OF TREES AND FOREST Former Senate President Manny Villar Fatigue, of course, is one of the possible symptoms of COVID-19. But I would like to write about the so-called “pandemic fatigue” – a feeling of exhaustion, impatience, even resignation among people sick and tired of lockdowns and...
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri has raised concerns over the recent appointments at Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), which were formalized in separate allegedly falsified documents containing Agriculture Secretary William Dar’s signature without his knowledge. Sen. Juan Miguel...
OF TREES AND FOREST Former Senate President Manny Villar In my columns in the past, I discussed how we should change from a lockdown perspective to a “living-with-COVID19” frame of mind. Even when a vaccine comes up, experts have said that it will take a some time before we can have it...
The Senate committee on energy is filing a legislative measure that will re-frame the investment function of state-run Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), so it can concentrate its activities on oil and gas exploration ventures. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) “We’re...
MB file Senators have crossed party lines to commend the Department of Finance (DOF) for its competent and efficient management of state finances in the face of the massive public spending needed to mitigate the health and economic effects of the pandemic. Senate Minority Franklin Drilon...
OF TREES AND FOREST Former Senate President Manny Villar I was a member of the House of Representatives for nine years, from 1992 to 2001. I was always been a proud member of the lower chamber especially during the 11th Congress which I had the honor of leading as speaker from July 27, 1998 to...
With forecasts of hiked budget deficits until next year, Senate Committee on Energy Chairman Sherwin T. Gatchalian forthrightly stated that the Philippine government has no money to buy the 45-percent stake being unloaded by Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX) in the multi-billion Malampaya...
OF TREES AND FOREST Former Senate President Manny Villar It has been almost 7 months since government imposed a lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was March 15 when a General Community Quarantine (GCQ) was first implemented. Since then we have experienced ECQ (Enhanced Community Quarantine),...
Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez. (ALFRED FRIAS/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO FILE PHOTO) Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez has called for full reopening of business establishments even for those located in areas still under the general community quarantine (GCQ) areas so that Filipinos can...
Sen. Manny Pacquiao will donate a huge chunk of his fight purse against Conor McGregor to the victims of the pandemic. The camp of Sen. Manny Pacquiao said Saturday that the boxing icon will be fighting controversial UFC superstar Conor McGregor next year with the huge portion of his earning going...
Former Senate President Manny Villar Of Trees And Forest Another casualty in the ongoing coronavirus pandemic is our formal education system. The month of June every year is usually the time when millions of Filipino students troop back to their schools and learn. But because COVID-19 prevents any...
Senator Christopher 'Bong' Go being interviewed by members of the PBA Press Corps at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in file photo. (PBA Images, File) Instead of a leather basketball which he used to swish in from beyond the three-point arc, Sen. Christopher ‘Bong’ Go now has his hands full with...
