EDSA 29: A day of indignation

The 29th anniversary of the bloodless people power revolution became a day of indignation yesterday as multi-sectoral groups in the thousands marched on the very pavement where democracy was won – this time demanding the resignation of President Aquino, the son of democracy icon, the late President Corazon Aquino.

Angry protesters held President Aquino responsible for the death of 44 commandos of the Special Action Force in the day-long clash exactly a month ago yesterday and demanded that he step down for “betraying the nation.”

Leading the march was the youth group Anakbayan, which unfurled streamers on the People Power Monument saying “Game Over, Noynoy” and displayed images of blood-stained yellow ribbons, symbol of the 1986 uprising that raised his mother to power.

“Aquino clearly betrayed the nation. To please the United States, he directed the Mamasapano offensive which led to the death of at least 69 people. He allowed Filipinos to be used as cannon-fodder in the US war,” Anakbayan national chairperson Vencer Crisostomo said.

Crisostomo assailed the “desperate attempts to cover-up and whitewash Aquino’s criminal accountability in the Mamasapano offensive.”

“Aquino’s web of lies can no longer be untangled. His time is up. In the language that the president would better understand: it is game over, Noynoy. Time to step down,” he added.

Crisostomo called on youth groups to work for a “new people power” to force Aquino to resign.

“Aquino is delirious if he still believes People Power is about him and his family. People power is the Filipino people’s collective weapon against injustice, oppression and lies. We call on students to walkout and work to encircle the Palace and force Aquino to resign,” Crisostomo added.

He said a “transition council” could take over to pave the way for meaningful reforms and fair elections.

“We cannot allow more people to die under Aquino’s misrule. We cannot let impunity and injustices continue. Let us launch big protests, encircle Malacañang and wage people power,” Crisostomo dared.

He called on youth and students to stage a walkout and continue to express their displeasure by marching to Malacañang on February 27.

PREPARE DEFENSE

Even campus scribes urged Aquino to quit.

Thousands of campus journalists belonging to the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) called on Aquino to admit his liability in the botched Mamasapano operation.

The campus journalists massed at the EDSA Shrine and called for Aquino to quit and prepare for his defense defense when he is asked to explain his indispensable collaboration in the conduct of Operation Exodus, the SAF operation to arrest or kill Malaysian bomber Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and his Filipino understudy Basit Usman, who was wounded in the engagement.

CEGP national president Marc Lino Abila said it is also an irony that the day which brought Aquino’s mother to power is also the day 29 years later that the people expressed their wrath against her own son

“In retrospect, the spirit of EDSA centers on the mass movement, the people, and not Cory Aquino. Thus, the People Power anniversary is the right venue to manifest the people’s disgust over the deceptive, inefficient and vicious Aquino administration,” Abila said.

“The recent bloodbath at Mamasapano illustrates the incapacity of the current President to offer and win a just and lasting peace. It also manifests Aquino puppetry to US dictates,” Abila added.

CORRUPTION STILL PRESENT

Groups from Southern Tagalog region with the same resignation call also trooped to Manila to stage their own protest at the Mabuhay Rotunda.

But before proceeding to the Rotunda, Kapayapaan-Southern Tagalog group formed a human chain in Baclaran church early morning calling for Aquino’s accountability and the truth behind the deadly Mamasapano clash.

“Almost 30 years after EDSA 1, history is repeating itself where people are once again uprising for truth and accountability, this time over Noynoy Aquino’s gross incompetence and rabid subservience to his US masters. After selling-out our sovereignty with the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, sacrificing the lives of Filipinos, both police and civilians is not only a grave insult to the families of the victims but also a mockery of justice,” Rev. Gil Sediarin, Kapayapaan spokesman said.

Flor Chan, spokesperson of the Southern Tagalog Resign Movement for Aquino (ST Remove Aquino) said the Aquino administration is full of issues such as graft and corruption in the pork barrel and Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) scam. This aside from escalating human rights abuses and the policies that push more Filipinos into poverty and suffering.

After two people power uprising, it is about time that we step-up again and fulfill the failed and long-overdue promises of EDSA ,” Chan emphasized.

OWN UP

But the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), the country’s largest labor group did not support resignation calls for Aquino but challenged the beleaguered president to be man enough to accept and take command responsibility over the unfortunate Mamasapano massacre.

“The nation expects the president to stand by the PNP-SAF. The PNP-SAF deserves nothing less. The people expect him to lead from the front and receive our quiet gratitude in good times and be accountable when things go wrong. We urge Mr. Aquino to take responsibility because in a constitutional democracy, the buck stops with the President. And in our culture, he is the “Father of our Nation. It comes with the territory. The people want him to lead from the front and he must take the lead in providing justice to our fallen 44,” TUCP-Nagkaisa spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said.

Tanjusay said that Aquino should exact accountability from the MILF who are also Filipinos and who are not above the country’s laws.

“We need the President to publicly require and demand the MILF leadership to surrender the MILF fighters who participated in the killings and surrender suspected terrorist Basit Abdul Usman to the fold of the law,’’ Tanjusay said.

TRAFFIC OUTRAGE

While the Palace declared a holiday for schools, it was a normal working day and motorists and commuters were fuming mad at the terrible traffic that clogged streets starting early morning after the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) closed the northbound stretch of EDSA from Shaw Blvd. to Santolan midnight Tuesday. Aside from this, perpendicular roads were also closed to traffic.

The closure caught drivers, motorists and commuters were surprise. Workers were seen walking to their destinations when traffic stalled for hours.

Three six-by-six trucks were deployed to ferry those stranded but were not much of help.

As of press time yesterday, EDSA was still a huge parking lot and traffic was not moving along P. Tuazon, Quezon Avenue, Araneta Avenue, Dimasalang, and Aurora Boulevard.

The public took to MMDA’s official page on Facebook over the agency’s traffic management plan.

Some said the government should have declared Wednesday a holiday because of the heavy traffic.

“Please help us understand why it’s not a holiday. All I can think of is the small group in the celebration while the rest of the Metro are unproductively stuck in traffic. If it’s a holiday, more can participate at the commemoration venue or watch it at home on TV,” said Kat Turingan.

Joseph Ramirez, commented, “Today is a school holiday but it is difficult for people working to commute going to work. Lifting the number coding today would have helped a lot of people in travelling to and from work.”

Others urged the MMDA to be more considerate of employees working the night shift and advise the public ahead of time. - by Chito A. Chavez (With reports from Jenny F. Manongdo, Samuel P. Medenilla and Anna Liza Villas Alavaren)/ Manila Bulletin

Aquino hits opponents of proposed Bangsa law

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

TUCP bucks calls for Aquino ouster

MANILA, Philippines — Labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines—Nagkaisa (TUCP-Nagkaisa) on Wednesday said it will not join or support calls or moves to oust President Benigno Aquino III from office.

Several groups have been calling for resignation of the president over the Mamasapano incident, which resulted in the deaths of 44 police commandos tasked to capture high-profile terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and his Filipino accomplice, Basit Usman.

