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Featured Politics

PANGILINAN: 60-DAY RICE IMPORT BAN NOT ENOUGH

While the 60-day rice importation ban announced by Malacañang will shield farmers from falling palay prices during harvest season, Senator Kiko Pangilinan lamented that this is insufficient to stop the country’s reliance on imported rice and achieve food security. “Yung 60-day ban is good as a stop gap measure, but it is not enough. Why […]

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Politics

BIR 2025 H1 COLLECTIONS UP 14%, TOPS ₱1.55T TARGET

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has surpassed its revenue target for the first six months of 2025, collecting ₱1.554 trillion from January to June—₱4.594 billion above target and 14.11 percent higher than the same period last year. In a post on his official Facebook page, BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. announced that “masaya […]

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Government

PHILHEALTH MEMBERS GET P20K WORTH OF FREE MEDS

PhilHealth announces the nationwide launch of the enhanced PhilHealth Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (PhilHealth GAMOT), a comprehensive outpatient drug benefit package that covers essential medicines. The program will take effect on August 21, 2025, under PhilHealth Circular No. 2025-0013. PhilHealth GAMOT is a key component of the PhilHealth YAKAP Program, which President […]

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Politics

BONG GO HOPEFUL ON PHILHEALTH EXCESS FUNDS RETURN

Senator Bong Go expressed hope that the Supreme Court would act favorably and decide to order the transfer of the excess funds of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) back to the state insurance provider. “I am hopeful that the Supreme Court will finally decide to have the budget transferred to be returned to PhilHealth. […]

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Politics

ESCUDERO SWEARS IN NEW SSFI OFFICERS

Senate President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero officiated the oath of the new officers of Senate Spouses Foundation, Inc. (SSFI) on Thursday, August 14, 2025. Heart Evangelista-Escudero, the Senate President’s wife, was reelected as SSFI president and would continue to lead the non-profit group’s initiatives, alongside newly-elected SSFI vice president Nancy Dela Rosa. The new SSFI […]

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Politics

BONG GO: ZERO BALANCE BILLING FOR POOR PATIENTS

Senator Bong Go reminded the government to ensure the implementation of zero balance billing in key public hospitals as mentioned by the President in his latest State of the Nation Address (SONA).  As chair of the Senate Committee of Health and Demography and as part of his long-standing health reforms crusade, Go stressed the need […]

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Politics

KIKO TO GOV’T: BUY DIRECT FROM FARMERS, FISHERS

The government must play the role of a “big brother” by buying rice and other food products directly from farmers and fisherfolk through the Sagip Saka Act, a law championed, authored, and defended by Senator Kiko Pangilinan. Pangilinan, in his meeting with officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) recently, highlighted the need for the government […]

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Politics

BONG GO LAUDS GRANDMASTER JOEY ANTONIO FOR WINS

Senator Bong Go, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, lauded Filipino Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. for bringing pride to the Philippines.  “Nandito po ngayon kami sa Senado. Nire-recognize po ang ating legendary sa chess na si Rogelio Antonio. Nanalo po siya sa Melbourne Chess Open noong April 2025 at naka-four golds naman siya […]

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Government

NEW ERC CHIEF: NO BACKLOGS, FASTER PUBLIC SERVICE

As Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairperson and CEO Atty. Francis Saturnino C. Juan formally took his oath as the new head of the Commission on Monday, 11 August 2025, he issued a strong call for unity and decisive action within the ERC to address the backlog of cases, urging the workforce to act with both […]

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Politics

PANGILINAN, TIU LAUREL UNITE FOR FOOD SECURITY

With two “Kikos”–Senator Kiko Pangilinan and Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Tiu Laurel Jr.–heading the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform and the Department of Agriculture (DA), respectively, the country’s agricultural sector can now move toward its goal of empowering farmers and ensuring food security. Pangilinan personally visited the DA office recently to meet with […]