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Politics

SENATE URGED: ACT ON BILL TO DEVELOP BORACAY

Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte has sought Senate support behind a House-approved measure envisioned to ensure the long-term rehabilitation, development and preservation of Boracay Island, which boasts having one of the world’s best white sand beaches. “I am appealing to our senators to act soon enough on their own version of the House-passed measure establishing the Boracay […]

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PANGILINAN TO COMELEC: EXTEND VOTER REGISTRATION

Filipinos lining up as early as 2 a.m. proves that voter registration needs to be extended, Senator Kiko Pangilinan said a week before the September 30 deadline. “Kitang-kita sa mahahabang pila madaling araw pa lang na sabik ang mga kababayan natin na makaboto. Huwag nating ipagkait ito (The long, early morning lines show clearly that […]

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Politics

VILLANUEVA: COVID VAXXING NOW AN EMPLOYMENT ISSUE

Senator Joel Villanueva called for the vaccination of all workers either by their employers or the government as the COVID-19 pandemic changed the dynamics of employment altogether. “We should focus not only on jobs, but also on jabs,” Villanueva said. “But first, we should face our problems and deal with them squarely.” The veteran legislator spoke […]

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QC RESIDENTS IN CARE FACILITIES GET VAX PRIORITY

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has ordered the City Health Department (CHD) to vaccinate all individuals who are residing and working in closed and long-term care facilities in the city. This after the City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (QCESU) recently submitted a report on 13 facilities it has visited and surveyed so far. The […]

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MEDICAL OXYGEN PLANT SOON TO RISE IN SORSOGON CITY

A P94.5-million medical oxygen plant will soon rise in Sorsogon City to boost the supply in the province and the rest of Bicol, Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero said. Escudero said the facility would greatly contribute to improving the healthcare system of Sorsogon and boost its fight against coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The governor explained the construction […]

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VAT ON DIGITAL TRANSACTIONS GETS HOUSE OK

The House of Representatives approved on final reading a proposal imposing a 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) on digital transactions in the country to generate new funding sources for the country’s COVID-19 response efforts. With 167 affirmative votes, six negative votes, and one abstention, the Chamber passed on third reading House Bill 7425 seeking to […]

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MAKE COVID-19 VACCINATION MANDATORY – ROBES

A member of the House of Representatives is proposing mandatory vaccination against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for all Filipinos eligible to receive the vaccines. San Jose del Monte City Representative Rida Robes filed House Bill No. 10249, which seeks to mandate that COVID-19 vaccines must be administered to all Filipinos and residents of the Philippines […]

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BILL RAISING STATUTORY RAPE AGE GETS SENATE OK

After impassioned and intellectual discussions on the bill, the Senate has approved on second reading Senate Bill No. 2332, which amends the Revised Penal Code to raise the age for determining statutory rape from 12 to 16 years old. “As the father of three young kids, this is really an important bill to me,” said […]

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Politics

TEACHER TRAINING BILL GETS SENATE OK – GATCHALIAN

The Senate has approved on third and final reading a bill that aims to improve the quality of teacher education and training in the country. For Senator Win Gatchalian, principal author and sponsor of the measure, this is a big step forward in addressing the country’s education crisis. Senate Bill No. 2152 or the Teacher […]

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Politics

GIVE PRIVATE SCHOOLS TAX RELIEF – VILLANUEVA

Clarifying an otherwise ambiguous provision in the country’s tax code on private educational institutions will serve as a lifeline for thousands of schools forced to shutter or reduce operations at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Senator Joel Villanueva. In sponsoring Senate Bill No. 2407, Villanueva said the measure sought to ease the […]