Senators have taken exception to statements from Cabinet members about their ongoing investigation on the government's allegedly overpriced purchases amid the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining that the Senate has the responsibility of making sure that public funds are spent properly and efficiently....
Senator Joel Villanueva said the government would need an at least P23 billion more to fund the doubling of special risk allowance (SRA) and hazard pay for health workers. (Jansen Romero / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Villanueva made the estimate as he asked the executive department to submit to...
Senator Joel Villanueva said he sees no reason for the government to withhold the names of the 15 Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) which owe the government over P1.3 billion. Senator Joel Villanueva (Senate of the Philippines) Villanueva, chairman of the Senate labor committee, issued...
Senators are rallying for the passage of the bill that proposes to institutionalize a Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers. Senator Joel Villanueva (Senate PRIB) Senator Joel Villanueva, chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, said the measure serves as a "lifeboat of rights and privileges" for the...
Health workers deserve a raise in their special risk allowances (SRA) and hazard pay in the 2022 national budget, Senator Joel Villanueva said. (Jansen Romero / File Photo / MANILA BULLETIN) Villanueva, chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, said...
Senator Joel Villanueva on Sunday, August 29 said government agencies should temporarily stop using the Department of Budget and Management’s Procurement Service (PS-DBM) as their buying arm for big-ticket projects until the agency has been reformed and cleared of any allegations of corruption....
Following audit reports that billions of pesos in public funds were unspent, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said government departments and agencies should not ask for budgets they cannot utilize and instead make sure that essential programs get priority funding. Senate President Vicente 'Tito'...
Senators took exception to President Duterte's claim that Senate investigations do nothing in improving the government, prompting them to enumerate previous hearings that led to changes in the current administration. Senator Richard Gordon addresses members of the media in an online briefing on...
Senator Joel Villanueva said the funds intended for helping distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) should be increased in the 2022 proposed national budget. Senator Joel Villanueva honors women overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in observation of National Women’s Day during the hearing of the...
Senator Joel Villanueva on Tuesday, August 24, said the Senate will hasten the approval of the bill that is expected to protect freelance workers against abuse and explotation. Senator Joel Villanueva speaks during a Senate hearing on February 24, 2020. (Senate PRIB/Henzberg Austria) Senate Bill...
President Duterte cannot exempt government agencies from auditing procedures or encourage them from defying the Commission on Audit (COA) which is performing its sole mandate of being the state auditing agency. “The COA is an independent, constitutional body designed to check on the president and...
Senator Joel Villanueva has called on the government to step up its efforts in assisting displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and give them jobs that match their skills. (Jansen Romero/MANILA BULLETIN File Photo) “Giving them P20,000 each simply would not cut it anymore,” said Villanueva,...
