Solons want labor subjects be included in college curriculum

Lawmakers are pushing for the inclusion of labor subjects into the college social science curriculum.

"College students should equip themselves with knowledge about labor rights, works welfare and benefits, core labor standards, labor laws and regulations," Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza (Party-list, TUCP) said.

"These students will eventually be a part of the labor force and therefore should be coached the most important principles pertaining to the role of labor in the self-realization of a human being," Mendoza said.

House Bill 3205, authored principally by Mendoza, vice chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Employment, mandates the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to integrate labor subjects into the social science curriculum in the tertiary.

Mendoza said CHED should develop a course on labor education to be integrated in the tertiary education curriculum to inculcate among college students a sense of awareness on the rights, privileges as well as the responsibilities to society of workers.

Mendoza, who also chairs the House Committee on Poverty Alleviation, said there are about 2.6 million college students in the country.

The number of students enrolled in private universities and colleges are more than 1.6 million, while more than 820,000 are from state universities and colleges, he said.

He said local universities and colleges have 96,000 while the rest come from other higher education institutions of government.

Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara (Lone District, Aurora), another author of the bill, said labor issues would give students knowledge of the labor situation in the country and the current employment problem.

"The labor education should also include topics on national and global labor situation, labor market concerns, labor issues, overseas work and related problems," said Angara, chairman of the House Committee on Higher Education. - Jazmin S. Camero, Media Relations Service-PRIB

People's participation in development plans pushed

Lawmakers today stressed that people's participation should be institutionalized in the formulation of local and national government development plans.

The House of Representatives has endorsed for Senate approval HB 3264, which seeks to strengthen the participation of civil society organizations (CSOs) in the formulation of national, regional, and local development plans.

"The proposed statute will ensure the participation of civil society organizations in national building," the authors said as they lauded Rep. Benjamin Asilo, Chairman of the Committee on People's Participation, for defending the measure on the floor until its final passage and endorsement to the Senate.

HB 3264, principally authored by Reps. Joseph Victor Ejercito (Lone District, San Juan City), Winston Castelo (2nd District, Quezon City), Linabelle Ruth Villarica (4th District, Bulacan), and Eduardo Gullas (1st District, Cebu), has been approved on third reading by the House and is now pending final action by the Senate.

"The measure strengthens the role of CSOs in pursuit of their collective interests and aspirations and ensure their effective and reasonable participation at all levels of social, political, and economic decision-making," Ejercito and Castelo said.

The bill mandates all national government agencies involved in planning and the regional and local development councils to take measures to ensure the participation of CSOs in the formulation of growth programs.

Likewise, it provides for an accreditation procedure for CSOs that wish to participate in the policy formulations in all levels of governance.

The measure compels the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the barangay secretary of each Barangay Development Council, and the coordinator of each Provincial/City/Municipal Development council to issue a notice of call for written submission of CSOs' proposals and/or comments on proposed development plans.

It also requires all submissions to be (a) properly received by the NEDA or the concerned development council; (b) entered into a database for the purpose; and (c) considered in the formulation of the development plan.

"One of the many vital provisions mandates that all deliberations on development plans be open to the public," the authors stressed.

Also, it requires the NEDA and the development council to present proposed development plans to all concerned stakeholders prior to their submission for approval.

There is also the provision tasking the DILG and the NEDA to monitor and evaluate the accreditation and participation mechanisms of CSOs, and further provides for an incentive system through the DILG's Performance Challenge Fund for LGUs Program.

The penal provisions of the bill imposes a fine of P20,000.00 and a suspension of six (6) months to one (1) year on any public official or employee who shall (a) fail to publish the notice of public call for submissions, (b) refuse to acknowledge receipt of any submission made by CSOs, and (c) fail to invite CSOs to the deliberations on development plans.

Other co-authors include Reps. Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales (1st District, Capiz), Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza (TUCP, Party-list), Edwin L. Olivarez (1st District, Parañaque City), Cresente C. Paez (COOP NATCCO, Party-list), Godofredo V. Arquiza (Senior Citizens, Party-list), Rafael V. Mariano (Anakpawis, Party-list), Catalina Leonen-Pizarro (ABS, Party-list), Reena Concepcion G. Obillo (Una ang Pamilya, Party-list) and Sharon S. Garin (AAMBIS-OWA, Party-list). - Dionisio P. Tubianosa, Media Relations Service

House leader condoles with family of Tejada, hopes student loan bill becomes law

A House leader today condoled with the family of UP Manila student Kristel Pilar Mariz Tejada, as the lawmaker expressed hope that a House proposal to put up a voluntary student loan program by banks and government financial institutions (GFIs) will be pursued and ultimately become a law in the coming 16th Congress to help poor but deserving students finish their studies.

Rep. Roger Mercado, (Lone District, Southern Leyte), said it is truly saddening that a bright student like Tejada had to end her life after she was reportedly forced to take a leave of absence from her studies for failing to pay her tuition.

"We condole with the family of Kristel, and we hope that something will be done to truly help indigent but deserving students pursue their great dream to finish their studies and uplift their families' plight," said Mercado.

Mercado, Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, said in the 15th Congress, various proposals were filed to help students with financial problems continue their college education through scholarship grants, student loan programs, subsidies and incentives.

