Tag: 20th Congress

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Ping Lacson Bill Frees MAIFIP from Politics, Consolidates It Under Universal Health Care Act

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson has filed a bill seeking to free the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) Program of the Department of Health from politics, by placing it under the framework of the Universal Health Care Act – and penalizing political exploitation and manipulation of the program.

In Senate Bill 404 titled the “Universal Medical Assistance Act of 2025,” Lacson said this consolidation will eliminate “overlaps and redundancies” with other medical assistance programs implemented across various government agencies.

“By consolidating MAIFIP within the framework of the UHC, we can effectively address the issue of payment delays for medical services rendered by DOH-licensed and/or accredited health facilities because of political interference. The proposed legislation also aims to eliminate the politicization of the program, thus curbing the culture of mendicancy and political patronage,” he said.

“A coherent and unified health system under Universal Healthcare must be established to effectively address the needs of indigent and marginalized families. Individuals, regardless of economic status, who suffer from catastrophic illnesses and similar medical conditions and its corresponding substantial financial burdens, should meaningfully benefit from the government’s comprehensive safety net and enjoy affordable and accessible health services — free from political interventions that shamelessly exploit government programs to curry public favor,” he added.

In Filipino: Panukala ni Ping Lacson, Aalisin ang Pamumulitika sa MAIFIP

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Ping Lacson Bills Strip Gov’t Officials, Employees of Secrecy in Bank and Foreign Currency Deposits

Government officials and employees trying to enrich themselves in office will have nowhere to hide their ill-gotten wealth as they will be stripped of secrecy rights under the laws on bank deposits as well as foreign currency deposits.

The removal of secrecy rights for public servants in both types of deposits is contained in two bills filed by Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson, a long-time enemy of graft and corruption.

Lacson, in Senate Bill 38 titled “An Act Further Strengthening the Secrecy of Bank Deposits Law, Amending for the Purpose RA 1405 Otherwise Known as the Secrecy of Bank Deposits Law as Amended,” pointed out that the 1987 Constitution itself stresses that “Public office is a public trust,” and public office thus must not be used for self-aggrandizement or for acquiring wealth by the person holding it.

“This bill seeks to exclude government officials and employees, whether elected or appointed, from the coverage of the Bank Secrecy Law to equip government authorities with the necessary tools to effectively investigate and prosecute those who misuse public office for personal gain,” he said.

In Filipino: Dalawang Panukala ni Ping Lacson, Huhubaran ang Taga-Gobyerno ng ‘Secrecy’ sa Bank at Foreign Currency Deposits

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Ping Lacson Files ‘Presidential Succession Act’ to Prevent Disruption of Government in Case of Disaster, Exceptional Circumstances

A bill by Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson seeks to ensure the government will keep running even in case of a disaster or “exceptional circumstances” where the President and his/her constitutional successors are killed or disabled.

Lacson’s Senate Bill 36 or the “Presidential Succession Act” extends the list of succession beyond the Vice President, Senate President and House Speaker, the current line of presidential succession under the 1987 Constitution.

“This bill … seeks to provide an exhaustive line and order of succession in the event of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of the Acting President to ensure that the office of the President is never vacated even in exceptional circumstances,” Lacson said in his bill.

In Filipino: ‘Presidential Succession Act’ ni Ping Lacson, Titiyakin ang Patuloy na Takbo ng Pamahalaan kung may Sakuna o ‘Exceptional Circumstances’

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Ping Lacson Bill Amends National ID Law to Address Data Privacy Concerns

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson has filed a bill seeking to amend Republic Act 11055 or the Philippine Identification System (National ID) Act, to address potential concerns on data privacy.

Lacson said such an amendment may also serve as an opportunity for the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and other concerned agencies to purge the Philippine ID system of unauthorized registrants.

Citing information he received, Lacson noted that many if not most of the unauthorized registrants are Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) personnel who may have managed to register through fraudulent means.

In Filipino: Ping Lacson, Naghain ng Panukala sa National ID Law para Tugunan ang Posibleng Data Privacy Concerns

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Read: Senate Bill 35, An Act Prohibiting the Establishment of Political Dynasties

The proposed measure seeks to prohibit the spouse or person related within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity, whether legitimate or illegitimate, full or half blood, to an incumbent elective official seeking re-election, to hold or run for any elective office in the same city and/or province in the same election.

Furthermore, the bill also prohibits two or more persons who have a political dynasty relationship from running simultaneously for an elective office within the same city and/or province, even if neither is so related to the incumbent public official.

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