TUCP appeals to gov’t to provide P11,000 monthly wage subsidy to ‘new poor’ workers

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has appealed to the government to provide an P11,000 monthly wage subsidy to the “new poor” workers severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

In observance of Bonifacio Day Monday, the labor group sought financial aid for the millions of workers who lost their jobs as well as those forced into “no work, no pay” arrangement since the pandemic hit the country.

The monthly financial support is among the proposals seeking to improve workers’ welfare mentioned by the TUCP as the country commemorated the 157th birth anniversary of revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio. Other proposals to the government include increased infrastructure spending and economic stimulus programs to save and create jobs.

“TUCP notes that while there are financial assistance programs for the poorest-of-the-poor and Overseas Filipino Workers, clearly the formal sector workers are not being sufficiently supported. Millions have totally lost their jobs, millions more are on ‘no work, no pay’ arrangements. Other millions are now into job-sharing arrangements,” TUCP party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza said in a statement.

“We therefore call on the government to meanwhile provide for a monthly wage subsidy or monthly financial assistance of P11,000. These workers are no longer the emerging middle class. These workers are now the new poor,” the TUCP said.

Mendoza made the proposal after noting that companies could no longer subsidize their workers since they are also in dire straits.

He said extending financial aid to the workers will help stimulate economic growth due to the boost in consumption of goods and services. “This way, we keep our people alive, and keep our economy afloat,” he said.

The labor organization also urged the government to create job opportunities by pursuing massive infrastructure projects. Government spending on projects such as the national railways system, regional agri-industrial hubs, construction of farm-to-market roads must be intensified, the TUCP added.

“Putting our people back to work through public construction is the first step out of joblessness,” Mendoza said.

The TUCP likewise asked the government to increase the financial stimulus package to better help the economy recover from the pandemic.

The group noticed that the government had a smaller budget allocation for economic recovery, compared to other countries that set aside more than 5 percent of their gross domestic products (GDPs) to ensure their survival.

TUCP Vice President Luis Corral said the government should listen to the warning of business leaders who claimed that relaxing quarantine restrictions won’t be enough to stimulate economic growth.

“To our economic managers we say: Enough of wishful thinking. Aggressive government spending now at this crucial juncture is the order of the day to save Filipino lives, to save and create jobs, and to build back better, faster and in a more systematic, programmatic way,” Corral said. - by Genalyn Kabiling

TUCP laments poverty threshold may mislead policy making

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) expressed dismay over the poverty threshold standard released recently by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

TUCP President Raymond Mendoza (TUCP Party-List / MANILA BULLETIN)

“If we are going to use this as standard basis for our public and private policy to uplift our people from poverty, it would appear there is no sense of urgency in this poverty threshold standard amount set by the Philippine Statistics Authority,” said TUCP President Raymond Mendoza.

The PSA said that an amount worth P10, 481 is needed per month to meet the basic food and non-food items of a Filipino family of five members.

“In it, there are no prospects of hope for the millions of poor Filipinos. This standard is so low and it wants to keep our status quo as it is,” said Mendoza.

The labor leader lamented that “employers and business groups are also going to use this government standard amount to say there is no need for a significant wage increases particularly for minimum waged earners because minimum wages, as what this standard implies, are above the threshold.”

“This very low standard erases the need for wage boards to provide significant wage increases,” said Mendoza.

“It gives us the impression that ‘everything is okay’ and there’s no need for wage increases because minimum wages are higher than the minimum threshold,” he added. - By Analou De Vera

TUCP slams special envoy for labor twit

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines has urged the government to step up training of Filipino construction workers and increase their pay to stop foreign workers from taking the jobs.

At the same time, TUCP president Raymond Mendoza, who made the call amid the rise in foreign workers working in both private and public construction projects within the country, bashed Special Envoy to China Ramon Tulfo for saying Filipino workers were lazy and “slowpokes.”

.“Mr. Tulfo should have known these better than any of us because he was newspaperman all his life and he witnessed how workers highly contributed to the welfare of our country.”

“These statements are uncalled for, unpatriotic and acts of betrayal to his countrymen particularly to Filipino workers who built and continues to build our economy and the economies of other countries whether they work here or abroad,” Mendoza added.

Mendoza said the Filipino workers are known for their hard work and efficiency globally.

The labor group also observed that Filipino construction workers are being treated poorly, with meager salaries, inadequate social protection benefits, unsafe and unhealthy working places and dirty resting and living areas.

“Due to this low dignity, they opt to work abroad,” Mendoza said.

He said the government’s National Wages and Productivity Commission must exercise its mandate by conducting an immediate time-and-motion study on construction work to determine the need to raise salaries rate based on the labor-intensive construction job.

The TUCP also called on the Technical Education Skills Development Authority to work double time in conducting training and providing certification to workers in work sites even on Saturdays and Sundays.

There is also a need for the Department of Labor and Employment to re-examine the efficiency of government policy on labor-market test method in granting employment permits to foreign workers.


“Government must respond right away. It is high time to raise the salary and benefits of construction workers to keep them from working abroad. At the same time we have to modernize and certify more workers with multi-skills so that they can be qualified across the entire duration of the building project,” Mendoza said.

Citing government data, Mendoza said there are about four-million Filipino construction workers in the country but only about a million of them are certified and multi-skilled.

“And if they are already certified and gained enough work experience, workers prefer to work abroad because of higher salary, attractive benefits, and safer working conditions,” Mendoza said.

“Filipinos are skilled and possessed innate craftsmanship but are not certified to do the work but due to poor access to training and certification, so government institutions must step in and step up to minimize [the] influx of foreign workers,” Mendoza said.

“Filipino workers are not what Special Envoy Ramon Tulfo has said. World history, many governments, and countless private contractors and project owners are testifying that Filipino workers are world class working people,” Mendoza said.

“They are the most sought after type of workers compared to other nationalities because of their high quality of doing their work and because of their ingenuity, diligence, creativity and hard work they put into every task they are into,” Mendoza added.

Earlier, Tulfo said Filipino workers are not effective compared with the well-disciplined Chinese workers.

He said the influx of foreign workers in the country was due to employers’ preference.

Under fire, Tulfo refused to apologize, saying he was only telling the truth about Filipino workers. - by Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz

Shortage of construction workers traced to low pay, poor access to certification

TUCP President Raymond Mendoza
(TUCP Party-List / MANILA BULLETIN)

Low pay, meager benefits, unsafe and unhealthy working conditions, and poor access to certification are some of the causes of shortage of construction workers in the country, a labor group said.

“It’s true that we have shortage of construction workers. Though we have plenty of certified, skilled and world class construction workers but due to meager salary, poor benefits, unsafe and unhealthy working conditions, and lowly regarded workers they prefer to work abroad,” said Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) President Raymond Mendoza in a statement.

