Sen. Risa Hontiveros
(Senate of the Philippines / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
In particular, Hontiveros said maternity benefits under the Expanded Maternity Leave law, as well as the additional P1,000 for social pension for retired members should remain intact especially during this time of a pandemic.
“Sa panahon ngayon, kailangang-kailangan ng bawat manggagawa na may sasalo sa kanila (During this time, workers need some assurance). I understand why we need this measure, but I also want us to be sure that the benefits for the workers in the formal economy will not be jeopardized if the new contribution rates are deferred,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday renewed her push for the passage of the bill that seeks to curb teen pregnancy in the Philippines, saying the rise in the number of cases in the country has remained a “frightening epidemic.”
Senator Risa Hontiveros has called on the Senate to investigate the reported human trafficking of Filipino women who were recruited to work in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but ended up trafficked to Syria to work as domestic workers without their consent.
The government should take on a more aggressive role in leading the private sector to economic recovery as the COVID-19 pandemic has rendered most private enterprises vulnerable and at the mercy of a deflating economy.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros (Senate of the Philippines / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
The opposition senator said it is imperative that the national task force on COVID-19 would not rely on the “special relationship” the Philippine government has with China.
“Government should think twice if there are attempts to fastbreak or shortcut or bank on being supposed BFFs (best friends forever) or having a special relationship when it comes to accepting vaccines,” Hontiveros said in an online interview.
“For me, having multiple platforms are fine; we don’t need to limit one vaccine from one country or one pharmaceutical company. The more vaccines authorized by the FDA, the better,” she pointed out.