Albay town power consumers given 2 months to settle bills
The National Power Corp. and the Albay Power and Energy Corp. have been ordered to give power consumers in Rapu-Rapu town enough time to settle their unpaid bills amounting to P32 million......»»
Go bares 629 funded SHCs, cautions tapping nursing grads
Congress has set funding for the construction of more than 600 Super Health Centers nationwide in 2022 and this year, according to Senator Christopher “Bong” Go. The chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography also expressed support for tapping nursing graduates to bolster the country’s dwindling number of hospital workers but advised the Department of Health to proceed with caution to avoid compromising the quality of healthcare service. “With the help of lawmakers, 307 Super Health Centers are funded for year 2022 and another 322 for 2023 in the entire Philippines,” Go said in a video message during his team’s relief distribution mission in Obando, Bulacan on Friday, 23 June. In the province, the cities of San Jose del Monte, Meycauayan and Baliuag; and the towns of Balagtas, Bulakan, San Miguel, Guiguinto and Pandi will have such facilities catering to residents of remote communities under the 2022 national budget, he said. The 2023 budget covers the building of SHCs in Baliuag City and in the towns of Angat, Marilao, Paombong, Plaridel, San Ildefonso and San Rafael, Go added. On 21 June, Go visited San Rafael for the groundbreaking of the town’s SHC and led a relief operation for indigents there. On top of traditional services, SHCs will provide diagnostics; pharmacy, ambulatory surgery; eye, ear, nose, and throat; oncology; physical therapy and rehabilitation and telemedicine services. Go also encouraged Bulakeños to go to Malasakit Centers for their health concerns as there is one such counter at the Bulacan Medical Center in Malolos City, Rogaciano M. Mercado Memorial Hospital in Sta. Maria, and Ospital ng Lungsod ng San Jose del Monte in San Jose del Monte City. The Malasakit Centers, a brainchild of Go, helps patient get help from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office in paying for their medical bills. ‘Uphold professional standards’ Meanwhile, Go urged the DoH to thoroughly study the proposed hiring of unlicensed nurse as there are existing laws and regulations meant to uphold professional standards and protect lives. “They (nursing graduates) must pass the standard,” Go reiterated in an ambush interview after personally aiding victims of the Mount Mayon unrest in Tabaco City, Albay on Thursday, 22 June. “We cannot compromise the standard here because we have to prioritize the life and health of every Filipino.” Earlier, DoH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa proposed that nursing graduates who scored 70 to 74 percent in licensure test be employed as supplementary workforce in the healthcare system but assigned with restricted responsibilities. ‘Nursing graduates who did not pass the board exam cannot be granted temporary or special licenses.’ Herbosa mentioned that Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma is open to the proposal and intends to hold discussions with the Professional Regulation Commission regarding the issuance of temporary licenses for such graduates. The PRC has clarified that nursing graduates who did not pass the board exam cannot be granted temporary or special licenses to work in public hospitals in the absence of a law allowing such. He pointed out that Republic Act 9173 solely provides special or temporary permits for licensed foreign nurses. However, PRC Commissioner Jose Cueto Jr. said that in exceptional circumstances like epidemics or national emergencies, the health secretary may provide limited authorization to medical graduates. Go said he remains open to amending existing laws to strengthen the health workforce while still being compliant with standards. However, the senator emphasized that the goal must be to continue improving medical education in the country to produce enough number of qualified healthcare professionals. Go has filed the Advanced Nursing Education bill that offers leadership roles, specialization and recognition to professional nurses. The measure also integrates community immersion in the nursing curriculum to encourage community service and introduce masteral and doctoral degrees in nursing. The post Go bares 629 funded SHCs, cautions tapping nursing grads appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Prioritize the poor, bring gov’t services closer to needy
For many of our fellow Filipinos who can barely afford their daily expenses, getting treated in a hospital is oftentimes a burdensome choice that they resort to only if it is a matter of life and death. Usually, our struggling kababayans choose to endure their illness for fear of falling deeper into debt due to huge hospital bills, medicines and other expenses. And by this time, an ordinary disease has already become a serious medical condition. Their plight is what inspired us to initiate the Malasakit Centers program in 2018 which provides one-stop shops where our indigent patients may more conveniently access medical assistance from the government. By bringing together programs of various government agencies under one roof, such as the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, the centers streamline the process of availing medical