Author: MAIN OFFICE

As Republic Act No. 11476 or the Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) and Values Education Act marks its 6th year, CIBAC Party-List Representative Bro. Eddie Villanueva called for a thorough assessment of how the law is being implemented in schools, stressing that the government must utilize the core subject to intensify values formation and counter the negative influences of online world to Filipino youth.

The GMRC Act was signed into law on June 25, 2020.

The appeal comes in the wake of the recent shooting incident in Tacloban City, which has once again raised concerns about violence, discipline, and the moral formation of young people. Reports said that the minor suspects were heavily exposed to social media influences which advocate violence.

As principal author of the law, Rep. Villanueva said the law was enacted precisely to help cultivate character, responsibility, respect, and compassion among Filipino learners amid rapidly changing social realities.

“Six years after the passage of the GMRC and Values Education Act, we must honestly ask ourselves: Are we merely teaching lessons, or are we pursuing real character formation even against the onslaught of values-eroding influences of the social media and online world? Education must not only be about developing the mind; it is also about shaping the heart, strengthening the conscience, and nurturing respect for the dignity of every human life,” he said.

The CIBAC lawmaker emphasized that though schools play a vital role in values formation, they cannot carry the responsibility alone. It is a whole of the society approach which includes the family, the government, the church, the media and other institutions that should do its respective part.

“Values formation begins long before a child enters the classroom. The home remains the first school, and parents remain the first teachers. No curriculum, no matter how well-designed, can fully replace the daily example of love, discipline, responsibility, and respect that children learn from their families,” he said.

Villanueva urged the Department of Education and other concerned agencies to evaluate the implementation of the law and identify areas where values education can be further strengthened, especially in an age increasingly shaped by social media, online influences, and growing mental health challenges among the youth.

“The tragic incident in Tacloban reminds us that laws alone cannot transform society. We must intentionally cultivate a culture that values life, respects others, and promotes accountability. Character formation must be a shared responsibility among families, schools, communities, faith institutions, and government. As we commemorate the anniversary of this landmark law, let us renew our commitment to raising a generation that is not only academically excellent, but also morally grounded, socially responsible, and guided by compassion, integrity, and reverence for God. The future of our nation depends not only on what our children know, but on the kind of people they become,” Rep. Villanueva ended. #

CIBAC Party-List Representative Bro. Eddie Villanueva welcomed the final approval of House Bill 9397 or the proposed Right to Information (RTI) Bill in the House of Representatives, describing it as a historic moment in the country’s long-standing effort to institutionalize transparency, accountability, and public participation in governance.

House Bill 9397 is a consolidation of various measures including House Bill No. 634, or the People’s Right to Information Act, which was filed by CIBAC as its first bill in the 20th Congress. CIBAC party-list has consistently pushed for the passage of a Freedom of Information law since the 12th Congress, making transparency and anti-corruption reforms among its longest-running legislative advocacies.

House Bill 9397 establishes a clear and enforceable framework and procedures through which citizens may obtain information from government offices. It creates the legal presumption in favor of transparency and full disclosure while recognizing legitimate concerns involving privacy, national security, and due process through narrowly tailored exceptions.

“The Filipino people have waited long enough. This reform has been pending for generations. Today, we are closer than ever to institutionalizing a culture of openness, accountability, and integrity in government. The Right to Information Bill is a potent preventive weapon against corruption. It is the missing piece in our country’s anti-corruption arsenal,” said Rep. Villanueva, who is a principal author of House Bill 9397.

“For too long, corrupt activities and irregularities have only come to light post-factum or after public funds have already been wasted. With this bill, our anti-corruption efforts will now be pro-active because the mandated full disclosure of all government transactions will prevent corruption from happening in the first place,” said the CIBAC solon.

Further, the CIBAC solon emphasizes that the measure is not only a gain in anti-corruption drive but also a catalyst for economic and democratic progress.

