Sen. Chiz Escudero said that the long white line of nurses seeking employment can be shortened if the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) focuses on improving the quality of nursing education instead of increasing the course to five years.
“I am against adding another year for nursing, or for any other course,” the senator said in a radio interview in Cauayan, Isabela.
“Our nurses are being praised all over the world. Why in the world does CHED want to change what is not broken?,” he asked.
Escudero said the CHED should instead weed out diploma mills that have proliferated due to the increase in the number of students wanting to take up nursing. He also called for stricter supervision of nursing review centers.
Echoing the call of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines and the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations against the CHED plan, Escudero said making nursing a five-year course would mean an additional financial burden to parents and students.
“Parents set aside a budget for the education of their children. Based on current figures each nursing student needs about P100,000 annually for matriculation plus textbooks, excluding review courses. Adding another year to the course makes it more expensive,” the senator pointed out.
At the same time, Escudero also called for a moratorium on tuition, miscellaneous and other fees, noting that most nursing colleges also have compulsory in-house review courses that are paid for separately by students.
Meanwhile, based on a report done by CHED and the Professional Regulatory Commission, only 12 out of the top 175 nursing schools in the country had a passing rate of 90% or higher during the period 2000-2004.
In the 1970s & 1980s, the passing average for the Nursing Licensure Exam was 80-90%. But in 2008, only 44.51%, or 39,455 out of 88,649 examinees, passed.
“The nursing profession in the Philippines has yet to recover from the 2006 leakage case. This is a symptom of the long-standing deterioration of our nursing education. The CHED must not focus on facilitating the commercialization of the profession and instead make it less difficult for those wanting to take it up,” Escudero said. ##
Press Statement
ON DACER-ORBITO CASE
We should avoid any trial by publicity here and just let the wheel of justice take its course. I hope that Mancao is out to tell the truth and to obtain justice for the families of the victims, and is not party to a plot to discredit and break-up the opposition.
I cannot blame anyone for casting doubts on this latest episode in this celebrated case because of the timing and the way it is being managed by the administration.
ON PROPOSED TAX ON TEXT
I oppose any proposal to impose new taxes. In these times of economic hardship, another tax burden is the last thing we need.
The proposed tax on text messages will ultimately be shouldered by the people who use the services of telecommunication companies.
Ang taumbayan ang talo dito dahil ipapasa lang ng mga kumpanya ang gastos nito sa buwis.
Instead of imposing new taxes, I urge the government work with the private sector in crafting solutions that will help everyone ride out the crisis.
Dapat magtulungan ang gobyerno at pribadong sektor dahil lahat tayo ay apektado ng krisis.
CHIZ BATS FOR ALL-CLAIMANTS TALKS ON SPRATLYS
Senator Chiz Escudero on Friday called on the government to initiate moves for all-party talks among the six claimant countries to ease tensions generated by recent developments on the disputed Spratlys group of islands in the South China Sea.
“The Philippines should take the lead in calming the brewing storm with China triggered by the passage of the Baselines Law,” he said in a statement.
Escudero was responding to reports that China plans to send more patrol ships to handle fresh “challenges and complications” in the disputed chain of islands, reefs, and islets believed to be rich in oil and other mineral resources.
The senator said the six-party talks on North Korea can serve as a model to ensure that diplomacy continues to be the main arena in resolving the territorial dispute among China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei.
“We need not reinvent the wheel. All we need to have is the will to work out a settlement that would be acceptable to all claimants,” he said.
Escudero met late Wednesday with the new Chinese envoy to Manila, Liu Jianchao, who assured him that Beijing remains committed to resolving the dispute in the Spratlys through dialogue.
“We agreed that any issue or conflict must be resolved through peaceful and diplomatic avenues as stipulated in the ASEAN Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,” the senator said.
During the three-hour meeting on Wednesday night, the senator said the Chinese envoy agreed that the Philippines and China should continue to strengthen ties and look for more areas of cooperation in the social, political, and economic fields.
“We both expressed confidence that relations between the two countries will be strengthened and improved because of the friendship between our countries and peoples,” the senator added.
Escudero also said he has accepted the Chinese envoy’s invitation to visit China during the Senate’s summer recess. The senator has previously visited Australia and Taiwan on the invitation of their governments.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
ASEAN: The adjustment begins
With exports slumping, it is no surprise that South East Asia's moreopen economies suffered contractions in GDP in the final quarter of2008. However, this cycle is not limited to the changes in expendituredecisions that drive export demand in regions outside SE Asia. Firms andhouseholds within South East Asia are also reacting to the excesscapacity generated by financial market turmoil and declining exportdemand.We find these decisions are already leading to reduced capitalexpenditure in several economies. And we expect more to come as theadjustment to excess capacity gradually works itself out - historicallythis adjustment process has been measured in years rather than months.However, the reduction in excess capacity that will have to take placein coming periods does not necessarily preclude a return to positivereal GDP growth - especially given the domestic and global policyresponse seen and promised. Even so, in coming periods pricing powerwill likely be at a premium in the corporate space and household incomegrowth expectations should be subdued for some time - favouringconsumption of staples rather than luxury goods.
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Philippine Central Bank Watch Getting cautious
Rising risks to economic growth and rate cuts elsewhere are likelyto prompt the BSP to take its policy rate a little lower still4 But the end of the rate easing cycle is near, with a perk-up inFebruary inflation pointing to lingering risks to price stability4 Exchange rate volatility will come to dominate BSP thinking onrates, with caution prevailing and hikes on the table as well
Ample liquidity provides a buffer
It has been a remarkable ride for the Philippines. While the world'sfinancial system slid into a desperate scramble for dollars, the countrycoolly stood by, registering little impact on the value of its currencyand, as of yet, on economic growth. This, it needs to be said, is a far cryfrom the past, when an unhealthy penchant for deficit spending, financedmore often than not by dollars, periodically put the economy in a tightspot. By these standards, as well as by the contemporary standards ofmarkets elsewhere, it has been remarkably smooth sailing for thePhilippines. We have long argued that things will get a little bumpier forthe country over the course of this year, not least because remittances areyet to register the full impact of collapsing growth elsewhere. But,despite a slump in growth and peso volatility, we cannot quite find thepressure points that plagued the Philippines in the past.
Which brings us to the central bank. The fact that the BSP cut rates ratheraggressively to a record low in this environment of dollar shortage istestimony to the benefits of its newfound fiscal stringency, as well as itsreasonably robust external payments position. But, as impressive as theseadvances are, the central bank may not necessarily have room to take ratesmuch lower. As we argue elsewhere (see Peso Pressure, 4 February 2009), andagain in this report, the central bank needs to guard against potentialexchange rate volatility. To be sure, the risk for now is not so much thata falling peso would lead to a crushing burden of external debt payments, apainful process that the country has had to grapple with in the past.Rather, it is that a depreciating peso may stoke price pressures.
Already, in February, headline inflation has perked up. Yes, globalcommodity prices are falling and everyone is keeping a sharp eye ondeflationary tendencies elsewhere. But the CPI in the Philippines is farmore sensitive to the exchange rate than anywhere else in Asia, leaving theBSP no room to sit idly by as the peso slides against the dollar. In short,we expect the policy rate to drop by another 50bp to 4.25%. But the endlooks near as caution starts to prevail. Luckily for the Philippines, thereis currently no real need to push rates lower as liquidity remains ample.At long last, there are enough pesos to finance spending...
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Ample liquidity provides a buffer
It has been a remarkable ride for the Philippines. While the world'sfinancial system slid into a desperate scramble for dollars, the countrycoolly stood by, registering little impact on the value of its currencyand, as of yet, on economic growth. This, it needs to be said, is a far cryfrom the past, when an unhealthy penchant for deficit spending, financedmore often than not by dollars, periodically put the economy in a tightspot. By these standards, as well as by the contemporary standards ofmarkets elsewhere, it has been remarkably smooth sailing for thePhilippines. We have long argued that things will get a little bumpier forthe country over the course of this year, not least because remittances areyet to register the full impact of collapsing growth elsewhere. But,despite a slump in growth and peso volatility, we cannot quite find thepressure points that plagued the Philippines in the past.
Which brings us to the central bank. The fact that the BSP cut rates ratheraggressively to a record low in this environment of dollar shortage istestimony to the benefits of its newfound fiscal stringency, as well as itsreasonably robust external payments position. But, as impressive as theseadvances are, the central bank may not necessarily have room to take ratesmuch lower. As we argue elsewhere (see Peso Pressure, 4 February 2009), andagain in this report, the central bank needs to guard against potentialexchange rate volatility. To be sure, the risk for now is not so much thata falling peso would lead to a crushing burden of external debt payments, apainful process that the country has had to grapple with in the past.Rather, it is that a depreciating peso may stoke price pressures.
Already, in February, headline inflation has perked up. Yes, globalcommodity prices are falling and everyone is keeping a sharp eye ondeflationary tendencies elsewhere. But the CPI in the Philippines is farmore sensitive to the exchange rate than anywhere else in Asia, leaving theBSP no room to sit idly by as the peso slides against the dollar. In short,we expect the policy rate to drop by another 50bp to 4.25%. But the endlooks near as caution starts to prevail. Luckily for the Philippines, thereis currently no real need to push rates lower as liquidity remains ample.At long last, there are enough pesos to finance spending...
