While other industries face the challenges of the global financial crisis, business process outsourcing (BPO) service providers are facing what can be called as a “good problem” in light of current layoffs—employee retention. In 2008, attrition rates in the call center industry were pegged at an average of 18% according to the Call Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP).
With the 82% of BPO expecting a positive employment growth rate, companies need to strengthen corporate strategies to attract career hopefuls and retain their people. According to the recently released survey by the Business Processing Association of the Philippines, at least 66% of respondents from the industry expect up to 50% growth in labor requirements.
ExcelAsia President Rita Trillo-Ugarte explains that preventing an unhealthy rise in attrition rates is more than just a matter of monetary compensation. Trillo-Ugarte said that fostering an excellent professional culture is one of the main reasons
ns that motivate people to stay in BPO companies.
“Although salary plays a big role in considering a new job, people also leave because of the culture within the company. Employees’ relationships with their colleagues and management, and potential for career growth increase the possibility that they consider a long-term tenure with a company,” Trillo-Ugarte said. Trillo-Ugarte notes that stress of the hours and requirements in the customer service profession require healthy professional relationships to sustain career growth.
“Call center companies should definitely keep an eye on employee performance and make sure that they are recognized for doing a great job,” Trillo-Ugarte said. “Regular coaching sessions and meetings must be maintained to be updated about employee concerns. The management should definitely try to balance the corporate environment and young workers’ expectations of the job.”
As a recruitment and training company, ExcelAsia screens applicants for call center readiness and equips them not just with the needed technical skills but also with the right professional skills that can help them excel in a call center profession. At present, ExcelAsia continues to recruit and train around 1,500 people monthly in all of its sites nationwide.
“Our trainers emphasize the importance of building good professional relationships with the company,” Trillo-Ugarte added. “It’s really about motivating them to work not just for the compensation but also for stable career growth.”
visit this site:
http://www.fusionbposervices.com
###
About ExcelAsia
ExcelAsia provides industry-leading human resources (HR) solutions to more than 30 multinational companies in the Philippines. The firm is staffed by training and recruitment experts who provide end-to-end HR solutions: sourcing and recruitment, executive search, training and development, and HR and business consultancy. ExcelAsia is a professional and reliable service-oriented company that addresses the growing HR needs of contact centers and other business process outsourcing sectors. At present, ExcelAsia is headquartered in Manila with offices in Cebu, Bacolod, and Alabang. It has trained and deployed over 16,000 Filipino jobseekers.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Employer gets 7-year jail term for unpaid SSS premiums
A Quezon City trial court has sentenced a former school owner to maximum imprisonment of seven years and a P50,000 fine for failure to remit contribution payments of employees to the Social Security System (SSS), court records showed.
Regional Trial Court Judge Bayani Vargas found Lolita Albano, who used to own the Cainta, Rizal-based Twinpeak Learning Center, guilty of failure to remit P94,407 in delinquent SSS payments from July 1992 to June 1998.
“Since the prosecution was able to prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt, this court could only hand down a guilty verdict,” the judge said.
The court ordered the arrest of Albano after she jumped bail and evaded the scheduled hearings since her arraignment on September 2000, which the judge found as an admission of guilt.
Albano ignored SSS’ billing and demand letters and made only one partial payment of P13,403 after the pension fund charged her in court. Florentino Alberva, the SSS account officer who handled the case, testified that an employee filed a complaint against Twinpeak on her unpaid contributions in 1998.
SSS Senior Vice President for Legal and Collection Group Amador Monteiro said the decision served as a warning to delinquent employers violating the Social Security Law, which provides imprisonment of up to 12 years.
“The law requires employers to pay SSS contributions on or before the tenth day after the applicable month,” Monteiro said. “Failure to do so denies workers access to SSS benefits and loans during times of financial need.”
SSS collects P797M, sues 1,600 delinquent employers
The Social Security System (SSS) has collected a total of P796.77 million in overdue contributions from delinquent employers last year after the agency took legal action against them, a top official said today.
SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Romulo Neri said the SSS has sued a total of 1,623 employers in 2008 for violations of the Social Security Law, which carry fines of up to P20,000 and a maximum imprisonment of 12 years.
Among those charged were more than 200 employers that failed to register and refused to present employment records to SSS account officers, who monitor companies’ compliance with the law.
“The rest of the cases were for non-remittance of contributions, which remains as the most common violation among employers,” Neri said. “Because of this, members cannot avail of SSS benefits and loans during times of need.”
Employers are required to remit their workers’ SSS premiums on or before the tenth day of the following month. Delinquent companies are charged a three percent monthly penalty on late contributions under the law.
The state-run institution collected a total of P475.38 million last year from employers that responded to the demand letter sent by SSS lawyers. Companies sued by SSS paid a total of P321.39 million in 2008.
The SSS files charges against delinquent employers in court or before the Social Security Commission, the agency’s highest policy-making body which hears cases on SSS-related disputes.
Regional Trial Court Judge Bayani Vargas found Lolita Albano, who used to own the Cainta, Rizal-based Twinpeak Learning Center, guilty of failure to remit P94,407 in delinquent SSS payments from July 1992 to June 1998.
“Since the prosecution was able to prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt, this court could only hand down a guilty verdict,” the judge said.
The court ordered the arrest of Albano after she jumped bail and evaded the scheduled hearings since her arraignment on September 2000, which the judge found as an admission of guilt.
Albano ignored SSS’ billing and demand letters and made only one partial payment of P13,403 after the pension fund charged her in court. Florentino Alberva, the SSS account officer who handled the case, testified that an employee filed a complaint against Twinpeak on her unpaid contributions in 1998.
SSS Senior Vice President for Legal and Collection Group Amador Monteiro said the decision served as a warning to delinquent employers violating the Social Security Law, which provides imprisonment of up to 12 years.
“The law requires employers to pay SSS contributions on or before the tenth day after the applicable month,” Monteiro said. “Failure to do so denies workers access to SSS benefits and loans during times of financial need.”
SSS collects P797M, sues 1,600 delinquent employers
The Social Security System (SSS) has collected a total of P796.77 million in overdue contributions from delinquent employers last year after the agency took legal action against them, a top official said today.
SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Romulo Neri said the SSS has sued a total of 1,623 employers in 2008 for violations of the Social Security Law, which carry fines of up to P20,000 and a maximum imprisonment of 12 years.
Among those charged were more than 200 employers that failed to register and refused to present employment records to SSS account officers, who monitor companies’ compliance with the law.
“The rest of the cases were for non-remittance of contributions, which remains as the most common violation among employers,” Neri said. “Because of this, members cannot avail of SSS benefits and loans during times of need.”
Employers are required to remit their workers’ SSS premiums on or before the tenth day of the following month. Delinquent companies are charged a three percent monthly penalty on late contributions under the law.
The state-run institution collected a total of P475.38 million last year from employers that responded to the demand letter sent by SSS lawyers. Companies sued by SSS paid a total of P321.39 million in 2008.
The SSS files charges against delinquent employers in court or before the Social Security Commission, the agency’s highest policy-making body which hears cases on SSS-related disputes.
Employer gets 7-year jail term for unpaid SSS premiums
A Quezon City trial court has sentenced a former school owner to maximum imprisonment of seven years and a P50,000 fine for failure to remit contribution payments of employees to the Social Security System (SSS), court records showed.
Regional Trial Court Judge Bayani Vargas found Lolita Albano, who used to own the Cainta, Rizal-based Twinpeak Learning Center, guilty of failure to remit P94,407 in delinquent SSS payments from July 1992 to June 1998.
“Since the prosecution was able to prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt, this court could only hand down a guilty verdict,” the judge said.
The court ordered the arrest of Albano after she jumped bail and evaded the scheduled hearings since her arraignment on September 2000, which the judge found as an admission of guilt.
Albano ignored SSS’ billing and demand letters and made only one partial payment of P13,403 after the pension fund charged her in court. Florentino Alberva, the SSS account officer who handled the case, testified that an employee filed a complaint against Twinpeak on her unpaid contributions in 1998.
SSS Senior Vice President for Legal and Collection Group Amador Monteiro said the decision served as a warning to delinquent employers violating the Social Security Law, which provides imprisonment of up to 12 years.
“The law requires employers to pay SSS contributions on or before the tenth day after the applicable month,” Monteiro said. “Failure to do so denies workers access to SSS benefits and loans during times of financial need.”
SSS collects P797M, sues 1,600 delinquent employers
The Social Security System (SSS) has collected a total of P796.77 million in overdue contributions from delinquent employers last year after the agency took legal action against them, a top official said today.
SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Romulo Neri said the SSS has sued a total of 1,623 employers in 2008 for violations of the Social Security Law, which carry fines of up to P20,000 and a maximum imprisonment of 12 years.
Among those charged were more than 200 employers that failed to register and refused to present employment records to SSS account officers, who monitor companies’ compliance with the law.
“The rest of the cases were for non-remittance of contributions, which remains as the most common violation among employers,” Neri said. “Because of this, members cannot avail of SSS benefits and loans during times of need.”
Employers are required to remit their workers’ SSS premiums on or before the tenth day of the following month. Delinquent companies are charged a three percent monthly penalty on late contributions under the law.
The state-run institution collected a total of P475.38 million last year from employers that responded to the demand letter sent by SSS lawyers. Companies sued by SSS paid a total of P321.39 million in 2008.
The SSS files charges against delinquent employers in court or before the Social Security Commission, the agency’s highest policy-making body which hears cases on SSS-related disputes.
Regional Trial Court Judge Bayani Vargas found Lolita Albano, who used to own the Cainta, Rizal-based Twinpeak Learning Center, guilty of failure to remit P94,407 in delinquent SSS payments from July 1992 to June 1998.
“Since the prosecution was able to prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt, this court could only hand down a guilty verdict,” the judge said.
The court ordered the arrest of Albano after she jumped bail and evaded the scheduled hearings since her arraignment on September 2000, which the judge found as an admission of guilt.
Albano ignored SSS’ billing and demand letters and made only one partial payment of P13,403 after the pension fund charged her in court. Florentino Alberva, the SSS account officer who handled the case, testified that an employee filed a complaint against Twinpeak on her unpaid contributions in 1998.
SSS Senior Vice President for Legal and Collection Group Amador Monteiro said the decision served as a warning to delinquent employers violating the Social Security Law, which provides imprisonment of up to 12 years.
“The law requires employers to pay SSS contributions on or before the tenth day after the applicable month,” Monteiro said. “Failure to do so denies workers access to SSS benefits and loans during times of financial need.”
SSS collects P797M, sues 1,600 delinquent employers
The Social Security System (SSS) has collected a total of P796.77 million in overdue contributions from delinquent employers last year after the agency took legal action against them, a top official said today.
SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Romulo Neri said the SSS has sued a total of 1,623 employers in 2008 for violations of the Social Security Law, which carry fines of up to P20,000 and a maximum imprisonment of 12 years.
Among those charged were more than 200 employers that failed to register and refused to present employment records to SSS account officers, who monitor companies’ compliance with the law.
“The rest of the cases were for non-remittance of contributions, which remains as the most common violation among employers,” Neri said. “Because of this, members cannot avail of SSS benefits and loans during times of need.”
Employers are required to remit their workers’ SSS premiums on or before the tenth day of the following month. Delinquent companies are charged a three percent monthly penalty on late contributions under the law.
The state-run institution collected a total of P475.38 million last year from employers that responded to the demand letter sent by SSS lawyers. Companies sued by SSS paid a total of P321.39 million in 2008.
The SSS files charges against delinquent employers in court or before the Social Security Commission, the agency’s highest policy-making body which hears cases on SSS-related disputes.
ADB Approves $50M Loan to Improve Rural Health Care Services in the Philippines
(26 March 2009) - The Asian Development Bank’s Board of Directors have approved a US$50 million loan to improve the quality of health care in the Philippines, and to make these services more accessible and affordable to the poor.
The project will focus on cities and municipalities outside the capital region of Metro Manila and is expected to result in increased use of basic health care and referral services by the poor, and by women and children in particular.
The loan will finance the construction of new public health facilities and provide state-of-the-art equipment to existing facilities, with a particular focus on providers of maternal and child care health services and partnerships with the private sector. This will help facilities qualify for higher accreditation and increased financing from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PHIC), and reduce the out-of-pocket payment of health care.
The Better Health Care Project will also provide financial support to small private health providers – such as midwifery clinics, diagnostic facilities, and community drug stores – to allow them to move closer to rural communities. It will also provide funds for capital investment and working capital to promote a more efficient health care delivery system through the outsourcing of services, and establishing private insurance schemes.
The ADB loan will be coursed through the Sustainable Health Care Investment Program, a credit facility established by the Development Bank of the Philippines to support the government's health sector reform agenda and implementation framework, Fourmula One for Health.
The credit facility has two lending windows. The direct retail lending window is for local government units (LGU) and larger private sector borrowers, such as health providers, foundations, and health maintenance organizations, with projects costing between $100,000 and $5 million. The wholesale lending window is available to accredited financial intermediaries, such as microfinance institutions and rural and thrift banks, where small private companies can borrow from $100,000 to $500,000.
"In addition to direct benefits resulting from this investment, the project will trigger increased LGU and PhilHealth spending on health," says Vincent de Wit, ADB's Principal Health Specialist for the Southeast Asia Department.
Demand for health services remain low among the poor and vulnerable groups, due to various reasons including the relatively high cost of medicines. Estimates suggest that around 30% to 40% of the population finds it difficult to pay for drugs.
The ADB loan will have a 25-year repayment term, including a grace period of 6 years and an interest rate determined in accordance with ADB's London interbank offered rate (LIBOR)-based lending facility.
The Gender and Development Cooperation Fund (GDCF) will provide a grant of up to $400,000, to be administered by ADB. The GDCF's contributors are the governments of Canada, Denmark, Ireland, and Norway.
A technical assistance grant of $1 million will be financed by the Japan Special Fund to build capacity for public-private partnership in health services.
Three Weeks to Register for Key Meeting on Asia
(26 March 2009) - Journalist have four more weeks to register online for the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) 42nd Annual Meeting in Indonesia, where government ministers and other world leaders will come together to discuss the global economic crisis and other development issues facing the region.
The meeting will be held 2-5 May 2009 at the Bali International Convention Centre on the island of Bali. Only registered journalists with identification badges will be allowed access to sessions of the Board of Governors, other events and seminars. Deadline for online registration is April 18, 2009. A detailed media advisory is available at http://www.adb.org/annualmeeting/2009/media-invite.asp.
The meeting will be attended by finance ministers, central bank governors, private sector representatives, academics, and civil society groups from across Asia and beyond. Along with the global crisis, key topics up for discussion will include inclusive growth and regional integration, climate change, and environmentally sustainable transport, all of which constitute key elements of ADB’s long term strategic development agenda. A detailed program of events is available at http://adb.org/annualmeeting/2009/prog-events.asp.
The project will focus on cities and municipalities outside the capital region of Metro Manila and is expected to result in increased use of basic health care and referral services by the poor, and by women and children in particular.
The loan will finance the construction of new public health facilities and provide state-of-the-art equipment to existing facilities, with a particular focus on providers of maternal and child care health services and partnerships with the private sector. This will help facilities qualify for higher accreditation and increased financing from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PHIC), and reduce the out-of-pocket payment of health care.
The Better Health Care Project will also provide financial support to small private health providers – such as midwifery clinics, diagnostic facilities, and community drug stores – to allow them to move closer to rural communities. It will also provide funds for capital investment and working capital to promote a more efficient health care delivery system through the outsourcing of services, and establishing private insurance schemes.
The ADB loan will be coursed through the Sustainable Health Care Investment Program, a credit facility established by the Development Bank of the Philippines to support the government's health sector reform agenda and implementation framework, Fourmula One for Health.
The credit facility has two lending windows. The direct retail lending window is for local government units (LGU) and larger private sector borrowers, such as health providers, foundations, and health maintenance organizations, with projects costing between $100,000 and $5 million. The wholesale lending window is available to accredited financial intermediaries, such as microfinance institutions and rural and thrift banks, where small private companies can borrow from $100,000 to $500,000.
"In addition to direct benefits resulting from this investment, the project will trigger increased LGU and PhilHealth spending on health," says Vincent de Wit, ADB's Principal Health Specialist for the Southeast Asia Department.
Demand for health services remain low among the poor and vulnerable groups, due to various reasons including the relatively high cost of medicines. Estimates suggest that around 30% to 40% of the population finds it difficult to pay for drugs.
The ADB loan will have a 25-year repayment term, including a grace period of 6 years and an interest rate determined in accordance with ADB's London interbank offered rate (LIBOR)-based lending facility.
The Gender and Development Cooperation Fund (GDCF) will provide a grant of up to $400,000, to be administered by ADB. The GDCF's contributors are the governments of Canada, Denmark, Ireland, and Norway.
A technical assistance grant of $1 million will be financed by the Japan Special Fund to build capacity for public-private partnership in health services.
Three Weeks to Register for Key Meeting on Asia
(26 March 2009) - Journalist have four more weeks to register online for the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) 42nd Annual Meeting in Indonesia, where government ministers and other world leaders will come together to discuss the global economic crisis and other development issues facing the region.
The meeting will be held 2-5 May 2009 at the Bali International Convention Centre on the island of Bali. Only registered journalists with identification badges will be allowed access to sessions of the Board of Governors, other events and seminars. Deadline for online registration is April 18, 2009. A detailed media advisory is available at http://www.adb.org/annualmeeting/2009/media-invite.asp.