“The Right to Information Bill is more than an anti-corruption measure; its impact will surely spill over and strengthen our economic, anti-poverty, anti-fake news, and pro-democracy policies. The Bill will stimulate economic progress because a transparent and open government will boost investor confidence, level the playing field for economic players, and limit opportunities for corruption and rent-seeking, which will ultimately result to more jobs, more income, and better lives for our people. As an anti-poverty measure, this Bill will ensure that funds, programs, and projects of the government actually reach and benefit marginalized members of society, enabling them to climb out and be uplifted from the miry pit of grinding poverty,” said the CIBAC solon.

“This measure is also a weapon and safeguard against any misinformation, disinformation, manipulation, and deception. Truth and verification will be the rule of the game because information is within everybody’s reach. Lastly, the Right to Information Bill is not merely a bureaucratic principle but a democratic necessity because it will empower citizens to meaningfully participate in governance and public affairs. An informed citizenry is indispensable to a healthy democracy,” added Rep. Villanueva.

With both the House of Representatives and the Senate having approved their respective versions of the measure, Villanueva hopes that the bicameral conference committee will be immediately convened, promptly reconcile the remaining differences, and transmit the final bill to Malacañang for the President’s signature.

“Today, after decades of advocacy for transparency and good governance, we welcome this historic moment. By approving this indispensable bill, we are ushering the country into a new era of governance characterized by reinforced public accountability, strengthened democratic participation, and transparent government processes. The long-awaited reform is now within reach. Let us seize this historic opportunity. I call for the immediate enactment of the Right to Information Bill,” ended the Rep. Villanueva.

CIBAC Party-List categorically denies and condemns the false and misleading social media posts circulating online which claim that CIBAC received ₱3.41 billion worth of project allocations or is included among party-list groups with such allocations from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). These posts are utterly deceptive, malicious, and misleading portrayal of CIBAC public services.

There is NEVER a record nor document from the DPWH which identifies CIBAC as a recipient of project allocations being claimed by these posts. We encourage the public to be vigilant and only rely on official government sources rather than unverified graphics and social media narratives that distort the truth.

Thus, we call on the public to reject and fight the spread of these falsities. Please REPORT any social media account or page which posts, shares and peddles these fake news.

Let us protect the truth for only the truth can set us free.

Consistent with my position and voting practice in previous impeachment proceedings, I respectfully inhibited myself from voting on the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.

I made this decision in consideration of the fact that my son, Senator Joel Villanueva, will be a senator-judge once impeachment trial starts at the Senate. As a father and as a public servant, I deemed it prudent to refrain from participating in the voting in order to avoid giving any side of the issue grounds to question, challenge, or call for the inhibition of Senator Villanueva during the trial proceedings.

My decision is anchored on the principles of fairness, independence, institutional integrity, and respect for due process. It is my earnest desire that Senator Villanueva, together with all members of the Senate acting as judges, be allowed to carry out their constitutional duty with full impartiality, independence
and freedom from undue political pressure or perceived bias.

At this crucial time in our nation’s democratic process, I call on all parties and all Filipinos to uphold sobriety, objectivity, and respect for our constitutional processes. Let us allow truth and the rule of law to prevail over political passion and partisan interests.

As the impeachment process moves forward, my prayer is simple and sincere: that the truth may fully come to light, that justice may be faithfully served, and that the welfare of the Filipino people and the stability of our nation remain paramount above all personal and political considerations.

May God guide our leaders and bless the Republic of the Philippines.

In observance of World Health Day, CIBAC Party-list Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva renewed his push for the swift passage of a measure that mandates the establishment of dialysis centers in all national, regional, and provincial hospitals to ensure accessible and free dialysis treatment for indigent patients.

Rep. Villanueva earlier filed House Bill No. 7148 that mandates the Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with local government units and PhilHealth, to expand hospital-based dialysis facilities and guarantee free treatment for indigent patients.

Data from PhilHealth as of February 2026 show that there are 834 accredited dialysis clinics nationwide—797 of which are privately operated and only 37 government-owned. Of these, 521 are concentrated in Mega Manila, highlighting the stark imbalance in access to life-saving treatment. While the number of centers has increased in recent years, the limited availability of dialysis clinics in rural regions remains a major challenge of the country’s healthcare system. Experts also estimate that at least 13 million Filipinos are affected by various stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD), further underscoring the urgent need to expand accessible and affordable care.

