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Politics

AGRI TO SENATE, HOUSE: PROTECT AGRI 2025 BUDGET

AGRI Party-list has called on lawmakers from both the Senate and the House of Representatives to ensure that the agriculture sector’s budget remains intact as the Bicameral Conference Committee deliberates on the 2025 General Appropriations Bill. According to AGRI Party-list Representative and Senatorial Aspirant Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee, sufficient funding for agriculture is essential to […]

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HOUSE PANEL TACKLES LEGAL AID FOR COPS IN DRUG WAR

The House Committee on Public Order and Safety, chaired by Santa Rosa City Representative Dan Fernandez, met recently to tackle the concerns of the 1,286 Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel affected in the implementation of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. Fernandez, in his opening statement, voiced his concerns over the plight of the PNP […]

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HOUSE SUSPENDS DELIBERATIONS ON DOH BUDGET

Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee on Monday deferred the House plenary deliberations on the proposed 2025 budget of the Department of Health (DOH) and its attached agencies, including the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) due to inaction and lack of specific plans to reduce the out-of-pocket expenses of Filipinos on medical services. During the House […]

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STARBUCKS TO LIFT ITS LIMIT ON SENIORS’ DISCOUNT

A House inquiry ordered by Speaker Martin Romualdez has prompted popular coffee chain Starbucks to lift the cap it has imposed on the 20-percent discount senior citizens and persons with disability (PWDs) are legally entitled to. Angela Cole, who identified herself as operations director of Starbucks Coffee, told the House committee on ways and means […]

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SENATE, HOUSE RECONCILES ON SEAFARERS’ LAW

The Senate and the House of Representatives in a bicameral conference meeting successfully resolved the disagreeing provisions of the upper and lower house versions of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers. Headed by Senator Raffy Tulfo, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers, the Senate panel also includes Senate Majority Floor Leader Joel Villanueva, […]

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BILL PROTECTING OFW FAMILIES GETS HOUSE PANEL OK

The House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs chaired by KABAYAN Party-list Representative Ron Salo approved with amendments the unnumbered substitute bill institutionalizing mechanisms for the protection and welfare of minor children and families left behind by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). The bill seeks to address the unique challenges faced by OFW families in the Philippines, […]

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HOUSE LAUDS SEA GAMES WINS OF PINOY ATHLETES

The House of Representatives adopted a consolidated resolution commending and congratulating the Philippine delegation to the 32nd Southeast Asian Games for winning 260 medals and placing 5th in the overall standing.Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez is the principal author of the resolution, with Majority Leader Mannix Dalipe, Senior Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, Minority […]

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HOUSE TO END ONION CARTELIZATION PROBE SOON

Committee on Agriculture Chairperson and Quezon Representative Wilfrido Mark Enverga bared that lawmakers will schedule an executive session to discuss if the panel needs to further investigate the proliferation of onion cartels in the country. The committee has conducted nine hearings already to look into the onion industry and determine whether cartels, hoarding, and price […]

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HOUSE PANEL ENDS PERFORMING ARTS INDUSTRY PROBE

The House Special Committee on Creative Industry and Performing Arts chaired by Pangasinan 4thDistrict Representative Christopher de Venecia ended its inquiry into the state of the Philippine performing arts industry and other related industries with a clear goal: for the Philippines to be number one Creative Economy in ASEAN by 2030. “It’s April 2023, so […]

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HOUSE PANEL BEGINS DELIBERATION ON E-VAWC BILLS

The House Committee on Women and Gender Equality chaired by Bataan Representative Geraldine Roman held initial deliberations on House Bills 86, 403, 3849, and 4054. These key pieces of legislation seek to amend Republic Act 9262 or the “Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004” that would address the problem of electronic violence […]