Wage board in C. Visayas holds public
consultation for salary increase
By Eli C. Dalumpines
CEBU CITY , May 27 (PIA) – One week after it reached a deadlock in declaring the existence of a supervening condition in the region, the Regional Tripartite
Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Central Visayasheld a public consultation to get the pulse of all sectors regarding the need to raise the salaries of workers.
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-7 Director Exequiel Sarcauga, during the consultation held yesterday afternoon, said the opinion of the public will help the board in determining if there is an extraordinary increase
in the price of oil and of basic commodities that would warrant wage increase.
This after the board failed to reach an agreement on the existence of a supervening condition in their meeting last May 19 when it voted 3-3 which resulted to a deadlock.
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-7 Director Exequiel Sarcauga, during the consultation held yesterday afternoon, said the opinion of the public will help the board in determining if there is an extraordinary increase
in the price of oil and of basic commodities that would warrant wage increase.
This after the board failed to reach an agreement on the existence of a supervening condition in their meeting last May 19 when it voted 3-3 which resulted to a deadlock.
The rules of the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) require four affirmative votes before the board can declare the existence of a supervening condition.
But according to Sarcauga, holding public consultationswill help them see if there is a need to revisit the existing wage order.
He noted that it was barely three months that the board authorized the increase in the salaries of workers in the private sector when it passed Wage Order Number 15 last September.
In the last few months though, there has been a series of increase in the price of oil and of basic consumer goods, which prompted the board to conduct a series of deliberations to assess the state of the regional economy.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7, in its situationer report presented during the consultation said prices of basic commodities remain stable contrary to media reports.
DTI-7 Director Asteria Caberte informed that aside from flour, which showed a P100-increase from P820.00 last year to the current price of P920.00 per bag, there was no noticeable increase in the prices of basic commodities in the region including in the price of loaf bread, which is derived from flour.
The price of oil has also started to drop, according to the Department of Energy (DOE) here. Reports from DOE said the price of diesel, used in public transport, has gone down to P44.60 from P49.45 in March. (FCR/ECD/PIA 7-Cebu)
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3 special athletes qualify for Athens Special Olympics by June 2011
CENTRAL VISAYAS, May 27 (PIA) --- “Three mentally challenged (MC) and visually impaired (VI) players from Region 6 will participate in the Special Olympics, World Summer Games that will be held in Athens, Greece this coming June upon the invitation of Philspada,” according to a release from the Department of Education (DepEd-7) in Central Visayas.
Shares Marivic Tolitol, chair of the Special Services Committee in charge of the special games during the 2011 Palarong Pambansa held in Dapitan City were children with special needs (MC & VI) under the Department of Education Special Program from six regions competed in special games organized for them.
These three special athletes are Merill Jean Derama, John Brian Menosa, and Lizamel Dayon, all from Region 6.
The three players will be assisted by the Philippine Sports for the Differently Abled (PHILSPADA) and will be coached by their respective SPED teachers who underwent training for the special games.
This year's Palarong Pambansa also gave an opportunity for these special children to show spectators and even other athletes that children with special needs are also capable of great feats.
This year's Palaro games for special athletes included athletics (100-, 200-, 400-meter dash, relay, shot put, and long jump) goal ball, and bocce.
On the other hand, swimming opened events for freestyle, backstroke and backstroke.
At least 30 players joined the competition. These were from Regions 1, 10, 4-A, 4-B, 6, and CARAGA.
The overall champion for the special games is Region 1, followed by Region 10. At third place is Region 4-A.
Three locations in Dapitan City were used as venues for the special games of the Palaro. These are the Talisay Elementary School, the Dapitan City Plaza, and the Jose Rizal Memorial State University.
Tolitol said this year's games is in preparation for what the DepEd hopes to have in the next Palarong Pambansa.