“After a few months of training and actual field experience here because they are dignified there, they are given higher salary and benefits there, and are given free decent housing and paid vacation,” he added.
The TUCP estimates that there are three million construction workers nationwide. However, only about one million of them are certified.

“We are currently experiencing “skill and brain drain” phenomenon because of this bad treatment of our construction workers. The nation is losing fast its vast and excellent reserves of construction manpower to higher pay and attractive benefits offered by companies abroad,” said Mendoza.

“We have a vast pool of highly, multi-skilled and fine craftsmen but also because of lack of training facilities and poor access to certification programs we do not tap them to become potentials for the country’s build, build, build programs. Many of them even have to pay, fall in long line and travel far just to access national certification,” he added.

The labor group proposed to raise the minimum wage of construction workers from the current P500 to P800 per day and improve their benefits.

“Construction workers even purchase their own personal protective equipment, buy their own drinking water, pay for their food, and given a dirty and bad sleeping quarters during the whole duration of the construction project,” said Mendoza.

Mendoza said that the government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ program can help raise the “dignity” of the construction workers.

“There seems to be no pride and no dignity being a construction worker nowadays. But President Duterte’s Build, Build, Build program is an opportunity to address that and raise the dignity of our construction working people through a functioning and sustained government policy,” said Mendoza. - By Analou De Vera

TUCP: Wage hike will help solve shortage of construction workers

In Photo: Workers out on a break at a construction site in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. 

The country’s largest labor group on Friday said a P300-wage hike will help solve the shortage of construction workers.

In a statement, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) President Raymond Mendoza attributed the lack of new workers in the construction industry to low pay.

“The TUCP is also proposing to raise the minimum wage for construction workers from the current minimum of P500 a day to a minimum P800 a day,” Mendoza said.

The labor leader said this should be coupled with better working and living standards of construction workers.

Due to their law pay in the country, TUCP said Filipino construction workers tend to look for employment opportunities abroad.

“We are currently experiencing ‘skill and brain drain’ phenomenon because of this bad treatment of our construction workers,” Mendoza said.

Also contributing to the scarcity of construction workers, TUCP said, is the lack accessibility of training facilities and access to certification programs for construction jobs.

“Based on different government statistics, the TUCP estimates there are 3 million construction workers nationwide and only around 1 million of them are certified,” Mendoza said.

TUCP issued the statement after President Rodrigo R. Duterte said in a speech last Thursday blamed labor shortage as one of the reason for the delays in the government’s numerous infrastructure projects under its Build, Build, Build program. - By Samuel P. Medenilla 

Duterte certifies ‘end to endo’ bill as urgent

He cited the need to immediately enact Senate Bill 1826, titled “An Act Strengthening Workers Right to Security of Tenure,” in a letter to Senate President Vicente Sotto III dated Sept. 21.

MANILA, Philippines — MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has certified as urgent a bill that seeks to prohibit contractualization and labor-only contracting, practices that he said are causing poverty and underemployment in the country.

He cited the need to immediately enact Senate Bill 1826, titled “An Act Strengthening Workers Right to Security of Tenure,” in a letter to Senate President Vicente Sotto III dated Sept. 21.

The President said the measure would strengthen workers’ security of tenure by prohibiting the “prevalent” practices of contractualization and labor-only contracting, describing these as something that “continue to immerse our workers in a quagmire of poverty and underemployment.”

“It is now certified urgent by the President, in line with his promise to put an end to endo (end of contract),” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said at a press briefing yesterday.

When the president certifies a bill as urgent, it will not be covered by the rule which states that a measure can only be approved on final reading three days after its approval on second reading.

The House of Representatives approved its version of the bill last January.

Roque said the Senate version aims to bar all forms of labor-only contracting and does not exempt contractors with huge capital.

Under the bill, there is labor-only contracting if the job contractor, whether licensed or not, merely recruits, supplies or places workers to a contractee, whether he has substantial capital or investment.

If the bill is enacted, companies would have to hire employees directly and could no longer source workers from employment agencies.

“This effectively repeals the provision of the Labor Code that permits labor-only contracting as long as the company has enough capital and assets,” Roque said.

Labor groups are becoming more optimistic that the country is closer to ending illegal short-term employment.

“We are near the goal. It’s closer than it has ever been, but we still have some work to do. The Senate has been given a directive to craft a law that will end contractualization. We must see this through and ensure that the proposed measure shall address the weaknesses of existing laws on security of tenure,” said labor coalition Nagkaisa chairman Sonny Matula.

He said the workers’ campaign to eradicate the endo scheme and other illegal forms of contractualization got a big push after Duterte certified the security of tenure bill as urgent.

“Labor’s persistence has so far paid off. Our relentless efforts have shown dividends. After more than two years, the Duterte administration has finally made a big step towards the fulfillment of a campaign promise,” Matula noted.

To ensure that legislators act on the certification, he said labor groups would mount more rallies to ask the lawmakers to pass the bill at the soonest time.“With the election season fast approaching, the Senate and House of Representatives, voting separately, are under pressure to ratify the harmonized version and submit the law for the President’s enactment,” Matula said. The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) also lauded Duterte for certifying as urgent the security of tenure (SOT) bill, which was already approved by Congress on third reading.

Gerard Seno, ALU-TUCP national executive vice president, said the certification of the SOT bill is definitely a positive vibe to workers whose morale has been low due to rising cost of living.“We pray that it will be passed by Congress consistent with the presidential promise instead of being watered down by the corporate vested interests which are overrepresented in Congress,” he said.TUCP party-list Rep. Raymond Mendoza said the certification from the President is an early Christmas gift for workers who continue to struggle in making both ends meet.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III claimed that DOLE has long recommended the need to certify the SOT bill as urgent.

“We are now looking forward to the better implementation of regulation ensuring security of tenure of workers with the expected passage of the SOT bill,” he said.Labor Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod hopes that the bill will be passed by November, if not early next year.– Alexis Romero (The Philippine Star) With Mayen Jaymalin

Labor group files P320 wage hike petition for Metro Manila workers

THE Philippines’ biggest labor group has filed a substantial P320 across-the board wage increase petition for the more than six million minimum wage earners in the National Capital Region (NCR) as inflation, which currently stands at 4.6 percent continues to erode the purchasing power of wages.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) filed the wage increase petition on Thursday before the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)-NCR following a careful study on the effects of the inflation rate to minimum wage earners in Metro Manila and elsewhere in the country.

“We call on President Duterte to lead from the front in the fight against poverty. We remind the President that the question of wage policy is first and foremost in the minds of people now. Added to this is the question of addressing the problem of inflation and the quest of all for decent jobs,” said TUCP president and partylist Rep. Raymond Mendoza.

