JAN
16
2016

218,639 positions in government vacant – Recto

Government was told to fill a “significant portion” of the officially reported 218,639 job vacancies in national government offices in order to ease joblessness, especially among the youth, which accounts for one in three unemployed. The call was made by Senate President
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JAN
15
2016

Presidential backing, passage of CCT law needed to protect it from shift in political winds

To protect the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program from “any shift in political winds,” the principal author of the bill institutionalizing the social protection program has asked President Aquino to certify it as urgent. Sen. Ralph Recto, principal author of two measures
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JAN
14
2016

Statement on the President’s veto of the SSS Law

I suggest the President take executive action. The SSS law allows him to do so. For the sake of the pensioners, it should not be a choice between meron o wala. There should be a compromise amount which can be effected through executive action. If the President finds the P2,000
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DEC
15
2015

Bicam OKs bills granting tax breaks to PWDs and local water districts

A Senate- House panel which fine-tuned bills granting tax breaks to persons with disabilities (PWDs) and local water districts today approved both measures for approval by both chambers and “possible signing by President Aquino before Christmas day.” Senate President Pro-Tempore
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DEC
01
2015

Recto appeals to budget Bicam: Don’t touch P2.5 B hike for senior pension

The House-Senate panel that will hammer out the final version of the 2016 national budget met today with a Senate leader appealing to his House counterparts to leave the P2.5 billion the Senate has added to the budget for indigent seniors pension untouched. Senate President
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NOV
29
2015

Publish ‘Feesbook’ of permits, licenses to promote ease of doing business, cut red tape

National government plans to collect P40 billion in “fees and charges” for permits and licenses next year, prompting Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph G. Recto to call for the publication of an online “Feesbook”, detailing the cost and time needed to get the
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NOV
28
2015

Senate OKs P14.3 B funding for PhilHealth coverage and monthly pension for seniors

Included in the 2016 national budget the Senate approved on Thursday is a P6.78 billion allocation to place 2.8 million senior citizens under PhilHealth coverage, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto said today. Also funded by the P3 trillion spending measure is the P7.51
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NOV
26
2015

Senate to restore P3B SUC cuts, to add P6B for scholarships

The Senate will likely restore the P3 billion cut in the proposed 2016 budget of 114 state universities and colleges (SUCs) and on top of this, add P6 billion in tuition aid and scholarship grants for their 1.3 million students. Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph G. Recto had
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NOV
25
2015

Clearances to cost drivers P3B a year – Recto

The 2.1 million professional drivers who renew and apply for a license  annually would lose P3 billion in fees and lost income if the requirement to  secure a clearance each from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) will not be
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