Gatchalian seeks another six-year term in the Senate

Senator Win Gatchalian files his certificate of candidacy (COC) for another six-year term as a member of the upper chamber under the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC).

"After much thought, I decided to seek re-election in the May 9, 2022 elections. I deem it best to continue my work in the Senate," he said.

Gatchalian, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture, has been responsible for the enactment of landmark laws such as the Free Higher Education Act as he pushed for providing free tuition and other fees in state universities and colleges in the country. Gatchalian oversaw the passage of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) Act for out-of-school youth, adults, and children in special extreme cases and the National Academy of Sports (NAS) for the next generation of Filipino athletes.

He also steered the passage into law of the Mobile Number Portability Act (MNPA) which allows mobile phone subscribers to switch network providers and keep their numbers for free and the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop Act, a landmark anti-red tape measure streamlining the permitting process of power projects in the country. He's also behind Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act which advances energy efficiency and conservation practices in the country and provides tax incentives for energy-efficient projects.

As Chairperson of the Energy Committee in the Senate, Gatchalian also pushed for the enactment of the Murang Kuryente Act which provides for a lower electricity rate, as well as the Lifeline Electricity Rate which subsidizes the electricity consumption of low-income households. Another notable legislation of Gatchalian is the establishment of the Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute Act (PERPI), an all-in-one institution that enables the country to keep up with technological innovations and energy and policy research.

"Marami pang mga nakabinbing trabaho na kailangang pagtuunan ng pansin. Naniniwala akong mas kailangan ako sa lehislatura upang magbalangkas at magtulak ng mas marami pang mga batas patungo sa pagbangon ng bansa mula sa COVID-19 pandemic," Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian wants to oversee the passage into law of Senate Bill No. 1907, a measure that would institute services for learners with disabilities in support of inclusive education and the proposed "Teacher Education Excellence Act" which seeks to improve the quality of teacher education and training in the country. He also proposed a learning recovery program called the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) which is meant to address learning losses because of prolonged school closures.

These, he said, are seen as some of the crucial steps to be able to restore normalcy in the basic education sector.

"I'm happy with the decision I've made. I ask and will work for your support," said Gatchalian.

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Gatchalian muling tatakbo para sa isa pang anim na taong termino sa Senado

Tatakbo para sa isa pang anim na taong termino sa mataas na kapulungan si Senador Win Gatchalian sa ilalim ng Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC).

"Matapos ang aking pagninilay, napagdesisyunan ko na sumabak sa re-election sa darating na halalan. Minabuti kong ipagpatuloy ang mga nasimulan kong trabaho sa Senado," aniya.

Bilang Chairperson ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture, naisabatas ni Gatchalian ang mga itinuturing na landmark laws katulad ng Free Higher Education Act na nagbibigay ng libreng edukasyon sa mga state universities at colleges sa bansa. Siya rin ang nagsulong ng Alternative Learning System (ALS) Act na nagbibigay ng pangalawang pagkakataon para sa mga out-of-school youth na maipagpatuloy at matapos ang kanilang pag-aaral, pati na ang pagpapatayo ng National Academy of Sports (NAS) na huhubog sa potensyal ng mga susunod na henerasyon ng atletang pinoy.

Itinaguyod rin ni Gatchalian hanggang naging ganap nang batas ang Mobile Number Portability Act (MNPA) na nagpapahintulot sa mga mobile phone subscribers na mapanatili ang kanilang cellphone numbers kahit na lumipat sila ng network providers. Si Gatchalian din ang nasa likod ng Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop Act na nagtatanggal ng red tape upang mapabilis ang lahat ng transaksyon na may kinalaman sa enerhiya. Siya din ang naging daan upang maisabatas ang Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act na nagpapalaganap ng energy efficiency at conservation practices sa bansa at nagbibigay ng tax incentives sa mga energy-efficient projects.

Sa pagiging Chairperson ng Energy Committee sa Senado, nagawa niyang maisakatuparan ang Murang Kuryente Act na nagtatapyas ng presyo ng kuryente pati na rin ang Lifeline Electricity Rate na nagbibigay ng subsidiya sa mahihirap na pamilya sa pagbabayad ng kanilang buwanang konsumo ng kuryente. Ang isa pang makabuluhang batas na pinangunahan sa Senado ni Gatchalian ay ang pagtatatag ng Philippine Energy Research and Police Institute Act (PERPI), isang institusyon na nagsusulong ng mga pinakabagong pag-aaral at patakaran para sa mas malawak na kaalaman at pag-unlad ng sektor ng enerhiya ng bansa.

"Marami pang mga nakabinbing trabaho na kailangang pagtuunan ng pansin. Naniniwala akong mas kailangan ako sa lehislatura upang magbalangkas at magtulak ng mas marami pang mga batas patungo sa pagbangon ng bansa mula sa COVID-19 pandemic," sabi ni Gatchalian.

Nais ni Gatchalian na masiguro ang pagsasabatas ng mga nakabinbin pang Senate Bill No. 1907 na layong suportahan ang inclusive education para sa mga mag-aaral na may kapansanan at ang panukalang "Teacher Education Excellence Act" na magtataas ng antas ng kalidad ng pagtuturo ng mga guro at pagsasanay nila. May panukala rin siyang batas na Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) na magtatag ng programang tutorial sessions upang mapigilan ang pag-urong ng kaalaman ng mga mag-aaral sanhi ng mahabang panahon ng pagsasara ng mga paaralan.

Ang mga hakbang na ito aniya ay ilan lamang sa mga kailangang itaguyod para maibalik sa normal ang sektor ng basic education.

"Masaya ako sa naging desisyon ko kaya pagtitibayin ko ang suportang ibibigay ng taong bayan," ani Gatchalian.

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