The meeting will be attended by finance ministers, central bank governors, private sector representatives, academics, and civil society groups from across Asia and beyond. Along with the global crisis, key topics up for discussion will include inclusive growth and regional integration, climate change, and environmentally sustainable transport, all of which constitute key elements of ADB’s long term strategic development agenda. A detailed program of events is available at http://adb.org/annualmeeting/2009/prog-events.asp.
TNT BEEFS UP INFRASTRUCTURE TO FURTHER SUPPORT FREIGHT SERVICES
TNT Express, the leader in global express freight services, today announced the completion of the latest in a series of infrastructural enhancements undertaken by the company as it further readies itself for expected demands and developments in the freight services sector.
TNT recently upgraded its 3,500 square metre Pasay depot, increasing operational warehouse space by 33 percent with changes to the floor layout, making the company better equipped to accommodate palletised shipments and capable of handling airline palettes as well. This follows an increase in the company’s fleet size by 10 percent, adding several vans and two (2) six-wheelers, with a capacity to carry shipments weighing more than five tonnes, in 2008.
Cetin Yalcin, country general manager, TNT Philippines, said, “These are some of the changes that we’ve implemented to complement the continuous surge in demand for our freight services. Our team has also been undergoing various training and we are set to conquer bigger and heavier shipments while providing TNT’s brand of service excellence.”
Since the introduction of TNT’s Freight Services[1] in 2008, demand for freight services continues to grow. In Southeast-Asia alone, the freight volume increased by 40 per cent in the same year and demand is still growing.
TNT Philippines expects double digit growth in freight services despite current economic conditions, with the bulk of shipments coming from the semicon, electronics, industrial, garments, and print industries. Local products such as Philippine crafts and ornaments are also shipped for export via TNT’s freight services.
“TNT is optimistic in our role in providing alternative—and better—means of bringing local shipments to the world. It is our firm commitment to constantly innovate, not only in the services that we offer, but also on our equipment, our people and on our local operations as we bring the best of Philippine products to the world,” adds Cetin.
To further underline its freight capability, TNT launched a direct mail campaign for local freight traders. Emphasising on its expertise and capability in bringing shipments of any size and weight, anywhere—TNT credits this feat on the expertise of its 75,000-strong manpower, strengthened by its air and road networks, more than 2000 depots, 26,000 trucks, and 47 planes.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
TNT's three bespoke freight services:
Express Freight
Fast door-to-door delivery before the end of business on the next or earliest possible business day.
▪ Pick-up today before end of business, for guaranteed delivery the next or earliest possible business day
▪ Delivery to more than 200 countries worldwide
▪ For freight shipments up to 500kg
▪ Available as export and import service
Economy Freight
Economical, day-definite, door-to-door delivery for less urgent freight to most destinations worldwide.
▪ Pick-up today before end of business, for guaranteed delivery on a specified date within 2-5 working days
▪ Delivery to more than 200 countries
▪ For freight shipments up to 1500kg
▪ Available as export and import service
Freight Plus
The flexible solution for freight shipments that require special handling or delivery options tailored to meet you or your client's needs.
▪ Tailored pickup and delivery times
▪ No size or weight limits
▪ Delivery to Door or Delivery to Airport
▪ Special handling including dangerous goods and temperature control
▪ Choice of road and air services
About TNT
TNT provides businesses and consumers worldwide with an extensive range of services for their mail and express delivery needs. Headquartered in Amsterdam, TNT offers efficient network infrastructures in Europe and Asia and is expanding operations worldwide to maximise its network performance. TNT serves more than 200 countries and employs more than 161,500 people. Over 2007, TNT reported EUR 11 billion in revenues and an operating income of EUR 1,192 million. TNT is listed on the Amsterdam stock exchange. The company recognises its social responsibility, and has formed partnerships with the United Nations World Food Programme and the United Nations Environmental Programme to fight hunger and pollution. More information about TNT can be found on its website http://group.tnt.com.
About TNT Express Philippines
TNT Express Worldwide (Philippines) Inc. started its operations in March 1982, with its first office in Makati City. Its seminal beginnings expanded with a move, in 1997, to its current office. It now occupies 4,300 square meters at a prime cargo center adjacent to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and has an available warehouse area of 600 square meters. TNT Philippines employs more than 300 employees and owns 83 vehicles, and has at least 115 flights per week. It has a satellite office located in the Central Business District (Makati City), Shaw Blvd in Ortigas, Laguna and Cebu. TNT Philippines is the first company in its industry to be recognized by the International Quality Centre - a UK based international recognition panel for the Investors in People (IiP) Standard. The company is also certified in ISO 9001:2000, ISO 14001:2004 and OHSAS 18001:1999.
[1] TNT’s Freight Services is a selection of three bespoke services – Express Freight, Economy Freight and Freight Plus – will offer customers a door-to-door, day-definite delivery service based on specified transit times schedules, fast tracked customs clearance and full track and trace visibility.
TNT recently upgraded its 3,500 square metre Pasay depot, increasing operational warehouse space by 33 percent with changes to the floor layout, making the company better equipped to accommodate palletised shipments and capable of handling airline palettes as well. This follows an increase in the company’s fleet size by 10 percent, adding several vans and two (2) six-wheelers, with a capacity to carry shipments weighing more than five tonnes, in 2008.
Cetin Yalcin, country general manager, TNT Philippines, said, “These are some of the changes that we’ve implemented to complement the continuous surge in demand for our freight services. Our team has also been undergoing various training and we are set to conquer bigger and heavier shipments while providing TNT’s brand of service excellence.”
Since the introduction of TNT’s Freight Services[1] in 2008, demand for freight services continues to grow. In Southeast-Asia alone, the freight volume increased by 40 per cent in the same year and demand is still growing.
TNT Philippines expects double digit growth in freight services despite current economic conditions, with the bulk of shipments coming from the semicon, electronics, industrial, garments, and print industries. Local products such as Philippine crafts and ornaments are also shipped for export via TNT’s freight services.
“TNT is optimistic in our role in providing alternative—and better—means of bringing local shipments to the world. It is our firm commitment to constantly innovate, not only in the services that we offer, but also on our equipment, our people and on our local operations as we bring the best of Philippine products to the world,” adds Cetin.
To further underline its freight capability, TNT launched a direct mail campaign for local freight traders. Emphasising on its expertise and capability in bringing shipments of any size and weight, anywhere—TNT credits this feat on the expertise of its 75,000-strong manpower, strengthened by its air and road networks, more than 2000 depots, 26,000 trucks, and 47 planes.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
TNT's three bespoke freight services:
Express Freight
Fast door-to-door delivery before the end of business on the next or earliest possible business day.
▪ Pick-up today before end of business, for guaranteed delivery the next or earliest possible business day
▪ Delivery to more than 200 countries worldwide
▪ For freight shipments up to 500kg
▪ Available as export and import service
Economy Freight
Economical, day-definite, door-to-door delivery for less urgent freight to most destinations worldwide.
▪ Pick-up today before end of business, for guaranteed delivery on a specified date within 2-5 working days
▪ Delivery to more than 200 countries
▪ For freight shipments up to 1500kg
▪ Available as export and import service
Freight Plus
The flexible solution for freight shipments that require special handling or delivery options tailored to meet you or your client's needs.
▪ Tailored pickup and delivery times
▪ No size or weight limits
▪ Delivery to Door or Delivery to Airport
▪ Special handling including dangerous goods and temperature control
▪ Choice of road and air services
About TNT
TNT provides businesses and consumers worldwide with an extensive range of services for their mail and express delivery needs. Headquartered in Amsterdam, TNT offers efficient network infrastructures in Europe and Asia and is expanding operations worldwide to maximise its network performance. TNT serves more than 200 countries and employs more than 161,500 people. Over 2007, TNT reported EUR 11 billion in revenues and an operating income of EUR 1,192 million. TNT is listed on the Amsterdam stock exchange. The company recognises its social responsibility, and has formed partnerships with the United Nations World Food Programme and the United Nations Environmental Programme to fight hunger and pollution. More information about TNT can be found on its website http://group.tnt.com.
About TNT Express Philippines
TNT Express Worldwide (Philippines) Inc. started its operations in March 1982, with its first office in Makati City. Its seminal beginnings expanded with a move, in 1997, to its current office. It now occupies 4,300 square meters at a prime cargo center adjacent to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and has an available warehouse area of 600 square meters. TNT Philippines employs more than 300 employees and owns 83 vehicles, and has at least 115 flights per week. It has a satellite office located in the Central Business District (Makati City), Shaw Blvd in Ortigas, Laguna and Cebu. TNT Philippines is the first company in its industry to be recognized by the International Quality Centre - a UK based international recognition panel for the Investors in People (IiP) Standard. The company is also certified in ISO 9001:2000, ISO 14001:2004 and OHSAS 18001:1999.
[1] TNT’s Freight Services is a selection of three bespoke services – Express Freight, Economy Freight and Freight Plus – will offer customers a door-to-door, day-definite delivery service based on specified transit times schedules, fast tracked customs clearance and full track and trace visibility.
Law lacks provisions on unemployment insurance -- SSS
The Social Security law lacked provisions for unemployment benefits and contributions of workers were intended mainly to cover maternity, sickness, disability, retirement, death and funeral benefits, a top official said.
Social Security System (SSS) President and Chief Executive Officer Romulo Neri said a proposal to provide unemployment insurance to workers would require amending the Social Security Act of 1997.
“The contributions SSS collects at present only covers maternity, sickness, disability, retirement, death and funeral benefits of members and their beneficiaries, as provided by law,” he said.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ralph Recto has proposed that SSS allot a total of P6 billion as temporary unemployment insurance for up to 200,000 workers, who lost their jobs as a result of the global economic crisis.
Laid off SSS members with contribution payments for at least two years would receive a monthly allowance of P5,000 or P10,000 for six months, Recto said, adding that the SSS board must look into implementing a program on unemployment insurance.
But Neri said the government must specify how unemployment benefits of members would be funded.
“This may be from government subsidies, like what developed countries do to support their unemployed workers, or by increasing contribution payments of members to cover the additional benefit,” Neri said.
Social Security System (SSS) President and Chief Executive Officer Romulo Neri said a proposal to provide unemployment insurance to workers would require amending the Social Security Act of 1997.
“The contributions SSS collects at present only covers maternity, sickness, disability, retirement, death and funeral benefits of members and their beneficiaries, as provided by law,” he said.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ralph Recto has proposed that SSS allot a total of P6 billion as temporary unemployment insurance for up to 200,000 workers, who lost their jobs as a result of the global economic crisis.
Laid off SSS members with contribution payments for at least two years would receive a monthly allowance of P5,000 or P10,000 for six months, Recto said, adding that the SSS board must look into implementing a program on unemployment insurance.
But Neri said the government must specify how unemployment benefits of members would be funded.
“This may be from government subsidies, like what developed countries do to support their unemployed workers, or by increasing contribution payments of members to cover the additional benefit,” Neri said.
Law lacks provisions on unemployment insurance -- SSS
The Social Security law lacked provisions for unemployment benefits and contributions of workers were intended mainly to cover maternity, sickness, disability, retirement, death and funeral benefits, a top official said.
Social Security System (SSS) President and Chief Executive Officer Romulo Neri said a proposal to provide unemployment insurance to workers would require amending the Social Security Act of 1997.
“The contributions SSS collects at present only covers maternity, sickness, disability, retirement, death and funeral benefits of members and their beneficiaries, as provided by law,” he said.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ralph Recto has proposed that SSS allot a total of P6 billion as temporary unemployment insurance for up to 200,000 workers, who lost their jobs as a result of the global economic crisis.
Laid off SSS members with contribution payments for at least two years would receive a monthly allowance of P5,000 or P10,000 for six months, Recto said, adding that the SSS board must look into implementing a program on unemployment insurance.
But Neri said the government must specify how unemployment benefits of members would be funded.
“This may be from government subsidies, like what developed countries do to support their unemployed workers, or by increasing contribution payments of members to cover the additional benefit,” Neri said.
Social Security System (SSS) President and Chief Executive Officer Romulo Neri said a proposal to provide unemployment insurance to workers would require amending the Social Security Act of 1997.
“The contributions SSS collects at present only covers maternity, sickness, disability, retirement, death and funeral benefits of members and their beneficiaries, as provided by law,” he said.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ralph Recto has proposed that SSS allot a total of P6 billion as temporary unemployment insurance for up to 200,000 workers, who lost their jobs as a result of the global economic crisis.
Laid off SSS members with contribution payments for at least two years would receive a monthly allowance of P5,000 or P10,000 for six months, Recto said, adding that the SSS board must look into implementing a program on unemployment insurance.
But Neri said the government must specify how unemployment benefits of members would be funded.
“This may be from government subsidies, like what developed countries do to support their unemployed workers, or by increasing contribution payments of members to cover the additional benefit,” Neri said.
Displacements bottom out as 14,021 temporary laid off workers, in flexi work return to regular employment
The effects of the global crisis on the employment of Filipino workers have bottomed out as displacements due to the crisis stood still with the return to their regular jobs of some 14,021 temporarily laid off workers and those under flexible work arrangements in 53 firms, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said.
Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque cited data from the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES) which showed that the biggest number of affected workers who have returned to their regular work are in Region IV-A (Calabarzon) totaling to 7,975 in 29 firms. Region 3 (Central Luzon) followed with 2,418 workers in 11 firms, Region 12 (Davao) with 1,712 workers in seven firms, and CAR with 1,588 workers in two firms.
Roque said that some firms in economic zones affected by the crisis have started to recover as new orders started to come in.
He said these firms are slowly returning to their normal operations and subsequently to normal work hours for their workers in flexible work arrangements, adding that workers who were laid off on a temporary basis due to the crisis were also called back to work.
“The positive development is an indication that more affected workers would be returning to their regular jobs,” the DOLE Chief said noting that even as the crisis reels in many parts of the world, investors are coming to the Philippines to put up business and subsequently generate employment for the workers.
He cited the new investors at the Cavite Economic Zone and projected investments in tourism particularly in the establishment of new hotels and resorts in the country.
The country is also anticipating the operation of seven mining firms this year and the infusion of about US$15 billion investments, which would create new jobs for engineers, mining laborers, and other related workers, Roque said.
Overseas, the Labor and Employment Secretary said the displacement of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) also halted as the demand for OFWs continues. He noted that in Taiwan, where the biggest number of displaced OFWs came from, also started to rehire OFWs.
Citing data from the Manila Economic Cultural Office (MECO), Roque said that a total of 468 OFWs found jobs in Taiwan in March this year. Another 851 displaced OFWs were re-hired by their employers in Taiwan.
The Labor Secretary said companies affected by the global crisis are keeping the OFWs to avoid
losing their quotas and in anticipation of improvement in the economy of Taiwan in the fourth quarter.
MECO data also indicated that displacements of foreign workers in Taiwan have been marginalized. During this same period, no OFW in this country was laid off due to the crisis.
Roque also noted that no additional OFW dislocation was recorded, saying that the number of OFWs displaced by the global crisis remained at 6,000 and not 12,000 as alleged by reports.
He said the situation in many countries with OFWs appear to have stabilized as the demand for Filipino manpower by foreign employers still continues.
The Middle East (ME) countries, he said, remain the top countries of destination for OFWs.
For the first quarter of 2009, Roque said the Philippine Labor Offices in ME have monitored 106,800 new job opportunities for OFWs excluding the job orders registered with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque cited data from the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES) which showed that the biggest number of affected workers who have returned to their regular work are in Region IV-A (Calabarzon) totaling to 7,975 in 29 firms. Region 3 (Central Luzon) followed with 2,418 workers in 11 firms, Region 12 (Davao) with 1,712 workers in seven firms, and CAR with 1,588 workers in two firms.
Roque said that some firms in economic zones affected by the crisis have started to recover as new orders started to come in.
He said these firms are slowly returning to their normal operations and subsequently to normal work hours for their workers in flexible work arrangements, adding that workers who were laid off on a temporary basis due to the crisis were also called back to work.
“The positive development is an indication that more affected workers would be returning to their regular jobs,” the DOLE Chief said noting that even as the crisis reels in many parts of the world, investors are coming to the Philippines to put up business and subsequently generate employment for the workers.
He cited the new investors at the Cavite Economic Zone and projected investments in tourism particularly in the establishment of new hotels and resorts in the country.
The country is also anticipating the operation of seven mining firms this year and the infusion of about US$15 billion investments, which would create new jobs for engineers, mining laborers, and other related workers, Roque said.
Overseas, the Labor and Employment Secretary said the displacement of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) also halted as the demand for OFWs continues. He noted that in Taiwan, where the biggest number of displaced OFWs came from, also started to rehire OFWs.
Citing data from the Manila Economic Cultural Office (MECO), Roque said that a total of 468 OFWs found jobs in Taiwan in March this year. Another 851 displaced OFWs were re-hired by their employers in Taiwan.
The Labor Secretary said companies affected by the global crisis are keeping the OFWs to avoid
losing their quotas and in anticipation of improvement in the economy of Taiwan in the fourth quarter.
MECO data also indicated that displacements of foreign workers in Taiwan have been marginalized. During this same period, no OFW in this country was laid off due to the crisis.
Roque also noted that no additional OFW dislocation was recorded, saying that the number of OFWs displaced by the global crisis remained at 6,000 and not 12,000 as alleged by reports.
He said the situation in many countries with OFWs appear to have stabilized as the demand for Filipino manpower by foreign employers still continues.
