Tuesday 1 April 2014

PIA News Dispatch - Saturday, March 29, 2014

Palace: TESDA now offers language courses

In line with the Aquino administration’s thrust to create more jobs and widen the opportunities for the Filipino work force, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has opened foreign language courses in its regional centers especially for overseas Filipino workers leaving for abroad for high-paying jobs, the Palace said on Saturday.

Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview that TESDA is now offering language courses such Mandarin, Spanish, Korean, Nihongo and Arabic.

TESDA is also encouraging new graduates to study foreign language to enhance their chance of landing a job abroad, Valte told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

“Sa mga bagong graduates natin, kung nag-iisip pa kayo kung kaya ba ng ating mga magulang na makapagtuloy tayo ng kolehiyo, puwedeng tingnan ang mga vocational courses sa TESDA dahil maraming mga bagong offerings katulad ng mga foreign language courses,” she said.

According to Valte there is an increasing demand for Filipinos who can speak different languages because they could also be employed as tour guides in the country as more tourists arrive in the Philippines.

There is a high demand for tour guides who can speak Korean and Mandarin, according to Valte. Tour guides can also work as tutors and translators, she added.

Multinational companies are also hiring translators who can speak different languages, she said.

Valte encouraged OFWs to visit TESDA’s website if they are interested in the new offerings.

“Para din ito sa mga OFW natin na mangingibang-bansa na gustong matuto nung language sa lugar na pupuntahan nila to find jobs much easier, check natin ang mga bagong courses na ino-offer sa TESDA,” she said.

Aside from TESDA’s new offerings, the vocational learning institution maintains its usual mechanical and technical courses such as hotel housekeeping courses, barista, hairdressing, salon professionals and other courses, Valte said. PND (as)


Palace asks naysayers to give peace a chance in Mindanao

The Palace told naysayers to give peace a chance in Mindanao after the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) this week.

In a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said those doubting the peace pact should look into the documents agreed by both sides.

“We invite you to look at the annexes or the documents that we have put up online in the interest of transparency. This will be the basis of the crafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law that will hopefully be passed by Congress,” Valte said.

“And let’s give it a chance. There are so many groups that are supportive of this peace deal. Let’s give it a chance,” she added.

President Benigno S. Aquino III led Thursday the signing of the CAB aimed at ending the decades-long conflict that claimed the lives of hundreds of people in Muslim Mindanao.

The President and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak witnessed the signing of the said agreement at the Kalayaan grounds in Malacanang.

In his message prior to the signing, the President said he will aggressively push for a just and equitable Bangsamoro Basic Law after Thursday’s signing.

Meanwhile, addressing the concerns of the employees of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) who fear they may lose their jobs once a new Bangsamoro political entity is established, Valte said the stakeholders considered their welfare during the negotiation for the peace agreement.

Prior to this however, ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman assured government workers in the autonomous region that they will be retained in their positions.

“I’m sure na isa ito sa mga bagay na napag-usapan na ng mga stakeholders dito, but nonetheless, we’ll ask for clarifications on this. Of course, na-consider naman ang kanilang welfare in the crafting of the agreement at isa na ‘yan doon din sa mga bagay na we should all keep in mind para hindi sila makalimutan,” Valte said. PND (as)


Philippines to push through memorial filing with arbitral tribunal, says Palace

There is no turning back in the Philippines’s filing Sunday of a written pleading against China’s claims over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), the Palace said on Saturday.

“In all of this, the Philippines will always do what is right. The government will always do what is right for our country and for our countrymen,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

Asked if the Philippines is ready to push for the arbitration even without the support of its neighbors, Valte said the Philippine government is determined to fight for what is right and fair. The country is also inspired by the support it has been getting from the international community, the Palace official said.

Other claimant-countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were allegedly being cowed by China not to follow the actions taken by the Philippines.

“It's apparent from all the support that we’re getting from the international community for our chosen track na kailangan ito under international law and for a peaceful resolution of the dispute,” she said.

The Philippines is also prepared for whatever sanction that China will impose.

“I think in all of this, the Philippines, really, will do what is right. China can do what it prefers to do on this matter.”

It was reported that the Chinese leadership is furious about the Philippines’s impending memorial filing.

A memorial is a voluminous document containing very convincing evidence against China's claims over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

The Philippines is required to submit the written pleading through e-mails and courier deliveries, which should come with soft copies in storage devices.

The memorial should also contain all documentary, witness, expert, and other evidence that the Philippines intends to rely on, based on the Rules of Procedure set by the designated arbitral tribunal supported by the United Nations. PND (as)


Palace asks Filipinos to participate in this year’s Earth Hour

Malacanang encourages Filipinos to join this year’s Earth Hour by switching off lights from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm Saturday to contribute to protecting Mother Earth.

Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview that each year, more and more Filipinos participate in the Earth Hour.

“Hopefully, we will surpass last year’s number of participants at sana mas marami ang tumugon sa panawagan na magpatay tayo ng ating mga ilaw mamayang 8:30 hanggang 9:30 ng gabi,” Valte told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

“Isang oras lang naman ang hinihingi at saka makakatulong din ito sa atin kasi summer ngayon.”

Aside from cutting electricity use, Valte said participating in the Earth Hour is also a good opportunity for families to stay together and talk.

“Kung may isa kayong kuwarto diyan, may roof deck kayo, may balkonahe kayo, or kung meron kayong sala, for one hour get together with the family and take advantage of that hour na magpapatay tayo ng ating mga ilaw at puwede naman tayong mag-bonding pa ng isang oras mamayang gabi,” she said.

The Philippines has been one of Earth Hour’s strongest supporters, having topped town and city participation levels from 2009 to 2013.

Earth Hour is a global project of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF)-International that has gained the support and involvement of millions of people in 154 countries.

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make a statement on environment change.

It eventually became a global sustainability movement with the participation of over 50 million people in 35 countries.


On March 28, 2009, more than 4,000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet, making Earth Hour 2009 the world’s largest global environment change initiative. PND (as)