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SSS opens P500-M emergency loan window for displaced workers
Upon the direction of the President, the Social SecuritySystem (SSS) has set aside P500 million for emergency loans of up toP15,000 for workers who lost their jobs since the start of the yeardue to the global financial crisis, a top official said.
SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Romulo Neri said thefunds were sourced from the Employees’ Compensation (EC) program,which the pension fund administers with its counterpart in the publicsector, the Government Service Insurance System.
The state-run agency had already exceeded the limit set by theSSS charter, which limits short and medium term loans to members to nomore than 10 percent of its investment reserve fund. The SSS had tolook for other sources of funding.
“Practically all SSS annual contribution collections go tocovering the regular disbursements for members’ benefits,” he said.
Neri said borrowers would be given a 12-month grace periodbefore paying their amortization, which would be remitted to the SSSin 24 monthly installments. Members must be in good standing and havepaid at least twelve contributions before the month of separation fromemployment to qualify for the loan.
Members must present a certification from their former employervalidated by the Regional Director of the Department of Labor andEmployment covering the company as proof of separation from employment.
“The loan would be based on the members’ highest monthlysalary credit for the past six months before they were laid off,” Nerisaid, adding that the maximum loanable amount was set at P15,000 toallow more displaced workers to avail of the emergency loans.
The SSS administers the regular Social Security program, whichgrants sickness, maternity, disability, retirement and death benefitsto members, and the EC program, which provides additional compensationto employees with work-related injuries, sicknesses and death.
SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Romulo Neri said thefunds were sourced from the Employees’ Compensation (EC) program,which the pension fund administers with its counterpart in the publicsector, the Government Service Insurance System.
The state-run agency had already exceeded the limit set by theSSS charter, which limits short and medium term loans to members to nomore than 10 percent of its investment reserve fund. The SSS had tolook for other sources of funding.
“Practically all SSS annual contribution collections go tocovering the regular disbursements for members’ benefits,” he said.
Neri said borrowers would be given a 12-month grace periodbefore paying their amortization, which would be remitted to the SSSin 24 monthly installments. Members must be in good standing and havepaid at least twelve contributions before the month of separation fromemployment to qualify for the loan.
Members must present a certification from their former employervalidated by the Regional Director of the Department of Labor andEmployment covering the company as proof of separation from employment.
“The loan would be based on the members’ highest monthlysalary credit for the past six months before they were laid off,” Nerisaid, adding that the maximum loanable amount was set at P15,000 toallow more displaced workers to avail of the emergency loans.
The SSS administers the regular Social Security program, whichgrants sickness, maternity, disability, retirement and death benefitsto members, and the EC program, which provides additional compensationto employees with work-related injuries, sicknesses and death.
Supply Chain Consulting to Assist Businesses during Crisis
Supply Chain Consulting enables business efficiency through technology
Although the global economic crisis affects an increasing number of software manufacturers in the Philippines, the software services industry is still expected to grow and surpass its 30% revenue growth target for 2008. Supply Chain Consulting, a global provider of enterprise software solutions and services, is offering IT solutions to businesses to support the industry’s growth and enable local businesses to thrive amidst the downturn.
According to Commission on Information and Communication Technology (CICT) Chairman, Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua III, the Philippine software services industry remains unaffected by the global recession and sees growth for the industry. Software services have surpassed the 30% revenue growth target for 2008 and have recorded more than $423 million in revenues in 2007.
Supply Chain Consulting is helping local companies differentiate themselves through enterprise solutions from SAP and Oracle. The company will provide solutions for corporate growth through software services in its executive breakfast forum entitled “The Latest on SAP Services and Support,” a briefing for C-level executives on March 20, 2009. Up-to-date information on SAP Support and Software Services will be discussed, as well as customer expectations on software services.
“Businesses should consider strategies that will allow them to make the maximum investment and promote sustainable growth in this tough economic environment,” said Jan Biezepol, Supply Chain Consulting, Managing Director for Asia.
The execution of SAP can mean a positive return on investment (ROI), as shown by one of the leading media businesses in India, ABP Group, which achieved a positive ROI in 3.5 years and decreased inventory by 75%. Supply Chain Consulting provides SAP enterprise resource planning solutions, which supports more than 25 industries and 43,000 customers worldwide.
Although the global economic crisis affects an increasing number of software manufacturers in the Philippines, the software services industry is still expected to grow and surpass its 30% revenue growth target for 2008. Supply Chain Consulting, a global provider of enterprise software solutions and services, is offering IT solutions to businesses to support the industry’s growth and enable local businesses to thrive amidst the downturn.
According to Commission on Information and Communication Technology (CICT) Chairman, Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua III, the Philippine software services industry remains unaffected by the global recession and sees growth for the industry. Software services have surpassed the 30% revenue growth target for 2008 and have recorded more than $423 million in revenues in 2007.
Supply Chain Consulting is helping local companies differentiate themselves through enterprise solutions from SAP and Oracle. The company will provide solutions for corporate growth through software services in its executive breakfast forum entitled “The Latest on SAP Services and Support,” a briefing for C-level executives on March 20, 2009. Up-to-date information on SAP Support and Software Services will be discussed, as well as customer expectations on software services.
“Businesses should consider strategies that will allow them to make the maximum investment and promote sustainable growth in this tough economic environment,” said Jan Biezepol, Supply Chain Consulting, Managing Director for Asia.
The execution of SAP can mean a positive return on investment (ROI), as shown by one of the leading media businesses in India, ABP Group, which achieved a positive ROI in 3.5 years and decreased inventory by 75%. Supply Chain Consulting provides SAP enterprise resource planning solutions, which supports more than 25 industries and 43,000 customers worldwide.
ExcelAsia sites ramp up client recruitment with 1,500 trainees a month
Adds value-added services to deliver HR solutions
In a recently concluded process outsourcing (BPO) talent development survey released by the Business Process Association of the Philippines (BPA/P), 82% of industry executives project positive growth rate in jobs, with at least 16% expecting an increase of 51-100% in labor requirements for 2009.
Leading HR solutions innovator, ExcelAsia, is already feeling this projected growth rate of BPO jobs. From training 700 trainees a month, the company is now training approximately 1,500 trainees in all of its ExcelAsia sites located in Alabang, Makati, Cebu, and Bacolod. A new Eastwood site is also expected to be ready by April or May of this year.
With around 50% of their clients coming from the BPO industry, ExcelAsia is expecting its business to grow even more in the coming months. To keep up with these developments, the company continues to train and equip people for a career in the outsourcing industry. “Our hit rates show that upon completion of our training programs, 80% of those trainees successfully get hired,” ExcelAsia President Rita Trillo-Ugarte said.
According to Trillo-Ugarte, ExcelAsia has been devising innovative ways to make sure they reach out to a wider pool of applicants and generate more job opportunities, especially among those who have been laid off. Along with these developments, ExcelAsia has experienced a remarkable increase in both the voice and non-voice requirements of their client companies. Even the financial and technical support requirements of these BPO clients are growing fast, according to Trillo-Ugarte.
To consistently meet the labor requirements during crucial ramp-up periods, the company conducts all-day job fairs every Monday in all of its sites nationwide. Thus, ExcelAsia also hopes to reach out to displaced employees whose technical skills will prove to be an asset in the BPO sector.
“ExcelAsia holds job fairs every Monday in all of its sites nationwide. Applicants are welcome to pass by with their updated resumes. Then and there they will know if they are fit for our offered job vacancies,” Trillo-Ugarte said.
“What makes it better is that nobody goes home empty-handed. Should they not qualify at the time of their application, we will send them to our free call center training program. After completing our training, we will send them out for client endorsement,” Trillo-Ugarte added. As an affiliated partner of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) since 2005, ExcelAsia offers one to two-weeks skills training entirely free.
The company also released its own online recruitment portal—ExcelAsiaJOBS—where jobseekers can create an account to access the latest job vacancies offered by ExcelAsia. On top of this, it continues to offer its dedicated sites strategy in which an account manager is delegated together with a team of recruitment specialists to offer HR solutions for specific clients.
In a recently concluded process outsourcing (BPO) talent development survey released by the Business Process Association of the Philippines (BPA/P), 82% of industry executives project positive growth rate in jobs, with at least 16% expecting an increase of 51-100% in labor requirements for 2009.
Leading HR solutions innovator, ExcelAsia, is already feeling this projected growth rate of BPO jobs. From training 700 trainees a month, the company is now training approximately 1,500 trainees in all of its ExcelAsia sites located in Alabang, Makati, Cebu, and Bacolod. A new Eastwood site is also expected to be ready by April or May of this year.
With around 50% of their clients coming from the BPO industry, ExcelAsia is expecting its business to grow even more in the coming months. To keep up with these developments, the company continues to train and equip people for a career in the outsourcing industry. “Our hit rates show that upon completion of our training programs, 80% of those trainees successfully get hired,” ExcelAsia President Rita Trillo-Ugarte said.
According to Trillo-Ugarte, ExcelAsia has been devising innovative ways to make sure they reach out to a wider pool of applicants and generate more job opportunities, especially among those who have been laid off. Along with these developments, ExcelAsia has experienced a remarkable increase in both the voice and non-voice requirements of their client companies. Even the financial and technical support requirements of these BPO clients are growing fast, according to Trillo-Ugarte.
To consistently meet the labor requirements during crucial ramp-up periods, the company conducts all-day job fairs every Monday in all of its sites nationwide. Thus, ExcelAsia also hopes to reach out to displaced employees whose technical skills will prove to be an asset in the BPO sector.
