| A top level Guam Senate team visited the country last week to finalize details on the hiring of 20,000 Filipino skilled workers for the construction of military headquarters in Guam beginning July 2010, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) today said. Guam Senators Judith P. Guthertz and Rory J. Respicio held high level talks with Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque and Administrators Jennifer Manalili of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and Carmelita Dimzon of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). The two legislators also met with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Augusto Syjuco. Guthertz chairs the Guam legislature's committee on Guam U.S. military buildup. She is also Guam's homeland security assistant majority leader. Respicio chairs the Guam legislature committee on rules, natural resources, federal foreign and Micronesia affairs majority leader. Roque said the visit of the Guam delegation to the country indicated Guam's preference and intent to hire OFWs to meet its manpower requirements for the relocation and construction of U.S. military facilities from Okinawa to Guam in the next five years. He said military construction in Guam is scheduled to start in July 2010, which means that hiring and deployment of OFWs to Guam could be simultaneous as construction begins or could even be earlier than July next year. He said Guam would initially need engineers, architects, allied professionals, and skilled construction workers. But as military buildup continues coupled with the relocation of more military personnel and their families from Okinawa to Guam, it is envisioned that this island U.S territory may also hire OFWs in the service and healthcare sectors. In view of the bright prospects for OFWs in Guam, Roque said the DOLE and POEA have specified an action agenda for the deployment of OFWs to Guam. On top of the agenda are the adoption of a standard employment contract and the setting up of guidelines on the deployment of Guam-bound OFWs. POEA is expected to come up with the standard contract and deployment guidelines before the year ends, in accordance with U.S. laws which include the U.S. H2B rule prohibiting the charging of recruitment fee from foreign workers. Roque said OFWs wanting to work in Guam should be wary of recruiters who may charge them fees, which is a violation of U.S. laws. He reiterated his calls on OFWs to check first with POEA the veracity of overseas job offers and to report to the authorities recruiters charging prohibitive recruitment fees. |
Thursday, September 10, 2009
2 senior Guam senators visit Manila; offer 20,000 jobs for OFWs
OFWJC and New Partner
cooking delicious nilaga (braised beef): let the beef simmer until tender in
a pot over an open fire.
The cook adds water sparingly to keep the beef juice mesh with the broth.
The cook also adds a log to keep the fire burning at an even temperature.
We have been simmering the meat, so to speak, in this latest packet. The
five stories here have been cooking in our editorial pot since our last
packet in April.
Two of the stories give a new look at remittances and the impact of the
collapse of the global financial system, both by Jeremaiah M. Opiniano. He
also gives us a candid take on the A(H1N1) virus while he traveled to and
from Rome, Italy.
There's also a somber assessment of foreign workers in the United States by
T. Christian Miller of ProPublica as well as a focus on women in the US by
OFWJC reporter Ruben Jeffrey Asuncion.
While simmering the beef, the OFW Journalism Consortium was also asked to
add ingredients to two possible sumptuous sources of stories.
One is a potential partnership with the Ateneo de Manila University's
Department of Psychology for online professional counseling services for
overseas Filipinos and their families. Another is a likely long-term
relationship with 88Db.com on OFWs' electoral participation for and beyond
the 2010 presidential elections.
The relations would be just like sharing dishes between neighbors who
recently moved in the same street.
Going back to the stories, again, like nilaga cooked on an open fire during
fiestas, they are given free.
We just ask you to acknowledge the cook, in this case, the authors, and the
house where the stories are being simmered, in this case, the OFW Journalism
Consortium.
Enrile opposes text tax without rate cut
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said he would only agree to the proposal to impose a five-centavo excise tax on text messages only if the telecommunication companies would reduce their current rates as a way to ensure that the additional burden will not be shouldered by consumers.
Enrile said there was no way the proposed House measure could guarantee that the tax burden will not be passed on to consumers, despite the so-called "no pass-on" provision allegedly contained in the House bill.
"My proposal, which I broached during the last Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) in Malacañang, was for the telcos to first reduce their current rates before any text tax can be imposed so that we guarantee that the tax burden will not fall on the shoulders of consumers," Enrile said.
"For example, the current P1 per text rate can be reduced to 80 centavos and government can get a 10 percent tax on that rate. That way, after the tax, telcos still collect 72 centavos per text message. It will be fair because it ensures that the tax burden will not be passed on to the consumers," Enrile added.
