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Politics

HOUSE TOLD: PASS 2 BILLS FOR FILIPINO ATHLETES

Camarines Sur Representative LRay Villafuerte is urging his colleagues in the House of Representatives to swiftly approve two pro-Filipino athlete bills he has authored as companion measures to the proposal that seeks to grant benefits to Filipino professional athletes who win in international sports competitions.  One of Villafuerte’s bills aims to grant women equal opportunity […]

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Politics

SIM CARD REGISTRATION GETS SENATE OK – GATCHALIAN

A culmination of nearly a decade-long effort to help curb criminality through mobile phones, Senator Win Gatchalian said the approval on third reading of the proposed SIM Card Registration Act inches closer to the realization of a measure that will combat fraudulent digital activities now flourishing under the current system in the country. “Finally, after […]

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Politics

FIGHT ONLINE SCAMS, BANK FRAUD – PANGILINAN

Senator Kiko Pangilinan seeks tighter controls against fake food orders, fake jobs, and other forms of disinformation that affect regular folk. At the second Senate public hearing reviewing Philippine criminal laws on the advent of fake news in social media platforms, Pangilinan listed various instances when digital technology has been used to scam ordinary Filipinos […]

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Politics

SENATE PASSES BILL AMENDING PUBLIC SERVICE ACT

The Senate has passed on third and final reading the bill that would open up the Philippines to more foreign investors. Senate Bill (SB) 2094 hurdled the upper chamber with 19 affirmative votes, three negative votes and zero abstention from senators. It seeks to amend the 85-year-old Commonwealth Act No. 146, known as the Public […]

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ANGELES CITY SENIORS GET COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOTS

Senior citizens in Angeles City, Pampanga started to receive their booster shots against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. said the city government started giving booster shots to senior citizens under the “Sundo Bakuna sa Barangay” program as part of its continuing efforts to ensure population protection against COVID-19. “Tuloy-tuloy pa rin po […]

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Politics

LIFT LIMIT ON SENIORS’ DISPENSING MEDS — SOLON

A lawmaker at the House of Representatives urged the Department of Health to remove or suspend the limit in the dispensing of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drugs. In filing House Resolution 2420, Senior Citizens Party-list Representative Rodolfo Ordanes said the limitation on dispensing prescription and OTC drugs to senior citizens has led to numerous complaints […]

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DOST URGED: INCLUDE OTHER CROPS UNDER ‘FIESTA’

The AGRI Party-list urged the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to include other high-value crops aside from mangoes in its Farms and Industry Encounters through Science and Technology Agenda (FIESTA) program. AGRI issued the call on the heels of the first FIESTA, which highlighted such advancements in Philippine mango production while bringing together farmers […]

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Politics

BODYCAMS TO CURB SMUGGLING IN BOC — VILLANUEVA

An affordable and available gadget could save Filipino jobs lost to reported rampant smuggling of agricultural products, Senator Joel Villanueva, chair of the Senate labor and employment committee, said. Taking the lead from the police, Bureau of Customs personnel should start wearing body cameras during raids and inspections on imported food shipment, Villanueva said. “If […]

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Politics

CONVERSION, RENAMING OF 12 SCHOOLS GET SENATE OK

The Senate has approved on third and final reading several local bills that seek to convert school annexes to independent educational institutions. Senators passed on final reading a total of 12 bills from the House of Representatives, shepherded in the Senate by Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture chairperson Senator Win Gatchalian. Approved were […]

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Politics

WHY IMPORT STRAWBERRIES FROM KOREA? LACSON ASKS

“Why are you killing your fellow Filipinos? Gusto nyo mawalan ng hanapbuhay ang kababayan natin sa La Trinidad (Do you want our farmers in La Trinidad to lose their livelihood)?” Senator Panfilo Lacson directed this question at the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) for allowing the “invasion” or importation of Korean strawberries […]