OP upholds DOLE decision on PAL labor row
The Office of the President (OP) has affirmed the decision of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on the labor dispute between management and workers of the Philippines Airlines (PAL), but modified a component of the transition benefits package that will be given to employees who will be affected by the flag-carrier’s plan to outsource services.
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said on Saturday that the OP empathized with the concerns of the PAL Employees Association (PALEA) and addressed the apprehensions of its members being employed by an entity other than the airline company and the remuneration they would receive.
The OP endorsed the separation pay equivalent to 125 percent of the employee’s monthly salary per year of service, or an improvement from the one-fourth the amount of the employee’s one month salary provided for in the original decision.
It likewise affirmed certain compensation to PAL employees, such as 100 percent cash payment of vacation and sick leave balance regardless of years of service, one year extension of medical and hospitalization package, and continued trip pass benefits depending on the years of service rendered.
The OP, however, increased the additional gratuity pay to affected workers to P100,000 from P50,000.
Ochoa said the OP decision on the petition of PALEA for presidential intervention upheld the labor department’s ruling that service providers shall absorb the affected workers. PAL shall be bound and be held liable by way of guaranteeing the payment of their salaries for a period of one year from the time of their retrenchment.
In the decision, the OP said it agreed with the DOLE position that PAL can contract out services, the severance of employment of rank-and-file employees to be affected by the outsourcing of services was valid, and that PAL could not be held liable for unfair labor practice for pursuing a legitimate exercise of management prerogative.
PALEA’s decision to seek presidential intervention to settle the dispute with PAL stemmed from management’s plan to outsource its in-flight catering, air services and call center reservation operations, a move that will lead to the retrenchment of some 2,600 employees.
The country’s flag-carrier said outsourcing these services would help reduce its accumulated net losses and deficit brought about by surging fuel prices, the ban of its entry into 27 European Union member-states and the suspension of its remittance facilities by the International Transport Association.
Ochoa explained that the OP had made efforts to get the two parties come up with a “mutually agreeable settlement” in a dialogue held in Malacañang on February 11, but “both PAL and PALEA maintained their respective positions on the issues involved.”
“In light of this development, we are issuing a ruling which takes into consideration the welfare of the workers involved in accordance with labor laws and regulations,” he said. (PCOO)
Aquino expresses gratitude for continued faith and confidence of Asian Development Bank
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Friday night cited top honchos of Asian Development Bank (ADB) for their enduring faith and rising confidence to the Philippines, particularly to his administration’s “no corrupt, no poor” stand.
In his speech at the reception hosted by ADB at their headquarters in Ortigas Center in Mandaluyong City, the President emphasized that the partnership between the Philippines and the Asian Development Bank “is proof of our shared dedication to improve the quality of life of the Filipino people.”
“It has been four decades since you chose our country as your headquarters. Your trust is proof of the enduring faith and rising confidence placed by key institutions around the world in the strengths and capabilities of the Filipino people,” he said.
He also thanked ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda for recognizing his administration’s reform agenda especially his strong stand to alleviate the lives of the Filipino people and rid it of graft and corruption in the government agencies.
“Now, through our reform agenda, our nation has finally re-awakened to a new dawn. We are committed to bringing daylight into people’s lives, by serving with integrity, transparency, and optimism,” he assured Kuroda and other foreign dignitaries at the reception gala.
“We are fulfilling our mandate, and we will not fail those who count on us to stick to the straight path,” he added.
The President also informed ADB officials that his “administration will be on the frontline of every battle against forces that desire to have the Philippines stagnate rather than progress.”
“My only request is that we remain bound by the singular vision of this administration for our country: A vision of freedom from poverty; of equitable progress; of a democracy that leaves no one behind,” he further emphasized.
For over forty years, the ADB have provided loans amounting to over $10 billion to the Philippines, in the form of budgetary support to the national government to finance infrastructure projects such as roads, airports, power plants, and water and sanitation facilities.
Aside from loans and technical assistance, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) informed the President that ADB also had a program of almost $30 million to support the administration’s development projects between 2010 and 2012.
Likewise, the ADB is currently financing the Philippine Energy Efficiency Project that is expected to reduce the cost of power generation, by means of the efficient lighting of households and government office buildings, and establishment of an energy service company that caters to other public utilities such as schools and hospitals.
Prior to his speech, the President led the launching of the National Electric Vehicle Strategy, another ambitious project funded by the ADB through the introduction of electronic tricycles as alternative public transport that are really friendlier to the environment.
