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Politics

SCRAP EXCISE TAX ON FUEL – PIMENTEL

Several senators welcomed the move of the House of Representatives to look at various proposals to scrap or suspend the scheduled hikes in the excise tax on fuel and petroleum products under Republic Act 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law. The House Committee on Ways and Means created a technical […]

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RICE TARIFFICATION BILL BENEFICIAL TO FARMERS – VILLAR

Senator Cynthia Villar stressed that the package of support for farmers included in the rice tariffication bill is government’s response to the expiration last June 30, 2017 of the quantitative restriction (QR) on rice importation under the agreement with the World Treaty Organization (WTO). Villar, chair of the Committee on Agriculture and Food, said Senate […]

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Politics

HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS SHOULD REMAIN TAX-FREE – ANGARA

Senator Sonny Angara has filed a bill which seeks to ensure that health insurance premiums paid by employers for their employees remain tax-free. Angara earlier chided the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for issuing Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) 50-2018 which taxed group health insurance premiums, noting that such issuance was not included among the provisions […]

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DECISION TO EXTEND MARTIAL LAW IN MINDANAO TO BE BASED ON AFP REPORT – PIMENTEL

Senator Koko Pimentel III said he is keeping an open mind on the possible extension of martial law in Mindanao, following announcements from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) that they will recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte another extension of military rule in the region for at least […]

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ESTABLISH FRAMEWORK FOR DEVELOPMENT OF ISLAMIC BANKS – GATCHALIAN

A bill seeking to establish a sound legal and regulatory framework for the development of Islamic banks in the country has been recently filed by Senator Win Gatchalian. In filing Senate Bill No. 2105 (SB 2105) or “An Act Providing for the Regulation and Organization of Islamic Banks,” Gatchalian highlighted the role of Islamic banking […]

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FULLY AND STRICTLY IMPLEMENT LAWS EMPOWERING PWDs – ANGARA

Senator Sonny Angara has called for the full implementation of laws aimed at empowering persons with disabilities (PWDs) with social protection and economic support. “We have enough laws protecting PWDs, and all that needs to be done is to fully and strictly implement these laws so that we can eliminate the barriers that prevent them […]

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Politics

UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE BILL HURDLES SENATE-HOUSE RECONCILIATION – ANGARA

All Filipinos will get “bigger and better” PhilHealth benefits once the Universal Health Care (UHC) bill, which hurdled Senate-House reconciliation, becomes law, Senator Sonny Angara said. Angara, author of the measure, said UHC will channel more funds “to all aspects of public health” from free check-ups and medicines to improved hospitals all over the country. […]

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Politics

LUNTIANG PILIPINAS SUPPORTS BILL BANNING SINGLE-USE PLASTIC – LEGARDA

The Luntiang Pilipinas Partylist, an environmental partylist group, has echoed calls to end plastic pollution and expressed support for the proposed measure banning the use of single-use plastic products. Last week, a dead whale found in a national park in Indonesia had almost 13 pounds of plastic waste in its stomach. Earlier this year, a […]

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Politics

REQUIRE ROTC FOR COLLEGE AND TECH-VOC STUDENTS – GORDON

Wanting to foster patriotism and nationalism among the youth, Senator Dick Gordon has filed a bill proposing to require all college students and those of technical vocational courses to undergo basic citizen service training. Gordon’s Senate Bill No. 1417, or the Citizen Service Act of 2017, which had been referred to the Committee on Education, […]

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INVEST IN OUR JUDGES, IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM – GORDON

Noting that it is high time that the country invests in its justice system which is important in enabling and ennobling Filipinos, Senator Dick Gordon has called on his colleagues to support proposed measures calling for the creation of judges at large positions. “We have been investing heavily in infrastructure–roads, bridges, airports, schools, and the […]