TUCP-Nagkaisa, however, challenged the chief executive to accept and take command responsibility over the January 25 operations in Maguindanao.

"The nation expects the President to stand by the PNP-SAF (Philippine National Police-Special Action Force). The PNP-SAF deserve nothing less. The people expect him to lead from the front and receive our quiet gratitude in good times and be accountable when things go wrong," the group's spokesperson, Alan Tanjusay, said.

He said it is high time for Aquino to condemn the execution-style killing of the policemen.

"We need the President to exact accountability from the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) who are also Filipinos and who are not above our laws. We need the president to publicly require and demand the MILF leadership to surrender the MILF fighters who participated in the killings and handover suspected terrorist Basit Abdul Usman to the fold of the law," Tanjusay said.

Tanjusay also defended the President from criticisms, saying that political opportunists and perennial trouble makers are ganging up on him over the Mamasapano incident.

"Many of them are crying genuine tears and some are crying crocodile ones. We must be discerning. In the meantime, we must expect leadership from the top with the president leading from the front," he added.

Aquino should remain focused and find substantial solutions to concerns of the people such as the looming power crisis and mass transport problems, Tanjusay said. - By Dennis Carcamo (philstar.com)

House OKs bill protecting credit card holders

The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill that seeks to regulate the credit card industry to ensure fair and sound consumer practices and encourage competition and transparency to protect credit card holders. Unanimously approved on a vote of 178 with no negative votes was House Bill 5417 or the proposed Philippine Credit Card Industry Regulation Law that was listed in the legislative priorities of the House leadership.

Approved on Monday, the measure consolidates at least eight different measures providing for fair competition and fairness in the credit card industry.

Endorsed for plenary approval by the House Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries, HB 5417 also makes consumer credit readily available to all Filipinos “under conditions of fair and sound consumer practices.”

Batangas Rep. Nelson Collantes, committee chairman, said the bill also helps to guarantee that appropriate mechanisms are in place to protect and educate credit card holders.

Under the bill, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is mandated to supervise all credit card issuers and impose rules of conduct and standards of operation while imposing penalties for violation.

HB 5417 also provides for an efficient system for managing risk arising from credit card operations.
According to Collantes, the bill requires the credit card issuer to be transparent in their computation of all charges and fees while bars them from imposing over-the-limit fees without the consent of the cardholder.
The bill also provides confidentiality of cardholder information and establishes a period within which complaints on billing may be made and a period upon which the card issuer must reply.

Authors of the measure include Reps. Agapito Guanlao (Butil party-list); Rodel Batocabe (Ako Bicol party-list); Raymond Democrito Mendoza (TUCP party-list); Juliet Cortuna (A-Teacher party-list); and Mark Enverga (NPC, Quezon).

Guanlao said the bill lifts the “prohibitive” conditions and penalties imposed by banks and credit card companies on cardholders, especially for those who fail to settle their dues.

Authors said credit card users have increased tremendously since the 1990s, citing data from Metro Manila alone that as of December 2010, at least 6.7 million credit cards have been issued to Filipino consumers.
The bill provides that to ensure the vibrancy and efficiency of the credit card industry, the State shall institute appropriate mechanism to protect and educate credit card holders. (Ben R. Rosario) Tempo

Group will not call for PNoy’s ouster, but

Labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa (TUCP-Nagkaisa) will not join or support any move to oust President Benigno Aquino, III from office but wants him to accept command responsibility over the Mamasapano incident.

“We urge Mr. Aquino to take responsibility because in a constitutional democracy, the buck stops with the President. The people want him to lead from the front and he must take the lead in providing justice to our fallen 44,” said TUCP-Nagkaisa spokesperson Alan Tanjusay.

Tanjusay said the president should also “exact accountability from the MILF”.

“We need the President to publicly require and demand the MILF leadership to surrender the MILF fighters who participated in the killings and handover suspected terrorist Basit Abdul Usman to the fold of the law,” Tanjusay said. - Davao Today

On the freedom of association and the right to strike

Statement of Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz
Department of Labor and Employment

20 February 2015

On the freedom of association and the right to strike

“There is a plan afoot, espoused by the employers’ group in the International Labor Organization (ILO), to declare that freedom of association does not include the right to strike as it is not so stated in the ILO Convention 87, or the Freedom of Association and the Protection of the Right to Organise.

“Naturally, the workers’ group in the ILO, as well as labor unions all over the world, including unions in the Philippines, strongly oppose this move.

“On the part of the DOLE, I declare that the Philippines adheres to the principle that the right to strike is one of the essential means through which workers and their organizations may promote and defend their economic and social interests.

“The right to strike, as an inseparable adjunct to freedom of association, or the right to self-organization, is a universally accepted principle.

“Also, as a member of the ILO and as signatory to ILO Conventions 87 and 98, or the Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining Convention, the Philippines recognizes that freedom of association and the right to strike are basic principles attached to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“No less than the 1987 Philippine Constitution guarantees freedom of association. Section 3, Article XIII of the basic law of the land explicitly mandates that the State shall guarantee the rights of all workers to self-organization, collective bargaining and negotiations, and peaceful concerted activities, including the right to strike in accordance with law.

“However, while constitutionally-recognized, the right to strike is not an absolute right and not without legal limitations. This is clear as the Constitution itself provides that the exercise of the right should be in accordance with law.

On this note, the Labor Code, as amended clearly provides procedures in order for a strike to be considered valid. Undoubtedly, the Labor Code is against the use of violence, coercion, and intimidation during a strike.

“It must be noted that statutory requirements and conditions—while these are perceived to constrict the exercise of trade union rights—are nonetheless acceptable and considered not incompatible with our Constitution and ILO Conventions 87 and 98.

“Thus, we are committed to ensuring and maintaining an atmosphere conducive to the exercise of trade union rights, free from unreasonable restraint and infringement.”



------------------------
See also Right to Strike Re-affirmed at ILO

Bill regulating credit card industry endorsed for plenary approval

The House Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries has endorsed for plenary approval a proposal to regulate the country's credit card industry to ensure conditions of fair and sound consumer credit practices, and to encourage competition and transparency that support a more efficient delivery of services.

The committee chaired by Rep. Sonny P. Collantes (3rd District, Batangas) approved House Bill 5417 or the proposed "Philippine Credit Card Industry Regulation Law," which substituted eight bills.

Collantes, also author of one of the substituted bills, House Bill 4861, criticized as "prohibitive" the conditions and penalties imposed by banks and credit card companies on cardholders, especially for those who fail to settle their dues.

"Inspite of this situation, data on card holders imply that consumers still rely on plastic money in times of dire need and for emergency expenditures. Moreover, the various methods employed by credit card companies to market and promote credit cards at times inhibit the consumers to scrutinize the terms, conditions and sanctions that will be imposed for delayed payments," said Collantes.

He said credit card users have increased tremendously since the 1990s, citing data alone from Metro Manila reveal that as of December 2010, at least 6.7 million credit cards have been issued to Filipino consumers.

