House, Senate open BBL bicameral deliberations

Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate on Monday met in bicameral conference to reconcile the disagreeing provisions of their respective proposals, House Bill 6475 and Senate Bill 1717, on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas headed the House conferees while Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri led the Senate panel.

In his opening statement, Fariñas emphasized that the provisions of the Constitution shall be the primary guide in the bicameral deliberations.

“We have to ensure that anything we do and everything we do will be compliant with the Constitution because surely this [piece of legislation] will be challenged. So it is our task to see to it that whatever we agree and come up here will have to pass the test of Constitution,” he said.

For his part, Zubiri said five guideposts must remain at the center of the panel’s discussion: constitutionality, autonomy, acceptability, social justice peace, and development.

Certified urgent by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, the measure seeks to establish the organic law of the Bangsamoro in the autonomous region of Muslim Mindanao.

The House delegation is composed of Deputy Speaker Bai Sandra Sinsuat Sema, and Reps.  Juan Pablo Bondoc, Arthur Defensor Jr.,  Johnny Ty Pimentel, Eugene Michael De Vera, Pedro Acharon Jr., Mauyag Papandayan Jr., Ruby Sahali, Rodolfo Albano III, Amihilda Sangcopan, Wilter Wee Palma II, Celso Lobregat, Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo, Abdullah Dimaporo, Romeo Acop, Seth Frederick Jalosjos, Shernee Abubakar Tan, and Rodante Marcoleta.

On the other hand, the Senate panel includes Senators Sonny Angara, Aquilino Pimentel III, Sherwin Gatchalian, Joel Villanueva, Francis Escudero, Franklin Drilon, Risa Hontiveros, Loren Legarda, and Francis Pangilinan. Senate President Vicente Sotto III was also present for the deliberations. / CMB Engracia

 

BBL BICAMERAL. Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate on Monday met in a bicameral conference to reconcile their respective proposals, House Bill 6475 and Senate Bill 1717, on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas headed the House panel while Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri led the Senate panel. The House delegation is composed of Deputy Speaker Bai Sandra Sinsuat Sema, and Representatives Juan Pablo Bondoc, Arthur Defensor Jr.,  Johnny Ty Pimentel, Eugene Michael De Vera, Pedro Acharon Jr., Mauyag Papandayan Jr., Ruby Sahali, Rodolfo Albano III, Amihilda Sangcopan, Wilter Wee Palma II, Celso Lobregat, Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo, Abdullah Dimaporo, Romeo Acop, Seth Frederick Jalosjos, Shernee Abubakar Tan, and Rodante Marcoleta. The Senate panel includes Senators Sonny Angara, Aquilino Pimentel III, Sherwin Gatchalian, Joel Villanueva, Francis Escudero, Franklin Drilon, Risa Hontiveros, Loren Legarda, and Francis Pangilinan. Senate President Vicente Sotto III was also present for the deliberations. (P Camero/CMB Engracia)

 

How can you call a law perfect if it burdens the poor?

This was Sen. Bam Aquino’s reaction to Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno’s pronouncement that the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law is a perfect law.

“Paano magiging perpekto ang batas na sumasagasa sa mahihirap na Pilipino?” asked Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.  “Konting malasakit naman po para sa mahihirap,” Sen. Bam stressed, adding that the government should not ignore the suffering of Filipinos, especially the poor, from high prices of goods.

“Huwag naman ninyong maliitin ang paghihirap ng mga kababayan nating nalulunod sa taas presyo,” said Sen. Bam. “Tinitiyak ko po sa inyo totoong mabigat ang pinapasan ng taumbayan dahil sa taas presyo na dulot ng TRAIN,” the senator added.  Sen. Bam renewed his call to the President to listen to the cry of Filipinos, who are already burdened by the high prices of goods due to the government’s tax reform program.

“Sana lang marinig ng Pangulo ang hinaing ng mga pamilyang pilipinong nalulunod na sa taas presyo,” said Sen. Bam, adding that he expects the Chief Executive to address the issue during his State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Earlier, Sen. Bam said the government should join hands with the legislative in finding ways to solve the problem to alleviate the plight of Filipinos.