DepEd hopes to have at least 50 delegates per region totaling about 850 delegates for all 17 regions in the country.(PIA-7/mbcn/Maryknoll B. Lague CTU)
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NGO in Cebu sponsors training on biodiversity program for DepEd
| CEBU CITY, May 27 (PIA) --- The Solid and Water Conservation Foundation, Inc. (SWCFI) sponsors a 2-day enhanced training on biodiversity program on May 27-28 at the Kal-anan National High School, Kal-anan Tabogon, Cebu. The training is intended for DepEd officials, teachers and students that included the Regional Coordinator, Division Area Consultant, PSDS of the host district, one student, and one teacher/school head implementer of the following schools: Malingin NHS, Daanbantayan, Cebu; Caleriohan NHS, Dalaguete, Cebu; San Pascual NHS, Dalaguete, Cebu; Simeon Ayuda ES, Liloan, Cebu; Kal-anan NHS, Tabogon, Cebu; Don Sergio Osmeña NHS, Labangon, Cebu City; and Gaas NHS, Balamban, Cebu. The training aims to inform the standing of the implementation of this Biodiversity Program in school and community. It also intends to gather latest interventions of the recipient school in the implementation of Biodiversity program. It further seeks to evaluate the activities undertaken in carrying out the objectives of the program in their respective schools. SWCFI, is an NGO in Cebu that pioneers in bio-diversity and watershed management. It will finance the travelling expenses, snacks and lunch of the participants from the recipient schools. Other incidental expenses and per diem shall be charged against the local SEF/MOOE/PTA Funds, according to a release from the DepEd-7. Howeveer, the expenses of other participants, specifically the Regional Director, Division Area Consultant and PSDS of the host venue will be charged against the Local funds subject to the usual COA accounting and auditing rules and regulations. (PIA-7/mbcn/Ailene G. Limutan, CTU) |
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HDMF willing and ready to accept housing requirements of GSIS members
CENTRAL VISAYAS, May 27 (PIA) --- The Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) or popularly called Pag-IBIG is willing and ready to step into the shoes of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) in meeting the housing requirements of its members.
Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, concurrent chairman of the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) or Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees announced this after GSIS bared it would cease its housing loan operations and would transfer to the Pag-IBIG the processing of loan applications of its members.
Pag-IBIG Chief Executive Officer, Atty. Darlene Marie Berberabe said HDMF accepts the new challenge in the light of the steady increase in the demand for housing finance.
According to Pag-IBIG, housing provision is one of its core mandates and after 30 years in the business, mortgage accounts comprise 45 percent of the entire industry's loan portfolio, making it the country's premier housing fund.
For the past five years, from 2006 to 2010, Pag-IBIG has registered an average growth rate of 17 percent in terms of housing units purchased or constructed.
It expects the demand to maintain its constant growth rate. For this year, Pag-IBIG has allocated a budget of P50 billion for housing finance alone, Berberabe pointed out.
Pag-IBIG Fund has also been consistently profitable, making it one of the best performing financial institutions in the country today, private or government.
Pag-IBIG revealed that for 2010 alone, it had declared P7.882B in total dividends, which shall be credited to the members’ total savings proportionately. The amount is equivalent to 71percent of its 2010 net income.
“We are currently ironing out the policies and procedures, but GSIS members who would like to avail of a housing loan may already file their applications at the Pag-IBIG Fund,” Berberabe said. (PIA-7/MBCNewman)
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Minimize risk against cervical cancer through healthy lifestyle - DOH
CEBU CITY, May 26 (PIA) --- Women should ensure healthy lifestyle, monogamous relationship and proper exercise in order to minimize risk against cervical cancer.
This call was reiterated by Dr. Belinda Pañares, Head of the OB-GYNE Department of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) who has been actively participating in the Cervical Cancer Awareness Campaign in different cities and town in Central Visayas since year 1997.
“Eighty percent of the victims of cervical cancer came from the 3rd world countries where we all know that Philippines is included. Within five years all of them die. It is so sad to know that women are dying because of this preventable disease.” Pañares said.