This number represents a three percent yearly growth rate from 2007 to 2010 according to him. The data will still increase if the number of consumers amounting to roughly one million individuals with multiple credit cards will be included according to Collantes.

The bill provides it is the declared policy of the State to foster the development of the credit card industry as an indispensable tool in making consumer credit readily available to all Filipinos under conditions of fair and sound consumer credit practices, which are aligned with global practices, in promoting an efficient payments system and in encouraging competition and transparency that support a more efficient delivery of credit card services.

The bill also provides that to ensure the vibrancy and efficiency of the credit card industry, the State shall institute appropriate mechanism to protect and educate credit card holders.

The measure mandates the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to supervise all credit card issuers and acquirers through the following: issuance of rules of conduct or the establishment of standards of operation for uniform application to all institutions of functions covered, and the imposition of penalties in case of non-compliance therewith; conduct of examination as determined by the Monetary Board to determine compliance with laws and regulations; and overseeing to ascertain that laws and regulations are complied with. Moreover, the BSP may also limit and prohibit the charging of annual membership fees for credit cards, the bill provides.

In the exercise of its authority to limit and prohibit these fees, the Monetary Board shall be guided by the following: the purpose for the fees including the cost of production of the credit card; the service extended to card holders; the other charges and fees already imposed on credit cards; change in price level; and such other relevant criteria as the Monetary Board may adopt.

Another salient feature of the bill pertains to the appropriate manner of collection. The bill provides a credit card issuer may resort to all reasonable and legally permissible means to collect amounts due them under the credit card agreement. In the exercise of their rights and performance of duties, they must observe good faith, reasonable conduct and proper decorum and refrain from engaging in unscrupulous acts.

The bill also provides that a credit card issuer or collection agents shall not harass, abuse or oppress any person or engage in any unfair practices, as may defined by the BSP rules and regulations, in connection with the collection of any credit card debt.

The measure also requires know-your-client procedures in the exercise of proper diligence; provides for an efficient system for managing risk arising from credit card operations; provides the cardholder the authority to decline increase in their credit limit and the option to request for a credit limit adjustment subject to the approval of the credit card issuer; and provides for the circumstances under which disclosure of necessary information from the potential cardholders may be made.

Furthermore, the bill also requires the credit card issuer to be transparent in their computation of all charges and fees; prohibits imposition of over-the-limit fees without the expressed consent of the cardholder; provides for the confidentiality of cardholder information; and establishes a period within which complaints on billing may be made and the period upon which the card issuer must reply.

The provisions of Section 37 of Republic Act 7653, otherwise known as the "New Central Bank Act," shall apply to erring credit card issuers, acquiring banks, their directors and officers, including, but not limited to, the administrative sanctions that may be imposed, without prejudice to the criminal sanctions against the culpable persons provided in Section 25 hereof, for any willful violation of this law or any regulated rules, regulations, orders or instructions issued by the Monetary Board.

In addition, the violator shall face imprisonment of two to 10 years, or pay a fine of P50,000 to P200,000, or both, at the discretion of the court.

House Bill 5417 is in substitution of the following: House Bill 4861 authored by Reps. Collantes and Agapito H. Guanlao; HB 207 by Rep. Salvacion S. Ponce Enrile; HB 1031 by Rep. Roman T. Romulo; HB 1513 by Reps. Marcelino R. Teodoro, Elisa T. Kho, Christopher S. Co and Rodel M. Batocabe; HB 2043 by Rep. Evelina G. Escudero; HB 2551 Rep. Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza; HB 3563 by Reps. Mariano U. Piamonte, Jr., Julieta R. Cortuna and Collantes; and HB 5201 by Reps. Mark A. Villar and Gavini C. Pancho. - congress.gov.ph Rowena B. Bundang, Media Relations Service-PRIB

House bills hear in congress committee on security of tenure and the criminalizing labor-only contracting

Hearings in the House of  Representative Committee on Labor and Employment with Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza whose bills he authored, House Bill Nos. 3559 and 3560 were discussed Wednesday. Leaders of Nagkaisa! (United) labor coalition also attended said hearings.

HB 03559 - AN ACT STRENGTHENING SECURITY OF TENURE, AMENDING FOR THAT PURPOSE CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 442, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
Status: Pending with the Committee on LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT since 2013-12-16

HB 03560 - AN ACT CRIMINALIZING LABOR-ONLY CONTRACTING, AMENDING FOR THAT PURPOSE CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 442, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
Status: Pending with the Committee on LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT since 2013-12-16

Kilusan Pres Arthur Juego, Francis Valois of ALU, Tem Dejon of AWATU and Rene Magtubo of Partido Manggagawa, Nagkaisa coordinator Edsil Bacalso

Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza with Atty Laperoza, Arthur Juego, Tem Dejon

Order to license massage workers put on hold

Pinoy Hilot massage class in cooperation of TESDA and TUCP Party-list (file photo 2011)

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Health has issued a three-year moratorium on its administrative order mandating the licensing of massage therapists.

The moratorium was issued to give ample time for the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and DOH to harmonize the government's program for massage therapists in the country.

The moratorium took effect last month and will stay in place until December 2017.

Consul Robert Lim Joseph, secretary general of the Philippine Organization of Wellness Establishments and Resources, told The Freeman the DOH must have taken the organization’s opposition to the administrative order.

“We expect to meet the DOH Secretary next week,” Joseph said.

Last month, through TESDA-7, some spa and wellness operators in Cebu called for a congressional inquiry into the DOH order.

Administrative Order No. 2010-0034 dated December 10, 2010 entitled Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations Governing Massage Clinics and Sauna Establishments, provides that no person is authorized to practice massage as a profession without holding a valid Certificate of Registration issued by the Committee of Examiners for Massage Therapy and approved by the DOH. This has been in place since January 2011.

Joint Memorandum Circular 2015-001 of TESDA and DOH requires, at a minimum, massage therapists must have a National Certificate in Massage Therapy NC II issued by TESDA, which is valid during the moratorium period as a minimum requirement.

A composite team of TESDA and DOH experts will work out a process that would harmonize the implementation of training, assessment and certification/licensure of massage therapists.

This initiative of TESDA and DOH to harmonize the program on massage therapy is intended to attract more students to take the course and promote it as a viable career.

TESDA-7 Board Member Art Barrit, spokesman of the Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP), said they have forwarded the requests for inquiry to TUCP Party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza. — By Gregg M. Rubio/JMO (The Freeman)

Groups to DOJ: Remove Japanese unionist from black list order

Labor groups call on Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to remove Japanese trade unionist's name on Black List Order.

MANILA, Philippines - A labor group coalition on Friday called on Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to review the Black List Order (BLO) following the mistreatment of a Japanese trade unionist upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Wednesday afternoon.

Labor coalition Nagkaisa also scored the personnel of the Bureau of Immigration for violating the rights of trade unionist Katsuhiro Sato.

"The biggest coalition of labor groups and workers’ organization the Nagkaisa condemns the unjust, irresponsible, grave abuse of authority, and gross violation of basic human right to free movement, free assembly and right to free expression committed by the Bureau of Immigration in the implementation of its BLO following the illegal detention and deportation of trade unionist Katsuhiro Sato," the coalition statement said.

