Modernization law should be PAGASA’s 150th birthday gift

28 March 2015, Comment are Off
The Senate will soon begin floor debates on a bill upgrading PAGASA’s equipment, staff pay, research capabilities and communication reach which its author says “is the best birthday gift on the weather bureau’s 150th year.” Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the bill...

Channel SK’s P7.7B fund to grassroots anti-hunger projects

27 March 2015, Comment are Off
President Aquino’s signing last Wednesday of Republic Act 10656 which moves anew the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections to Oct. 2016 creates the opportunity for channeling P7.7 billion in SK funds toward anti-hunger projects, Sen. Ralph Recto said today. The P7.7 billion...

On World TB Day, Recto asks: ‘What about the Fallen 27,000?’

23 March 2015, Comment are Off
What about the Fallen 27,000? As the country observes World TB Day today, Sen. Ralph Recto called on government to plowback a portion of its good fiscal numbers in fighting tuberculosis, a scourge which claims the lives of 27,000 Filipinos a year. “It kills 75 a day, more than...

Recto: Creating DICT will allow Transport dep’t to focus on transport mess

22 March 2015, Comment are Off
One “good side effect” of creating a Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is that the present Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) will be streamlined into a Department of Transportation whose sole focus is fixing the nation’s...

DOST to roll out hotspots in 967 towns, NCR, 14 cities Free public Wi-Fi must help farmers, not Farmville

21 March 2015, Comment are Off
As government rolls out free Wi-Fi hotspots in 967 towns, Metro Manila and 14 key cities this July, the senator who sponsored the project’s P1.4 billion funding in the 2015 national budget urged its implementor to ensure that the project will get “more bytes and benefits out of...

Focus on reports’ other findings like dud grenades, defective radio, deceptive MILF ceasefire

20 March 2015, Comment are Off
There are many “non-controversial, unchallenged” recommendations in both the Board of Inquiry (BOI) and the Senate reports on the Mamasapano fiasco which government can act on immediately, Sen. Ralph Recto said today. “There are many prescriptions which can be acted upon motu...

Poe report is FPJ –fair, perceptive and judicious

17 March 2015, Comment are Off
Pinasadahan ko nang mabilis ang ilang parte ng report. My first impression is that it is Fair, Perceptive and Judicious – FPJ. It will contribute so much in explaining the tragedy that was Mamasapano, in drawing lessons so it won’t happen again, assign culpabilities, and...

“SONA: State of the Ngipin Address” 

02 March 2015, Comment are Off
With 9 in 10 suffering from tooth problems, bigger oral health care budget needed With 9 in 10 Filipinos suffering tooth decay and only 1 in 10 of them can afford to see a dentist once a year, budget for oral health care should be restored as a line item in the national budget,...