AUG
15
2013

Recto pushes for special insurance for rice, corn farmers

As agricultural damages continue to mount due to the recent onslaught of typhoon Labuyo, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto pushed for the passage of a bill establishing a special insurance program for rice and corn farmers heavily hit by calamities. “This piece of
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AUG
14
2013

PNP to get P72 B; vows ‘100% percent 15-minute response time to all crimes’

To reduce crime by five percent next year, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has vowed to respond to crime incidents within 15 minutes and ramp up the number of foot and car patrols by 25 percent. These and other targets are contained in a “promissory note” the PNP has
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AUG
12
2013

Recto wants life imprisonment for big-time smugglers

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto has filed a bill seeking to declare big-time smuggling as a capital offense by imposing the penalty of life imprisonment to anyone who will engage in unlawful importation of goods valued more than P1 million. “Smuggling continues to
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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

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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