Month: December 2021

CIBAC Party-List Representatives Deputy Speaker Bro. Eddie Villanueva and Domeng Rivera vote NO on during the 3rd reading of House Bill 78 or the Public Service Act Amendment at the House of Representatives.

 “I believe that this measure violates our Constitution and that it may do more harm than help our Filipino people in the long run.  The bill will in effect, open such major industries—like transportation, communication, and water supply systems, to name a few—not just to major foreign investment but to absolute foreign ownership. It is a direct infringement of the 1987 Constitution, which expressly states in Article XII, Section 11 that “no franchise, certificate, or any other form of authorization for the operation of a public utility shall be granted except to citizens of the Philippines or to corporations or associations organized under the laws of the Philippines at least sixty per centum of whose capital is owned by such citizens, nor shall such franchise, certificate, or authorization be exclusive in character or for a longer period than fifty years,” Deputy Speaker Villanueva said.

“Filipinos should support Filipinos first. These principles are keenly upheld by aforementioned provision in the Constitution. To confine the categorization of “public utility” to few industries will subject our populace to the terms and ruling of foreign investors who will be allowed to take ownership of other entities who provides public service,” adds Deputy Speaker Villanueva added.

For his part, Congressman Domeng Rivera said that “with all the economic, social, security and even health problems that we are troubleshooting in the proliferation of POGOs and negative impact of the rice tarrification law, I think our government, our economy and our country is not yet ready to be left at the mercies of the foreig capitalists.”

Under the 1987 Constitution, at least 60% of public utility enterprises’ capital stock must be owned by Filipino citizens or corporations. However, the Constitution itself does not define a “public utility” and, accordingly, the term has been interpreted as synonymous to all public services.

When passed into law, HB 78 will amend the 81-year old Public Services Act to provide a statutory definition of public utility. This denotes that a industries like transportation, communication and even media will allow the full ownership of foreign entities.

House Bill 78 was approved by Congress with 136 affirmative and 43 negative with 1 abstention on Tuesday.

Opisyal na isinagawa ang panunumpa sa tungkulin ni Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) Party-List 2nd nominee Representative Domeng Rivera sa harap ng mga Kapampangan ngayong umaga sa Floridablanca, Pampanga.

Si Congressman Rivera ay nanumpa sa harap ni Floridablanca Mayor Darwin Manalansan kasabay sa flag ceremony ng pamahalaang lokal ng bayan ng Floridablanca. Ang nasabing seremonya ay dinaluhan ng mga kawani ng pamahaalang bayan, multi-sectoral groups, Body of Christ ng Pampanga at ng mga scholars at coordinators ng CIBAC mula sa iba’t ibang panig ng lalawigan.

Pormal na nagpasalamat si Congressman Rivera sa lahat ng mga Kapampangan na tumulong, sumuporta at bumoto sa CIBAC Party-List nitong nakaraang eleksyon dahilan upang maging number 1 na party-list hindi lamang sa bayan ng Floridablanca bagkus sa buong lalawigan ng Pampanga. Gaya sa Floridablanca, nanguna din ang CIBAC sa mga bayan ng Bacolor, Sta. Rita, Magalang, San Simon at San Fernando City.

“Pinili kong gawin ang aking panunumpa dito sa dakilang lalawigan ng Pampanga bilang simbolo ng aming taos-pusong pasasalamat sa lahat ng Kapampangan sa suporta at tiwala na ibinigay ninyo sa CIBAC Party-List nitong nakaraang eleksyon. Sa ngalan ng aming 1st nominee CIBAC Representative na si Congressman Bro. Eddie Villanueva, tanggapin ninyo ang aming nag-uumapaw na pasasalamat,” pahayag ni Congressman Rivera sa kanyang pananalita.

Maaalalang nagwagi bilang pang-apat na party-list sa buong bansa ang CIBAC Party-List kung kaya ito ay nakakuha ng dalawang upuan sa Kongreso. Ang 1st nominee Representative naman ng CIBAC na si Congressman Bro. Eddie Villanueva ay nanumpa nitong nakaraang lingo sa lalawigan ng Bulacan, kung saan nanguna din ang CIBAC Party-List.