The Middle East (ME) countries, he said, remain the top countries of destination for OFWs.
For the first quarter of 2009, Roque said the Philippine Labor Offices in ME have monitored 106,800 new job opportunities for OFWs excluding the job orders registered with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
Labor unions to spearhead Labor Day Jobapalooza ‘09
To hasten assistance to workers affected by the global crisis, the country’s largest labor unions will lead the conduct of the biggest simultaneous job fairs in all regions nationwide on May 1, 2009, Labor Day, in collaboration with the government and the private sector, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said.
Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said the social partners have recognized the need for collective action and mutual collaboration in mitigating the effects of the global crisis on the workers and the economy, adding they agreed to lend a hand in helping workers particularly the displaced as well as new graduates find jobs locally and overseas through the conduct of job fairs all over the country.
Roque said the trade unions and labor groups unanimously approved to celebrate Labor Day with the conduct of what would be considered, so far, the biggest job fair dubbed “Labor Day Tayo Na! Trabaho Na! Jobapalooza 09,” which will be held simultaneously in 16 regions on May 1 in collaboration with sponsoring firms, employers, recruitment agencies, local government units, Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs), and the DOLE and other government agencies.
He said that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo would launch the main celebration on May 1 at the SMX Convention Hall at SM Mall of Asia (MOA) in Pasay City. The DOLE with the social partners in other regions would also spearhead a similar event in their areas of jurisdiction.
The DOLE Chief also said that about 1,000 employers and recruitment agencies nationwide would participate in the Labor Day Jobapalooza to offer hundreds of thousands of local and overseas jobs to workers particularly the displaced and new graduates.
He said that even as the economy continues to exhibit resiliency, efforts are needed to facilitate the employment of workers through job fairs to diminish the crisis’ impact on the people.
Roque hailed the organized sector and the sponsoring firms for cooperating with the DOLE in planning for the conduct of the Labor Day Jobalooza on May 1 as part of the national efforts to promote employment and, thus, mitigate the effects of the global crisis on the workers and the economy as a whole.
Apart from the job fair, there will also be skills demonstration, livelihood products display and sales, and distribution of training and scholarship certificates. To cap the night, an “Alay sa Manggagawang Pilipino” concert featuring the country’s top bands will pay tribute to the country’s working men and women at the MOA grounds near the SMX.
The participating trade unions are the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, Federation of Free Workers, Associated Labor Union, Philippine Transport General Workers Organization, All Workers Alliance Trade Union, Trade Union of the Philippines and Allied Services, Alliance of Filipino Workers, Philippine Organization of Labor Unions, and the National Association of Trade Union.
The sponsoring partners are Globe Telecom, Banco De Oro, SM, Jobstreet,com, STI, Philippine Online Chronicles, and the City Government of Manila.
Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said the social partners have recognized the need for collective action and mutual collaboration in mitigating the effects of the global crisis on the workers and the economy, adding they agreed to lend a hand in helping workers particularly the displaced as well as new graduates find jobs locally and overseas through the conduct of job fairs all over the country.
Roque said the trade unions and labor groups unanimously approved to celebrate Labor Day with the conduct of what would be considered, so far, the biggest job fair dubbed “Labor Day Tayo Na! Trabaho Na! Jobapalooza 09,” which will be held simultaneously in 16 regions on May 1 in collaboration with sponsoring firms, employers, recruitment agencies, local government units, Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs), and the DOLE and other government agencies.
He said that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo would launch the main celebration on May 1 at the SMX Convention Hall at SM Mall of Asia (MOA) in Pasay City. The DOLE with the social partners in other regions would also spearhead a similar event in their areas of jurisdiction.
The DOLE Chief also said that about 1,000 employers and recruitment agencies nationwide would participate in the Labor Day Jobapalooza to offer hundreds of thousands of local and overseas jobs to workers particularly the displaced and new graduates.
He said that even as the economy continues to exhibit resiliency, efforts are needed to facilitate the employment of workers through job fairs to diminish the crisis’ impact on the people.
Roque hailed the organized sector and the sponsoring firms for cooperating with the DOLE in planning for the conduct of the Labor Day Jobalooza on May 1 as part of the national efforts to promote employment and, thus, mitigate the effects of the global crisis on the workers and the economy as a whole.
Apart from the job fair, there will also be skills demonstration, livelihood products display and sales, and distribution of training and scholarship certificates. To cap the night, an “Alay sa Manggagawang Pilipino” concert featuring the country’s top bands will pay tribute to the country’s working men and women at the MOA grounds near the SMX.
The participating trade unions are the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, Federation of Free Workers, Associated Labor Union, Philippine Transport General Workers Organization, All Workers Alliance Trade Union, Trade Union of the Philippines and Allied Services, Alliance of Filipino Workers, Philippine Organization of Labor Unions, and the National Association of Trade Union.
The sponsoring partners are Globe Telecom, Banco De Oro, SM, Jobstreet,com, STI, Philippine Online Chronicles, and the City Government of Manila.
Bayer Santé Familiale Selects JDA Software to Streamline the Merchandising of Pharmaceutical Products and Drive Bottom-Line Results
Scottsdale, Ariz. – JDA® Software Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: JDAS) today announced that Bayer Santé Familiale, the French operational division of Bayer Consumer Care, has selected JDA® Space Planning to help streamline the execution of its prescription and over-the-counter category plans, optimize store-specific item assortment, maximize profits, as well as extend customer loyalty by precisely placing the right products in the right positions at the right time – every time.
“We needed a centralized set-up and production of planograms specific to each pharmacy. It was necessary to supplant our current in-house system with an optimized merchandising solution to more effectively produce and maintain planograms for Bayer’s portfolio of products that include such well-known brands as Bayer Rennie®, Aspro®, Laroscorbine® Aspirin® and Alka-Seltzer®,” explained Karine Marcetteau, trade marketing manager, Bayer Santé Familiale.
“We researched solutions from a variety of software vendors and determined that JDA Space Planning would provide the unsurpassed visual reality for three-dimensional merchandising displays that we required, as well as and the best return on investment.”
JDA Space Planning will enable this trusted and well-recognized healthcare products company to leverage advanced analytical capabilities and establish best-practice business processes to ensure sufficient consumer demand for Bayer’s portfolio of product categories that include analgesics, cough and cold, and nutritionals, along with other profitable high-growth brands.
“JDA Space Planning enables multiple planograms to be managed simultaneously, improving consistency and accuracy as Bayer Santé Familiale products are quickly and easily added,” said Marcetteau. “JDA’s proven methodology, business expertise in the field and the rich functionalities of JDA Space Planning were all contributing factors that ultimately led to Bayer’s choosing of JDA Software.”
“We are extremely pleased that Bayer Santé Familiale has selected our innovative category management solution to help improve space productivity and optimize their capital investment,” said Brian Mort, regional vice president, EMEA, JDA Software Group. “JDA Space Planning helps our clients to translate merchandising strategy into tactics to drive consistent store execution of tailored assortment decisions, resulting in optimal product mix and in-store placement. We’re confident that JDA Space Planning will help Bayer Santé Familiale achieve demand-based precision merchandising and drive bottom-line results.”
Additional components of JDA Software’s Category Management solution suite include: JDA® Floor Planning, JDA® Intactix Knowledge Base, JDA® Efficient Item Assortment, JDA® Category Advisor and JDA® Planogram Generator. This comprehensive suite helps companies streamline space and floor planning processes and tailor product categories and assortments to specific regions, stores, or groups of stores. Moreover, JDA’s Category Management solutions can help leverage space utilization for capital investment optimization and drive consistent execution of all space, assortment and display strategies for maximum sales and profits.
For more information on the JDA’s Category Management solutions visit www.jda.com/solutions.
About JDA Software Group, Inc.
JDA® Software Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: JDAS) is the world’s leading supply chain solutions provider, helping companies optimize operations and improve profitability. JDA drives business efficiency for its global customer base of more than 5,800 retailers, manufacturers, wholesaler-distributors and services industries companies through deep domain expertise and innovative solutions. JDA's combination of unmatched services, together with its integrated yet modular solutions for merchandising, supply chain planning and execution and revenue management, leverage the strong heritage and knowledge capital of market leaders including Manugistics, E3, Intactix and Arthur. When supply chain results matter, companies turn to JDA. For more information about JDA, visit www.jda.com or contact us at info@jda.com or call +1.800.479.7382 / +1.480.308.3000.
“We needed a centralized set-up and production of planograms specific to each pharmacy. It was necessary to supplant our current in-house system with an optimized merchandising solution to more effectively produce and maintain planograms for Bayer’s portfolio of products that include such well-known brands as Bayer Rennie®, Aspro®, Laroscorbine® Aspirin® and Alka-Seltzer®,” explained Karine Marcetteau, trade marketing manager, Bayer Santé Familiale.
“We researched solutions from a variety of software vendors and determined that JDA Space Planning would provide the unsurpassed visual reality for three-dimensional merchandising displays that we required, as well as and the best return on investment.”
JDA Space Planning will enable this trusted and well-recognized healthcare products company to leverage advanced analytical capabilities and establish best-practice business processes to ensure sufficient consumer demand for Bayer’s portfolio of product categories that include analgesics, cough and cold, and nutritionals, along with other profitable high-growth brands.
“JDA Space Planning enables multiple planograms to be managed simultaneously, improving consistency and accuracy as Bayer Santé Familiale products are quickly and easily added,” said Marcetteau. “JDA’s proven methodology, business expertise in the field and the rich functionalities of JDA Space Planning were all contributing factors that ultimately led to Bayer’s choosing of JDA Software.”
“We are extremely pleased that Bayer Santé Familiale has selected our innovative category management solution to help improve space productivity and optimize their capital investment,” said Brian Mort, regional vice president, EMEA, JDA Software Group. “JDA Space Planning helps our clients to translate merchandising strategy into tactics to drive consistent store execution of tailored assortment decisions, resulting in optimal product mix and in-store placement. We’re confident that JDA Space Planning will help Bayer Santé Familiale achieve demand-based precision merchandising and drive bottom-line results.”
Additional components of JDA Software’s Category Management solution suite include: JDA® Floor Planning, JDA® Intactix Knowledge Base, JDA® Efficient Item Assortment, JDA® Category Advisor and JDA® Planogram Generator. This comprehensive suite helps companies streamline space and floor planning processes and tailor product categories and assortments to specific regions, stores, or groups of stores. Moreover, JDA’s Category Management solutions can help leverage space utilization for capital investment optimization and drive consistent execution of all space, assortment and display strategies for maximum sales and profits.
For more information on the JDA’s Category Management solutions visit www.jda.com/solutions.
About JDA Software Group, Inc.
JDA® Software Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: JDAS) is the world’s leading supply chain solutions provider, helping companies optimize operations and improve profitability. JDA drives business efficiency for its global customer base of more than 5,800 retailers, manufacturers, wholesaler-distributors and services industries companies through deep domain expertise and innovative solutions. JDA's combination of unmatched services, together with its integrated yet modular solutions for merchandising, supply chain planning and execution and revenue management, leverage the strong heritage and knowledge capital of market leaders including Manugistics, E3, Intactix and Arthur. When supply chain results matter, companies turn to JDA. For more information about JDA, visit www.jda.com or contact us at info@jda.com or call +1.800.479.7382 / +1.480.308.3000.
SPARE THE LIVES OF KIDNAPPED ICRC WORKERS – CHIZ
Press Statement
I appeal to the captors of the three Red Cross workers to spare the lives of these humanitarian advocates.
Eugenio Vagni, Andreas Notters and Marie Jean Lacaba do not deserve to be where they are now. They are non-combatants and should be treated as neutrals by everyone. I urge their captors to show compassion. I call on them to immediately release the hostages.
I appeal to our armed forces to do everything possible to ensure the safety of the lives of the three Red Cross workers. Let us show the world our willingness to sacrifice gains, which our soldiers have won at great cost, in order to ensure a peaceful resolution of this unfortunate episode in the life of our nation.
I appeal to the captors of the three Red Cross workers to spare the lives of these humanitarian advocates.
Eugenio Vagni, Andreas Notters and Marie Jean Lacaba do not deserve to be where they are now. They are non-combatants and should be treated as neutrals by everyone. I urge their captors to show compassion. I call on them to immediately release the hostages.
I appeal to our armed forces to do everything possible to ensure the safety of the lives of the three Red Cross workers. Let us show the world our willingness to sacrifice gains, which our soldiers have won at great cost, in order to ensure a peaceful resolution of this unfortunate episode in the life of our nation.
CHIZ: HK COLUMNIST A BIGOT; URGES FILING OF CASE FOR DAMAGES
Sen. Chiz Escudero said that racism on the part of some arrogant, narrow-minded individuals only show that there are people whose mindsets belongs to a bygone era.
Escudero was referring to an opinion piece by Tsao titled “The War At Home” that was published in the March 27 issue of HK Magazine.
Tsao implied that the Philippines had no right to dispute China’s claim on the disputed Spratly Islands, since many Filipinos work in Hong Kong as domestic helpers.
The Spratlys are being claimed in whole or in part by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam.
Escudero said it was not enough for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to just condemn Tsao’s piece.
“I am not asking the DFA file a diplomatic protest. But our government must address this issue squarely and defend the dignity of Filipinos. If we need to take legal action against Tsao, let us do so. Our government should be in the frontline on this; they can hire a lawyer in Hongkong if at all, and file a case for damages," he said.
Escudero said this move would serve two purposes, one, it will send the message that we as a nation will not take this sitting down, two, our government, even with its insensitivity to a lot of our people’s plights, can at least make our people who toil overseas feel that their government somehow listens and acts for them and defends them.
TAX RELIEF FOR VICTIMS OF PRE-NEED SCAM – CHIZ
Sen. Chiz Escudero yesterday batted for tax breaks for victims of failed pre-need companies as the April 15 tax payment deadline draws near.
He said if the government can grant tax amnesty to delinquent taxpayers, then why not give tax deduction to pre-need victims.
“The government’s failure to check and prevent the collapse of these pre-need companies only makes it morally right to give their hapless planholders tax relief,” the opposition senator said.
Escudero said there is still time for the administration to work out the details before the income tax filing season ends on April 15.
He suggested the government can give either full or partial relief, pointing out that any revenue losses from it could be offset by plugging loopholes in the collection process.
There are about 14,000 affected planholders who have lost at least 330 million pesos in investments with the bankrupt Legacy Group alone. In the case of Pacific Plans, about 34,000 planholders have claims against it.
The SEC said about 100,000 pre-need beneficiaries, including those serviced by the College Assurance Plans, could have stopped schooling since the crisis in the pre-need industry began in 2004.
According to estimates by the Parents Enabling Parents (PEP) Coalition, the claims of over a million pre-need planholders could amount to billions of pesos.
CHIZ TO GOV’T: SEARCH AND DESTROY KIDNAPPERS NOW
Sen. Chiz Escudero reminded government yesterday that it has a sufficient budget to address the problem of kidnapping.“The President has at her disposal at least P500 million in intelligence funds as allocated for the Presidential Anti-organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) by this year’s national budget. It is time to use it wisely,” he said.In the first quarter of the year, the authorities acknowledged that there were 40 kidnap-for-ransom incidents, which was half of last year’s total.
Most of them occurred in Mindanao where the latest victims include three staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross.“Any police officer worth his salt will tell you that the key to an effective anti-kidnapping drive is good intelligence work. In other words, take out the bad guys before they take out their victims,” the opposition senator said.
He also reiterated the importance of using new technology and the latest communications equipment in order to be one step ahead of criminal gangs.“Instead of constantly watching the political opposition, the government should set its sights on kidnappers who have scared off investors and affected the business climate,” he said.
CHIZ: GOV’T STIMULUS PLAN A MIRAGE
Opposition Senator Chiz Escudero yesterday described the government’s P330-billion stimulus plan as nothing more than a “mirage,” as the country’s budget deficit for the first two months of the year stood at P67 billion.
“The stimulus plan has not caused economic expansion except perhaps to shoot the deficit through the roof. What cannot be denied is that stimulus spending is done in spurts while deficit spending has surged,” Escudero said.
The senator issued the statement to dispute the government’s explanation that the deficit swelled to P67 billion because of “increased pump-priming expenditures” under the Economic Resiliency Plan (ERP).
He said that it was not true that the 60-day deficit ballooned due to accelerated spending, adding that the government exceeded its programmed expenditures for January and February by a mere P1.6 billion, or from a little over P226 billion to P228 billion.
Less the P1.6 billion, Escudero said the deficit is attributable to revenue shortfalls.
“So this leads to one indisputable conclusion: the much vaunted pump-priming is a mirage, a Powerpoint illusion. The government did not overspend, it undercollected,” he said.
Escudero said that granted that P226 billion has been released to agencies, only a fraction of this is for capital outlays.
“Of the funds earmarked for capital outlays, only a miniscule portion has been sank into the ground because disbursement should not be equated with actual spending as there is yawning time gap between the two,” he explained.
“But the best argument why the spin that the P67 billion was due to expenditure front-loading does not fly, lies on the ERP itself. Many economists including an Ateneo teacher’s pet himself, have said that only a sixth of the P330-billion package can be considered new spending,” Escudero said.
He said most of these new spending are off-budget items, like the hike in Philhealth benefits.
“If it were a dough; the ERP was lathered with so much yeast that the result is a bread made fluffy by air,” Escudero said.
Escudero was referring to an opinion piece by Tsao titled “The War At Home” that was published in the March 27 issue of HK Magazine.