As part of his effort to alleviate the suffering of the Filipinos, Sen. Bam has filed a measure seeking to suspend and roll back the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law once average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period. Sen. Bam also is pushing for the full implementation of mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, such as the unconditional cash transfer program for poor families and the Pantawid Pasada for jeepney operators and drivers.

 

Press Release , July 10, 2018 Concerned over the rising number of leptospirosis cases in the country, Senator Nancy Binay today urged the Department of Health and local government units to launch a massive campaign to rid leptospirosis-related casualties in the barangays.

Binay said the DOH, with the help of LGUs, should remain proactive in its objective to inform the public of the symptoms of the disease and how to avoid it.

“We need to solicit people’s participation and find community-level ways to prevent the spread of the disease. Nakaka-alarma na po ang pagtaas ng bilang ng leptospirosis cases sa bansa, lalo na po sa Kamaynilaan,” Binay said.

The senator said flood control remains to be a big challenge to LGUs and combating leptospirosis is a bigger challenge.

“The rise in leptospirosis highlights a public health issue. There’s a need to make giant steps towards addressing the disease by engaging all sectors including those in charge of public works,” Binay added.

She also sought the help of local government executives down to the barangay level to help in the information campaign, and in clearing drainage systems and areas where rats commonly stay.

“Ang panawagan po sa ngayon sa ating mga LGUs ay ang palagiang linisin at tanggalan ng bara ang mga drainage systems sa kanilang mga nasasakupan upang maiwasan ang pagkalat ng leptospirosis,” she said.

Binay said that it is still best to prevent the spread of the disease

“There is a need for a concerted effort from all fronts in immediately spreading awareness regarding leptospirosis,” she said in Senate Resolution number 783.

Binay said there is a need to proactively address the prevalence of the disease, especially ways to avoid it.

“Kailangan din pong malaman kung ano ang mga sintomas nito, upang maagapan agad ang mga posibleng kaso,” she added.

Leptospirosis is a disease caused by the Leptospira bacteria, which is spread by animal urine or water containing animal urine coming into contact with breaks in the skin, eyes, mouth, or nose. Signs and symptoms ranges from none to headaches, muscle pains and fever, to bleeding.

The Health department last weekend declared outbreaks in 10 more barangays in Metro Manila, bringing to 28 the number of barangays affected by the disease.

These were in Quezon City, Taguig, Pasig, Parañaque, Navotas, Mandaluyong, Malabon, and Caloocan.

The department added that from January 1 to June 23, there 1,085 reported cases of leptospirosis, a 35 percent increase from the same period in 2017.

In Metro Manila, there were 454 reported cases, with 58 deaths as of July 5.

Villar reviews implementation of ACEF law: Sen. Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and Food, inquires from Edgardo Luzano, Program Management Department Manager of Land Bank, the bank mandated by Republic Act 10848 or the law which extended the life of the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) how the funds are given out as loans. Land Bank reported that out of the P4.8 billion released to them, they were able to lend P4.4 billion. Villar also asked Luzano to make the application process easier and not intimidating to farmers who stand to benefit the most from cheap credit.

Legarda Promoted to Colonel: Senator Loren Legarda has been promoted to the rank of Colonel, Philippine Air Force (Reserve), following the consent of the Commission on Appointments (CA) to her nomination. Legarda was nominated for promotion to the rank of Colonel after completing her Command and General Staff Course under the Armed Forces of the Philippines Command and General Staff College (AFP-CGSC) in December last year.Continuation of Customs investigation: Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee compares the difference between a genuine product of a detergent (on his right) and a fake one (on his left) during the continuation of a Senate investigation into the alleged smuggling activities at the Bureau of Customs, Monday, March 12, 2018. (PRIB Photo by Cesar Tomambo/AYA/12 March 2018)

Bicam on the National Feeding Program: Senator Chiz Escudero, chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, leads the bicameral conference committee discussion on the disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill No. 1279 and House Bill No. 5269 (National School Feeding Program Act) on Monday, March 12, 2018. SBN 1279 seeks to institutionalize school feeding programs across the country to combat hunger and under-nutrition among students. (PRIB Photo by Romeo Bugante/12 March 2018)

