Manny Villar

A call for cultural renaissance

2012-01-11T06:46:00.000-08:00

Of Trees and Forest By SENATOR MANNY B. VILLAR January 10, 2012, 10:57pm MANILA, Philippines — Culture is one term that cannot be defined and understood in just a few words. Culture, according to the Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute, is a collection of traits that differentiate humans from animals, including the following: language, arts and sciences, thought, social activity or shared

Christmas Lights

2011-12-03T07:58:00.001-08:00

Senator Manny Villar, chair of the Senate committee on trade and commerce, inspects Christmas lights to be sold in the market during a public hearing, Tuesday, November 29, 2011. Villar filed Senate Resolution no. 208 urging the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to implement an effective mechanism to control the sale of defective Christmas lights. (PRIB Photo by ROMY BUGANTE)

The 50-Million O.F.W. Community

2011-12-03T06:26:00.001-08:00

The latest report on remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFW) reflects one of the strongest fundamentals of the Philippine economy, especially amid the global crisis, which has largely been responsible for the double-digit fall in export earnings. The OFWs' remittances, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), increased by 8.4 percent in September 2011 to $1.74 billion from

Go Negosyo, Villar Foundation launch OFW summit

2011-12-03T06:20:00.001-08:00

MANILA, Philippines - In a bid to inspire overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to start their own business in the country, the Go Negosyo and Villar Foundation teamed up and launched yesterday the 1st OFW and Family Summit 2011 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. Sen. Manny Villar Jr. said the summit is timely to also help OFWs who may be displaced due to the crisis in Europe and Arab

Simple Equation

2011-11-20T07:47:00.001-08:00

The current socioeconomic conditions and recent developments underscore the relationship between economic growth as expressed in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the Philippines’ persistent poverty problem. The latest official figure for poverty incidence is 26.5 percent of the population in 2009, or 24.44 million of the estimated 92.23 million population of the Philippines during that

Why a department for OFW's

2011-10-30T15:43:00.000-07:00

Last month, the remains of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) arrived in Manila and official reports declared her death a year ago in Saudi Arabia as a suicide. But, when the body was embalmed, the family learned that some of her internal organs were missing. In March of this year, three OFWs were executed in China for drug smuggling. News reports, citing government data, said about 500 other

Book on saving river launched

2011-09-16T10:10:00.000-07:00

By CRISPINA MARTINEZ-BELEN Manila Bulletin September 11, 2011, 11:45am MANILA, Philippines -- The book “Saving A River, Securing Livelihoods” which documents the multi-awarded Las Piñas-Zapote Rivers rehabilitation program of the Villar Foundation, was launched recently by former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia A. Villar at the Fully Booked in Bonifacio High St., Taguig City. The launch was attended by

SAGIP-OFW HELPLINE Holds Reintegration Seminar

2011-09-08T03:23:00.000-07:00

Sen. Manny Villar's Sagip-OFW Helpline together with Blas Ople Policy Center holds a "Reintegration Seminar" for OFWs and their family members recently. The activity was attended by hundreds of returning OFWs and their family members who wanted to avail of the DBP-OFW Reintegration Loan Fund by the Dept of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). Attendees

Villar Foundation brings medical and feeding program to Tondo

2011-09-05T08:28:00.000-07:00

About 600 families from Balut, Tondo were beneficiaries of the medical mission and feeding activity initiated by the Villar Foundation. Held at the Timoteo Paez Integrated School covered court, the activity was conducted in partnership with Asenso Manileno and Kaagapay and headed by Sen. Manny Villar. The program is part of the Caravan Kalusugan and Feed the Children missions of the foundation.

GLOBAL CSR SUMMIT

2011-09-04T21:00:00.000-07:00

Sen. Manny Villar receives from Melvin Chan, senior director of Pinnacle Group Intl., a token during the Global CSR Summit held in Cebu City. Villar presented to business managers the features of a pet bill, Senate Bill 1239, or the Corporate Social Responsibility bill which, if enacted, will provide tax incentives to companies engaged in projects that give back to the people.

Villar asks DFA, DOLE to ensure safety of OFWs in Syria

2011-09-04T11:04:00.001-07:00

Sen. Manny Villar assured the families of overseas Filipino workers caught in the middle of escalating political tension in Syria that he will continue to push authorities to ensure the safety of their kins. In the dialogue between Villar and 17 relatives of OFWs in Syria,Villar said he is urging the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to help

Tuko

2011-09-04T10:44:00.000-07:00

Sen. Manny Villar, chair of the Committee on Trade & Commerce, shows to reporters a Philippine gecko, locally known as "tuko," during a committee hearing Monday, August 8, 2011. Villar recently filed Senate Resolution No. 538, urging the Trade and Commerce committee to conduct an inquiry on the reported massive trading of geckos, for the purpose of crafting measures that will protect the specie

Harvard study claims expired drugs are still potent Villar urges health experts to conduct similar study on expired drugs

2011-08-08T19:07:00.000-07:00

Press Release August 7, 2011 Saying this could bring huge savings for the government; Sen. Manny Villar urged health officials and experts in the country to conduct a study that will prove whether or not drugs can still be used even after their expiration date. This came after a study by American experts revealed that drugs if properly stored under good condition are potent even after 15 years

