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)
by magnolia_eic | May 28, 2011 | Announcements, Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
FOR school supplies and school item shoppers who are egging to eke out a few savings for the rainy days, try
shopping in major city stores on May 31 to June 2.
This as the Department of Trade and Industry in Bohol (DTI-Bohol), in partnership with local superstores bring
in an innovation in selling through the discounted rates via the Diskwento Caravan program on those dates.
The promotional sale is actually the national Diskwento Caravan: Presyong Panalo Para sa Mamimiling
Pilipino Program brought down with DTI and big-time stores: Alturas Group of Companies and Bohol Quality
Corporation.
Set for launching on May 31, 2011, the Diskwento Caravan is DTI’s efforts to present a visible answer to the
national governments call to implement non-wage benefit to employees, who are heavily burdened in these
during difficult times, says Lucille Autentico, DTI information officer.
DTI-Bohol Provincial Director Maria Elena C. Arbon said the project hopes to improve consumer’s access to
basic and prime commodities at lower prices through the partner companies carrying the products of Manila
based manufacturers to their towns if not to their door-steps.
In Bohol, the Diskwento Caravan comes in two types: the Store Based and the Roving Type.
Store based Diskwento are participated by Island City Mall, Alturas–Tagbilaran, Alturas–Talibon, Plaza Marcela;
all of Alturas Group of Companies and the Bohol Quality Superstore of Bohol Quality Corporation.
“These establishments, in partnership with the government, offers discounted or reduced prices of school
supplies, school items and basic and prime commodities during normal business hours on May 31 to June 2,
2011 at their respective stores here in Tagbilaran City and Talibon town, respectively.”
On the other hand, the Roving Diskwento Caravan will be jointly undertaken by DTI and the Alturas Group of
Companies in the municipalities of Talibon, Trinidad and Ubay and Baclayon, Arbon said in a press material.
For the rolling store Caravan, the schedules are: Talibon-June 7 in the morning; Trinidad– June 7 in the
afternoon and Ubay– June 8 whole day.
A Diskwento Caravan also opens in Baclayon on June 10, 2011.
Boholano consumers are advised to take advantage of this opportunity to purchase their needs in time for the
opening of classes.
For more information, call DTI-Bohol at (038) 501-8260, 501-8828 and 411-3302. (Rey Anthony Chiu with
Lucille Autentico)
by magnolia_eic | May 27, 2011 | Headlines, National News
THE Department of Education (DepEd) announced that classes for school year 2011-2012 in
public elementary and high schools nationwide will open on June 6.
Education Secretary Armin Luistro, citing DepEd Order No. 28, Series of 2011, said that “the
school year 2011-2012 shall commence on June 6 and shall end on March 30, 2012.”
The Order, which contains the Calendar of Activities for the School Year of 2011-2012, also
specified different activities for the school year and indicated the number of school days and
number of teaching-learning days.
Luistro reminded school officials to strictly adhere to the total number of school days which shall
consist of 202 days. (PIA)
by magnolia_eic | May 27, 2011 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III is expected to promote the country’s Public Private
Partnership (PPP) program as part of the agenda of his 2-day state visit to the Kingdom of
Thailand.
In an interview with Radio-TV Malacanang (RTVM) in Bangkok on Tuesday, Philippine
Ambassador to Thailand Linglingay Lacanlale said that the President may pursue the promotion
of the government’s PPP programs, specifically on infrastructure development, as soon as he
meets with Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and top Thai business executives.
Lacanlale said that the Chief Executive will be presenting investment possibilities in the
Philippines under the PPP program.
“Aside from trade marami tayong opportunities for cooperation. Alam natin na ang Presidente
tuwing makakausap niya ang mga pinuno ng mga iba’t-ibang pamahalaan sinasabi niya itong
ating programa na PPP sa infrastructure development, so isa ito sa puwedeng i-pursue ng
Pangulo”, Lacanlale said.
The President is set to meet with key officials of prominent Thai business companies that include
the Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group, Siam Cement Group (SCG), and Petroleum Authority of
Thailand (PTT) Public Company Limited.
It will be recalled that during the bilateral talks between the Philippines and Thailand in the 18th
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit held in Jakarta, Indonesia, recently,
the Thai leader has expressed keen interest in participating in the said project to share their
experiences and knowledge in infrastructure development.
