People of Palo remember life’s biggest lessons
learned from ‘Yolanda’
(PALO, Leyte) The resilience of Filipinos and
their strong devotion towards the Catholic faith were on display Sunday as
those who survived the onslaught of super typhoon "Yolanda" (Haiyan)
shared everything they remember during that fateful Friday of November 8, its
aftermath, and how God helped them through those harrowing times.
Fr. Sunny Quejada told a packed audience inside
Palo Cathedral about his own ordeal upon learning that he had lost two members
of his immediate family from the tragedy. He, however, said that blaming God
for what happened never crossed his mind.
The 33-year old priest took a few days of leave
from his parish in Aurora and rushed home to his family as soon as he learned
that his mother went missing following Yolanda’s onslaught. When he arrived, he
was surprised to find out that his elder sister was also missing.
He immediately went to search for his beloved
kin, gone as far as looking at and praying for the dead bodies he saw on the
road one-by-one, and felt relieved when he did not find them there. Such
relief, however, was just temporary as the remains of his mother showed up a
few more days later.
Fr. Quejada said he wished to see his mother
alive but he already prepared himself for the worst and accepted her death. He,
too, acknowledged the possibility that his sister did not survive even if her
body has not yet been found.
He took care of everything for her mother’s
burial, from buying the coffin to processing the papers, despite being
overwhelmed with sadness. He even personally led the ceremonial rites during
her interment.
“Some priests found it hard to lead a funeral
mass for their loved ones because they get very emotional. But somehow I
managed to hold one for my mother because I wanted to give her a proper
burial,” Fr. Quejada said in Filipino while keeping his emotions in check.
Fr. Quejada admitted he once had thought about
asking some of his brothers why they let something bad happen to their mother
and sister, but he quickly abandoned the idea, knowing that it must be more
agonizing on their part as they were witnesses to Yolanda’s devastation.
Instead, Fr. Quejada prayed to the Lord and
thanked Him for allowing them to experience this pain because it made them
stronger as a family. With God on their side, he said he would rather look at
his experiences with Yolanda on a positive note.
Fr. Quejada already sent his remaining family
members to Manila where they can start rebuilding their lives. He also plans to
go back to his parish soon in preparation for the traditional Misa de Gallo.
His testimony was just one of the many stories
shared here in Palo as part of its cathedral’s Days of Prayer and Remembrance
to mark the first month since super typhoon Yolanda wreaked havoc in Leyte and
other places in the Visayas.
Monsignor Bernie Pantin, parish priest of the
Palo Cathedral, said this prayerful event was held to provide a communal
experience of healing and closure as they take a rest from the frenzy of relief
activities and spend a period of silence, pay respects to, and pray for the
dearly departed, as well as offer sympathies to their families and friends.
It was also meant to give thanks to God for the
valuable gift of new life given to those who survived the typhoon, and to
remember with gratitude and to pray for the countless generous persons, who
continue to work together to help with the healing process and rehabilitation
of the beautiful island of Leyte.
A group of talented children who fortunately
survived the tragedy performed two songs, "Yesterday’s Dream" and
"Pag-ibig Tulad ng Batis," during the said program that drew
applause, cheers, and tears of joy from the adults who were watching from the
pews.
Archbishop John Du of the Archdiocese of Palo
capped the program with a prayer before leading the Eucharistic celebration.
PND (hdc)
President Aquino to receive honorary doctorate
degree at Tokyo's Sophia University
(TOKYO, Japan) President Benigno S. Aquino III
is expected to receive an honorary doctoral law degree from Japan's Sophia
University during his visit here this week.
President Aquino is scheduled to visit the
university on Friday morning, before meeting with Japanese Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe.
Some 150 guests from government, business
leaders, think tanks, the diplomatic corps and Filipino community members and
Filipino students are expected to attend the event.
Sophia University president Tadashi Takizawa is
expected to deiver the opening remarks before formally awarding the Honorary
Doctorate Degree to the President.
President Aquino is expected to deliver a commemorative
lecture after Chancellor Toshiaki Koso gives his congratulatory address.
Following the event, the President and his
delegation are expected to head for Prime Minister Abe's residence for a
bilateral meeting and working lunch.
