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Politics

SENATE RATIFIES RETAIL TRADE ACT AMENDMENTS

The Senate ratified the bicameral conference committee report for the amendments to the Retail Trade Liberalization Act. The bill seeks to lower the capitalization requirement for foreign retailers from $2.5 million to $500,000, or roughly from P125 million to P25 million. This is in order to attract more foreign direct investments into the country, thereby […]

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Politics

PIDDIG TO RAISE WAGYU CATTLE – GUILLEN

As the African swine fever (ASF) continues to threaten the livelihood of local hog raisers in Ilocos Norte, some residents are now shifting to raising other livestock to survive the pandemic. In Piddig town, several residents are now engaged in cattle production as they dispose of their fattening pigs before they get infected. In support […]

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Politics

EXTENSION OF VOTER REGISTRATION GETS HOUSE OK

The House of Representatives has adopted a resolution urging the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to extend the deadline for voter registration in the country and abroad to prevent voter disenfranchisement amid the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). During a plenary session, the chamber adopted House Resolution 2231, which calls for the extension of the September 30 deadline […]

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Politics

VAXXED TEACHERS FOR FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES URGED

With the government now pushing through with pilot face-to-face classes in 120 public and private schools, Deputy Speaker Benny Abante Jr. is urging the Department of Education (DepEd) to tap teachers that have already been fully vaccinated for the said program “to help ensure the safety of the students, the teaching personnel, and their respective […]

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Politics

SENATE URGED TO OK BILL ON PRIVATE SCHOOL TAX RATE

Camarines Sur Representative LRay Villafuerte is urging the Senate to act quickly to rescue  private schools  by passing before the adjournment of this congressional session on September 30 a bill that would permanently correct the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)’s flawed interpretation of a tax code provision increasing the corporate income  tax (CIT) rate on […]

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Politics

SENATE OKS BENEFITS OF DECEASED PROSECUTORS BILL

The Senate passed on third and final reading a measure granting benefits to the surviving legitimate spouse and dependent children of deceased retired members of the National Prosecution Service (NPS). With 22 unanimous votes of senators physically and virtually present, Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2373, or An Act Granting Survivorship Benefits to the Surviving Legitimate […]

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Politics

ANGARA TO STUDENTS: AVAIL OF EXPANDED SPES LAW

Senator Sonny Angara called on the Filipino youth, particularly those who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, to avail of the jobs under Republic Act 10917 or the Expanded Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) law and get their education back on track. As the author of RA 10917 in the Senate, Angara said […]

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Politics

VILLANUEVA TO PRC: STOP POSTPONING BOARD EXAMS

Senator Joel Villanueva took to task the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for failing to administer more than 80 licensure exams because it was “stuck in the past.” The PRC has become a dinosaur because of its failure for 20 years to follow the mandate of the PRC Modernization Act that required the profession licensing agency […]

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Politics

MAASIN CITY BUILDS MORE COVID-19 ISOLATION SITES

The city government of Maasin in Southern Leyte is building more isolation facilities for COVID-19 patients amid rising new cases as authorities confirm the presence of the Delta variant.  A new isolation facility with six beds will be located in the village of Rizal. This will add to the existing four isolation facilities in the […]

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Politics

PROBE POWER RATE HIKE OF ELECTRIC COOPS – BENITEZ

Lawmakers from all seven districts of Negros Occidental have sought an inquiry on the recent power rate hike imposed by electric cooperatives. 3rd District Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez said he filed House Resolution 2206 to push for a congressional inquiry. “We want to determine what is causing the increase in electricity rates and what we […]