“ExcelAsia holds job fairs every Monday in all of its sites nationwide. Applicants are welcome to pass by with their updated resumes. Then and there they will know if they are fit for our offered job vacancies,” Trillo-Ugarte said.
“What makes it better is that nobody goes home empty-handed. Should they not qualify at the time of their application, we will send them to our free call center training program. After completing our training, we will send them out for client endorsement,” Trillo-Ugarte added. As an affiliated partner of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) since 2005, ExcelAsia offers one to two-weeks skills training entirely free.
The company also released its own online recruitment portal—ExcelAsiaJOBS—where jobseekers can create an account to access the latest job vacancies offered by ExcelAsia. On top of this, it continues to offer its dedicated sites strategy in which an account manager is delegated together with a team of recruitment specialists to offer HR solutions for specific clients.
ERP will continue to prioritize emergency employment creation --- NEDA
The government’s Economic Resiliency Plan (ERP) should continue to prioritize emergency employment or livelihood creation and preservation, said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA Director General Ralph G. Recto on the heels of the release of the results of the January 2009 round of the Labor Force Survey (LFS). He added that effective safety nets for the already affected workers will be ensured and human resource development for the young labor force will be pursued. Recto also batted for the implementation of infrastructure projects that stress speed in job creation and improvement in the country’s competitiveness.
“To further help minimize the adverse impact of the crisis to the most vulnerable sectors of the labor force, we strongly propose the fast disbursement of the 2009 budget and regular monitoring and reporting of accomplishments of the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program or CLEEP and the commitments of the private sector on employment creation," the NEDA chief said.
Recto also noted the government, business and labor sectors should "take the current crisis as an opportunity to implement concrete programs that will improve firm-level productivity and intensify trainings and scholarships for the young labor force”.
He also proposed the fast deployment of retrenched OFWs into other economies that are not severely affected by the crisis and the taking advantage of the provisions of the newly-signed Executive Orders (E.O.) 782 or "Instituting Measures to Assist Workers Affected by the Global Financial Crisis and Temporary Filling Up of Vacant Positions in the Government" and 783 or "Providing for Employment Interventions to Save and Create Jobs as part of the Economic Resiliency Plan" to tap temporary workers for specific tasks.
Meanwhile, amid the global financial crisis, the results of the LFS showed that the country’s labor market continued to post positive growth as employment grew by 1.7 percent. This resulted in an employment generation of 565,000 compared to the 148,000 that were generated in the previous year. The total number of employed persons increased to 34.3 million from 33.7 million in the same period last year.
In his memorandum to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Recto said that the growth in employment was led by the services sector with a 3.8-percent increase from last year’s level. According to him, the services sector had a total of 638,000 additional employment which came from the following: 300,000 from the wholesale and retail sectors; 140,000 from real estate, renting and business activities; 74,000 from education; 47,000 from public administration and defense, compulsory social security; 45,000 form health and social work; 21,000 from hotels and restaurants; 12,000 from other community, social and personal service activities; and 1,000 from those working in extra-territorial organizations and bodies.
The agriculture, fishery and forestry (AFF) sector posted a 0.4-percent growth contributing about 49,000 net employment. However, the industry sector contracted by 2.4 percent with a net employment loss of 121,000.
“The high demand in the production of agriculture, forestry and fish products and food manufactures buoyed the still positive growth in the AFF sector while the weak external demand in the industry sector led to its contraction,” Recto said.
He likewise said that bulk of the employed continued to come from the more remunerative wage and salaried class of workers, which grew by 2.8 percent. However this, he said, had a corresponding rise in the number of unpaid family workers, which grew by 2.5 percent as some workers helped their own families in farming and fishing, small-time manufacturing, trading and repair (e.g. of motorcycles) activities.
The underemployment rate also improved to 18.2 percent in January 2009 from 18.9 percent in January 2008. Recto said that this was the lowest January underemployment rate since 2006. The underemployed are those who are already working but still wanted more work.
The LFS results showed that most of the visibly underemployed who are working for less than 40 hours are in the agriculture sector with 58.1 percent, followed by the services and industry sectors with 30.5 percent and 11.3 percent, respectively.. Moreover, the unemployment rate for January hiked to 7.7 percent in January 2009 from 7.4 percent in January 2008. This figure, however, was lower than the January unemployment rates for 2006 - which registered 8.1 percent - and 2007, which posted an unemployment rate of 7.8 percent.
“The employment generated was not enough to compensate for the bigger number of labor entrants for the period and those who have been unemployed,” Recto said.
In his memorandum, he said that the country’s labor force grew by 2.0 percent, faster than the employment growth of 1.7 percent. “With an additional 745,000 entrants competing for employment, the unemployment level increased to 2.9 million from 2.7 million a year ago,” he added.
“To further help minimize the adverse impact of the crisis to the most vulnerable sectors of the labor force, we strongly propose the fast disbursement of the 2009 budget and regular monitoring and reporting of accomplishments of the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program or CLEEP and the commitments of the private sector on employment creation," the NEDA chief said.
Recto also noted the government, business and labor sectors should "take the current crisis as an opportunity to implement concrete programs that will improve firm-level productivity and intensify trainings and scholarships for the young labor force”.
He also proposed the fast deployment of retrenched OFWs into other economies that are not severely affected by the crisis and the taking advantage of the provisions of the newly-signed Executive Orders (E.O.) 782 or "Instituting Measures to Assist Workers Affected by the Global Financial Crisis and Temporary Filling Up of Vacant Positions in the Government" and 783 or "Providing for Employment Interventions to Save and Create Jobs as part of the Economic Resiliency Plan" to tap temporary workers for specific tasks.
Meanwhile, amid the global financial crisis, the results of the LFS showed that the country’s labor market continued to post positive growth as employment grew by 1.7 percent. This resulted in an employment generation of 565,000 compared to the 148,000 that were generated in the previous year. The total number of employed persons increased to 34.3 million from 33.7 million in the same period last year.
In his memorandum to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Recto said that the growth in employment was led by the services sector with a 3.8-percent increase from last year’s level. According to him, the services sector had a total of 638,000 additional employment which came from the following: 300,000 from the wholesale and retail sectors; 140,000 from real estate, renting and business activities; 74,000 from education; 47,000 from public administration and defense, compulsory social security; 45,000 form health and social work; 21,000 from hotels and restaurants; 12,000 from other community, social and personal service activities; and 1,000 from those working in extra-territorial organizations and bodies.
The agriculture, fishery and forestry (AFF) sector posted a 0.4-percent growth contributing about 49,000 net employment. However, the industry sector contracted by 2.4 percent with a net employment loss of 121,000.
“The high demand in the production of agriculture, forestry and fish products and food manufactures buoyed the still positive growth in the AFF sector while the weak external demand in the industry sector led to its contraction,” Recto said.
He likewise said that bulk of the employed continued to come from the more remunerative wage and salaried class of workers, which grew by 2.8 percent. However this, he said, had a corresponding rise in the number of unpaid family workers, which grew by 2.5 percent as some workers helped their own families in farming and fishing, small-time manufacturing, trading and repair (e.g. of motorcycles) activities.
The underemployment rate also improved to 18.2 percent in January 2009 from 18.9 percent in January 2008. Recto said that this was the lowest January underemployment rate since 2006. The underemployed are those who are already working but still wanted more work.
The LFS results showed that most of the visibly underemployed who are working for less than 40 hours are in the agriculture sector with 58.1 percent, followed by the services and industry sectors with 30.5 percent and 11.3 percent, respectively.. Moreover, the unemployment rate for January hiked to 7.7 percent in January 2009 from 7.4 percent in January 2008. This figure, however, was lower than the January unemployment rates for 2006 - which registered 8.1 percent - and 2007, which posted an unemployment rate of 7.8 percent.
“The employment generated was not enough to compensate for the bigger number of labor entrants for the period and those who have been unemployed,” Recto said.
In his memorandum, he said that the country’s labor force grew by 2.0 percent, faster than the employment growth of 1.7 percent. “With an additional 745,000 entrants competing for employment, the unemployment level increased to 2.9 million from 2.7 million a year ago,” he added.
Newly elected PSIA Board Members Inducted at the e-Services
Senator Edgardo Angara inducted the newly elected board of directors of the Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA) at the recently held Global Sourcing Conference and Exhibition at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City. The induction took place during the IT Outsourcing and Software Development Track led by the PSIA.
PSIA has more than 130 members composed of small to medium-sized local enterprises to multinational firms, making up 90% of the local software sector. PSIA aims to promote the growth and global competitiveness of the local software industry.
“As the sole organization representing the Philippine software industry, PSIA positions the sector as an important contributor to the economic growth of the Philippines and as a dominant player in the global economy,” said Nora Terrado, PSIA vice president and director for capability development.
The leadership of the PSIA board of directors is composed of: Beng Coronel, PSIA president and Pointwest Technologies Corporation president; Nora Terrado, PSIA vice president and Headstrong Philippines president; Calen Legaspi, PSIA corporate secretary and Orange & Bronze Software Labs CEO; and Winston Cruz, PSIA treasurer and Accenture chief information organization chief.
