Legarda renews push for measure amending the PESO Act

Senator Loren Legarda has refiled Senate Bill 7 that seeks to amend Republic Act (RA) 8759 ,or the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Act of 1999, to include entrepreneurship and provide better employment and entrepreneurial opportunities suited for each Filipino.
Legarda, a four-term lawmaker, stressed that this amendment to the existing law would address the drawn-out issue of unemployment and underemployment in the Philippines.
She echoed her previous statement that the promotion of entrepreneurship would be able to hone the skills of […]

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 […]