Legarda files bill giving MSMEs improved access to financing, other support programs

Four-term Senator Loren Legarda today July 21 filed Senate Bill 8, or the “Pangkabuhayan Act,” to stimulate entrepreneurship and empower Filipino entrepreneurs by ensuring effective access to existing financing and livelihood assistance programs.

Legarda, who is expected to be selected as the Senate President Pro Tempore in Monday’s opening of the 19th Congress, stressed the urgent need for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and struggling entrepreneurs to access financial assistance and other support programs from the government.

‘’MSMEs programs are viable […]

Legarda bats for protection of OFW remittances; files bill

Four-term Senator Loren Legarda is pushing for the protection of Overseas Filipino Workers’ (OFW) money remittances.
“The money remitted by OFWs to their beneficiaries in the Philippines goes through intermediaries or financial institutions. In the course of transfer, the amount supposedly remitted are subject to various fees and usurious charges, thereby depleting the amount to be received by the beneficiaries,” Legarda said in filing Senate Bill (SB) 10.
Legarda cited data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) that personal remittances in […]

Cutting OFW-remittance cost to be filed in Senate

THE Senate is working on an awaited remedial legislation aimed at providing added protection for hard-earned remittances regularly sent by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to their families here.
In filing the enabling Senate Bill 10, Senator Loren B. Lagarda pointed out that the money remitted by OFWs to their beneficiaries in the Philippines “goes through intermediaries or financial institutions.”
The four-term senator reminded that “in the course of transfer, the amount supposedly remitted [by OFWs] is subject to various fees and usurious […]

Legarda seeks cuts in fees on remittances

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Loren Legarda has filed a bill that seeks to check on excessive fees imposed by remittance firms on money sent by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to their families in the Philippines.
In a statement, Legarda said Senate Bill No. 10 aims to allow the government to clamp down on unjust charges imposed by “intermediaries or financial institutions” on OFW remittances, noting how the fees usually deplete the money sent to its intended beneficiaries.
“It is imperative for the […]

Heed call of science in response to pandemic, climate crisis–Legarda

Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda on Tuesday, July 26 called for unity toward resilience as the country’s priority strategy in its response to the pandemic and the climate crisis.
In her first privilege speech delivered in the 19th Congress, Legarda, an environmentalist, said ’We need to heed the call of science and our experts to pursue and realize economy-wide and community-based measures that aim at reaching our goals sooner rather than later.’’
Legarda said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. himself said […]