Allan Tanjusay of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said Sato is a member of the executive committee of Jichiro, the largest umbrella organization of local government unions in Japan.

"Upon reaching the Immigration counter, he was set aside, held and put under deportation proceedings on the whimsical basis of his joining international solidarity on free expression and free assembly in Manila toward one-sided ADB (Asian Development Bank) policies in 2012," Tanjusay said.

"We call on the Department of Justice for the immediate removal of the name of Mr. Sato and all identified trade unionists in the BLO. In the same breath, it is also high time for DOJ Secretary Leila De Lima to conduct an immediate tripartite review of the criteria used in the qualification and the manner by which the BLO is implemented," he added. - By Dennis Carcamo (philstar.com)

Plastics industry stakeholders eye gradual shift to oxo-biodegradable alternative

The association of stakeholders in the plastics industry has proposed a gradual shift to an eco-friendly alternative to disposable plastic bags instead of phasing them out in one go.

Willy Go of the Philippine Plastics Industry Association (PPIA) made the suggestion at the technical working group hearing of the House ecology committee Thursday.

“Pagdating sa plastic na take-out bag or single-use bag, mas maganda kung i-phase out natin gradually, bigyan natin ng isang taon or panahong nakatakda para maubos ‘yung stocks, then mag-shift tayo sa oxo-biodegradable na plastic,” he said.

Go described oxo-biodegradable plastic bags as a cheap but more environmentally-friendly alternative to existing single-use plastic bags as it is only two to three percent more expensive than non-biodegradable plastics.

Due to its composition, oxo-biodegradable plastic bags degrade much quicker than its non-biodegradable counterpart, which can take hundreds of years to disintegrate to smaller pieces.

For his part, Jeremiah Sebastian of the Pollution Control Association of the Philippines suggested putting a minimum percentage of recycled component in manufactured plastic bags to entice manufacturers to buy used plastic bags.

“Since a minimum recycled component is required, magkakaroon ng demand for recycled plastic bags as a resource,” he said.

Sebastian observed that disposable plastic bags are considered low-value by the public in general because there is little value in recovering it.

Plastic bottles, in contrast, are deemed high-value by the several people since they can be sold to junk shops, he said.

“If we put some sort of value in plastic bags— such as it’s recyclable—and people realize there’s a value in recovering it, they’d eventually collect it by themselves,” Sebastian said.

At least five bills have been filed in the House of Representatives seeking to ban the sale and use of disposable plastic bags in business establishments. One of the proposals, House Bill 3153 authored by Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza, prohibits the importation, sale and use of plastic bags thinner than 15 microns.

Under Mendoza’s measure, establishments that use thin plastic bags, or those that do not provide an in-store plastic bag recycling program or require a deposit for the use of plastic bags face a penalty ranging from P100,000 to P500,000 depending on the number of times an offense has been committed.

House Bill 5379 filed by Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrellita Suansing, meanwhile, proposes to require retail stores that provide plastic bags to implement a plastic bag collection and recycling program.

The proposed “Plastic Bag Recycling Act” provides that stores giving out plastic carry-out bags to consumers as part of a purchase at retail will be required to establish an in-store recycling program for consumers to be able to return the bags they used.

According to Suansing, four to five trillion plastic bags are used worldwide each year, with billions ending up as waste that takes hundreds to thousands of years to disintegrate. — By XIANNE ARCANGEL, GMA News ELR

Labor, advocacy groups ramp up campaign vs BBL

THE country’s largest confederation of labor associations and an advocacy group composed of nine major organizations nationwide have called on President Benigno Aquino 3rd to stand up and come out in defense of the grieving families of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos who were brutally killed by joint forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, on January 25.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa (TUCP-Nagkaisa), through its spokesman Alan Tanjusay, on Thursday challenged Aquino to seek from Congress suspension of deliberations on the controversial Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in deference to the shout for truth and justice by a mourning nation.

The BBL, if enacted into law, would pave the way for the creation of a Bangsamoro autonomous region,

“What we expected the President should have done is to directly respond to the growing but unaddressed deep-seated clamor for justice by suspending now the BBL deliberations both in the Senate and in the House of Representatives,” Tanjusay said.

The suspension of deliberations on the BBL, he added, should stay until the MILF has shown its sincerity regarding the peace process by surrendering Addul Basit Usman and other MILF commanders and Islamic fighters involved in the Mamasapano incident.

The MILF, Tanjusay said, should also return all government-owned firearms, cellphones and other personal belongings of the fallen commandos, and destroy their munition factory.

Usman is the right hand man of expert bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, who was killed by the SAF assault team during the January 25 operation.

He was with Marwan at the time but was able to escape.

The Senate Committee on Local Government, headed by Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has suspended its deliberations on provisions of the BBL, but its counterpart at the House of Representatives is yet to follow suit.

The TUCP also urged the MILF to join the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in crushing the BIFF, a supposedly breakaway group of the MILF.

“Genuine expression of sympathies and condolences about the incident is accompanied by overt acts of good faith. If they desire the Filipino people to continue to trust that they (MILF leaders) deserve to lead the Bangsamoro aspiration for an autonomous region, then they should show sincerity first by bringing BIFF militants as quickly as possible to the fold of justice,” Tanjusay said.

The Ang Katipunan ng mga Samahang Maharlika (Ang KaSaMa Inc.) further prodded Aquino to junk the BBL and arrest Jemaah Islamiya terror cell leader Usman to prove that the Philippine government is not negotiating with terrorists.

The Ang KaSaMa Inc. is an advocacy group of nine major organizations from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao that is lobbying against passage of the BBL.

“The BBL has nothing to do with the peace and order situation in Mindanao because the Christians and Muslims in the region are long-time friends. It is only the separatist and terror groups that are causing trouble,” its national coordinator Deo Palma said in an interview.

“We believe that the BBL will not succeed because the (MILF) is not sincere in the peace process,” Palma added.

The MILF that is talking peace with the government, according to him, is the same MILF that has been coddling Marwan and Usman since 2001, according to Palma, who explained that this information came from one of his close friends working with the Military Intelligence Group based in Mindanao.

Palma said Marwan and Usman cannot continue with their recruitment activities in Mindanao without the MILF’s support.

He added that the two terrorists have used various MILF camps in Maguindanao, Jolo (Sulu), Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte to train their recruits in bomb-making.

The MILF has also intensified its recruitment of young blood as second liners for their ideological fight without the knowledge of the government while the peace negotiations are ongoing, Palma said.

His sources also revealed that the high-caliber firearms and other personal belongings taken from the 44 commandos “will not be surrendered because the BIFF and MILF have already divided the loot among themselves.”

Meanwhile, Johnny Siao, the Moro National Liberation Front chief of the National Border Command, said most of his contacts at the MILF camp have told him that they will not surrender their firearms.

“They (MILF) believe in the peace agreement with the Philippine government but they will not follow orders for them to surrender their firearms,” Siao added.