The conferment of the degree is one of the
activities of the President during his visit to Japan, for the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Japan Commemorative Summit.
Sophia University is a Jesuit educational
institution and has exchange agreements with Jesuit universities including
Ateneo de Manila University, President Aquino's alma mater. PND (jl)
President Aquino to promote PHL economic
interests in meetings with Japanese business leaders in Tokyo visit
(TOKYO, Japan) President Benigno S. Aquino III is
expected to promote Philippine economic interests in Japan this week, through
scheduled meetings with Japanese business groups and delegations during his
visit here.
President Aquino will lead a Philippine
delegation to Tokyo to take part in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN)-Japan Commemorative Summit here.
On Friday, the President is scheduled to meet
with the Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) at the Meeting Room of
the Keidanren Kaikan in Chiyoda-ku here.
The President and members of the Philippine
delegation are to meet 12 representatives of the Japan Business Federation led
by Hiromasa Yonekura.
The meeting is scheduled after a bilateral
meeting and working lunch hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Also on Friday, the President is scheduled to
receive a social call by Bank of Japan Governor and Mrs. Haruhiko Kuroda at the
Main Building of the Imperial Hotel.
On Saturday, President Aquino is scheduled to
join fellow ASEAN heads of state at a lunch hosted by the Japan business
community, including the Keidanren and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, at the Japan Business Federation building.
Also on Saturday, the President and members of
the Philippine delegation are to meet with officials of the Sumotomo Mitsui
Banking Corp.
Expected to represent the SMBC are chairman
Teisuke Kitayama and deputy president Hiroshi Minoura.
Meanwhile, the President is scheduled to witness
the signing of a memorandum of understanding for an 850-room retirement
community in Cebu City.
To sign the MOU are officials of the Cebu City
government, Japanese real estate firm I-Land Co., and construction company
Primary Structures.
On Saturday evening, the President and the
Philippine delegation will meet with officials of Nidec Sankyo Corporation led
by chairman of the board Shigenobu Nagamori. PND (jl)
President Aquino to pursue closer Phl-Japan ties
in Tokyo visit
(TOKYO, Japan) President Benigno S. Aquino III
will pursue closer ties between the Philippines and Japan during his visit here
this week for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Japan
Commemorative summit.
President Aquino and the Philippine delegation
are to take part in several events aimed at bolstering various aspects of
Philippine-Japan friendship.
On Friday, the President is scheduled to receive
an Honorary doctorate law degree from Sophia University.
The President is then expected to meet with
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for a bilateral meeting and a working lunch
at the Prime Minister's official residence.
He is then to meet with the Nippon Keidanren
(Japan Business Federation) at the Keidanren Kaikan) in the afternoon.
The President will then join fellow ASEAN heads
of state at tea hosted by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the Imperial
Palace in Chiyoda, Tokyo.
Also on Friday, the President and the Philippine
delegation will receive a courtesy call by the Japan Philippines Parliament
Arians Friendship League (JPPFL) at the Imperial Hotel.
Expected to lead the JPPFL delegation are
Minister of Justice Sadakazu Tanigaki as advisor; chairman Kenji Kosaka; vice
chairman Takeshi Maeda; chief secretary Yukio Ubukata; and secretary-general
Taku Otsuka.
Following this will be a social call by Bank of
Japan Governor and Mrs. Haruhiko Kuroda.
On Friday evening, the President will join ASEAN
heads of state at a dinner to be hosted by Prime Minister Abe and his wife Akie
Abe at the Prime Minister's official residence.
On Saturday, the President will take part at the
ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit at the Akasaka State Guest House, President
Aquino may deliver a statement during the summit.
The President and fellow ASEAN heads of state
will then take part in a lunch hosted by the Japan business community,
including the Keidanren and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
President Aquino will then join fellow ASEAN
heads of state at the closing session of the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit.
Also on Saturday, the President will receive a
courtesy call from former Japan International Cooperation Agency president Dr.
Sadako Ogata, who is now advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and a
special advisor to JICA President Akihiko Tanaka.
He will then meet with a delegation from the
Sumotomo Mitsui Banking Corp., and witness the signing of a memorandum of
understanding for an 850-room retirement community in Cebu City.
The President will likewise meet with
representatives from Nidec Sankyo Corp.