“Asahan po ninyong mas lalo naming pag-iibayuhin ang paglilingkod sa ating mga kababayan lalo na sa mga minamahal nating Kapampangan. Sisiguraduhin po natin na ang CIBAC ay magiging kaagapay ninyo tungo sa mas maganda at maunlad na kinabukasan,” dagdag pa ni Rivera.

Nito ding nakaraang lingo, pinasimulan na ng CIBAC ang pagtulak sa mga batas na isusulong nito sa Kongreso. Agad na inihain nina CIBAC Representatives Villanueva at Rivera ang kanilang mga panukalang-batas kabilang ang Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill, Whistleblowers Bill, Creation of National Independent Commission on Anti-Corruption (NICAC) Bill, Anti-Corrupt Practices Information and Education Bill, Strengthening of the Ombudsman Bill, Local Budgeting Reform Bill, Anti-Hakot Botante in Barangay Election Bill, Anti-Marital Infidelity Bill, Anti-Immorality, Pornography and Obscenity (IPOD) Bill, at ang Skills Certificate Equivalency Bill.

“Sa unang araw pa lang ng 18th Congress noong nakaraang lingo ay inihain na natin ang ilan sa ating mga panukalang batas. Tinitiyak namin na sa adbokasiya na isusulong ng CIBAC doon sa Kongreso, hindi lamang mga Kapampangan o mga taga-Gitnang Luzon ang makikinabang bagkus ang ating buong bansa” ani Congressman Rivera.

CIBAC Party-List Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva has raised the calls for the government to intensify and double the efforts in addressing the prevalence of brutal killings in the country.

This is after a lawyer, Anthony Trinidad, was slain in Negros Oriental by riding-in-tandem suspects. The family members and relatives of the victim personally visited the office of Rep. Villanueva in finding justice for the slain lawyer.

“I strongly condemn the senseless killing of Atty. Anthony Trinidad. I’m calling on the assigned government agencies to put all efforts to solve this case with dispatch and to bring the perpetrators behind bars. The rule of law must be upheld and justice be served the soonest possible time.”, said the CIBAC solon who is the newly-elected Deputy Speaker for Good Governance and Moral Transformation of the Congress.

It was on broad daylight last Tuesday when the 53-year old lawyer was shot multiple times by motorcycle-riding gunmen as he was driving with his wife in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental. His wife survived after taking a bullet in the shoulder while Trinidad himself died on the spot.

“The prevalence of brutal killings shows the regressing moral and social situation in our country. These killings must stop and the authorities should come up with an effective plan to arrest and stop these ruthless and brutal incidents. I am planning to go as far as to summon related government agencies to see if they are seriously addressing the problems,” added Villanueva.

“The season of budget hearings in Congress is drawing near. This issue of unabated killings will be one of the yardsticks we will use in reviewing the performances of the agencies assigned. We will dig how they used the coffers given to them in ensuring peace and order in the community as well as seeing justice is served to the families of the victims,” said Villanueva.

According to the records of the Philippine National Police (PNP), an average of 4 people are killed each day by riding in tandem shooters in 2018.

“Rest assured that CIBAC will be at the frontline in facing this issue head on. We want Congress to be able to craft measures that will effectively prevent the occurrence of these crimes. We must remember that righteousness and justice are the foundation of God’s throne according to Psalm 89:14” ended Villanueva.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – CIBAC Representatives House Deputy Speaker Bro. Eddie Villanueva and Congressman Domeng Rivera today filed the Bagong Bayaning Filipino Hospital bill which mandates the creation of a special hospital for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their dependents. “It is sad that many of our fellow Filipinos choose to work abroad and leave their families behind out of economic necessity. While overseas Filipino workers’ (OFWs) remittances have been recognized as an important pillar in the country’s economic development, very little resources seem to be allocated to ensure their welfare. Our OFWs deserve more benefits, especially, access to quality health care,” Deputy Speaker Villanueva said. Deputy Speaker Villanueva cited studies by the Overseas Worker Welfare Association (OWWA) in Davao that showed that OFWs are prone to suffer from hypertension, heart attack, breast, and ovarian cancers, which was either diagnosed during their work abroad or upon their return back home. “We want to redouble our efforts in taking care of our OFWs who brave the miles just to provide a brighter future for their families,” he further added. When enacted into law, the legislation will complement the Department of Labor and Employment’s initiative in establishing a hospital for OFWs not just in the National Capital Region but also in provinces across the country. It also mandates the establishment of regional hospitals that will prioritize the needs of the OFWs and their dependents. On his part, CIBAC 2nd Representative Domeng said, “Since our OFWs battle different working conditions in foreign lands, their health is even more at risk. This bill aims to give prime importance to their health, being our modern-day heroes, as well as their dependents through the building of the Bagong Bayaning Filipino Hospital.” Along with the Bagong Bayaning Filipino Hospital bill, the CIBAC lawmakers filed more bills such as Freelance Workers Protection Act, OFW Insurance Bill, Beverage Container Disposal Act, Additional Benefits for all teaching personnel in State Universities and Colleges and State-Run Technical and vocational institutions.