Rep. Villanueva underscored that despite expanded PhilHealth coverage of up to 156 dialysis sessions per year, many patients with end-stage renal disease continue to shoulder out-of-pocket expenses that can exceed ₱1 million annually once the costs of medicines, laboratory tests, transportation, lost income, and limited access to dialysis centers are considered.

“Dialysis may be covered on paper, but for many Filipino families, survival remains painfully expensive,” he said.

Aside from an initial appropriation of Php 1 billion, the bill also authorizes DOH to receive donations and likewise provides for donor’s tax exemption in order to augment funding mechanisms for the establishments of additional dialysis clinics.

“Health care should heal, not impoverish. When a patient must spend close to—or even more than—a million pesos a year just to survive, that is no longer just a medical concern—it is a moral issue and a test of our commitment to justice and compassion,” Villanueva stressed.

Aligned with the call of World Health Day to promote equitable access to health services, CIBAC Rep. Villanueva emphasized that strengthening dialysis care is a necessary step toward a more inclusive and responsive healthcare system.

“A nation that values life must ensure that illness is not a death sentence for the poor. Access to life-saving treatment must never depend on one’s income or location,” ended the CIBAC solon. ###

CIBAC Party-list Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva backs the 3rd reading approval at the House of Representatives of House Bill 8418 which seeks to lower oil prices by suspending or reducing the excise taxes on petroleum products during national or global economic emergencies.

“Global fuel price volatility quickly translates into higher transport costs and rising prices of goods and services. At this point of time, it is an imperative moral duty of the government to exhaust all efforts to cushion the adverse impacts of the current oil price surges due to the tension in the Middle East countries. Capacitating the government with the necessary flexibility to act with dispatch to lower the prices of fuel products during the current extraordinary situation is among the necessary steps that must be taken. We call on the swift enactment of this measure,” says Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva who is one the principal authors of the House Bill 8418.

House Bill 8418 grants the President power to suspend or reduce the imposition of excise tax on fuel products under statutory conditions, namely: when the average Dubai crude oil price based on Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS) has reached US 80 dollars per Barrel, or, when a state of national emergency or calamity has been declared by the President and has resulted to extraordinary increases in domestic pump prices of petroleum products.

CIBAC Party-List Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva has filed House Bill No. 8262, or the “Social Media Protection for Minors Act,” seeking to prohibit individuals aged 16 and below from accessing social media platforms in the Philippines.

The measure responds to escalating global concern over the impact of social media on children’s mental health, safety, and developmental well-being. Several countries—including Australia, Spain, and France—have recently introduced landmark restrictions on minors’ social media use, while Indonesia has begun laying the groundwork for similar prohibitions.

Rep. Villanueva said these global initiatives highlight the need for governments to adopt a stronger role in ensuring safe digital spaces for young people.

Under HB 8262, social media platforms—not minors or their parents—bear primary responsibility for preventing underage access. The bill mandates platforms to deploy robust age-assurance technologies, promptly remove accounts reasonably suspected to belong to minors, and submit periodic transparency reports detailing their compliance actions.

Rep. Villanueva underscored the urgency of the measure, citing the mounting risks posed by algorithm-driven addiction, exposure to violent or sexual content, and online exploitation.

“Protecting minors from unfiltered and harmful social media exposure is a moral and national responsibility. The unchecked impact of social media on young people—seen in addiction, exposure to sexual and violent content, exploitation, and identity confusion—poses long-term dangers not only to individual well-being but also to social cohesion and civic life,” he said.

The bill also integrates the complementary roles of parents, schools, and digital platforms, emphasizing that safeguards must be carefully designed to avoid unintended consequences. “This measure avoids simplistic or punitive approaches. Overly strict restrictions may drive minors into less regulated online spaces. HB 8262 must be understood as part of a broader protective framework—one that includes digital literacy, school engagement, and parental guidance—to ensure we do not increase vulnerability while attempting to promote safety,” Rep. Villanueva added.

CIBAC Party-List Representative Bro. Eddie Villanueva is pushing for the passage of House Bill No. 8261, a measure that would allow the temporary suspension of excise taxes on gasoline and diesel once global crude oil prices reach USD 80 per barrel.

