By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Senator Win Gatchalian is advocating for more accessible public transportation for persons with disabilities (PWDs) to help them engage more actively in their communities.

Gatchalian shared that his office has received numerous complaints from PWDs struggling to access public transportation.

“My office has been receiving numerous complaints from PWDs who have difficulty accessing public transportation,” Gatchalian said. He added that PWDs face significant challenges, such as issues with ramps that are meant to provide access to transport.

“They often can’t board the MRT or LRT, especially when the escalators or elevators that lead to the platforms are broken. Sometimes, they can’t even get on jeepneys because they are slow to move,” he said.

While Gatchalian has been calling attention to those who exploit fake PWD IDs for personal gain, he also emphasized the equally important need to ensure that genuine PWDs receive the benefits intended for them. One key concern is access to transportation.

Additionally, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means stressed the need for the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to adopt design standards that ensure easy access to both existing transport systems and those still under development.

According to the National Council on Disability Affairs, the total number of registered PWDs as of January 8 this year is 1.9 million.

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By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Senator Win Gatchalian is urging for the effective implementation of the Parent Effectiveness Service (PES) Program Act to address the rising cases of teenage pregnancies and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections across the country.

During a hearing on the Department of Education’s implementation of comprehensive sexuality education, Gatchalian emphasized the importance of parents taking the lead in instilling responsible behavior in adolescents to protect them from risky behaviors and their consequences.

The senator referenced data from the Department of Health (DOH), which showed the average number of newly reported HIV cases rising to 1,470 per month in the first half of 2023. Of these, 34,415 (29%) were among youth aged 15-24.

“We also need to focus on getting parents more involved—not just by meeting with them regularly, but by truly mobilizing them,” Gatchalian said.

“I firmly believe that mobilizing parents is a key way to reduce teenage pregnancies. When parents are mobilized, they become more aware of these issues and are empowered with the knowledge to talk to their children,” he added.

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By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Senator Win Gatchalian said the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act (CMEPA) will encourage greater investment in the capital market.

Gatchalian made the statement following the Senate’s approval of the proposed measure on its third and final reading.

“CMEPA will not only make investments more affordable, but it will also empower our citizens to take control of their financial futures,” the senator said.

Once enacted, the measure will reduce the stock transaction tax from 0.6% to 0.1%.

“By slashing this rate to 0.1%, we significantly lower the cost of investing and trading, helping us better align with regional peers offering more competitive rates,” said Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.

The senator emphasized that strengthening the capital market would provide people with the opportunity to grow their savings and encourage more investments.

According to the 2021 Financial Inclusion Survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, only 1 out of 10 Filipino adults have investment products, as many Filipinos often view the capital market as inaccessible to ordinary people and available only to the affluent.

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By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Senator Win Gatchalian is encouraging beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino scheme (4Ps) to enroll in the government’s lifeline electricity rate program to avail themselves of savings on their electricity costs.

“This is a Christmas gift for our fellow citizens who are genuinely struggling in life. The government will extend the electricity subsidy in January 2024,” Gatchalian stated.

As the principal author of Republic Act 11552, also known as the “Act Extending and Enhancing the Implementation of the Lifeline Rate,” Gatchalian emphasized the importance of the subsidy for households facing financial challenges.

To qualify for the subsidy, Gatchalian explained that beneficiaries must not exceed 100 kilowatt-hours of electricity consumption per month. The program encompasses households unable to meet their electricity bills, including 4Ps beneficiaries and customers living below the poverty threshold defined by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

“We advocated for this measure to ensure a broader reach of the subsidy program,” the senator affirmed.

Gatchalian also stressed the need for the government to intensify efforts in enlisting deserving households for the subsidy program. He emphasized the importance of a streamlined enrollment process that is both convenient and prompt. Additionally, he called for an enhanced information and dissemination campaign to reach as many beneficiaries as possible.

(IAmigo/MNM)

AMID the unresolved hacking incident at the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has urged both government agencies and private sector entities to bolster their cybersecurity defenses.

Gatchalian emphasized the critical need for safeguarding vital information infrastructure and called for compliance with international cybersecurity standards and best practices.

To address these concerns, Gatchalian has introduced Senate Bill 2066, also known as the Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Act.

This legislation mandates all covered critical information institutions (CII) to implement robust measures safeguarding their information and communications technology (ICT) systems.

It also requires the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to establish and update information security standards, with CII institutions obligated to adhere to these standards.

Additionally, the National Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT) will be designated as the central authority for computer emergency response teams in the country.

The NCERT will administer a centralized information security incident reporting mechanism that spans various industries, including banking, finance, broadcast media, emergency services, energy, healthcare, telecommunications, and transportation, among others.

Experts have expressed concern about the scale of the PhilHealth data breach. Winthrop Yu, chair emeritus of the Internet Society’s Philippine Chapter, noted that cyber attackers had already released a significant amount of data, raising questions about the breach’s extent. Customized cybersecurity solutions and increased employee training in cyber hygiene are recommended, as off-the-shelf solutions may not suffice.

Lito Averia, president of the Philippine Computer Emergency Response Team, emphasized the importance of proper training and awareness among employees to recognize and thwart cyber threats. He also suggested implementing technical measures like network segmentation and regular data backups to prevent large-scale data breaches.

Gatchalian stressed the growing reliance on digital technologies in the Philippines, particularly in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Filipinos are increasingly using digital services, and the e-commerce sector is experiencing significant growth. With this increased digital activity, Gatchalian highlighted the heightened risk posed by cyber threats, ranging from casual scammers to sophisticated state-sponsored actors who target ICT systems and networks for various malicious purposes. (ai/mnm)