The Committee on Cooperatives Development of the House of Representatives chaired by Rep. Cresente Paez (COOP-NATCCO partylist) has unanimously approved the consolidated version of several bills which seek to expand benefits for cooperatives and strengthening the agency tasked to regulate them. 

Leaders of Philippine and foreign business groups have rallied behind the call of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to lift the restrictive economic provisions in  the Constitution to generate more jobs, lower consumer prices and increase economic productivity. 

Deputy Speaker Roberto V. Puno expressed the hope that the Congress can approve the grant of Philippine citizenship to two American athletes in time for the upcoming FIBA World Basketball Cup to be held in Madrid, Spain this year. 

The committee on good governance and public accountability of the House of Representatives is set to conduct an investigation into the alleged “Janet Lim-Napoles of the Bureau of Plant Industry”  in response to a resolution filed by Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. seeking a probe on the issue. 

A lawmaker belonging to the National Unity Party (NUP) has filed a bill promoting the director and assistant directors of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to higher positions, in line with government efforts to protect and guarantee the sustainability of the country’s rich marine resources.