Tsao implied that the Philippines had no right to dispute China’s claim on the disputed Spratly Islands, since many Filipinos work in Hong Kong as domestic helpers.
The Spratlys are being claimed in whole or in part by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam.
Escudero said it was not enough for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to just condemn Tsao’s piece.
“I am not asking the DFA file a diplomatic protest. But our government must address this issue squarely and defend the dignity of Filipinos. If we need to take legal action against Tsao, let us do so. Our government should be in the frontline on this; they can hire a lawyer in Hongkong if at all, and file a case for damages," he said.
Escudero said this move would serve two purposes, one, it will send the message that we as a nation will not take this sitting down, two, our government, even with its insensitivity to a lot of our people’s plights, can at least make our people who toil overseas feel that their government somehow listens and acts for them and defends them.
TAX RELIEF FOR VICTIMS OF PRE-NEED SCAM – CHIZ
Sen. Chiz Escudero yesterday batted for tax breaks for victims of failed pre-need companies as the April 15 tax payment deadline draws near.
He said if the government can grant tax amnesty to delinquent taxpayers, then why not give tax deduction to pre-need victims.
“The government’s failure to check and prevent the collapse of these pre-need companies only makes it morally right to give their hapless planholders tax relief,” the opposition senator said.
Escudero said there is still time for the administration to work out the details before the income tax filing season ends on April 15.
He suggested the government can give either full or partial relief, pointing out that any revenue losses from it could be offset by plugging loopholes in the collection process.
There are about 14,000 affected planholders who have lost at least 330 million pesos in investments with the bankrupt Legacy Group alone. In the case of Pacific Plans, about 34,000 planholders have claims against it.
The SEC said about 100,000 pre-need beneficiaries, including those serviced by the College Assurance Plans, could have stopped schooling since the crisis in the pre-need industry began in 2004.
According to estimates by the Parents Enabling Parents (PEP) Coalition, the claims of over a million pre-need planholders could amount to billions of pesos.
CHIZ TO GOV’T: SEARCH AND DESTROY KIDNAPPERS NOW
Sen. Chiz Escudero reminded government yesterday that it has a sufficient budget to address the problem of kidnapping.“The President has at her disposal at least P500 million in intelligence funds as allocated for the Presidential Anti-organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) by this year’s national budget. It is time to use it wisely,” he said.In the first quarter of the year, the authorities acknowledged that there were 40 kidnap-for-ransom incidents, which was half of last year’s total.
Most of them occurred in Mindanao where the latest victims include three staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross.“Any police officer worth his salt will tell you that the key to an effective anti-kidnapping drive is good intelligence work. In other words, take out the bad guys before they take out their victims,” the opposition senator said.
He also reiterated the importance of using new technology and the latest communications equipment in order to be one step ahead of criminal gangs.“Instead of constantly watching the political opposition, the government should set its sights on kidnappers who have scared off investors and affected the business climate,” he said.
CHIZ: GOV’T STIMULUS PLAN A MIRAGE
Opposition Senator Chiz Escudero yesterday described the government’s P330-billion stimulus plan as nothing more than a “mirage,” as the country’s budget deficit for the first two months of the year stood at P67 billion.
“The stimulus plan has not caused economic expansion except perhaps to shoot the deficit through the roof. What cannot be denied is that stimulus spending is done in spurts while deficit spending has surged,” Escudero said.
The senator issued the statement to dispute the government’s explanation that the deficit swelled to P67 billion because of “increased pump-priming expenditures” under the Economic Resiliency Plan (ERP).
He said that it was not true that the 60-day deficit ballooned due to accelerated spending, adding that the government exceeded its programmed expenditures for January and February by a mere P1.6 billion, or from a little over P226 billion to P228 billion.
Less the P1.6 billion, Escudero said the deficit is attributable to revenue shortfalls.
“So this leads to one indisputable conclusion: the much vaunted pump-priming is a mirage, a Powerpoint illusion. The government did not overspend, it undercollected,” he said.
Escudero said that granted that P226 billion has been released to agencies, only a fraction of this is for capital outlays.
“Of the funds earmarked for capital outlays, only a miniscule portion has been sank into the ground because disbursement should not be equated with actual spending as there is yawning time gap between the two,” he explained.
“But the best argument why the spin that the P67 billion was due to expenditure front-loading does not fly, lies on the ERP itself. Many economists including an Ateneo teacher’s pet himself, have said that only a sixth of the P330-billion package can be considered new spending,” Escudero said.
He said most of these new spending are off-budget items, like the hike in Philhealth benefits.
“If it were a dough; the ERP was lathered with so much yeast that the result is a bread made fluffy by air,” Escudero said.
CHIZ: LACK OF BUDGET TRANSPARENCY SPAWNS CORRUPTION
Sen. Chiz Escudero said President Arroyo’s decision to veto the transparency clause in the 2009 budget will lead to more corruption.
“I am disappointed with that decision because I believe that transparency is the best prescription for fighting rampant corruption in this administration. Transparency equals accountability,” Sen. Chiz the opposition senator said.
Malacanang reiterated the President was being consistent with her past actions and that due regard should be given to legally and judicially established regulations.
Mrs. Arroyo also said that some measure of confidentiality needs to be enforced on certain matters and that with every office having the right to control its operations it may regulate the manner by which the public can examine or copy any public record.
The transparency clause seeks to prevent the Executive branch from reallocating funds for one project to another without informing the Legislative, or allowing the public to scrutinize such allocations.
Escudero recalled that in a study done last year by the Washington-based think-tank International Budget Partnership, the Philippines was seen as not having initiated ways to make it easy for citizens to track its spending, revenue collection and borrowing.
He also said that the money wasted on corruption by government annually could have been spent on education and social services, health and agriculture.
“The Presidential Anti-Graft Commission recently disclosed that 20% of the country’s annual budget goes to corruption. With the 2009 budget set at P1.415 trillion, one can only imagine the amount that will go to the pockets of others,” he noted.
In 2008, the budget for education was P145 billion, social services P5.5 billion, health P1.66 billion, and agriculture P21.7 billion.
Escudero said such sums would be paltry compared to what is lost to corruption.
The opposition senator said Mrs. Arroyo’s veto decision makes it harder to hold government accountable for cases involving abuse, misuse, and corruption of public funds.
As chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Revisions of Laws and Codes, Escudero has already taken steps to address corruption.
In trying to make Republic Act 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act, more effective, he filed Senate Bill 1963 that sought to put treaties, bilateral arrangements, and executive agreements under the coverage of the procurement law.
Escudero noted that the charges filed this week against 17 former and current DPWH officials in connection with the anomalous bidding for World-Bank funded road projects only underscores the need for more transparency.
“It is the duty of any government to have all information on the budget available to the public so that scandals like this can be prevented,” he said.
WITHDRAW SUPPORT FOR CON-ASS; BE ONE WITH THE PEOPLE
Senator Chiz Escudero said yesterday that House Speaker Prospero Nograles should heed the people’s opposition to charter change before 2010 by withdrawing his support from the draft resolution calling for a constituent assembly.
“I urge and challenge the Speaker not to give in to the pressure of the House cha-cha train. He should stand his ground for the people even at the expense of losing his position,” he said in a statement.
Escudero, who is chair of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments, noted that the latest Pulse Asia survey shows that two out of three Filipinos do not favor changing the constitution at this time.
Conducted from February 2 to 15, the Pulse Asia poll also shows that public opposition to cha-cha is a “view shared by majorities (60% to 70%) in all geographic areas and socio-economic groupings.”
“The right time for charter change is not now, but after 2010. The Senate will not be a party to this charade and the people will surely reject any proposed amendments at this time,” Escudero said.
The senator also pointed out that Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair Jose Melo has said it is no longer possible to hold a plebiscite on charter change before the 2010 elections.
“Why even push and rush it at this time? At a time when we are confronting a deepening economic crisis, the last thing we want to engage in is a divisive debate on charter change,” Escudero said.
Nograles has said that he will file the draft resolution calling for the convening of a constituent assembly (Con-Ass) to amend the constitution after it was able to get the support of 175 congressmen.
CHIZ CALLS ON GOV’T, COMMUNIST REBELS TO RESUME PEACE TALKS
WITHOUT PRE-CONDITIONS
Opposition Senator Chiz Escudero yesterday called on government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) to resume peace talks without preconditions to show their sincerity in ending the longest-running communist insurgency in Asia.
“We should do away with preconditions. Both sides should work for the immediate resumption of the formal talks. The bloodletting must stop, especially now that our countrymen are being hit hard by the economic crisis,” he said.
The senator issued the statement on the eve of the 40th founding anniversary of the New People’s Army (NPA), the NDF’s armed wing, on March 29. Formal talks between the Philippine government and the NDF collapsed in August 2004 with the inclusion of the rebels in the US and EU (European Union) terrorist lists.
“The failure of past administrations to bring about true and meaningful change in our country has fueled this long-running revolutionary movement. But armed struggle is not the answer to our country’s problems,” Escudero, chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, said.
He said both sides should work together to break the impasse by implementing confidence-building measures.
The government demands, among other things, an indefinite ceasefire as a precondition to the resumption of formal talks and proposed that the discussions focus on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR).
The rebels, on the other hand, have outlined a number of “impediments” to the continuation of the peace process. The NDF is demanding that the government move for the delisting of the CPP-NPA as a “foreign terrorist organization” in the list of the United States and the European Union.
It is also asking for the release of NDF consultants Elizabeth Principe, Randolf Echanis, Eduardo Serrano, Eduardo Sarmiento and Randy Malayao. It thas also urged the government to stop the “persecution” of its chief political consultant Jose Ma. Sison in The Netherlands.
The NDF has also deplored alleged extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances of over 1,000 unarmed legal activists.
The opposition senator said that the recent electoral victories of the Left in Latin America show that the parliamentary arena is a viable alternative to armed struggle.
Escudero said the success of Bayan Muna party-list leader, Rep. Satur Ocampo, and his militant colleagues as well as other left-of-center groups in getting elected to the Lower House show the advances in the country’s political environment since 1986.
“Democratic space has widened considerably since 1946 when the elected representatives of the Democratic Alliance were barred from taking their seats in the House. We must work together to expand it further,” he said.
Escudero also said the government must seek peace with honor instead of engaging in a military campaign to destroy the rebels by 2010.
He pointed out that billions being spent by government in its counter-insurgency campaign could be instead be allocated for development purposes if talks resume and a ceasefire agreed upon by both parties.
“We all know that a military solution will not end this insurgency. Unless we root out poverty and injustice, the rebellion will continue,” Escudero said.
“There can be no genuine development without peace. All we need is the political will and purity of heart to end this conflict among Filipinos once and for all.”
CHIZ: COMELEC’S AD HOC APPROACH SHOWS INEPTNESS
Senator Chiz Escudero on Monday said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is showing “signs of ignorance and ineptness” when it changed the rules of the game in midstream and allowed the entry of more bidders for the automation of the 2010 national elections.
He also said that its ad hoc approach could raise doubts about the poll body’s fairness and put into question the entire bidding process.
“Who is the Comelec seemingly trying to accommodate in relaxing the rules even before the actual submission of bids?” asked Escudero, who chairs the joint congressional oversight committee on the automated election system.
“By being presumptuous in saying no one can comply with the existing Terms of Reference (TOR), it shows the absence or lack of preparations of the Comelec,” the opposition senator said.
At the same time, Escudero said the recent report on the alleged hacking of computers of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) bolsters fears of automated cheating in the coming elections.
“If we can’t even guard the State’s closely-guarded secrets at the DFA, what makes us think that we can ensure the credibility of the elections when we automate it? What is our guarantee that it cannot be hacked?” he asked.
“And this is our worst nightmare. I have said it before and I will say it again: we are ill-prepared for automation. Now it could just be a matter of pushing the right buttons in order to win an election,” Escudero said.
According to reports, Canadian researchers revealed that the computer network of the DFA has allegedly been infiltrated by a “cyber spy network” based mainly in China.
The Canada-based Information Warfare Monitor (IWM) said the Philippines is just one of the 103 countries affected by the alleged hacking of classified documents from government and private organizations.
He said that the congressional oversight committee will monitor the Comelec’s implementation of automated election system every step of the way.
“If the elections fail in 2010, it could very well be our last,” Escudero warned.
“I am disappointed with that decision because I believe that transparency is the best prescription for fighting rampant corruption in this administration. Transparency equals accountability,” Sen. Chiz the opposition senator said.
Malacanang reiterated the President was being consistent with her past actions and that due regard should be given to legally and judicially established regulations.
Mrs. Arroyo also said that some measure of confidentiality needs to be enforced on certain matters and that with every office having the right to control its operations it may regulate the manner by which the public can examine or copy any public record.
The transparency clause seeks to prevent the Executive branch from reallocating funds for one project to another without informing the Legislative, or allowing the public to scrutinize such allocations.
Escudero recalled that in a study done last year by the Washington-based think-tank International Budget Partnership, the Philippines was seen as not having initiated ways to make it easy for citizens to track its spending, revenue collection and borrowing.
He also said that the money wasted on corruption by government annually could have been spent on education and social services, health and agriculture.
“The Presidential Anti-Graft Commission recently disclosed that 20% of the country’s annual budget goes to corruption. With the 2009 budget set at P1.415 trillion, one can only imagine the amount that will go to the pockets of others,” he noted.
In 2008, the budget for education was P145 billion, social services P5.5 billion, health P1.66 billion, and agriculture P21.7 billion.
Escudero said such sums would be paltry compared to what is lost to corruption.
The opposition senator said Mrs. Arroyo’s veto decision makes it harder to hold government accountable for cases involving abuse, misuse, and corruption of public funds.
As chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Revisions of Laws and Codes, Escudero has already taken steps to address corruption.
In trying to make Republic Act 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act, more effective, he filed Senate Bill 1963 that sought to put treaties, bilateral arrangements, and executive agreements under the coverage of the procurement law.
Escudero noted that the charges filed this week against 17 former and current DPWH officials in connection with the anomalous bidding for World-Bank funded road projects only underscores the need for more transparency.
“It is the duty of any government to have all information on the budget available to the public so that scandals like this can be prevented,” he said.
WITHDRAW SUPPORT FOR CON-ASS; BE ONE WITH THE PEOPLE
Senator Chiz Escudero said yesterday that House Speaker Prospero Nograles should heed the people’s opposition to charter change before 2010 by withdrawing his support from the draft resolution calling for a constituent assembly.
“I urge and challenge the Speaker not to give in to the pressure of the House cha-cha train. He should stand his ground for the people even at the expense of losing his position,” he said in a statement.
Escudero, who is chair of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments, noted that the latest Pulse Asia survey shows that two out of three Filipinos do not favor changing the constitution at this time.
Conducted from February 2 to 15, the Pulse Asia poll also shows that public opposition to cha-cha is a “view shared by majorities (60% to 70%) in all geographic areas and socio-economic groupings.”
“The right time for charter change is not now, but after 2010. The Senate will not be a party to this charade and the people will surely reject any proposed amendments at this time,” Escudero said.
The senator also pointed out that Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair Jose Melo has said it is no longer possible to hold a plebiscite on charter change before the 2010 elections.
“Why even push and rush it at this time? At a time when we are confronting a deepening economic crisis, the last thing we want to engage in is a divisive debate on charter change,” Escudero said.
Nograles has said that he will file the draft resolution calling for the convening of a constituent assembly (Con-Ass) to amend the constitution after it was able to get the support of 175 congressmen.
CHIZ CALLS ON GOV’T, COMMUNIST REBELS TO RESUME PEACE TALKS
WITHOUT PRE-CONDITIONS
Opposition Senator Chiz Escudero yesterday called on government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) to resume peace talks without preconditions to show their sincerity in ending the longest-running communist insurgency in Asia.
“We should do away with preconditions. Both sides should work for the immediate resumption of the formal talks. The bloodletting must stop, especially now that our countrymen are being hit hard by the economic crisis,” he said.
The senator issued the statement on the eve of the 40th founding anniversary of the New People’s Army (NPA), the NDF’s armed wing, on March 29. Formal talks between the Philippine government and the NDF collapsed in August 2004 with the inclusion of the rebels in the US and EU (European Union) terrorist lists.
“The failure of past administrations to bring about true and meaningful change in our country has fueled this long-running revolutionary movement. But armed struggle is not the answer to our country’s problems,” Escudero, chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, said.
He said both sides should work together to break the impasse by implementing confidence-building measures.
The government demands, among other things, an indefinite ceasefire as a precondition to the resumption of formal talks and proposed that the discussions focus on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR).
The rebels, on the other hand, have outlined a number of “impediments” to the continuation of the peace process. The NDF is demanding that the government move for the delisting of the CPP-NPA as a “foreign terrorist organization” in the list of the United States and the European Union.
It is also asking for the release of NDF consultants Elizabeth Principe, Randolf Echanis, Eduardo Serrano, Eduardo Sarmiento and Randy Malayao. It thas also urged the government to stop the “persecution” of its chief political consultant Jose Ma. Sison in The Netherlands.
The NDF has also deplored alleged extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances of over 1,000 unarmed legal activists.
The opposition senator said that the recent electoral victories of the Left in Latin America show that the parliamentary arena is a viable alternative to armed struggle.
Escudero said the success of Bayan Muna party-list leader, Rep. Satur Ocampo, and his militant colleagues as well as other left-of-center groups in getting elected to the Lower House show the advances in the country’s political environment since 1986.
“Democratic space has widened considerably since 1946 when the elected representatives of the Democratic Alliance were barred from taking their seats in the House. We must work together to expand it further,” he said.
