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Politics

RICE TARIFFICATION BILL IS BENEFICIAL TO FARMERS – VILLAR

Senator Cynthia Villar lamented the misconception intentionally circulated to discredit the rice tariffication bill and to block the passage of the needed support measures for local rice farmers. “It is unfortunate that some groups are being made to believe that the rice tariffication bill which we have scrutinized and carefully studied in the Senate, will […]

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Politics

VILLAR TO OFWS: USE YOUR INCOME AND SAVINGS WISELY

Financial literacy, especially on investments and business start-ups, are important factors in ensuring that hard-earned incomes and savings of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are put to good use, Senator Cynthia Villar said at the 8th OFW and Family Summit recently. Villar, in her capacity as director of the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and […]

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Politics

HOUSE PASSAGE OF BIGGER MOTORCYCLE PLATE BILL A WELCOME DEVELOPMENT – GORDON

Senator Dick Gordon welcomed the passage on second reading in the House of Representatives of the bill mandating bigger plate numbers for motorcycles, stressing the urgency for taking a bite out of crimes perpetrated by riders in tandem which continues unabated with an average of four persons killed each day by riding-in-tandem shooters. “This is […]

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Politics

DY TO DPWH: DON’T PUNISH FARMERS FOR DOING THEIR JOBS

Isabela 3rd District Rep. Napoleon S. Dy on Tuesday urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to work with the Department of Agriculture (DA), local government units (LGUs), and rice farmers to come up with a “workable compromise” that will allow farmers to use roads to dry their palay while government works to […]

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Politics

SENATE TO PROBE MISERABLE WORK CONDITIONS OF OFW TRUCK DRIVERS IN DENMARK – VILLANUEVA

Senator Joel Villanueva filed a resolution that seeks to investigate the reported miserable work conditions suffered by rescued Filipino truck drivers in Padborg, Denmark last October. Under Senate Resolution No. 946, the senator called for an inquiry on “social dumping” or a practice wherein multinational countries from “high-wage” countries seek to lower down their operational […]

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Politics

DEEP RESPECT, PHL-US FRIENDSHIP SHOWN IN RETURN OF BALANGIGA BELLS – GORDON

Senator Dick Gordon welcomed the return by the United States government of the Balangiga Bells, the church bells taken as booty by the U.S. Army from a church in Balangiga, Eastern Samar in 1901, saying the return of the bells shows the deep respect and friendship between the Philippines and the United States. “We welcome […]

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Politics

RICE TARIFFICATION BILL TO PROTECT FARMERS – VILLAR

The Senate recently passed on third reading the bill which provides support to farmers projected to be adversely affected by the lifting of the quantitative restriction on rice importation. With a vote of 14 affirmatives, zero negatives and zero abstentions, senators approved Senate Bill 1998 or the bill which amends Republic Act 8178 or the […]

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Government

ERC EYES COLLABORATION WITH NEA TO SPEED UP APPROVAL OF EC CAPEX PROJECTS

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is eyeing to collaborate with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) on an initiative aimed at fast-tracking the approval of the electric cooperative’s capital expenditure (CapEx) projects. In a recent meeting between the NEA and ERC officials led by Administrator Edgardo Masongsong and Chairperson Agnes Devanadera, respectively, the adoption of a […]

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Politics

RETURN OF BALANGIGA BELLS TO CONTINUE HISTORICAL AND DIPLOMATIC HEALING IN US-PHL RELATIONS – PIMENTEL

Senator Koko Pimentel III expressed confidence that the imminent return of the Balangiga bells, taken as war booty by American troops from Eastern Samar during the Filipino-American War would continue the process of “historical and diplomatic healing between the Philippines and the United States.” “The bells’ return is a timely and significant gesture that can […]

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Politics

GOVERNMENT MUST ENSURE SECURITY OF TENURE FOR CONTRACTUAL EMPLOYEES – VILLANUEVA

Senator Joel Villanueva said government should not only extend the employment of government contractual employees, but also ensure that they are given security of tenure. Villanueva made the statement after the announcement of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) that it recently amended Joint Circular No.1, series of 2017, together with the Civil Service […]