President Aquino will then join fellow ASEAN
heads of state at a gala dinner to be hosted by Prime Minister and Madame Abe.
He is expected to depart for Manila Saturday
night and arrive in Manila early Sunday. PND (jl)
DSWD to consider extending distribution of
relief goods until next year
(TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) Distribution of relief
goods especially to vulnerable sectors in calamity-stricken areas of Visayas
may be extended until next year, the Department of Social Welfare of
Development’s (DSWD) regional office in Eastern Visayas announced.
The DSWD previously said their relief
distribution efforts would just be until the end of this year, but this could
change depending on the agency’s assessment of the situation, DSWD
officer-in-charge for Eastern Visayas Nestor Ramos said.
“(As) per assessment of our department, the
relief distributions will be up to December 30, but we will do another
assessment of whether we would continue our relief distribution after December.
But definitely, for the vulnerable (sectors), it will continue,” Ramos told
members of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC)
during a meeting here.
The DSWD already plans to move into its
cash-for-work program beginning January next year and has instructed local
government units, through their Municipal Social Welfare Development offices,
to prepare a project proposal as for the qualified beneficiaries of the said
program.
About P533,698,756 worth of family food packs
were already distributed by the DSWD for Leyte and Samar provinces alone as of
December 7 (Saturday). Cost of assistance for the relief distribution efforts
of local government units amounted to P3,938,454.
Meanwhile, the DSWD is launching this afternoon
its ‘Feel Good’ project to be attended by Secretary Corazon Soliman, in
partnership with the Department of Education and private companies like HBC and
the Reyes Haircutters.
The project will serve as a morale booster to
the typhoon survivors conceptualized by DSWD’s partner groups from the private
sector in Manila. Some 30 haircutters will be giving free haircut to teachers
and volunteers in Palo and Holy Infant College in Tacloban. This will be
followed shortly by an activity to decorate the ‘Tree of Hope’. PND (hdc)
DSWD to look into allegations of missing relief
goods from foreign donors
(TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) The Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD) will look into reported allegations of missing
relief goods from international donors that have generated rage and concern
over social media recently, its regional office here said on Monday.
Fielding questions from the media, DSWD
officer-in-charge for Eastern Visayas Nestor Ramos said they have not yet
received information regarding the matter but they will seek clarification from
their workers on the ground to address this concern.
“The reality on the ground is there are NGOs
(non-government organizations) directly distributing relief goods to LGUs
(local government units)… (In) every municipality, we have already deployed
(teams) to assess whether commodities are being received by our people in the
villages,” Ramos said.
British tabloid, the Daily Mail, published a
report over the weekend quoting an expat source that emergency supplies
delivered by military helicopters from the United Kingdom have turned up on the
shelves of shops in Makati instead of its intended recipients in calamity-hit
areas.
Ramos said they will investigate this matter, as
well as the alleged hoarding of imported relief goods from international
organizations by corrupt local officials to be swapped with local ones hidden
inside cadaver bags.
“Usually, when there are donations from the
international organizations, we just make an inventory of it by box, but we are
not opening that box. We immediately dispatch them to the different
municipalities. We have a list of distribution plan as to who will be given
priority. We do not repack (these relief goods) in our offices,” Ramos
explained.
Ramos also encouraged members of the media to
visit their relief hubs to see for themselves whether the DSWD was indeed
keeping these goods inside cadaver bags just to hide them from the public.
He also addressed complaints raised by some
volunteers who were displeased with DSWD’s rotational policy in line with its
food-for-work program. He said rotating the volunteers was necessary so they
could give equal opportunity to everyone.
“We have to rotate our volunteers because they
are being given family food packs. It’s part of the food-for-work program. If
they help in the repacking, we give them family food packs, so they can’t stay
as volunteers for a long period of time. We have to remember that there are
also a lot of people like them, that’s why we have to rotate our volunteers,”
Ramos explained. PND (hdc)
Meeting with Filipino community first on
President Aquino's schedule in Japan
(TOKYO, Japan) A meeting with the Filipino
community in Japan will be the first item on President Benigno S. Aquino III's
itinerary during his visit here this week.
The meeting is scheduled for Thursday afternoon,
shortly after the President and the Philippine delegation are to arrive here
from Manila.
