ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 29 (PNA) -- More and more business firms have started rehiring their laid-off workers, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported, but President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said here she remains focused on jobs creation and helping workers displaced by the global economic downturn.
The umbrella program of several employment projects handled by different agencies, CLEEP is funded by the 1.5 percent savings from the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses of all government agencies.
The priority beneficiaries are either given emergency jobs, jobs referrals, skills-retraining or livelihood assistance packages.
“We are doing everything we can to support our workers during these challenging times and our initiatives range from investments to help create new jobs, livelihood assistance to affected workers, and retraining programs that will help them find new employment, among others,” the President said.
She urged jobless workers to visit the nearest DOLE and other government offices and inquire about the CLEEP projects they can participate in.
DOH: new A/H1N1 cases not cause for alarm
The rising number of Influenza A (H1N1 should not be a cause for alarm, the Department of Health said Friday.
As far the rise in the numbers of cases worldwide, Duque attributed it to the relative ease of transmission of the virus and unrestricted flow of international travelers.
“Right now, what we’re seeing from the behavior of the virus is that most of the cases aremild and are self-limiting. The case fatality rate of H1N1, in fact is less than 1%. Dengue is even more fatal in the country where we now have 57 deaths as of April this year,“ Duque said, “the most important thing is that we still do not have any severe case or any death.”
He said the there is no indication of a sustained community transmission in the Philippines.
Right now there a total of 14 laboratory confirmed Influenza A (H1N1) cases in the country.
Two of the newly confirmed cases travelled from the United States, a 19 year old female and a 7 year old girl. The other two cases were contacts of the Taiwanese nationals, a 42 year old female and a 20 year old male.
The four cases, all Filipinos, have started on Oseltamivir and have mild respiratory symptoms.
All are Filipinos.
DOH has been receiving more reports of influenza-like illness (ILI) in the designated referral hospitals with the increased awareness of the public on H1N1 and the intensive tracing of contacts being done by the Department.
Duque disclosed, however, that DOH may be shifting its control strategy from hospitalization of all cases of H1N1 to outpatient and home management of mild cases including CUOs.
Meanwhile, high-risk exposure groups showing flu-like symptoms should seek consultation in appropriate healthcare facilities.
“Based on the global statistics that we have, people with pre-existing conditions such as
asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), hypertension, heart disease,
diabetes, morbid obesity, immunodeficiencies, as well as pregnant women and young
children are at higher risk for developing complications of H1N1. As how we treat and
manage ordinary flu, these high-risk patients should not hesitate to go to their doctor once they have the symptoms,” Duque said.
The DOH continues to advocate for preventive public health measures which are the best weapons against H1N1 or any other virus, according to Duque.
“Proper hand washing, appropriate cough manners and good hygienic practices will be your best defense. Boosting your immune system and taking care of your health will also protect you against the virus,” Duque explained.
Duque reiterated that if you have traveled to an Influenza A(H1N1) affected country or have been exposed to a confirmed case of Influenza A(H1N1) and have fever, cough, sore throat or other flu-like symptoms, please consult a health facility immediately. You can also call the DOH Hotline (02) 711-1001 or 711-1002.
For other individuals with symptoms of influenza but have no preexisting conditions, the
DOH advises them to stay home, take supportive treatment, drink plenty of liquids and get adequate bed rest.
If symptoms worsen or persist, immediately consult a doctor.
Duque disclosed that there are 27 new Cases Under Observation (CUO).
Since May 1, 2009, the DOH has monitored 211 CUOs.
Of these, 14 are confirmed cases, 25 still have pending laboratory results, and 172 have been discarded since results are negative for A(H1N1).
Globally, the World Health Organization has reported a total of 13, 398 cases with 95 deaths in 48 countries as of May 27.
No new update has been posted by WHO.
RP employment upbeat despite global crisis
The good news is, said Bureau of Local Employment Criselda Sy, the daily displacement rate has dropped significantly to 26 percent as of this month.
Electronics sector was the most hurt by the crisis, but is now recovering.
Japanese firm Fujitsu Ltd. which laid off 2,000 workers in March due to global recession has informed DoLE that it will hire 200 workers.
The DoLE's Kalayaan jobfair will have participants from seafarers sector to recruit workers, he said. Even more, the fair will offer 170,000 slots for jobseekers particularly in call center, services and other sectors.
"Even with gloomy global economy, on the whole, jobs are generated in the country," Sy said. (PNA)
Palace says RP not headed for recession
Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Anthony Golez said the 0.4 percent growth for the first quarter of 2009 reported by the National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB) is still good news considering a lot of countries are now in recession.
“No matter how modest, the Philippine economy is still growing. And if we include the GNP which includes remittances of Filipino workers abroad, our GDP will grow even more,” Golez said.
He said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has foreseen the economic slowdown much earlier and adopted steps to avert its impact on the country through such steps as pump priming, job generation and increased infrastructure spending.
Golez said the President adopted safety nets or programs to cushion the impact of the global crisis on the poor as well as frontloaded the bidding of infrastructure projects before the second semester so that when the time comes for their implementation, the funds would already be in place.
He pointed out that during a previous Cabinet meeting, the President ordered the fast-tracking of the bidding for all projects before the second semester.
Golez assured that the government has enough funds for its projects under the newly-approved General Appropriations Act.
