by magnolia_eic | Jun 1, 2011 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III expressed confidence Monday that the Philippine economy would hit its growth target of seven to eight percent by the end of the year due to the reforms being implemented in government that will entice businesses to invest in the country.
In an interview in Malacañang, the President said the country’s gross domestic product of 4.8 percent as posted by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) for the first quarter of the year was almost the same as those posted by our neighboring countries and was indicative of the effects of the earthquake that struck Japan in March and the turmoil that rocked the Middle
East in February.
“If we compare our GDP with that of our neighboring countries, we are not that low end. We all have been affected by the Middle East crisis and the earthquake that struck Japan which we all know to be one of our largest trading partner and source of overseas development assistance,” the President said.
He said the government will be able to pump prime the economy for the second quarter of the year by inviting domestic and foreign businesses to invest in the country through the government’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) program.
He said this investment program coupled with the lowering of crude and electricity prices is key to reaching our economic growth target for the year. (PCOO)
by magnolia_eic | Jun 1, 2011 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III will meet with the Filipino Community (FilCom) at the Rizqun International Hotel as part of the busy schedule of his 2-day State Visit here on June 1 to 2. Government records show an estimated 18,589 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who are with their families living in Brunei as of December last year.
The Philippine Overseas Labor Officer (POLO) from the Philippine Embassy in Brunei Darussalam said that the total number of OFWs and their families living here decreased from22,000 in 2008 to 18,000 in 2010. The decrease, POLO said, was due to the closure of the local garments industry.
The POLO also noted that temporary migrants comprise the bulk of these OFWs or 17,657 out of the total number of migrants. Filipino workers here are mostly skilled workers that include masons, carpenters, technicians, electricians, plumbers and heavy equipment operators. They comprise the 30 per cent of the total number of OFWs here.
They are followed by those who are categorized as semi-skilled who are working as waiters and waitresses, sewers, sales assistants, cashiers, janitors and transport drivers. The group is around 29 per cent of the total number of OFWs while the remaining 18 and 17 per cent were composed of professionals and household workers, respectively. Household workers include domestic
helpers, family drivers and gardeners.
Filipino workers in Brunei enjoy a satisfactory condition and are being treated well by their employers and given value for their skills, dependability, work attitude and loyalty. (PCOO)
by magnolia_eic | May 30, 2011 | Headlines, National News
THE government is closely monitoring food products and additives imported from Taiwan that
might be contaminated with a chemical harmful when taken in high doses.
Food and Drug Administration Director Suzette H. Lazo said the agency was on the lookout for
food products from Taiwan that might contain the chemical Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP).
“The Taiwan government has informed the Department of Health that a company may have
imported food products containing additives contaminated by DEHP to the Philippines,” Lazo said
in a statement.
While the FDA statement did not cite any specific food products, officials in Taiwan, which is
going through a food scare, said the problem was confined to sports drinks, fruit juices, teas, fruit
jams and preserves, food powders and food supplement tablets.
Widely used in the manufacture of articles such as intravenous bags and tubings, blood bags and
infusion tubings and nasogastric tubes, DEHP was “found to be illegally added” to a food product
raw material intended for emulsification in Taiwan, Lazo said.
She added that while low doses of DEHP were generally safe, high doses or prolonged exposure
can have harmful effects.
Children are especially prone to the harmful effects of high doses of DEHP or to repeated
exposure which can lead to testicular effects, fertility problems and toxicity to kidneys, Lazo said.
(PIA)
by magnolia_eic | May 30, 2011 | Headlines, National News
INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo urged mayors nationwide to conduct
inspection of schools in time for the resumption of classes on June 6.
More than 20 million students are expected to troop to 38,351 public elementary schools and
7,274 public secondary schools nationwide next month.
“As chairpersons of their local school boards, mayors should work hand in hand with the local
Department of Education (DepEd) and other members of the Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) Inter-
Agency Task Force to make the necessary preparations for a smooth, orderly and peaceful first
day of classes for our students a few days from now,” Robredo said.
The DILG secretary also advised local chief executives to mobilize force multipliers to assist the
elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to maintain peace and order and public safety.
Similarly, he enjoined the mayors to take the lead in the conduct of a local government-wide
information drive to encourage parents to enroll their children this school year.
Robredo issued the directive in support of OBE, a project being spearheaded by the DepEd with
the support of other concerned agencies of the government to ensure the smooth opening of
classes next month. (PIA)
by magnolia_eic | May 28, 2011 | Announcements, Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
HOUSE helpers should only be working as much.
This summary came after labor authorities note that business employers may circumvent the law and hire house-helps to
tend their business enterprises, a practice that is illegal.
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Bohol said since house helpers: maids cooks, handy men, yayas, drivers
and those doing odd jobs in exchange for roof over their heads are not covered by the existing labor laws, business
employers use this ploy to evade from giving these people the righteous wages.
House helps rates are usually determined by personal agreements, some helps do haggle for just rates but those who
do not have the voice to strike deals are bound to slavery that gets them to jobs from 4:00 am to past 10:00, sans any
medical or health benefits, 13th month pay and other perks.
In fact, according to DOLE information Officer German Guidaben, a law enacted in early 1990s which pegs a house
helper’s pay needs an amendment, fast.
Republic Act 7655, enacted August 19, 1993 mandates that house helps be paid P800.00 a month for househelpers in
Manila and in highly urbanized cities; P650.00 a month for those in other chartered cities and first class municipalities;
and Five hundred fifty pesos (P550.00) a month for those in other municipalities.
At this rate and with a minimum wage set at P255 per day in Bohol, employers into business may hire house-helps
but whose tasks include tending stores or other business venture, DOLE’s Chief Wilson Cenas explained at last week’s
Kapihan sa PIA.
In Bohol, the going rate for house helps is P1,500 to P2,500 per month, a pay that entitles them to a free board and
lodging, water, light payments and snacks.
Even with agreeably lax implementation of labor laws in Bohol, with the minimum set at P255, a house help’s net take
home pay is undeniably lower compared to other industry workers.
Apply that to a house help who needs to be up at 4:00 and would have to stay until 10:00 or until everyone in the house
has rested, the pay even shrinks to the state of being undignified.
The worst thing is when, other than these already backbreaking task, some of them would have to tend stores, or are
involved in the operation of a business and do not get a pay out of it, Cenas detailed.
House help really deserve honorable wages and working conditions with dignity. They should be treated humanely and
afforded all the benefits of an employed individual. We trust them with our homes, our children and our lives and that is
almost priceless. While they live with us to work, they are not “family” and their service is as laborious as any good day’s
work, so they must be treated right.
Even with a law filed and needing the urgent certification by President Benigno Simeon Aquino, not much has been done
to improve the house helps’ lot, most workers agree.
House helps who feel they are short changed in this manner can seek assistance from DOLE, Cenas urged. (Rey Anthony
Chiu)