It comes ahead of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Japan Commemorative Summit, which the President is to
take part in.
During Thursday's meeting scheduled at the Large
Hall of the Arts Building of the National Olympics Memorial Youth Center, the
President is to be presented with a symbolic check for Y1 million for victims
of super typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan).
He will also award the Presidential Medal of
Merit to former National Historical Institute (now National Historical Commission
of the Philippines) Chairman Ambeth Ocampo, before delivering his speech for
the occasion.
Meanwhile, Joyce Ogawa, chairperson of the
Philippine Assistance Group representing the Kanto region and Jocelyn
Yoshitomi, chairperson of the Philippine Community Coordinating Council
representing the Kansai region, will deliver their respective remarks.
Filipino artists will also perform songs from
the President's inaugural concert. PND (jl)
DSWD asks media’s help to warn ‘Yolanda’ victims
against illegal recruiters
(TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) Victims of super typhoon
‘Yolanda’, especially women and children here who are susceptible to
trafficking, are being warned against illegal recruiters that are promising
them jobs outside.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) issued this statement Monday and asked members of the media to advise
citizens of Leyte to be more cautious when they are offered job opportunities
outside their province.
“I-advocate natin huwag kayong papayag sa mga
wrong information that there is job outside of Tacloban,” DSWD
officer-in-charge for Eastern Visayas Nestor Ramos said.
Ramos added that any information with respect to
job opportunities can be easily verified with the Department of Labor and
Employment. He also mentioned that the DSWD continues to work with the
Philippine National Police (PNP) to address the issue on trafficking.
They are also working with the Philippine Navy
as regards to the unescorted minors who wanted to board their ships. “If there
are kids na walang magulang, hindi po ‘yan pinapasakay. ‘Yung mga bata na
gustong sumakay pero walang nanay, kinukuha po namin, nilalagay po namin sa
aming shelter,” Ramos said. PND (hdc)
Filipino community to present Y1-million check
for ‘Yolanda’ victims during meeting with President Aquino
(TOKYO, Japan) Filipinos here will present to
President Benigno S. Aquino III this week a symbolic check for Y1 million
(P426,007) for victims of super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
The presentation will be one of the highlights
of the President's meeting with the Filipino community shortly after his
arrival here on Thursday afternoon.
Expected to present the check are Jenavila
Shigemizu, chairperson of the Philippine Barrio Fiesta Executive Committee, and
Olive Akatsu.
Yolanda battered parts of the Visayas and
Southern Luzon last Nov. 8, leaving behind nearly 6,000 dead and more than
P35-billion in damage.
The destruction it caused has prompted the
international community to pitch in and help the survivors.
President Aquino is to lead a Philippine
delegation to Japan this week for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN)-Japan Commemorative Summit.
The delegation is scheduled to arrive on
Thursday. PND (jl)
President Aquino mulls to give subsidy to
transport sector due to power rate adjustments
President Benigno S. Aquino III announced on
Monday that he is studying the option of providing subsidy to public transport
sector in efforts to lessen the effects of the possible power rate adjustments.
In an interview following his attendance to the
80th Founding Anniversary of the Department of Labor and Employment which has
for its theme "Walumpung Taong Pag-unlad, Walumpung Taong
Paglilingkod" held at the Ichikawa Hall, Occupational Safety and Health
Center located at the corner of North Avenue and Science Road, Diliman, Quezon
City, the Chief Executive issued the statement in the light of the plan of the
Manila Electric Company to implement power rate adjustments.
President Aquino said he issued a directive to
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr., Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho
Petilla, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Budget Secretary Florcencio Abad,
among others of the possibility of tapping the Malampaya Funds to finance the
program to cushion the effects of electricity power adjustments.
"Itong araw na ito inatasan ko si
Secretaries Jericho Petilla, Cesar Purisima, pati ang Department of Justice,
ang Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, Executive Secretary and Secretary
Florencio Abad na i-review kung paano ba magagamit—paano at puwede ba magamit
ang Malampaya funds to cushion the impact," the President said.
