PGMA signs new law on Students’ employment

by anyajulia | Apr 7, 2009 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita, National News

HIGH school students now have the chance to pay their way through college when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed into law the expanded Special program for the Employment of Students (SPES).

Poor students during the ceremonial signing of the law called it a big leap from the older law that only allows big establishments to tie up with the government for summer job slots.

As PGMA signs the bill into law, students can avail of another pro-active step by the government to augment family resources, by getting temporary employment chances to expand family income in time for the economic crunch.

The law allows students employment while on vacation, and his income is a big supplement on his future matriculation fees, just as the older law has delivered about 400,000 students from 2001-2005, data form the Commission on Higher Education shows.

The old SPES law has helped students through college and we are hopeful that the expanded law makes the field much wider for poor students to try their luck, says Bohol labor agency spokesperson Teri Salas, in a phone interview.

The newly signed law also provides that student workers earn probationary period benefits if the grantee is subsequently hired, a press release from Bohol Representative Edgar Chatto bared.

Rep Chatto is the bill’s principal author.

With him are Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro), Eufrocino Codilla, (Leyte) Mary Ann Susanno (Quezon City), Emmanuel Villanueva (A TEACHER), Magtanggol Gunigundo (Valenzuela City), Arthur Pingoy (South Cotabato) and Orlando Fua (Siquijor), he added.

The law, also called the comprehensive Students’ Summer Job Law amends Republic Act 7323, which has been implemented for the past decade, reports said.

From the old law, which only allows establishments of 50 employees to engage in student summer job work, the expanded SPES now includes smaller establishments with 11 employees to hire.

The amended law also provides that course related work can be convertible to equivalent academic credits, Rep. Chatto explained bill’s salient provisions.

Unlike then, the new law allows high school students equal employment during vacations, and year-round chances for tertiary technical and vocational students. (rachiu/PIA)

PGMA lauds SK eco data bank proposal

by anyajulia | Apr 7, 2009 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita, National News

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lauded the youth proposal to come up with a databank to rationalize the efforts in putting up pro-environment solutions, as she renewed the call for volunteerism and community spirit amidst climate change.

Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) National Federation President and National SK Convention host Jane Censoria Cajes proposed the plan, which the country’s top leaders hinted, could be pursued with the government environment agency and funded by the country’s revenues.

The president in pastel orange pant-suit came to Bohol, her first time in 2009 to launch the Sama-sama Para sa Kalikasan, April 1, at the Bohol Wisdom School Gym.

During these trying times of the world, the Filipino spirit and commitment to caring should prompt each one of us to count our blessings and give back to those who are less fortunate, she reiterated while urging every Filipino to pull in the same direction.

“Volunteering time, skill and resources, is a noble undertaking we should all take seriously,” she said.

Speaking in front of an estimated 6,000 SK members packed at the venue for the SK National Convention, the president called the era as “time for pooling together and focusing on family and the community.”

Gaining new allies in the search for government mitigations on the climate change effects, PGMA cited the SK’s Sama-sama Para sa Kalikasan (SK) as a support slogan for the National Environment Campaign.

“I am happy that you have taken on the challenge of protecting the environment and mitigating the effects of climate change,” the President said.

SK’s adoption of environmental protection as priority program is a declaration that the youth are ready to train energies on pro-environment activities, she explained

But her call also applies to every Filipino as well.

“This should include the government, the religious and civic groups and non-government organizations harnessing our people to engage in coordinated volunteer activities,” she said.

Earlier, the president gave P10M for the SK pro-environment program, and the launching signaled the coordinated activity across the regions.

The SK activities focuses on cleaning up the environment, managing wastes, planting trees and doing eco-campaigns, said SK National Federation President Jane Cajes.

The president, who molded the Task Force on Climate Change pointed out that the youth could not have been more right in convening in the place with the distinction as the only province with an implemented Environmental Code. (rachiu/PIA)