BETTER DAYS Senator Sonny Angara Recent surveys by Pulse Asia and the Social Weather Stations found that a majority of Filipinos were ready to face the new year with optimism and hope. Unfortunately, for many of our countrymen, the new year came with several challenges. Two in particular come to...
PEACE-MAKER Former Speaker of the House Jose C. De Venecia Jr. We joined the 1.36 billion Roman Catholics around the world in mourning the passing of the 95-year-old Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who was laid to rest inside the Vatican City grounds three days ago. Considered as one of the greatest...
'TOL VIEWS Senator Francis Tolentino As we ring in the new year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the past year and to look ahead to the challenges and opportunities. As your Senator, I am deeply committed to serving the people of this great nation. I am honored to have the opportunity to work...
'TOL VIEWS Senator Francis Tolentino As chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government in the 18th Congress, I am proud to share that the Municipality of Baliwag in the Province of Bulacan has been successfully converted into a component city. Baliwag is now Bulacan’s fourth city. During...
‘TOL VIEWS Senator Francis N. Tolentino Because of the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, global tourism suffered significant losses. International tourist arrivals in January to May 2020 decreased by as much as 56 percent compared to the pre-pandemic records of 2019. This reduction, according...
THE VIEW FROM RIZAL Dr. Jun Ynares Several weeks ago, top officials of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) visited the Capitol of Rizal Province. The occasion was a momentous one: DICT and the Rizal provincial government inaugurated a free Wi-Fi service for the...
'TOL Views Senator Francis N. Tolentino Last Oct. 28, more than two years after the first lockdown, Executive Order (E.O.) No. 7 was signed, making the wearing of face masks indoors and outdoors voluntary, with the exception of those in healthcare facilities, medical transport vehicles, and all...
'TOL VIEWS Senator Francis N. Tolentino Last Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, I filed my bill on The Philippine Nuclear Regulation Act of 2022. It aims to regulate and promote the nuclear energy industry in the Philippines by providing for a regulatory framework on its control, use, and application. This...
'TOL VIEWS Senator Francis N. Tolentino As an archipelago, a strong Philippine Navy is of utmost importance to secure and preserve the safety, sovereignty, and independence of the country. The Navy is our first defense against incursions in the Philippine shores. Under Article X, Section 21 of the...
'TOL VIEWS Senator Francis N. Tolentino Arbitration is one of the alternative dispute resolutions (ADR) available to parties of a dispute. Here in the Philippines, our arbitration legal framework – namely, the Civil Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 386), the Arbitration Law (Republic Act...
'TOL VIEWS Senator Francis N. Tolentino The Senate of the Philippines officially held the First Regular Session of the 19th Congress on July 25, 2022. The 24 senators formally convened in the Senate’s Plenary Hall. During the latter part of the 18th Congress, for health and safety reasons, the...
'TOL VIEWS Senator Francis N. Tolentino In relation to my column on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) last March 10, 2022, I stated my view that in order for the Philippines to maximize the benefits that the RCEP promises, we should first ensure the ratification of...