assistance. I have been appealing to officials and workers in the health sector to prioritize the needs of the poor, especially in public health facilities since these patients have nowhere else to turn to but to seek the help of their government. I also appeal to all hospital staff to be patient and compassionate in guiding Filipinos, particularly the poor, so that they can properly have access to the services offered by our public hospitals and from the medical assistance programs available in any of our 158 Malasakit Centers nationwide. That is why as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and as the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, I make time to personally check on the operations of our Malasakit Centers across the country, in addition to attending the groundbreaking of Super Health Centers and leading our usual relief distributions for Filipinos in need. On 16 June, I conducted a monitoring visit to two Malasakit Centers in Leyte, where I was honored to be declared as an adopted son of the province through Resolution 2020-337 passed on 24 April 2020 and formally granted on 16 June by the provincial government. During the visit, I recognized the efforts of Governor Carlos Jericho “Icot” Petilla, Baybay City Mayor Jose Carlos “Boying” Cari and Vice Mayor Ernesto Butawan, Vice Governor Sandy Javier, Cong. Carl Cari, Cong. Karen Javier, Board Member Carlo Loreto, and other officials for their commitment to bringing government services closer to their constituents. I also visited the Malasakit Center at Baybay City Immaculate Conception Hospital where we assisted 30 out-patients, 140 in-patients, and 192 front liners, while the DSWD extended financial aid to qualified in-patients. We likewise inspected the Super Health Center and the new boardwalk in the city which I supported to help the community. I then checked on the operations of the Malasakit Center at Ormoc District Hospital in Ormoc City. We also assisted 283 patients and 211 front liners in the hospital, while 133 qualified inpatients received additional assistance from the DSWD. Following this, I led a relief operation for 1,065 struggling residents in the city and attended the ribbon-cutting of the newly constructed pentathlon facility with a dedicated fencing hall, among others — a project I supported as Vice Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance and as Chair of the Senate Committee on Sports, together with the local government led by Cong. Richard Gomez and Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez. Earlier that week, I was in Davao del Norte to participate in the celebration of the first anniversary of an insurgency-free Davao del Norte led by Gov. Edwin Jubahib, held in Tagum City on 13 June. I also personally spearheaded a relief operation for 1,500 struggling residents in the city. Simultaneously, we provided more support to the community in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment which held an orientation for temporary employment to 721 individuals. Following this, I visited the town of Carmen with Mayor Leony Bahague to witness the groundbreaking of its Super Health Center and provide aid to 1,666 more indigents. On 15 June, I was in Quezon City with my team to witness the inauguration of two multipurpose buildings in Barangays Commonwealth and Payatas which I also supported for funding together with Councilor Mikey Belmonte. We likewise aided a thousand indigents in the city with Mayor Joy Belmonte. We then headed to Marikina City to assist 3,000 more struggling residents from Marikina City and the towns of San Mateo and Rodriguez, Rizal, together with Congresswoman Maan Teodoro and Mayor Marcy Teodoro; as well as the local officials from both towns in Rizal, such as Rodriguez Mayor Ronnie Evangelista and San Mateo Mayor Bartolome “Omie” Rivera Jr., among others. We also visited North Cotabato on 17 June, where we celebrated the 54th Araw ng Alamada led by Mayor Jesus Sacdalan and Cong. Joel Sacdalan and helped 840 farmers and 1,500 struggling residents in the town before going to Matalam to witness aspiring athletes in the Serbisyong Totoo Basketball Sports Clinic and to lead another distribution activity for 1,318 more residents from various sectors together with Gov. Lala Taliño-Mendoza. Across the country, my team aided indigent families and various sectors, including 136 in Samal, 33 in Balanga, and 82 in Limay, Bataan; 990 in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur; 150 in Damulog, Bukidnon; 350 in Iligan City; 100 in Tubod, Lanao del Norte; 550 in Malinao and Sto. Domingo, Albay; and two fire-hit households in Carcar City, Cebu. My team also attended the groundbreaking of the Super Health Center in Tiguma, Pagadian City. It is the fundamental right of every Filipino to receive proper medical care and social assistance from our government. I hope that with compassion for our struggling kababayans and the persistence to help uplift their lives, we can collectively ensure that the poor and most needy are not neglected as we continue our pursuit for progress and development. The post Prioritize the poor, bring gov’t services closer to needy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ignore loose cannons