Days after the President’s veto, CIBAC Party-list Representative and House Deputy Speaker Bro. Eddie Villanueva filed House Bill 3367 or the House counterpart of Security of Tenure bill, also known as ‘End Endo’ bill, filed and being championed by his Senator son, Joel Villanueva.

It is known that the measure is a pet bill of Senator Villanueva who is its principal author at the Senate and the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Labor and Employment and Human Resources, the committee which will deliberate on the said measure.

“Pursuant to the Constitution, serving the greatest interest and general welfare of our people is our priority and we will continue to fight for the protection of the laborers,” CIBAC Representative Villanueva said.

In the pass Congresses, CIBAC has also supported Security of Tenure bills. In the last 17th Congress, the bill was already approved and ratified by both the House of Representatives and Senate only to be vetoed by the President early this week.

“The battle for decades of the working class to be freed from economic injustice was delayed but we will not stop until social justice is served and the rights of the people are honored,” Deputy Speaker Bro. Eddie said.

House Bill 3367 seeks to protect laborers from labor-only contracting that is defined by the following conditions: (1) when the job contractor merely supplies workers to a contractee; (2) when the workers supplied by the contractor perform jobs directly related to the contractee’s principal business; and (3) when the job contractor does not control the workers deployed to the contractee.

Further, it simplifies the classification of workers to only two: regular and probationary. Project and seasonal employees are to be classified regular for the duration of their employment. All other forms of employment are strictly prohibited.

Finally, the bill, contrary as to how other people perceive it, is neither anti-employers nor anti-contractualization. It does not seek to end legal contractualization but instead simply aims to ensure that all parties involved in labor contracts are duly protected by the law. Thus, it allows industry tripartite councils to determine the kind of jobs which are directly related to one’s principal business. This will provide avenues for the labor sector to express their concerns about contracting certain jobs and the employers to present the realities of their businesses’ operations, the output of which is an industry list of jobs that can be contracted, to which both parties will be legally bound.

“In the name of fairness and order in our business and labor sectors, and most of all, for the sake of our Filipino laborers who have been constantly living in fear of finding not just a new job but new means to support their families once their [supposedly illegal] contract ends, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought,” Deputy Speaker Villanueva concluded.

A resolution has been filed by four lawmakers to conduct a congressional inquiry into the operations of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in light of allegations of unregistered foreign workers, non-payment of income taxes and related issues on the implementation of Section 25, 1997 National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC), Immigration Rules and Regulations, and the Labor Code of the Philippines due to an influx of foreign workers for the POGO Industry.

Authors of the resolution are Minority Leader Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr., Deputy Speaker and CIBAC Party-list Rep. Eduardo Villanueva, Muntinlupa Rep. Rozzano Rufino Biazon and Manila Rep. Manuel Luis Lopez.

Deputy Speaker Villanueva said that the investigation aims to regulate the POGO industry and to ensure that the government is able to properly collect revenues from its operations. “With the current issues on taxation, labor, immigration, and security, among others, surrounding the POGO industry, we can surmise that it is doing more harm to our society than good. Hence, we call on the government—our fellow legislators—to conduct a no-nonsense investigation on its existence and entire operations in our country, and come up with a comprehensive legislation that will not just benefit our economy but, most of all, protect the welfare of all Filipinos.” Villanueva stated.

The Department of Finance (DOF) earlier estimated that around P2-billion worth of personal income taxes are not being collected from POGO workers on a monthly basis. While Minority House leader Abante said there are 63,855 documented foreigners working in the POGO industry according to Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) “But there are some estimates that peg the number at 120,000, and until today the government is still reconciling its data,” he said.

