by magnolia_eic | Jun 22, 2012 | Headlines, National News
THE United States (US) State Department’s 12th Annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report which kept the Philippines in the Tier 2 Category is a recognition of the Aquino administration’s multi-pronged and aggressive initiatives to curb human trafficking in the
country, a Palace official said on Thursday.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda issued the statement following the release of the US State Department’s 12th Annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report which underscored several key achievements of the Philippine government in its drive to eliminate human trafficking.
“We will continue to improve our efforts and we would like to be taken out from Tier 2,” Lacierda said.
He said the government is currently tightening the noose against illegal traffickers and recruiter who prey on our hapless countrymen.
The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in Persons (IACAT) formulated programs to ensure that human trafficking across the country is put to a stop.
Other gains cited in the 12th Annual Trafficking in Persons Report include the apprehension and filing of criminal and administrative charges against government personnel suspected of conniving with human trafficking syndicates or aiding their operations.
The TIP report also highlighted the continuing accomplishment of the government in the prosecution and conviction of trafficking offenders as well as in helping victims.
The US State Department also lauded the importance placed by the Philippine government in training public officials, particularly in establishing human trafficking indicators, with reference to Filipino migrant workers’ pre-deployment overseas.
The report also cited the cross-border efforts of the government to secure the interests and rights of overseas workers through bilateral agreements, particularly labor-related accessions with foreign countries.
A total of US$ 1.5 million or about P65 million was appropriated by the Philippine government to support its operations against human trafficking, prosecution of offenders, and for the protection of the public from this global menace, according to the report.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the Tier 2 status officially recognizes a country’s significant efforts to adhere to the benchmarks prescribed by the US State Department to meet the minimum standards.
Tier 1 countries fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) minimum standards while Tier 2 countries do not fully comply, but are making significant efforts.
(PCOO)
by aimee | Jun 21, 2012 | Headlines, National News
THE United States (US) State Department’s 12th Annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report which kept the Philippines in the Tier 2 Category is a recognition of the Aquino administration’s multi-pronged and aggressive initiatives to curb human trafficking in the country, a Palace official said on Thursday.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda issued the statement following the release of the US State Department’s 12th Annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report which underscored several key achievements of the Philippine government in its drive to eliminate human trafficking.
“We will continue to improve our efforts and we would like to be taken out from Tier 2,” Lacierda said.
He said the government is currently tightening the noose against illegal traffickers and recruiter who prey on our hapless countrymen.
The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in Persons (IACAT) formulated programs to ensure that human trafficking across the country is put to a stop.
Other gains cited in the 12th Annual Trafficking in Persons Report include the apprehension and filing of criminal and administrative charges against government personnel suspected of conniving with human trafficking syndicates or aiding their operations.
The TIP report also highlighted the continuing accomplishment of the government in the prosecution and conviction of trafficking offenders as well as in helping victims.
The US State Department also lauded the importance placed by the Philippine government in training public officials, particularly in establishing human trafficking indicators, with reference to Filipino migrant workers’ pre-deployment overseas.
The report also cited the cross-border efforts of the government to secure the interests and rights of overseas workers through bilateral agreements, particularly labor-related accessions with foreign countries.
A total of US$ 1.5 million or about P65 million was appropriated by the Philippine government to support its operations against human trafficking, prosecution of offenders, and for the protection of the public from this global menace, according to the report.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the Tier 2 status officially recognizes a country’s significant efforts to adhere to the benchmarks prescribed by the US State Department to meet the minimum standards.
Tier 1 countries fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) minimum standards while Tier 2 countries do not fully comply, but are making significant efforts. (PCOO)
by aimee | Jun 19, 2012 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III has signed two bills into law to enhance transparency and accountability, a Palace official announced on Monday.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Edwn Lacierda said the Chief Executive signed the bills into law entitled “An Act To Further Strengthen The Anti-Money Laundering Law” and “The Terrorism Financing Prevention And Suppression Act of 2012.”
“Both will strengthen the capability of government to identify and prevent financial transactions related to illegal activities and those that undermine global security,” Lacierda said.
“These qualify as two out of three reforms needed for the country’s compliance with the international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development,” he continued.
Lacierda, likewise, said the signing of the measures is an affirmation of the administration’s commitment to accountability and transparency which is a cornerstone of President Aquino’s governance. (PCOO)
Beware of agency that recruits Filipino DHs in Singapore for deployment to Chile
THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) advised Filipino household workers against accepting offers of jobs in Chile from a Singapore-based agency.
Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac said he received reports that Caregiver and Manpower International Services (CMIS) with business address at Lucky Plaza, Orchard Road, Singapore, and owned by a certain Noel Muyco Aguilar has been illegally recruiting Filipino DHs in Singapore who would like to transfer to Chile.
In his report to POEA, Labor Attache Vicente M. Cabe said CMIS is neither registered nor accredited by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
Cacdac also said CMIS is not in the list of POEA’s licensed recruitment agencies and accredited foreign employers and principals.