"So baka pumasok ang pagbibigay ng subsidy
sa ating mga—, ulitin ko lang ha, baka muna dahil pinagaaral ko pa nga ang
subsidy doon sa ating mga public transports, ano, during the period of up to,
if I remember correctly, hanggang February, ano, para hindi na kailangang
mag-rate increase. ...Meron tayong sinubukang ganyan noong rumagasa iyong
presyo ng langis about two years ago, kung hindi ako nagkakamali so, that
amongst other things," he said.
The President expects the concerned Cabinet
Secretaries to give him the result of the study and proposal to address the
issue before he leave for Japan this week. PND (js)
President Aquino lauds Department of Labor and
Employment for helping displaced workers in the aftermath of typhoons and
calamities
President Benigno S. Aquino III lauded on Monday
the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for facilitating employment
services for the typhoon-displaced workers in the aftermath of typhoons and
other calamities.
In his speech during the 80th Founding
Anniversary of the DOLE which has for its theme "Walumpung Taong
Pag-unlad, Walumpung Taong Paglilingkod" held at the Ichikawa Hall,
Occupational Safety and Health Center located at the corner of North Avenue and
Science Road, Diliman, Quezon City, the Chief Executive said the DOLE is
working hard to find all possible means in providing employment opportunities
for the victims of calamities.
"Iba po talaga ang DOLE. Noong nakaraang
taon lang nang ipaabot ko sa inyo ang aking paghanga sa matatagumpay ninyong
inisyatiba para sa ating manggagawa. Pinasalamatan ko rin kayo noon sa
pagtulong ninyo sa mga kababayan nating sinalanta ng bagyong Pablo. Kung
napakataas na ng antas ng serbisyong ipinakita ninyo noon, tinumbasan pa ninyo
ito ng panibagong gilas ngayong taon," President Aquino said.
"At ito nga po ang lalong nagpapatingkad sa
pagdiriwang natin sa inyong ika-80 anibersaryo. Alam po ninyo sa sunud-sunod na
trahedyang dinaanan ng bansa ngayong taon, nariyan ang inyong ahensya bilang
matibay na sandigan ng mga kababayan natin para sa kanilang muling
pagbangon," he said.
Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz
ordered the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Bureau of Local
Employment, among others, to mobilize resources, partners, and allies and
conduct overseas job fairs for workers in calamity-stricken provinces in
Visayas region following the devastation of super typhoon Yolanda last
November, the President said.
"Isipin ninyo: 11 araw lang ang nakalipas
matapos hagupitin ng bagyong Yolanda ang kalakhang Kabisayaan, pinangunahan ng
DOLE ang pagkakaloob ng libu-libong emergency employment sa mga apektadong
komunidad," the President said.
"Si Secretary Linda nga po ang naging
punong-abala sa koordinasyon ng mga ahensya sa paghahatid ng ayuda para sa mga
biktima. Siya po ang inatasan nating mangasiwa sa typhoon Yolanda Information
Assistance Center—ang ahensyang nakatoka para sa pagkalap at pagpapalaganap ng
impormasyon ukol sa mga donasyon, volunteers, missing persons, at pagtukoy sa
mga pangangailangan ng komunidad," he said.
The President also expressed his gratitude to
Baldoz and the officials and employees of the DOLE for immediately extending
assistance to the victims of calamities.
"Balita ko po, simple na lang din ang
ginawa ninyong selebrasyon upang higit kayong makapaghatid ng tulong sa mga
sinalanta nating kababayan. Hayaan ninyo pong ako na ang magpaabot sa inyo ng
isang taos-pusong pasasalamat. Kapag po talaga masigasig, maaasahan, at sinsero
ang ating mga ahensya sa pagtugon sa mga hamon, talagang naiibsan ang bagabag
at agam-agam natin sa panahon ng trahedya," he said. PND (js)
President Aquino says Department of Labor and
Employment's conciliation and mediation averts strikes
President Benigno S. Aquino III said the
Department of Labor and Employment's National Conciliation and Mediation Board
succeeded in averting strikes, paving the way for the government to achieve
stable industrial peace climate in the country.
In his speech during the 80th Founding
Anniversary of the DOLE which has for its theme "Walumpung Taong
Pag-unlad, Walumpung Taong Paglilingkod" held at the Ichikawa Hall,
Occupational Safety and Health Center located at the corner of North Avenue and
Science Road, Diliman, Quezon City, the Chief Executive said the DOLE's
conciliation and mediation strategy is the best approach in settling
work-related disputes.
