Binay is urging the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to create a consolidated database to monitor success rates of livelihood programs financed by the government. “Dapat yung mga livelihood programs na binibigay sa mga tao, kooperatiba, at organisasyon dapat minomonitor ng ahensyang nagbigay,” Binay said. “Hindi […]

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SENATE BEGINS HEARING BILL ON FIXED TERM FOR AFP OFFICIALS – GORDON

Senator Dick Gordon led the first hearing on Senate Bill No. 1785 that aims to ensure continuity in leadership and excellence in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) by prescribing fixed terms for its Chief-of-Staff and other key officers. In his opening statement, Gordon, Vice-Chairperson of the Senate Committee on National Defense emphasized that […]

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RAISE AWARENESS ON SUICIDE PREVENTION AMONG LEARNERS – GATCHALIAN

Amid the observance of the World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, Senator Win Gatchalian urged schools to raise awareness on suicide prevention as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic makes learners more vulnerable to stress, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. According to Gatchalian, it is important that mental health and psychosocial support programs train […]

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Politics

INCREASE BUDGET OF AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT FOR 2021 – PANGILINAN

Food security has been proven critical during the country’s six-month-long coronavirus disease (COVID-19) related lockdowns, necessitating a significant increase for agriculture in the national government’s 2021 budget, Senator Kiko Pangilinan said. “Naging malinaw nitong nakaraang mga quarantine na agrikultura pa rin ang magsasalba sa Pilipinas. Dahil sa mga quarantine, nakita ang pangangailangan sa isang maunlad […]