Official Website of Philippine Senator Pia Cayetano

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  • Sen. Pia supports measure for better budget transparency

    Sen. Pia supports measure for better budget transparency

    Senator Pia S. Cayetano has co-sponsored Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4, which seeks to institutionalize greater transparency and accountability in the passage of the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).

    As the Senior Vice Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance who handled the education budget for six years and the health budget for five years, Cayetano noted that while budget deliberations in the Senate are open to the public, the final stages in the bicameral conference committee are not treated the same way. “Even I, as Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Finance, only learned after the fact that the budget I proposed and approved by the Senate is changed in the bicam,” she said.

    The resolution mandates the timely and transparent release of budget documents to promote genuine public participation. “An open budget process compels us, as legislators and government alike, to act with greater diligence, fairness, and integrity,” Cayetano stressed.

  • Public health wins in SC decision upholding FDA’s authority

    Opening statement of Senator Pia Cayetano
    News conference with health advocates
    24 June 2022, Philippine Senate

    I am delighted to talk about this landmark Supreme Court (SC) decision that is very science-based and upholds the right of Filipinos to health.

    And this decision is the case (GR 2200431) where the SC ruled that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the power and the authority to regulate cigarettes.

    This decision of the SC is so relevant because when I worked on the FDA law (RA 9711) – that was 2009 in the 14th Congress, and I was just on my fifth year as a senator – I was already fighting that the FDA should regulate all products that affect health, kasi yun ang definition sa FDA Law. ‘Health product’ refers to any product that may have an effect on health. In 2009, pinaglalaban ko na yun.

    Fast-forward to this Congress, in the last six months prior to the campaign period, pinaglaban ko na naman, because of this new product called the e-cigs and the vapes. In-explain ko na ang health products, as defined by law, is anything that affects health. And the example I gave, sabi ko shampoo, conditioner, insect repellant, lotion, cosmetics, food products – lahat yun nire-regulate ng FDA. So, dapat ang vapes and e-cigs, i-regulate din.

    And now, the SC has upheld basically that principle – that if it is a product that affects your health, the FDA should regulate. So talagang nagpapasalamat ako na after all these years, this law can now be implemented.

    (more…)

  • SC landmark ruling a victory for Filipinos, youth

    By Senator Pia S. Cayetano

    • Principal sponsor, RA 7911
    • Intervenor, GR 200431 (DOF and FDA as petitioners, Cayetano and Drilon as petitioners-intervenors vs. Philippine Tobacco Institute, Inc. as respondent)

    The Supreme Court just affirmed the right of every Filipino to good health by upholding the power of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate cigarettes and tobacco products. This is a major victory for our people and advocates for tobacco control and public health.

    Thirteen years ago, I sponsored and defended what became the FDA Act of 2009. RA 9711 mandated the FDA to regulate all products affecting health, including cigarettes and tobacco. The tobacco industry rejected FDA’s authority, and went to court to prevent the FDA from regulating them.

    The health hazards of tobacco cannot be denied, and are backed by strong medical evidence. It is common sense that these products be subjected to strict regulation by a competent health authority.

    After a long judicial process, the SC has ruled in our favor by affirming FDA’s jurisdiction over cigarettes and tobacco products. As principal sponsor of RA 9711 and later, as an intervenor in this case along with Sen. Franklin Drilon, I laud our SC for this landmark decision.

    This win is for the Filipino people and will benefit future generations. It may have taken 13 years, but it’s these victories that remind me to keep fighting the good fight. It’s what makes my job worthwhile.

    This triumph wouldn’t have happened without the guidance and support of my fellow health advocates, including the late health secretary, Dr. Alberto ‘Quasi’ Romualdez.

    (more…)

  • Exempting poll duty pay from income tax

    By Senator Pia S. Cayetano
    Chair, Committee on Ways and Means

    Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, today, I rise to sponsor and seek your support for the passage of Senate Bill No. 2520, under Committee Report No. 641, which seeks to exempt from income tax the election honoraria and allowances of persons rendering services during an election period.