"Kapansin-pansin nga po ang maayos na
relasyon ng ating mga manggagawa at mga kompanya. Isipin po ninyo: Buhat 2010,
nananatiling mababa ang bilang ng mga strike ayon sa National Conciliation and
Mediation Board. Sumasalamin ito sa tagumpay ng Single Entry Approach ng DOLE,
kung saan dumadaan sa 30-day conciliation-mediation ang nakahaing labor
cases," the President said.
"Ang maganda nga, sa 152 notices of strike
and lockout ngayong taon, isa lang ang natuloy na welga. Ito raw po ang
pinakamababa sa kasaysayan ng DOLE. Dahil sa naresolbang mga kaso sa
pamamagitan ng SEnA mula Oktubre 2010 hanggang Setyembre 2013, napadali ang
pagbabayad ng 2.4 billion pesos na monetary benefits para sa 82,578 manggagawa.
Kaya naman di na po ako nagtatakang nakuha ng SEnA Team ang CSC Presidential
Lingkod Bayan Award ngayong taon," President Aquino said.
The DOLE continues to enhance its conciliation
and mediation techniques in maintaining harmony in the workplace. It has
trained labor and management representatives to become skilled and qualified
conciliators-mediators in an effort to maintain industrial peace in the
country.
"Maipagmamalaki rin natin ang pagkakaroon
ng stable industrial peace climate sa bansa. Dahil dito, mas nahihikayat natin
ang mga investors para sa pagpapalawak o pagbubukas nila ng negosyo sa
Pilipinas," the President said. PND (js)
170 units of temporary shelters already under
construction in Leyte and Samar—DPWH
(TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) The Department of Public
Works and Highways (DPWH) has proposed a total of 219 units of bunkhouses to be
constructed in the provinces of Leyte and Samar, 170 units of which are already
underway, DPWH regional coordinator Serafin Lago, Jr. reported on Monday.
Lago added that clearing operations by the
different engineering districts of the DPWH in Eastern Visayas are still
ongoing with some areas already completed one hundred percent. Main highways
here are almost cleared although the debris that comes from the inside streets
kept returning.
“We collect this debris daily, but after
collection the following day, another set of debris is piled up on the streets.
We are still conducting debris collections daily and we are even scheduling it
at night time,” Lago said during his meeting with the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction
Management Council.
The DPWH has also already cleared the Burayan
Creek, as well as the Tacloban City Astrodome, which served as an evacuation
center for residents here during the height of super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ last
month.
Roofing for the two buildings of the Leyte
Sports Complex, which is being used as central command post for relief
operations of various international aid organizations, as well as work stations
for foreign, national, local media is almost completely repaired.
Upon its acquisition of important materials such
as coco lumber, the DPWH will start repairing six school buildings and one
regional office building that were damaged during the typhoon. Lago said they
might begin the work by next week as soon as the materials arrive. PND (hdc)
President Aquino commends the Department of
Labor and Employment for developing Labour Law Compliance System
President Benigno S. Aquino III commended the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for developing a new "Labour Law
Compliance System" (LLCS) in ensuring decent and productive work.
In his speech during the 80th Founding
Anniversary of the DOLE which has for its theme "Walumpung Taong
Pag-unlad, Walumpung Taong Paglilingkod" held at the Ichikawa Hall,
Occupational Safety and Health Center located at the corner of North Avenue and
Science Road, Diliman, Quezon City, the Chief Executive acknowledged the move
of the DOLE to implement this year the new LLCS that aims at improving work
conditions, fostering good employer-employee relations, and enhancing work
productivity through voluntary compliance with labor standards.
"Saludo rin tayo sa new labor law compliance
and incentivizing system bilang tugon sa mga isyung nakapaloob sa labor
contractualization. Sa tulong nito, sinisiguro nating napapangalagaan ang
karapatan ng ating manggagawa; na ang mga kompanyang sakop ng Labor Code ay may
tamang pasuweldo at benepisyo para sa kanilang mga empleyado," President
Aquino said.
