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While the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) expects the uptick of lockdown babies to peak in the first half of 2021, Senator Win Gatchalian reiterated the urgency of providing health and nutrition interventions for vulnerable infants and mothers, especially those in far-flung and poverty-stricken areas. Gatchalian explained that these interventions and programs are provided […]
House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco filed two separate bills seeking to grant President Rodrigo Duterte the power to suspend the scheduled increases in the contribution rates of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and the Social Security System (SSS) “in times of national emergencies.”The twin measures seek to amend Republic Act (RA) 11223 or the […]
The 2021 national budget has sufficient funding to support the implementation of the Doktor para sa Bayan Act, which has been signed into law recently by President Duterte, according to Senator Joel Villanueva. Villanueva, principal sponsor and author of Republic Act No. 11509 or the Doktor para sa Bayan Act, explained that Congress allocated over […]
Senator Win Gatchalian has set in motion the Senate deliberations on a measure that will further develop the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry, providing for a replacement of the Malampaya deepwater gas-to-power project even before its supply runs out and avert possible rotational brownouts beginning 2022. Gatchalian said that Senate Bill No. 1819 was introduced […]
Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri, along with Senators Grace Poe, Joel Villanueva, Nancy Binay, Win Gatchalian, and Sonny Angara, have filed Senate Bill 1968, amending the Universal Health Care Act (UHC) to suspend the scheduled increase in Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) premium contributions. In the UHC Act, under which all Filipino citizens are part […]
The Antique provincial government has allocated P10 million for the purchase of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. Antique’s provincial planning and development officer, Juliana Cepe, said Governor Rhodora Cadiao had requested the inclusion of the P10 million for the purchase of the COVID-19 vaccines in the 2021 annual budget. Cepe said the appropriation for the […]
Rizal 2nd District Rep. Fidel Nograles urged Congress to immediately tackle and pass a measure that seeks to strengthen the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 (Republic Act 9775) amid reports that students are selling their sensual photos and videos in order to raise money to buy gadgets for distance learning classes. The National Bureau of […]
President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law Republic Act 11517, or an act authorizing the President to expedite the processing and issuance of national and local permits, licenses and certifications in times of national emergency. “This is such great news to start the year with,” said Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri, sponsor and one of […]
Senator Joel Villanueva filed a bill seeking to defer the implementation of the Social Security System (SSS) one-percent hike on the members’ monthly contribution in January, citing the economic hardships already faced by both workers and employers because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Villanueva, chair of the Senate labor committee said he filed the bill recently […]
Growth of the agriculture sector despite numerous setbacks in 2020 should convince the administration to give it priority especially in the proposed Bayanihan 3, said Senator Kiko Pangilinan. “We’re very heartened to hear that the agri sector is on track to meet their projected 1% growth despite the pandemic and back-to-back-to-back typhoons and flooding,” Pangilinan […]