Surprisingly, the legislators are raising the Social Security System ante to avoid charging heavier rates, supposedly as a form of reprieve for pandemic-battered employees, to its members on the 15th of January. No less than House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco put forward his own plan to combat the imminent SSS contribution increase from 12 percent to 13 percent of monthly …

METRO MANILA – House of Representatives Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano yesterday abruptly approved the P4.5-trillion 2021 General Appropriations Bill on second reading while quicly moving to suspend sessions until November 16 amid the speakership row. Cayetano’s move was seen by some as a “desperate attempt” to stay in power. He was able to terminate the budget deliberations to show that …

METRO MANILA – The House leadership will be decided on Oct. 14 between incumbent Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco. The two house representative have been trading blows on who should be the house speaker after the agreed on  a term-sharing agreement in 2019. Velasco is supposed to assume the position this month but Cayetano indicated …

METRO MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte met with House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano after the House of Representatives denied his offer to resign from his post over the speakership fued with Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco. According to Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the meeting was scheduled two weeks ago, calling it  “a coincidence,” as the Palace denied the lawmaker …