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Metro Manila, Philippines – A bill lowering value-added tax (VAT) on goods and services from 12% to 10% has been filed in the Senate, formalizing calls for a tax cut amid rising prices triggered by the Middle East crisis. Senator Bam Aquino filed his proposed VAT Reduction Act on Thursday, April 16. It seeks to amend the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 to reduce VAT on goods or properties, imports, and services, including petroleum products. Aquino said the measure would provide much-needed relief for the middle class, which is largely excluded from government aid programs. “Habang tumatagal ang krisis na ito, hindi lang mahirap ang tinatamaan kundi ang ating middle class, kung saan kabilang ang ating mga kababayang naghahanapbuhay ngunit hindi nakakakuha ng direktang tulong mula sa ating pamahalaan,” Aquino said.  [Translation: As the crisis drags on, it is not only the poor who are affected but also our…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The controversial partial report of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which recommends an investigation into lawmakers tagged in the flood control corruption scandal, is now just three signatures away from the majority support needed to move the legislative probe forward. Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, the committee chair, earlier suspended the inquiry pending the collection of at least nine signatures or majority of the panel members. This is required to sponsor the report in plenary for debates.  In a statement on Thursday, April 16, Lacson said two additional senators have signed the report: Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, an ex-officio member, and Blue Ribbon vice chair Erwin Tulfo. This brings the total number of signatories to six, leaving the report three signatures short of the required majority. Aside from Lacson, Sotto, and Tulfo, the other signatories are Senators Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros, and…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The country’s transport sector has received a total of P3.2 billion in cash relief assistance as of April 15, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported. In a press conference on Thursday, April 16, Crisis Intervention Program Director Edwin Morata said through the agency’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program, P1.59 billion has been disbursed in the National Capital Region (NCR) and P1.61 billion in other regions. A total of 319,678 individuals from NCR have received the cash relief, while 322,577 beneficiaries are from other regions nationwide. A special payout for drivers of tricycles, public utility jeepneys (PUJs), motorcycle taxis, transport network vehicle services (TNVS), and delivery services in NCR is ongoing. Tricycle drivers from municipalities outside NCR will also be receiving cash assistance starting today. Morata assured that the agency has enough funds to fulfill the program’s requirements until April 30.…

Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. brushed off rumors about his health, this time by lifting a 10-kilogram sack of rice during a government distribution program in Manila. “Sinong may sakit? [Who’s sick?],” the president quipped before the crowd as he hoisted the rice sack during the rollout of the “Biyayang Bigas” program, drawing cheers from beneficiaries. The move comes just days after Marcos personally confronted the issue in Malacañang, where he challenged critics to work out with him and performed jumping jacks in front of the media. “I challenge anyone who is saying that I am sick to come and exercise with me. We will see who is stronger,” he said earlier. He also assured the public that reports about his supposed illness were false. “To our fellow citizens, what some people are saying — that I am ill — is not true. Those are lies,” he…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang rejected claims of a supposed term-sharing agreement between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, saying the chief executive remains committed to completing his six-year mandate. Palace press officer Claire Castro said the president never entered into any agreement to step down before the end of his term. “Ang pangulo po, hindi po iyan mangangampanya para lang po ibigay ang posisyon kahit kanino,” Castro said.[Translation: The president does not campaign just to hand over the position to anyone.] She said Marcos was elected to serve the public and intends to fulfill that commitment. “Nangako po siya na maglilingkod sa taumbayan at tatapusin ang kaniyang termino para sa bayan,” she added.[Translation: He promised to serve the people and complete his term for the country.] Castro also said such allegations have no basis. “Siya po ay nagulat dahil hindi po ganoon ang pangulo,” she said.[Translation:…