Senators led by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri lauded President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. for suspending the premium increases on Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) members. Zubiri said the move would ease up the burden of the general population in these difficult times...
A House of Representatives member who has been able to work closely with senators in the current 19th Congress believes that the latter would ultimately approve the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) Bill. Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel (Facebook) Not only that, but the Senate will...
House Speaker Martin Romualdez was upbeat Friday, Dec. 30 over the apparent openness of the Senate to the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), which the lower chamber had already passed. House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office) “I have no doubt that our senators share our vision...
This year, the Filipino people saw how the son and namesake of the late President Ferdinand Marcos won the country’s presidency by a landslide. The shift in the Philippines’ political landscape was undoubtedly a reversal of fortunes that may have come as a shock to some sectors. But the Senate...
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has urged the Department of Health (DOH) to monitor the COVID-19 situation in China following its government’s decision to lift their border restrictions starting next month. “I urge our health authorities, the Department of Health, as chairman of the Senate...
OF TREES AND FOREST Former Senate President Manny Villar In a few days, 2022 will end and we will welcome a fresh, new year. Many experts have expressed pessimism on the capacity of the country to achieve growth in 2023. They cited the risks to growth in the coming year, including inflation, hikes...
The Senate Committee on Social Justice Welfare and Rural Development has endorsed for plenary approval the measure seeking the establishment of a support fund for persons with disabilities or PWDs, for their empowerment and full inclusion in the community. Together with the Senate Committee on...
Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo Duterte is prodding the Senate to act on bills calling for the institutionalization of a Magna Carta for barangay health workers (BHWs). Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo Duterte (Facebook) This, after the other legislative chamber--the House of...
OF FORESTS AND TREES Former Senate President Manny Villar I want to wish my readers and the entire Filipino nation a happy and healthy Christmas! We deserve to celebrate a very merry holiday season after more than two years of lockdown resulting in muted celebrations of a feast, we are famous for....
Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte has joined the chorus of government officials--led by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. himself--who are asking Filipinos to give the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) a chance. Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte...
The Philippine Senate is now on a Christmas break after wrapping up a season with pieces of legislation that recognize and respond to Filipinos’ needs. “Since we first convened 20 weeks ago, we have devoted every single day to carrying out the duties the Constitution has assigned us, and...
Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda has expressed confidence that the proposed Ease of Paying Taxes (EOPT) Act will become a law in 2023, in the current 19th Congress. (Recha Oktaviani/ Unsplash) This, as the House Committee on Ways and Means chairman noted the steady movement of the measure among...