The group pointed out that a P320 daily wage increase would bring the minimum wage in NCR to P832 from the existing P512 daily minimum wage to enable a family of five to survive.

NEDA Secretary Ernesto Pernia said that a family of five would need at least P42,000 a month to live decently, which is roughly equivalent to P1,400 daily income.

TUCP vice president Manuel Corral noted that P832 was still “survival wage” as it was way below the P1,400 projection of NEDA, giving the soaring prices of basic commodities and cost of services.

“That is still far from a decent daily wage but we will still appreciate it if the wage board will grant our present petition” he added. WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL

Nagkaisa hails passage of Security of Tenure Bill

SECURITY OF TENURE. The House of Representatives passes the security of tenure bill on 3rd reading. File photo by Ben Nabong/Rappler

Labor Coalition Nagkaisa! is satisfied over the passage on third reading of HB 6908 on the Security of Tenure at the House of Representatives.

Nagkaisa! said that “the SOT bill is a great improvement to existing legislation as it gives more teeth to the government by providing penalties for those who will violate the security of tenure laws.”

“This is the farthest a proposed law on SOT has gone for decades,” said Nagkaisa! “Now, it’s time to get the Senate moving on their proposed SOT measure.”

“HB 6908 gives more flesh and blood to the guaranteed right to security of tenure,” Nagkaisa! said. “It’s not perfect or ideal, but we can live with it,” said Nagkaisa!, the largest labor coalition in the country.

Fear of employers allayed

Nagkaisa! also addressed fears of employers who went on record saying that they will have a “big problem” if the proposed measure was passed. “If the big problem employers have about HB 6908 refers to the potential cutbacks in the windfall of profits a number of employers have been amassing through the massive abuse of workers via contractualization for decades, the bill intends to do just that,” Nagkaisa! said. “Employers who do not abuse workers through contractualization have nothing to fear,” Nagkaisa! added.

“Never in the history of employment relationship in the country has workers enjoying regular employment and implementation of strict rules in labor contracting been detrimental to the economy and job generation,” Nagakaisa! said.

“Job generation is a function of the development of sectors of the economy influenced by economic policies of the government, and not by labor contracting practices,” Nagkaisa explained.

A “serious problem” employers noted is that if the SOT bill becomes a law, it will be detrimental to the economy and job creation. Nagksaisa! countered the argument. “Workers with regular employment generate more income, thus, with more purchasing power contribute to increasing demand in goods and services that lead to higher income taxes and VAT for the government. These are all good for the economy,” said Nagkaisa.

“The fear that the HB can lead to unemployment is only possible if they are not paying their contractual employees what the law currently demands. In other words, their argument is an admission that they are doing business at the expense of workers’ rights – and they want to continue doing so,” Nagkaisa! added.

The recent statement by the employers didn’t specify which provisions of the bill they strongly disagree with.

Nagkaisa! said it was grateful to Labor Committee Chair Rep. Randolph S. Ting  who steered the discussions and Rep. Raymond Mendoza of TUCP Partylist and Rep. Tom Villarin of Akbayan Partylist who co-authored the SOT Bill and helped defend it together with Nagkaisa.

Labor group welcomes House bill vs. “endo”

PASSED ON 2ND READING

Rappler photo

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) welcomed on Thursday the passage of House Bill 6908, or the proposed “Security of Tenure Act,” on second reading at the House of Representatives.

While it does not completely eradicate the practice of “end of contract” or “endo,” TUCP president and Rep. Raymond Mendoza said the bill paves the way for stringent hurdles before a job contractor can register. It also imposes heavier fines for violators.

HB 6908 makes it easier to declare a contractor as practicing illegal “labor-only” contracting or LOC.

A contractor can be deemed as engaging in endo based on any of the following criteria: no substantial investment, tools or equipment; and no handle on workers’ methods and means of accomplishing work.

“If declared LOC, the principal employer shall be responsible to the workers as if he directly employed them,” Mendoza noted.

“Under the proposed bill, it will be simpler to go after the contractor. This will ensure regularization of anywhere from 2 million to 6 million workers,” he said.

Fixed-term employment and further subcontracting work that has already been contracted out will be prohibited.

Mendoza said the TUCP wants workers to be regularized under the principal employer, not under the agency or contractor.

“The agency is only the vehicle used by the employers to avoid their legal, social and financial obligations towards their workers. We all need to help regularize more workers to make our society more fair and equitable,” he said.

TUCP also welcomed Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III’s announcement that President Rodrigo Duterte will soon issue an executive order against endo.

Passed on January 23, HB 6908 makes both the employer and contractor liable if the contractor fails to pay the wages, allowances, and benefits of employees.

The bill also requires “just cause” to terminate the services of a regular employee. It defines an employee as one hired for an indefinite period.

Relievers, project, and seasonal employees will also get the same rights as regular employees during their contract period. —Rie Takumi/VDS, GMA News

Labor groups hope Duterte’s new EO will ban all forms of contractualization

Workers putting a final retouch to the building construction at the Global City. (photo by: NONOY LACZA)

The country’s largest labor groups are hoping that a new executive order (EO) set to be signed by President Duterte this month will finally prohibit all forms of contractualization, as what they sought in their draft EO that was submitted to Malacañang last year.

“The EO must end abusive contractualization, reverse the epidemic of contractual work, bring about inspections and punishment of workplace violators and ensure regularization of millions of workers,” Party-list Rep. Raymond T. Mendoza of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said.

Mendoza issued the statement following the announcement of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday that the new EO approved by labor and employer’s groups is expected to be signed by Duterte before the end of the month during his meeting with labor leaders.

In a phone interview, Labor Undersecretary Joel B. Maglunsod said they already invited at least 25 labor leaders to participate in the meeting with Duterte.

This was confirmed by Associated Labor Union-TUCP Spokesman Alan Tanjusay, who said their association will be among the groups that will send a representative to the said dialogue. “However, the invitation still has no specified date,” Tanjusay said.

The DOLE earlier said the current draft of the new EO will still allow the practice of contractualization, but prohibit labor-only contracting and subcontracting.

Mendoza, who is also a member of the labor coalition Nagkaisa, maintained that allowing contractualization is a violation of the campaign promise made by Duterte to eliminate the controversial work scheme.

“We in TUCP and the Nagkaisa labor coalition request that both Malacañang and the DOLE listen carefully to workers so that the EO to be signed by President Duterte faithfully reflects his oft-repeated campaign promise to free millions of Filipino workers from the bondage of oppressive and unjust short-term work,” Mendoza said.

