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Politics

SENATE APPROVES FISHERIES CENTERS IN AKLAN, LANAO DEL NORTE, CAGAYAN – VILLAR

The Senate has approved on third and final reading three measures which seek to establish fisheries research centers in the country to address the declining fish population and high poverty incidence among the more than 1.5 million coastal fisherfolks in the country. Unanimously approved were House Bill 7491, which seeks to establish a provincial fisheries […]

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Politics

EVERY DAY SHOULD BE BLOOD DONOR’S DAY – GORDON

As the world celebrated World Blood Donors’ Day, Senator Dick Gordon appealed to hospitals nationwide to provide patients with the needed blood first before requiring them to bring in donors to replace the blood units to be used. Gordon, chairman of the Philippine Red Cross, said that requiring patients, particularly those in critical conditions, to […]

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AMEND LAWS TO PREVENT HEALTH SCAMS LIKE GHOST DIALYSIS TREATMENTS – GORDON

In the wake of the multi-million peso “ghost dialysis” scam that rocked the Philippine Health Insurance Company (PhilHealth) Senator Dick Gordon said he is looking into the possibility of amending laws to prevent similar health scams from being perpetrated in the future. Gordon expressed apprehension that the Universal Health Care which will be funded from […]

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CASTELO RECOMMENDS FIXED TENURE FOR MMDA CHAIRMAN

Outgoing chairman of the Metro Manila Development Committee at the House of Representatives Winnie Castelo has recommended that the chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) should have a fixed term of office.  “The MMDA is no longer a coordinating body of the 17 cities and towns, as originally conceived and planned by authors of the law […]

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RESCUE OF ALL PERSONS IN DISTRESS AT SEA IS A HUMANITARIAN DUTY – PIMENTEL

Senator Koko Pimentel III condemned the reported abandonment of Filipino crewmen by the Chinese vessel that hit their boat, saying the rescue of all persons in distress at sea is a matter of humanitarian duty. Pimentel, who will head the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in the 18th Congress based on Senate President Vicente Sotto […]

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TRANSFORM PHILHEALTH INTO A PROFESSIONAL INSURANCE CORPORATION – ANGARA

Senator Sonny Angara has calls on  government to make sure that all those involved in the “ghost” dialysis scandal hounding the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will not go unpunished. “We need some punitive measures–we need to punish those who are guilty–as well as preventive measures para hindi na maulit,” Angara said. The seasoned legislator, […]

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Politics

HIRE MORE GUIDANCE COUNSELORS TO DETER BULLYING IN SCHOOLS – GATCHALIAN

With the opening of the new school year, Senator Win Gatchalian urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to prioritize the hiring of guidance counselors in elementary and high schools to deter bullying and at the same time provide support to victims of bullying. Gatchalian’s call came in the wake of the DepEd’s revelation that it […]

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Politics

CASTELO TO LTFRB: FASTRACK GRAB APPLICATIONS

Quezon City Rep. Winnie Castelo called on the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to speed up the processing of applications for Grab licenses. Castelo, chairman of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development, said the LTFRB’s slow and complicated process to register and accredit a Grab applicant is the root cause of colorum […]

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Politics

COMMUNITY SERVICE LAW WILL BE A GAME CHANGER – GORDON

Senate Bill 2195 or the Community Service Act will be a game changer once passed into law, Senator Dick Gordon said. Aside from decongesting the country’s jails, Senate Bill 2195 aims to promote restorative justice by allowing courts to impose community service instead of jail terms for minor offenses which are punishable by arresto menor […]

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Politics

TOBACCO TAX HIKE TO PLUG FUNDING GAP FOR UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAM – ANGARA

Senator Sonny Angara said government will be in a better position to fill the massive funding gap for the universal health care (UHC) program with the passage of the tobacco excise tax hike bill. “With the approval by both the Senate and the House of Representatives of the bill seeking higher tobacco excise taxes, we […]