Aquino signs into law 4 new legislative measures in energy, labor and health care
President Benigno S. Aquino III signed into law four measures in the fields of energy, labor and health care that impact on the social reform agenda of the Aquino administration.
In his speech during the signing ceremonies at the Rizal Hall of Malacanang Palace on Tuesday, the President said that the four new pieces of legislation symbolize the beginning of even more work, more night of discussions and arguments, more programs and support legislation to be instituted and passed all for the benefit of the people.
“These bills are only part of the foundation of the Philippines we want to build… I know these issues are only few problems out of the many, but they serve as reminders of the small road bumps we will undoubtedly encounter as we tread the straight path for the next five, ten or even twenty years,” the President said.
The four new measures include Republic Act (RA) 10150, an act that provides a ten-year extension of the lifeline rate implementation under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) as a socialized pricing mechanism that benefits the marginalized end-users of electricity.
RA 10150 was authored by House Representatives Henedina Abad, Rufus Rodriguez and Ben Evardone, while in the Senate it was pushed by Senators Francis Escudero, Sergio Osmena III and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.
“The extension of this measure will allow the less fortunate among us to put more of their resources into feeding themselves or into saving enough to pay hospitals or medicine bills. In short, extending this lifeline rate allows those shackled by poverty to focus more of their resources into keeping themselves and their families alive while giving them access to electricity,” President Aquino stressed.
Also signed into law is Joint Resolution No. 1 – seeking a ten-year extension for the Joint Congressional Power Commission (JCPC) in order to ensure the continuous exercise of its oversight function towards the full realization of the objectives and goals of the EPIRA and the Renewable Energy Act.
This was authored by Representatives Arnulfo Fuentebella and Henedina Abad in Congress with Senators Sergio Osmena III and Francis Escudero in the Senate.
“The JCPC was tasked to make sure that reforms took place and to foster an environment for healthy competition in the sector,” the President said.
The Chief Executive also affixed his signature to Republic Act 10151, an Act allowing the employment of night workers thereby repealing articles 130 and 131 of Presidential Decree (PD) Number 442, as amended, otherwise known as the Labor Code of the Philippines. It will also ensure mandatory provision of ample health and social services as well as commensurate compensation for night-shift workers.
RA 10151 was classified as a priority bill in the last Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).
President Aquino thanked Representatives Rufus Rodriguez and Emil Ong from Congress for the new measure and Senators Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada and Francis Pangilinan of the Senate.
“The signing of this act is also an economic measure because many women in the BPO sector have been unduly prejudiced by this legal accident. We must also do everything we can to protect our position as industry leaders.” the President said.
Last to be signed by the President was Republic Act 10152 or the act providing for mandatory basic immunization services for infants and children repealing for the purpose Presidential Decree No. 996, as amended.
This law requires mandatory Hepatitis-B immunization for infants within 24 hours of birth. The President cited the ill effects of the dreaded disease adding that it can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer, among others.
“It is not fair that the vaccine against Hepatitis-B can only be afforded by a privileged few. We are doing this to give these children and their families more access to health care, which the more privileged among us often take for granted,” President Aquino noted.
The law was authored by Representatives Susan Yap and Joseph Emilio Abaya as well as Senator Pia Cayetano and Francis Escudero.
The President also said that the signing of the four new laws will not automatically eradicate poverty and inequality altogether – but in small ways, the measures will make the lives of the Filipino people better. (PCOO)
Aquino assures foreign business community reasonable and sound projects will continue
President Benigno Aquino III assured foreign business community Tuesday government projects that are reasonable and with economic benefits to the Filipino people will not be scrapped.
The European Chamber of Commerce earlier voiced its concern saying that foreign investors were wary with policy changes that come with the new administration. They were asking for assurance that government will not carry out major policy changes in the long term.
“I will ask the Secretary of Foreign Affairs to contact these foreign businesses and to assure them, that projects that are reasonable, that are sound, that have economic benefits and of value to our people, we will continue,” the President told reporters at the sidelines of the signing of several legislative measures in Malacanang.
He noted that if these projects are based on a faulty premise, the government will not allow it to continue.