Escudero also said the government must seek peace with honor instead of engaging in a military campaign to destroy the rebels by 2010.
He pointed out that billions being spent by government in its counter-insurgency campaign could be instead be allocated for development purposes if talks resume and a ceasefire agreed upon by both parties.
“We all know that a military solution will not end this insurgency. Unless we root out poverty and injustice, the rebellion will continue,” Escudero said.
“There can be no genuine development without peace. All we need is the political will and purity of heart to end this conflict among Filipinos once and for all.”
CHIZ: COMELEC’S AD HOC APPROACH SHOWS INEPTNESS
Senator Chiz Escudero on Monday said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is showing “signs of ignorance and ineptness” when it changed the rules of the game in midstream and allowed the entry of more bidders for the automation of the 2010 national elections.
He also said that its ad hoc approach could raise doubts about the poll body’s fairness and put into question the entire bidding process.
“Who is the Comelec seemingly trying to accommodate in relaxing the rules even before the actual submission of bids?” asked Escudero, who chairs the joint congressional oversight committee on the automated election system.
“By being presumptuous in saying no one can comply with the existing Terms of Reference (TOR), it shows the absence or lack of preparations of the Comelec,” the opposition senator said.
At the same time, Escudero said the recent report on the alleged hacking of computers of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) bolsters fears of automated cheating in the coming elections.
“If we can’t even guard the State’s closely-guarded secrets at the DFA, what makes us think that we can ensure the credibility of the elections when we automate it? What is our guarantee that it cannot be hacked?” he asked.
“And this is our worst nightmare. I have said it before and I will say it again: we are ill-prepared for automation. Now it could just be a matter of pushing the right buttons in order to win an election,” Escudero said.
According to reports, Canadian researchers revealed that the computer network of the DFA has allegedly been infiltrated by a “cyber spy network” based mainly in China.
The Canada-based Information Warfare Monitor (IWM) said the Philippines is just one of the 103 countries affected by the alleged hacking of classified documents from government and private organizations.
He said that the congressional oversight committee will monitor the Comelec’s implementation of automated election system every step of the way.
“If the elections fail in 2010, it could very well be our last,” Escudero warned.
ESCUDERO: DEATH OF KIDNAPPED TEACHER DISHEARTENING
Sen. Chiz Escudero said the pursuit of money and police ineptness combined to end the life of a teacher who braved traveling on the high seas just to impart knowledge to her students.
“The kidnappers of Noemi Mandi completely disregarded her fragile health; they were more concerned with getting a ransom for her release,” he added.
Mandi died last week while in captivity due to complications from a recent medical operation.
She and fellow teachers Jocelyn Enriquez and Jocelyn Inion were kidnapped by suspected members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front off the island barangay of Bangkaw-Bangkaw, Naga town in Zamboanga Sibugay while on the way home last March 13.
The three, who were teachers at Bangkaw-Bangkaw Elementary School, were then brought to a coastal village in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan where they have been held ever since.
Their kidnappers are demanding P10 million for their safe release.
“I condemn this treacherous act and the continued inability of the PNP and the AFP to protect innocent civilians, particularly teachers,” Escudero stressed.
He noted that it was only last Jan. 23 when three other teachers, Rafael Mayonado, Janette de los Reyes and Freires Quizon, were also kidnapped while traveling by boat to Sacol Island off Zamboanga City.
“None of these teachers have been released and they together with their families continue to suffer by the day. The authorities must act now to prevent further kidnappings and deaths,” Escudero said.
CHIZ: HIGHER TRAFFIC FINES WON’T REDUCE ROAD ACCIDENTS
Opposition senator Chiz Escudero said road discipline will not improve even if the DOTC increases fines on drivers for violating traffic rules and regulations.
“I believe the best deterrent to preventing vehicular accidents is ensuring the certainty of punishment to ill-disciplined drivers rather than imposing higher penalties,” he added.
For instance, instead of waiting for drivers to commit violations and fining them for it, he said the authorities should institute steps to prevent them from even contemplating violating traffic laws in the first place.
“One way to do this is to increase visibility at all times, especially at night when the possibility of an accident is greater,” Escudero said.
He also suggested the use of cameras at areas where traffic is heavier to monitor actual violations by drivers.
He questioned the actual cause of the increase in the number of road accidents as mentioned by the DOTC.
“I drive daily on Manila’s roads, and the condition of many is really bad. It is also a fact that many streets and highways are poorly lit, and this makes driving quite difficult.”
Some accidents are caused by vehicles breaking down. “The authorities must see to it that every vehicle is road-worthy,” he added.
He noted that public transport drivers have complained about the habit of some traffic authorities to lurk in the shadows and wait for drivers to commit violations before pouncing on them.
“These unscrupulous traffic enforcers are only after making a fast buck,” he said.
Traffic signs should also be more visible and drivers must be required to attend seminars on road safety upon renewal of their licenses, or if they are found to have been responsible for accidents.
“Why do we have to pick on the lowly driver who is simply trying to earn a decent living? We do not need to burden him any further. This kind of knee-jerk reaction by the DOTC serves no purpose.”
CHIZ CALLS FOR TAX BREAKS FOR PRE-NEED PLANHOLDERS
Sen. Chiz Escudero yesterday called on the government to include taxbreaks for the thousands of pre-need planholders victimized by thecollapse of firms like Legacy, Pacific Plans, Platinum, and theCollege Assurance Plan in its stimulus package.
“If you want to give them immediate relief, just like the displacedworkers and the poor, this is probably the best way to do it,” theopposition senator said.
“This is going to be a much-needed boost for these families who willonce more face the spectre of paying tuition and other rising feesthis coming school year,” Escudero said.
The opposition senator cited the move of the US Internal RevenueService to allow victims of Bernard Madoff’s investment scam to claimtax deductions in time for the filing of income tax returns on April15.
He said that IRS plan would benefit 13,000 investors in the Ponzischeme that cost them about US$50 billion dollars. It was unveiledlast week by US IRS chief Douglas Shulman during his testimony beforethe Senate Finance Committee, Escudero added.
In our case, Escudero said, a planholder only needs to present thepre-need policy and the tuition receipts for the last school year tothe Bureau of Internal Revenue to qualify for tax relief.
“The government’s failure, particularly the SEC’s incompetence andalleged collusion with the pre-need firms, only makes it morally rightto give these families a break at least this year or until the timewhen they are paid what is due them,” he said.
Escudero said there is still time for the administration to work outdetails of the tax break before the income tax filing season ends onApril 15.
There are about 14,000 affected planholders who have lost at least 330million pesos in investments with the bankrupt Legacy Group. On theother hand, about 34,000 planholders have claims against theYuchengco-owned Pacific Plans, which was sold recently to another firmput up by investor Noel Onate for P250 million pesos.
The SEC has said that about 100,000 pre-need beneficiaries, includingthose serviced by the College Assurance Plans, could have stoppedschooling since the crisis in the pre-need industry began in 2004.
According to estimates by the Parents Enabling Parents (PEP)Coalition, the claims of over a million pre-need planholders couldamount to billions of pesos.
“The government can either give full or partial relief. But bothoptions are better than no relief at all,” said Escudero.
“I am sure that our finance managers can find a way to make up for therevenues that may be lost because of this tax relief. One thing theycan do is plug the loopholes in the collection process,” he added.
He also said that planned tax relief will complement other measuresintended to cushion various sectors from the impact on the country bythe global economic recession, like the proposed P6-B unemploymentinsurance fund for displaced workers as well as the reported promiseof SEC chair Fe Barin to provide P150 million pesos to 20,000 pre-needplanholders before June.
He said the idea of providing for unemployment insurance is worthlooking into but the government must make sure that the “plan will notjeopardize the financial and actuarial health of the Social SecuritySystem (SSS).”
“The kidnappers of Noemi Mandi completely disregarded her fragile health; they were more concerned with getting a ransom for her release,” he added.
Mandi died last week while in captivity due to complications from a recent medical operation.
She and fellow teachers Jocelyn Enriquez and Jocelyn Inion were kidnapped by suspected members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front off the island barangay of Bangkaw-Bangkaw, Naga town in Zamboanga Sibugay while on the way home last March 13.
The three, who were teachers at Bangkaw-Bangkaw Elementary School, were then brought to a coastal village in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan where they have been held ever since.
Their kidnappers are demanding P10 million for their safe release.
“I condemn this treacherous act and the continued inability of the PNP and the AFP to protect innocent civilians, particularly teachers,” Escudero stressed.
He noted that it was only last Jan. 23 when three other teachers, Rafael Mayonado, Janette de los Reyes and Freires Quizon, were also kidnapped while traveling by boat to Sacol Island off Zamboanga City.
“None of these teachers have been released and they together with their families continue to suffer by the day. The authorities must act now to prevent further kidnappings and deaths,” Escudero said.
CHIZ: HIGHER TRAFFIC FINES WON’T REDUCE ROAD ACCIDENTS
Opposition senator Chiz Escudero said road discipline will not improve even if the DOTC increases fines on drivers for violating traffic rules and regulations.
“I believe the best deterrent to preventing vehicular accidents is ensuring the certainty of punishment to ill-disciplined drivers rather than imposing higher penalties,” he added.
For instance, instead of waiting for drivers to commit violations and fining them for it, he said the authorities should institute steps to prevent them from even contemplating violating traffic laws in the first place.
“One way to do this is to increase visibility at all times, especially at night when the possibility of an accident is greater,” Escudero said.
He also suggested the use of cameras at areas where traffic is heavier to monitor actual violations by drivers.
He questioned the actual cause of the increase in the number of road accidents as mentioned by the DOTC.
“I drive daily on Manila’s roads, and the condition of many is really bad. It is also a fact that many streets and highways are poorly lit, and this makes driving quite difficult.”
Some accidents are caused by vehicles breaking down. “The authorities must see to it that every vehicle is road-worthy,” he added.
He noted that public transport drivers have complained about the habit of some traffic authorities to lurk in the shadows and wait for drivers to commit violations before pouncing on them.
“These unscrupulous traffic enforcers are only after making a fast buck,” he said.
Traffic signs should also be more visible and drivers must be required to attend seminars on road safety upon renewal of their licenses, or if they are found to have been responsible for accidents.
“Why do we have to pick on the lowly driver who is simply trying to earn a decent living? We do not need to burden him any further. This kind of knee-jerk reaction by the DOTC serves no purpose.”
CHIZ CALLS FOR TAX BREAKS FOR PRE-NEED PLANHOLDERS
Sen. Chiz Escudero yesterday called on the government to include taxbreaks for the thousands of pre-need planholders victimized by thecollapse of firms like Legacy, Pacific Plans, Platinum, and theCollege Assurance Plan in its stimulus package.
“If you want to give them immediate relief, just like the displacedworkers and the poor, this is probably the best way to do it,” theopposition senator said.
“This is going to be a much-needed boost for these families who willonce more face the spectre of paying tuition and other rising feesthis coming school year,” Escudero said.
The opposition senator cited the move of the US Internal RevenueService to allow victims of Bernard Madoff’s investment scam to claimtax deductions in time for the filing of income tax returns on April15.
He said that IRS plan would benefit 13,000 investors in the Ponzischeme that cost them about US$50 billion dollars. It was unveiledlast week by US IRS chief Douglas Shulman during his testimony beforethe Senate Finance Committee, Escudero added.
In our case, Escudero said, a planholder only needs to present thepre-need policy and the tuition receipts for the last school year tothe Bureau of Internal Revenue to qualify for tax relief.
“The government’s failure, particularly the SEC’s incompetence andalleged collusion with the pre-need firms, only makes it morally rightto give these families a break at least this year or until the timewhen they are paid what is due them,” he said.
Escudero said there is still time for the administration to work outdetails of the tax break before the income tax filing season ends onApril 15.
There are about 14,000 affected planholders who have lost at least 330million pesos in investments with the bankrupt Legacy Group. On theother hand, about 34,000 planholders have claims against theYuchengco-owned Pacific Plans, which was sold recently to another firmput up by investor Noel Onate for P250 million pesos.
The SEC has said that about 100,000 pre-need beneficiaries, includingthose serviced by the College Assurance Plans, could have stoppedschooling since the crisis in the pre-need industry began in 2004.
According to estimates by the Parents Enabling Parents (PEP)Coalition, the claims of over a million pre-need planholders couldamount to billions of pesos.
“The government can either give full or partial relief. But bothoptions are better than no relief at all,” said Escudero.
“I am sure that our finance managers can find a way to make up for therevenues that may be lost because of this tax relief. One thing theycan do is plug the loopholes in the collection process,” he added.
He also said that planned tax relief will complement other measuresintended to cushion various sectors from the impact on the country bythe global economic recession, like the proposed P6-B unemploymentinsurance fund for displaced workers as well as the reported promiseof SEC chair Fe Barin to provide P150 million pesos to 20,000 pre-needplanholders before June.
He said the idea of providing for unemployment insurance is worthlooking into but the government must make sure that the “plan will notjeopardize the financial and actuarial health of the Social SecuritySystem (SSS).”
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Amid global economic crisis Imports drop by 34.5 percent in January 2009
Amid the global economic crisis, merchandise imports continue to decline registering a 34.5-percent drop in January this year. This was the fourth consecutive month of import contraction, also a reversal from the 27.9-percent growth in January 2008.
“The year-on-year decline was attributed to the reduction in import payments for all major commodity groups. With exports posting a 40.6-percent decline to US$2.5 billion, the trade deficit in January this year stood at US$759 million,” Socioeconomic Planning secretary and NEDA Director General Ralph G. Recto said in his memorandum to the President.
Meanwhile, the United States remained the biggest supplier of imported merchandise with a 17.7-percent share. “Despite the upward trend of its share in Philippine imports, inward shipments from the US still continue to drop, falling by 23.6 percent in January,” Recto said.
He said that this may be traced to the cutback in foreign orders of the country’s electronic exports. Japan followed as the second major source of imported goods, with a 10.9 percent share. Other top sources of merchandise imports were PR China (10.8%), Singapore (10.3%) and South Korea (7.5%). The total shipments from PR China, Hong Kong SAR, and Taiwan ROC constituted 21.1 percent of the total import payments in January 2009, higher than the 19.1 percent share in the same month last year. As for the commodity groups, inward shipments of capital goods dropped significantly by 33.1 percent in January, with telecommunication equipment and electrical machinery and office and EDP machines posting year-on-year reductions of 49.3 percent and 42.4 percent, respectively.
“However, a hefty increase in payments for imports of aircrafts, ships and boats (323.8%) and a slight improvement in imports of power generating and specialized machines (2.2%) cushioned the further fall of the commodity group,” Recto added. On the other hand, import payments for raw materials and intermediate goods fell by 27.4 percent as the increase in unprocessed raw materials (10.5%) was diminished by the 30.0 percent decline in imports of semi-processed raw materials.
Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials, which accounted for 12.9 percent of imports in January, posted the largest decline of 59.0 percent among all major commodity groups. The substantial decline in import payments for petroleum crude (-96.5%) canceled out the minimal increases in coal and coke (1.5%) and other mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (7.3%). Consumer goods posted the smallest decline of 9.5 percent with declines in both durable (-1.0%) and non-durable (-16.4%) goods. The slight decline in durable goods was mostly due to price effects as import volumes grew by 15.1 percent in January.
“The year-on-year decline was attributed to the reduction in import payments for all major commodity groups. With exports posting a 40.6-percent decline to US$2.5 billion, the trade deficit in January this year stood at US$759 million,” Socioeconomic Planning secretary and NEDA Director General Ralph G. Recto said in his memorandum to the President.
Meanwhile, the United States remained the biggest supplier of imported merchandise with a 17.7-percent share. “Despite the upward trend of its share in Philippine imports, inward shipments from the US still continue to drop, falling by 23.6 percent in January,” Recto said.
He said that this may be traced to the cutback in foreign orders of the country’s electronic exports. Japan followed as the second major source of imported goods, with a 10.9 percent share. Other top sources of merchandise imports were PR China (10.8%), Singapore (10.3%) and South Korea (7.5%). The total shipments from PR China, Hong Kong SAR, and Taiwan ROC constituted 21.1 percent of the total import payments in January 2009, higher than the 19.1 percent share in the same month last year. As for the commodity groups, inward shipments of capital goods dropped significantly by 33.1 percent in January, with telecommunication equipment and electrical machinery and office and EDP machines posting year-on-year reductions of 49.3 percent and 42.4 percent, respectively.
“However, a hefty increase in payments for imports of aircrafts, ships and boats (323.8%) and a slight improvement in imports of power generating and specialized machines (2.2%) cushioned the further fall of the commodity group,” Recto added. On the other hand, import payments for raw materials and intermediate goods fell by 27.4 percent as the increase in unprocessed raw materials (10.5%) was diminished by the 30.0 percent decline in imports of semi-processed raw materials.
Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials, which accounted for 12.9 percent of imports in January, posted the largest decline of 59.0 percent among all major commodity groups. The substantial decline in import payments for petroleum crude (-96.5%) canceled out the minimal increases in coal and coke (1.5%) and other mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (7.3%). Consumer goods posted the smallest decline of 9.5 percent with declines in both durable (-1.0%) and non-durable (-16.4%) goods. The slight decline in durable goods was mostly due to price effects as import volumes grew by 15.1 percent in January.
ILO CALLS FOR URGENT GLOBAL JOBS PACT TO FORESTALL "PROLONGED ANDSEVERE" EMPLOYMENT CRISIS
The Director-General of the International LabourOrganization (ILO) called for a *Global Jobs Pact* toforestall a *prolonged and severe* jobs crisis that would lead to amassive increase in unemployment and working poverty.