He said the problem with the MILF hierarchy is that they have no control over their field commanders. - by JERRY N. ADLAW AND WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL / Manila Times

House passes bill preventing and controlling pollution from ships

The House of Representatives approved Monday night on third and final reading a measure that will prevent and control pollution from ships.

Rep. Amado S. Bagatsing (5th District, Manila), chair of the House Committee on Ecology, said House Bill 5377 should harmonize institutional arrangements concerning marine pollution and strengthen as well as complement the enforcement of existing related laws on marine pollution.

"The measure shall prevent or minimize marine pollution covering oily substances, harmful and toxic substances, garbage, sewage and other pollutants coming from ships and floating structures," Bagatsing said.

The measure also aims to implement the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from ships or Marpol 73/78, including its annexes and subsequent amendments, Bagatsing added.

The measure, to be known as "Prevention of Pollution from Ships Act," shall cover Philippine ships, wherever they may be found, and foreign-flagged ships, whether or not they are registered with state parties to the Convention.

It creates the Marine Pollution Adjudication Board with quasi-judicial powers to adjudicate marine pollution cases.

The measure streamlines jurisdiction, responsibilities and functions of Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

MARINA is vested with the right to exercise jurisdiction and regulatory control over Philippine ships.

PCG is given the sole and exclusive responsibility to enforce environmental pollution regions and standards over all ships operating within Philippine waters, ports and terminal facilities or harbors.

With corresponding penalties, the measure defines prohibited acts, among others, the discharge of oil, oily mixture, noxious liquid substances, and other harmful substances in packaged form, sewage, garbage from any Philippine ship or any other ship while within Philippine waters.

House Bill 5377 substituted House Bills 99, 484, 861, 947, 1932, 2664, 2967 and 3204 of Reps. Douglas Hagedorn (3rd District, Palawan), Rodolfo Biazon (Lone District, Muntinlupa City), Lawrence Lemuel Fortun (1st District, Agusan Del Norte), Francisco Ashley Acedillo (Party List, Magdalo), Gary Alejano (Party List, Magdalo), Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2nd District, Pampanga), Diosdado Macapagal Arroyo (2nd District, Camarines Sur), Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City), Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. (Party List, ABAMIN), and Raymond Democrito Mendoza (Party List, TUCP). -  Jazmin S. Camero, Media Relations Service-PRIB - congress.gov.ph

Palace urges lawmakers to resume BBL hearings

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang yesterday appealed to lawmakers to continue their deliberations on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law and give peace a chance in Mindanao.

The appeal was made after Congress suspended hearings on the BBL in the wake of public outrage over the killing of the 44 Special Action Force policemen by Muslim rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last month.

“Certainly, the Mamasapano incident has created an effect on the deliberations to the Bangsamoro Basic Law. But, as the President said...we cannot lose focus on our fight for peace,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said over radio dzRB.

Lacierda said President Aquino, in a televised national address on the Mamasapano incident last Friday, called on the people to remain focused on the government’s primary goal of attaining a widespread and lasting peace.

“This is what our Special Action Force has fought for in Mamasapano. This is what every decent Filipino who wishes to leave behind a better future for coming generations continues to fight for,” Lacierda said.

He said it was important that the proposed BBL was discussed because “this is our chance for peace in an area that has been marked by unrest.”

“So let us talk about the Bangsamoro Basic Law. Mamasapano already happened; accountability is being called for, but over and above accountability, we have to move forward further. We are now moving towards looking for accountability in what happened in Mamasapano. But also, there is a greater need for us to achieve lasting peace in Mindanao,” Lacierda said.

“So our plea to all our legislators: I know that all of us...long for peace. This is our time to find a better way...there’s a better chance for us for peace. The peace agreement has been signed. The Bangsamoro Basic Law is in your hands. Deliberate and let’s find a way to peace,” he said.

Asked if the President would talk to his allies in Congress about the proposed BBL, Lacierda said he was not aware of any plans.

But he said the sacrifices of the fallen SAF operatives would be wasted if there would be no peace in Mindanao.

Lacierda noted Aquino emphasized in his speech the fight for peace.

“So I am certain that the legislators know in their hearts that there’s a need for us to come up with an agreement and a law that would create a viable institution in Mindanao that can pave the way for peace and development, further development in Mindanao,” Lacierda said, quoting the President.

From the start, Lacierda said the President had been concerned about those who were against peace.

“From the start, there were always people who have been looking at opportunities to sow bigotry and panic and will try to take advantage of any situation. Again, that’s why there is a stress and emphasis from the President to remain focused on achieving peace in the region. So maybe there are people trying to stop the passage of the BBL, for one reason or another, but I think it is important for us to really focus on making sure that the SAF commandos did not die in vain,” he said.

Lacierda said the committee of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago was discussing the constitutionality of the BBL while the panel of Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was tackling other provisions.

“But, again, we are there. The peace panel is there; the executive branch is there; they presented the Bangsamoro Basic Law. And whatever concerns that the legislators may have, the executive branch...the peace panel(s)...are more than willing to discuss the provisions of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. Are there amendments? That would be discussed amongst them. That would be discussed between the peace panels and the legislators,” Lacierda said.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said President Aquino should make a stronger stand by suspending the BBL.

“What we expected the President should have done is to directly respond to the growing but unaddressed deep-seated clamor for justice by suspending now the BBL deliberations both in the Senate and in the House of Representatives,” TUCP spokesman Alan Tanjusay said.

He said the BBL should not push through until the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) surrenders all those involved in the Mamasapano incident.

Supporters, however, called on Congress and other stakeholders to support the passage of the BBL and the peace process in Mindanao.

Hundreds of peace activists on Friday walked barefoot for one hour around the 32-hectare compound of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in Cotabato City to drumbeat their desire for a peaceful resolution of the Mamasapano incident. – By Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star) With John Unson, Sheila Crisostomo

Labor puts the squeeze on Aquino

A big labor group has urged President Aquino to suspend the Bangsamoro Basic Law and put the Moro Islamic Liberation Front leadership to task in deference to the mourning nationwide and the search for truth and justice following the massacre of 44 policemen in Mindanao on Jan. 25.

“What we expected the President should have done is to directly respond to the growing clamor for justice by suspending now the deliberations on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law both in the Senate and in the House of Representatives,” said Alan Tanjusay, spokesman of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippine-Nagkaisa.

The MILF leadership, TUCP said, should also act on three things: (1) surrender to Philippine authorities Basit Usman including those MILF commanders and mujahideens involved in the killing, (2) return all government-owned firearms, cellphones and personal effects belonging to fallen policemen, and (3) destroy their munition factories for 50-caliber bullets.

Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, chair of the Senate Committee on Local Government, suspended the deliberations and discussions on the provisions of BBL.

The ad hoc committee in the House of Representatives who have made extensive public hearings and regional consultations on the BBL has not.

The TUCP said that these must be done within the last 16 months of his tenure and the pronouncement must come from Aquino himself before the Filipino people totally loses their faith in him.

The TUCP also urges the MILF to join the government’s Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in crushing the MILF breakaway group BIFF.

