Category Archives: PRESIDENT DUTERTE LEGISLATIVE

covid-19, PRESIDENT DUTERTE LEGISLATIVE, SENATE

SENATOR LACSON: Dealing with COVID-19 as a Nation

March 13, 2020 TOPNEWSNOW Leave a comment

The Covid-19 ‘lockdown’

NEEDS THE SUPPORT OUR PEOPLE

The Metro Manila “lockdown,” “community quarantine,” or whatever the authorities may call it, is one decisive action taken by the government that needs the support of our people, no matter the sacrifices or inconvenience it brings.

But then again, government must lose no time in coming up with practical but effective ways of implementing it to serve its real purpose for our country to survive this unprecedented crisis that we are facing.

For its part, the Department of Health’s Inter-Agency Task Force (DOH-IATF) should issue clear, simple and concise guidelines on dealing with COVID-19 to prevent confusion among the public, as so many doctors and medical experts have been expressing different opinions on it, particularly on its transmission.

One example involves former DOH Sec. and now Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin being quoted as saying COVID-19 is infectious only when the patient is symptomatic, and that quarantine should be mandatory only for those who had direct contact with positive patient, on the one hand; and on the other, Chinese researchers reportedly confirmed a case of asymptomatic transmission where a woman from Wuhan passed it to five kin but never got physically sick herself.

Meanwhile, self-quarantine is not for oneself but for the sake of other people. Insisting to work or move around in spite of full knowledge of interaction with a possible COVID-19 carrier is not a laudable act. It is in fact damnable.

Citizens must also do their part by practicing self-discipline and self-control against thoughtless acts such as hoarding and profiteering at the expense of fellow Filipinos.

This is not the time to argue and fight. Instead, we should all unite to get over this plague. Sen. Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson

PRESIDENT DUTERTE LEGISLATIVE, PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. DUTERTE

MALACANANG COLD ON HOUSE BILL GIVING DUTERTE SPECIAL POWERS

November 16, 2019 TOPNEWSNOW Leave a comment

President to maximize powers for ‘Build, Build, Build’

By ROGER M. BALANZA with PNA report

Due to time constraints, Malacanang is not keen on supporting a House bill granting special powers to President Rodrigo Duterte in adopting a “national policy” in fast-tracking the implementation of the “Build, Build, Build” program on or before 2022.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the proposed measure is “no longer a priority legislative agenda” of Duterte, considering the time constraint.

House Bill 5456 was filed on Wednesday, November 13, by Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda after Senator Franklin Drilon described as a “dismal failure” the implementation of projects under the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program.

DRILON TWITS DUTERTE: “BUILD, BUILD, BUILD” INFRA PROGRAM A ‘DISMAL FAILURE’

The Duterte government has alloted PHP9 trillion for the implementation of around 100 big-ticket infrastructure projects and over 10,000 small infrastructure projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program.

Even without special powers, the President can still fast-track implementation of the projects, said Panelo.

President Rodrigo Duterte will maximize the use of his “available” powers to ensure the full and effective implementation of his administration’s ambitious “Build, Build, Build” program, Panelo said on Saturday, November 16.

“The President will implement and maximize what is presently available under our laws for this purpose,” Panelo adds.

Earlier, Panelo said he considered as a “good idea” the proposal by Rep. Salceda to grant emergency powers to Duterte to speed up the implementation of the current administration’s infrastructure program.

“While we respect the wisdom of Congress and laud the gentleman from Albay in seeing the importance of this flagship infrastructure program of the current government, we consider this proposed measure belated and no longer a priority legislative agenda of the President, given that we only have less than three years left in office,” he said.

Panelo noted that there was progress in the implementation of the infrastructure program, citing the figures recently released by Bases Conversion and Development Authority president and chief executive officer Vivencio Dizon who also serves as Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs and Projects.

Around 38 out of the revised list of 100 key infrastructure projects are expected to be completed by 2022, while 22 are “partially operational or substantially completed” and the remaining 40 would be finished “beyond 2022,” Dizon said in a Palace economic briefing on Wednesday.

Dizon also noted that 35 flagship infrastructure projects are ongoing, 32 will commence construction in the next six to eight months, 21 are in the advanced stages of government approval, and 12 in the advanced stages of a feasibility study.

Panelo was confident that all infrastructure projects “will be started within the governance of this Administration.”

“One of the inherent powers of the State is the power of eminent domain where pertinent government offices, through the Office of the Solicitor General, may expropriate or initiate proceedings there for to acquire private property for public use,” he said.