Over the years, the Philippines and Thailand has maintained good diplomatic relationship and
reciprocity in the field of trade and investment.
Apart from this, other issues of cooperation to be discussed include addressing the problem of
drug trafficking, agricultural support and cooperation in regional and multilateral forums, among
others. (PCOO/PIA)
by magnolia_eic | May 26, 2011 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
Tagbilaran City, May 25 (PIA) – Gipahimangnuan sa Bohol Employment and Placement Office
(BEPO) ang mga Bol-anon sa pagseguro nga makigsabot-sabot una sa mga lihitimo nga mga
recruitment agencies aron dili mailad sa mga illegal recruiters sa pagdali-dali nga makatrabaho
sa gawas sa atong nasud.
Ang hepe sa BEPO nga si Romulo Tagaan mipahimangno nga adunay mga ahensya nga
padayon nga nangdawat sa buot mo trabaho sa gawas sa nasud nga wala gani mosusi kun unsa
nay kahimtang sa mga trabahador nga gipadala niini sa gawas.
Dugang sa OFW Help Desk, tukoron na usab sa BEPO sa dili madugay ang Anti-illegal
Recruitment Desk aron makalikay ang mga Bol-anon nga mabiktima sa pag-apply sa
pagpanrabaho sa gawas nga gikan sa mga illegal recruiters.
Gitambagan ni Tagaan ang tanang mga nangita og trabaho sa paglikay sa dili katohuan nga mga
haylo sa mga recruitment agencies tungod kay dili man pagtabang ang ilang gihimo.
Dugang pa ni Tagaan, angay usab nga likayan sa mga nangita og trabaho ang makigsabot-sabot
sa mga pribadong balay, ug angay magbantay nga ang balaod nag-require og special recruitment
authority ug approval gikan sa POEA ug angay nga pagahimuon sa luwas ug pampublikong lugar
sama sa munisipyo o city hall, mga buhatan sa PESO sa kalungsoran o sa Kapitolyo.
Gitambagan usab niya kadtong mo trabaho sa gawas nga kinahanglang magpakisusi una sa
buhatan sa BEPO, DOLE o POEA aron malikayan ang mga illegal nga recruiters.
Ning bag-o lang, ang pamilya sa usa ka Bol-anon nga si Bernadeth Dano, usa ka domestic helper
sa Qatar nangayo og pakitabang tungod sa gidangatan niini nga giingong gipaalagad sa tulo ka
agawon, wala gipagawas sa balay ug gipakaon lamang ka usa sa usa ka adlaw. (PIA-Bohol/ecb)
by magnolia_eic | May 26, 2011 | Headlines, National News
Tagbilaran City, May 25 (PIA) – Gisugyot kagahapon ni Senador Miriam Defensor-Santiago
ang balaodnon nga nagtinguha sa pagmugna og “pay-to-stay” program alang sa mga national
penitentiaries diin pabayron og hotel rates ang mga binilanggo nga dili bayolente ang giatubang
nga krimen ug gustong mabuwag sa mga ordinaryong preso.
Sigun pa ni Santiago, angay nga bag-ohon na ang kasamtangang balaod aron mabuwag
ang maximum security gikan sa mga minimum security prisoners. Ang mga minimum security
prisoners giingong gitugotan sa pag-apply sa ‘pay-to-stay’ program kun gusto nilang mobayad og
hotel rates.
Niingon si Santiago nga ang “pay-to-stay” program gipatuman na sa penal states sa Amerika diin
ang mga adunahan nga binilanggo gibuwag sa ubang inmates apan kinahanglan nilang mobayad
og hotel rates.
Matud pa ni Santia-go, ang “pay-to-stay” program gipatuman na usab sa daghang syudad
sa California ug gikonsidera na usab sa New York ug Massachusetts.
Apan gitataw ni Santiago nga ang maong balaodnon limitado lamang alang sa mga non-violent
crimes sama sa crimes against public interest diin apil ang fraud, for-gery, ug falsification; crimes
against public morals, apil ang pagsugal, ug nonviolent crimes against property, sama sa theft ug
bouncing checks.
Gi klaro usab ni Santiago nga dili masakop sa maong balaodnon si kanhi Batangas governor
Antonio Leviste tungod kay napahamtangan kini sa bayolenteng krimen nga homicide. (PIA-
Bohol/ecb)