“Genuine expression of sympathies and condolences about the incident is accompanied by overt acts of good faith. If they desire the Filipino people continue to trust they (MILF leaders) deserve to lead the Bangsamoro aspiration for an autonomous region, then they should show sincerity first by bringing BIFF militants as quickly as possible to the fold of justice,” added Tanjusay.

The TUCP also supports the creation of an independent fact-finding truth commission that will determine what really happened, determine accountabilities, and make policy and operational responses and recommendations to the military and police chain of command, operations, and in performing law enforcement functions.

The TUCP is lobbying for social protection of 33,000 public service personnel affected by the transition upon dissolution of the ARMM and for the adoption of the Philippine Labor Code into the BBL. - By Vito Barcelo / Manila Standard Today

Malacañang: Give BBL a chance

MANILA, Philippines–Malacañang on Sunday urged lawmakers to give the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) a chance as this remains the most viable instrument to attain lasting peace in Mindanao.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda also appealed to the public to continue trusting President Aquino and the government reforms he had tried to institute following public outrage over the Mamasapano debacle that killed over 60 police commandos, Moro guerillas and civilians.

While Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” was neutralized in the operation, the police action nearly imperiled the peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation front (MILF).

“Certainly, the Mamasapano incident has… an effect on the deliberations on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). But, as the President said, we cannot lose focus on our fight for peace,” Lacierda said.

The peace agreement with the MILF is one of the cornerstones of the Aquino administration. The President has certified the BBL as one of his priority measures in Congress.

Some lawmakers have expressed apprehension over its passage as they blamed the MILF for the deaths of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos who took part in the operation.

But as relieved SAF commander Director Getulio Napenas himself admitted, he bypassed the cease-fire mechanisms of the government and the MILF because he did not trust the military and the Moro group.

“Hopefully, we can see the passage of BBL being mindful of what has happened. If you feel that there is some need to deliberate and some need to improve BBL, let us deliberate, but let’s not forestall the passage of an instrument that could contribute to lasting peace in Mindanao,” Lacierda said, addressing the lawmakers.

Passing the draft bill into law would also ensure that the SAF commandos did not die in vain, Lacierda said.

The MILF said 18 of their fighters and five civilians living in the community where the encounter took place were killed.

IP support

In Davao City, a group pushing for the inclusion of the indigenous people’s rights in the proposed BBL appealed to Congress not to suspend or abort its passage into law.

The Mindanao People Peace Movement (MPPM) said “sobriety and reason” should prevail because war will never be the solution to the problem that once again threatens the fragile peace in Mindanao.

“While the BBL is not without its flaws, we don’t believe that suspending or aborting the process is the wise thing to do,” said Rodelio Ambangan, MPPM chair and Jane Pesons, MPPM secretary general, in a statement.

“We should not make the BBL the sacrificial lamb as a consequence of the violence in Mamasapano,” Pesons said.

MPPM said the path of peace should be chosen in demanding justice for those who have fallen in the Mamasapano encounter.

“Ordinary people and communities have placed their hopes on this peace process especially now that the BBL is undergoing deliberations in both houses of Congress,” the statement said.

The group demanded an independent inquiry to look into the events surrounding the incident and determine accountability.

“We appeal to some politicians, public figures and the warmongers to refrain from issuing provocative statements instigating war,” MPPM said.

BBL suspension

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), meanwhile, urged President Aquino to suspend the BBL and put the MILF leadership to task for the Mamasapano debacle.

Alan Tanjusay, TUCP spokesman, said the President should have suspended the BBL deliberations both in the Senate and in the House of Representatives until the MILF surrenders to Philippine authorities Abdul Basit Usman and the MILF commanders involved in the killing of the 44 police commandos.–Nikko Dizon with additional reports from Tina Santos, Germelina Lacorte and Jeoffrey Maitem, Inquirer Mindanao

House approves bill ensuring workers' claims in case of employer's bankruptcy

The House Committee on Labor and Employment has approved for floor deliberation a measure that assures the wages and other monetary claims of workers in case of bankruptcy of employers even without formal declaration of insolvency.

House Bill 5308, which substituted House Bill 2547 authored by TUCP Party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza, amends Article 10 of Presidential Decree No. 442, as amended, otherwise known as the Labor Code of the Philippines. It was co-authored by Rep. Karlo Alexei B. Nograles, chairman of the labor and employment panel.

In Committee Report 530, the panel said the bill seeks to protect the rights of the workers to be the first lien in case of bankruptcy of the employer.

"It requires that in the event of bankruptcy of the employer, the workers should be given the first preference as regards their wages and other monetary claims," the committee said.

The bill likewise provides that such unpaid wages and other monetary claims shall be paid in full even without the formal declaration of bankruptcy or insolvency, the committee added.

According to Mendoza, workers are at a disadvantage when employers start non-payment of their wages, benefits and other entitlements in cases of employers' bankruptcy.

This should not be the case because the Philippine Constitution affirms "labor as primary social and economic force" and mandates the State to "protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare," Mendoza stressed.

"Presidential Decree No. 442, as amended, otherwise known as the Labor Code of the Philippines, declares as a State policy to afford protection to labor. One such protection to labor is to satisfy their claims against the employers' business," Mendoza said.

Mendoza said the bill seeks to uphold the provision of the Labor Code.

"Workers should be given first lien in case of bankruptcy to satisfy their money claims against the business. Such money claims should not require formal declaration of bankruptcy or insolvency to save workers and their families from slipping into the quagmire of mere subsistence or poverty," Mendoza said. - congress.gov.ph Media Relations Service-PRIB

House labor committee okays bill repealing Productivity Incentives Act of 1990

The House Committee on Labor and Employment has reported out for plenary deliberation a bill establishing a Productivity Improvement Program, repealing Republic Act 6971 otherwise known as the Productivity Incentives Act of 1990.

Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City), one of the authors of consolidated House Bill 5292, said more than ten years into the implementation of the law, only a handful of business enterprises have yet adopted the program due to certain restrictive provisions of the law that make it hard to implement.

"The measure addresses such concerns making a law more responsive to the situations prevailing in labor and employment," Rodriguez said.

Rep. Karlo Alexei B. Nograles (1st District, Davao City), committee chairman, urged his colleagues to support the passage of the bill.

"The measure shall encourage the formation of productivity incentives committees in business enterprises with the end of establishing productivity incentives programs that will provide schemes for measuring productivity, and sharing of productivity bonuses with employees," Nograles said.

Rep. Diosdado Macapagal Arroyo (2nd District, Camarines Sur), another author of the bill, said the government should protect the rights and promote the welfare of all workers as the primary social economic force.

Rep. Emmeline Aglipay Villar (Party-list, DIWA), also a co-author of the bill, said the "adoption of a productivity program will result not only in increased income for both the workers and the establishments; it will likewise make the Filipino workforce more competitive in international trade, thereby contributing to poverty reduction through job generation."