According to Pañares, aside from the primary preventions, women should also undergo cervical cancer screening or if possible cervical cancer vaccination to guarantee 80 percent protection from the Human papilloma virus(HPV) which is said to be the usual cause of cervical cancer.
Pañares also expressed their hopes on including cervical cancer vaccination in the maternity package but said they might have to wait long for this to be realized since the cost of the vaccine may reach from P2T-P4T.
However, Pañares, with two other doctors from VSMMC urged the public especially women to be aware and to act against cervical cancer.
“Don’t wait for symptoms, for preventions is really better than cure” said Pañares during the Kapihan sa PIA held at the Office of Department of Health in Cebu City.(PIA-7/mbcn/Maryknoll B. Lague CTU)
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Women urged to be an advocate against Cervical Cancer
CEBU CITY, May 26 (PIA) --- The head of OB-Gyne Department of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) Dr. Belinda Pañares put an emphasis for those informed women intensify its fight against cervical cancer through information dissemination.
Informed women should tell other women of the free cervical cancer screening in VSMMC for others twomen to know their own situation whether or not they have the virus that can cause cervical cancer.
The free cervical cancer screening would help detect cervical cancer at early stages which in turn can give high possibilities of survival.
Dr. Ma. Nanette Suarez, a resident doctor of VSMMC said that they would like to advocate awareness to every woman about this illness.
Pañares even stressed that prevention is better than cure since cervical cancer is a preventable type of cancer for the progression of this disease is 5 to 20 years.
The latter added that it is better to know the your own condition as early as possible because treating cervical cancer is very much expensive like other cancer treatment.
Based on the statistics given by Pañares, 80 percent of the victims of Cervical Cancer worldwide came from the 3rd World Countries.
In the Philippines, 12 women a day died because of cervical cancer.
Pañares said that the numbers showed an alarming result that is why women must know the causes of this cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer strong risk factors include; (a) infection with human papilloma virus (HPV), (b) early age of intercourse and multiple sex partners, (c) tobacco use, (d) having many children and even skin to skin genital contact. (PIA-7/mbcn/Ailene G. Limutan, CTU)
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NTC conducts public consultation on the propose minimum speed of broadband internet connections
By: Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY , May 26 (PIA) --- The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) will conduct a regional Public Consultation tomorrow, May 27 at 10 A.M. at the NTC Regional Office, Subangdaku, Mandaue City on the proposed minimum speed of broadband connections in the country.
According to the NTC, RA-7925 known as the Public Telecommunications Policy Act of the Philippines mandates for a healthy competitive environment in the telecom industry.
The law also provides that telecom carriers are free to make business decisions provided they encourage financial viability and while maintaining affordable rates.
NTC observes that the service providers are offering broadband internet connections specifying only the maximum speed.
NTC wants the telecom industry specifically broadband internet providers to specify minimum connection speed, service reliability and the service rates to consumers, subscribers and users in their advertisements, flyers, brochures and service agreements.
It must also be clear that the minimum service reliability shall be 80 percent. This service reliability is measured over a period of one month and calculated as; Hours in a day x Days in a month) – (Time internet connection speed is below minimum).
The service offers also shall specify the service rates for a minimum broadband and internet connection speed and the service reliability.
For example, a PhP900.00/month for 512Kbps minimum connection speed with 80 percent service reliability, or PhP1,000.00/month for 512Kbps minimum connection speed with 85 percent service reliability.
According to NTC, the subscribers, consumers and users shall be properly informed of the broadband and internet connection service being offered to them.
The consultation will try to thresh out issues in relation to the promotion and protection of the rights of consumers of public telecom services.
The NTC also qualified that customers, subscribers and users of broadband and internet connections have the right to know of the quality of the broadband internet connection service that these telecoms provide.
With the proliferation of broadband internet users, NTC wants to promote fair play and protect the rights of customers via rules and promulgations.
Failure on the part of a broadband service provider to comply with this NTC rules the Commission shall file appropriate administrative case against said broadband service provider. (PIA-7/mbcn/HFG)