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Politics

SENATE APPROVES OFW LEGAL ASSISTANCE FUND BILL – VILLANUEVA

With 21 affirmative votes, no negative votes and no abstention, the Senate approved on third and final reading a measure expanding the use of a fund meant for the legal assistance of more than 10 million Filipinos working abroad. Through LeAF, the government can extend legal assistance to distressed Filipinos working abroad through Philippine embassies […]

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Politics

SENATE OKS BILL CREATING ENERGY THINK TANK – GATCHALIAN

The Senate is close to approve on third and final reading a bill creating the Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute (PERPI), the country’s first energy think tank that could bridge research and policy gaps in the energy sector. As the original proponent of the PERPI, Senator Win Gatchalian said energy is one of the […]

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Politics

CA CONFIRMS AVISADO AS BUDGET SECRETARY – ZUBIRI

The Commission on Appointments (CA) has confirmed the appointment of Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Wendel Avisado. Avisado has been Acting Secretary of the agency since August 2019. The Budget chief was confirmed during the CA’s recent plenary session which was presided over by its chairman Senate President Vicente Sotto III. Senate Majority […]

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Politics

K TO 12 PROGRAM NEEDS REVIEW – VARGAS

Lawmakers examined the Department of Education’s K to 12 program at a recent forum amid calls for a national evaluation policy to ensure government programs are backed by evidence-based data.Education officials and experts discussed during the recent conference at the House of Representatives issues facing basic education in the country, including the poor performance of […]

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Politics

PRC DONATES FACE MASKS TO BOC – GORDON

Amid the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) threat which has now disrupted  the global supply of face masks, gowns, gloves and other protective gear, the Philippine Red Cross, headed by its chairman and CEO, Senator Dick Gordon recently donated face masks to the Bureau of Customs (BOC). Gordon said the donation of 25,000 pieces of face masks to […]

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Politics

CRAFT RESILIENCE PLAN VS CORONAVIRUS, MULTINATIONAL PLANTS SHUTDOWN– ANGARA

Government was told to urgently craft a “resilience plan” that will allow the economy “to deftly evade” the brunt of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the shutdown of plants and back offices of Honda, Wells Fargo and other multinationals in the country. The call was made by Senator Sonny Angara as the Senate finance committee […]

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Politics

GORDON TO TAAL EVACUEES: FOSTER SPIRIT OF VOLUNTEERISM

Senator Dick Gordon, chairman of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), led the distribution of relief goods for evacuees in Ibaan, Batangas who were affected by the eruption of the Taal Volcano in January. As he spoke with the evacuees, Gordon shared his experiences during the devastating eruption of Mt. Pinatubo that happened in June 1991 […]

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Politics

HUNT DOWN CHINESE CRIME SYNDICATES IN POGO INDUSTRY – GATCHALIAN

Concerned that Filipino workers will soon be targeted next, Senator Win Gatchalian is urging the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to hunt down Chinese crime syndicates in the country’s POGO industry, arrest them and bring them to jail. Gatchalian made the call amid reports […]

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Politics

NATIONAL EVALUATION POLICY NEEDED FOR EVIDENCE-BASED BUDGETING – MARCOS, GATCHALIAN

Lawmakers called for a national evaluation policy that will ensure evidence-based budgeting for all government programs and the accountability of civil servants. “Clearly there has been limited attention, budgetary support, provision of personnel for monitoring and evaluation and only lip service has been given all these years to M&E (monitoring and evaluation),” Senator Imee Marcos, […]

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Politics

ALLOW MOTORCYCLES AS ALTERNATE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION – GORDON

Recognizing the need for an alternate mode of public transportation, Senator Dick Gordon has recently expressed support for the proposed measure allowing the use and regulation of motorcycles as an alternate mode of public transportation but stressed the need to safeguard the safety and protection of the public. In co-sponsoring Senate Bill No. 1341 or […]