"Nakapag-deploy na rin tayo ng Unified
Registration System ng Batas Kasambahay. Sa pagtutulungan ng DOLE, Social
Security System, PhilHealth, at Pag-IBIG, mas mabilis at simple na lang ang
pagrehistro ng mga employer at kasambahay para sa kanilang mga benepisyo. 2.9
na milyong kasambahay po ang inaasahan nating makikinabang sa sistemang
ito," he said.
The DOLE earlier improved the processes of the
LLCS by developing a software system that will establish a coordinated program
relative to labor law enforcement.
The President also lauded Labor and Employment
Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz for coming out with various initiatives to create
more job opportunities for the Filipinos.
"Pinalawak din natin ang serbisyo ng
Phil-Job.Net para sa epektibong paglalatag ng oportunidad sa ating mga
kababayan. Ang dating 40,000 na bakanteng trabahong nakapaskil dito noong 2010,
umabot na sa 100,000 ang monthly average buhat noong 2012. Habang ang mga
rehistradong establisyamento naman, tumaas din mula 2,000 noong 2010 hanggang
maging 30,000 na ito sa kasalukuyan.
"Sa pagtutulungan naman ng DOLE, Department
of Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of
Health, Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior and Local
Government, at Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, pumaspas
ang programa natin para palayain at protektahan ang nasa isandaang libong
kabataan mula sa child labor. Sa kasalukuyan, bukod sa nagkaloob na tayo ng
educational assistance sa humigit-kumulang 50,350 batang manggagawa, nabigyan
din natin ng marangal na kabuhayan ang kanilang mga magulang," he said.
PND (js)
Aquino sees faster negotiation with MILF
President Benigno S. Aquino III said he expects
the peace negotiations to speed up now that the government and the Moro Islamic
Liberations Front signed the agreement on power-sharing annex.
During his attendance to the 80th Founding
Anniversary of the Department of Labor and Employment in Quezon City Monday,
the President said in an interview that although both sides signed the
Framework Agreement last year, they have a huge task in hammering out the
details of the annexes which will take time.
Asked if the government and MILF negotiators remain
on track in establishing Bangsamoro government by 2016, the President said:
“Lahat tayo gusto nating mas maaga mapirmahan ito pero hindi nga ganoon kadali,
reason of itong timeframe.”
“Palagay ko ma-a-accelerate ang process para
naman makaupo na sila by 2015, after the enactment of the enabling law.”
The President said that after power-sharing,
negotiators must iron out normalization, the last hurdle in the talks.
“Medyo hindi ganoon kasimple iyon dahil talagang
dito lalabas iyong buong pagtitiwala o ide-demonstrate nito ang buong
pagtitiwala ng lahat,” the President said.
Normalization includes MILF fighters going back
to folds of the law as well as safeguarding their weapons, he said noting that
the issue is contentious since it involves complete trust to the Philippine
government by the MILF.
In a press briefing, government chief negotiator
Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said in a teleconference from Malaysia that they intend
to meet in January to complete the annex on normalization as well as the
addendum, which is the timeline.
In the meantime however, the Transition
Commission is going on with their meetings in the next few weeks.
Ferrer also said that the committee on
wealth-sharing has been working on the text for the draft of the Bangsamoro
Basic Law following the signing of the wealth-sharing annex this year.
Negotiators have to work double time given the
previous delays, Ferrer said. She added however that they are still working on
the same timeline which is to establish the Bangsamoro government and hold the
first elections in 2016.
Both panels target to sign the comprehensive
agreement by January, she said.
In October last year, the government and the
MILF signed the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro aimed at ending
decades-long conflict in Mindanao that resulted to a huge number of casualties
and instability in the region. PND (as)
Govt chief negotiator: There’s enough mechanism
to solve problems on the ground
There are enough mechanisms on the ground to
avoid hostilities while the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
thresh out the remaining annex of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro
signed by both sides last year, the government chief negotiator said on Monday.
In the teleconference from Malaysia with Palace
reporters, chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said that the government
always keeps in touch with their counterparts whenever there are problems
arising on the ground.
One example is the attacks committed by the MILF
in Lanao and Marawi City, she said.
Ferrer said that as both parties craft a
permanent peace pact in Mindanao there are stumbling blocks that may arise
along the way.