Filibusters, obstructionists, and rabble-rousers have indicated plans to gang up on the Maharlika Investment Fund bill once President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signs it into law by challenging the measure before the Supreme Court. A left-wing party list said it “will definitely” challenge it by questioning the constitutionality of the MIF bill, on the grounds that it was rushed. The sourgraping group will be joined by the discredited oppositionist in the Senate who was absent during the vote on the bill as he took a recess a day earlier than his colleagues. The group termed the urgent certification by Malacañang of the bill as an “abuse of presidential certification of emergency,” which is a product of their imagination since the President regularly endorses his pet bills. Instead of defending the work of the legislature, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said he will assist as a “source of some facts, information and arguments” in assailing the edict before the SC. Pimentel also ridiculously demanded that President Marcos veto the bill and return it to Congress. Knowing that it was a priority measure, Pimentel now wants the Chief Executive to make a fool of himself by rejecting the MIF and tossing it back to Congress. He argues that it will give lawmakers a “chance to take a second look at the measure to address the concerns raised by many sectors.” Had Pimentel not played truant, he would not need the second look that he is now demanding. Legal experts said the High Tribunal will not allow itself to become part of the farce of the detractors and will respect the separation of powers principle. Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, who voted against the MIF bill, ceded that an SC challenge will not prosper. Petitions challenging the bill’s constitutionality, once it becomes a law, have no issues that will require a Supreme Court review, he simply explained. “Congressional wisdom and expediency are not justiciable issues before the Supreme Court. Thus, I am dousing cold water on projected petitions to challenge the constitutionality of the MIF,” Lagman acknowledged. The legislator recalled the case of former Bataan Rep. Enrique Garcia v. the Executive Secretary in which the SC made clear that it will “not delve into the policy or wisdom of a statute.” Lagman’s view is that if there would be a need for changes in the law, the right step will be “to seek its amendment or repeal by the legislature itself.” The detractors’ rumblings are thus part of their frantic effort to gain relevance using the MIF as a springboard that in turn exposes their vested interest. The oppositors to the bill should consider that the SC is too busy with more important concerns to be bothered by their political play. Had they been doing their job, Pimentel and company would have introduced relevant provisions to the bill that should have tightened its safeguards against abuse. While the majority of the legislators had the good judgment to craft a law that would raise the interest of investors in the country, the slackers are trying to pull it down to salvage their names from obscurity. The MIF will benefit the nation — as the majority of the economic officials explain it — and the detractors of the bill have nothing to offer but hatred. The post Ignore loose cannons appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BIR records historic collection for January to April
In line with the agency’s mission to raise government revenues through effective and efficient tax administration, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) achieved a milestone accomplishment by hitting all its collection targets for the first four months of the year. Under the stewardship of Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui, Jr., the BIR has implemented new measures that have promoted voluntary compliance, service excellence, and fair regulations. “We reached our goal for January to April of 2023. In the last thirty years, this feat was only done a handful of times. This is a strong and historic start for the Bureau of Internal Revenue, taking into account that we are recovering from the economic repercussion caused by the pandemic,” Commissioner Lumagui stated The House of Representatives Committee of Ways and Means, likewise, took note of the positive changes that Lumagui has implemented in the Bureau, "I am here to congratulate, on his maiden performance, Commissioner Lumagui," expressed Committee Chairman and Albay Second District Representative Joey Salceda, who has sponsored a number of bills relating to tax collection and enforcement, with the most recent one being a measure that seeks to criminalize tax racketeering. Lumagui expressed confidence that the agency could sustain its momentum for the remainder of the year. “For this administration, we need only address four areas of concern: Intensification of Enforcement Activities. Taxpayer’s Service. Integrity and Professionalism. Digitalization. Fixing these areas will bring the BIR to greater heights. I am confident that as long as we address these areas, the BIR will reach its collection goal for 2023,” the Commissioner concluded. The post BIR records historic collection for January to April appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
House OKs 3 bills to generate P47 billion annual revenue
At least P47 billion in annual revenues are expected to be generated once three bills recently approved by the House of Representatives are enacted into law, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said......»»