Binay joins Kapihan sa Senado: Senator Nancy Binay, chair of the Senate Committee on Tourism, expresses her opposition to the proposed total closure of business establishments in Boracay Island as part of its rehabilitation efforts, during the Kapihan sa Senado, Thursday, March 8, 2018. Binay said that instead of shutting down businesses in Boracay, local officials must impose “regulated tourist arrivals for now.” She added that government must first conduct an inventory of all “island destinations” in Boracay and commence rehabilitation efforts, before it opens the island to large volumes of tourists once more. (PRIB Photo by Joseph Vidal/ OIC/ 08 March 2018)

 

Fight against fake news: Senator Grace Poe (middle), chair of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, quizzes government officials, media personnel and bloggers present during the latest Senate hearing on the fight against fake news on Tuesday, January 30, 2018. Poe said that the whole country must explore all possible solutions to “this new problem that plagues our community.” “I believe that this destructive and divisive phenomenon can only be addressed by a cocktail of solutions, the most potent of which is through an educated and vigilant citizenry, and a government which must cease to be the greatest enabler of manufactured information,” she said. Also in photo are (from L-R) Senators Bam Aquino IV and Manny Pacquiao. (PRIB Photo by Alexis Nueva España, 30 January 2018)Sen. Cynthia Villar in tree planting: Senator Cynthia A. Villar, chair of the Senate environment committee, joins Singapore Ambassador Kok Li Peng (in red T-shirt) during the Singapore tree-planting activity at the Kasalikasan Garden, BGC Taguig. This is the second year that the Singapore Embassy in Manila embarked on the planting of narra and molave trees. The senator, who has been advocating for a clean and green environment, extolled everyone not to grow tired of planting trees

04 October 2018 11:11:00 AM

Former President and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other House Members jubilantly flash the trademark closed fist sign of President Duterte after the House of Representatives approved on second reading Wednesday night House Bill 8169 or the Fiscal Year 2019 General Appropriations Bill which provides for a national budget of P3.757 trillion for next year. The budget will fund various priority socio-economic, infrastructure and other projects of the government, guided by the theme “Building a Bright Future for the Philippines and Its People.” The House aims to pass the bill on third and final reading before the congressional recess on Oct. 12, 2018. | Rowena B. Bundang/Perfecto Camero

 

Push for BBL continues: Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, chair of the Senate Subcommittee on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), exchanges ideas with Commissioner Firdausi Ismail Abbas of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission before the start of the latest Senate hearing on the measure, January 30, 2018. The proposed BBL, which would establish the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region to replace the existing Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), is currently pending in both houses of Congress. (PRIB Photo by Cesar Tomambo/ 30 January 2018)Villanueva joins the ‘National Bible Day’ launch: Senator Joel Villanueva joined Sen. Manny Pacquiao at the launch of the “National Bible Day” today at Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City. Villanueva and Pacquiao authored Senate Bill No. 1270 declaring the last Monday of January a regular holiday to observe the “National Bible Day” and call all Christians to unite and celebrate the Holy Bible as the cradle of the Christian faith. Previously, President Rodrigo Duterte declared January of every year as “National Bible Month” and every last week of January as “National Bible Week” by virtue of Proclamation No. 124.

Pimentel receives EU delegation: Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III receives a European Union (EU) delegation headed by Mr. Jan Reinder Rosing from the European External Action Service (EEAS) and accompanied by the EU Ambassador to the Philippines, H.E. Franz Jessen, at the Philippine Senate on January 29, 2018. The delegation, which is on an assessment mission to the Philippines, was updated on the political situation in Mindanao, particularly recent developments in the Bangsamoro Peace Process as well as the rehabilitation efforts in Marawi. Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri explained that the Senate plans to approve the BBL before it adjourns in March as the landmark legislation will be crucial in addressing continued extremism in Mindanao. Also present during the call were Senators Risa Hontiveros, Win Gatchalian and JV Ejercito. (PRI

Hearing on the proposed Senate Institute: Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Senator Panfilo Lacson, chair of the Senate Committee on Accounts, field questions to officials of the Senate Secretariat during the hearing on the proposed Senate Institute on Legislative Studies and Training Center (SILSTC), Tuesday, January 30, 2018. The hearing focused on Senate Resolution No. 287, introduced by Pimentel, which would establish the SILSTC as the “training arm of the Senate on local and national legislation, legislative governance, legislative research, and in inter-parliamentary and international relations.” (PRIB Photo by Albert Calvelo/ 30 January 2018)