The extension of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) to Cavite is expected to begin construction early next year, after the government secured an agreement with the Villar family for the donation of their property to make way for the railway. Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said in...
Senator Mark Villar has filed a measure seeking to exempt micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from the Minimum Corporate Income Tax (MCIT) saying it is imperative to provide them much-needed tax relief as they serve as the key driver of the Philippine economy. Villar, in filing Senate Bill...
Senator Mark Villar has called for stronger school security measures following the fatal stabbing of a Grade 9 student inside Las Piñas National High School, saying the incident highlights the need for immediate action to protect students better. Villar described the killing as a tragic loss and...
Senator Mark Villar on Friday welcomed the signing into law of Republic Act No. 12321, or the Last Mile and Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) Schools Act, saying the measure will strengthen government efforts to provide quality and inclusive education to learners in remote and...
The State of the Nation Address (SONA) has long evolved beyond the President 's annual report to the nation. Over the years, it has become one of the country 's biggest fashion events, drawing almost as much attention to the personalities arriving at the Batasang Pambansa as the speech...
Senator Mark Villar on Friday, July 24, welcomed the early gains of the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA), saying the law is now delivering concrete results in the country 's campaign against online financial crimes. Citing data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Villar...
Senator Mark Villar has filed a resolution seeking a Senate investigation into the recent attacks on Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) drivers, saying the incidents highlight the need for stronger safety measures in the ride-hailing sector. In filing Senate Resolution No. 527, the...
Senator-judge Mark Villar on Tuesday, July 14, sought to clarify how the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) determines whether a statement amounts to a grave threat. During the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, Villar asked NBI Regional Director for the Bangsamoro Autonomous...
OF TREES AND FOREST I have always carried a quiet pride in being a “Batang Tondo.” But beyond that, I was a true “batang kalye”—shaped as much by the streets as by home, spending my childhood days running wild with other Tondo kids, learning life in the open air. I remember a time before...
Senators on Monday, June 22 expressed outrage over reports of a shooting incident at a high school in Tacloban City where three people were killed and five others were seriously wounded. “I am deeply alarmed and outraged by the school shooting incident this morning at San Jose National High...
OF TREES AND FOREST I think I was on my way to a meeting—this was a while ago—when I happened to pass by a new sari-sari store being coated with fresh blue paint and bearing the logo of a popular soft-drink maker. Through the open door, I could see a couple of women arranging canned goods with...
OF TREES AND FOREST It is saddening to read reports that two foreign tourists assaulted the owners of a local business in Siargao after seeing a pro-Palestinian flag outside the shop. The foreigners allegedly threw rocks at the storefront and destroyed a nearby CCTV camera. The local community...