“What does this mean to our people? It means that these tricycles will no longer need gas, and will be a greener alternative to what we currently have, as they will lessen carbon dioxide emissions. It also means cheaper fares for our commuters while increasing margins for our tricycle drivers,” the President said.
During the project briefing where the President viewed the prototype of e-trike at the courtyard, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and ADB vice president for operations in the Philippines Lawrence Greenwood informed the President that the first 21 e-tricycles will soon be demonstrated in Mandaluyong.
In partnership with the ADB, Almendras said the Department of Energy is set to introduce 20,000 electric tricycles to lessen carbon dioxide emission as part of the Philippine Energy Efficiency Project (PEEP).
Almendras estimated that under the project, the government will save roughly about 100,000 liters of the country’s daily imported oil consumption and would generate annual savings of $36.5 million. (PCOO)
Palace bares new appointments
Malacañang announced on Saturday the new appointments to the executive offices, including Undersecretary Richard Tiu, topnotcher in the 1985 bar, at the Department of Budget and Management and Fernando Manalo as Acting Undersecretary of the Department of National Defense.
Also appointed were Leslie Jean Cordero, representing the Presidential Communications Operations Office in the Movie and Television Review and Censors Board; Amelia P. Guevarra as Acting Executive Director of the Philippine Council on Industry, Energy Resource Research Development and Jose Cabanayan Jr. as Deputy Administrator of the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Named to the National Museum board were: Ramon del Rosario Jr., chairman and board members Benito Vergara, a scientist replacing Fidel Malig Sarmiento; Rene Avellana, a historian, replacing Fr. Ben Nebres and Marinella Fabella, repracing Ced Lapuz, all with terms expiring March 24, 2014; Felicity Sta. Maria replacing Maria Eloisa Nolasco Fernan; Corazon Alvina, replacing Mariano Santiago and Ma. Isabel G. Ongpin, replacing Betina Aboitiz, and their terms expire on March 24, 2012.
Named to the DENR were Datu Miketai Elsawai, replacing Marcelino Gezmundo and Reynaldo Ganaden, replacing Fernando Lu.
Appointed to the Civil Aeronautics Authority of the Philippines were Agnes Bondoc and Atty. Rodrigo Artuz, as assistant director general.
Newly appointed police chief superintendents were; Clarence Villanueva Guinto, Benjamin Banez Magalong, Fausto Villegas Marina, police chief superintendent and Adelio Benjamin Garcia Castillo, police senior superintendent. (PCOO)
Aquino urges new graduates of police academy to join in reform of government
President Benigno S. Aquino III asked this year’s graduates of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) to join him in reforming the government to further serve the people.
“Sana ay maging kakampi kayo ng tuwid at tapat na pamamahala. Sagipin natin ang taumbayan sa mga ganid sa lipunan,” the President said in his address at the 32nd commencement exercise of the PNPA on Saturday.
The cadets, who were also inducted to join major services of the interior department, will face challenges more than the hurdles encountered at the academe, the President said.
Aside from the education that they get from the PNPA, President Aquino said the graduating cadets will need determination and wisdom to defeat corruption as well as poverty in the country.
The new officers could expect offers of bribes and power to buy their allegiance and destroy their determination. But the President advised to reject those offers and instead think of the country and the plight of the poor.
The President also mentioned that in the past decade, the public doubted the sincerity and competence of the police force because of the massive corruption during the past administration.
But he said he believes that there are still good policemen serving the people well. For instance, because of the reforms in the police that the present administration has carried out, carnapping incidents has dropped significantly last year.
The police was also able to immediately solve the murder of a broadcaster in Malabon City including three other media killings: the murders of Gerardo Ortega, Jose Daguio and Miguel Belen. The PNP should be commended for its good performance, the President said
At the same time, the President vowed to help the police and other services so that they get the necessary training and equipment. He added that his administration will be helping the police and their families to have their own dwellings as well as education for their children.
For this year, the government will construct not less than 20,000 housing units for policemen at affordable prices so that they can have their own homes.
The administration also launched an educational system for the children of policemen, and the President said the children of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel will soon be included.
The target he said, is to give scholarship to at least one member of the family of PNP, BJMP, and BFP personnel.
And to protect public money from corruption, the President said they have initiated reforms in the bureaucracy and were now going after corrupt officials in the institution.
The government has fixed the bureaucracy to make the modernization program successful, he said adding it’s a way of improving the system of the institutions that protect the safety of the public. (PCOO)