The PSIA committee leaders who were inducted are the following: Tae Abion, PSIA information and research committee head and SpiceWorx Consultancy general manager and senior consultant; Greg Lainez, PSIA ethics committee head and Radix general manager; Winston Damarillo, PSIA international marketing committee head and Exist Global chairman; Dinah Salonga, PSIA marketing and communications committee head and SQL *Wizard managing director and Bettina Quimson, PSIA government relations committee head and Navigator Systems president and Nora Terrado, PSIA capability development committee
Photo shows the induction of the PSIA directors (from left to right) Winston Damarillo, Dinah Salonga, Calen Legaspi, Bettina Quimson, Greg Lainez, Tae Abion, Winston Cruz, Nora Terrado, and Beng Coronel.
RP, Japan agree to train Filipino seafarers while global economy is down
The Philippines has entered into an agreement with the transport ministry of Japan to provide for the skills training and upgrading of Filipino seafarers employed in international vessels which have been idled or laid-up due to the global economic downturn, the Department of Labor and Employment said.
Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said that during his recent trip to Japan, he signed the Memorandum of Cooperation on Development of Asian Seafarers with Minister Kazuyoshi Kaneko of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism to seal the agreement providing for the training of Filipino seafarers under the International Cooperative Training Project for Asian Seafarers.
Roque was in Tokyo last week for the signing and also to represent the country, along with tripartite partners from the Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) and the Philippine-Japan Consultative Council, at the Philippine-Japan Seafarer Policy Forum to seek for the preservation of the jobs of over 40,000 Filipino seafarers employed in Japanese vessels.
He implored on the Japanese ship owners to keep the Filipino seafarers on-board even as their ships could be laid-up due to lack or absence of demand for cargo. He said that cargo ships forced to dock at ports for longer periods due to the economic crisis still need manpower for ship maintenance.
At the same time, DOLE Chief called on the Japan Seaman’s Union (JSU) to lend a hand in the provision of social safety nets to other Filipino seafarers who may not be able to remain on board Japanese vessels due to the crisis. Members of the union, he said, include about 35,000 to 45,000 Filipino seamen.
He thanked the JSU for its willingness to study the possibility of giving livelihood assistance for Filipino seafarers who may be forced to go on vacation while cargo demand is nil.
Roque also cited the Japan transport ministry for the training project it would implement in collaboration with DOLE, saying the project would help address the global shortage of skilled seafarers and qualified officers by training and upgrading the skills of Filipino seafarers especially those who may have to go home for vacation while their vessels are laid up.
He said the training would be an opportunity for Filipino seafarers affected by the crisis to train and upgrade their skills while waiting for their return on board.
“This will enable us to develop our seafarers particularly as vessel officers who are in short supply and badly needed by the international seafaring industry,” Roque said, adding “once the global cargo trading resumes its robustness, our seafarers would be in a better footing to land in better paying positions and pay on board.”
Under the agreement, the DOLE and the Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism would jointly implement the training project with the latter providing for technical, funding, and human resources. The former, on the other hand, will seek the support of manning agencies and maritime training schools for the implementation of the project.
Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said that during his recent trip to Japan, he signed the Memorandum of Cooperation on Development of Asian Seafarers with Minister Kazuyoshi Kaneko of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism to seal the agreement providing for the training of Filipino seafarers under the International Cooperative Training Project for Asian Seafarers.
Roque was in Tokyo last week for the signing and also to represent the country, along with tripartite partners from the Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) and the Philippine-Japan Consultative Council, at the Philippine-Japan Seafarer Policy Forum to seek for the preservation of the jobs of over 40,000 Filipino seafarers employed in Japanese vessels.
He implored on the Japanese ship owners to keep the Filipino seafarers on-board even as their ships could be laid-up due to lack or absence of demand for cargo. He said that cargo ships forced to dock at ports for longer periods due to the economic crisis still need manpower for ship maintenance.
At the same time, DOLE Chief called on the Japan Seaman’s Union (JSU) to lend a hand in the provision of social safety nets to other Filipino seafarers who may not be able to remain on board Japanese vessels due to the crisis. Members of the union, he said, include about 35,000 to 45,000 Filipino seamen.
He thanked the JSU for its willingness to study the possibility of giving livelihood assistance for Filipino seafarers who may be forced to go on vacation while cargo demand is nil.
Roque also cited the Japan transport ministry for the training project it would implement in collaboration with DOLE, saying the project would help address the global shortage of skilled seafarers and qualified officers by training and upgrading the skills of Filipino seafarers especially those who may have to go home for vacation while their vessels are laid up.
He said the training would be an opportunity for Filipino seafarers affected by the crisis to train and upgrade their skills while waiting for their return on board.
“This will enable us to develop our seafarers particularly as vessel officers who are in short supply and badly needed by the international seafaring industry,” Roque said, adding “once the global cargo trading resumes its robustness, our seafarers would be in a better footing to land in better paying positions and pay on board.”
Under the agreement, the DOLE and the Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism would jointly implement the training project with the latter providing for technical, funding, and human resources. The former, on the other hand, will seek the support of manning agencies and maritime training schools for the implementation of the project.
JOBLESS RATE MISLEADING
Sen. Chiz Escudero said one must be careful when reading governmentfigures on the Philippine jobless rate which can be deceiving.
“The unemployment situation in the Philippines is bleaker than thegovernment would like to portray. It has mistakenly included amongthose gainfully employed the 4.21 million unpaid family workers, likesons who have dropped out of college to help till the soil anddaughters who have to mind the small sari-sari store,” he added.
He also noted that self-employed workers make up 31% of the employed,which is a virtual army of 10.7 million “sariling-sikap” workers ekingout a living through their industriousness rather than throughgovernment assistance.
Although the government says unemployment is only in the single digitsat 7.7%, there is reason to worry because the bulk of the jobless arein the youth sector.
There is also the fact that the manufacturing sector has shed 121,000jobs over the past year, and that the National Capital Region, whichaccounts for the biggest chunk of GDP, has registered the highestunemployment and underemployment rate of 14% and 12.4%, respectively.
“If there are fewer jobs in Manila, then those flocking over here toseek work are in for a rude awakening. But what’s even worse is thatfive of every 10 unemployed individuals are in the 15-24 age group,and that three of every 10 who are jobless are in the 25-34 agegroup.”
“In short, eight out of every 10 who have no work are in the youthsector, and 40% of the unemployed are either college graduates or haveat least attended college. This government is presiding over thegreatest wastage of human resources,” Escudero said.
He expressed disagreement with the government’s plan to provide jobsbecause “it’s temporary at best; job creation should be private sectordriven.”Escudero recommended that government roll out projects that can befunded by the 2009 budget while imposing job benchmarking for everypeso spent for taxes.
He also said that it was important to fund the agricultural sectoreven more; repair farm-to-market roads and other infrastructure likeirrigation; and continue supporting cooperatives.
“We should address the skills-job mismatch. Having too many nursinggraduates has created a long white line of unemployed. At the sametime, government must freeze tuition fee hikes in state colleges anduniversities to improve their holding capacity and lessen the numberof dropouts that can only lead to increased unemployment.”
US SHOULD NOT USE NICOLE’S RETRACTION TO SPIRIT OUT SMITH: CHIZ
Senator “Chiz” Escudero on Wednesday cautioned the United States notto use the retraction of Suzette Nicolas also known as Nicole as anexcuse to spirit out convicted rapist Daniel Smith out of the country.
“Nicole may have recanted but this doesn’t mean that Mr. Smith nowgoes to Washington. And the US government should be advised not to useNicole’s latest true confession to plan his exit out of the country,”the senator said in a statement. "Her affidavit is not a boarding passto freedom. Legal procedures, to which Americans are legendarysticklers to, will have to be followed.”
Escudero also said that despite this development, the Visiting ForcesAgreement should still be renegotiated because of the onerousprovision that allowed the US to hold Smith even after he wasconvicted for rape by a local court in December 2006.
“I cannot blame Nicole for deciding to settle out of court. But heraffidavit will just be treated as a mere scrap of paper unless sheaffirms it in open court,” he pointed out.
“Kawawa at api pa din ang Pilipina sa sariling bansa, paano pa kaya salabas ng bansa?” asked Escudero.
Nicolas recanted his previous claim that Smith and three other USMarines raped her in Subic Bay Freeport on November 1, 2005. OnlySmith was found guilty of rape and sentenced to 40 years in prison.
The Supreme Court has ordered the transfer of Smith from the USembassy to a detention center under the jurisdiction of Philippineauthorities until his appeal is decided on by the Court of Appeals.
The opposition senator has supported calls for the abrogation of theagreement, which governs the conduct of US soldiers participating injoint military exercises with Filipino troops in the Philippines.
The Senate is expected to deliberate on the proposed scuttling of thetreaty when it resumes sessions in April.
CHIZ, CHINA ENVOY MEET; TALKS FOCUS ON SPRATLYS
Senator Chiz Escudero said Thursday that China’s new envoy to Manila, Liu Jianchao, assured him of Beijing's stand that dialogue is the key to resolving the dispute among claimants to the Spratlys island chain in the South China Sea.
“We talked about various issues including the Baselines Law and I explained the position of the Philippines as well as the Philippine Senate on the issue,” he said in a statement.
“We agreed that any issue or conflict must be resolved through peaceful and diplomatic avenues as stipulated in the ASEAN Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,” Escudero said.
Signed in 2002, the declaration was issued in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in order to promote a peaceful, friendly and harmonious environment in the South China Seas between Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China. Other ASEAN countries claiming the Spratlys are Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.
Escudero also said he has accepted the Chinese envoy’s invitation to visit China during the Senate’s summer recess. The senator has previously visited Australia, the US, and Taiwan.
