Campaign against human trafficking taps transport sector
CEBU CITY, Dec 14 (PIA)---The transport sector has joined in the campaign against trafficking of women and children.
The Regional Interagency Committee on Anti-Trafficking (Riacat) and personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) have tapped the transport sector because of its greater access to the public.
The RIACAT team posted printed materials at the two major terminals in the city, the North and the South Bus Terminals.
It also distributed stickers and posters against human trafficking on public utility jeepneys (PUJ), public utility busses (PUB’s) and other public vehicles.
DSWD-7 Women’s Welfare Specialist Rosemarie Salazar said the International and cross boarder trafficking of women and children remains one of the worst forms of human rights violations. Salazar said the statistics continue to increase.
The International Day Against Human Trafficking started in 2006 by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 1172. This year’s theme is “Komunidad at Pamahalaan Magkakaisa, Human Trafficking ay Wakasan Na.”
According to the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippines is among the top five countries in the world where most human trafficking victims come from.
There are 15 million human trafficking victims worldwide and the country has a “good share” of the number, the NBI added.
Around 80 percent of human trafficking victims in the country are females below 18 years old, and that they are usually brought to Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and even Cyprus. (mbcn/FCC/PIA-Cebu)
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Pag-IBIG assures no hike in membership contributions
By Fayette C. Ri�en
CEBU CITY, Dec 14 (PIA) – The top official of Pag-Ibig Fund – Visayas has assured its 1.2 million members that their agency has no plans of hiking membership contributions amid the increase in SSS and PhilHealth membership contributions.
Pag-Ibig Vice President for Visayas Victoria de la Peña said this during the recent PIA Kapihan that highlighted the 32nd year anniversary celebration of the Fund.
“Just recently, the SSS and PhilHealth increased their fees for membership contributions. Pag-Ibig however, does not want to further lessen the take home pay of the members, so the Board decided not to hike membership contributions,” bared De la Peña.
Although De la Peña stressed that this does not mean the agency would no longer increase its membership contributions, but merely guaranteed of no hike in the near future.
The Pag-Ibig official declared that the Fund is “already a P300 billion corporation” and that “the savings of the members are spent wisely.”
“The Board is very strict in how to use the savings of the millions of members nationwide. What is foremost in mind is to give the dividends of their savings to the members, which is done every first quarter, and we add this every year to the contributions of each member, so when they loan, the amount gets bigger year after year” said De La Peña.
A large chunk of the Fund’s assets are poured into its major housing loan programs as the very objective of the agency is to provide affordable shelter to all its members. Another significant amount is also allotted to the multi-purpose loan for it members.
Out of the 1.2 million members in the Visayas, Cebu had the highest share of membership volume with 733,000.
The 32nd year anniversary of Pag-Ibig is actually on December 14, which in the Visayas Office based in Cebu City, will just be a simple celebration that will start with a mass, according to De la Peña. (PIA-7)
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‘Kasambahay’ Bill will require household help to become Pag-IBIG members
By Fayette C. Ri�en
CEBU CITY, Dec 14 (PIA) – Passing the ‘Kasambahay’ Bill will put more pressure to employers have their household helpers become members of Pag-IBIG Fund.
Victoria De la Peña, vice president for Pag-Ibig Visayas said requiring employers to make their household help become members of the Fund remains a challenge.
“As of now, I have to admit that it is hard as we pegged the membership of household help to only less than one percent,” said De la Peña.
The top official of the Fund in the Visayas Region said that they are doing their best to require employers make their helpers become members which is now mandatory.
“Initially, we are informing our employees who have household help to follow the law and let their helpers enroll in Pag-Ibig. Simultaneously, we are also bringing down our campaign to homeowners associations to inform employers of their responsibility,” disclosed De la Peña.
The Pag-Ibig official expressed optimism that with the passage of the ‘Kasambahay’ Bill, the membership of household helpers to the Fund will increase.
De la Peña meanwhile, said not only the household help sector is required to become members but also tricycle drivers and market vendors. “We already have tricycle drivers that are members of Pag-Ibig” while there are market vendors that are responsive to the idea, said De la Peña adding that the only problem is the payment scheme.
“Little by little, we will get there as we plan ways to address this concern,” she ended. (PIA 7)