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Politics

VILLANUEVA TO GOV’T: MAKE RT-PCR TESTS AFFORDABLE

COVID-19 swab test prices “are not written in stone” and the rules in determining them call on the government to order price cuts whenever market conditions warrant, Senator Joel Villanueva appealed. “Hindi po forever ang itinakdang presyo para sa RT-PCR test,” said the chair of the Senate committee on labor and employment, referring to the […]

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Politics

RURAL FINANCIAL LITERACY BILL GETS HOUSE OK

The House of Representatives approved on the third and final reading a measure promoting financial inclusivity and literacy especially to those living in rural and underdeveloped areas to ensure equitable access to financial technology. A total of 204 lawmakers voted to approve House Bill 10582 or the “Rural Financial Inclusion and Literacy Act.” No lawmaker […]

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Politics

MANILA OPENS DRIVE-THRU VAX SITE FOR PUV DRIVERS

Public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers now have easier access to booster shots as the city government of Manila opened a drive-thru vaccination exclusively for their use at the Bagong Ospital ng Maynila. PUV drivers can also bring along their family members eligible for booster shots from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, with 1,000 […]

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Politics

GATCHALIAN CALLS FOR RAISE IN STATUTORY RAPE AGE

After the signing of Republic Act No. 11596 which criminalizes child marriages, Senator Win Gatchalian said that increasing the statutory rape age will be a crucial next step in safeguarding Filipino children from violence and abuse. Last year, both houses of Congress ratified the bicameral conference committee report on increasing the statutory rape age from […]

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Politics

GOV’T HAS FUNDS FOR FREE COVID-19 TESTS – ANGARA

Senator Sonny Angara said that COVID-19 tests, if done at the government operated laboratories, should be free of charge to the public. With the demand for COVID-19 tests going up due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, Angara said there is sufficient funding under the 2022 national budget to cover for the requirements […]

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Politics

STOP AGRICULTURE’S ‘CYCLE OF POVERTY’ – GORDON

Senator Dick Gordon called on the public and the private sectors to help break what he called a “cycle of disaster and poverty” that has been pulling back the agriculture sector for decades. Gordon, who chairs the Senate government corporations and public enterprises, said the Filipino farmers are always at a disadvantage yearly due to […]

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Politics

LAPID: HIKE ENTRY LEVEL PAY OF SOCIAL WORKERS

Senator Lito Lapid has filed a bill which proposes to increase the compensation of public social workers. The measure which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9433 also known as the “Magna Carta for Public Social Workers,” proposes that the salary grade of entry-level junior officer public social workers shall be at least Salary Grade […]

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Politics

GET FREE COVID VACCINATION, BATAAN RESIDENTS URGED

The provincial government of Bataan encouraged all unvaccinated residents to avail of free vaccination as it noted that it was still below the new target set by the Department of Health (DOH). “Once again, we ask for the cooperation of everyone in our commitment to give protection to ourselves and our loved ones against the […]

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Politics

HOUSE RESUMES SESSION AMID OMICRON VARIANT THREAT

The House of Representatives returns to a post-holiday break session with strict health and safety protocols in place amid the ongoing threat of the highly contagious Omicron coronavirus variant.Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said these protocols are necessary to protect House members and employees as the legislative chamber “continues to fulfill its mandate of producing laws […]

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Politics

VILLAFUERTE TO CONGRESS: HELP FIGHT CYBERCRIMES

Camarines Sur Representative LRay Villafuerte is urging the Congress to act swiftly on a measure passed by a House committee that is meant to add more teeth to the efforts of regulatory agencies to combat cybercrimes by penalizing social engineering schemes, commonly known as “phishing,”  that lead to illegal financial activities.  Villafuerte said the committee-approved consolidated […]