Tanjusay said they already requested for a copy of the EO on contractualization to check if it is consistent with their draft, which they submitted to the Office of the President last year. The new EO was supposed to augment or replace DOLE’s Department Order 174, which was implemented last year.

It was opposed by labor groups for still allowing the practice of contractualization, but subject to more regulation. Tanjusay said they plan to contest the content of the EO if it will still allow contractualization. - By Samuel P. Medenilla

How safe are our malls? TUCP seeks DOLE-BFP joint fire safety inspections nationwide

Otto van Dacula via Reuters

MANILA – The Philippine economy has been growing the past several years on the back of continued robust consumption, fueled in turn by the proliferation of malls nationwide, but how safe are these malls?

The safety question was raised at the weekend by the biggest labor federation in the Philippines, as authorities struggled to put out the second major mall fire in just over two weeks.

Firefighters in Cebu City grappled at the weekend with the blaze that hit the Ayala Mall, even as authorities in Davao City had just pulled out the last body of the 38th victim in the Dec. 23 NCCC mall fire in the southern Mindanao City.

Alarmed over what it called the mall owners’ gross violations of fire safety and healthy and safe workplace regulations that caused the death of workers and put at risks the lives of mall shoppers, labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Sunday called for a joint fire safety audit of malls nationwide.

It cited violations of NCCC Mall and SSI call center to fire safety codes and non-compliance with occupational safety and health regulations.

All of the 38 fatalities in the Davao fire were call center agents working for the US-based SSI firm, which leased space at the mall. Some quarters had questioned the wisdom of allowing call centers – which run 24 hours – to occupy space at the malls, which go into lockdown mode at night and limit entrances and exits for security reasons.

TUCP President Raymond Mendoza said a nationwide inspection to be conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) will greatly minimize fires in malls.

“It is outrageous to see another fire taking place in Metro Ayala mall and Gaisano mall in Cebu City when just 15 days ago 38 workers perished in NCCC Mall fire in Davao City. These are not isolated incidents. There is a widespread violation of malls owners to fire safety standards and compromise the safety of mall goers and well-being of mall workers to cut costs and make bigger profit for themselves,” Mendoza said.

“The ongoing Metro Ayala Mall and the Gaisano mall and the NCCC Mall fires are symptoms of the wanton disregard of department store owners to go around our building safety laws and ignore workplace policy on workers’ health and safety. We have to find out other malls nationwide how safe or how fire-risks these are,” he added.

According to Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) spokesman Alan Tanjusay, the joint DOLE-BFP safety audit inspections could be conducted immediately to coincide with the forthcoming dry season when most fire incidents happen. March is traditionally marked as Fire Prevention Month, but it’s also that time of year when many fires occur.

“Fire safety audit to all malls is important because workers work here and children, old folks and entire families consider malls as home. It is the place for work, recreation and business. Malls have become very important place in the community, but how safe is our malls in the light of these twin mall fatal fire incidents? Tanjusay asked. - News5-InterAksyon

Labor group calls for joint fire safety audit of malls nationwide

Manila Bulletin photo

Alarmed by the alleged violations of mall owners to fire safety codes and noncompliance to occupational safety and health regulations, labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has called for a joint fire safety audit of malls nationwide.

In a statement, TUCP president Raymond Mendoza said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) should conduct a nationwide inspection to greatly minimize fire incidents in malls.

“It is outrageous to see another fire incident taking place in Metro Ayala mall and Gaisano mall in Cebu City when just 15 days ago 38 workers perished in NCCC Mall fire in Davao City,” he said.

Mendoza believes these are not “isolated incidents.”

“There is a widespread violation of mall owners to fire safety standards and compromise the safety of mall goers and well-being of mall workers to cut costs and make bigger profit for themselves,” he said.

Mendoza said the ongoing Metro Ayala Mall and the Gaisano mall and the NCCC Mall fires are symptoms of the wanton disregard of department store owners to go around the building safety laws and ignore workplace policy on workers’ health and safety.

“We have to find out other malls nationwide how safe or how fire-risks these are,” Mendoza said.

Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) spokesman Alan Tanjusay stressed the importance of conducting fire safety audit inspections in malls, which some Filipinos consider as home.

“Fire safety audit to all malls is important because workers work here and children, old folks and entire families consider malls as home. It is the place for work, recreation and business,” he said.

Malls have become very important place in the community, but how safe is our malls in the light of these twin mall fatal fire incidents? Tanjusay asked.

ALU-TUCP said the joint DOLE-BFP safety audit inspections should be conducted immediately in view of the forthcoming dry season when most fire incidents happen. - By Leslie Ann Aquino

House oks ending "endo"

The House committee on labor and employment moved a step closer towards the passage of the much-awaited bills seeking to end the practices of contractualization and de-regularization of workers by approving the creation of a technical working group (TWG) that will consolidate all 25 measures pertaining to “endo.”

In a hearing held this week which was presided by committee chairman Rep. Randolph Ting (3rd District, Cagayan), the panel approved the creation of the TWG that will consolidate House Bills 55, 76, 170, 341, 556, 563, 709, 712, 895, 916, 1045, 1208, 1351, 1563, 1837, 1857, 1910, 2389, 3556, 3769, 3802, 4443, 4444, 5130 and 5264 which seek to strengthen the security of tenure of workers in the private sector by ending the practices of contractualization and de-regularization.

TUCP Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza

Ting said the TWG will use as reference in the TWG discussions House Bill 4444 authored by Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza (Party-list, TUCP), HB 556 by Rep. Ariel Casilao (Party-list, ANAKPAWIS) and HB 3556 by Rep. Mark Go (Lone District, Baguio City).

As to the composition of the TWG, Ting said this will include the authors of the bills, representatives of the different labor groups, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and other concerned agencies.

Mendoza said his bill aims to totally prohibit contracting, sub-contracting, manpower agency hiring, outsourcing, including those undertaken by so-called service cooperatives engaged in manpower supply.

“All workers must be treated as regular employees, doing away with other types or definitions of employment. Moreover, contractualization clashes with the principle of social justice enshrined in our Constitution and must therefore be criminalized. Thus the bill provides penal provisions against violators,” said Mendoza.

Casilao said alongside the Duterete administration’s plan to abolish contractualization, the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and All Workers’ Unity have been demanding the end of contractualization schemes, a fundamental workers’ agenda presented to President Duterte since the campaign in 2016.

“With the end in view of uplifting the Filipino workers from deepening poverty and misery, prohibiting contractualization fundamentally shall protect the national interest and democratic ideals of Filipino society,” said Casilao.

Go said cases of violation on the prohibition on labor-only contracting and what is commonly called as “5-5-5” or “endo” have become rampant and unabated despite the provisions of the Labor Code and its implementing rules, DOLE Department Order 18-A.

