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Politics

MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE RULING IS PROOF JUSTICE IS ALIVE – MANGUDADATU

Lawmakers at the House of Representatives welcomed the court’s decision to convict several members of the Ampatuan clan for their involvement in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, which claimed the lives of 58 people. Maguindanao Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu, whose wife and other relatives were among the victims in the decade-old carnage, said the landmark ruling is […]

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HOUSE APPROVES BILL AUTHORIZING DOH TO INCREASE BEDS IN GOV’T HOSPITALS – REP. TAN

The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a measure authorizing the Department of Health (DOH) to set and approve the bed capacity and service capability of all DOH-retained hospitals. The chamber approved by voice vote House Bill 5673, which seeks to address the congestion of patients in public hospitals by allowing the DOH […]

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Politics

HOUSE PANEL APPROVES OFW DEPT BILL – MARIÑO

The House Committee on Appropriations chaired by Rep. Isidro Ungab (3rd District, Davao City) had approved the unnumbered substitute bill creating the Department of Filipinos Overseas and Foreign Employment, that was principally authored by Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano. In particular, the panel approved the appropriations provisions of the proposed “Department of Filipino Overseas Act of […]

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HOUSE PANEL APPROVES GOV’T WORKERS’ PAY HIKE – UNGAB

The House Committee on Appropriations has approved a measure proposing the salary increases for government workers starting in 2020. The panel, chaired by Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, approved the consolidated House Bill 5712, which proposes another round of salary increases for civilian government employees since the last tranche of the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) […]

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APPLY FULL FORCE OF THE LAW VS MANILA WATER, MAYNILAD – HERRERA

A party-list lawmaker said the 18th Congress and the Duterte administration should apply the full force of criminal, civil, and administrative laws against water concessionaires Manila Water and Maynilad. Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera made the statement following warnings by the two companies that water rates will be raised should the government revokes the […]

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PAGCOR TO ISSUE GAMING LICENSE ID TO POGO WORKERS IN JANUARY – ONG

A party-list lawmaker stressed the need to establish a system to monitor and identify the growing number of foreign nationals employed in Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs) in the country. In an interview, Ang Probinsyano Rep. Ronnie Ong, vice-chair of the House committee on games and amusements, said the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) will […]

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Politics

HOUSE RATIFIES P4.1-T NATIONAL BUDGET FOR 2020 – SPEAKER CAYETANO

The House of Representatives has ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed P4.1-trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2020. This development came after the bicameral conference committee approved the proposed 2020 budget on the same day. Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the budget that was passed has “no pork, no parked funds, and […]

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Politics

DEVELOPED COUNTRIES SHOULD COMMIT MOBILIZING $100-B CLIMATE FINANCE – LEGARDA

Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda has urged developed countries to fully commit in jointly mobilizing $100 billion dollars a year in climate finance to help nations vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Legarda, who heads the Philippine delegation to the 25th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP25) in Madrid, Spain, made the bid during […]

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Politics

UNBURDEN PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS OF NON-TEACHING LOAD – REP. ALONTE

A lawmaker at the House of Representatives is pushing for a bill that seeks to unburden public school teachers of non-teaching responsibilities. Biñan City Rep. Marlyn Alonte said House Bill 5562, or the “Bawas Non-Teaching Load Act”, provides that appropriate and qualified administrative personnel shall be responsible for the performance and discharge of non-classroom teaching functions […]

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HOUSE APPROVES BILL DECLARING BALANGAY AS NATIONAL BOAT – FORTUN

The House of Representatives unanimously approved on third and final reading, with 170 affirmatives votes, House Bill No. 4953 seeking to declare the ancient wooden boat Balangay as the National Boat of the Philippines. Principally authored by Rep. Lawrence Fortun (1st District, Agusan del Norte), the bill declares the policy of the State to promote […]