Under the measure, tax incentives to business enterprises that adopt a productivity incentives program for their employees shall be provided by granting a special deduction from the gross income equivalent to 50 percent of the total productivity bonuses given to the employees.

An additional special deduction shall also be provided from gross income equivalent to 50 percent of the total grants for manpower training and special studies given by business enterprises to their rank and file employees.

Priority training programs and services shall also be provided by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and partner government agencies to businesses adopting productivity incentives programs.

Productivity Incentives Program, duly ratified by the employees, shall contain, among others, provisions for measuring productivity and efficiency improvements, sharing of productivity bonuses, coverage, percentage sharing, forms of bonus payment, and manner and frequency of distribution, in accordance with the terms and conditions that may be agreed upon by both labor and management.

Other co-authors of the bill are Reps. Imelda Calixto-Rubiano (Lone District, Pasay City), Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2nd District, Pampanga), Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. (Party List, ABAMIN), Francis Gerald Abaya (1st District, Cavite), Christopher Co (Party List, AKO BICOL), Rodel Batocabe (Party List, AKO BICOL), Emil Ong (2nd District, Northern Samar), Angelina DL. Tan (4th District, Quezon), Leah Paquiz (Party List, ANG NARS), Maria Victoria Sy-Alvarado (1st District, Bulacan), Roy Señeres, Sr. (Party List, OFW), Emmi De Jesus (Party List, GABRIELA), Eric Olivarez (1st District, Parañaque City), Raymond Democrito Mendoza (Party List, TUCP), and Gustavo Tambunting (2nd District, Parañaque City).

- By: Jazmin S. Camero, congress.gov.ph Media Relations Service-PRIB Media Relations Service, Public Relations and Information Bureau

Collapsed high-rise floor kills 2

Accident site. This is an artist’s drawing of the 63-story Suites Presidential Tower on 5th Avenue and 28th Street in the Fort Bonifacio Global City where two workers were killed when one of its floors collapsed.

ONE floor of a 63-story residential tower under construction in the upscale Bonifacio Global City collapsed on Wednesday, killing two construction workers and injuring 11 others.

Nine of those injured were taken to the St. Luke’s Medical Center while the other two were brought to the Ospital ng Makati.

Most of the victims suffered arm, shoulder and back injuries.

It was not immediately clear what caused the floor at The Suites Residential Tower to collapse around 8:15 am, but there were claims the incident happened while cement was being poured into the floor.

“I had just left the building when it collapsed,” construction worker Edwin Suarez said.

Taguig City police chief Arthur Felix Asis said his men were now investigating the construction on 5th Avenue and 28th Street.

Based on its project profile, the single-tower residential building, owned by Ayala Land Premier, will consist of 284 residential suites and limited- edition Sky Collections rendered in two- to four-bedroom configurations.

The project will also feature Triple-A-grade office building and is intended to be home to top local and multinational companies. The Suites is right beside the new Hotel Shangri-La, Mind Museum, and the Unified Philippine Stock Exchange.

In a statement, Fort Bonifacio Development Corp. said it will provide assistance to the victims.

“The Bureau of Fire Protection of Taguig City is currently undertaking search and rescue operations,” the company said.

“We are still awaiting the official report on the number of casualties and currently investigating the cause of the incident. Rest assured that, together with MDC and Fastem, we will assist the families of the workers.”

The Department of Labor and Employment assured the families of the two workers who died and the others who were hurt of financial assistance and to hold the people accountable for the incident.

But the labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa blamed the Labor Department and local officials in the city for the incident. - By Joel E. ZurbanoWith Vito Barcelo

Taguig building collapses, 2 dead

CRUSHED Rescuers retrieve one of the bodies of two workers who died. Eleven workers were also injured in the incident. PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa (TUCP-Nagkaisa) has blamed the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) for the collapse of a building at the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig City (Metro Manila) that killed two construction workers and injured 11 others yesterday.

The Bureau of Fire Protection identified the dead as Ruben Racraquiam and Renato dela Cruz.
They were crushed by debris from the collapsed portion of The Suite Hotel, located on 5th Avenue and 28th Street. The hotel is under construction.

Taken to the St Luke’s Hospital Global City were Sandy Vargas, Jaymar Carberta, Regan Labmutin, Larry Magguray, Wendil Behim, Aldrin Gahuman, Roberto Lorca, Darwin Avara, Bernard Tugade, Jonathan Agoso and Delinger Abara.

DOLE representatives and building inspectors from the Taguig city government are conducting separate investigations, to determine liability of the contractors.

But the TUCP said the accident could have been prevented if inspections were conducted regularly before and after construction permits were issued.

“It was obvious that authorities overseeing building construction were napping,” Alan Tanjusay, spokesperson for TUCP, said.

He added that government officials must ensure that building owners and contractors are aware of rules and protocols in the construction of high-rise buildings. Tanjusay said building owners and contractors must also comply with the DOLE Rule 1414 on Scaffoldings of the 1989 Occupational Health and Safety Standards, which put the responsibility of the erection, installation and dismantling of scaffolds to a highly trained competent person called scaffold erector. - By Fernan Marasigan/Manila Times

2 dead, 11 hurt after portion of BGC building collapses

ACCIDENT. A portion of The Suite collapses. Photo by Josh Albelda/Rappler

Based on initial reports, part of the building collapsed while concrete was being poured on the upper floors, say authorities

MANILA, Philippines  – Two people were killed and 11 others were injured after a portion of a building under construction in Taguig City collapsed on Wednesday, February 4, reports said.

Taguig City fire marshal chief Inspector Juanito Maslang said that the two workers died after being crushed by debris from the collapsed portion of The Suite building, currently under construction at the corner of 5th Avenue and 28th Street at Bonifacio Global City.

The incident occurred around 8:20 am.

Maslang said that authorities from national agencies and the city government are now on site to check for possible safety lapses and violations.

The 63-residential tower is a project of Ayala Land Premier.

It will consist of 284 residential suites and is intended to be a mixed-use development, with space for local and multinational companies, according to its project profile.

Based on initial police reports, part of the building collapsed while concrete was being poured on the upper floors.

Police are currently conducting investigations at the construction site.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa blamed the Department of Labor and Employment and the Taguig City government for not ensuring incidents like this would be avoided.

"This workplace incident could have been minimized and prevented if they only performed their job particularly in conducting inspections regularly before and after issuing building and construction permits," Alan Tanjusay, spokesperson of TUCP, said in a statement.

"Government officials must ensure that building owners and contractors are aware of the rules and protocols in the construction of high-rise buildings particularly the DOLE’s Department Order 13 requirement checklist before issuing any permit," he said.

The requirements include construction safety and health programs, personal protective equipment, safety personnel, emergency occupational safety and health personnel and facilities, construction safety signages, safety on construction heavy equipment, construction safety and health committee, safety and health information, construction safety and health training, construction safety and health reports, and workers’ welfare facilities, TUCP said. – Rappler.com

Bill strengthening NLRC operations approved

The House Committee on Labor and Employment has reported out for floor deliberation a measure strengthening the operations of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) to enhance the just and expeditious resolution of labor disputes.