“This power is particularly essential in securing rights of way, an issue that hampered the construction of vital infrastructure. The current agencies involved in the infrastructure program are presently utilizing this process,” Panelo added.

bong go, PRESIDENT DUTERTE LEGISLATIVE

Senate passes Malasakit Center bill on final reading

November 15, 2019 TOPNEWSNOW Leave a comment

The Senate on Monday, November 11, passed on third and final reading a proposed measure seeking to institutionalize the establishment of Malasakit Centers in all Department of Health (DOH) hospitals nationwide and at the Philippine General Hospital.

Senate Bill 1076 was approved with a vote of 18-0 with no abstentions.

The bill aims to consolidate the assistance provided by the DOH, Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office under one roof so patients would no longer have to endure long lines in different agencies to ask for aid.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, the main author and sponsor of the bill, thanked his colleagues for fully supporting the immediate passage of SB 1076.

The neophyte senator said the Malasakit Center is one of the solutions the Duterte administration has developed to provide quick and quality access to health care to all Filipinos regardless of their age, sex, ethnic background, religion, and political affiliation.

“With the Malasakit Center act in place to complement the Universal Health Care law, we are a step closer towards making quality health care more accessible and affordable for all Filipinos, especially the indigent and poor patients in need of medical assistance from the government,” he said.

“Pera niyo po ito, ibinabalik lang sa inyo sa pamamagitan ng mabilis, maayos at maasahang serbisyong medikal para sa lahat ng Pilipino (This is your money that is just being returned by means of speedy, orderly and dependable medical service for all Filipinos),” Go said.

Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto also lauded the speedy approval of SB 1076, saying the Malasakit concept is commendable for bringing financial and medical help to the people instead of the people chasing after them.

“The creation of Malasakit Centers in a DOH-run hospitals and at the PGH is one step in helping our people raise the financial resources for the medical care of their loved ones,” he said.

“Malasakit Centers will not totally do away with out of pocket medical expenses but these gateways to assistance tell the people that their government is here to help,” Recto added.

Besides institutionalizing the establishment of Malasakit Centers in DOH-run hospitals and in the PGH, SB 1076 also provides that hospitals run by Local Government Unites (LGUs) and other public hospitals may also establish their own Malasakit Centers.

Patients who would be admitted to LGU and other public hospitals but are eligible for medical and financial assistance could also seek assistance from the Malasakit Centers in DOH-run hospitals. (PNA)

Malasakit Centers to give better access to health care: Andanar

PRESIDENT DUTERTE LEGISLATIVE

DUTERTE TO CONGRESS: DON’T DELAY 2020 BUDGET

September 19, 2019 TOPNEWSNOW Leave a comment

President Rodrigo R. Duterte certified the proposed PHP4.1 trillion national budget for 2020 as urgent to avoid a repeat of last year’s delay, Malacañang said on Thursday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte’s reason for calling for the immediate enactment of House Bill No. 4228 or the General Appropriation Bill (GAB) for Fiscal Year 2020 was for lawmakers to understand the importance of its timely passage.

Duterte certifies proposed P4.1-T 2020 budget as urgent

“In certifying to urgency of the budget bill, PRRD wants to convey to the members of Congress the importance of passing the General Appropriations Bill on time to avoid a repeat of a reenacted budget that wreaked havoc to the economic program of this Administration, affected the timely delivery of basic services to the people, and ultimately, slowed our growth during the first quarter of this year,” Panelo said in a statement.

“Government operations must never be hampered and our constitutional mandate to serve the Filipino people must prevail over partisan considerations and constant differences or varying interpretations on the budget,” he added.

At the start of the year, the government operated on a reenacted budget after lawmakers failed to pass the bill on time last year, due to allegations of pork “insertions”.

The passage of the 2019 budget was delayed further due to allegations of realignments made by the House of Representatives after both chambers of Congress ratified the bicameral conference committee report.

Last March, Duterte said operating on a reenacted budget would deal a blow on the country’s growth rate and that “everyone will suffer including law enforcement authorities.”

It was only on April 15 that the 2019 General Appropriations Act (Republic Act 11260) was passed.

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives began plenary deliberations on the proposed 2020 budget.

House Appropriations Committee chairman Isidro Ungab, who sponsored the proposed budget, called on his colleagues to support its timely passage.

House members to get P100M each in 2020 budget: Salceda

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means, earlier said the House of Representatives expects to pass the budget bill on second reading on Friday, September 20.

Salceda expressed hope that the Senate would also pass the proposed budget as early as possible to prove that Duterte’s allies are “working”.

“We just wanna prove that the ‘Duterte Super Coalition’ in the House is working, and I hope the so-called ‘Duterte Super Coalition of 20’ in the Senate will do the same,” he added. (PNA)