“The guiding principles of DO 18-A provide: Contracting and sub-contracting arrangements are expressly allowed by law and are subject to regulations for the promotion of employment and the observance of the rights of workers to just and humane conditions of work, security of tenure, self-organization and collective bargaining. My bill seeks to regulate outsourcing of work by providing conditions for its practice and penalties for any violation,” said Go.

Go further said his proposal also seeks to resolve recurring problems in the practice of contractualization and to achieve a “win-win” solution for both the employees and employers, and as partners in attaining sustainable growth and development for the country.

The various labor groups and organizations and concerned agencies voiced out their respective position on the bills during the hearing. They also submitted their position papers to the committee.

The Associated Labor Unions (ALU)-Southern Mindanao and Northern Mindanao Region Offices, along with the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) and the NAGKAISA Labor Coalition strongly called for the total prohibition of labor contractualization in all its forms.

The ALU-TUCP-NAGKAISA said there are 13 million contractual workers out of the 43.7 million workforce in the country. It is time to reverse the trend so that there will be more regular workers receiving the social benefit obligations due them from the employers, it said.

The group said the epidemic scale of contractualization is the primary reason why the soaring Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth numbers has not resulted in inclusive development. “There is a widening of the gap in income inequality because workers under contractualization are not given their SSS, Pag-IBIG, and PhilHEALTH benefits. And because regularization is not possible, they cannot organize unions through which they can bargain to get a fair share of the wealth they created,” the ALU-TUCP-NAGKAISA said.

The Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa or SENTRO, representing at least 80,000 members in the private, public and informal sectors, including migrant workers, women and the youth, expressed its support for proposals pertaining to “endo”, specifically HB 4444.

“The years spent by the government trying to regulate subcontracting has failed to protect workers. The reason is simple: indirect employment inherently results in inequity,” said SENTRO in its position paper.

Meanwhile, Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III, in a position paper, said the DOLE is not inclined to support the call for a total prohibition on contractualization because of its adverse effects on employment opportunities and industry competitiveness.

Bello said the practice of contracting and subcontracting is also a problem in other developed and developing countries, amidst intensified competition among firms due to globalization.

“The DOLE does not recommend ending contractualization as a practice. The Department, however, fervently believes that its abuse should be stopped and be meted with stricter or stiffer penalties, which can be made possible through legislation. Contractualization should not be allowed under abusive terms such as in labor-only contracting, which as defined in the Department Order No. 174, series of 2017, has the following nature or condition: The contractor or subcontractor has no substantial capital or does not have investments in the form of tools, equipment, machineries, supervision, work premises, among others; and the contractor’s or subcontractor’s employees recruited and placed are performing activities which are directly related to the main business operation of the principal; or the contractor’s or subcontractor’s employees recruited and placed are performing activities which are directly related to the main business operation of the principal,” said Bello.

Meanwhile, Maria Lourdes Yaptinchay, director of the Sector Planning Bureau (PB) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in a position paper submitted to the committee, said they are of the view that flexible work arrangements such as legitimate outsourcing and contracting-out work should remain and continue.

“Outlawing job contracting in general may not be in the best interest of our business and the economy. It may lead to the demise of legitimate contractors, which approximately employ 416,343 workers. Local companies/ business would, therefore be forced to directly employ workers to do the work that were previously contracted-out to manpower or contracting agencies, thereby increasing production/overhead cost by at least 30 percent which will lead to higher prices of goods,” said Yaptinchay.

The other authors of the bills seeking to end contractualization are Reps. Kaka Bag-ao, Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, Karlo Alexei Nograles, Tom Villarin, Winston Castelo, Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, Angelina Tan M.D., Harry Roque Jr., Emmi De Jesus, Carlos Isagani Zarate, Aniceto Bertiz III, Bernadette Herrera-Dy, Sol Aragones, Linabelle Ruth Villarica, Joseph Stephen Paduano, Arthur Yap, Manuel Zubiri, John Marvin Nieto, Sherwin Tugna, and Anthony Bravo. / Congress Press RBB

TUCP nominee takes oath as new House member

TUCP Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza

The nominee of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) party-list on Wednesday took his oath as the latest member of the House of Representatives.

During the day's plenary session, Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Fariñas informed the chamber of its receipt of a Commission on Elections certificate of proclamation issued October 3, 2016, declaring the TUCP as a winner in last May 9's party-list elections.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez then called up TUCP nominee Raymond Democrito Mendoza to take his oath of office.

Mendoza, who is from Barangay Poblacion in Liloan, Cebu, becomes the 295th name to be added to the roll of members of the House of Representatives. He was surrounded by fellow congressmen from Cebu province during the oath-taking. — Mark Merueñas/KBK, GMA News

Bill allowing foreigners to join unions passed on 2nd reading

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a bill, allowing foreign individuals or organizations to join trade unions in the Philippines.

"The measure shall promote the solidarity of workers and their organizations, whether inside or outside the country, or both," Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, chairman of the sponsoring Committee on Labor and Employment said.

On the other hand, TUCP partylist Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza, author of House Bill 5886, said the Philippines should adhere to the principle of equal treatment of migrant workers and national workers as regards to trade union membership and collective bargaining.

The bill seeks to amend Presidential Decree 442 or the Labor Code of the Philippines.

"The right to self-organization is a universal human and worker's right. The Philippines recognizes the right to self-organization, with the ratification of ILO (International Labor Organization) Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association," Mendoza said.

Under the measure, all aliens, natural or juridical, as well as foreign organizations with valid permits issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), may engage directly or indirectly in all forms of trade union activities but only through normal contacts between Philippine labor unions and recognized international labor centers.

Foreign workers in the country with valid permits issued by the DOLE may exercise the right to self-organization and join or assist labor organizations of their own choice for purposes of collective bargaining.

The bill also provides that foreign individuals, organizations or entities may give donations, grants or other forms of assistance, in cash or in kind, directly or indirectly, to any labor organization, group of workers or any auxiliary, such as cooperatives, credit unions and institutions engaged in research, education or communication, in relation to trade union activities. - By Dennis Carcamo (philstar.com)

Framework for the comprehensive management of hazardous and radioactive wastes pushed

The House of Representatives is set to approve on third and final reading a bill that would formulate a framework for the comprehensive management of hazardous and radioactive wastes.

The House Committee on Ecology, chaired by Rep. Amado S. Bagatsing (5th District, Manila), endorsed and sponsored House Bill 5585, which substituted House Bills 86, 393, 826, 1059, 2585 and 3191 authored, respectively, by Reps. Ma. Lourdes Acosta-Alba (1st District, Bukidnon), Susan A. Yap (2nd District, Tarlac), Marcelino R. Teodoro (1st District, Marikina City), Neptali M. Gonzales II (Lone District, Mandaluyong City), Douglas S. Hagedorn (3rd District, Palawan), and Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza (Party List, TUCP).

