TOL VIEWS Senator Francis Tolentino Perhaps next to the Blessed Virgin Mother Mary, the Santo Niño is the most revered and venerated religious image in the Philippines. Hundreds of parishes in the country, or maybe even more, have been named after the Holy Child Jesus, and millions of believers...
'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 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...
'TOL VIEWS Senator Francis N. Tolentino On July 8, 2022, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated in the streets of Nara, Japan. I was deeply saddened by the passing of a strong and admirable leader. I had the opportunity to meet him before and to this day, I still remember his...
'TOL VIEWS Senator Francis N. Tolentino The Reserve Officers Training Corps. (ROTC) is a program designed to provide military training to tertiary level students with the aim of preparing the country’s national defense. It is the policy of the State to maintain a standing or regular military...
'TOL VIEWS Senator Francis N. Tolentino In recent news this month, reports on the Philippines’ diplomatic protests over transgressions in our country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) were made by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) against China. According to the DFA, we have filed over 300...