He said imposing an additional five-centavo tax on top of the present rate of P1 per text message was "not warranted," noting that the measure approved by the House Ways and Means Committee last Tuesday would result in an "indirect tax on consumers."
Enrile said he doubted if the House measure as it is would be passed in the Senate. "I myself will vote against it if the interest of the texting public will be prejudiced," he said.
Enrile explained that his proposal would not result in huge profit losses to telcos since the reduction of the rates would definitely mean a substantial increase in the volume of text messaging. "Their volume of sales will definitely increase once they reduce their rates because people will be sending more text messages," Enrile said.
Enrile said he agreed with the proposition that an excise text tax will help increase government revenues to finance a comprehensive computer literacy program in public schools.
However, Enrile said he would oppose any new taxes without giving commensurate relief to the public since the people were already having a hard time coping with the current economic difficulties.
"Government must find creative ways to spur the economy apart from burdening the public with additional impositions. Allowing the people to keep their savings and spending them would definitely prompt more economic activities," he explained.
The Senate President also expressed concern over the cost to be incurred by the government in a metering system to monitor the text messaging sales of telcos.
"The metering system may be good in principle but will it be financially feasible considering the high costs of the metering machines?" Enrile asked.
At the same time, Enrile echoed the concern raised by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez that metering system could violate the Filipino's right to privacy.
Enrile noted that House Bill 262 seeks to install a "metering device to directly link the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), and telecommunications companies to be able to capture all the revenues by mobile telecommunications companies in their database..."
Enrile said this provision could pave the way for government agencies to pry on text messages transmitted by cell phone users. "I share the concern that this metering system could clash with the people's right to privacy of communication as it could be open to abuse," Enrile said.
The Senate President said his objection against text tax was consistent with his advocacy against the burdensome royalty on indigenous sources of energy such as natural gas which translates to very high generation costs as essentially borne by the consumers.
He said reducing the royalty taxes would allow Filipino households enjoy lower electricity rates and after all, natural gas is a natural resource owned by the people and should therefore benefit the public at the least cost to them.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Ople Center seeks creation of a joint task force to curb use of Filipinos as drug mules
The non-government organization involved in helping distressed overseas workers, expressed alarm over the rising number of drug smuggling incidents abroad involving Filipinos, most of who are women.
Former labor undersecretary Susan Ople, head of the policy center, cited the recent arrest of a Filipina caught with five kilograms of cocaine at the Puduraya bus station in Malaysia last week.
The 45-year old suspect was said to have received US$3,000 (RM 10, 596) by a foreign drug trafficking ring. The drugs were diluted and dried with an assortment of t-shirts found in her baggage. She has been charged under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1952 which carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.
Ople said that there was another case of a Filipino arrested and charged last February in Shanghai, China for bringing in 60 cylinder-shaped articles wrapped in scotch tape found inside her body which, contained 607 grams of heroin.
During the trial, the suspect admitted that she swallowed 60 capsules of drugs but had no idea that the capsules contained heroin. The Filipina claimed that she followed the instructions of the syndicate because her mother was seriously ill and she has many children to support. In consideration of her voluntary admission, the Shanghai court rendered a sentence of 15 years fixed term imprisonment, rather than the death penalty. Ople said what is worrisome is that some syndicates are now using pregnant women as drug mules, to reduce suspicion and in the hopes that the "mules" when caught, will be given a lighter sentence.
"In the end, it is our own citizens that are put in jail while the ringleaders of these syndicates remain scot-free," the Center stressed, adding that most of the syndicates are led by Nigerian nationals.
According to the DFA, around 500 Filipinos are in various jails around the world due to drug smuggling, with at least 200 of them detained in China alone.
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
DPWH PREPARES FOR PEÑAFRANCIA FESTIVAL
Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. said that he had already instructed the DPWH Bicol Region Office and its district engineering offices to undertake road maintenance works such as pothole asphalt patching operation, vegetation control, drainage clearing operation and road marking/signages repainting works.
" An estimated 20,000 motorists are expected to visit Naga City to attend the festivities on the 3rd week of September that's why it is important to make all the national roads in Region 5 passable and in good condition all the time" Ebdane said.
In his report to Secretary Ebdane, DPWH Region 5 Director Danilo Manalang said that the contractors of the on-going works along the Andaya Highway are invited in the recent DPWH Region V Staff Meeting and were directed to assure that flagmen are deployed on 24/7 basis and warning signages are visible even at night.
