Content about Senate

MANILA, Philippines (Aug 28, 2011) - Batting for the passage of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill,  Sen. Pia Cayetano said that the measure if enacted into law shall ensure that women and children are provided better health care in areas that it is not readily available.

CALABANGA, Camarines Sur (Aug 15, 2011) – A big weekend gathering in a resort village in this town indicates that an overwhelming majority of local politicians are poised to campaign for the creation of Nueva Camarines, a new province carved out of Camarines Sur, when the issue is put up for people's decision in a plebiscite.

NAGA CITY (August 5, 2011) - The House of Representatives in an almost unanimous vote affirmed in a plenary session the passage of a bill that seeks to carve out a new province from Camarines Sur.

House Bill 4820 originally authored by Camarines Sur 4th district Congressman Arnulfo Fuentebella proposes to create a new province, Nueva Camarines, out the 4th and 5th districts of Camarines Sur.

Mr. President, My Distinguished Colleagues in this August Chamber, Mga Minamahal kong Kababayan:

On several occasions, I rose in this August Chamber, in defense of the environment and other issues affecting our country and our countrymen.

Today, I rise on a personal privilege in defense of my and my family's honor, integrity and dignity.

And I address this speech to reach our people to whom I owe my present position.

MANILA, Philippines (July 19, 2011) - The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has no way of knowing whether the shares of small town lottery (STL) income it distributes to the localities go to intended beneficiaries.

This was revealed yesterday during the fifth Senate hearing on the PCSO fund anomalies.

Former PCSO advertising and promotions manager Manuel Garcia answers questions from senators during the resumption of the Senate hearing on the PCSO fund mess yesterday. Inset shows former PCSO general manager Rosario Uriarte breaking down in tears while testifying. (From philstar.com)

Honorable Members of the Senate:

We thank this august body for inviting us to shed light on an issue that has deeply saddened not only the seven of us but all the Catholic faithful. We hope that our presence will aid your work of legislation. We shall reply with great respect to your questions as far as the facts enable us.

MANILA, Philippines (June 11, 2011) - Malacañang has given the assurance that the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill will become a law under the Aquino administration. And we are counting months, not years, before it becomes a reality.

Presidential Communications Group Secretary Herminio Coloma told the “No Holds Barred” media forum at the National Press Club in Intramuros, Manila, that it is reasonable to expect tha passage of the bill within the coming months.

Watching live coverage of the Senate investigation of the PCSO mess, the Filipinos get to know that a sitting president can easily do magic with people's money by converting line item allocation in an agency's budget into an intelligence fund and spend the money with impunity, beyond the reach of government auditors.

Kudos to Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) chairwoman Margie Juico and Director Aleta Tolentino for bringing this to the light of day, including how loto and sweepstakes income could be lost to gifts or even bribes to favored supporters.

MANILA, Philippines (July 7, 2011) - In what is an emerging pattern of behavior, former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo keeps her silence on anomalies she is perceived of having a lead role, leaving her minions to defend her.

At yesterday's Senate hearing, officers of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the Commission on Audit (COA) enumerated alleged anomalies committed by the previous management with probable involvement of the former president.

TRIPOLI, Libya(AP) – NATO airstrikes rattled the Libyan capital Thursday with clusters of bombing runs believed to have targeted the outskirts of Tripoli.

The intensity of the attacks suggested a return to the kind of heavy NATO bombardment that hit military installations across the capital on Tuesday and flattened major buildings in leader Moammar Gadhafi's sprawling compound in the center of the city. Government officials did not say what had been targeted in the Thursday bombing runs.

MANILA, Philippines (June 6 2011) (Xinhua) - The controversial reproductive health (RH) bill has finally been endorsed for plenary debates at the Senate, but discussions and voting on the legislation will take place in July as Congress goes on recess on Thursday.

Twenty senators signed Committee Report No. 49 of the Senate committees on finance, health and demography, and youth, women and family relations, paving the way for heated arguments, just like in the House of Representatives, on whether to allow or not unhindered public access to contraceptives.