During the three-hour meeting on Wednesday night, the senator said the Chinese envoy agreed that the Philippines and China should continue to strengthen ties and look for more areas of cooperation in the social, political, and economic fields.
“We both expressed confidence that relations between the two countries will be strengthened and improved because of the friendship between our countries and peoples,” the senator added.
“The unemployment situation in the Philippines is bleaker than thegovernment would like to portray. It has mistakenly included amongthose gainfully employed the 4.21 million unpaid family workers, likesons who have dropped out of college to help till the soil anddaughters who have to mind the small sari-sari store,” he added.
He also noted that self-employed workers make up 31% of the employed,which is a virtual army of 10.7 million “sariling-sikap” workers ekingout a living through their industriousness rather than throughgovernment assistance.
Although the government says unemployment is only in the single digitsat 7.7%, there is reason to worry because the bulk of the jobless arein the youth sector.
There is also the fact that the manufacturing sector has shed 121,000jobs over the past year, and that the National Capital Region, whichaccounts for the biggest chunk of GDP, has registered the highestunemployment and underemployment rate of 14% and 12.4%, respectively.
“If there are fewer jobs in Manila, then those flocking over here toseek work are in for a rude awakening. But what’s even worse is thatfive of every 10 unemployed individuals are in the 15-24 age group,and that three of every 10 who are jobless are in the 25-34 agegroup.”
“In short, eight out of every 10 who have no work are in the youthsector, and 40% of the unemployed are either college graduates or haveat least attended college. This government is presiding over thegreatest wastage of human resources,” Escudero said.
He expressed disagreement with the government’s plan to provide jobsbecause “it’s temporary at best; job creation should be private sectordriven.”Escudero recommended that government roll out projects that can befunded by the 2009 budget while imposing job benchmarking for everypeso spent for taxes.
He also said that it was important to fund the agricultural sectoreven more; repair farm-to-market roads and other infrastructure likeirrigation; and continue supporting cooperatives.
“We should address the skills-job mismatch. Having too many nursinggraduates has created a long white line of unemployed. At the sametime, government must freeze tuition fee hikes in state colleges anduniversities to improve their holding capacity and lessen the numberof dropouts that can only lead to increased unemployment.”
US SHOULD NOT USE NICOLE’S RETRACTION TO SPIRIT OUT SMITH: CHIZ
Senator “Chiz” Escudero on Wednesday cautioned the United States notto use the retraction of Suzette Nicolas also known as Nicole as anexcuse to spirit out convicted rapist Daniel Smith out of the country.
“Nicole may have recanted but this doesn’t mean that Mr. Smith nowgoes to Washington. And the US government should be advised not to useNicole’s latest true confession to plan his exit out of the country,”the senator said in a statement. "Her affidavit is not a boarding passto freedom. Legal procedures, to which Americans are legendarysticklers to, will have to be followed.”
Escudero also said that despite this development, the Visiting ForcesAgreement should still be renegotiated because of the onerousprovision that allowed the US to hold Smith even after he wasconvicted for rape by a local court in December 2006.
“I cannot blame Nicole for deciding to settle out of court. But heraffidavit will just be treated as a mere scrap of paper unless sheaffirms it in open court,” he pointed out.
“Kawawa at api pa din ang Pilipina sa sariling bansa, paano pa kaya salabas ng bansa?” asked Escudero.
Nicolas recanted his previous claim that Smith and three other USMarines raped her in Subic Bay Freeport on November 1, 2005. OnlySmith was found guilty of rape and sentenced to 40 years in prison.
The Supreme Court has ordered the transfer of Smith from the USembassy to a detention center under the jurisdiction of Philippineauthorities until his appeal is decided on by the Court of Appeals.
The opposition senator has supported calls for the abrogation of theagreement, which governs the conduct of US soldiers participating injoint military exercises with Filipino troops in the Philippines.
The Senate is expected to deliberate on the proposed scuttling of thetreaty when it resumes sessions in April.
CHIZ, CHINA ENVOY MEET; TALKS FOCUS ON SPRATLYS
Senator Chiz Escudero said Thursday that China’s new envoy to Manila, Liu Jianchao, assured him of Beijing's stand that dialogue is the key to resolving the dispute among claimants to the Spratlys island chain in the South China Sea.
“We talked about various issues including the Baselines Law and I explained the position of the Philippines as well as the Philippine Senate on the issue,” he said in a statement.
“We agreed that any issue or conflict must be resolved through peaceful and diplomatic avenues as stipulated in the ASEAN Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,” Escudero said.
Signed in 2002, the declaration was issued in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in order to promote a peaceful, friendly and harmonious environment in the South China Seas between Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China. Other ASEAN countries claiming the Spratlys are Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.
Escudero also said he has accepted the Chinese envoy’s invitation to visit China during the Senate’s summer recess. The senator has previously visited Australia, the US, and Taiwan.
During the three-hour meeting on Wednesday night, the senator said the Chinese envoy agreed that the Philippines and China should continue to strengthen ties and look for more areas of cooperation in the social, political, and economic fields.
“We both expressed confidence that relations between the two countries will be strengthened and improved because of the friendship between our countries and peoples,” the senator added.
Job fairs help solicit 1.34 million jobs in 2008 - DOLE
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 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.
CHIZ CAUTIONS CHINA: LET GOOD NEIGHBORLINESS, NOT BULLYING PREVAIL
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Monday urged China to exercise caution in responding to the passage of the Baselines Law by the Philippines, saying that “good neighborliness, not bullying” should prevail.
“Let this issue be resolved through legal and diplomatic channels. China should not engage in moves that might be construed as bullying tactics,” he said in a statement.
Escudero was referring to reports that Beijing has dispatched its most modern warship to the South China Sea to conduct patrols in waters off the contested Spratlys island chain.
Beijing has said that the Baselines Law is “illegal and invalid” even as it reasserted its ownership of the group of reefs, islets, and islands which are said to be rich in oil and other mineral resources.
Apart from China and the Philippines, the Spratlys is also claimed in full and in part by Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.
“The Philippines made a legal move and the appropriate action from China should have also been a legal one, i.e., a diplomatic protest, which they did. It would benefit us all if we resolved this issue within the arena of diplomacy,” said Escudero.
In the past, the dispute over the Spratly has triggered violent clashes between Chinese and Vietnamamese forces stationed in the area as well as verbal skirmishes between China and the Philippines in 1992 over the Chinese occupation of Mischief reef.
CHIZ ASKS MERCI: WHERE IS THE FERTILIZER SCAM REPORT?
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Monday asked Ombudsman Merciditas Gutierrez to release her office’s findings on the 728-million peso fertilizer fund scam as it promised to do so last month.
“The Office of the Ombudsman promised to have the report on the fertilizer scam ready by first week of March, or at the latest by March 15. It’s March 16. What will she say next?” he asked.
Her deputy, Assistant Ombudsman Jose de Jesus, was quoted as saying that Gutierrez was reviewing with a “fine tooth-comb” the 125-page report of the special panel.
“Baka nagkabali-bali na ang suklay sa tagal ng pag-review,” said the opposition senator, who has asked the Ombudsman to step down in October when she completes the seven-year term of her predecessor, Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo.
He also said that continued inaction on the part of Gutierrez will only bolster the perception that she is out to protect big-time grafters in government. Escudero also reiterated anew his call for the Ombudsman to release a list of cases still pending in her office so the people will know their status and why they have not been filed with the Sandiganbayan.
The Senate has already recommended the filing of plunder charges against former Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc Joc” Bolante and eight other individuals for their alleged involvement in the diversion of P728-million in fertilizer funds to the 2004 campaign kitty of local officials allied with President Arroyo.
The Ombudsman has also been slammed for its failure to act on a number of controversial cases such as the alleged rigged bidding for World Bank-funded road projects and the ZTE-NBN national broadband deal.
In the impeachment complaint filed against her, among the cases cited by the petitioners were the Mega-Pacific agreement contract entered into by former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos, Sr., the extortion case against former Justice Department Secretary Hernando “Nani” Perez, and the case against the “Euro” generals.
“How can we expect the public to trust government when many high-ranking officials involved in such allegedly anomalous practices and transactions are not taken to task for their actions? If we allow this to continue, we will witness the collapse of institutions and, subsequently, democracy itself,” Escudero said.
CHIZ: MRT ‘GHOST RIDERS’ TAKING GOV’T FOR A RIDE
Opposition Senator Chiz Escudero on Tuesday said taxpayers are paying for “ghost riders” in the Metro Rail Transit Corp. (MRT) as he backed moves for a government takeover of the light rail firm.
The senator issued the statement in light of frail state of finances of the MRT which he says “continues to drain the national coffers of much-needed funds.”
By his calculations, Escudero said the government subsidy per rider is about P42, computed against the amount of public funds being funneled into the MRT.
“It is like paying for almost three riders more at the current fare rates of the MRT, which on the average is P14 per passenger. The government is paying for riders who are non-existent,” Escudero said.
“The MRT has long been bailed out by the government. While its coaches are always full, its coffers are always empty. The national government subsidy is the one that lubricates its operations. This comes as no surprise because the project was financially engineered to be dependent on government aid,” he points out.
In this case, the senator said, it would be better for the government to take over MRT.
“If we own it, then let’s run it. And let it be a reminder that when it comes to private-public ventures, never again should we end up privatizing profits while debts are nationalized,” said Escudero.
He revealed that to pay for the arrears of MRT alone, the government shelled out P2.2 billion in 2007 and 2.45 billion in 2008. He added that this year, it will remit some 1.19 billion for the same purpose.