"Despite all our laws scattered in different enactments and decrees, we need a comprehensive and consolidated law that will provide us with an effective hazardous and radioactive waste management framework, which would require an inter-agency coordination both in the national and local government to oversee and make inventory of hazardous waste creators and treatment, storage and disposal facilities," Yap said.

According to Yap, there are several laws on the management of hazardous and radioactive wastes. These include Presidential Decree 1152 or "The Philippine Environmental Code," which provides a basis for an integrated waste management regulation starting from waste source to methods of disposal, mandates specific guidelines to manage municipal wastes, sanitary landfill and incineration, and disposal sites in the Philippines.

Yap also cited Republic Act 6969, the "Toxic Substances, Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act," which responds to increasing problems associated with toxic chemicals and hazardous and nuclear wastes, and Presidential Decree 984 (Pollution Control Law), PD 1586 (Environmental Impact Assessment System Law), RA 8749 (Clean Air Act); and RA9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act), which require hazardous waste management.

As for RA9003, Yap said while it was lauded as a landmark legislation on proper handling of solid waste, it only went as far as defining hazardous wastes and leaving the management to the Local Government Units (LGUs) without providing sufficient enough guidance for the law.

Yap said if only there was already a law on the proper management and disposal of hazardous wastes, the 1996 Marcopper mining disaster in Marinduque would not have happened. The tragedy was one of the largest mining disasters in Philippine history that made headlines around the world, she noted.

"The discharge of mining tailings into the Boac River instantly killed the 27-kilometer long river, decimated the fish and other biodiversity in the habitat, buried at least one village underneath a toxic mud, depriving tens of thousands locals of their livelihood," Yap said.

In 2004, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources ((DSWD) registered 3,801 hazardous wastes generators, which produce 226 million tons of hazardous wastes annually. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has estimated that, based on population projections, local healthcare waste could reach as much as 69.5 tons per day by 2050.

Just last July, the EcoWaste Coalition, an environmental non-government organization, raised the alarm on the presence of hazardous wastes dumped at Pier 18 of Manila composed of used computer hardware, chip boards, and cellular phones, which contain heavy metals that are toxic to humans.

"Our experience shows that a more comprehensive hazardous and radioactive wastes management is of extreme necessity in order to avert industrial disasters that could potentially destroy our environment and ecology, and ultimately, our people's health and safety," Yap said.

House Bill 5585, to be known as the "Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes Management Act," shall apply to the generation, possession, collection, recovery, reuse, storage, transport, treatment and disposal of hazardous and radioactive wastes in the country and shall cover the entry and transit into the Philippine territory of such wastes.

After formulating the criteria for identifying and listing of hazardous and radioactive wastes, the DENR shall prepare a National Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes Management Status Report (NHRWMS) in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) and other concerned agencies.

The NHRWMS Report shall be the basis in the preparation and formulating a framework that would embody the policies pursuant to the proposed Act.

The framework shall be adopted as the official blueprint for hazardous and radioactive wastes management with which all relevant government agencies must comply.

The measure creates an Inter-agency Technical Advisory Council for purposes of policy integration, harmonization and coordination of functions.

Aside from provisions of rewards and incentive schemes, the measure also provides liabilities, prohibitions, fines, damages and penalties, administrative sanctions, citizen suits and Strategic Legal Action Against Public Participation.

The DENR, the DOH and the PNRI, shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations, in consistent with other rules and regulations issued by relevant government agencies and instrumentalities relative to hazardous and radioactive wastes management.

In addition to its mandated functions, the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee created under Republic Act 9003 or the "Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000" shall also monitor the implementation of this proposed Act.

Co-authors are Reps. Christopher S. Co (Party List, AKO BICOL), Rodel M. Batocabe (Party List, AKO BICOL), Agapito H. Guanlao (Party List, BUTIL), CesarV. Sarmiento (Lone District, Catanduanes), Anthony G. Del Rosario (1st District, Davao Del Norte), Victoria G. Noel (Party List, AN WARAY), Emi G. Calixto-Rubiano (Lone District, Pasay City), Belma A. Cabilao (1st District, Zamboanga Sibugay), Dan S. Fernandez (1st District, Laguna), Mel Senen S. Sarmiento (1st District, Western Samar), Eric L. Olivarez (1st District, Paranaque City), Rolando A. Uy (1st District, Cagayan de Oro City), Napoleon S. Dy (3rd District, Isabela ), Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado (2nd District, Bohol), Evelina G. Escudero (1st District, Sorsogon), Sol Aragones (3rd District, Laguna), Ansaruddin A.M. A. Adiong (1st District, Lanao Del Sur), Cheryl P. Deloso-Montalla (2nd District, Zambales), Joseller M. Guiao (1st District, Pampanga), Imelda R. Marcos (2nd District, Ilocos Norte), Alex L. Advincula (3rd District, Cavite), Dakila Carlo E. Cua (Lone District, Quirino), Isidro T. Ungab (3rd District, Davao City), Thelma Z. Almario (2nd District, Davao Oriental), Carlos M. Padilla (Lone District, Nueva Vizcaya), Frederick F. Abueg (2nd District, Palawan), Pedro B. Acharon, Jr. (1st District, South Cotabato), Nicasio M. Aliping, Jr. (Lone District, Baguio City), Magnolia Rosa C. Antonino (4th District, Nueva Ecija), Rosa Marie J. Arenas (3rd District, Pangasinan), Leopoldo N. Bataoil (2nd District, Pangasinan), Silvestre H. Bello III (Party List, 1 BAP), Anthony M. Bravo (Party List, COOP NATCCO), Lawrence Lemuel H. Fortun (1st District, Agusan Del Norte), Gwendolyn F. Garcia (3rd District, Cebu), Ana Cristina Siquian Go (2nd District, Isabela), Anthony V. Gullas Jr.(1st District, Cebu), Fernando L. Hicap (Party List, ANAKPAWIS), Mark Llandro L. Mendoza (4th District, Batangas), Victor F. Ortega (1st District, La Union), Leah S. Paquiz (Party List, ANG NARS), Mariano U. Piamonte, Jr. (Party List, A TEACHER), Terry L. Ridon (Party List, KABATAAN), Roman T. Romulo (Lone District, Pasig City), Estrella B. Suansing (1st District, Nueva Ecija), Randolph S. Ting (3rd District, Cagayan), Eulogio R. Magsaysay (Party List, AVE), Julliette T. Uy (2nd District, Misamis Oriental), Victor J. Yu (1st District, Zamboanga Del Sur), Sharon S. Garin (Party List, AAMBIS-OWA), Pablo R. Nava III (Party List, APPEND), Jonathan A. Dela Cruz (Party List, ABAKADA), Philip A. Pichay (1st District, Surigao Del Sur), Henry S. Oaminal (2nd District, Misamis Occidental), and Arthur R. Defensor, Jr. (3rd District, Iloilo).