The appeal followed a high-level, tripartite discussion at the ILOGoverning Body Monday, during which International Monetary Fund ManagingDirector Dominique Strauss-Kahn said increased cooperation between theIMF and the ILO was crucial in addressing the global economic crisis.
The high-level meeting also heard remarks by Mr. Guy Ryder, GeneralSecretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC); Mr.Alexander Shokhin, President of the Russian Union of Industrialists andEntrepreneurs; Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Disabled People and for theSouth East of the UK Department for Work and Pensions.
ILO Director-General Juan Somavia described international coordinationto tackle the crisis as weak, and said *the financial, trade,economic, employment and social roots of the global crisis areinterlinked and so must be the policy responses*. This is a mostimportant message ahead of the G20 Summit to be held in London nextweek.
The discussion was based on a study by the ILO*s InternationalInstitute for Labour Studies entitled The Financial and Economic Crisis:A Decent Work Response, that said that demographic projections suggestthat nearly 90 million net new jobs would be needed over 2009-10 toabsorb new entrants in the labour market and avoid a prolonged jobs gap.In earlier financial crises, the labour market recovered only 4 to 5years after the economic recovery, the study said.
"We need to implement a coherent and coordinated job-orientedrecovery strategy, based on sustainable enterprises, as soon aspossible," Mr. Somavia said. "If stimulus efforts are delayed thejobs crisis will be prolonged and severe and employment may only startto recover as from 2011."
The study by the ILO Institute examined current rescue efforts in 32countries, including all members of the G20. It said that while the IMFhad called for stimulus plans in the order of 2 per cent of GDP inresponse to the crisis, stimulus plans stand on average at 1.7 percent.The study also illustrates that stimulus as a percentage of GDP foradvanced economies - at 1.3 percent--is less than half that allocatedby developing and emerging economies.
The ILO survey also found that the stimulus packages lean heavilytoward financial bailouts and tax cuts instead of job creation andsocial protection and noted that on average, fiscal stimulus packagesfor the real economy are five times smaller than financial bailoutpackages.
"Only half of the countries examined have announced labour marketinitiatives and among those, the resources allocated to these measuresare relatively limited," said Raymond Torres, Director of the ILOInstitute, adding that social policy measures represent, on average, 9.2 percent of the total fiscal packages. In the case of labour marketmeasures, the figure is 1.8 percent.
The report also says that infrastructure programmes do not adequatelytake into account the need to reinforce the existing capacity ofbusinesses and skills supply - so that part of the infrastructurespending may result in higher prices, rather than higher production andjobs; some tax cuts will end in higher savings rather than higherdemand, output and jobs; and little is done to help youth and othervulnerable groups.
The measures moreover involve only limited social dialogue withemployers and unions and lack coordination across countries. Involvingsocial partners would help improve the design of the measures and helprestore confidence.
"The global crisis requires global solutions," emphasized the ILODirector-General. Lack of coordination diminishes the overall effect ofthe stimulus measures, making each individual country reluctant to movefaster than its trading partners and aggravating the recession. Thestudy also says trade protectionism would further depress world demandand wage deflation or weaker workers* rights would not only aggravatethe global crisis, but be perceived as unfair and aggravate the socialcrisis.
"The measures have also often failed to tackle the structuralimbalances that lie behind the crisis," Mr. Somavia said.
"Responsesto the crisis must not be piecemeal in nature and rolled outtemporarily, only to revert back to 'business as usual' as soon aspossible. Moving ahead with the Decent Work Agenda is crucial tosupporting the economic recovery, averting labour market and socialcrises and promoting social cohesion."
By coming together around a Global Jobs Pact, ILO constituents couldmake an important contribution to global policy coherence on theseissues. Such a Pact could ensure that stimulus measures moreeffectively tackle the transmission mechanisms of the crisis, namely thecredit crunch, the rapid deterioration in domestic demand conditions andthe recession in external markets, addressing key factors that nurturedthe crisis while building the foundation for a more sustainable economy.
The forthcoming International Labour Conference in June this year willfocus on tackling the Global Jobs Pact.
The appeal followed a high-level, tripartite discussion at the ILOGoverning Body Monday, during which International Monetary Fund ManagingDirector Dominique Strauss-Kahn said increased cooperation between theIMF and the ILO was crucial in addressing the global economic crisis.
The high-level meeting also heard remarks by Mr. Guy Ryder, GeneralSecretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC); Mr.Alexander Shokhin, President of the Russian Union of Industrialists andEntrepreneurs; Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Disabled People and for theSouth East of the UK Department for Work and Pensions.
ILO Director-General Juan Somavia described international coordinationto tackle the crisis as weak, and said *the financial, trade,economic, employment and social roots of the global crisis areinterlinked and so must be the policy responses*. This is a mostimportant message ahead of the G20 Summit to be held in London nextweek.
The discussion was based on a study by the ILO*s InternationalInstitute for Labour Studies entitled The Financial and Economic Crisis:A Decent Work Response, that said that demographic projections suggestthat nearly 90 million net new jobs would be needed over 2009-10 toabsorb new entrants in the labour market and avoid a prolonged jobs gap.In earlier financial crises, the labour market recovered only 4 to 5years after the economic recovery, the study said.
"We need to implement a coherent and coordinated job-orientedrecovery strategy, based on sustainable enterprises, as soon aspossible," Mr. Somavia said. "If stimulus efforts are delayed thejobs crisis will be prolonged and severe and employment may only startto recover as from 2011."
The study by the ILO Institute examined current rescue efforts in 32countries, including all members of the G20. It said that while the IMFhad called for stimulus plans in the order of 2 per cent of GDP inresponse to the crisis, stimulus plans stand on average at 1.7 percent.The study also illustrates that stimulus as a percentage of GDP foradvanced economies - at 1.3 percent--is less than half that allocatedby developing and emerging economies.
The ILO survey also found that the stimulus packages lean heavilytoward financial bailouts and tax cuts instead of job creation andsocial protection and noted that on average, fiscal stimulus packagesfor the real economy are five times smaller than financial bailoutpackages.
"Only half of the countries examined have announced labour marketinitiatives and among those, the resources allocated to these measuresare relatively limited," said Raymond Torres, Director of the ILOInstitute, adding that social policy measures represent, on average, 9.2 percent of the total fiscal packages. In the case of labour marketmeasures, the figure is 1.8 percent.
The report also says that infrastructure programmes do not adequatelytake into account the need to reinforce the existing capacity ofbusinesses and skills supply - so that part of the infrastructurespending may result in higher prices, rather than higher production andjobs; some tax cuts will end in higher savings rather than higherdemand, output and jobs; and little is done to help youth and othervulnerable groups.
The measures moreover involve only limited social dialogue withemployers and unions and lack coordination across countries. Involvingsocial partners would help improve the design of the measures and helprestore confidence.
"The global crisis requires global solutions," emphasized the ILODirector-General. Lack of coordination diminishes the overall effect ofthe stimulus measures, making each individual country reluctant to movefaster than its trading partners and aggravating the recession. Thestudy also says trade protectionism would further depress world demandand wage deflation or weaker workers* rights would not only aggravatethe global crisis, but be perceived as unfair and aggravate the socialcrisis.
"The measures have also often failed to tackle the structuralimbalances that lie behind the crisis," Mr. Somavia said.
"Responsesto the crisis must not be piecemeal in nature and rolled outtemporarily, only to revert back to 'business as usual' as soon aspossible. Moving ahead with the Decent Work Agenda is crucial tosupporting the economic recovery, averting labour market and socialcrises and promoting social cohesion."
By coming together around a Global Jobs Pact, ILO constituents couldmake an important contribution to global policy coherence on theseissues. Such a Pact could ensure that stimulus measures moreeffectively tackle the transmission mechanisms of the crisis, namely thecredit crunch, the rapid deterioration in domestic demand conditions andthe recession in external markets, addressing key factors that nurturedthe crisis while building the foundation for a more sustainable economy.
The forthcoming International Labour Conference in June this year willfocus on tackling the Global Jobs Pact.
Chiz Escudero Photos
Ozamiz City. Senator Chiz Escudero attends 45th Commencement Exercises at Medina College. Graduates proudly shake hands with our Senator.
Amid the scorching summer heat at the Catanduanes Sports Complex, Sen. Chiz Escudero poses with members and coaching staff of Sorsogon Baseball Team (elementary division) who are competing in the on-going Palarong Bikol 2009 in the capital town of Virac.
CHA-CHA MOVES DOOMED – CHIZ
Chiz Escudero Press Statement
ON THE OMBUDSMAN’S RECOMMENDATION
The Office of the Ombudsman’s recommendation to file charges against 17 former and current DPWH officials in connection with the anomalous bidding for several World Bank-funded road projects is a big disappointment.
The anti-graft body has again failed to prove its steadfast resolve in battling corruption in the country. It has avoided the inclusion of several powerful personalities in its recommendation and for that it has failed in its mandate to fight graft and corruption.
These high government officials and powerful public figures have already been mentioned in the World Bank report, which detailed the bid-rigging activities by some contractors in collusion with public officials.
The Ombudsman had been given an opportunity to prove itself in this case, but unfortunately it would seem that personal ties and political debts play important roles in the office’s performance of its mandate.
CHIZ: TAX ON TEXT IS LIKE ROBBERY IN BROAD DAYLIGHT
Opposition Senator Chiz Escudero on Wednesday said imposing a tax on text messaging is tantamount to government “robbing the people” in broad daylight.
“Whether it's 10 centavos or 5 centavos, I will still oppose the measure. I am against imposing tax on text messaging because I believe it will be borne by those who have less in life,” he said in a statement.
“Texting is no longer a luxury; it is the easiest way to connect with loved ones and friends. Text messaging will suddenly become more expensive as the tax can be passed on to end users,” Escudero added.
The senator described the plan as “lazy man’s quick fix” aimed at responding to the expected loss in revenues due to the worsening economic crisis.
The senator cautioned the lower house from taxing the patience of the people.
“These are difficult times. Let us think instead of ways to ease the people’s plight,” Escudero said.
CHA-CHA MOVES DOOMED – CHIZ
Senator Chiz Escudero on Wednesday said the administration’s moves to change the constitution will fail because the Senate and the people will oppose and reject it.
“If the plan is to bypass the Senate, then I will be the first to challenge it before the Supreme Court,” said Escudero, who is the chair of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of laws.
“If by any chance it passes the Supreme Court, then I am sure that the people will reject it,” he added. “Kung sa chess ito, siguradong mate ang kalalabasan nitong desperate Queen’s gambit.”
Escudero said he will not act on any motion to change the charter before 2010 while he is head of the Senate committee.
The opposition senator also pointed out the cha-cha proponents in the Lower House continue to be deliberately vague about what they want to change in the 1987 charter.
"Let the people know what you want revised, inserted, or added. Is this too much to ask of the representatives of the people?” Escudero asked.
He said, however, that charter change should be in the list of priorities of the new president, whoever he may be.
“There have been studies made clearly showing the need for changes in our present constitution. It has been more than 20 years after it was adopted at the height of people power,” Escudero pointed out.
“We should do it at the start of a new administration to dispel any doubts about personal motives and agendas," he stressed.
ON THE OMBUDSMAN’S RECOMMENDATION
The Office of the Ombudsman’s recommendation to file charges against 17 former and current DPWH officials in connection with the anomalous bidding for several World Bank-funded road projects is a big disappointment.
The anti-graft body has again failed to prove its steadfast resolve in battling corruption in the country. It has avoided the inclusion of several powerful personalities in its recommendation and for that it has failed in its mandate to fight graft and corruption.
These high government officials and powerful public figures have already been mentioned in the World Bank report, which detailed the bid-rigging activities by some contractors in collusion with public officials.
The Ombudsman had been given an opportunity to prove itself in this case, but unfortunately it would seem that personal ties and political debts play important roles in the office’s performance of its mandate.
CHIZ: TAX ON TEXT IS LIKE ROBBERY IN BROAD DAYLIGHT
Opposition Senator Chiz Escudero on Wednesday said imposing a tax on text messaging is tantamount to government “robbing the people” in broad daylight.
“Whether it's 10 centavos or 5 centavos, I will still oppose the measure. I am against imposing tax on text messaging because I believe it will be borne by those who have less in life,” he said in a statement.
“Texting is no longer a luxury; it is the easiest way to connect with loved ones and friends. Text messaging will suddenly become more expensive as the tax can be passed on to end users,” Escudero added.
The senator described the plan as “lazy man’s quick fix” aimed at responding to the expected loss in revenues due to the worsening economic crisis.
The senator cautioned the lower house from taxing the patience of the people.
“These are difficult times. Let us think instead of ways to ease the people’s plight,” Escudero said.
CHA-CHA MOVES DOOMED – CHIZ
Senator Chiz Escudero on Wednesday said the administration’s moves to change the constitution will fail because the Senate and the people will oppose and reject it.
“If the plan is to bypass the Senate, then I will be the first to challenge it before the Supreme Court,” said Escudero, who is the chair of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of laws.
“If by any chance it passes the Supreme Court, then I am sure that the people will reject it,” he added. “Kung sa chess ito, siguradong mate ang kalalabasan nitong desperate Queen’s gambit.”
Escudero said he will not act on any motion to change the charter before 2010 while he is head of the Senate committee.
The opposition senator also pointed out the cha-cha proponents in the Lower House continue to be deliberately vague about what they want to change in the 1987 charter.
"Let the people know what you want revised, inserted, or added. Is this too much to ask of the representatives of the people?” Escudero asked.
He said, however, that charter change should be in the list of priorities of the new president, whoever he may be.
“There have been studies made clearly showing the need for changes in our present constitution. It has been more than 20 years after it was adopted at the height of people power,” Escudero pointed out.
“We should do it at the start of a new administration to dispel any doubts about personal motives and agendas," he stressed.
California Couple Plead Guilty in Alien Smuggling Scheme in Which Some Were Forced to Work at Elder Care Homes
WASHINGTON, March 24 –The owner of two elder care homes in Long Beach, Calif., has pleaded guilty on March 23, 2009 to bringing undocumented aliens into the United States and forcing two of them to work at her businesses.
Evelyn Pelayo, 53, a resident of Long Beach, pleaded guilty on March 23, 2009 to forced labor and unlawful conduct of holding passports to further forced labor. Pelayo owned two residences in Long Beach where she operated elderly care and boarding facilities called Vernon Way Care Home and Walton Care Home.
In a plea agreement filed in federal court, Pelayo admitted that she paid a co-defendant $6,000 to smuggle two undocumented aliens into the United States from the Philippines and then forced them to work at her elder care homes after confiscating their passports and threatening to turn them over to authorities if they attempted to escape.
Pelayo's husband, Darwin Padolina, 56, pleaded guilty on March 23, 2009 to harboring a third undocumented alien for private financial gain. Padolina admitted that he concealed the undocumented alien for 10 years while the person worked as a domestic servant.
"Defendant Pelayo practiced a modern-day form of slavery, coercing employees to work in deplorable conditions for unfair wages," said Loretta King, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "The Civil Rights Division will remain vigilant in finding and prosecuting those who prey on foreign nationals in this manner."
"Using fear and threats of reprisal, the defendants in this case exploited the dreams of foreign nationals who sought a better life in the United States," said U.S. Attorney Thomas P. O'Brien. "Instead of realizing the American dream, the victims in this case were subjected to inhumane treatment that profited only the defendants. For forcing victims to work up to 24 hours a day, everyday, while keeping about half of their meager salaries, Ms. Pelayo is now facing a lengthy prison sentence commensurate with her crimes."
Two other defendants in the case, Rodolfo Ebrole Demafeliz Jr., 39, and Rolleta Riazon, 28, both of the Philippines, previously pleaded guilty for conspiracy to bring aliens into the United States. Demafeliz and Riazon have completed their sentences and have returned to the Philippines.
According to the court documents, Pelayo recruited potential workers in the Philippines, promising them jobs in her elder care facilities. Once the victims agreed, Pelayo contacted Demafeliz, a Taekwondo martial arts instructor, who would enter the undocumented aliens in Taekwondo tournaments in the United States as a ruse to bring them into the country. Demafeliz obtained visas for the victims and provided them with limited martial arts training to make the visas appear legitimate.
Once the aliens were brought to Southern California, Pelayo paid Demafliz $6,000 per victim. She then doubled that smuggling fee and charged each of the victims $12,000. Pelayo instructed the victims that they would have to work for her for a minimum of 10 years, and during that time they would be charged debt repayments. Pelayo confiscated the victims' passports and verbally abused them, threatening to contact police with false allegations and immigration officials if they tried to escape.
The two elder care homes were shut down in April 2008, following the execution of the federal search warrants. At the time, 10 elderly patients were rescued and moved to other facilities.
Robert Schoch, Special Agent in Charge of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Investigations in Los Angeles, said: "Today's guilty pleas are a disturbing reminder that even in today's modern society vestiges of slavery still exist. It is a sad reflection on human greed and heartlessness, when individuals believe they can egregiously exploit people from other countries and other cultures. ICE will continue to work aggressively to ensure that those who engage in these abusive practices are made to pay for their crimes."
Salvador Hernandez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles, commented: "This case is only the latest example of modern-day slavery, and a grim reminder that this criminal behavior is practiced in our local neighborhoods. The Human Trafficking Task Force in Los Angeles has made consistent progress in identifying and dismantling trafficking organizations, as well as drawing much-needed attention to this abhorrent crime problem."
