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AUG
09
2013

Gov’t to hire 131 docs to the barrios, 22,500 nurses; repair 2,871 clinics, spend P10.2 B for drugs, insure 14.7 M families

Describing it as a “prescription for drugs, doctors, and clinics”, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto today likened the P81.7 billion proposed budget of the Department of Health for 2014 as a “needed shot in the arm for the public health system.” “It is definitely a booster
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AUG
08
2013

STSRO Visits the Former Chair of Ways and Means Committee

The Senate Tax Study & Research Office (STSRO) employees pay a courtesy call to Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, former chairman of the Ways & Means committee.
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AUG
08
2013

Gov’t to spend P2.17 billion a day in 2014 for debt service

Government’s interest and principal payments on its debts will reach P791.5 billion next year, or a daily disbursement rate of P2.17 billion, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said. While debt service will climb to an all-time high next year, “the good news is that share
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AUG
07
2013

Recto : Tap P7.5 B Calamity Fund to help Mindanao areas hit by floods, bombings

Mindanao areas battling both natural and man-made calamities of flooding and bombings should receive national aid in the form of releases from the P7.5 billion Calamity Fund, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said today. While popularly known as the source of aid in times
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AUG
05
2013

Recto calls for mandatory CCT enrolment of homeless, relocated estero dwellers

How do you prevent resettled Metro Manila estero residents from returning to their old dangerous dwellings? Enroll them in the government’s conditional cash transfer (CCT) program with the added condition that they can only receive the monthly stipend for as long as they stay put
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AUG
04
2013

Recto bats for tax deduction for those caring for elderly, disabled

Taxpayers who care for their parents or tend to persons with disabilities should be able to declare them as dependents for the purpose of claiming tax exemptions. This is according to Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto, who filed a bill seeking to remove the limitation
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AUG
03
2013

PhilHealth card as national ID

Simulat’s sapul consistent ang posisyon ko dyan. Gawing national ID ang national health insurance card. As early as 1995, itinadhana na ng isang batas na ang PhilHealth card ay ang de facto national ID. Republic Act 7875, the National Heath Insurance Act of 1995 which is also the
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AUG
03
2013

‘How can we stop PAGASA forecasters from leaving Phil area of responsibility?’

PAGASA lost another seasoned weather forecaster, Ricky Fabregas, who had reportedly accepted a P100,000 a month job in Congo. At the rate weather forecasters are leaving the Philippine area of responsibility, we may end up with no one alarming us that a typhoon is coming. If the
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AUG
02
2013

Barangay IRA hiked to P68.3 B next year

Share of the country’s 42,028 barangays from internal revenues will go up to P68.3 billion next year, or a P7.8 billion increase from this year’s P60.5 billion, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto revealed today. While some quarters have viewed this kitty as a major reason
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JUL
31
2013

On BOC reforms

The big picture is that Customs is under orders to collect P408 billion next year. That’s a P68 billion jump from their P340 billion quota this year. One peso in every five tax pesos that will be collected next year will come from the BoC. This can be viewed from another angle,
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