Manila Rep. Manny Lopez (Photo courtesy of congress.gov.ph) MANILA - A lawmaker at the House of Representatives on Wednesday said the new law raising the minimum age of sexual consent from 12 to 16 could help drastically reduce abuses against minors and provide stronger protection for them. Manila Rep. Manny Lopez, one of the principal authors of Republic Act 11648, said the legislation would provide stronger protection against rape and sexual exploitation and abuse, especially in poorer communities, citing his district of Tondo, which ranks "among the top in terms of recorded crimes of these nature" due to its very dense population, as well as poor and unsafe living conditions for most of its residents. "Especially in our poorer communities like Tondo Manila, it is imperative that the government extend the scope of protection for our poor children where they are more susceptible to all forms of sexual abuse. I hope the passage of this new law is a good first step,"
CASH GRANTS. The Department of Social Welfare and Development said it would provide in full the amount indicated in its livelihood assistance grants, like in this undated photo. In a statement on Friday (Nov 5, 2021), it warned the public not to transact with any agency as the DSWD directly disburses cash grants. (Photo courtesy of DSWD) MANILA - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Friday it directly provides Livelihood Assistance Grants (LAG) to low-income families in the informal sector in full, as mandated by the law, and has no disbursement arrangement with any agency. It issued the reminder after some beneficiaries in Central Luzon were reportedly promised speedy processing of the LAG by a certain Magic 7 Cooperative. "The DSWD Field Office (FO) 3 received a report that the said cooperative is allegedly deducting and collecting a part of the grants," the DSWD said in a statement. The DSWD FO 3 has no history and existing transactions with the coo