To date, almost 90% of the on-going asphalt overlay project which includes the Del Gallego-Ragay Section and Ragay-Sipocot Section along Andaya Highway is already complete and is expected to be completed before the end of November this year.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
ICTSI Mindanao unit is first Philippine cargo handler to be IiP-certified
South Cotabato Integrated Port Services,
Inc. (SCIPSI) recently became the first cargo handling company in the Philippines to be Investors in People (IiP) certified. The award was given by the People Management Association of the Philippines during its 547th general
membership meeting held in Makati City. Photo shows Edgardo Abesamis (2nd from left), ICTSI Executive Vice President and Gabriel Muñasque, SCIPSI General
Manager (3rd from left), receiving the IiP certification. With them are Grace Abella-Zata (far left),
PMAP President and Gerry Plana, SCIPSI Investors in People Adviser. IiP is an internationally recognized standard
that helps improve organizational performance through its people. SCIPSI is a subsidiary of International
Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), a leading port management company
involved in the operations and development of 19 maritime terminals and port
projects in 13 countries worldwide. For
over 20 years, ICTSI has proven itself to be the private sector partner of
choice for world-class trade facilitation in the economies it serves.
Rice varieties that can withstand climate change developed
Durable rice varieties that can withstand drought conditions and carry better nutritional values for an expanding population have been developed through breeding, biotechnology and selection.
Director Alicia Ilaga of the Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Program Office said that submergence, flood, drought and saline-tolerant rice varieties can already be used and their production should be increased.
Among the developers of the said rice varieties are the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), UC-Davis, Nagoya University, University of the Philippines Los Baños and the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).
For his part, PhilRice's Dr. Antonio A. Alfonso said rice is such a crucial food item for the country since 86 percent of the entire population depends on it and it accounts for 35 percent of consumers' daily caloric intake.
A plant breeder and biotechnologist, Dr. Alfonso stressed such varieties would redound to increased income for 2.4 million rice farmers with an average of six household members. A farmer tills an average of 1.14 hectares.
PhilRice is supported by IRRI, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, JAAS of China, Rockefeller Foundation and a host of local funding agencies.
The major aspects of the research and development efforts in rice are increased yield, resistance to pests, better physical and milling qualities, abiotic stress tolerance and good quality for consumption.
Alfonso stressed these varieties must likewise be acceptable to farmers, millers and consumers, must show stability of traits, adaptable to all weather conditions and must grow quicker.
Other considerations are the number of productive litters, increased number of grains per panicle, grain weight, weed competitiveness, resistance to lodging, adaptability to crop establishment and management practices and genetic diversity.
The target growing environment is important in setting the breeding objectives, he noted, and this covers irrigated lowlands, areas for transplanting, direct-seeded irrigated lowland, wet-seeded, dry-seeded and even flood-prone areas.
Alfonso said that the varieties must also grow in rainfed upland areas, cool elevated land, saline-prone zones and other types of soils.
PhilRice develops new varieties from existing strains and combine various traits in a single variety.
In the process of developing the best variety, PhilRice scientists will work on various combinations and permutations, testing the strains as to output, ease and timeliness in production and adaptability to both climatic and agronomic conditions. (biolife news service)
DOLE launches own anti-Red Tape Campaign
its "Citizen's Charter," a set of standards aimed at cutting down
bureaucratic Red Tape.
Labor Undersecretary for Internal Affairs and Regional Operations Carmelita
Pineda, who chairs the DOLE Anti-Red Tape Task Force, personally presented
to Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque, and CSC Assistant
Commissioner Anicia de Lima the copy of the Charter in a simple ceremony
held at the DOLE's Blas F. Ople Hall in Intramuros.
Roque said that the event, dubbed "Hawak Kamay Laban sa Red Tape," affirmed
the ongoing DOLE efforts to effectively eliminate all semblance of
bureaucratic red tape and avert graft and corruption in the delivery of all
its frontline services in the interest of the Filipino workers.
Roque maintained that such consistent thrusts are necessary in all DOLE
services, bureaus, regional offices, overseas posts, and attached agencies,
many of which are rendering crucial services for the country's Three Plus
(3+) social partners (labor, management, government and other sectors), and
the public.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had passed into law RA 9485, or the
Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 otherwise known as "An Act to Improve Efficiency
in the Delivery of Government Service to the Public Reducing Bureaucratic
Red Tape, Preventing Graft and Corruption, and Providing Penalties Thereof."
