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Politics

HOUSE MINORITY BLOC WELCOMES 4PS CASH AID HIKE

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to “adjust to inflation” the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) cash transfers to some 4.4 million poor households has been welcomed by the 22 members of the minority bloc in the House of Representatives. “The President’s order is consistent to our recommendation to increase the cash grants to 4Ps household-beneficiaries […]

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LEGARDA BACKS MINIMUM WAGE HIKE

Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda expressed her support for a bill increasing the daily minimum wage by P100 in the private sector to uplift families from poverty. Legarda co-authored and co-sponsored Senate Bill 2534, which the Senate passed on second reading. “It is high time we increase the minimum wage across the board in […]

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Politics

BONG GO BACKS PHILHEALTH PREMIUM HIKE SUSPENSION

Senator Bong Go has expressed his support for the proposed suspension of the increase in PhilHealth premiums for the year 2024. This aligns with the sentiments of Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa, who has urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to reconsider the scheduled premium hike. Acknowledging the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and […]

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PHILHEALTH TO IMPLEMEMENT 30% HIKE ON BENEFITS

“Sa wakas, yung ipinaglalaban natin na 30% increase sa PhilHealth benefits, aprubado na.” This was the statement of AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee as he welcomed the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Board of Director’s (BOD) approval on Wednesday of the 30% increase on the benefits it offers to allay fears of Filipinos of […]

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DON’T DELAY HIKES IN PHILHEALTH BENEFITS, SAYS LEE

Amid the impending five percent (5%) increase in Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) premium rates this year as scheduled under the Universal Health Care (UHC) law, AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee reiterated his call to immediately apply the 30% across-the-board increase in the agency’s offered health benefits, saying that any delay in implementing the […]

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BONG GO LAUDS HIKE IN DOH BUDGET

Senator Bong Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, commended the collaborative efforts that led to a significant increase in the 2024 budget for the Department of Health (DOH). The 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) has earmarked approximately P241.1 billion for the DOH, significantly rising from the initially proposed P199.1 billion in […]

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BONG GO BATS FOR CANCER ASSISTANCE FUND HIKE

Senator Bong Go emphasized the importance of allocating sufficient funds for specific healthcare programs, such as those addressing cancer, tuberculosis, and mental health disorders, during the Committee on Finance hearing for the Department of Health’s (DOH) budget recently. “We must also give enough focus and ensure funding for our programs to address other diseases such […]

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Politics

ESCUDERO PUSHES FOR PERA HIKE OF GOV’T WORKERS

Senator Chiz Escudero has filed a bill that will raise to P4,000 from P2,000 the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) of some 1.8-million government employees as a way of helping them cope with higher prices brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and fuel hikes. Enrolled as Senate Bill (SB) No. 60, the measure also seeks […]

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Politics

ALLOW PRESIDENT TO STOP PHILHEALTH PAY HIKE — POE

Senator Grace Poe has filed a bill seeking powers for the President to suspend the increase in contributions to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to spare the Filipinos from additional burden in critical times. “The hike comes at a time when our people continue to grapple with the impact of the pandemic and the […]

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Politics

DON’T HIKE OFW PASSPORT RENEWAL FEE – PANGILINAN

Senator Kiko Pangilinan said he is opposed to the increase in the passport renewal fees imposed on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and other Filipinos in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and the United States. “Mariin kong tinututulan ang pagtaas ng presyo ng passport renewal fees sa Middle East, Europe, Asia, at US. Ang desisyon ng […]