P9.18-B additional budget for DepEd sought

INSISTING that education and human resource development should take precedence over other state priorities, Sen. Mar Roxas yesterday sought an extra P9.8-billion budget for the Department of Education. (Journal)

Use int’l summit exposure to market Cebu’s potentials

Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II said Cebu should market its investment potentials during the gathering of the heads of state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and their dialogue partners, including the United States and China. The Asean summit in December offers a huge economic opportunity for Cebu and the business sector must take advantage of this. (Sun.Star)

Rising human rights abuses alarm Roxas

ADMINISTRATION Senator Mar Roxas yesterday expressed alarm over the rising tide of human rights abuses following the abduction of supporters of detained President Joseph Estrada by military agents. (Inq7)

Consumer spending bears brunt of tough times

PRICES of basic commodities remain stable but people are buying less than before, forcing manufacturers, retailers, hog and poultry raisers, and market vendors to absorb higher costs to stay in business. This was the conclusion of Senator Manuel Roxas II after the hearing of the Senate committees on trade, industry and commerce to monitor the prices of food, fuel, and other basic items. (More at Inq7Money and Manila Standard Today)

ROXAS WARNS OF FUEL PRICE HIKES OF UP TO P3 PER LITER

Sen. Manuel Roxas II warned yesterday of an additional total increase of P3.86 per liter hike in the pump prices of oil products and more than P1 for diesel over the next two weeks.
Quoting reports by the country managers of the three big oil players — Petron Corp., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Co. and Caltex Philippines Inc. — during Senate hearing on prices of basic commodities and fuel, Roxas said the "regime of oil prices will continue to be a fact of life." (Newsflash)

Roxas sets meeting on prices

According to Manila Standard, Senator Mar Roxas, chairman of the committees on economic affairs and trade and commerce, will convene a large joint meeting with government officials, oil company executives, manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, supermarket owners, meat and poultry producers, consumerists and market vendors, including food and beverage manufacturers and packaging company officials, to assess the movement of prices and obtain updates on the supply and demand of prime commodities in the wake of the successive oil price increases and devastation wrought by tropical storm Caloy.

Leave the soldiers alone!

Sen. Roxas cautioned Malacañang against dragging the Armed Forces into partisan politics amid recent moves of the Palace-backed Charter change advocacy group seeking the military’s support to effect constitutional amendments. (Journal Online)

Sen. Roxas urges gov't to exempt power rates from E-VAT

Sen. Mar Roxas has urged the government not only to defer the implementation of E-VAT on power rates but totally exempt it from the said tax. (Source: MindaNews)

Roxas asks gov’t to seek ways to find work for new grads

According to the Manila Bulletin and PJI, Sen. Manuel "Mar" Roxas II asked the national government to seek ways of finding work for the estimated 450,000 new graduates "which is a unifying element of governance and a sound economic strategy" rather than continue pushing for the controversial "People’s Initiative" to amend the Constitution.

Roxas launches information campaign against the people's initiative

In a statement, Senator Manuel Roxas III said his group, which is aligned with Senate President Franklin Drilon, would begin a grassroots information campaign after the Holy Week to present their arguments against the people’s initiative. (The Manila Times)

Signature drive for Charter change alarms bishops

According to Sun.Star, Caloocan City Bishop Deogracias Iniguez said members of the Senate have sought the support of the bishops' group in opposing changes to the Charter. During the meeting, Iniguez said Roxas asked for the CBCP's support in opposing the proposed Charter change being pushed through a people's initiative.

RP must create central trade agency

According to Inq7 Global Nation and The Mindanao Daily Mirror, the Philippines must create a central agency that will formulate international trade policies, handle trade negotiations, and make sense of all state functions related to global trade, Senator Manuel Roxas II said Wednesday. (Favorable feedback from The Manila Times)

Philippine lawmaker seeks broadband probe

According to Telecom Asia Daily, Senator Manuel Roxas III filed Senate Resolution 474 to probe the consumer concerns on the quality of broadband wireless service in the country.

Bohol should be competitive

The province should package her investment proposals in a way which is competitive to the global market. This point was stressed by Sen. Mar Roxas in his address during the general assembly of the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (BCCI) at the Bohol Tropics last Friday.

For the full story, visit The Bohol Chronicle.

Marines' rebellion loosens Arroyo's grip on power

"There's a disgruntlement, there is unhappiness but it hasn't reached critical mass yet," said Senator Mar Roxas. "The average person may be angry and disappointed but not yet enough to force the issue on the streets."
For the full story, read The Guardian.

Gov’t urged to rethink tax incentives for BPO

Five years into making a mark in the global outsourcing arena, the Philippines needs to “reconfigure” tax incentives afforded to foreign investors and instead, channel these incentives into improving the country’s workforce. Senator and former Trade and Industry secretary Mar Roxas raised this point in a speech delivered during the annual E-services Conference before an audience composed of people from the local contact center and BPO sectors.

Read Computerworld and Inq7 for the full story.

Reduced medicine prices remain elusive

"PEOPLE are dying because medicines are expensive."

Thus said Senate trade and commerce committee chairman Sen. Manuel Roxas II, explaining his support for a bill that proposes to overhaul the Intellectual Property Code to pave the way for cheaper pharmaceuticals.

Read Inq7 for the full story.

Use people power for good governance

SEN. Mar Roxas on Thursday called on the government and young Filipinos to work toward the governance goals that were at the core of people power in order to lift the country from its political doldrums and redeem its full potential.

Read The Manila Times, The Mindanao Daily Mirror, and Manila Bulletin for the full story.

Strong peso should mean cheaper goods

THE strong peso should mean cheaper goods, especially those that use imported products like fuel, tin, aluminum, glass, flour, milk, and other raw materials, Senator Manuel Roxas II said Saturday.

For the full story, read Inq7 and the Manila Times. Read Fritz's observation and Sassy Lawyer's column too.

VAT proceeds cannot drive economy

Despite the touted economic gains from it, the increase in the VAT won’t translate to higher economic growth, said Sen. Manuel Roxas II, citing the government’s limited allocation for infrastructure spending.
Read the Manila Times for the full story.