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FEB
18
2020

Lifting of travel ban for HK, Macau OFWs ‘right thing to do’—Recto

The decision of the government to allow Filipinos to return to their work in Hong Kong and Macau is a step in the right direction.  This will save the jobs of thousands of Filipinos who were vacationing in their home country when their government imposed a travel ban to those two
FEB
18
2020

Sponsorship Speech on SB 1341: Motorcycles as Public Utility Vehicles

Mr. President: Throughout history, legislation has always marched behind technology. It has always been innovation first, regulation later. And most often, government’s intervention follows this Reagan doctrine: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it
FEB
17
2020

Rehabilitasyon sa Batangas, pinangunahan ni Recto

Pinangunahan ni Senator Ralph Recto ang pangangasiwa sa gagawing rehabilitasyon sa mga lugar na naapektuhan ng pagsabog ng bulkang Taal. Kabilang dito ang pangangasiwa sa kakailanganing pondo para sa rehabilitasyon at ang pagsisiguro na may nakukuhang tulong ang mga apektadong
FEB
10
2020

Virus, Volcano, VFA: What’s the cost of each?

We are grappling with the three Vs—virus, volcano and the VFA—and each will cost us money. Hopefully, the virus will not spread, Taal will not erupt, and the VFA will not be scrapped for now.  Taal‘s behavior is up to the God above, or whatever geological factors there are
FEB
06
2020

VFA-exit could come later, not yet time to do a Pelosi and rip it up

This is not the time to do a Pelosi and rip up the VFA. A VFA-exit could come later, in a manner that is not rushed, but planned and programmed, and not out of pique.  Certainly not this time when an intruder has built and continues to build what have become the bases of our
FEB
04
2020

Senate Hearing on novel CoronaVirus

Inulit ni Recto na kailangan maging maingat tayo sa pagbabantay ng mga pumapasok na dayuhan sa bansa lalo ngayon na kalat na ang coronavirus sa malaking parte ng mundo.  “When China sneezes, we get pneumonia. If that is the case, then an ounce of border control is worth a
JAN
30
2020

Recto: Put up temporary Great Wall vs Chinese visitors

“I think it is time to put a temporary ‘Do not enter sign’ on our doorstep for visitors from China,” Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said.  “Let us explain to them that we are not permanently closing our doors. This is not a permanent Great Wall. This is only during
JAN
30
2020

“If US restores Bato’s visa, are we going to stop the VFA abrogation process?”

The Senate and DOJ move to separately study the impact of the withdrawal of the Philippines from its Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States should establish “the weightier reasons” for its abrogation, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said.  “Dapat malalim
JAN
29
2020

Recto: Nat’l aid should start falling like volcanic ash on hard-hit areas

Government rehabilitation programs “should now start falling like volcanic ash on areas affected by the Taal eruption,” Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said.  “It is time to start blanketing these areas with aid to help them get back on their feet again,” Recto