Rappler's latest stories on Senate bills
Gatchalian: Proof-of-parking bill can instill responsible car ownership
Under the proposed bill, Metro Manila-based people who want to buy vehicles will be required to provide an affidavit stating that they are in possession of a parking space for the intended purchase
Recto wants automatic membership of consumer reps in utility boards
Government regulatory bodies of utilities such as the LTFRB, National Telecommunications Commission, and MWSS should have consumer representatives in their board
Human Rights Watch slams Sotto's fake news bill
The punishable acts will still be liable under the current Cybercrime Law, but the meat of the measure are the added powers of the Department of Justice
Drilon seeks ban on garbage importation
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon says the passage of his proposed bill will 'send a clear message to other countries that the Philippines is not a landfill'
Duterte certifies as urgent bill on higher tobacco tax
The certification of Senate Bill No. 2233 as urgent allows the Senate to pass the measure on second and third and final reading on the same day
Senators seek to make premature campaigning a crime
The bill will attempt to supersede a 2009 Supreme Court ruling that decriminalized the provision in the Omnibus Election Code
Duque asks Duterte to certify tobacco tax hike bill as urgent
The Department of Health wants excise tax on cigarettes to be increased to P90 per pack from the current P32.50
Senate passes bill giving PNP control over police training
Senate Bill 1898 seeks to allow the Philippine National Police to mold its ideal cops from recruitment to retirement
Trillanes seeks to increase combat pay for soldiers
'The sad reality is that members of the armed forces bear the greatest degree of risk among civil servants,' says ex-Navy man Senator Antonio Trillanes IV
De Lima files bill to shield campus journalists from harassment
This comes after San Beda Senior High School stopped 'The Bedan Roar' from releasing its edition that tackled President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-drug campaign
Congress pushes for climate-based crop insurance
Senator Cynthia Villar, chair of the Senate agriculture committee, says she expects the climate-based crop insurance law to be approved within the year
Senate approves bill granting gov't support for 'innovative' startups
If Senate Bill 1532 is passed into law, startups would enjoy research grants, exemption from fees and charges, and free use of government equipment and facilities, among other incentives
Filipinos to have national IDs soon after Senate, House pass bill
Senator Panfilo Lacson, author of Senate Bill 1738, says at present there are 33 different ID cards issued by various government agencies, which lead to 'duplication of efforts and uncoordinated identity approaches'
House bill sets larger license plates to curb motorcycle crimes
The bill will require motorcycle riders to have license plates that are readable from at least 12 meters away
Senate OKs bill ensuring health of mothers, children in first 1,000 days
The bill seeks to fight malnutrition of children during the first 1,000 days, starting from the first day of the mother’s pregnancy. The House version was approved in 2017.
Senate approves Lifetime Cellphone Number Act
The bill proposes to eliminate interconnectivity fees between networks
Pimentel hits Alvarez: Senate not slow, it's Congress' 'critical chamber'
'The Senate is the nag-aaral na kapulungan... Again I say, change mindset: quality over quantity,' Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III says in response to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez's criticism
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Gov't urged to prioritize safer workplace bill
'By neglecting to comply with occupational safety and health standards, we run the risk of losing so many precious lives as proven by the recent fire tragedy in Davao,' says Senator Joel Villanueva in pushing for the passage of the measure
Senate approves bill requiring 100% service charge be given to employees
The measure, however, does not mandate the collection of service charge to 'avoid interference' with the management's right to exercise discretion in their operations
Senate bill seeks to help Filipino seafarers returning from abroad
The proposed Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers includes the establishment of a reintegration center that would develop livelihood programs, among others
Why are feeding programs important in the fight vs hunger?