The President mentioned the case of the Laguna Lake dredging project, where the government would spend P18 billion for a project that wouldn’t have much benefit especially to the lake shore communities.
“I think, it is unarguable that their proposal to remove 12 million cubic meters and dumping it also within the same lake does not redound to an improvement of the water quality there… it shouldn’t cost the Filipino people P18.7 billion.”
The perception of instability in forging business contracts in the Philippines is a major issue that holds back foreign investors from pouring in money in the Philippines, according to the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.
Hubert d’Aboville, president of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, said that businessmen often mention their concern for policy changes that new administrations undertake, which affect existing businesses. (PCOO)
Aquino to visit victims of massive floodings in Maguindanao
COTABATO CITY: President Benigno S. Aquino III will visit this city Wednesday to personally check on the welfare of flashflood victims and to inspect the ongoing dredging operations at the Rio Grande de Mindanao River.
Upon arrival, the President will conduct an aerial inspection and to visit Delta Bridge to oversee the dredging operations and to distribute some assorted food packs to flashflood victims.
Recently, the President ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development and all concerned government agencies to take care the needs of the people affected by calamities.
Two weeks ago, parts of Central Mindanao were simultaneously inundated with heavy rains that caused flashfloods due to the build-up of water hyacinths on Delta Bridge.
The build-up caused Rio Grande de Mindanao River to flow into the lower portions of Barangays Bulibod, Salimbao, Poblacion 1.
As a result, thousands of residents were displaced due to flashfloods caused by continuous rains and the swelling of the Rio Grande de Mindanao and its tributaries, Liguasan and Libungan Marshes.
According to the DSWD, as of 3 p.m. on Sunday, the number of people affected by the floods reached 962,591.
To date, the government has already spent P12 million for the operations, of which P7 million came from the DSWD national and P1 million from DSWD-ARMM. The local government units also chipped in P3.45-million and about P350,000 came from non-government organizations.
More than 200 schools in Cotabato City and in the first and second districts of Maguindanao and in North Cotabato’s adjoining Aleosan, Pikit and Midsayap towns, remain suspended due to flooding. (PCOO)
President Benigno S. Aquino III signed into law four measures in the fields of energy, labor and health care that impact on the social reform agenda of the Aquino administration.
In his speech during the signing ceremonies at the Rizal Hall of Malacanang Palace on Tuesday, the President said that the four new pieces of legislation symbolize the beginning of even more work, more night of discussions and arguments, more programs and support legislation to be instituted and passed all for the benefit of the people.
“These bills are only part of the foundation of the Philippines we want to build… I know these issues are only few problems out of the many, but they serve as reminders of the small road bumps we will undoubtedly encounter as we tread the straight path for the next five, ten or even twenty years,” the President said.
The four new measures include Republic Act (RA) 10150, an act that provides a ten-year extension of the lifeline rate implementation under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) as a socialized pricing mechanism that benefits the marginalized end-users of electricity.
RA 10150 was authored by House Representatives Henedina Abad, Rufus Rodriguez and Ben Evardone, while in the Senate it was pushed by Senators Francis Escudero, Sergio Osmena III and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.
“The extension of this measure will allow the less fortunate among us to put more of their resources into feeding themselves or into saving enough to pay hospitals or medicine bills. In short, extending this lifeline rate allows those shackled by poverty to focus more of their resources into keeping themselves and their families alive while giving them access to electricity,” President Aquino stressed.
Also signed into law is Joint Resolution No. 1 – seeking a ten-year extension for the Joint Congressional Power Commission (JCPC) in order to ensure the continuous exercise of its oversight function towards the full realization of the objectives and goals of the EPIRA and the Renewable Energy Act.
This was authored by Representatives Arnulfo Fuentebella and Henedina Abad in Congress with Senators Sergio Osmena III and Francis Escudero in the Senate.
“The JCPC was tasked to make sure that reforms took place and to foster an environment for healthy competition in the sector,” the President said.
The Chief Executive also affixed his signature to Republic Act 10151, an Act allowing the employment of night workers thereby repealing articles 130 and 131 of Presidential Decree (PD) Number 442, as amended, otherwise known as the Labor Code of the Philippines. It will also ensure mandatory provision of ample health and social services as well as commensurate compensation for night-shift workers.