Aside from the revenue losses, the lawmakers were also concerned over the presence of POGO hubs near military facilities, mentioning that the investigation will address the possible threats this may hold.

Among the military bases near POGO hubs include Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame in Quezon City; the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, the Army and Marine headquarters in Taguig City, the Philippine Navy headquarters in Manila and Sangley Point in Cavite City.

More than the Father of Local Government Code of 1991, he is a good friend. Patriotic and brilliant, Senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel, Jr. was among the few inspirations that a genuine statesman can have. Who can ever forget? He was imprisoned four times and was offered to be released if he will give up what he is fighting for. But he stood his ground and maintained his integrity. He continued fighting for freedom in our country even on the streets.

He has fought the battle and finished the race. May his contribution to our democracy be put not into waste but instead, will continue to be a seed of hope and encouragement for the next generations to come.  Thank you for a well-lived life and a principled existence.

Our deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones.

CIBAC solons Deputy Speaker Bro. Eddie Villanueva and Domingo Rivera filed House Bill 3218 which seeks for additional benefits to faculty members of all State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and state-run Technical and Vocational Institutions (TVIs) in the country.

HB 3218 aims to give better compensation to all instructors and professors of higher technical education by giving them additional allowances for grocery, transportation and medical expenses in the total amount of twenty thousand pesos (Php 20,000,000) annually which shall be released at the rate of five thousand pesos (Php 5,000.00) per quarter of the year, subject to limit of our existing taxation laws on bonuses, allowances and other benefits.

“Many laws are passed to address the needs of the students, but little, if any, are made to address the concerns and plight of those at the other side of the education sector – the teachers and instructors. They also need the attention of policymakers to craft measures aimed to increasing their remunerations and benefits so as to alleviate their living conditions,” said Deputy Speaker Villanueva.

The bill received positive response from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and Philippine Accrediting Association on Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU), who expressed their support to the bill noting that the proposed additional benefits will further motivate the nearly 38,000 Higher and Technical Education teachers to perform at par with the demands of their profession and continue delivering quality education to the future generation of Filipinos in state-run learning institutions.

“Our instructors and professors in the higher and technical education sector are not only battling with high costs of living, they are also facing challenges and pressures to be healthy and physically resilient and be at par with the demands of continuous improvement and advancement in their profession. Thus, providing additional benefits to our faculty members would greatly help in preserving a motivated and committed workforce that will continue to commit to shape the minds of the future generations of Filipinos,“ added Congressman Domeng Rivera in his sponsorship speech during the congressional hearing on Tuesday.

The House Committee on Higher and Technical Education responded by creating a technical working group (TWG) with representatives from different agencies including CHED, TESDA, DBM and CSC to further thresh out the details of the proposed measure.

HB 3218 is a counterpart measure of Senate Bill 151 authored by Senator Joel Villanueva who chairs the Senate Committee on Higher and Technical Education.

CIBAC Party-list Representatives Bro. Eddie Villanueva and Congressman Domeng Rivera today urge colleagues in Congress to swiftly pass the Alternative Work Arrangement Bill reminding lawmakers to consider the situation of the Filipino workforce nowadays.

The CIBAC solons filed House Bill 5471 which seeks to amend Article 83 of the Labor Code of the Philippines by institutionalizing the option of adopting alternative working arrangements such as compressed work week especially if national emergency requires or as mutually agreed upon by the employer and the employee. Under this measure, employers can voluntarily adjust their working hours per week requirement, but not beyond 48 hours per week, without affecting the salary and benefits.

Citing the research conducted by Flex Strategy group in 2018, Deputy Speaker Bro. Eddie said remote work flexibility yields benefits for both the employees and employers such as 45 percent of workers communicate better, 60 percent become more productive, and many said that the arrangement prevented burnout.

“The bill can promote work-life balance, improve worker’s productivity and reduce transportation costs for employees. On the other hand, the operation costs of employers will be reduced because of less expense on recruitment and huge savings resulting from the reduction of traffic congestion,” Deputy Speaker Villanueva said.

“Considering the challenging and demanding situation of our workers, especially in metro areas in the country, calls for its approval has become stronger. Hence, we urge our fellow lawmakers to swiftly pass this measure as soon as possible,” he further added.

Other sponsors of the bill at the House of Representatives are Deputy Speaker LRay Villafuerte and Rep. Mark Go.