House Bill 5306, which substituted House Bill 3837 authored by Rep. Karlo Alexei B. Nograles, amends Articles 213 and 215 of Presidential Decree No. 442, as amended, otherwise known as the Labor Code of the Philippines. It was co-authored by TUCP Party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza.

The bill promotes the expeditious resolution of labor cases filed at the NLRC by providing the agency with more flexibility in the management of its manpower.

For one, it increases from a maximum of three to five the number of Commission Attorneys that can be assigned to the Office of the NLRC Chairman and each commissioner. The Commission Attorneys are the ones who assist the NLRC in its appellate and adjudicatory functions.

The bill also removes the provision that prohibits the Labor Arbiter from performing the work of the Commission Attorney or from being assigned to the office of any Commissioner.

Likewise, the bill eliminates the provision that restricts Labor Arbiters from holding office in the region where they reside.

According to Nograles, who chairs the House Committee on Labor and Employment, "labor relations is a very dynamic field of endeavor, thus, labor relations clime could change drastically and in a fast pace, dictated as it is by economic developments or situations in the industry, region, country and the world as well."

"Because of such realities, agencies with mandates related to management of labor relations such as the NLRC must be endowed with such degree of flexibility as to immediately adapt to varying industrial relations scenarios," Nograles said. - Media Relations Service-PRIB

TUCP blames DOLE for Taguig worksite mishap

Another construction site accident happened in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, killing two workers and injuring several others.

MANILA, Philippines - Labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa (TUCP-Nagkaisa) on Wednesday blamed the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for the accident at a construction site in Taguig City, which resulted to the deaths of two workers.

Several others were also injured after the scaffoldings collapsed at the construction site of The Suites Hotel at the Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City.

"Officials of the Department of Labor and Employment and the Taguig City officials are obviously sleeping on the job. This workplace incident could have been minimized and prevented if they only performed their job particularly in conducting inspections regularly before and after issuing building and construction permits.

"Halatang halata na natutulog sa pansitan ang mga tao tagapag-patupad ng mga batas at alintuntunin sa construction," said Alan Tanjusay, spokesperson of TUCP and policy advocacy officer of the Associated Labor Unions, the largest labor federation in the country.

He said that government officials must ensure that building owners and contractors are aware of the rules and protocols in the construction of high-rise buildings particularly the DOLE's Order 13 requirement checklist before issuing any permit.

These measures include the construction safety and health programs, personal protective equipment, safety personnel, emergency occupational safety and health personnel and facilities among others.

Tanjusay said building owners and contractors must also comply with the DOLE Rule 1414 on Scaffoldings of the 1989 Occupational Health and Safety Standards which put the responsibility of the erection, installation and dismantling of scaffolds to a highly trained competent person called scaffold erector.

The erector is certified by the Technical Skills Development Authority and employed by every project managers and owners of any construction projects.

The rules now requires workers on scaffoldings to be provided with fall arrest, fall protection and fall restrain harnesses to protect workers in the event of accidents and limits the use of bamboo scaffolds to painting and light construction work setting the maximum height allowed at six meters, Tanjusay added.

Tanjusay said the rules also require the materials used as scaffolds are quality tested by Department of Trade and Industry accredited testing institutions and not intermixed with other scaffolds materials in installing scaffoldings. - By Dennis Carcamo (philstar.com)

Garcia, 4 Cebu district reps wary of BBL

CEBU -- Four of nine district lawmakers from Cebu City and Province expressed support Monday for suspending deliberations on the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

While the four congressmen said they all support the search for peace in Mindanao, they also said the more urgent task now is to get to the bottom of what happened last January 25 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, where 44 elite policemen died in pursuit of a terrorist.

“I support the peace process. However, I have reservations on the BBL on constitutional grounds,” said Representative Joseph Ace Durano (Cebu Province, fifth district). “With the massacre of our SAF (Special Action Force) men, I have reservations now as well as on the sincerity and ability of the MILF to be a partner of the Philippine Government in bringing about lasting peace in Mindanao.”

Durano said he is keeping an open mind and hopes that the investigation will address all reservations about the BBL.

Questions

Former House deputy speaker Pablo Garcia, however, said that passing the BBL would be an exercise in futility.

He told the Senate hearing on the constitutional issues of the draft Bangsamoro law that the proposal is “palpably and incorrigibly unconstitutional.”

Among the questions raised against the BBL is that it would grant the Bangsamoro greater powers than those allowed the two autonomous regions identified in the 1987 Constitution, namely, the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Among others, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has also pointed out that a parliamentary government for the Bangsamoro cannot be created, while the rest of the country remains under a presidential form of government.

“The inconvenient yet fundamental and compelling truth,” Garcia said, “is that unless and until the Constitution is amended or revised by the Filipino people, Congress cannot, I’m sure, enact the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.”




‘Elementary justice’

Interviewed separately, Representative Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu Province, fourth district) said he, too, agreed with suspending deliberations on the BBL, until the country gets a clearer picture of what happened in Mamasapano.

“I join our fellow Filipinos in condemning the killing of our policemen,” Salimbangon said.

Representative Rodrigo Abellanosa (Cebu City, south) said that before the massacre in Mamasapano, he already saw that the BBL had too many objectionable provisions.

“The massacre of our law enforcers has enraged millions of Filipinos. It is now our collective mandate, not just of the lawmakers, to assume a keen, incisive and even a contemptuous attitude to the peace efforts proffered by the BBL proposal,” Abellanosa said.

What’s important, said Representative Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. (Cebu Province, first district), is that the rule of law must be upheld.

“We must remember that our lost heroes were there to enforce the rule of law and they were the very people who swore to keep peace. If we cannot commit to elementary justice, then we cannot commit to lasting peace,” Gullas said.

As of press time, district Representatives Gwendolyn Garcia, Wilfredo Caminero and Luis Gabriel Quisumbing had yet to respond to requests for their comments.

Assurance

Two other Cebuanos in Congress who represent party-list organizations also weighed in on the discussion.

Representative Raymond Democrito Mendoza said that TUCP Party-List remains committed to the search for peace in Mindanao.

“We are also committed to justice for the SAF 44. We will ensure that the BBL conforms to our Constitution and national laws. If we don’t work for peace now, the alternative will be another vicious form of warfare, such as that waged by ISIS,” Mendoza said.

According to initial reports, the skirmish last January 25 involved not only the SAF operatives against MILF troops, but also members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a breakaway organization that has previously expressed support for ISIS.

Representative Francisco Ashley Acedillo of Magdalo party-list said that the government should secure a commitment from the MILF that in case of future encounters with the BIFF or Abu Sayyaf, the MILF would order their fighters to disengage, whether it’s the police or the military that’s involved.

“The President must demand this from the MILF leadership,” Acedillo said.

“As commander-in-chief, President Aquino must share both in the successes and achievements of his troops, as well as with their failures and losses. Sadly in Mamasapano, it is the latter that he must bear as well,” said Acedillo, who served in the Air Force. - By Elias O. Baquero(With Sunnex/Sun.Star Cebu)