Albay town power consumers given 2 months to settle bills
The National Power Corp. and the Albay Power and Energy Corp. have been ordered to give power consumers in Rapu-Rapu town enough time to settle their unpaid bills amounting to P32 million......»»
Albay woes: Power theft, unpaid bills
Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman on Sunday raised concern over the “serious problem on the actual and projected disconnection of electric service in various localities and communities of Albay due to reported huge delinquencies in the payment of electric bills and rampant pilferage through illegal connections.”.....»»
House panel sets priority: Tax POGOs, e-cockfight
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, chairman of the committee on ways and means, on Sunday said the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act, military pension reform and tax enforcement would be the prioritiy bills that the House panel would take up......»»
Blackout in Albay town over P32 million unpaid bills
Rapu-Rapu town in Albay was plunged into darkness yesterday after the Albay Power and Energy Corp. and National Power Corp. shut down generator sets supplying electricity to households on the island......»»
Surprise hospital bills
One big source of economic insecurity in our country has to do with health care, and Rep. Joey Salceda of Albay is doing something about it......»»
House passes 2 bills to elevate public education
The Lower House has passed two bills authored by Albay Rep. Joey Salceda designed to elevate public education in the country......»»
‘CITIRA at CREATE bills sa Kamara 3 dekada nang pinag-uusapan’
ITINANGGI ng isang lider ng Kamara de Representantes na minamadali ang pagpasa ng tax bills. Ayon kay House committee on ways and means chairman at Albay Rep. Joey Salceda may tatlong dekada nang pinag-uusapan ang tax incentives reforms na naglalayong itama ang ibinibigay na tulong ng gobyerno sa mga negosyante. “We’ve been at it for […] The post ‘CITIRA at CREATE bills sa Kamara 3 dekada nang pinag-uusapan’ appeared first on Bandera......»»
Lacson, Salceda seek creation of virology institute
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda and Sen. Panfilo Lacson have filed separate bills to establish a virology institute that will better prepare the country for future pandemics like the coronavirus disease 2019......»»
Special session para sa economic bills hiniling
IMINUNGKAHI ni House committee on ways and means chairman at Albay Rep. Joey Salceda ang pagpapatawag ng special session upang maipasa ang mga panukala na mahalaga umano upang matugunan ang epekto ng coronavirus disease 2019. Ayon kay Salceda kung sa isasagawang sesyon ay maaari ng maipasa ng Kamara de Representantes ang Corporate Recovery and Tax […] The post Special session para sa economic bills hiniling appeared first on Bandera......»»
Ombudsman junks case vs suspended Tabuk City, Kalinga mayor
Tabuk City, Kalinga province Mayor Darwin Estranero will be back to work on April 1 after the case filed against him in connection to the alleged overpricing of medical equipment for his town was dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman......»»
Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison for power-obsessed scamming
Manhattan Judge Sentences Sam Bankman-Fried to 25 Years in $8 Billion Scam In a shocking turn of events, Manhattan judge has sentenced Sam Bankman-Fried to.....»»
Baltimore bridge accident: Freighter pilot called for tugboat help before plowing into bridge
BALTIMORE — The pilot of the cargo freighter had radioed for tugboat help and reported a power loss minutes before the Baltimore bridge accident, federal safety officials said on Wednesday, citing audio from the ship’s “black box” data recorder. The head of the National Transportation Safety Board also said that Francis Scott Key Bridge, a.....»»
Squirrel involved in power outage provided shelter and care by More Power
Squirrel involved in power outage provided shelter and care by More Power.....»»
Money lending firm collector killed in Zamboanga del Sur ambush
Gunmen killed a collector of a local money lending firm in a daytime ambush in Barangay Lutlutan in Dimataling town, Zamboanga del Sur on Wednesday......»»
ANZ raises Philippine inflation forecast to 3.8% this year
ANZ Research hiked its inflation forecast for the Philippines to 3.8 percent this year, from 3.5 percent previously, as risks may drive inflation up to above the central bank’s two to four percent target in the coming months......»»