Escudero also said that the government subsidized MRT operations and maintenance to the tune of P579 million in 2007 and P618 million in 2008, while a total of P645 million is earmarked for this purpose this year.
“If fares are priced to recover costs, you court a commuter revolt. Mass rail transit is a losing proposition. Rents of real estate in stations or depots are supposed to make up for the losses but these have been ceded to private partners. So government ends up picking the tab,” he said.
“And MRT is economically viable, meaning it is an important cause in the overall scheme of things. But alone, it is not financially viable if only turnstile or farebox income will be considered.”
Escudero noted that the because of the “high guaranteed ridership forecast” of the MRT at its inception, with the shortfall to be shouldered by the government in this railway version of the “take-or-pay provision in the independent power producer (IPP) contracts,” the government will be paying for the fares of what are essentially “ghost riders.”
“This should serve as a cautionary tale in future light rail projects so ridership won’t be inflated,” he said.
Escudero said that another cause for the hemorrhage of public funds through the MRT is the cost of its maintenance.
He said that the MRT has a high maintenance contract with a Japanese firm, which is onerous if compared with lower fees the LRTA is paying for the upkeep of its two lines.
“To top it all, MRT debt carries a high 12.5 percent to 15 percent annual interest rate,” he explained.
The senator also said the government should refinance the $865-million debt with “low-cost money,” a mode that will book savings in the long run.
“But the pricing of obligations should be done transparently and verified by independent appraisers when warranted.”
“Let this issue be resolved through legal and diplomatic channels. China should not engage in moves that might be construed as bullying tactics,” he said in a statement.
Escudero was referring to reports that Beijing has dispatched its most modern warship to the South China Sea to conduct patrols in waters off the contested Spratlys island chain.
Beijing has said that the Baselines Law is “illegal and invalid” even as it reasserted its ownership of the group of reefs, islets, and islands which are said to be rich in oil and other mineral resources.
Apart from China and the Philippines, the Spratlys is also claimed in full and in part by Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.
“The Philippines made a legal move and the appropriate action from China should have also been a legal one, i.e., a diplomatic protest, which they did. It would benefit us all if we resolved this issue within the arena of diplomacy,” said Escudero.
In the past, the dispute over the Spratly has triggered violent clashes between Chinese and Vietnamamese forces stationed in the area as well as verbal skirmishes between China and the Philippines in 1992 over the Chinese occupation of Mischief reef.
CHIZ ASKS MERCI: WHERE IS THE FERTILIZER SCAM REPORT?
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Monday asked Ombudsman Merciditas Gutierrez to release her office’s findings on the 728-million peso fertilizer fund scam as it promised to do so last month.
“The Office of the Ombudsman promised to have the report on the fertilizer scam ready by first week of March, or at the latest by March 15. It’s March 16. What will she say next?” he asked.
Her deputy, Assistant Ombudsman Jose de Jesus, was quoted as saying that Gutierrez was reviewing with a “fine tooth-comb” the 125-page report of the special panel.
“Baka nagkabali-bali na ang suklay sa tagal ng pag-review,” said the opposition senator, who has asked the Ombudsman to step down in October when she completes the seven-year term of her predecessor, Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo.
He also said that continued inaction on the part of Gutierrez will only bolster the perception that she is out to protect big-time grafters in government. Escudero also reiterated anew his call for the Ombudsman to release a list of cases still pending in her office so the people will know their status and why they have not been filed with the Sandiganbayan.
The Senate has already recommended the filing of plunder charges against former Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc Joc” Bolante and eight other individuals for their alleged involvement in the diversion of P728-million in fertilizer funds to the 2004 campaign kitty of local officials allied with President Arroyo.
The Ombudsman has also been slammed for its failure to act on a number of controversial cases such as the alleged rigged bidding for World Bank-funded road projects and the ZTE-NBN national broadband deal.
In the impeachment complaint filed against her, among the cases cited by the petitioners were the Mega-Pacific agreement contract entered into by former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos, Sr., the extortion case against former Justice Department Secretary Hernando “Nani” Perez, and the case against the “Euro” generals.
“How can we expect the public to trust government when many high-ranking officials involved in such allegedly anomalous practices and transactions are not taken to task for their actions? If we allow this to continue, we will witness the collapse of institutions and, subsequently, democracy itself,” Escudero said.
CHIZ: MRT ‘GHOST RIDERS’ TAKING GOV’T FOR A RIDE
Opposition Senator Chiz Escudero on Tuesday said taxpayers are paying for “ghost riders” in the Metro Rail Transit Corp. (MRT) as he backed moves for a government takeover of the light rail firm.
The senator issued the statement in light of frail state of finances of the MRT which he says “continues to drain the national coffers of much-needed funds.”
By his calculations, Escudero said the government subsidy per rider is about P42, computed against the amount of public funds being funneled into the MRT.
“It is like paying for almost three riders more at the current fare rates of the MRT, which on the average is P14 per passenger. The government is paying for riders who are non-existent,” Escudero said.
“The MRT has long been bailed out by the government. While its coaches are always full, its coffers are always empty. The national government subsidy is the one that lubricates its operations. This comes as no surprise because the project was financially engineered to be dependent on government aid,” he points out.
In this case, the senator said, it would be better for the government to take over MRT.
“If we own it, then let’s run it. And let it be a reminder that when it comes to private-public ventures, never again should we end up privatizing profits while debts are nationalized,” said Escudero.
He revealed that to pay for the arrears of MRT alone, the government shelled out P2.2 billion in 2007 and 2.45 billion in 2008. He added that this year, it will remit some 1.19 billion for the same purpose.
Escudero also said that the government subsidized MRT operations and maintenance to the tune of P579 million in 2007 and P618 million in 2008, while a total of P645 million is earmarked for this purpose this year.
“If fares are priced to recover costs, you court a commuter revolt. Mass rail transit is a losing proposition. Rents of real estate in stations or depots are supposed to make up for the losses but these have been ceded to private partners. So government ends up picking the tab,” he said.
“And MRT is economically viable, meaning it is an important cause in the overall scheme of things. But alone, it is not financially viable if only turnstile or farebox income will be considered.”
Escudero noted that the because of the “high guaranteed ridership forecast” of the MRT at its inception, with the shortfall to be shouldered by the government in this railway version of the “take-or-pay provision in the independent power producer (IPP) contracts,” the government will be paying for the fares of what are essentially “ghost riders.”
“This should serve as a cautionary tale in future light rail projects so ridership won’t be inflated,” he said.
Escudero said that another cause for the hemorrhage of public funds through the MRT is the cost of its maintenance.
He said that the MRT has a high maintenance contract with a Japanese firm, which is onerous if compared with lower fees the LRTA is paying for the upkeep of its two lines.
“To top it all, MRT debt carries a high 12.5 percent to 15 percent annual interest rate,” he explained.
The senator also said the government should refinance the $865-million debt with “low-cost money,” a mode that will book savings in the long run.
“But the pricing of obligations should be done transparently and verified by independent appraisers when warranted.”
Chiz: ‘Keep politics out of Dacer-Corbito murder case’
Opposition Senator Chiz Escudero on Monday warned the government against politicizing the revival of the Bubby Dacer-Emmanuel Corbito double-murder case, saying it should not be used to steamroller the opposition.
“I hope the government is out to ferret out the truth so justice may be served and not use this opportunity to suppress and even silence sections of the opposition,” Escudero said in a statement.
The senator issued the statement in reaction to news reports that a key witness in the murder, former police officer Cesar Mancao, had executed and signed an affidavit in the United States tagging a number of personalities, allegedly including incumbent Senator Panfilo Lacson, a ranking member of the opposition.
Escudero said the government should handle the investigation of the case “with utmost sensitivity” as it could potentially be used for political ends.
“We should always advocate for and help in the search for truth and justice but we should not tolerate any attempts either to silence and suppress the opposition especially groups known to have long been fighting against this corrupt, insensitive, and incompetent government,” he said.
Mancao had reportedly executed an affidavit last Feb. 14 in Broward County, Florida in the United States detailing his knowledge of the double-murder case, following his extradition from the US.
“I hope the government is out to ferret out the truth so justice may be served and not use this opportunity to suppress and even silence sections of the opposition,” Escudero said in a statement.
The senator issued the statement in reaction to news reports that a key witness in the murder, former police officer Cesar Mancao, had executed and signed an affidavit in the United States tagging a number of personalities, allegedly including incumbent Senator Panfilo Lacson, a ranking member of the opposition.
Escudero said the government should handle the investigation of the case “with utmost sensitivity” as it could potentially be used for political ends.
“We should always advocate for and help in the search for truth and justice but we should not tolerate any attempts either to silence and suppress the opposition especially groups known to have long been fighting against this corrupt, insensitive, and incompetent government,” he said.
Mancao had reportedly executed an affidavit last Feb. 14 in Broward County, Florida in the United States detailing his knowledge of the double-murder case, following his extradition from the US.
Chizy Pictures
Senator Francis Chiz Escudero, with Davao City Vice Mayor Sarah Duterte (extreme right), crowns Mutya Ng Dabaw 2009 winner Resa Angeli Rizada (second from right), a nursing graduate of Davao City?s San Pedro College. Third from right is Mutya ng Dabaw 2008 Mary Jane Lastimosa. (Photo by Bambam Luneta)
Davao City: Tribal leaders "adopts" Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero as Datu Matansub (meaning approachable and wise) at a meeting with the Mindanao Indigenous People's Conference for People and Development recently. (Photo by BamBam Luneta)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
ICTSI Georgian unit allowed to handle storage.