    Aside from performing the noble task of educating the youth, teachers also have an additional role during elections. They are called to man the polling precincts in order to protect the sanctity of every ballot and facilitate the conduct of peaceful and clean elections.

    Pursuant to Republic Act No. 10756 also known as the Election Service Reform Act, the said task is not only limited to our teachers, as the COMELEC may also appoint other persons to serve during elections, including DepEd non-teaching personnel.

    Based on DepEd’s records, about 647,812 of its personnel rendered service in the recently held 2022 national and local elections. An estimated 319,317 public school teachers sat as Electoral Board members and a number of DepEd personnel served as supervisory election officials.

    Per the Election Service Reform Act, they are entitled to honoria, travel allowance, and such other benefits that may be granted by the COMELEC.

    (more…)

  • Preparing PH for the futures of education

    By Senator Pia S. Cayetano
    Chair, Committee on SDGs, Innovation, and Futures Thinking

    I rise today to report on and sponsor the findings and recommendations of the Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation and Futures Thinking, jointly with the Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture, under Committee Report No. 643, on the Futures of Education.

    This Committee Report examines the country’s current situation, problems, aspirations, and gathers the recommendations of experts and stakeholders during the Committee’s hearings and further study, in order to secure the best possible future for education. Interestingly, the pandemic gave us the opportunity to invite foreign experts who attended our hearings online.

    Mr. President, we have filed a lengthy committee report, and also prepared a detailed sponsorship speech, but in the interest of time, I will just be quoting certain highlights of the Committee Report.

    Like many countries around the world, we remain stuck in the factory model of education, a one-size-fits-all model that merely gauges the worth of students according to their test scores. The ideal future of education must instead value, recognize, and hone the individuality of each learner.

    According to Dr. Peter Bishop, Founder and Executive Director of Teach the Future in Houston, Texas, “most educators and the society at large believe that the mission of education is to transmit knowledge and experience” to the next generations.

    However, he noted that this view means that… “knowledge and experience is useful only to the extent that [what] the students [will] have in the future is the same as the world of the past” but in fact, “much of what schools teach their learners might actually be irrelevant if the world of the future is not the same as the past.”

    (more…)

  • EJ-PATAFA settlement hailed

    Statement of Senator Pia S. Cayetano
    On the settlement reached between EJ Obiena and PATAFA

    It’s over!

    This long running ordeal between world no.5 Olympian pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena and his national sports association, PATAFA, has come to an end.

    The Philippine Sports Commission has announced that EJ has been endorsed to play in the Southeast Asian Games and the World Outdoor Athletics championship.  All details regarding the mediation are confidential.

    I look forward to seeing EJ jump again for the honor and glory of our country! #

    EJ Obiena and Sen Pia Cayetano
    The Philippine Sports Commission has announced that EJ has been endorsed to play in the Southeast Asian Games and the World Outdoor Athletics championship. 

  • Education for all

    By Senator Pia S. Cayetano

    Author and Co-sponsor, RA 11650, ‘Instituting a Policy of Inclusion and Services for Learners with Disabilities in Support of Inclusive Education Act’

    Every child deserves an education.

    Finally, we have a law that recognizes the needs of learners with disabilities.

    Although there are such schools around the country, they are not enough to meet the needs of all the children.

    I have been a supporter of schools for kids with special needs even before I became a senator. That’s because my son, Gabriel was born with multiple disabilities. And though he died before he turned one, I often wondered how he or kids like him would cope in schools, many of which don’t have the training to deal with kids with learning disabilities.

    This law will also create job opportunities in the education and health fields.

    And of course, this can only be a success with the cooperation of the entire community.#

     

  • Why PATAFA should be cited in contempt

    Statement by Senator Pia S. Cayetano

    Today, I filed a motion to cite the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association’s (PATAFA) Board Members in contempt. This is for disobeying the Senate Committee on Sports’ order for PATAFA to amicably settle its differences with Philippine Olympian pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena, with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) as the mediator. In compliance with the requirements of Section 18 of the Senate Rules, several colleagues have co-signed my motion. They include Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senator Francis Tolentino, and Senator Panfilo Lacson.