Then, the Civil Service Commission promulgated the said Act's Implementing
Rules and Regulations (IRR), which took effect on September 5, 2008.
The DOLE, as one of the 15 pilot government agencies, undertook a leading
role in ensuring the Department-wide implementation of the Anti-Red Tape
measures pursuant to RA 9485 and its IRR.
The Labor and Employment Secretary's efforts to achieve the DOLE Citizen's
Charter, an 87-page document, emphasizes the DOLE's vision and mission
towards full, decent, and productive employment for the Filipino worker, in
consonance with its mandates to promote employment opportunities, develop
human resources, promote the welfare of workers and maintain industrial
peace.
Roque said the Charter contains relevant information and the step-by-step
procedures for both workers and clients wanting to avail of the DOLE's
frontline services, with simplified procedures to hasten services delivery
and deter graft.
The DOLE Charter identifies the active, ongoing DOLE programs and projects
in 1) Job Search Assistance for Wage Employment 2) Capacity-building Program
for Livelihood to assist workers in the formal, informal and overseas
sectors; 3) Social Partnership Promotion and Dispute Resolution Program;
4) Professional Regulation, Technical-Vocational Education and Training and
Productivity Programs; 5) Ensure Fair and Just Terms and Conditions of
Employment; 6) Social Protection and Welfare; and, 7) Occupational Safety
and Health.
In brief, under the acronym "DOLE", the Charter elucidates the performance
pledge of the Department to its clients locally and worldwide to, "deliver
services in accordance with the procedures and timeframe provided in our
service standards; open our hotlines, text service facilities, and website
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so that [clients]may have easy access to
information on our services wherever you are; listen to and act on
complaints as well as suggestions, and ensure that we shall attend promptly
to your service needs, without qualification, and courteously handle each
transaction with patience and in accordance with our Code of Ethics."
The Department's open hotlines provided for its global and local clientele
include Hotline DOLE 2917 for Globe subscribers; 908-2917 for non-Globe
subscribers; complemented by Short Messaging System (SMS) for text messages
to 2910 (free calls for Globe and TM subscribers); and the 24/7 DOLE website
in the Internet, www.dole.gov.ph END mjlc
***
Ayala-owned bank BPI Dispute with Labor Settled; BPI workers get P510 M economic package
at the Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI) was settled benefitting 3,800 BPI
workers in the National Capital Region who stand to receive a total of P510
million economic package covering a three-year period from April 1, 2009 to
May 31, 2011.
Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said the BPI Employees
Union - Metro Manila and the BPI management signed an eight-point agreement
that resolved the deadlock in collective bargaining agreement (CBA)
negotiations between the two parties.
Roque cited the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) for
expediently resolving the deadlock following an almost 10 hours of
conciliation hearing last Sept. 2.
Citing a report from NCMB-NCR, Roque said the parties agreed to a total of
P2, 500.00 monthly wage increase - P700.00 effective April 1, 2009,
another P700.00 effective October 1, 2009, and P1,100.00 effective April 1,
2010.
The agreement also provides for a signing bonus of P9,000.00 per covered
employee, a one-time financial assistance of P6,000.00 per covered employee,
and another monthly financial assistance of P50.00 effective April, 2009.
An additional daily COLA of P50.00 effective April 1, 2009 and another
P100.00 effective April 1, 2010 shall also be provided to the workers.
The agreement also provides for uniform allowance, holiday pay, and a
maximum of P120,000.00 maternity benefits.
Based on the NCMB report, the BPI Employees Union - Metro Manila filed a
notice of strike with the NCMB on July 20, 2009 following the deadlock in
CBA negotiations with BPI management on economic and non-economic issues
covering 2009-2011. Conciliation conferences with the parties were
subsequently held leading to the settlement of their CBA deadlock last Sept.
2, 2009.
Strike Incidence in the Philippines Continues to Decline
country continued to decrease as threats by workers to declare work
stoppages declined during the first eight months of 2009.
Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said there was a 20
percent decrease in strikes as only four work stoppages occurred from
January to August this year compared to five in the same period in 2008.
Roque cited a report from the National Conciliation and Mediation Board
(NCMB) which showed that two of the four strikes occurred in July, while the
two others were declared in February and March 2009.
He said the four strikes lasted an average of only three days as the NCMB
exerted efforts to settle the strikes and prevent further disruptions of
activities at the industrial front.
