@ManilaStandardPH
@mnlstandardph
@manilastandard
@ManilaStandardYT
Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net . For advertisement: email: advertise@manilastandard.net • 09173382170 / 85646229
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 119 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2024
Pass pro-people laws, PBBM urges Congress Escudero, Romualdez hold 1st meet on LEDAC agenda
Northill Gateway The 53-hectare Northill Gateway on the boundaries of Talisay and Bacolod cities in Negros Occidental used to be a vast sugarcane plantation field. Today, it is developed into a vibrant lifestyle community, where Bacolod’s iconic welcome landmark is located, and the province’s first NXTGEN McDonald’s stands today. It is also surrounded by two residential villages, and soon, a USinspired roadside stopover dining hub will rise inside the township.
MegaStan
COLLABORATION. House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and Senate President Francis Escudero pledge to enhance connectivity and deepen cooperation between both Houses of Congress in passing pro-people measures. Ver Noveno
By Charles Dantes and Maricel Cruz
P
RESIDENT Marcos called on Congress to prioritize the passage of inclusive and people-focused legislation before the end of the year to drive national progress as Senate President Francis Escudero and Speaker Martin Romualdez held their first official leadership meeting yesterday. “To our fellow workers in both houses of Congress, I implore that before the year ends, laws which are more inclusive, responsive, and people-centered be passed,” Mr. Marcos said during the ceremonial signing of the Negros Island Region Act (NIR) and Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act (RPVARA) at Malacañang. The President underscored the importance of passing the 17 priority bills certified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) to enhance the living conditions of Filipinos. He cited pending key legislative measures such as the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, Self-Reliant Defense Posture Revitalization Act, Philippine Maritime Zones Act, Anti-Financial Accounts Scamming Act, Amendments to Government
RTR MED SCHOOL TOPS PT EXAM
NEWS / A2
NEWS / A4
Negros Island Region now a reality under Marcos By Charles Dantes and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Marcos signed into law a measure establishing the Negros Island Region that will be composed of Negros Occidental, Bacolod City, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor. "This union is long overdue and makes very
NEGROS ISLAND REGION
•NegrosOccidental • Bacolod City • Negros Oriental • Siquijor
Next page
Increased power rate of P12/kWh starts this month By Alena Mae S. Flores CONSUMERS of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) would have to brace for higher rates by P0.6436 per kilowatt hour in their June bills due higher generation charges driven largely by higher charges at the electricity spot market. Meralco said the overall rate for a typical household would increase to P12.0575 per kWh from the previous month’s P11.4139 per kWh. Residential customers consuming 200 kWh will see an increase of around P129 in their total electricity bill. Meralco said driving this month’s overall rate increase is the generation charge, which went up by P0.3466 per kWh mainly due to higher costs from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), the trading floor of electricity. Next page
3 OFWS DIE IN KUWAIT FIRE
practical sense, especially in the Negros Island, where people are located on one island but are governed under separate administrative regions," Mr. Marcos said during the ceremonial signing of Republic Act 12000 in Malacañang on Thursday. "We envision as well the NIR as one of the centers of development in the Visayas, further accelerating socioeconomic development for the millions of Negrenses and providing strategic convergence regarding resources, investments, and economic planning,” the President added. Next page
Two-year amnesty for unpaid property taxes in new law By Charles Dantes PRESIDENt Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday, June 13, 2024, signed into law the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act (RPVARA), which aims to standardize the country's valuation of real property. The law is now called Republic Act No. (RA) 12001. To encourage tax compliance, the administration will offer a two-year amnesty on interests and penalties for unpaid real property taxes. The President led the ceremonial Next page
NEW LAWS. President Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. signs the Negros Island Region Act and Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act in Malacañang Palace Thursday afternoon. Ver Noveno
Solons welcome Sotto stand on new building issue By Maricel V. Cruz LAWMAKERS in the House of Representatives expressed their approval of former Senate President Vicente Sotto III's statement, supporting the decision of the new Senate leadership to suspend the construction of the New Senate
Building in Taguig City pending a comprehensive review. Assistant Majority Leaders Jay Khonghun of Zambales, Paolo Ortega V of La Union, and Jil Bongalon of Ako Bicol party-list, and 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez also thanked Sotto for shedding light on the issue, particularly the escalating costs that
alarmed both past and present Senate leaderships. Khonghun said Sotto’s endorsement of the suspension is a significant validation of Senate President Francis Escudero’s prudent decision. “It is only right to re-evaluate such a major project, especially Next page
‘Flight risk’ Teves under house arrest By Rey E. Requejo A COURT of Appeals in TimorLeste on Thursday placed former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo ‘Arnie’ Teves, Jr. under house arrest, after it deemed the extraditee to be a "flight risk." Timor-Leste media agency Hatutan.com reported that the appeals court Next page