    To recall, during the 07 February 2022 hearing of the Senate Committee on Sports, Obiena presented documents proving that he had fully transmitted payments for the coaching fees of Coach Vitaly Petrov, who confirmed receiving the same. Obiena also showed an email from the PSC auditing team confirming that he has completed and submitted all the required liquidation reports. Obiena did admit to delays in sending the payments, which he attributed to the difficulties he encountered in handling the funds, such as the conversion of Philippine pesos to Euros, as well as the late transfer of his training funds.

    Despite the clear presentation made by Obiena, PATAFA still refused to acknowledge that he had fully paid his coach, and even raised doubts on the authenticity of his liquidation reports. Obiena had even asked for assistance in handling the funds. However, this request was not only denied, but was also used by PATAFA to raise issues and hurl accusations against him.

    This prompted the Senate Committee on Sports to order PATAFA and Obiena to go into mediation with the assistance of PSC, with the end in view of settling this matter so Obiena could focus on his training and upcoming competitions. But a mere four days after both parties agreed to the mediation during the said hearing, PATAFA filed a case before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland. This is an act of bad faith, as PATAFA practically and effectively closed any possibility of amicable settlement with Obiena. PATAFA has clearly escalated the conflict by giving Obiena another problem that will distract him from his training and consume his time, efforts, and resources. This is not the way you treat a national athlete, and an Olympian at that.

    (more…)

  • A disservice to PH sports

    PATAFA has lost all moral authority to lead PH’s track and field program

    By Senator Pia S. Cayetano

    In recent months, we have all witnessed the actions PATAFA has taken to destroy a world-class athlete, as well as the image of the Philippines before the sporting world.

    Their exclusion of EJ Obiena – Asia’s record holder and the world’s current top 5-ranked pole vaulter – from the country’s roster for the Southeast Asian Games, is not only anti-athlete, but also anti-Filipino. The questions they raised surrounding the payment of Obiena’s Coach have all been answered. And yet their desire to wreak havoc on Philippine sports and this young man’s future continues.

    With this condemnable act, PATAFA’s leadership has lost all moral authority to lead our track and field sports program. They deserve to be purged from our NSAs list to allow Philippine track and field a fresh start, and for our athletes to genuinely develop into world-class caliber.

    While the Philippine Olympic Committee’s chair Tolentino has called out PATAFA on this, we await our national sports leaders to condemn PATAFA’s actions and to allow Obiena to play in the SEA Games and other major international athletics competitions.

    We must all work together to stop the madness of PATAFA, before it’s too late. #

    New Clark City Athletics Stadium
    Senator Pia Cayetano: “PATAFA’s leadership has lost all moral authority to lead our track and field sports program.”

     

  • PATAFA’s actions show what’s wrong in PH sports

    The Philippines deserves better than PATAFA

    By Senator Pia S. Cayetano

    Wow, PATAFA, your actions demonstrate the worst of Philippine sports! Talagang okay lang sa inyo na wala tayong representative sa mga major international sports competitions?

    Despite EJ Obiena’s detailed explanation at the Senate hearing proving that his coach has been fully paid, and which the latter has affirmed, PATAFA rejected his request to be endorsed to compete in the SEA Games, Asian Games, and other world athletics events.

    PATAFA has chosen to deprive Filipinos of being represented by this talented young man who holds the Asian record, has reached Top 3 in the world pole vault rankings, and was #1 recently in the Orlen Cup and Orlen Copernicus Cup in Europe. The Philippines deserves better than PATAFA.#

    EJ Obiena
    Senator Pia Cayetano has slammed PATAFA for rejecting pole vaulter EJ Obiena’s request to be endorsed to play in upcoming major international competitions.