SOURCE: Jazmin S. Camero, Media Relations Service-PRIB Media Relations Service, Public Relations and Information Bureau

House bodies approve bill creating a regulatory framework for LPG industry

LPG cylinder

The House Committees on Energy and Trade and Industry have reported out for floor deliberation a measure seeking to establish a regulatory framework for the safe operations of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) industry.

House Bill 5617, which substituted House Bill 396 authored by Rep. Susan A. Yap (2nd District, Tarlac) and House Bill 756 filed by Rep. Arnel U. Ty (Party-list, LPGMA), also sets standards of conduct and codes of practice for the industry.

Hon. Susan A. YapYap said the measure, to be known as the "LPG Industry Regulation and Safety Act," would address quality and safety concerns and uphold the rights of consumers to freely choose the LPG brand they want to purchase.

"The LPG industry has already marked a significant portion in the market due to its high demand. Operating under a regulated downstream oil industry structure, it allows its market participants to engage in unfair and unsafe trade practices, hurting consumers and to a large extent, causing negative externalities to society," Yap said.

The measure establishes a regulatory framework for the importation, refining, refilling, transportation, distribution and marketing of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and the manufacture, requalification, exchange and swapping or improvement of LPC cylinders.

It also creates the LPG Monitoring and Enforcement Task Force to assist the Department of Energy (DOE) in monitoring and compliance standards inspection, and in the exercise of other powers and functions necessary to give force and effect to the proposed Act.

The bill mandates the DOE to deputize the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the processing of the License to Operate for dealers and retailers, subject to the standards set in the proposed Act.

Under the bill, engaging in business without license to operate, engaging in business without accreditation, refusal or obstruction of inspection, failure to post license to operate, failure to submit reportorial requirements, illegal storage, failure to comply with product standards, adulteration, underfilling, illegal refilling, hoarding, unauthorized trading of LPG cylinders are prohibited and fined with a maximum of P500,000 for an individual and P1,000,000, for a corporation.

Upon prior consultation with the LPG industry participants and government agencies concerned, the DOE shall determine the mechanics, rules, and regulations needed for the implementation of a newly established Philippine LPG Cylinder Improvement Program with the objective of safeguarding and ensuring the safety of the consumers.

The measure also stipulates the monitoring and enforcement mechanisms for the LPG industry, specifically the reports and disclosures required to be submitted by the LPG industry participants to DOE, and the central database of LPG Industry Participants to be created by the DOE.

To enhance awareness among LPG consumers and end-users, the measure requires DOE and the DTI to disseminate information about the proposed Act.

A Joint Congressional Oversight Committee shall be created to monitor the implementation of the proposed Act.

The measure directs the effective coordination between the DOE and the DTI, and grants certain powers and functions to the DTI, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the local government units (LGUs) for the effective implementation of the proposed Act.

Aside from Yap, Ty and Reps. Reynaldo Umali (2nd District, Oriental Mindoro) and Mark Villar (Lone District, Las Piñas City), who chair the Committee on Energy and the Committee on Trade and Industry, respectively, other authors of the bill are Reps. Wilfredo Caminero (2nd District, Cebu), Walden Bello (Party List, AKBAYAN), Lawrence Lemuel Fortun (1st District, Agusan Del Norte), Felix William Fuentebella (4th District, Camarines Sur), Jesus Sacdalan (1st District, North Cotabato), Rosenda Ann Ocampo (6th District, Manila), Gwendolyn Garcia (3rd District, Cebu), Ann Hofer (2nd District, Zamboanga Sibugay), Celso Lobregat (1st District, Zamboanga City), Ma. Valentina Plaza (1st District, Agusan Del Sur), Rosemarie Arenas (3rd District, Pangasinan), Juliet Cortuna (Party List, A Teacher), Isagani Amatong (3rd District, Zamboanga Del Norte), Pryde Henry Teves (3rd District, Negros Oriental), Henedina Abad (Lone District, Batanes), Sherwin Tugna (Party List, Cibac), Silvestre Bello III (Party List, 1BAP), Michael Angelo Rivera (Party List, 1CARE), Isidro Ungab (3rd District, Davao City), Dakila Carlo Cua (Lone District, Quirino), JC Rahman Nava (Lone District, Guimaras), Mariano Piamonte, Jr. (Party List, A TEACHER), Leopoldo Bataoil (2nd District, Pangasinan), Leah Paquiz (Party List, ANG NARS), Juliette Uy (2nd District, Misamis Oriental), Jose Atienza, Jr. (Party List, BUHAY), Arthur Defensor, Jr. (3rd District, Iloilo), Jesulito Manalo (Party List, ANGKLA), Ronald Cosalan (Lone District, Benguet), Sonny Collantes (3rd District, Batangas), Arthur Yap (3rd District, Bohol), Antonio Lagdameo, Jr. (2nd District, Davao Del Norte), Jorge Almonte (1st District, Misamis Occidental), Raul del Mar (1st District, Cebu City), Cheryl Deloso-Montalla (2nd District, Zambales), Jonathan Dela Cruz (Party List, ABAKADA), Benhur Salimbangon (4th District, Cebu), Samuel Pagdilao (Party List, ACT-CIS), Raymond Democrito Mendoza (Party List, TUCP), Rogelio Espina (Lone District, Biliran), Jose Tejada (3rd District, North Cotabato), George Arnaiz (2nd District, Negros Oriental), Carlos Isagani Zarate (Party List, Bayan Muna), Neri Colmenares (Party List, Bayan Muna), and Fernando Hicap (Party List, ANAKPAWIS).

by: Jazmin S. Camero, Media Relations Service-PRIB

House okays National Mangrove Forests Conservation and Rehabilitation Act

The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a measure that provides for the conservation, reforestation, and rehabilitation of mangrove forests in the Philippines.

House Bill 5609 prohibits the cutting, uprooting or destroying of any mangrove tree, dumping of waste within mangrove reservation areas, construction or reclamation activity within mangrove reservation areas, or any other acts that will result in the damage or destruction of mangrove forests.

Violators shall be fined with not less than P200,000 but not more than P1 million, or with imprisonment for not less than six months but not more than six years, or both, and may also require to restore or compensate for the restoration of the damage, as determined by the court.

The bill substituted House Bills 460, 3525, and 4206 authored by Reps. Agapito Guanlao (Party List, BUTIL), Regina Reyes (Lone District, Marinduque) and Susan Yap (2nd District, Tarlac), respectively.

