Search is on for Holcim ‘galing Mason Award 2011

By Eli C. Dalumpines

CEBU CITY, May 7 (PIA) --- The search for outstanding Filipino masons for 2011 is now open until June 30, the cement manufacturer Holcim Philippines, Inc. announced in a launching ceremony held at the Harold Hotel, this city yesterday.

Mike Cabaldo, Holcim Philippines ’ Sustainable Development Division chief, during the media conference held in connection with its launching, urged local organizations including construction companies and community associations to nominate masons whom they knew possess qualifications for the Award.

Cabaldo said those who qualify for the contest will pass through three levels of the competition; provincial, regional and national.

The winner at the national level will be declared the Most Outstanding Mason and will receive P150,000.00 cash prize.

Regional winners on the other hand, will get P25,000.00 each, he informed.

Masons ages 25 to 49 years old, whether male or female, who possess a level II National Certificate for masons issued by the Technical Education and Skills

Development Authority (TESDA) and are physically fit can be nominated for the competition,according to Cabaldo.

Cabaldo said this is designed to give recognition to masons for the crucial role they play in the country’s development, especially in the area of construction business, while at the same time it helps them improve their knowledge and skill on the craft. 

TESDA-7 Regional Director Rosanna A. Urdaneta meanwhile, informed that this competition ultimately seeks to professionalize the masons as they are required to get a Level II competency certificate (NC II) which is based on the international standards.

Along this line, Urdaneta encouraged all masons in the region to undergo competency test at their office to further improve their skill and acquire certification 
which they can use in seeking employment here or abroad.

The ‘galing Mason Award, which is held every three years, was first launched by Holcim Philippines in 2006 in partnership with TESDA. 

Its first winner is a Cebuano, Sergio Barliso. (FCR/ ECD/PIA 7-Cebu)

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Pag-IBIG Fund Cebu files charges to 23 companies

CEBU CITY, May 6 (PIA) ---Twenty-three (23) companies in Cebu City are facing complaints for failure to remit the monthly contributions of their employees to 
Pag-IBIG Fund.

These companies have violated the provisions of Presidential Decree (PD) 1752 as amended by Republic Act (RA) 7742 and RA 9679 which mandates employers to register all Social Security System (SSS) or Government Service Insurance System(GSIS)-covered employees with Pag-IBIG, set aside employer counterpart contributions and remit these to the Fund.

Pag-IBIG Fund Cebu has repeatedly sent demand letters to these erring companies but the proprietors continue to disregard the notices.

This prompted Pag-IBIG Fund Cebu City Branch to take legal action.  

Most of the complaints are now pending with the city prosecutors’ office while some have been elevated to the courts.

There are cases that were already settled as the owners agreed to pay their dues even before the prosecutor recommends the filing of the case.

There are also dismissed complaints due to lack of evidence but Pag-IBIG Fund Cebu filed a motion for reconsideration and is gathering more documentary evidence to tighten the case.

Ms. Portia V. Bacalso, Chief of Marketing and Enforcement Division said that Pag-IBIG Fund Cebu will continue its intensified monitoring and will not hesitate to file complaints against other companies violating the law.          

Failure of employers to remit the monthly contribution means depriving the employees full Pag-IBIG Fund benefits and privileges that they are entitled to, Bacalso added.

Among the benefits that Pag-IBIG Fund offers are Tax-Free Dividends, housing loan, short term loan/multi-purpose loan and calamity loan. (PIA-7/Hazel Gloria with reports from Van Pepito of Pag-Ibig-Cebu City Branch)

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‘Give us our own market,’ Muslim traders ask Cebu CityLGU

By Eli C. Dalumpines

CEBU CITY, May 6 (PIA)--- Muslim traders in Cebu City are asking the city government to give them a place of their own where they can collectively sell their products. 

This was raised in a recent forum initiated by the office of Mayor Michael Rama to check the CebuanoMuslims’ commitment to peace following the death of international terrorist Osama bin Laden.

City Liaison Officer for Muslim Affairs George A. Chu bared this concern of the Muslim traders has been aired for five years now and which has yet to be realized.

Chu said they want to replicate what the Muslims are doing in Davao   City where they are operating their own market in the city’s downtown area.

Mayor Rama, to recall, has offered the City Center located along Colon St., to the Muslims but only few have occupied the place as of the moment.

Muslim business leaders claimed that they are waiting for sufficient funding to refurbish the place as the agreement they reached with the city government was that they are the ones who will fully operate the City   Center.

They noted that most of the Muslims who engaged in business within the city are just small scale and do not have the capability to run the place.

To address this issue, Chu urged the Muslim traders to organize themselves and have the organizations registered for it to possess a legal personality so that they can avail of loans from international aid organizations that help minority groups.

Muslim vendors in the city, for their part, expressed support to the city government’s move to clean the side walks saying they understand that the Mayor’s campaign is for the good of the city.

“But we need more activities that promotes livelihood, especially those that provide a support system for those who are facing financial difficulties,” said Marlon Badio, a member of one of the Muslim communities inMetro Cebu. (FCR/ECD/PIA 7-Cebu)