BETTER DAYS Last February, as chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship, we conducted a hearing on the bill providing for Protected Geographical Indications (GIs) of locally produced agricultural or natural products, processed products, or any products of...
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines’ (IPOPHL) recent approval for the Guimaras Mango to be registered as a geographical indication (GI) will open up more opportunities for high-quality, Philippine-made products be known internationally. Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara...
BETTER DAYS Every year on June 25 the world commemorates the Day of the Seafarer. First celebrated in 2011, it pays tribute to all seafarers around the world for their invaluable contribution to international trade and the world economy. It has been over a decade since we first filed the bill...
BETTER DAYS Over the years, our government has taken steps to address the structural challenges of the economy — be it the high cost of power, inadequate skills of our workforce, or poor logistics. What has been lacking is a coordinated transformation of the economy across three specific, albeit...
BETTER DAYS Starting Aug. 25 this year, the Philippines, along with Japan and Indonesia, will take center stage as hosts of the International Basketball Federation/FIBA Basketball World Cup (FBWC) - the biggest and most prestigious basketball event participated by 32 countries from all around the...
Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara on Thursday, May 25 renewed his call for the government to pursue economic development through a stronger public-private partnership program and make the country more competitive globally. Angara said he believes a stronger public-private collaboration...
The Senate has approved on third and final reading the bill that seeks to institutionalize the Shared Service Facilities (SSF) project of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The bill seeks to ensure there is continued funding for the benefit of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)....
BETTER DAYS Early this month the World Health Organization (WHO) ended Covid-19’s status as a public health emergency of international concern. This has been in place since Jan. 30, 2020 so understandably there was a collective sigh of relief from people of all nations, including here in the...
Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara on Tuesday, May 16 said he expects lengthy debates to commence when the Senate deliberates on the composition of the board of directors for the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF). The composition of the Board of Directors, for one, is a contentious issue...
BETTER DAYS On March 26, 2010, Republic Act 10066 or the National Cultural Heritage Act was enacted to boost our country’s efforts in preserving our cultural treasures. My father, the former Senate President Ed Angara, who was the principal author of the law in the Senate, said the law was not...
BETTER DAYS Before Congress adjourned its sessions last March, we filed a counterpart measure to the bill of Marikina City Rep. Stella Quimbo institutionalizing the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). This measure...
BETTER DAYS Since the start of the year, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) has been conducting regular meetings and consultations as part of its mandate to perform a comprehensive assessment of the Philippine education system. As one of the commissioners of EDCOM 2, I can...