The bill amends Section 148 of the National Internal Revenue Code to establish a trigger-based mechanism tied to the average Dubai crude oil price, based on the Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS) or other internationally recognized benchmarks.

Rep. Villanueva said the measure comes amid renewed volatility in global oil markets driven by geopolitical tensions and threats to key shipping routes, developments that have already led to domestic pump price hikes and inflationary pressure.

“The purpose of this bill is to provide a fiscal tool and mechanism that allows for the temporary suspension or reduction of excise taxes when global crude price benchmarks reach levels that pose significant inflationary risk to the Philippine economy,” he said.

He stressed that the proposal does not mandate automatic tax removal. Any recommendation must be based on inflationary pressures, consumer price impact, fiscal position and revenue implications, macroeconomic stability, and the presence of extraordinary geopolitical or supply disruptions.

The measure also provides that any suspension or reduction must specify its duration and will automatically lift once average Dubai crude prices fall below USD 80 per barrel for at least 30 consecutive days. The Department of Finance is required to submit a report to Congress detailing the economic and fiscal basis for its recommendation.

“This approach aligns public fiscal policy with real-world market conditions, protecting consumers and the broader economy from rapid fuel price inflation while preserving the State’s ability to safeguard revenue and macroeconomic stability,” Rep. Villanueva ended.#

In celebration of the EDSA People Power Day, CIBAC Party-List Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva renewed his push for the passage of a measure that will allow direct people participation in legislation.

The CIBAC solon had earlier filed House Bill 7147, or the proposed “Crowdsourcing Act,” which aims to provide a mechanism through internet and mobile applications where people can directly provide and initiate legislative ideas. He emphasizes that the spirit of “People Power” must not be a thing of the past but must translate into substantial, concrete and actual citizen participation in governance.

“The true essence of People Power is not confined to a single historic moment. It must be embedded in our institutions,” he said. “Through this measure, we open wide the doors of legislation and governance to the Filipino people wherever they are — at home or abroad.”

Under the bill, both Houses of Congress will open their legislative processes to public inputs through official online portals. Committees may consider citizen submissions in their deliberations and issue feedback reports acknowledging public participation. The comments from the public shall be part of committee deliberations.

Further, the measure mandates the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) to provide an online platform where people can start a campaign or petition to review, amend or repeal a law, or create a bill, the result of which will be transmitted to Congress for appropriate action.

The bill also requires registration safeguards consistent with the Data Privacy Act and mandates monitoring systems to analyze public sentiment and emerging policy concerns.

“The Constitution declares that sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them. In the digital age, that democratic mandate must evolve and adapt. We must take advantage of the technological advancement to give flesh to this principle. By bridging the gap between the people and the halls of legislation, this measure makes policymaking more democratic, participative, transparent, inclusive, and responsive. In doing this, we give more voice to the real people power,” Rep. Villanueva ended. #

CIBAC Party-List Representative Bro. Eddie Villanueva underscored the importance of clear and inclusive communication in governance as the country marks International Mother Language Day on February 21.

Rep. Villanueva said language is not only a tool for expression but also a gateway for citizens to access their rights and government services.

“When the government speaks in language the people cannot understand, it creates exclusion. But when communication is clear and accessible, it empowers citizens and strengthens trust in institutions,” he said.

In line with this, the CIBAC solon is pushing for the passage of the Plain Language in Government Documents Act or House Bill No.7166, which requires all government-issued advisories, notices, forms, and similar documents to be written in clear and understandable language.

The measure mandates the use of English, Filipino, and, when appropriate, regional languages or dialects to ensure that government information is easily understood by ordinary Filipinos, especially those in underserved communities.

The proposed bill also aims to promote transparency and accountability by removing overly technical and legal language that often limits access to public services and benefits. It includes provisions for training government personnel, in coordination with the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, to ensure proper and consistent implementation across agencies.

Rep. Villanueva further emphasized that making government communication easier to understand is key to inclusive governance and called for the swift passage of the measure to ensure that no Filipino is left behind due to language barriers.

 “Truth must be spoken plainly. A government that values integrity must also value understanding. Clear language is an act of justice and service to the people,” he ended.