Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto was bestowed the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award by President Benigno Noynoy Aquino III at the Malacañang Palace yesterday. Along with the late DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo and 7 others, Vi received the award for “upholding the ideals of

Members of the Senate yesterday commended Philippine basketball team Smart-Gilas for winning the 34th William Jones Cup held in Taiwan. (photos by Alex Nuevaespana of PRIB)

Sen. Ralph G. Recto introduces to his Senate colleagues the winners of the Ten Outstanding Teachers for 2012 organized by Metrobank Foundation Inc who paid a courtesy call at the Senate Tuesday. Recto served as chair of the final board of judges. Also in the picture are the Top

SPONSORSHIP SPEECH ON PROPOSED SENATE RESOLUTION NO.  840 A RESOLUTION HONORING AND COMMENDING THE TEN OUTSTANDING TEACHERS OF 2012 AWARDED BY THE METROBANK FOUNDATION, INC. FOR THEIR EXEMPLARY COMPETENCE, DEDICATION TO SERVICE, AND COMMITMENT IN PROVIDING QUALITY EDUCATION. By:

Sen. Ralph G. Recto, during a hearing on alleged rice smuggling, proposed that government, through the NFA, assumes full control of rice importation instead of farming out import permits to private groups. Recto is the chairman of the committee on ways and means. (photos by Alex

Senator Ralph G. Recto hears the positions of liquors and tobacco firms on the proposed amendments to the Sin Tax law. Recto, chair of the Ways and Means committee, is holding the second public hearing on excise tax on alcohol and tobacco products. Attending todayís hearings are

SIN TAX BILL, 3RD HEARING – It was the turn of Civil Society groups, academe, NGOs, workers’ unions, farmers’ groups and health advocates to express their differing views on a proposal to hike sin taxes to curb smoking and drinking and increase tax take of

Sen. Ralph G. Recto explains to Pagcor officials and gaming industry stakeholders the merit of his bill seeking to transform Pagcor into a full regulatory commission or Pagcom, dropping its function to also operate its own casinos. (photos by Alex Nuevaespana of PRIB)

Sen. Ralph G. Recto asks DepEd officials where government would source the estimated P80B “new money” in five years to implement the K + 12 program. He tells education officials that parents will spend an additional P1,000 to P2,000 per month per student to send their