Batumi International Container Terminal LLC (BICTL), manager and operator of Batumi International Container Terminal (BICT) in Adjara, Georgia was recently awarded a permit to operate as an independent storage area inside a customs control zone. The Republic of Georgia granted the three year permit after BICT met all technical and safety requirements for an open type customs storage. With the issuance of the permit, BICT can now handle cargo for customers inside a specific customs area. BICT is a subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), a leading developer of international ports and terminals with a global port network spanning 11 countries in four continents. Headquartered in the Philippines, ICTSI is on its 20th year of operation, and continues to pursue container terminal opportunities around the world.
NEDA JOINS ECO-PRODUCTS INT’L FAIR 2009
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) joins the largest international environmental fair in Asia, the Eco-Product International Fair (EPIF) 2009 opening today at the SMX Convention Center at the SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City. The fair themed “Sustainable production, Sustainable Consumption and Sustainable Future” runs until March 22.
NEDA, a member of the EPIF National Executive Committee and its Technical Working Group, will set up a booth that will feature a photo exhibit titled “Science of and Solutions to Climate Change” and audio-visual presentations on “Jumpstarting Progress through a Sustainable Development Mainstreaming” and “Climate Change 101”. Also available at the NEDA booth are communication materials on climate change and organic agriculture. The booth will likewise provide information on the Economic Resiliency Plan.
The EPIF, which includes over 100 local and international companies, will showcase environment-friendly technologies, products and services. During the fair, there will also be an International Conference on Sustainable Consumption, Sustainable Production and Sustainable future.
The fair aims to (a) educate and involve the public in creating a better environment through the use of eco-products and eco-services; (b) provide a platform for international companies and industry players to exchange eco-information; (c) promote a marketing venue to showcase the latest eco-technologies and eco-products to the government, industry; and the public; and (d) provide a business platform for buyers and sellers to meet and explore collaborations and joint ventures and accelerate eco-knowledge and expansion of green markets in the Philippines.
NEDA, a member of the EPIF National Executive Committee and its Technical Working Group, will set up a booth that will feature a photo exhibit titled “Science of and Solutions to Climate Change” and audio-visual presentations on “Jumpstarting Progress through a Sustainable Development Mainstreaming” and “Climate Change 101”. Also available at the NEDA booth are communication materials on climate change and organic agriculture. The booth will likewise provide information on the Economic Resiliency Plan.
The EPIF, which includes over 100 local and international companies, will showcase environment-friendly technologies, products and services. During the fair, there will also be an International Conference on Sustainable Consumption, Sustainable Production and Sustainable future.
The fair aims to (a) educate and involve the public in creating a better environment through the use of eco-products and eco-services; (b) provide a platform for international companies and industry players to exchange eco-information; (c) promote a marketing venue to showcase the latest eco-technologies and eco-products to the government, industry; and the public; and (d) provide a business platform for buyers and sellers to meet and explore collaborations and joint ventures and accelerate eco-knowledge and expansion of green markets in the Philippines.
NSO, SSS sign MOU on Multipurpose ID
The National Statistics Office (NSO) and the Social Security System (SSS) signed recently a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to build a central verification and enrollment system for the Unified Multipurpose ID (UM-ID) system. Signing on behalf of the two agencies were NSO Administrator Carmelita N. Ericta and SSS President Romulo L. Neri. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director-General Ralph G. Recto signed as witness. The NSO is an attached agency of NEDA.
The MOU includes formulating the project implementation plan; designing the UM-ID System; preparing the bid tender documents including the functional and technical specification of the system; the bidding process and the selection of the service provider; developing and installing the system; and designing the space and the facility within the NSO premises where the system shall be installed.
The NSO will provide all the financial and other logistical resources for the project, while the SSS will be giving technical assistance, conduct the bidding process and the selection of the service provider for the project and will act as the biometric matching data center. Funding will be shouldered by the NSO at PhP650 million.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order (EO) 420 in April 2005 establishing the UM-ID System which requires all government agencies, and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) to streamline and harmonize their ID systems. In August 2006, the President, together with then NEDA Secretary Neri, launched the UM-ID.
On January 2008, President Arroyo signed EO 700, transferring the implementation of a unified multi-purpose ID system from NEDA to SSS The NSO, as the central verification and enrollment agency, is also tasked to assist the SSS to implement the UM-ID.
The MOU includes formulating the project implementation plan; designing the UM-ID System; preparing the bid tender documents including the functional and technical specification of the system; the bidding process and the selection of the service provider; developing and installing the system; and designing the space and the facility within the NSO premises where the system shall be installed.
The NSO will provide all the financial and other logistical resources for the project, while the SSS will be giving technical assistance, conduct the bidding process and the selection of the service provider for the project and will act as the biometric matching data center. Funding will be shouldered by the NSO at PhP650 million.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order (EO) 420 in April 2005 establishing the UM-ID System which requires all government agencies, and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) to streamline and harmonize their ID systems. In August 2006, the President, together with then NEDA Secretary Neri, launched the UM-ID.
On January 2008, President Arroyo signed EO 700, transferring the implementation of a unified multi-purpose ID system from NEDA to SSS The NSO, as the central verification and enrollment agency, is also tasked to assist the SSS to implement the UM-ID.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Sovereign credit risks in Asia
Both Asian and US IRS markets have generally been hit with higher swap fixings recently, which has also put upward pressure on swap rates as well.
And while FX markets are playing a role in this dynamic, we think the primary driving factor is coming from US money markets. But rather than being a renewed fear of bank failures, we view the rise in US money market rates as a result of the quarter end turn (and fiscal year-end in Japan) which is producing a “kink” in the funding curve over the April 1 date. The rise in 3-mo LIBOR for example is completely accounted for by an increase in 1-mo rates. Space on bank balance sheets is simply becoming slightly more expensive.
The good news is that this should be temporary. We would expect the quarterend turn to have an impact for at least the next couple of weeks, but as we get into the second half of the month the impact should begin to dissipate. We would then expect to see a commensurate decline in funding rates.
Government bond supply is also remaining a key factor for the rates world but as we have emphasized in the past, we would not ignore the demand side of the equation here. Data released last week showed yet another significant increase in government bond holdings at commercial banks in Malaysia, and Thai banks are slowly building their positions as well. We think banks will mostly be focused on the front end of the yield curve however, which should obviously
lead to a steepening, although we favor the 5-yr / 10-yr curve in most cases.
Malaysia provides a good example of this where the 5-yr / 10-yr IRS curve has steepened to 120 basis points as the budget balance has deteriorated.
But we dedicate most of our time this week to the Asia sovereign market. Wefind that external liquidity is by far the most important factor for global EM markets, and by this measure we believe Asia generally makes the grade. This explains why regional CDS spreads are trading well relative to the rest of the globe.
And yet each country is facing its own unique issues which we discuss in the pages below. Our main conclusion is that even in cases such as Korea and Indonesia where external liquidity measures are somewhat concerning, we do not see a significant risk of default.
Download paper here
And while FX markets are playing a role in this dynamic, we think the primary driving factor is coming from US money markets. But rather than being a renewed fear of bank failures, we view the rise in US money market rates as a result of the quarter end turn (and fiscal year-end in Japan) which is producing a “kink” in the funding curve over the April 1 date. The rise in 3-mo LIBOR for example is completely accounted for by an increase in 1-mo rates. Space on bank balance sheets is simply becoming slightly more expensive.
The good news is that this should be temporary. We would expect the quarterend turn to have an impact for at least the next couple of weeks, but as we get into the second half of the month the impact should begin to dissipate. We would then expect to see a commensurate decline in funding rates.
Government bond supply is also remaining a key factor for the rates world but as we have emphasized in the past, we would not ignore the demand side of the equation here. Data released last week showed yet another significant increase in government bond holdings at commercial banks in Malaysia, and Thai banks are slowly building their positions as well. We think banks will mostly be focused on the front end of the yield curve however, which should obviously
lead to a steepening, although we favor the 5-yr / 10-yr curve in most cases.
Malaysia provides a good example of this where the 5-yr / 10-yr IRS curve has steepened to 120 basis points as the budget balance has deteriorated.
But we dedicate most of our time this week to the Asia sovereign market. Wefind that external liquidity is by far the most important factor for global EM markets, and by this measure we believe Asia generally makes the grade. This explains why regional CDS spreads are trading well relative to the rest of the globe.
And yet each country is facing its own unique issues which we discuss in the pages below. Our main conclusion is that even in cases such as Korea and Indonesia where external liquidity measures are somewhat concerning, we do not see a significant risk of default.
Download paper here
Ople Center cites taxi driver’s role in closure of bogus recruitment agency; calls on victims to do an “Orayan”
Former labor undersecretary Susan Ople called for citizens’ action versus illegal recruitment and human trafficking as she cited the help of Rogelio Orayan, a taxi driver that came forward with information that led to the closure of an illegal recruitment firm.
Two weeks ago, a female passenger suggested that the cab driver apply for an overseas job at an Ermita-based agency. On his day-off, the driver went to the agency and applied for a job. He was told to undergo a medical test. A few days after, the agency informed Orayan that he has been accepted but would need to pay a downpayment amounting to P20,000 out of a P65,000 placement fee. He was promised a job as a janitor aboard a Dubai-based ship. The agency had offices in three different buildings and was charging processing fees for non-existent jobs. It turned out that the POEA license of the agency has long been cancelled.
