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SENATE TO OK 2023 BUDGET BY 3RD WEEK OF NOVEMBER

The Senate will approve the 2023 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) by the third week of November. Senate President Migz Zubiri said they will continue deliberations on the proposed P5.268-trillion budget when the 19th Congress resumes. Zubiri expects the bicameral approval finished by the second week of December. “With the hard work and commitment of all […]

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BUILD ZAMBOANGA MEGA DIKE, PREVENT FLOODS – ZUBIRI

Senate President Migz Zubiri proposed to the city government of Zamboanga to build a mega dike in danger zones to prevent devastating floods in the future. Zubiri flew to Zamboanga City to turn over to Mayor John Dalipe some 15 metric tons of rice that he and several civic groups donated to the victims of […]

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VILLANUEVA TO MARINA: SAVE JOBS OF 30K SEAFARERS

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, returning from an official trip to France to meet with members of the French Parliament, said that the reputation and livelihoods of Filipino seafarers are at stake should the Philippines fail to comply with European qualifications of maritime education, training, and certification. For this reason, Villanueva is seeking a swift […]

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IMPROVE HEALTH CARE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN — VILLAR

Following the recent reports on the increasing maternal and newborn mortalities, Senator Mark Villar filed a bill seeking to improve the availability of healthcare services before, during, and after mothers give birth to a child. Senate Bill No. 1416 entitled; An Act Safeguarding the Health of Filipino Mothers at the Time of Their Childbirth, Providing […]

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ADDRESS YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES – GO

Health authorities must train their sights on increasing psychological support after a study by the University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI) found out that about 1.5 million in the youth sector attempted suicide in 2021. The results of the study might be another effect of the COVID-19 pandemic when the youth were forced to […]

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NO NEED TO RUSH DOH CHIEF APPOINTMENT – GO

Naming a Cabinet official is not as easy as it looks. Aside from the ability to lead a department, the Cabinet secretary must have the trust and confidence of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. In the case of the Department of Health (DOH), Senator Bong Go said it is in good hands under its officer-in-charge (OIC), […]

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VILLANUEVA TO CSC: END ‘ENDO’ IN GOVERNMENT

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva is calling on the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to address the high number of Job Order (JO) and Contract of Service (COS) employees in government and provide them with the security of tenure especially if they have civil service eligibility. “We have been raising the issue of unfilled positions in government […]

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STRENGTHEN COOPERATIVES FOR FARMERS, IPS – PADILLA

Senator Robin Padilla pushed for strengthening cooperatives especially for farmers and Indigenous Peoples, saying this is the most effective way that fertilizer and other forms of help from the national government can reach them. Padilla said this entails the cooperation of agencies such as the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of […]

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VILLAR: GIVE LOCAL GOODS PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT

Senator Mark Villar presided over the budget hearing of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and its attached agencies and promised to support local industries. “We appreciate DTI’s initiative to help boost our local industries. The use of infrastructure and technology will definitely help us,” Villar said. DTI presented various programs that cater to […]

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Politics

LAWYERS TO PARTICIPATE IN BLUE RIBBON HEARINGS

Senator Francis Tolentino, the chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, announced that lawyers of respondents, witnesses, and resource persons will finally be given a chance to participate in subsequent committee proceedings. Tolentino said this will be the first time that the Philippine Senate’s Blue-Ribbon Committee will give lawyers a “bigger role.” “May karapatan sila. […]