He said one of these proposals is House Bill 6219, which he authored along with 23 other solons, seeking to establish a voluntary student loan program by banks and GFIs. The bill was approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives on October 15, 2012 and was transmitted to the Senate on October 17, 2012.

"We hope the bill will be pursued and ultimately become a law in the 16th Congress because it aims to help underprivileged students by granting them loans which they can repay when they are done studying and are already employed," said Mercado.

Other authors of HB 6219 are Reps. Roman Romulo (Lone District, Pasig City), Juan Edgardo Angara (Lone District, Aurora), Emil Ong (2nd District, Northern Samar), Mariano Piamonte, Jr. (Party-list, A Teacher), Eulogio "Amang" Magsaysay (Party-list, AVE), Pedro Romualdo (Lone District, Camiguin), Eduardo Gullas (1st District, Cebu), Cesar Sarmiento (Lone District, Catanduanes), Florencio Flores, Jr. (2nd District, Bukidnon), Raymond Democrito Mendoza (Party-list, TUCP), Sigfrido Tinga (2nd District, Taguig City), Pryde Henry Teves (3rd District, Negros Oriental), Isidro Ungab (3rd District, Davao City), Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City), Elmer Panotes (2nd District, Camarines Norte), Fernando Gonzalez (3rd District, Albay), Evelyn Mellana (2nd District, Agusan del Sur), Arnulfo Go (2nd District, Sultan Kudarat), Agapito Guanlao (Party-list, Butil), Ma. Amelita Calimbas-Villarosa (Lone District, Occidental Mindoro), Emmeline Aglipay (Party-list, Diwa), Anthony del Rosario (1st District, Davao del Norte), and Lani Mercado-Revilla (2nd District, Cavite).

The measure aims to assist eligible students obtain post-secondary education from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) or technical-vocational institutes and colleges, by encouraging banks and government financial institutions to lend money to students to be repaid in installments after the student graduates or leaves the educational institution.

Mercado said the loan should cover the cost of the entire program offered by the HEI or tech-voc institute or college including, but not limited to, tuition and miscellaneous fees. Adjustments shall be made in case of increase in tuition and miscellaneous fees. It shall likewise include an amount for the cost of attendance, covering necessary expenses of the student for books, food, transportation, board and lodging and a reasonable allowance for projects and other school requirements.

For proper implementation and to better facilitate the collection of the loan, the bill provides that the Social Security System (SSS) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) shall issue, upon application, an SSS or GSIS number to the student-borrower. The number so issued shall serve as the permanent SSS or GSIS number of the student-borrower in case of future employment with the private or government sector. - Rowena B. Bundang, Media Relations Service-PRIB

Solons urge President Aquino to sign into law the proposed Magna Carta of the Poor

Lawmakers do not doubt that President Aquino will sign into law the proposed Magna Carta of the Poor which will recognize the basic rights of the poor and marginalized Filipinos.

"The government must now take the side of the poor because the issue of poverty has become a critical question of survival. The state intervention is the only realistic route to take to uplift the poor while long term measures, strategies and solutions for poverty reduction are being put in place," said Rep. Rachel Marguerite Del Mar (1st District, Cebu City), principal author of the bill.

Under the bill, Del Mar said all the existing funds of the different departments and agencies implementing pro-poor programs, the 20 percent of the share of the national government in the earnings of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the 50 percent of the share of the national government in all lotteries conducted by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) shall also be allotted for the program.

Likewise, Del Mar said 50% of the share of the government in the proceeds from sale or disposition of sequestered assets, and the 50% of the proceeds from the sale or disposition by public auction of goods or articles forfeited in favor of the government by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) shall also be added to fund the program.

"The bill will institutionalize the basic rights of the poor, the right to food, the right to employment and livelihood, the right to quality education, the right to shelter, and the right to basic health services and medicines," Del Mar said.

Del Mar said all government departments, agencies and instrumentalities must provide full access to government services for the poor.

"We can only have strong democratic institutions when such greater majority of the people are given the opportunities to participate in the benefits, growth and development of a democratic society," Del Mar said.

"Only when the poor are economically empowered will they be able to participate in the democratic process of setting national goals that affect their daily lives," said Rep. Rodante Marcoleta (Party-list, ALAGAD ), co-author of the bill.

Under the bill, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall be principally responsible for the efficient and rational allocation of available funding requirements as may be needed by the different agencies in implementing the proposed act.

Any donation, contribution or grant which may be made to the programs shall be exempted from the donor's tax and may be considered as allowable deduction from the gross income tax of the donor.

The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), LGUs, the Civil Society Organization (CSOs) and Peoples Organization (POs), shall be formed into a consultative council to ensure the continuity and institutionalization of all the initiatives and programs of the government for the poor.

Co-authors of the bill are Reps. Peter "Sr. Pedro" Unabia (1st District, Misamis Oriental), Ben Evardone (Lone District, Eastern Samar), Marcelino Teodoro (1st District, Marikina City), and Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza (Party-list, TUCP), the Chairman of the House Committee on Poverty Alleviation. - Jazmin S. Camero, Media Relations Service-PRIB