RA 10151 was classified as a priority bill in the last Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).
President Aquino thanked Representatives Rufus Rodriguez and Emil Ong from Congress for the new measure and Senators Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada and Francis Pangilinan of the Senate.
“The signing of this act is also an economic measure because many women in the BPO sector have been unduly prejudiced by this legal accident. We must also do everything we can to protect our position as industry leaders.” the President said.
Last to be signed by the President was Republic Act 10152 or the act providing for mandatory basic immunization services for infants and children repealing for the purpose Presidential Decree No. 996, as amended.
This law requires mandatory Hepatitis-B immunization for infants within 24 hours of birth. The President cited the ill effects of the dreaded disease adding that it can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer, among others.
“It is not fair that the vaccine against Hepatitis-B can only be afforded by a privileged few. We are doing this to give these children and their families more access to health care, which the more privileged among us often take for granted,” President Aquino noted.
The law was authored by Representatives Susan Yap and Joseph Emilio Abaya as well as Senator Pia Cayetano and Francis Escudero.
The President also said that the signing of the four new laws will not automatically eradicate poverty and inequality altogether – but in small ways, the measures will make the lives of the Filipino people better. (PCOO)
Aquino assures foreign business community reasonable and sound projects will continue
President Benigno Aquino III assured foreign business community Tuesday government projects that are reasonable and with economic benefits to the Filipino people will not be scrapped.
The European Chamber of Commerce earlier voiced its concern saying that foreign investors were wary with policy changes that come with the new administration. They were asking for assurance that government will not carry out major policy changes in the long term.
“I will ask the Secretary of Foreign Affairs to contact these foreign businesses and to assure them, that projects that are reasonable, that are sound, that have economic benefits and of value to our people, we will continue,” the President told reporters at the sidelines of the signing of several legislative measures in Malacanang.
He noted that if these projects are based on a faulty premise, the government will not allow it to continue.
The President mentioned the case of the Laguna Lake dredging project, where the government would spend P18 billion for a project that wouldn’t have much benefit especially to the lake shore communities.
“I think, it is unarguable that their proposal to remove 12 million cubic meters and dumping it also within the same lake does not redound to an improvement of the water quality there… it shouldn’t cost the Filipino people P18.7 billion.”
The perception of instability in forging business contracts in the Philippines is a major issue that holds back foreign investors from pouring in money in the Philippines, according to the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.
Hubert d’Aboville, president of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, said that businessmen often mention their concern for policy changes that new administrations undertake, which affect existing businesses. (PCOO)
Aquino to visit victims of massive floodings in Maguindanao
COTABATO CITY: President Benigno S. Aquino III will visit this city Wednesday to personally check on the welfare of flashflood victims and to inspect the ongoing dredging operations at the Rio Grande de Mindanao River.
Upon arrival, the President will conduct an aerial inspection and to visit Delta Bridge to oversee the dredging operations and to distribute some assorted food packs to flashflood victims.
Recently, the President ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development and all concerned government agencies to take care the needs of the people affected by calamities.
Two weeks ago, parts of Central Mindanao were simultaneously inundated with heavy rains that caused flashfloods due to the build-up of water hyacinths on Delta Bridge.
The build-up caused Rio Grande de Mindanao River to flow into the lower portions of Barangays Bulibod, Salimbao, Poblacion 1.
As a result, thousands of residents were displaced due to flashfloods caused by continuous rains and the swelling of the Rio Grande de Mindanao and its tributaries, Liguasan and Libungan Marshes.
According to the DSWD, as of 3 p.m. on Sunday, the number of people affected by the floods reached 962,591.
To date, the government has already spent P12 million for the operations, of which P7 million came from the DSWD national and P1 million from DSWD-ARMM. The local government units also chipped in P3.45-million and about P350,000 came from non-government organizations.
More than 200 schools in Cotabato City and in the first and second districts of Maguindanao and in North Cotabato’s adjoining Aleosan, Pikit and Midsayap towns, remain suspended due to flooding. (PCOO)