As a result of shorter strike duration, Roque noted that productive workdays
lost also declined by 79 percent compared to the 2008 figures.
The DOLE Chief said the decline in strike incidence is a testament to the
stability of the country's labor relations climate as workers threatening to
declare work stoppages by filing notices of strikes with NCMB declined.
NCMB data showed that for the period ending August 31, 2009, the Board
received 208 new notices of strikes filed by workers, declining 21% from the
263 new cases docketed during the first eight months in 2008.
The fewer strikes notices also involved smaller number of workers from
48,651 in comparable period in 2008 to 44,436 this year.
Roque also said that preventive mediation (PM) cases registered similar
decline as new cases docketed during the period dropped to 11 percent from
368 PM cases last year to 329 this year.
The Labor and Employment Secretary attributed the downtrend in
conciliation-mediation cases to the maturity of labor and management, saying
the two parties now opt to discuss their differences in the shop floor
instead of fighting it out in the picket lines, or in the courts.
He said the maturity of the two parties to settle their differences
underscored efforts to prevent industrial disruptions which subsequently
helped the country cope with the global economic slowdown late last year
until the first semester of the current year.
He said the NCMB's proactive programs on workplace relations enhancement and
workplace dispute resolution mechanisms have played a great part in the
reduction of labor disputes. The Board, he added, has intensified its
activities in the setting up of labor management cooperation schemes and
grievance machinery (GMs) mechanisms in establishments.
To date, there are a total of 1,334 active and functioning workplace
cooperation and partnerships (WCPs) that continue to benefit 320,000 workers
nationwide in terms of improved communication, better management practices,
and improved corporate social responsibility.
Also, 1,447 active and functioning GMs are in place ready to process and
resolve workplace conflicts before these could mature into full blown labor
disputes that could disrupt company or business operations.
Friday, September 04, 2009
Groups join hands for sustainable agriculture in Cordilleras
Underlining corporate social responsibility, CropLife, Crop Protection Association of the Philippines (CPAP) and the Philippine Integrated Crop Management Association, Inc. (PICMA), all associations of the manufacturers of agricultural chemical products in the country, sponsored a seminar that sought to untangle for communicators and journalists the confusion over what is sustainable agriculture and what is not. Regional Executive Director for the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resrources (DENR) Primitivo Galinato Jr later appealed on the need for an advocacy to help protect the Cordillera watershed areas, citing the wanton encroachment of vegetable farms in the upland areas as a cause for alarm. "These farming activities might be of help economically to our farmers but it is not sustainable in the long run, for our ecosystems when destroyed will be very hard to bring back to its intended usage, that is, of being a watershed," he said. Part of the problem, Galinato said is a local legislation in the area that presently "allows the issuance of tax declarations even in national parks." Describing the Cordilleras as "the watershed cradle of northern The region's total land area is 1,829,368 hectares with 1,549,909 designated as forest land area. This means that only 729,539 hectares remain with forest cover. There is a dire need to rehabilitate and reforest more than 481,491 hectares for the The only mossy forests in the Cordilleras, bound by the tri-boundary of Should these environmentally harmful encroachments persist, it will soon affect the region's river systems, Galinato said. Rampant improper farming in the uplands will eventually cause erosion and siltation of the waterways, leading to a general lack of water that will adversely affect even the region's role as the power generator of the area – they propel the turbines of our hydroelectric dams. This same general lack or lessening of water has begun to negatively affect lowland agricultural production. Due to the silted waterways, lowland harvests have begun tapering off in Pangasinan. The CAR-DENR is currently trying to curb vegetable garden encroachment and stop the further destruction of the remaining forest areas in the upland watershed areas. The CAR-DENR will also try to educate and inform the upland communities about the dangers these encroachments will bring. They are also embarking on an advocacy to promote semi-permanent crops like coffee in the watershed areas, even as inter-crops among the vegetables to further help stave off erosion and water run-offs. The CropLife-CPAP-PICMA team-up, in pursuing their corporate citizenship, is looking to support more production on the limited areas now planted to help stave off even more encroachment on the slopes. Florence Vasquez, CropLife president, maintains that "more production on the now-existing farms will hopefully keep the slopes intact by providing enough economic rewards to the farmers now without their having to expand their farmlands even more." Jojo Alejar and Max Obusan, CPAP president and executive director respectively, add that "sustainable agriculture demands a balance between man's need for economic sustenance today and society's need to keep our ecology and environment able to meet the demands and needs of our children and people in the future." |
