Senator Risa Hontiveros(File photo) MANILA-Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a resolution seeking to investigate, in aid of legislation, the administrative orders issued by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) that have led to an "excessive" rise in port fees. "These administrative orders are causing distress not only to the shipping operators but also to ordinary consumers. An increase in shipping costs poses a risk of further raising already burdensome pricing and inflation,"Hontiveros said in a statement on Wednesday. She said the increase in port fees will pose a risk of further raising the burdensome pricing of inflation that may affect how importers price their products, which in the end, may negatively affect the general public. In her Senate Resolution No 484, Hontiveros mentioned administrative orders (A.O.) pertaining to the grant of port terminal management contracts to bidders with the highest concession price (No. 12-2018), implementation of a "Cen
ENSURING SAFETY.Police officers guarding the Masungi Georeserve in Baras, Rizalon Friday (Sept. 23, 2022)to ensure peace and order in the area.Lawmakers in Rizal province filed a resolution Friday calling for an investigation on the issues surrounding the Masungi Georeserve which they said has disrupted the peace and order situation in the province. (PNA photo by Joey Razon) MANILA - Lawmakers in the province of Rizal, led by 2nd District Rep. Emigdio Tanjuatco III, on Friday filed a resolution calling for an investigation on the issues surrounding the Masungi Georeserve which they said has disrupted the peace and order situation in the province. House Resolution 411, which is co-authored by Reps. Michael John Duavit (1st District), Jose Arturo Garcia Jr. (3rd District), and Juan Felipe Nograles (4th District), specifically urged the House Committee on Natural Resources to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the alleged unauthorized and unlawful activities at the Masungi Geor
MANILA - The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability and Committee on Agriculture and Food will conduct a joint motu proprio inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the unauthorized signing of a sugar importation order to import 300,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar. This development came after the panels approved House minority leader Marcelino Libanan's motion to convert the briefing into a full-blown congressional probe to determine culpability on the controversial issuance of the resolution without the approval of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. "I would like to file a motion that the committees act on this motu proprio so that we can continue investigation on this matter on Thursday, especially on this Sugar Order (SO) No. 4 and related testimonies and investigation to determine what really happened and who has culpability, if any, on this issue," Libanan said. Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano pointed out that members of the panels coul
(Photo courtesy of PHSA Facebook page) MANILA-Senator Risa Hontiveros called on Wednesday for the Upper Chamber to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the alleged gender-based sexual harassment, emotional abuse, and other violence experienced by alumni and students of the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA). This, after Hontiveros filed a resolution directing the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, which she chairs, to investigate the matter and to look as well into possible violations of the Safe Spaces Act, a law she principally authored. "It is imperative that the Senate, exercising its oversight powers, initiate a thorough but expeditious investigation on the matter to ensure that PHSA and other educational institutions are safe spaces, especially with the upcoming blended/face-to face-classes in August," the resolution stated. Hontiveros earlier expressed her support for the victims who came forward and revealed t
ACT CIS party-list Rep. Rowena Nina Taduran. (File photo) MANILA A party-list lawmaker is seeking a congressional inquiry into the alleged illegal profiteering of some insiders of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) who act as "go-betweens" or "agents" in loan applications. ACT CIS party-list Rep. Rowena Nina Taduran filed on March 30 House Resolution No. 2543, to conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, into this scheme where these agents promise the fast-approval of a loan in exchange for a cut of 10 percent in the loan proceeds. Taduran said it is urgent for the House to look into this matter given the magnitude of the loan amounts involved, the involvement of a government-owned financial institution, and the possible effect it could have to erode the public's trust in the banking system. "Congress is duty-bound to protect the borrowing public as well as the entire banking system from nefarious practices of unscrupulous bank personnel,"