OF TREES AND FOREST That is the literal meaning of Pan Xenia — the name of my fraternity when I was studying at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. Its full name is Pan Xenia International Professional Foreign Trade Fraternity. I entered UP in 1966 and decided to take up Business...
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva has urged the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to make sure that there will be funding for the increase in the monthly social pension of the country's indigent senior citizens. Villanueva, the principal sponsor of the Increased Social Pension...
Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a resolution calling for a Senate inquiry into the death of another domestic helper in Saudi Arabia and renewed her call for stronger mechanisms to protect and safeguard Filipino migrant workers in Middle Eastern countries. Marjorette Garcia, 32, was...
Should legislation to regulate the allocation of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) be pursued, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri believes that local government units (LGUs) shouldn't be spared from it. "If you come up with a law, I will suggest na isama ang LGUs (that LGUs be included),"...
More child victims, former and incumbent members of the Socorro Bayanihan Services, Inc. (SBSI) are now “communicating” with the Senate with the intention of testifying against the leaders of the alleged cult. SBSI president Jey Rence Quilario, who is also known as 'Senior Agila,' during...
The percentage of household electrification rate or the number of houses with access to electricity has decreased across the country, officials of the Department of Energy (DOE) told senators on Friday, September 29. According to Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, the number of households...
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has expressed its full support to the consolidation and passage into law of two Senate bills which seek to address the issue on workers' contractualization "not only to protect the laborers' rights but also to ensure that businesses will thrive." "The need to...
Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa believes that the minor victims of the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI) or the so-called Socorro "cult" have no reason to lie about the trauma they experienced. (Senate PRIB photo) For Dela Rosa, he sees no reason or motivation for the witnesses who are aged 12 to...
Sen. Raffy Tulfo hailed the Senate’s approval on third and final reading of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers bill on Wednesday, Sept. 27. (Senate PRIB photo) Voting 14-0, Tulfo said that the approval was in time for the celebration of the National Maritime Week.. Tulfo, principal sponsor and...
Senators on Thursday, September 28 questioned the absence of Dr. Teodoro “Ted" Herbosa in the Senate Committee on Finance’s deliberations on the proposed 2024 budget of the Department of Health (DOH). DOH Secretary Teodoro Javier "Ted" Herbosa during the Commission on Appointments (CA)...
A Senate panel has cited in contempt four members of the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI) or the so-called Socorro "cult" including its President or leader Jey Rence Quilario also known as "Senior Agila" after consistently denying the existence of child marriage in their community. ...
The Senate has ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill No. 2224 and House Bill No. 4125 or the proposed Ease of Paying Taxes Act. The bill primarily seeks to amend provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 to simplify the...