DA jumpstarts biotech week celebration
| The Department of Agriculture (DA) has kicked off the annual National Biotechnology Week celebration by a series of seminars on agricultural biotechnology products in Negros Occidental, presentation of the natural ingredients study by the Chamber of Herbal Industries of the Philippines, Inc. (CHIPI) and three symposia on biotechnology for teachers that started in Ilocos Norte, Taking the lead in the annual celebration is the Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Program Office (DA-BPO), which has been collaborating with the Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines (BCP), BIONet Pilipinas and the Biotechnology for Life Media and Advocacy Resource Center (BMARC) for several years. Last June 2, a seminar organized by the BCP on the benefits of biotechnology was held in Negros Occidental in the context of Provincial Ordinance No.. 007, Series of 2007, which bans genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Dr. Saturnina Halos, top biotechnology adviser of the DA, expounded on the values of GMOs, particularly on genetically modified feed corn that is being produced in about 400,000 hectares by 100,000 small Filipino farmers. She noted the ban militates against the interest of Filipinos who cultivate GMOs even as the country has been consuming imported food products from GMOs from the US, Argentina, Brazil and Canada.. "It is against the constitutional rights of equal protection under the law of small feed millers and livestock growers in the province whose livelihood is threatened by the ban. Furthermore, a ban on GMOs is in conflict with the national policy on the safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology and their products as enunciated in a policy statement issued by President Arroyo in 2001 and a violation of the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA), which mandates the use of modern biotechnology as a tool for agriculture and fisheries modernization," she counseled. On June 27, the results of the Natural Ingredients Study by the Chamber of Herbal Industries of the Philippines, Inc. (CHIPI) and Hybridigm were also formally announced. CHIPI is the national organization of companies engaged in the research, development, farming, manufacturing, marketing and distribution of natural, herbal and alternative products for personal care, medical use and food supplementation. Hybridigm is a consulting firm that was tapped by the DA-BPO to construct a relevant, objective and comprehensive report on natural ingredients. The following month, the following were held:
Training on DNA Fingerprinting and its Application in Seed Purity of Hybrid Rice Varieties (organized by PhilRice)
· Regional Biotechnology Seminar for Teachers held in Batac, Ilocos Norte (organized by the NIMBB-UPD and SUCs on the theme "Instituting a General Education Biotechnology Course in Philippine State Universities and Colleges) (biolife news service) |
GROUP URGES GOV'T TO BAN CHAMBER OF MINES CONFAB
| The Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), an alliance of 80 civil society organizations nationwide, has urged President Arroyo to exercise her role as the protector of the environment by stopping the scheduled conference and exhibit of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (CMP) scheduled from September 15 to 17 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel in Pasay City. |
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Hugging Lolo SP
| HUGGING LOLO SP: Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile hugs the son of Serbisyong Caviteño awardee Efren Peñaflorida Jr. during the Gawad Heneral Emilio Aguinaldo: Parangal sa Natatatanging Rebolusyonaryong Caviteño awards night at Taal Vista Hotel, Tagaytay City last week. Peñaflorida established the Kariton Classroom which has taught 1,000 street children. (Photo by Albert Calvelo) |
Enrile commends Novo Ecijanos in their continuous fight for agricultural development
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile today assured farmers of Nueva Ecija province of his continued support in the enactment of laws that would create an enabling environment for the agriculture sector to flourish.
Speaking before the 113th Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija Celebration in Palayan City, Enrile promised to push for the protection of the welfare of farmers and agricultural workers, given the alarming developments in both the global and national levels.
"Majority of our people are dependent solely on agriculture for employment and livelihood. However, it is ironic that while this sector contributes significantly to our economy, it is also home to the nation's poorest of the poor," he said.
The senate president, acknowledging that Nueva Ecija has emerged as one of the most progressive provinces in the country today, earning titles such as Rice Granary of the Country, Milk Capital of the Philippines, said he was proud to note that Novo Ecijanos were winning the war against poverty and hunger, even with the country being caught in the "vagaries of the global economic system, and climate change."
Enrile extolled the importance of working hand-in-hand in helping to uplift the lives of fellow Filipinos, saying that that the best way to address poverty, increasing unemployment and rising hunger in many parts of the country was to give the agriculture sector all the necessary support it needed, such as good farm-to-market roads, irrigation networks, post-harvest facilities, fish ports, ice plants and cold storage and lower electricity cost.