Pelayo and Padolina pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Gary A. Feess, who is scheduled to sentence the defendants on June 22, 2009. At sentencing, Pelayo faces a statutory maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison, and Padolina faces a maximum possible penalty of 10 years in prison.
The case against Pelayo and her husband was investigated by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area Task Force on Human Trafficking. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandy Leal and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Kayla Bakshi.
In Los Angeles, the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Los Angeles Police Department, along with several community groups, comprise the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area Task Force on Human Trafficking, whose mission is to improve tactics for identifying and rescuing trafficking victims, provide assistance to victims and prosecute those responsible for human trafficking. The Human Trafficking Task Force in Los Angeles has established a toll-free hotline - (800) 655-4095 - that victims and individuals with information about victims are encouraged to call. Information may be provided anonymously and will be kept confidential.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Evelyn Pelayo, 53, a resident of Long Beach, pleaded guilty on March 23, 2009 to forced labor and unlawful conduct of holding passports to further forced labor. Pelayo owned two residences in Long Beach where she operated elderly care and boarding facilities called Vernon Way Care Home and Walton Care Home.
In a plea agreement filed in federal court, Pelayo admitted that she paid a co-defendant $6,000 to smuggle two undocumented aliens into the United States from the Philippines and then forced them to work at her elder care homes after confiscating their passports and threatening to turn them over to authorities if they attempted to escape.
Pelayo's husband, Darwin Padolina, 56, pleaded guilty on March 23, 2009 to harboring a third undocumented alien for private financial gain. Padolina admitted that he concealed the undocumented alien for 10 years while the person worked as a domestic servant.
"Defendant Pelayo practiced a modern-day form of slavery, coercing employees to work in deplorable conditions for unfair wages," said Loretta King, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "The Civil Rights Division will remain vigilant in finding and prosecuting those who prey on foreign nationals in this manner."
"Using fear and threats of reprisal, the defendants in this case exploited the dreams of foreign nationals who sought a better life in the United States," said U.S. Attorney Thomas P. O'Brien. "Instead of realizing the American dream, the victims in this case were subjected to inhumane treatment that profited only the defendants. For forcing victims to work up to 24 hours a day, everyday, while keeping about half of their meager salaries, Ms. Pelayo is now facing a lengthy prison sentence commensurate with her crimes."
Two other defendants in the case, Rodolfo Ebrole Demafeliz Jr., 39, and Rolleta Riazon, 28, both of the Philippines, previously pleaded guilty for conspiracy to bring aliens into the United States. Demafeliz and Riazon have completed their sentences and have returned to the Philippines.
According to the court documents, Pelayo recruited potential workers in the Philippines, promising them jobs in her elder care facilities. Once the victims agreed, Pelayo contacted Demafeliz, a Taekwondo martial arts instructor, who would enter the undocumented aliens in Taekwondo tournaments in the United States as a ruse to bring them into the country. Demafeliz obtained visas for the victims and provided them with limited martial arts training to make the visas appear legitimate.
Once the aliens were brought to Southern California, Pelayo paid Demafliz $6,000 per victim. She then doubled that smuggling fee and charged each of the victims $12,000. Pelayo instructed the victims that they would have to work for her for a minimum of 10 years, and during that time they would be charged debt repayments. Pelayo confiscated the victims' passports and verbally abused them, threatening to contact police with false allegations and immigration officials if they tried to escape.
The two elder care homes were shut down in April 2008, following the execution of the federal search warrants. At the time, 10 elderly patients were rescued and moved to other facilities.
Robert Schoch, Special Agent in Charge of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Investigations in Los Angeles, said: "Today's guilty pleas are a disturbing reminder that even in today's modern society vestiges of slavery still exist. It is a sad reflection on human greed and heartlessness, when individuals believe they can egregiously exploit people from other countries and other cultures. ICE will continue to work aggressively to ensure that those who engage in these abusive practices are made to pay for their crimes."
Salvador Hernandez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles, commented: "This case is only the latest example of modern-day slavery, and a grim reminder that this criminal behavior is practiced in our local neighborhoods. The Human Trafficking Task Force in Los Angeles has made consistent progress in identifying and dismantling trafficking organizations, as well as drawing much-needed attention to this abhorrent crime problem."
Pelayo and Padolina pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Gary A. Feess, who is scheduled to sentence the defendants on June 22, 2009. At sentencing, Pelayo faces a statutory maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison, and Padolina faces a maximum possible penalty of 10 years in prison.
The case against Pelayo and her husband was investigated by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area Task Force on Human Trafficking. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandy Leal and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Kayla Bakshi.
In Los Angeles, the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Los Angeles Police Department, along with several community groups, comprise the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area Task Force on Human Trafficking, whose mission is to improve tactics for identifying and rescuing trafficking victims, provide assistance to victims and prosecute those responsible for human trafficking. The Human Trafficking Task Force in Los Angeles has established a toll-free hotline - (800) 655-4095 - that victims and individuals with information about victims are encouraged to call. Information may be provided anonymously and will be kept confidential.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
CHIZ: PANLILIO-PADACA TEAM-UP POSSIBLE ONLY IN A DEMOCRACY
Sen. Chiz Escudero said the fact two individuals from very non-traditional backgrounds can consider running for national office shows that democracy is thriving in the country.
“I welcome the move of civil society to drum up support for the entry of Gov. Ed Panlilio of Pampanga and Gov. Grace Padaca of Isabel in the 2010 presidential elections,” the opposition senator added.
However, he said Gov. Panlilio may want to consider the cases of two Catholic priests who became politicians, as he contemplates a run for the presidency.
“There may be a lesson or two to be learned from the political forays of former Haiti president Jean-Bertrand Aristide and former US Rep. Robert Drinan of Massachusetts. Both had to make a choice eventually,” the opposition senator added.
Aristide was already out of the priesthood when he ran for Haiti’s top post in 1991, while Drinan declined to run for re-election in 1981 after Pope John Paul II unequivocally demanded that all priests withdraw from electoral politics.
Aristide was expelled from the Salesian order in 1988 after his political activities were deemed an incitement to hatred and violence.
Drinan, who remained a priest while serving his elective post in the 70s, eventually heeded the Pope’s directive.
In welcoming the Panlilio-Padaca team-up, Escudero also said that since the Philippines values freedom and the rule of law, anyone who can contribute to nation-building or help provide solutions to the country’s ills is welcome to participate in the political process.
“I believe that our democratic ideals are best served when more people of every political persuasion can lend a hand in boosting efforts to engender hope and harmony in the country rather despair and disillusionment.”
He stressed that the current government has pushed the country to the brink of ruin, where corruption is the order of the day rather than transparency and accountability.
“If Gov. Panlilio and Gov. Padaca share our national values over individual interests, I am sure we will be able to find common ground in finding the proper way to address many vexing issues facing our nation,” Escudero stressed.
“I welcome the move of civil society to drum up support for the entry of Gov. Ed Panlilio of Pampanga and Gov. Grace Padaca of Isabel in the 2010 presidential elections,” the opposition senator added.
However, he said Gov. Panlilio may want to consider the cases of two Catholic priests who became politicians, as he contemplates a run for the presidency.
“There may be a lesson or two to be learned from the political forays of former Haiti president Jean-Bertrand Aristide and former US Rep. Robert Drinan of Massachusetts. Both had to make a choice eventually,” the opposition senator added.
Aristide was already out of the priesthood when he ran for Haiti’s top post in 1991, while Drinan declined to run for re-election in 1981 after Pope John Paul II unequivocally demanded that all priests withdraw from electoral politics.
Aristide was expelled from the Salesian order in 1988 after his political activities were deemed an incitement to hatred and violence.
Drinan, who remained a priest while serving his elective post in the 70s, eventually heeded the Pope’s directive.
In welcoming the Panlilio-Padaca team-up, Escudero also said that since the Philippines values freedom and the rule of law, anyone who can contribute to nation-building or help provide solutions to the country’s ills is welcome to participate in the political process.
“I believe that our democratic ideals are best served when more people of every political persuasion can lend a hand in boosting efforts to engender hope and harmony in the country rather despair and disillusionment.”
He stressed that the current government has pushed the country to the brink of ruin, where corruption is the order of the day rather than transparency and accountability.
“If Gov. Panlilio and Gov. Padaca share our national values over individual interests, I am sure we will be able to find common ground in finding the proper way to address many vexing issues facing our nation,” Escudero stressed.
Job fairs help solicit 1.34 million jobs in 2008 - DOLE
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) today debunked criticisms that its conduct of job fairs is just a plain show or gimmick, saying that it, in fact, solicited a total of 1.34 million job vacancies from January to November last year.
Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said the conduct of job fair is not a government show stressing the fairs are crucial measures in helping employers find appropriate skills they need, at the same time, facilitating the placement of workers in need of jobs.
Roque said job fairs are useful as indicated by employers who participate in the fairs to post their vacancies and interview jobseekers every year.
He said a total of 1,032 job fairs were conducted nationwide between January and November last year with the participation of hundreds of employers who posted more than a million vacancies in these fairs.
The Labor and Employment Secretary said, however, not all vacancies gathered in job fairs are filled up immediately on the spot as participating employers usually take time in selecting the most qualified applicants.
“Selection may start with an initial interview of applicants as the fair is going on,” he said, adding that the recruitment of selected applicants who troop job fairs usually takes place at the company level where management makes the final choice out of initial interviews and resumes of jobseekers it had gathered during a job fair.
Job fairs serve as venue where employers can find appropriate skills that’s why many of them participate in such fairs on a regular basis, Roque said adding job fair also forms part of its strategies in combating the impact of the global economic crisis on the workers.
Roque also noted the perennial problem on skills mismatch saying that many jobseekers who had gone to job fairs do not possess the skills and qualifications required by the participating employers.
In view of this, he said job fairs conducted are normally complemented with livelihood and skills training assistance services to provide workers with alternatives to employment.
Aside from employers and recruitment agencies offering job vacancies, the job fair also offers services whereby workers are given opportunities to embark on livelihood projects or to undergo skills training and upgrading to enable them meet the skills requirements of industry, Roque said.
Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said the conduct of job fair is not a government show stressing the fairs are crucial measures in helping employers find appropriate skills they need, at the same time, facilitating the placement of workers in need of jobs.
Roque said job fairs are useful as indicated by employers who participate in the fairs to post their vacancies and interview jobseekers every year.
He said a total of 1,032 job fairs were conducted nationwide between January and November last year with the participation of hundreds of employers who posted more than a million vacancies in these fairs.
The Labor and Employment Secretary said, however, not all vacancies gathered in job fairs are filled up immediately on the spot as participating employers usually take time in selecting the most qualified applicants.
“Selection may start with an initial interview of applicants as the fair is going on,” he said, adding that the recruitment of selected applicants who troop job fairs usually takes place at the company level where management makes the final choice out of initial interviews and resumes of jobseekers it had gathered during a job fair.
Job fairs serve as venue where employers can find appropriate skills that’s why many of them participate in such fairs on a regular basis, Roque said adding job fair also forms part of its strategies in combating the impact of the global economic crisis on the workers.
Roque also noted the perennial problem on skills mismatch saying that many jobseekers who had gone to job fairs do not possess the skills and qualifications required by the participating employers.
In view of this, he said job fairs conducted are normally complemented with livelihood and skills training assistance services to provide workers with alternatives to employment.
Aside from employers and recruitment agencies offering job vacancies, the job fair also offers services whereby workers are given opportunities to embark on livelihood projects or to undergo skills training and upgrading to enable them meet the skills requirements of industry, Roque said.
Global OFW deployment, dollar remittances grow despite global crisis
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) today confirmed that both the global deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their dollar remittances to the country’s economy have continued to increase notwithstanding the global financial crisis (GFC).
Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque cited the latest report of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas that despite the global financial slowdown, OFW remittances from more than 190 host countries worldwide reached more than US$1.265 billion in January 2009, representing a positive 0.1 percent growth from the same period in 2008.
Roque had cited the earlier confirmation made by the DOLE’s Philippine Overseas Employment Administration that the total global deployment of documented OFWs reached a robust growth to 165,737 in January this year, up worldwide by 25.3 percent, from 132,285 in the same period last year.
“This resoundingly affirms the sustained global preference for our skilled and semi-skilled overseas Filipino workers, and their productive role in staving off the adverse effects of the global slowdown in the greater portion of the world’s economies.”
The Labor and Employment Chief said that in 2008, a record 1.376 million documented OFWs have been deployed in more than 190 host nations globally, while they remitted some US$16.4 billion to the country, the highest in history so far.
Roque said that while there have been concerns about the effects of the recession in some economies on the continued deployment of OFWs, the data provided by the POEA covering January 2009 affirm a double digit growth up by more than a quarter (25.3%) of the previously record remittance figure registered in January 2008.
He pointed to the strength of the country’s bilateral relations and agreements for assuring sustained employment opportunities for OFWs, particularly those entered into by the RP government with major host destinations such as Canada, Australia, Japan – alongside the vibrant outlook of Middle Eastern economies such as Qatar in industries which prefer our skilled and semi-skilled OFWs like health care, education, real estate, and power and energy.
In addition, Roque had dispatched, in a swift response to stave off the adverse effects of the GFC, teams of labor and employment experts to GFC-affected host destinations like South Korea, Taiwan and Dubai to profile and assist displaced OFWs avail of the pertinent assistance including finding alternative employment, and retooling opportunities.
The Labor and Employment Chief, based on the BSP report, cited the United States, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Canada, Singapore, Japan, the United Kingdom, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the top sources of the almost US$1.3 billion the OFWs remitted to the nation’s economy in the first month of 2009.
Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque cited the latest report of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas that despite the global financial slowdown, OFW remittances from more than 190 host countries worldwide reached more than US$1.265 billion in January 2009, representing a positive 0.1 percent growth from the same period in 2008.
Roque had cited the earlier confirmation made by the DOLE’s Philippine Overseas Employment Administration that the total global deployment of documented OFWs reached a robust growth to 165,737 in January this year, up worldwide by 25.3 percent, from 132,285 in the same period last year.
“This resoundingly affirms the sustained global preference for our skilled and semi-skilled overseas Filipino workers, and their productive role in staving off the adverse effects of the global slowdown in the greater portion of the world’s economies.”
The Labor and Employment Chief said that in 2008, a record 1.376 million documented OFWs have been deployed in more than 190 host nations globally, while they remitted some US$16.4 billion to the country, the highest in history so far.
Roque said that while there have been concerns about the effects of the recession in some economies on the continued deployment of OFWs, the data provided by the POEA covering January 2009 affirm a double digit growth up by more than a quarter (25.3%) of the previously record remittance figure registered in January 2008.
He pointed to the strength of the country’s bilateral relations and agreements for assuring sustained employment opportunities for OFWs, particularly those entered into by the RP government with major host destinations such as Canada, Australia, Japan – alongside the vibrant outlook of Middle Eastern economies such as Qatar in industries which prefer our skilled and semi-skilled OFWs like health care, education, real estate, and power and energy.
In addition, Roque had dispatched, in a swift response to stave off the adverse effects of the GFC, teams of labor and employment experts to GFC-affected host destinations like South Korea, Taiwan and Dubai to profile and assist displaced OFWs avail of the pertinent assistance including finding alternative employment, and retooling opportunities.
The Labor and Employment Chief, based on the BSP report, cited the United States, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Canada, Singapore, Japan, the United Kingdom, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the top sources of the almost US$1.3 billion the OFWs remitted to the nation’s economy in the first month of 2009.
SSS eases requirements for summer training program
The Social Security System (SSS) has eased down the requirements for its summer training program for student-dependents of displaced workers to allow more applicants to qualify, a top official said.
SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Romulo Neri said siblings of displaced workers would be accepted in addition to children, nephews and nieces of laid off employees and students registered with SSS.
“We have also extended the application period to March 27 to give students more time to submit the required documents to the SSS branch where they want to be assigned,” he said.
Under the new guidelines, the applicant or the SSS member related to the student must have been laid off within the last 24 months due to the present economic crisis and has at least one contribution payment within the same period. A total of 2,000 trainees would be accepted in the program.
The SSS launched the summer training program as part of efforts to help its members and their families affected by the ongoing financial crisis, which has led to job losses here and abroad. Students must be enrolled in any semester for the school year 2008 to 2009 to be eligible.
“Aside from enjoying hands-on training on social security services, the selected students would also receive a P340 daily allowance,” Neri said.
Students must submit an application form with their birth certificate, latest school registration card, valid school ID, medical certificate and proof that they or their parent, sibling, uncle or aunt has lost their job. Application forms are available at any SSS branch and at the SSS website.
SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Romulo Neri said siblings of displaced workers would be accepted in addition to children, nephews and nieces of laid off employees and students registered with SSS.
“We have also extended the application period to March 27 to give students more time to submit the required documents to the SSS branch where they want to be assigned,” he said.
Under the new guidelines, the applicant or the SSS member related to the student must have been laid off within the last 24 months due to the present economic crisis and has at least one contribution payment within the same period. A total of 2,000 trainees would be accepted in the program.
The SSS launched the summer training program as part of efforts to help its members and their families affected by the ongoing financial crisis, which has led to job losses here and abroad. Students must be enrolled in any semester for the school year 2008 to 2009 to be eligible.
“Aside from enjoying hands-on training on social security services, the selected students would also receive a P340 daily allowance,” Neri said.