After hearing about the Ople Center’s campaign against illegal recruitment on a radio program, the taxi driver inquired from the Center whether the agency was legitimate. The Ople Center told the taxi driver not to part ways with his hard-earned money and referred him to the Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment under the Office of the Vice-President. In a matter of days, the Task Force and Orayon planned and executed a successful entrapment operation that led to the bogus agency’s closure.
It turned out that agency was no longer licensed to operate and accept payments from job applicants. The POEA license of the agency has long been cancelled.
“We are calling on those who have doubts about their recruiters to do an ‘Orayan’,” Ople said, during a media forum held yesterday morning at the Danarra Hotel. Orayan’s help and cooperation, the Center stressed, saved a lot of applicants from the elaborate schemes of the bogus agency.
According to Orayan, the office of the illegal recruiter was housed in a condo and had a long list of waiting clients, some of who admitted to forking over P160,000 in borrowed funds just to ensure that they are first to be deployed overseas.
The daughter of the late Foreign Affairs and Labor Secretary Blas F. Ople, acknowledged as the father of overseas employment, described illegal recruiters as “leeches” who attach themselves to the growing number of Filipinos now in desperate need of work.
“With more than 40,000 displaced workers and millions of unemployed Filipinos to choose from, these illegal recruiters and human traffickers are raking profits from the desperation of their countrymen.”
The Ople Center has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the POEA for a joint advocacy campaign against illegal recruitment. It has also reached an understanding with 1-UTAK, an organization of different transport groups, for a sticker campaign that would bear the hotlines of the POEA, NBI, BI, and Ople Center. The hotline of the Ople Center is 833-5337 while the POEA hotlines are 722-1144 & 722-1155. The Bureau of Immigration has its own hotline: 524-3769 while the NBI’s hotline is 523-8231.
“Our appeal is if you have any doubts at all about your recruiter or whoever is offering you an overseas job, call up the POEA, NBI or Ople Center hotlines. Before you leave the country, make sure that both your recruitment agency and foreign employer are accredited and considered in good standing by the POEA,” the Center stressed.
Two weeks ago, a female passenger suggested that the cab driver apply for an overseas job at an Ermita-based agency. On his day-off, the driver went to the agency and applied for a job. He was told to undergo a medical test. A few days after, the agency informed Orayan that he has been accepted but would need to pay a downpayment amounting to P20,000 out of a P65,000 placement fee. He was promised a job as a janitor aboard a Dubai-based ship. The agency had offices in three different buildings and was charging processing fees for non-existent jobs. It turned out that the POEA license of the agency has long been cancelled.
After hearing about the Ople Center’s campaign against illegal recruitment on a radio program, the taxi driver inquired from the Center whether the agency was legitimate. The Ople Center told the taxi driver not to part ways with his hard-earned money and referred him to the Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment under the Office of the Vice-President. In a matter of days, the Task Force and Orayon planned and executed a successful entrapment operation that led to the bogus agency’s closure.
It turned out that agency was no longer licensed to operate and accept payments from job applicants. The POEA license of the agency has long been cancelled.
“We are calling on those who have doubts about their recruiters to do an ‘Orayan’,” Ople said, during a media forum held yesterday morning at the Danarra Hotel. Orayan’s help and cooperation, the Center stressed, saved a lot of applicants from the elaborate schemes of the bogus agency.
According to Orayan, the office of the illegal recruiter was housed in a condo and had a long list of waiting clients, some of who admitted to forking over P160,000 in borrowed funds just to ensure that they are first to be deployed overseas.
The daughter of the late Foreign Affairs and Labor Secretary Blas F. Ople, acknowledged as the father of overseas employment, described illegal recruiters as “leeches” who attach themselves to the growing number of Filipinos now in desperate need of work.
“With more than 40,000 displaced workers and millions of unemployed Filipinos to choose from, these illegal recruiters and human traffickers are raking profits from the desperation of their countrymen.”
The Ople Center has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the POEA for a joint advocacy campaign against illegal recruitment. It has also reached an understanding with 1-UTAK, an organization of different transport groups, for a sticker campaign that would bear the hotlines of the POEA, NBI, BI, and Ople Center. The hotline of the Ople Center is 833-5337 while the POEA hotlines are 722-1144 & 722-1155. The Bureau of Immigration has its own hotline: 524-3769 while the NBI’s hotline is 523-8231.
“Our appeal is if you have any doubts at all about your recruiter or whoever is offering you an overseas job, call up the POEA, NBI or Ople Center hotlines. Before you leave the country, make sure that both your recruitment agency and foreign employer are accredited and considered in good standing by the POEA,” the Center stressed.
CHIZ MEETS AUSSIE PM RUDD, TAKES UP LABOR, MIGRATION AND TRADE
Sen. Chiz Escudero met Tuesday with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and discussed labor, trade and migration issues as well as the current state of relations between Manila and Canberra.
“We have agreed that the Philippines and Australia could and should play more active roles in the region,” Escudero said.
Diplomatic relations between the two nations started in 1948 with the establishment of a Philippine Legation in Sydney, and there are currently 120 agreements aimed at promoting security, economic and socio-cultural linkages and cooperation.
Escudero is now in Australia on a special visit upon the invitation of the Australian government.
He also spoke with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Employment, Education and Workplace Julia Gillard MP and Minister of Immigration and Sen. Chris Evans and tackled the possibility of allowing the entry of Filipino workers, specifically in the medical and non-skilled sectors as well as non-discriminatory statutes currently in place that are designed to protect migrant workers.
Based on Department of Labor and Employment figures, skills in demand in Australia include medical practitioners and nurses, midwives and pharmacists.
The Australian embassy in Manila revealed that in the last two years there has been a substantial increase in the number of skilled Filipino workers migrating to Australia, and that in 2008 the increase was estimated to be 136% higher than the previous year, outpacing family migration to Australia for the first time.
“We talked about the possibility of a government-to-government arrangement on labor migration at various levels. I believe it’s time the Philippine government acknowledged that we have a labor export policy to weed out unscrupulous labor recruiters and to protect our workers,” Escudero said.
In another meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith, the two exchanged views on how Australia can further improve relations with the Philippines and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
“We have agreed that there is a lot of room for heightening and increasing the levels of cooperation in pursuit of our common and shared interests,” Escudero added.
Meanwhile, he said organizations like the Philippine Community Council of New South Wales (PCC-NSW) will play a key role in strengthening trade relations between the Philippines and Australia.
Speaking during the induction of its new officers he stressed that PCC-NSW can also help recommend jobs to Filipinos seeking to work abroad.
“In light of the global financial crisis that has resulted in many OFWs being laid off, I call on our countrymen, especially those who have established roots outside the Philippines, not to forget that there are those who have decided to follow their footsteps. All of you here were also jobseekers once,” he said.
Philippines-born migrants now comprise at least 1% of Australia’s total population.
The PCC-NSW is the main organization of the Filipino-Australian community in New South Wales and is affiliated with the Filipino Communities Council of Australia.
It was one of the 31 awardees of the 2008 Presidential Awards for Filipino individuals and organizations overseas in the Banaag Award Category.
“We have agreed that the Philippines and Australia could and should play more active roles in the region,” Escudero said.
Diplomatic relations between the two nations started in 1948 with the establishment of a Philippine Legation in Sydney, and there are currently 120 agreements aimed at promoting security, economic and socio-cultural linkages and cooperation.
Escudero is now in Australia on a special visit upon the invitation of the Australian government.
He also spoke with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Employment, Education and Workplace Julia Gillard MP and Minister of Immigration and Sen. Chris Evans and tackled the possibility of allowing the entry of Filipino workers, specifically in the medical and non-skilled sectors as well as non-discriminatory statutes currently in place that are designed to protect migrant workers.
Based on Department of Labor and Employment figures, skills in demand in Australia include medical practitioners and nurses, midwives and pharmacists.
The Australian embassy in Manila revealed that in the last two years there has been a substantial increase in the number of skilled Filipino workers migrating to Australia, and that in 2008 the increase was estimated to be 136% higher than the previous year, outpacing family migration to Australia for the first time.
“We talked about the possibility of a government-to-government arrangement on labor migration at various levels. I believe it’s time the Philippine government acknowledged that we have a labor export policy to weed out unscrupulous labor recruiters and to protect our workers,” Escudero said.
In another meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith, the two exchanged views on how Australia can further improve relations with the Philippines and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
“We have agreed that there is a lot of room for heightening and increasing the levels of cooperation in pursuit of our common and shared interests,” Escudero added.
Meanwhile, he said organizations like the Philippine Community Council of New South Wales (PCC-NSW) will play a key role in strengthening trade relations between the Philippines and Australia.
Speaking during the induction of its new officers he stressed that PCC-NSW can also help recommend jobs to Filipinos seeking to work abroad.
“In light of the global financial crisis that has resulted in many OFWs being laid off, I call on our countrymen, especially those who have established roots outside the Philippines, not to forget that there are those who have decided to follow their footsteps. All of you here were also jobseekers once,” he said.
Philippines-born migrants now comprise at least 1% of Australia’s total population.
The PCC-NSW is the main organization of the Filipino-Australian community in New South Wales and is affiliated with the Filipino Communities Council of Australia.
It was one of the 31 awardees of the 2008 Presidential Awards for Filipino individuals and organizations overseas in the Banaag Award Category.
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