"Apart from the agricultural infrastructure, farmers and agricultural workers must also be provided access to credit and technical expertise. Government must invest more in modern technology and research and development to boost farm productivity. Moreover, we must ensure that farmers are the direct beneficiaries of the government's agriculture programs," he added.
Enrile commended the organizers of the event, led by Governor Aurelio "Oyie" Matias Umali, who, he said, gave homage to the uncommon valor, extraordinary courage and strong determination of the Novo Ecijano revolutionaries for giving up their lives to liberate the country from Spanish rule.
"The importance of this event in our nation's history must be emphasized, especially among the youth, because it signaled the participation of the province in the revolt against Spain. Nueva Ecija was one of the first eight provinces that revolted against Spain, hence, it has the distinct honor of being represented in the eight rays of the sun in our national flag," he further said.
-30-
New law vs election cheaters sought
"Congress must pass a new law that would make election cheating a heinous crime. Election cheating is suppressing the will of the people. Vox populi, vox Dei, the voice of the people is the voice of God," Estrada said.
He noted that each election held in the country has been marred by fraud. He even cited the case of his closest friend, the late movie actor Fernando Poe Jr., who ran but lost to President Arroyo in the 2004 elections due to alleged massive cheating.
"Election cheating has been prevalent in the country, that is why we have a bad government. The law imposing the maximum penalty against election cheating must not only be applicable to mayors, governors, lawmakers, but including the president. There must be no exemptions when it comes to the violation of the laws," Estrada said.
The former president has consistently declared that he will try his best to unite the opposition into supporting a single presidential candidate in 2010.
But he admitted that his effort to unify the opposition has turned from dim to impossible.
Estrada said the opposition must learn its lesson from the 2004 presidential elections where many ran for president.
He said the more presidential candidates fielded by the opposition, the easier it would be for the administration to cheat.
Loren hails Senate’s passage of disaster risk reduction bill
The Senate yesterday passed on third and final reading the proposed Disaster Risk Reduction, Management and Recovery Act of 2009 sponsored by Sen. Rodolfo Biazon and co-sponsored by Sen. Loren Legarda.
Loren fully supports the passage of the bill "as it recognizes and addresses the important development issue that is growing disaster risk brought about by climate change".
The bill calls for the formulation of a comprehensive approach to addressing disaster risks through the formulation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction, Management and Recovery Framework.
This measure also proposes the renaming of the present National Disaster Coordinating Council into National Disaster Risk Reduction, Management and Recovery Council. This Council will be headed by the Secretary of the Department of National Defense with the Secretary of the DSWD and DILG, and the Director General of the NEDA as Vice-Chairpersons.
Loren, who is the United Nations' Asia-Pacific Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, is optimistic that the measure will help our communities become more responsive and more resilient to overcome the probable crises ahead.
"As we confront the prevailing and growing climate risks in our midst, our Government and our people must be ready for the worst scenarios -- stronger storms and heavier rains, more serious floods, more droughts, scarcer water, food shortages, displacement of families and livelihoods, and higher incidence of vector-borne diseases, among others."
The measure, recognizing these challenges, seeks to mainstream disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in development processes such as policy formulations, socio-economic development planning, budgeting, and governance.
"I laud the positive steps being taken by the Philippine legislature on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation," Loren said.
Last week, the Senate approved the Bicameral Conference Committee Report on the disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill No 2583 and House Bill 5982, both entitled Climate Change Act of 2009.
Under the bill, a Commission on Climate Change would be created to coordinate and synchronize climate change programs of national government agencies.
Loren, who also chairs the Senate Oversight and Standing Committees on Climate Change, said the bill highlights the synergistic action needed in dealing with climate change and reducing disaster risks.
Recognizing that climate change and disaster risk reduction are closely interrelated and effective disaster risk reduction will enhance climate change adaptive capacity, the bill envisions the integration disaster risk reduction into climate change programs and initiatives.
"I hope that both these measures will bring about the much needed paradigm shift – the change in our way of thinking and our way of doing – and give due importance to disaster prevention and disaster mitigation measures that clearly saves more lives and money more than disaster response or relief does alone," Loren added.
