Ranking diplomats from the Philippines and China sat down for a two-day talk in Beijing in a bid to contain the evolving word war between Chinese diplomats in Manila and Filipino officials that erupted late December. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary for Asian and...
At least two senators have filed the measure seeking to grant President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. the authority to suspend or reduce fuel excise tax in response to the Middle East conflict. Sen. Joel Villanueva filed Senate Bill No. 1922, which authorizes the President, upon the...
The Senate on Monday, March 2, approved on third and final reading Senate Bill No. 1823, which resets Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao 's (BARMM) first regular parliamentary elections to the second Monday of September this year. During Monday 's plenary session, 21...
Senator Joel Villanueva is pushing for the passage of the proposed Magna Carta for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Professionals in government, a measure designed to enhance compensation, protect workers’ rights, and promote career development in one of the country’s...
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has made an appeal to take the Philippines ' official statements on foreign policy in their "full and proper context," as it is also now working out to facilitate talks between lawmakers and Chinese diplomats over their recent spats on the South China...
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) pushed back against criticism from whom it called “casual commentators” and “self-styled extras,” saying it will not allow performative rhetoric to distract from its diplomatic work in defending Philippine maritime interests. In remarks reaffirming...
The Philippines’ first-ever maritime affairs spokesman has urged the Chinese embassy in Manila to “be constructive in its statements” amid its escalating word war with Filipino officials. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Maritime Affairs spokesman Rogelio Villanueva on Wednesday, Feb. 11,...
Senator Joel Villanueva on Wednesday, February 11 expressed his support to calls that seek the abolition of the travel tax, saying the policy has long outlived its purpose and hindered the mobility based on financial capacity of Filipinos. Villanueva said he is optimistic that the measure would...
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has installed its first-ever spokesperson for maritime affairs to ensure sea disputes are managed diplomatically in public amid the reported appeal of the country 's top diplomat to tone down South China Sea rhetoric being made by Filipino...
Senator Joel Villanueva urged his fellow lawmakers to approve a measure modernizing the country’s outdated bank secrecy laws, saying these have hindered transparency, obstructed accountability, and weakened the government’s ability to combat corruption. “Our failure to modernize our bank...
Senator Joel Villanueva believes that the government should boost the country’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to address the lingering unemployment and underemployment problem. Villanueva, reacting to the latest job data, said the General Appropriations Act of 2026 should focus on...
Senator Joel Villanueva expressed optimism over the implementation of the Doktor Para Sa Bayan law after the program was granted P1.095 billion in funding under the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA). "We 're very grateful to President Bongbong Marcos for supporting our Doktor Para Sa...