The Philippine Ambassador in Santiago has confirmed that CMIS has two Chilean employment agencies as partners and has already deployed eight Filipino household workers with another four DHs to arrive soon.
CMIS collects US$35,000 as placement fee from the workers but does not issue receipts. The Singapore agency also charges the applicants payment for a one-way plane ticket even though it was already paid for by the Chilean employer. (POEA)
by aimee | Jun 15, 2012 | Headlines, National News
MALACAÑANG reported Friday the increase in tax revenue collection by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) as its regional offices recorded enhanced collections as well as improvements from the large taxpayer service.
“We have been informed that the collection of the BIR from May 2012 stands at 95.55-billion which is 7.26 percent from May of 2011. In May 2011 the collection was 89.15-billion, now it stands at 95.55-billion in tax revenues,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press conference in Malacanang on Friday.
Asked by reporters where the BIR attributes the rise in tax revenue collections, Valte said collections from the regional offices have consistently showed double digit growth for the first five months. Aside from this, the collections from the large taxpayer service also increased.
The BIR has stepped up its efforts to meet its collection target this year, which for the first time has reached the P1-trillion mark. (PCOO)
by aimee | Jun 13, 2012 | Headlines, National News
MALACAÑANG allayed public fears on Wednesday about the implementation of the K+12 program saying the Department of Education made an assurance that necessary preparations were made for the successful implementation of the program this year.
A lawmaker is pushing for the deferment of the implementation of the program citing lack of proper preparation of the education department particularly the shortage of books, classrooms, and training for teachers.
In a press conference in Malacanang, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said he was able to discuss the K+12 program with some Bulacan school officials who said they are excited about it and the DepEd has successfully trained teachers for the program.
The K+12 is an innovation from the Department of Education primarily to comply with certain accords, Lacierda said as he cited the Washington accord, which requires the country to have a 12-year basic education.
Filipino professionals wouldn’t be accepted to enter the work place if the Philippines failed to comply with this requirement, Lacierda said. He also mentioned the Bologna accord that also calls for a similar compliance.
“These two treaties are international treaties. We are not signatories because we have not complied with the requirements provided in those accords. Kaya mahalaga po sa atin to come up or comply with international standards and for purposes also of employment abroad. should someone decide to seek employment abroad…,” he said.
Currently, there is a shortage of 50,000 classrooms in the country and Lacierda said the 20,000 will be built by the local government units, and the 30,000 will be bidded out by the government through public private partnership (PPP) under DepEd.
Aside from complying with the international standards, K+12 is important because it gives students options to immediately find employment should they choose not to enroll in college, Lacierda said.
The government inked several agreements with business organizations through the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry intended to absorb graduates under the K+12 program, he added. (PCOO)
by aimee | Jun 13, 2012 | Headlines, National News
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, June 13 (PIA)–Gi-alerto karon ni Presidente Benigno Aquino III ang nagkalain-laing ahensya sa gobyerno kalabot sa padayon nga pag-ulan sa Mindanao nga maoy nagdala sa mga pagbaha.
Matud pa ni Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, gipalihok na sa Presidente ang
mga hingtungdan nga mga opisyal aron makapangandam ug maatiman ang mga panginahanglan sa mga residente.
Dugang pa ni Valte, padayon ang ilang monitoring sa mga gibahang lugar ug mga aksyong gihimo sa gobyerno.
Una sa gitahasan ang National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) nga tutukan ang mga posibleng pagdahili sa yuta.
Gibutyag usab ni Valte nga ‘all-set’ na usab ang DSWD ug mga LGUs aron mangapud-apod sa mga relief goods nga kinahanglanon sa mga ibakwit nga mga residente. (PIA-Bohol/ecb)
Palasyo, nagtinguha sa P2 trilyong budget sa 2013
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, June 13 (PIA)–Gi-plantsa na karon sa Malacañang ang balaodnon nga national budget alang sa sunod tuig nga gilauman nga mokabat sa P2 trilyon, 10-porsyentong mas daku kini gikan sa kasamtangang budget nga P1.8 trilyon.
Matud pa ni Budget Secretary Butch Abad nga ang pagdaku sa budget makatabang usab sa gobyerno nga mapatuman ang mga proyekto sama sa mga infrastructure ug paspas nga paghatag sa pondo alang sa mga public private partnership (PPP) projects sa gobyerno.
Giingong makatabang usab kini sa social services sa gobyerno sama sa conditional cash transfer program.
Target usab nila nga sa dili pa matapos ang 2013, masulbad na ang kakulang sa mga classrooms nga 65,000 gawas sa dugang 25,000 pang mga classrooms nga ipatukod sa sunod tuig ug 63,000 nga mga bag-ong magtutudlo.
Ang rural electrification, irrigation, roads ug bridges giingong apil usab sa mga nakalinyang tapuson sa tuig 2014.
Kasagaran isumite sa Presidente ang tinuig nga proposed budget sa Kongreso paghuman sa iyang State of the Nation Address (SONA). (PIA-Bohol/ecb)
