1 year, 1M cases later, was the DOH able to buy enough ventilators, ICU units, high-flow oxygen machines?

28 April 2021, Comment are Off
One year and one million cases after the country’s first recorded COVID-19 case, a count on the number of ICU beds, ventilators and critical care equipment in government hospitals is in order, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said. “In any war, we should always look at...

‘Fighting hunger does not make one an armed combatant’

23 April 2021, Comment are Off
The P16 billion in taxes paid by the people was given to that body so it can run after the Communist Party, not community pantries. So something is terribly wrong when a general berates a millennial because she fed her neighbors. There is no valor in that. It is also unfair to...

‘Community pantries need more food bags, not red tags, nor red tape’

20 April 2021, Comment are Off
The only thing red in the community pantries are the ripe tomatoes. Those who see red in these bayanihan projects should have their hearts examined. Community pantries need more food bags, not red tags, nor red tape. Let them bloom wherever they sprout, regardless of who planted...

DA dared: Save farmers’ produce from low prices, lack of buyers and give them to community pantries

19 April 2021, Comment are Off
Amid reports of Luzon vegetable farmers dumping their produce, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto challenged the Department of Agriculture “to buy these, truck them to Manila and quietly give them to community pantries.” “May mga pictures na tinatapon na lang ang kamatis...

DBM, PNP urged : Heed SC’s directive on bodycams with funding

24 March 2021, Comment are Off
The Supreme Court’s statements that it will soon order the mandatory use of body cameras in the serving of warrants should be a signal to the DBM and the DILG to include funds for their purchase in the 2022 national budget. “Sinabi na ng Korte Suprema. Ihanda na ang pondo. Hindi...

Hindi lang change oil, change engine and driver na rin

23 March 2021, Comment are Off
Press Statement of Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto23 March 2021 COVID is fast and furious while the vaccine rollout is slow and sputtering. These are signs of a government’s pandemic machinery in trouble and a nation in danger. Hindi lang change oil ang kailangan,...

DOH-NTF is ‘legislating by IRR’ in proposed vaccine blacklist of industries

21 March 2021, Comment are Off
This is legislation by IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations), a bad habit by bureaucrats who imagine themselves as the third chamber of Congress. No such provision exists in the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021 or Republic Act No. 11525. Anyone can read through the...

National scoreboard of vaccinations, regional speedometers that will clock vaccines delivered

16 March 2021, Comment are Off
Government should now start releasing daily reports on the number of people who have been vaccinated. This is the national scoreboard that will tell us how far we are into our vaccination goal and how fast we are doing it. This can be incorporated into the daily COVID reports of...