“We have always said that the road ahead is
going to be rough and these are the kinds of problems that we know we will be
encountering along the way, but what is important is that we have the
mechanisms to be able to address things … that we are able to extract the kind
of accountability and discipline that is expected of everyone,” she said.
For instance, during the incidents in Lanao and
Marawi City, Ferrer said they held two executive sessions with their
counterpart in the MILF.
That set off the process of immediately
contacting respective ceasefire committees, contacting the commanders that were
involved in the incidents and making sure that the remedial steps are
undertaken, she said.
The process led to the immediate release of the
police chief in Marawi City and in another incident the release of abducted
civilians, Ferrer said.
The government and the MILF recently signed the
agreement on power-sharing annex and gear up to thresh out the normalization
annex. Both sides target to sign the comprehensive agreement next year. PND
(as)
President Aquino remains focus at empowering the
poor to fight poverty
President Benigno S. Aquino III said the
government remains focused at empowering the poor and the marginalized sector
of the society to fight poverty.
In an interview following his attendance to the
80th Founding Anniversary of the Department of Labor and Employment which has
for its theme "Walumpung Taong Pag-unlad, Walumpung Taong
Paglilingkod" held at the Ichikawa Hall, Occupational Safety and Health
Center located at the corner of North Avenue and Science Road, Diliman, Quezon
City, the Chief Executive said the government continues to work harder to
alleviate poverty.
The National Statistical Coordination Board
reported that poverty incidence in the Philippines eased to 25.2 percent of the
population in 2012 from 26.3 percent in 2009. The Board also said that among
Filipino families, poverty incidence also declined to 19.7 percent last year
from 20.5 percent in 2009.
The President said the government continues to
invest in people's capacity to participate meaningfully in the economy.
"Pero ang bottom line, ‘pag sinabi naming
“inclusive growth,” di ba, the primary stimulus has always been the poverty
level ... So kung may motivating force, it has to be that number, and that
focus has to keep on diminishing kaya nga inclusive," he said.
"How do you participate in economic growth?
That’s why you have all of these funding for Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority, in Commission on Higher Education and Department of
Education for that matter. That’s why you have Conditional Cash Transfer now to
be expanded to high school students. Iyong all and everything that we do is
aimed at bringing our people beyond, di ba, to poverty threshold," the
President stressed.
The National Economic and Development Authority
attributed the slight improvement in poverty incidence to the government's
social programs such as the conditional cash transfer scheme. It also said that
sustained high economic growth is needed to enable the Philippines to reduce
poverty faster especially in rural areas. PND (js)
United Kingdom coordinates with Philippines and
international aid agencies to ensure relief reaches typhoon victims
The United Kingdom government is working closely
with the Philippine government and international aid agencies to ensure that
the needed humanitarian aid reach the victims of super typhoon ‘‘Yolanda’’
(international name Haiyan.), the British Embassy in Manila said.
The British Embassy in Manila issued the
statement following reports that the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) will look into reported allegations of missing relief goods
from international donors that have generated rage and concern over social
media recently, its regional office here said on Monday.
“We have no evidence of British aid being used
for anything other than the relief effort, which is helping hundreds of
thousands of Filipinos rebuild their lives,” the British Embassy said in a
statement on their website.
DSWD officer-in-charge for Eastern Visayas
Nestor Ramos said they will seek clarification from their workers on the ground
to address this concern after British tabloid "Daily Mail," published
a report on December 7 quoting an expat source that emergency supplies
delivered by military helicopters from the United Kingdom have reportedly
turned up on the shelves of shops in Makati instead of its intended recipients
in calamity-hit areas.
“Usually, when there are donations from the
international organizations, we just make an inventory of it by box, but we are
not opening that box. We immediately dispatch them to the different
municipalities. We have a list of distribution plan as to who will be given
priority. We do not repack (these relief goods) in our offices,” Ramos
explained.
Ramos also encouraged members of media to visit
their relief hubs to see for themselves whether the DSWD was indeed keeping
these goods inside cadaver bags just to hide them from the public.
He also addressed complaints raised by some
volunteers who were displeased with DSWD’s “rotational policy” in line with its
food-for-work program. He said rotating the volunteers was necessary so they
could give equal opportunity to everyone. PND (hdc/js)