The proposed National School Feeding Program bill aims to provide free and sustainable feeding programs in all public schools across the country
Senate OKs Balik Scientist Bill on final reading
The Senate passes Senate Bill 1533 or the Balik Scientist Bill on third and final reading with a vote of 13-0
Students urge undecided senators to back proposed tobacco tax hike
Students write letters to undecided senators, hoping to convince them to support the move to raise the levy on sin products, especially tobacco
Senate bill seeks to expand 20% student discount to air, sea transport
Students taking up post-graduate studies and short-term courses would not be covered by the proposed measure
Poe: DOTr should decide if MRT3 ops should be temporarily halted
'Ang DOTr, kailangan na nilang maglahad ng kanilang plano. Anong gagawin 'pag ititigil ito?' says Senator Grace Poe
DFA denies 'allegiance fee' to regain PH citizenship
It's not an 'allegiance fee' but a 'one-time fee for the processing of the application' for dual citizenship, says DFA spokesman Robespierre Bolivar
#ThewRap: Things you need to know, November 3, 2017
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Drilon asks DFA to stop collecting allegiance fees
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon says the collection of allegiance fees will not convince Filipinos who have lost their citizenship to reacquire it
Demand accountability for the postponement of barangay election
After having spent an estimated P700 million for the preparations, what is the practical value of moving the elections, at the last minute, to 7 months after?
House passes bill giving all Filipinos health insurance
A counterpart measure seeking universal health coverage Bill Number 1458 is pending before the Senate
MGB proposes lifting of ban on open-pit mining
Mines and Geosciences Bureau Director Wilfredo Moncano says they are consulting with the Mining Industry Coordinating Council regarding the proposal
BPOs 'safe' from tax reform, sugar-sweetened milk under deliberation
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III says incentives for BPO companies will remain The fate of milk products in the proposed tax reform package however is still up in the air
Are we postponing barangay and SK elections or not? P500M is at stake
If Congress decides this at the last minute, we risk tossing down the drain about a billion pesos Comelec shall have spent on the preparations
Bam Aquino to LTFRB: Work with Uber, Grab on reasonable standards
Senator Paolo Benigno Bam Aquino IV pushes for the proposed Rideshare Support Company Act which seeks to encourage new affordable and safe transportation options
De Lima to seek court nod to join Senate debates
The detained senator wants to join debates on controversial measures such as the death penalty the lowering of the age of criminal liability and the postponement of barangay elections
Senate bill seeks summer, holiday fare discounts for students
The proposed measure expands the 20 fare discount for students covering even holidays and summer vacation breaks
Senate passes bill on free tuition in state colleges
This passage of the Affordable Higher Education for All Act is a clear message from the Senate to every Filipino that we prioritize education that we choose to invest first and foremost in our students says Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV
Free tuition in state colleges: What the bill says
Here s what you need to know about the tuition free policy as proposed in the Senate
Senate to Smart: Conduct IPO and we'll extend franchise
The Senate public services committee removes the co use provision but retains tax exemptions for telcos with franchises
Smart seen to get 25-year franchise extension by March
But the franchise extension might require the telco giant to list on the Philippine Stock Exchange
Anti-wiretapping law amendment needed to go after drug lords – DBB
The amendment seeks to update the law to be attuned to existing technologies
Senate OKs bill allowing PNP chief, CIDG execs to issue subpoenas
Senator Panfilo Lacson says it is difficult for the investigative arm of the police to complete a probe without the power to summon people
Window narrows for Smart's 25-year franchise extension
The telco s franchise granted way back in March 1992 is set to expire this March
Zubiri bill wants to ban trade in sharks, rays
The proposed Sharks and Rays Conservation Act seeks to impose penalties of up to 12 years imprisonment or a fine of up to P1 million or both to violators of the ban including those who inflict injury on sharks and rays
Hontiveros takes HIV test to fight stigma against virus
The lawmaker is pushing for a new law that will create new strategies for the government to respond to the HIV AIDS epidemic
Senate bill seeks stiffer penalties for online sexual harassment
Senator Grace Poe seeks to expand the coverage of Republic Act 7877 or the Philippine Anti Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 to include online harassment
Bills seeking to make education more accessible pushed in Congress
Sen Bam Aquino pitches policy proposals at summit that will craft the education agenda of the Duterte administration
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Senate bills seek to punish violators of airline passengers' rights
Senators say a law is needed to institutionalize the rights of airline passengers to penalize violators