There's fortune in water lilies

2011-08-08T07:25:00.000-07:00

By Nelson C. Bagaforo Sunday, August 7, 2011 FOR more than 20 years, close to a hundred households in a small community in Barangay Wilfredo Aquino in Agdao, Davao City, have been pestered by water hyacinths, popularly known in the country as water lilies, that have tremendously grown in the area. This free-floating perennial aquatic plant has grown massively in a one-hectare swampy area in

Villar urges DOLE, OWWA to act swiftly on complaints of OFWs vs abusive welfare officer in Jordan

2011-08-08T07:06:00.001-07:00

Press Release August 5, 2011 Senator Manny Villar urged the Department of Labor and Employment and Overseas Workers' Welfare Administration to act swiftly on the complaints of five overseas Filipino workers against a welfare officer based in Ammam, Jordan who wanted to force them to go back to work despite having escaped from abusive employers. Villar met the five repatriated women workers in

Villar warns massive trading of 'tuko' will allow dengue mosquitoes to thrive

2011-08-08T07:03:00.001-07:00

Press Release July 29, 2011 Sen. Manny Villar today expressed apprehension over the hunting of geckos, which he said will allow dengue virus-carrying mosquitoes to multiply, hurting the government campaign to control the fatal disease. Villar, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade and Commerce, said the reported massive trading of geckos, locally known as 'tuko,' poses a threat on the

Villar urges businessmen to supplement gov't efforts vs. poverty

2011-07-29T18:45:00.000-07:00

Press Release July 20, 2011 Sen. Manny Villar urged the country's largest corporations to step up and supplement government efforts in improving the society and addressing poverty through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). In a speech delivered during the 10th Annual CSR Expo and Conference organized by the League of Corporate Foundations, Villar stressed that "the private sector with it

Villar to push for pet bill during CSR Expo on Wednesday, July 20

2011-07-29T18:42:00.001-07:00

Press Release July 19, 2011 Sen. Manny Villar will present before the gathering of the country's largest corporations tomorrow the bill that will institutionalize corporate social responsibility (CSR) among wealthy corporations. Villar, chairman of the Committee on Trade and Commerce and author of Senate Bill 1239 or the Corporate Social Responsibility Act, is one of the speakers during the

Transcript of Sen. Manny Villar's interview with DZRH

2011-07-29T18:39:00.000-07:00

Interview by Ruth Abao and Deo Macalma Date: July 15, 2011 RUTH- The brown tycoon. DEO- Bakit brown tycoon? RUTH: Siya ang brown tycoon. DEO: Oo nga siya ang Filipino tycoon. RUTH: At di magtatagal nasa number one Forbes' list yan. DEO-Di magtatagal ha at malapit na.Pabatiin muna natin si Sen. Villar. Sen. Villar sir medyo tahimik kayo ng mga bandang huli,kumusta na po kayo sir? Ano ang

Senate Bill No 2870 - Fisheries Code

2011-07-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

Bill/Res. No. SBN-2870 Date Filed 6/7/2011 Legislative Status PENDING IN THE COMMITTEE Status Date 6/8/2011 Session Sequence No. 94 Session Type FIRST REGULAR SESSION Scope NATIONAL Author VILLAR, MANNY B. Co-author(s) Short Title FISHERIES CODE Long Title AN ACT DEFINING AND PROVIDING FOR MORE SEVERE PENALTIES FOR LARGE SCALE EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION OF CORALS, CORAL REEFS,

Villar Foundation launches University Town

2011-07-11T11:17:00.000-07:00

By CRISPINA MARTINEZ-BELEN July 5, 2011, 10:15am Sen. Manny Villar, Amb. Nikolay Kudashev and Gregory Pototsky with the Knights of Rizal led by Rhegis Romero. MANILA, Philippines -- Despite the inclement weather last week, Villar Foundation went on with its scheduled launch of “University Town,” its latest pet project born out of the foundation’s vision to build a center for the youth’s

Villar urges gov't to prepare for Saudization

2011-07-11T10:54:00.000-07:00

Press Release July 6, 2011 Sen. Manny Villar today urged government to prepare for the effects of the Saudization program, including a plan of action to assist workers who may be displaced as companies in Saudi Arabia prioritize hiring of their nationals. "There is a need to adopt a comprehensive and responsive legislation and plan of action that can support and assist migrant workers who may

Villar files bill granting special leave for OFW spouses

2011-07-11T10:47:00.000-07:00

Press Release July 10, 2011 Sen. Manny Villar filed a bill that will grant special leave credits to spouses of overseas Filipino workers. Senate Bill 2588 seeks to allow all legitimate spouses who are employees in the private and public sector to avail of an additional 15-day special leave credit yearly with full pay. This leave credit may be used to attend to the needs of the OFW's family.

Assessing the economy

2011-07-11T10:41:00.000-07:00

Sen. Manny Villar, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade and Commerce, stressed the need to make credit facilities available to small and medium and micro enterprises to encourage entrepreneurship in the country. Villar was keynote speaker during the Talakayang Makabayan on the topic "Strengthening the Domestic Economy" in San Juan City.

7 solons pledge P10-M for Rizal Boulevard project

2011-06-13T04:01:00.000-07:00

by Jennifer Catan-Tilos DUMAGUETE CITY, June 7 (PIA) -- Seven (7) senators have pledged various amounts from their respective priority development assistance fund (PDAF) to help finance the Rizal Boulevard Boardwalk project of the Dumaguete City government. The funders include senators Manny Villar, Tito Sotto III, Juan Miguel Zubiri, TG Guingona III, Francis Pangilinan, Raphael Recto and Chiz