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OCT
06
2013

Mandatory PhilHealth coverage for entire 6.1 million senior citizens pushed

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto is pushing for the enactment of a bill that would provide mandatory PhilHealth coverage to all senior citizens – without distinction – by removing the limitation under the law that grants the statutory benefit only to those who are
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SEP
26
2013

Recto: ‘Stronger’ Habagat rains spell more woes for Metro’s anti-flood efforts

The government should seriously take into consideration the increasing amount of rainfall being poured by monsoon rains when it crafts its over-all master plan on flood management in the National Capital Region. This is according to Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto, as
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SEP
25
2013

Recto: Use Malampaya fund for power rates reduction, AFP modernization

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto has filed two separate measures seeking to make use of the Malampaya funds for the reduction of power rates and to speed up the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The two bills, Recto said, also mandate
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SEP
22
2013

Rechannel PDAF to overcrowded PGH, PCMC public hospitals

The health sector should be the major recipient of rechanneled Priority Development Assistance Fund, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said today. Recto said PDAF should be “reinvented as a cure for the sick and a medicine for the ailing.” Specifically, Recto wants a large
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SEP
21
2013

Recto Bill to Cut Red Tape in GSIS

The Senate is ready to roll-out a slew of improved services and privileges to members of Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) including a first ever “Members’ Rights” and reform provisions cutting down red-tape in collecting claims and having a GSIS board that is more
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SEP
09
2013

3,732 OFWs in jails in 53 countries

At least 3,732 Filipinos were languishing in jails in 53 countries at the beginning of the year, Sen. Ralph Recto said today. Of this number, 108 were in death row in six countries, with 69 in Chinese jails awaiting execution or clemency, the Senate President Pro Tempore said.
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SEP
06
2013

COA has P2.2 billion to hire more auditors – Recto

The Commission on Audit (COA) has P2.2 billion in the 2014 national budget that it can tap in hiring more auditors who can serve as “tripwires against corruption,” Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said today. With that amount, Recto said COA can recruit 6,485 more
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SEP
04
2013

Making SAROs public will make nat’l budget FOI-compliant

Pending the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill, its features can be implanted in the national budget, beginning with the requirement to upload scanned copies of the Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs) on the Budget department website, Senate President Pro
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SEP
02
2013

Recto wants ‘anti-loan shark’ provision in nat’l budget changed

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto today called for an amendment of the “anti ‘5-6’” provision in the proposed national budget by proposing that the net take-home pay of state workers, after deductions, must not be lower than P5,000 a month. Recto said the current and
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AUG
31
2013

From pork to ‘BEEF’ – Basic Education Enhancement Fund

As lawmakers scramble to turn pork into graft-free good projects, a Senate leader today called for a conversion of a large chunk of the Priority Development Assistance Fund into spending that will put more teachers, classrooms, science labs and even meals for malnourished
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