Migrante to COMELEC: Hold OAV special registration
"They gave OFWs 13 months to register before the 2007 elections. We are wondering why this time, the Comelec just gave us less than 7 months. OFWs has only one day-off a week, so practically we were only given 28 days to register for the 2010 election. We reiterate our appeal to the Comelec to give us more time so that we can participate in choosing the next national leaders of our country this coming election," says Gina Esguerra, secretary general of Migrante International.
Esguerra claimed that they were trying to hold a dialogue with Comelec Chairman Jose Melo before the conclusion of OAV registration last August 31, 2009, but the meeting was only set today with Commissioner Armando Velasco.
"We would even like to invite the Comelec Commissioners to visit OFWs in the Middle East specifically in Saudi Arabia so that they will see the actual conditions why OFWs are having a hard time to register. We believe we have done our part when Chairman Melo wrote to us seeking Migrante's assistance to encourage OFWs to register. It is now time for Comelec to give consideration for OFWs by setting a special registration period up to November 20, 2009," Esguerra added.
The group explained that holding a special registration up to November 20 is reasonable enough since the schedule for filing of candidacy will only begin on November 21, 2009. They also claimed that OFWs tend to participate more on Presidential election as experienced during the 2004 elections rather than on senatorial election that was held last 2007.
"The number of OAVs that have registered so far clearly shows that there was not enough time for Comelec to attain its 1 million target. OFWs deserved to be given a second chance to practice their right to vote and all we are asking is an additional two month period which is still shorter than what the Comelec has given us before the 2007 election," Esguerra concluded.
OAV registration concluded last August 31 with only less than 300,000 OFWs signing up for the registration. When the said registration began in February 11, 2009, Comelec set a target of 1 million new OAV registrants.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
GSIS-STI Grants marks successful pilot with 184 scholars
GSIS-STI Grants, a joint project of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and leading ICT and ICT-enhanced provider STI, has given this first semester of school-year 2009-2010 more than P500, 000 in partial scholarship grants to 184 students semester.
The tie-up, which piloted in May 2009, offers a 20-percent scholarship grant in tuition and laboratory fees to all qualified relatives of GSIS members and pensioners if they enroll as incoming freshmen in any STI campus nationwide.
The same educational benefit is also offered to all GSIS members.
To avail of the partial scholarship grant, GSIS members and qualified relatives need to present to STI the GSIS eCard Plus, subject to verification.
"We are happy that we helped more than 100 students pursue their college education and become scholars of STI. They can continue being so until they graduate if they continue to do well in school," GSIS President and General Manager Winston F. Garcia said.
GSIS members and qualified relatives can continue to benefit from the 20 percent scholarship grant in the succeeding semesters until they have graduated from their chosen field, provided that they
continue to meet the required standards and qualifications of the STI Scholarship Guidelines. STI scholars are required to maintain a General Weighted Average (GWA) of at least 2.25 or its equivalent of 83 percent to 85 percent with no grades lower than 2.5.
In addition, scholars should not obtain a failing grade or absence without official leave (AWOL) in any subject; must not be dismissed, warned or held on probation due to scholastic delinquency; should not have any disciplinary offense, and must take a full load course for each semester as prescribed in the STI curriculum, excluding the National Service Training Program.
Apart from the partial scholarship grant, GSIS-STI Grants also offers job assistance through Global Resource for Outsourced Workers, Inc. (GROW).
GROW, a POEA-licensed placement company, and a member of the STI Education Services Group, will provide assistance in securing employment for members and qualified relatives of GSIS who have successfully graduated from their courses in their chosen STI schools.
"We want nothing more but to provide quality education to our children and job opportunities when they graduate from college. Now, our members, pensioners, and their dependents, are assured of that dream, with the help of GSIS-STI Grants," Mr. Garcia said.
STI has a network of more than 100 campuses nationwide with academic programs in ICT, Business and Management, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Engineering and Healthcare.
Of the 184 students that availed of GSIS-STI Grants, 51 enrolled in various STI College campuses in Metro Manila, 27 in Northern Luzon, 37 in Southern Luzon, 26 in Visayas, and 43 in Mindanao.
These campuses include STI College Caloocan, STI College Fairview, STI College Makati, STI San Jose, Nueva Ecija, STI College Tugegarao, STI Naga, STI Antique, STI College Ormoc, STI College Cotabato, and STI College General Santos, among others.
"We are looking forward to giving more educational assistance to more qualified relatives of our members and pensioners. We are also happy that we have found a good partner to do this," Mr. Garcia added.