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Politics

BIR URGED TO DEFER 20% TAX ON TEACHERS’ POLL DUTY

Senator Risa Hontiveros is urging the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) not to implement a higher withholding tax on the compensation of teachers doing poll duties in the coming national and local elections. Hontiveros disclosed that a number of teachers tapped for election duties have been blindsided by the […]

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Politics

1ST MONDAY OF AUGUST IS NAT’L LINEWORKERS DAY

Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a bill seeking to declare the first Monday of August as National Lineworker Appreciation Day. “Panahon na para kilalanin at bigyang parangal ang ating mga lineworkers. Nakakalungkot na sa kabila ng paghahatid nila sa atin ng liwanag, nakakubli sa dilim ang kanilang kabayanihan,” Hontiveros said as she filed Senate Bill […]

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Politics

HONTIVEROS TO ERC: SUSPEND MERALCO RATE HIKE

Senator Risa Hontiveros urged the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to suspend an increase in power rates while the investigation on rotational blackouts is still ongoing, saying that this particular rate adjustment is ‘inconsiderate’ of the consumers. “Hangga’t walang napapanagot sa nangyaring rotational blackouts, hindi dapat na magdagdag-singil pa sa kuryente. Unfair naman ito sa konsyumer […]

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Politics

PHILHEALTH URGED: RETAIN 144 DIALYSIS SESSIONS

Senator Risa Hontiveros reiterates her appeal to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to continue providing for the full 144 dialysis sessions this year, as the country is still in a state of emergency in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dialysis advocacy groups earlier revealed that dialysis sessions could cost up to P12,000 to […]

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Politics

HONTIVEROS: REVOKE TAX HIKE ON PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Senator Risa Hontiveros has called on the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to revoke the 25% corporate income tax hike imposed on private schools. Hontiveros said this move is “anti-students” as this may only displace more students when private schools are forced to close due to increased economic pressure brought by the pandemic. “Hindi naman […]

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Politics

INVOLVE YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE, SAYS HONTIVEROS

Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a bill to strengthen the involvement of Filipino youth in agriculture and entrepreneurship. Senate Bill No. 2231 will mandate all provincial and city governments to establish Youth Agricultural Hubs that will provide more opportunities and engage the youth in agripreneurship. “Sa kabila ng pagbagsak ng ekonomiya, nananatiling matatag ang sektor […]

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Politics

PROBE ON WORK CONDITIONS OF DELIVERY RIDERS URGED

Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a resolution calling for an investigation, in aid of legislation, on the working conditions in the so-called “gig-economy” or temporary or part-time employment. Hontiveros hopes to address reports of unfair working conditions among delivery riders, motorcycle taxi riders, Grab car drivers, and other freelancers, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Proposed […]

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Politics

WORK-FROM-HOME INJURIES NOW COMPENSABLE, SAYS ECC

Senator Risa Hontiveros welcomed the newly released resolution from the Employers Compensation Commission (ECC) on compensating workers for injuries sustained while working from home. Back in April, Hontiveros also lauded the commission for listing COVID-19 as a compensable occupational disease. “Ngayong mas marami na ang naka-work-from-home arrangements, malaking bagay na alam ng ating manggagawa na […]

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Politics

‘HEALTHY PINAS VAN’ TO GIVE FREE MEDICAL SERVICES

Senator Risa Hontiveros led the launch of a state-of-the-art “mobile clinic” to give free medical services to Filipinos in poor and far-flung locations in the Philippines. Hontiveros opened the new “Healthy Pinas Mobile Clinic” in Barangay Turu at Magalang town, Pampanga recently. The mobile clinic can serve a maximum of 300 indigent patients a day. […]

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Politics

UPGRADE OF PHILHEALTH FREE DIALYSIS COVERAGE URGED

Senator Risa Hontiveros has backed the call of advocacy groups urging the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to increase the free dialysis coverage for all patients while the country is still in a state of emergency. Hontiveros said the agency should upgrade its benefit package from 90 free dialysis sessions to 144 while the country […]