News Roundup 08 March 2024
Mar 08, 2024 • 4 min Read
Romualdez stays hopeful Senate will have enough votes for Chacha | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines—Speaker Martin Romualdez on Friday (March 8) said he remained hopeful that there would be enough votes in the Senate to push economic amendments to the 1987 Constitution.
Romualdez said this in response to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri’s earlier statement that passing Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 (RBH6) may face a challenge in the chamber.
“I believe in the leadership of the Senate, especially Senate President Zubiri. I trust that he can handle everything and persuade his colleagues in the Senate,” said Romualdez in Filipino in an ambush interview with reporters.
“We understand the challenge, but the Senate has always risen to the occasion. Our senators are capable, and I am confident that they are aware of what is best for the Filipino people,” Romualdez said.
But it should be noted that while Zubiri said the Charter change bid in the Senate remains a challenge, he also stated that it was still possible to gather 18 votes to pass RBH6.
Full Story at: Romualdez stays hopeful Senate will have enough votes for Chacha | Inquirer News
DOTr urged to talk with transport groups before implementing PUV modernization | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines—The chair of the Senate public services committee urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Friday (March 5) to talk with transport groups on how to implement the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), which continues to draw protests from jeepney drivers and operators.
Sen. Grace Poe made the suggestion after the Supreme Court dismissed a petition against the PUVMP filed by the group Bayou Association Inc. and its leader, Anselmo Perweg. The petitioners challenged the program’s legality.
“We respect the decision of the high court, as well as the right of the jeepney groups to file their planned appeal,” Poe said in a statement.
“As the legal procedure presses on, we expect intensified efforts from the Department of Transportation to dialogue with transport groups to address issues on implementation,” she added
The senator also said the DOTr should by this time already have clear guidelines, routes and other “critical matters” for a smooth rollout of the PUVMP.
Full Story at: DOTr urged to talk with transport groups about PUV modernization (inquirer.net)
On Int’l Women’s Day, students call to remove sexual abusers’ license to teach | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — A newly launched coalition of advocates for students’ safety bannered a strongly worded campaign on International Women’s Day that they believe will resonate with dozens of victims of campus-based sexual harassment across the country: to remove “predatory” educators’ license to teach once and for all.
On Friday, the freshly convened Safer Campuses Ph trooped to the office of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in Manila to submit a position paper that seeks to amend Republic Act 11313, or the Safe Spaces Act (SSA) to include the blacklisting of teachers found guilty of sexually harassing students.
Safer Campuses Ph was established on February 10 following the gathering of over 120 student leaders dedicated to students’ safety against sexual predators and enablers.
“Amidst the persistence of campus-based sexual harassment despite the SSA’s ratification five years ago, we believe in the need for stronger and more effective measures,” Kate Pauline Leonor of Safe Campuses Ph wrote in her letter to the PRC dated March 8.
Among the group’s proposed amendments to the SSA is to require schools to revoke the licenses of “campus predators” — those who show a pattern of sexually predatory behavior — and to have them permanently blacklisted.
Full Story at: On Int’l Women’s Day, students call to remove sexual abusers’ license to teach | Philstar.com
Philippines and Germany to sign deal on maritime trade | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is set to ink a maritime cooperation agreement with Germany during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit to the country next week, according to a Department of Foreign Affairs official.
During a Palace briefing on Friday, DFA Assistant Secretary Maria Elena Algabre said that the Philippines and Germany will sign a joint declaration of intent on strengthening cooperation in the maritime sector.
The agreement seeks to facilitate maritime trade and mobility of commercial vessels owned by the two countries, she added.
Algabre said that the Philippines and Germany will also sign a cooperation program that will extend the partnership between the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB).
Full Story at: Philippines and Germany to sign deal on maritime trade | Philstar.com