Students must submit an application form with their birth certificate, latest school registration card, valid school ID, medical certificate and proof that they or their parent, sibling, uncle or aunt has lost their job. Application forms are available at any SSS branch and at the SSS website.
Video docu, interactive tutorial software on sustainable devt launched inNEDA
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Agriculture Staff ─which is the coordinating secretariat of the Philippine Council forSustainable Development (PCSD) ─ recently launched the video documentationon Sustainable Development (SD) Localization Best Practices and the SDMainstreaming Handbook Interactive Tutorial Software at the NEDA office.These outputs were developed under the assistance of the United NationsDevelopment Programme (UNDP) 2008 Country Program Action Plan-Environmentand Natural Resource-Capacity and Operation Enhancement (CPAP ENR CORE)Programme.
The 35-minute video documentation showcases four different modalities of SDlocalization practices representing various ecosystems (forest, coastal,water, and agriculture) in four distinct sites: Camarines Norte, LIPASECUmunicipalities of Antique; Maragusan of Compostela Valley; and Lake Mainitof Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte.
On the other hand, the SD Mainstreaming Handbook Interactive TutorialSoftware, uploaded in the PCSD website (www.pcsd.neda.gov.ph) allows forready access and use of specific tools, such as the SD Analyzer, tomainstream SD in decision-making processes.
In his opening remarks, NEDA Deputy Director General Rolando G. Tungpalan said that launching the two outputs will help NEDAns to “internalize theprinciples of sustainable development and put them into practice” thusmainstreaming SD in planning, programming, monitoring and evaluation. Headded that beyond raising awareness on SD, what is more important are theoutcomes which are put to practice, thus gaining the benefits of SD.
DDG Tungpalan also read Secretary Recto’s message: “We hope that ourplanners and decision-makers will be inspired by these best practices, movebeyond traditional, top-down and unilateral decision-making processes andconsider innovative ways in finding a common solution. We hope that morelocal decision-makers will be able to use the tools to guide them in their development processes and give their feedback on how to further refine thetools”.
Meanwhile, UNDP Philippines Country Director Renaud Meyer acknowledged themilestones of the PCSD in 17 years.
“We are delighted that NEDA has taken a step further to share the[Sustainable Development] Handbook to a lot of people,” Meyer said, addingthat the Documentation of SD Localization Best Practices has also been apowerful demonstration of UNDP and NEDA’s partnership that revolves aroundvarious development issues and commitment to share those practices to thelargest possible group of people.
The 35-minute video documentation showcases four different modalities of SDlocalization practices representing various ecosystems (forest, coastal,water, and agriculture) in four distinct sites: Camarines Norte, LIPASECUmunicipalities of Antique; Maragusan of Compostela Valley; and Lake Mainitof Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte.
On the other hand, the SD Mainstreaming Handbook Interactive TutorialSoftware, uploaded in the PCSD website (www.pcsd.neda.gov.ph) allows forready access and use of specific tools, such as the SD Analyzer, tomainstream SD in decision-making processes.
In his opening remarks, NEDA Deputy Director General Rolando G. Tungpalan said that launching the two outputs will help NEDAns to “internalize theprinciples of sustainable development and put them into practice” thusmainstreaming SD in planning, programming, monitoring and evaluation. Headded that beyond raising awareness on SD, what is more important are theoutcomes which are put to practice, thus gaining the benefits of SD.
DDG Tungpalan also read Secretary Recto’s message: “We hope that ourplanners and decision-makers will be inspired by these best practices, movebeyond traditional, top-down and unilateral decision-making processes andconsider innovative ways in finding a common solution. We hope that morelocal decision-makers will be able to use the tools to guide them in their development processes and give their feedback on how to further refine thetools”.
Meanwhile, UNDP Philippines Country Director Renaud Meyer acknowledged themilestones of the PCSD in 17 years.
“We are delighted that NEDA has taken a step further to share the[Sustainable Development] Handbook to a lot of people,” Meyer said, addingthat the Documentation of SD Localization Best Practices has also been apowerful demonstration of UNDP and NEDA’s partnership that revolves aroundvarious development issues and commitment to share those practices to thelargest possible group of people.
Award-winning Enterprise Solution and Service Provider Reinforces Commitment to the Philippines
Supply Chain Consulting set to strengthen local initiatives
The Oracle Partner Network (OPN) Partner Awards in the Philippines recently recognized Supply Chain Consulting, Philippines, Inc. for its success with Oracle technology and applications. Supply Chain Consulting is a leading global provider of enterprise software solutions and services headquartered in Australia. The company won two out of only eight awards given by Oracle, namely Applications Reseller of the Year and Partner of the Year for Public Sector.
The awards were welcome recognition of Supply Chain Consulting’s growing footprint in the Philippines since it became the company’s regional office for Asia in 2005. The company acquired Magnus Asia four years ago, making Supply Chain Consulting the largest Australian-owned SAP consultancy with increased presence in the Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.
Jan Biezepol, Supply Chain Consulting Managing Director for Asia said, “The awards not only acknowledged our innovation and success as a leading-edge solutions and services provider; they also recognized our increasing efforts in the Philippines to provide real benefits and results to businesses, and increase our local footprint.”
Supply Chain Consulting is currently affiliated with SAP and Oracle, and is an active member of the local SAP Partner Advisory Board, which links SAP and the local systems integrators community.
“SAP is quite important to our business as our Asian and Australian businesses handle mostly SAP-related work, and our businesses for both regions are 95% SAP,” said Biezepol.
The company remains positive despite the current downturn as it reported a strong first quarter and is expecting growth prospects despite the critical market conditions. Over the last decade, Supply Chain Consulting has built an extensive client portfolio with over 100 customers in Asia and Australia.
“2009 will be a year for increased technological partnerships, business collaborations, and local community involvement for Supply Chain Consulting. We started the year recognized for our exceptional work with our clients, and we want to spread this into partnerships especially since the crisis has affected many sectors of society,” stated Biezepol.
The Oracle Partner Network (OPN) Partner Awards in the Philippines recently recognized Supply Chain Consulting, Philippines, Inc. for its success with Oracle technology and applications. Supply Chain Consulting is a leading global provider of enterprise software solutions and services headquartered in Australia. The company won two out of only eight awards given by Oracle, namely Applications Reseller of the Year and Partner of the Year for Public Sector.
The awards were welcome recognition of Supply Chain Consulting’s growing footprint in the Philippines since it became the company’s regional office for Asia in 2005. The company acquired Magnus Asia four years ago, making Supply Chain Consulting the largest Australian-owned SAP consultancy with increased presence in the Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.
Jan Biezepol, Supply Chain Consulting Managing Director for Asia said, “The awards not only acknowledged our innovation and success as a leading-edge solutions and services provider; they also recognized our increasing efforts in the Philippines to provide real benefits and results to businesses, and increase our local footprint.”
Supply Chain Consulting is currently affiliated with SAP and Oracle, and is an active member of the local SAP Partner Advisory Board, which links SAP and the local systems integrators community.
“SAP is quite important to our business as our Asian and Australian businesses handle mostly SAP-related work, and our businesses for both regions are 95% SAP,” said Biezepol.
The company remains positive despite the current downturn as it reported a strong first quarter and is expecting growth prospects despite the critical market conditions. Over the last decade, Supply Chain Consulting has built an extensive client portfolio with over 100 customers in Asia and Australia.
“2009 will be a year for increased technological partnerships, business collaborations, and local community involvement for Supply Chain Consulting. We started the year recognized for our exceptional work with our clients, and we want to spread this into partnerships especially since the crisis has affected many sectors of society,” stated Biezepol.
Sibale hosts 6th RDL-CLEAR Writing Workshop
From March 26 to 28, 2009, Romblon’s literary fever will notch a few degrees higher as the Concepcion National High School (CNHS) in Sibale hosts the 6th RDL-CLEAR Writing Workshop on the Three Romblon Languages—Asi, Unhan, and Ini.
The writing workshop is an annual pilgrimage for young Romblomanon writers.
RDL-CLEAR has tapped Kusog Sibalenhon, an association of Sibalenhons engaged in cultural, economic and welfare programs for the island of Sibale, to organize the workshop. Kusog, in turn, has joined hands with the Concepcion National High School (CNHS) to co-host the activity.
“Kusog is proud to organize this year’s RDL-CLEAR writing workshop, and prouder still to bring it to Sibale, Romblon’s remotest municipality,” said Nicon Fameronag, Kusog chair and who himself is an Asi writer.
For this year’s edition of the most anticipated date in Romblon’s literary calendar, Kusog Sibalenhon has invited Victor Emmanuel Carmelo D. Nadera, Jr., an award-winning poet, fictionist, playwright, and essayist as resource person, and Ryan Machado, a noted Unhan writer, as a critique-lecturer.
Ismael Fabicon, RDL-CLEAR chair emeritus and one of Romblon’s acknowledged cultural warriors, will be participating in the workshop. As in the past workshops, he will share his wisdom and experiences on writing in one’s own language and issue the challenge to the writers to utilize to the fullest their literary expression in their own tongues.
The writing workshop seeks to promote and preserve Asi, Unhan, and Ini and to re-awaken the Romblomanons’ consciousness about their rich language heritage. It also aims to develop Romblomanon writers in these languages.
Young writers from Romblon’s 17 municipalities have been invited to join the workshop. Selected fellows will be entitled to full reimbursement of the transportation expenses to and from the workshop venue and to free food and accommodation. They shall, likewise, be paid modest honoraria for the three-day workshop.
Every year, RDL-CLEAR sponsors the workshop in the hope of mining the rich literary talents in the province.
There will be at least 20 writing fellows in this year’s workshop. Some of them are third- and fourth-year high school students; some enrolled in colleges and universities. Some have written either a poem, or a short story, or a play, or an essay, or a news feature in a newspaper or campus publication, while still others are members of a cultural group and are engaged in a cultural activity in their respective communities. Most have shown an inclination to write or pursue a writing career.
Fameronag said there is much to be gained from the writing workshop.
“For one, it will once again bring to the surface the heretofore undiscovered literary talents of the Romblomanons. For another, it will expose the young writers to the crude tools of the writing craft and they will be better for it,” he said.
For more information about the workshop, call Nicon F. Fameronag at 0917 623 8842 or email him at aralcalil [at] yahoo.com.
The writing workshop is an annual pilgrimage for young Romblomanon writers.
RDL-CLEAR has tapped Kusog Sibalenhon, an association of Sibalenhons engaged in cultural, economic and welfare programs for the island of Sibale, to organize the workshop. Kusog, in turn, has joined hands with the Concepcion National High School (CNHS) to co-host the activity.
“Kusog is proud to organize this year’s RDL-CLEAR writing workshop, and prouder still to bring it to Sibale, Romblon’s remotest municipality,” said Nicon Fameronag, Kusog chair and who himself is an Asi writer.
For this year’s edition of the most anticipated date in Romblon’s literary calendar, Kusog Sibalenhon has invited Victor Emmanuel Carmelo D. Nadera, Jr., an award-winning poet, fictionist, playwright, and essayist as resource person, and Ryan Machado, a noted Unhan writer, as a critique-lecturer.
Ismael Fabicon, RDL-CLEAR chair emeritus and one of Romblon’s acknowledged cultural warriors, will be participating in the workshop. As in the past workshops, he will share his wisdom and experiences on writing in one’s own language and issue the challenge to the writers to utilize to the fullest their literary expression in their own tongues.
The writing workshop seeks to promote and preserve Asi, Unhan, and Ini and to re-awaken the Romblomanons’ consciousness about their rich language heritage. It also aims to develop Romblomanon writers in these languages.
Young writers from Romblon’s 17 municipalities have been invited to join the workshop. Selected fellows will be entitled to full reimbursement of the transportation expenses to and from the workshop venue and to free food and accommodation. They shall, likewise, be paid modest honoraria for the three-day workshop.
Every year, RDL-CLEAR sponsors the workshop in the hope of mining the rich literary talents in the province.
There will be at least 20 writing fellows in this year’s workshop. Some of them are third- and fourth-year high school students; some enrolled in colleges and universities. Some have written either a poem, or a short story, or a play, or an essay, or a news feature in a newspaper or campus publication, while still others are members of a cultural group and are engaged in a cultural activity in their respective communities. Most have shown an inclination to write or pursue a writing career.
Fameronag said there is much to be gained from the writing workshop.
“For one, it will once again bring to the surface the heretofore undiscovered literary talents of the Romblomanons. For another, it will expose the young writers to the crude tools of the writing craft and they will be better for it,” he said.
For more information about the workshop, call Nicon F. Fameronag at 0917 623 8842 or email him at aralcalil [at] yahoo.com.
CHIZ TO COMELEC: ENSURE SAFEGUARDS ARE IN PLACE VS AUTOMATED CHEATING
Sen. Chiz Escudero on called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to make sure that safeguards are in place to prevent automated cheating in the 2010 elections.
“After nine long years of mal-administration, our country cannot afford to have a failure of elections next year. If that happens, our people will completely lose faith in the electoral process,” Escudero, who chairs the Senate’s Committee on Electoral Reforms and the Oversight Committee on the Automated Electoral System, said.
The senator, who was among those who voted against the P11.3 billion supplemental budget for the full automation of the 2010 general elections, issued the statement after Malacanang said the bill would be signed this week.
Escudero said that during the hearings the Comelec failed to answer basic questions on how it would implement the poll automation project.
“I voted against the supplemental budget because the Comelec failed to say how they will spend the 11.3 billion. They still don’t know what they will buy,” he said.
“This is the single, biggest contract in government right now. Maybe this is why so many people are pushing for immediate automation without even knowing how it will work,” Escudero added.
Escudero also asked how the Comelec will deal with the expected long list of candidates from the presidential to the city and municipal councils and the possible mistakes of voters in filling up the ballot.
The opposition senator also said that the Senate oversight committee will now focus and closely monitor the way the Comelec will spend the funds and implement the unprecedented plan to hold the country’s first fully automated election.
“We cannot take chances. We have to remain vigilant to the very end,” Escudero said.#
CHIZ: LOOK FOR SPORTS CHAMPIONS IN GRASSROOTS COMPETITION
Catanduanes - Senator Chiz Escudero on Monday urged sports organizations to pan for gold in athletic competitions held at the grassroots level, which he described as a rich but neglected source of homegrown talents.
Speaking before participants of the Palarong Bicol at the Catanduanes Sports Complex, Escudero lauded the efforts of the organizers to reach out to a greater number of Bicolano athletes in search of local and international champions.
“Grassroots competitions can very well be the gold mine in our search for Manny Pacquiaos and Wesley Sos of the future. We are a country of champions and our search for winners should not only focus on the cities but take us to the very remotest barrios as well,” he said.
Escudero, a Bicolano himself, said although the search for future international medalists should not be limited to local talents, the government however should scout for potential champions among our homegrown athletes.
“Instead of fixing our eyes abroad for Filipino athletes, it would be better to focus our attention to the provinces, although we should not discriminate against Filipinos excelling in competitions in other countries,” the senator said.
The provincial government of Catanduanes is this year’s host of the Palarong Bicol 2009, which would be held from March 22 to 28. Athletes come from participating schools in the six provinces of Bicol, which are Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Sorsogon and Catanduanes.#
“After nine long years of mal-administration, our country cannot afford to have a failure of elections next year. If that happens, our people will completely lose faith in the electoral process,” Escudero, who chairs the Senate’s Committee on Electoral Reforms and the Oversight Committee on the Automated Electoral System, said.
The senator, who was among those who voted against the P11.3 billion supplemental budget for the full automation of the 2010 general elections, issued the statement after Malacanang said the bill would be signed this week.
Escudero said that during the hearings the Comelec failed to answer basic questions on how it would implement the poll automation project.
“I voted against the supplemental budget because the Comelec failed to say how they will spend the 11.3 billion. They still don’t know what they will buy,” he said.
“This is the single, biggest contract in government right now. Maybe this is why so many people are pushing for immediate automation without even knowing how it will work,” Escudero added.
Escudero also asked how the Comelec will deal with the expected long list of candidates from the presidential to the city and municipal councils and the possible mistakes of voters in filling up the ballot.
The opposition senator also said that the Senate oversight committee will now focus and closely monitor the way the Comelec will spend the funds and implement the unprecedented plan to hold the country’s first fully automated election.
“We cannot take chances. We have to remain vigilant to the very end,” Escudero said.#
CHIZ: LOOK FOR SPORTS CHAMPIONS IN GRASSROOTS COMPETITION
Catanduanes - Senator Chiz Escudero on Monday urged sports organizations to pan for gold in athletic competitions held at the grassroots level, which he described as a rich but neglected source of homegrown talents.
Speaking before participants of the Palarong Bicol at the Catanduanes Sports Complex, Escudero lauded the efforts of the organizers to reach out to a greater number of Bicolano athletes in search of local and international champions.
“Grassroots competitions can very well be the gold mine in our search for Manny Pacquiaos and Wesley Sos of the future. We are a country of champions and our search for winners should not only focus on the cities but take us to the very remotest barrios as well,” he said.
Escudero, a Bicolano himself, said although the search for future international medalists should not be limited to local talents, the government however should scout for potential champions among our homegrown athletes.
“Instead of fixing our eyes abroad for Filipino athletes, it would be better to focus our attention to the provinces, although we should not discriminate against Filipinos excelling in competitions in other countries,” the senator said.
The provincial government of Catanduanes is this year’s host of the Palarong Bicol 2009, which would be held from March 22 to 28. Athletes come from participating schools in the six provinces of Bicol, which are Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Sorsogon and Catanduanes.#
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