"The measure seeks to improve our marine ecosystems, ensure the food security of our people, preserve our biodiversity and prevent the extinction of various mangrove species, thus reduce disaster risks making our people resilient to the impacts of climate change, storm surges and tsunamis," Yap said.

Citing a report of Global Forest Watch, Yap, chairperson of the House special committee on reforestation, said the world lost 192,000 hectares of mangroves from 2001 to 2012, a total loss of 1.38 percent since 2000 or 0.13 percent annually. She also cited an assessment conducted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature stating that more than one in six mangrove species are at risk of becoming extinct.

She said the bill is very timely because mangroves can contribute to climate change mitigation due to their enormous carbon-storage potential, which is said to be higher than ordinary trees. "An Earth Watch study reported that a hectare of mangroves can sequester 1.36 tons of carbon in a year which is equal to the emissions of six cars per year," Yap said.

Yap said the country's experience with Typhoon Yolanda highlighted the important role that mangroves play as natural bio-shields for vulnerable coastal communities. "Mangrove forests provide protection against storm surges as well as tsunamis. A mangrove stand of 30 trees per 0.01 hectare with a depth of 100 meters can reduce the destructive force of a tidal wave by up to 90 percent," Yap said.

According to Yap, the allocation for mangrove rehabilitation under the National Greening Program has been increased from P347 to P1 billion in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda.

"However, the National Greening Program is ending in 2016, and without sufficient funding, all our efforts to rehabilitate the mangrove forests in the country cannot be sustained beyond 2016," Yap said.

The measure shall establish and set aside all coastal areas in each municipality portions of land solely for the conservation, protection, reforestation and rehabilitation of mangrove forests.

Under the measure, the local government units (LGU's), together with the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) local office, where the mangrove areas will be located, shall take the lead in the identification, survey, zonification and mapping of all mangrove areas, segregating areas that are still forested, severely denuded or degraded including abandoned, undeveloped and underutilized fishponds.

All natural stands of mangrove forests and regenerating abandoned ponds shall automatically form part of the reservation areas.

Attached to the DENR, a National Steering Committee for the Conservation and Rehabilitation of Mangrove Forests (NSCCRMF) shall be established, to review existing policies and conduct studies on mangrove forest and its conservation, among its powers and functions.

A National Mangrove Forests Conservation and Rehabilitation Plan (NMFCRP) shall be formulated by the National Steering Committee (NSC) which contain an inventory of the status of all mangrove forests all over the country, fishponds, identification of mangrove reservation areas for each province, city and municipality, and operational plan for rehabilitation, among others.

The measure shall also establish a Local Steering Committee for the Conservation of Mangrove Forests (LSCCRMF), with Local Mangrove Forests Conservation and Rehabilitation Plan, as well.

In order to secure the mangrove reservation area from illegal and destructive activities, the Local Steering Committee (LSC) and the LGU shall employ the services of forest guards or LGU's deputize members of people's organizations as mangrove reservation area forest guards who shall be tasked with the responsibility to guard and police the areas.

The DENR shall formulate and institute appropriate mechanisms for proper valuation and fair and comprehensive pricing of ecosystems services provided by mangrove forests, which shall be the basis of the Local Steering Committee for charging on the use of the ecosystem services such as eco-tourism, permits for fishing boats, docking fees and carbon trading.

Created Special Account for Mangrove Management and Mangrove Conservation and Rehabilitation Fund shall be managed by the National Steering Committee (NSC) and its disbursement shall be made solely for the protection, maintenance, administration, and management of mangrove forest areas, operational expenses of the NSC, and for the expenses on the preparation of the National Mangrove Forests Conservation and Rehabilitation Plan (NMFCRP), duly approved projects endorsed by the NSC.

Other co-authors are Reps. Aleta Suarez (3rd District, Quezon), Deogracias Ramos, Jr. (2nd District, Sorsogon), Gary Alejano (Party List, MAGDALO), Joseph Stephen Paduano (Party List, ABANG LINGKOD), Maria Valentina Plaza (1st District, Agusan Del Sur), Victor Yu (1st District, Zamboanga Del Sur), Xavier Jesus Romualdo (Lone District, Camiguin) Raymond Democrito Mendoza (Party List, TUCP) and Mylene Garcia- Albano (2nd District, Davao City). - By: Jazmin S. Camero, Media Relations Service-PRIB

Palace warns vs ‘opportunists’ who may sow dissent

Watch out for “opportunist groups.”

Malacañang aired this warning as it called on groups planning a justice march for the martyred 44 commandos of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) this Sunday to remain vigilant against the possible infiltration by a desperate few instigating a military-backed uprising against President Aquino.

Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the government upholds the people’s freedom of expression but would not tolerate any action that violates the Constitution.

“While we join the commemoration of the heroism of the PNP-SAF44, it is important to be vigilant and watchful of groups that want to take advantage of the grief and use the opportunity to pursue their dubious goal,” Coloma said in a press briefing.

“Let’s observe that in the past days, there have been calls for the resignation of the President coupled with coup threats and other destabilization efforts. These opportunist groups have even used the 29th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution as an occasion to call on the public to wield people power against the government,” he added.

The Philippine National Police Academy Alumni Association, Inc. (PNPAAAI) had earlier announced plans to hold a “March for Justice for SAF 44” on March 8. The organizers have already issued guidelines to keep the nationwide activity non-partisan and focus on the demand for justice for the slain troopers.

During the EDSA anniversary rites, President Aquino lashed out at desperate groups riding on the Mamasapano incident to derail the peace process.

He lamented that these groups merely criticize the government but do not present alternative solutions to the problem.

Coloma said these groups do not want peace because they will benefit from chaos and violence.

“The government appeals anew for calm and reason.”

‘DAY OF HEALING’

At the Lower House, a group of lawmakers filed House Resolution No. 1952 seeking to declare March 6, 2015, a National Day of Healing for Unity and All-Out-Peace, All-Out-Justice in commemoration of the 40th day of the Mamasapano massacre.

Led by former Justice Secretary and 1-BAP partylist Rep. Silvestre Bello III, the group asked the 290-man Lower Chamber “to lead this nation’s call for calm and sobriety amidst these troubled times, and in unity with the independent efforts of our peace-loving citizens’ peace advocacies and to commemorate the thousands of lives lost from decades of armed conflict in Mindanao.”

“This unfortunate incident has likewise caused a national divide threatening to polarize the country and its peace-loving people, with some sections issuing condemnation, hasty judgment and espousing bloody retaliation and all-out war,” the three-page resolution said.

Joining Bello in filing the resolution are AKBAYAN partylist Rep. Ibarra Gutierrez III, Quezon City Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte, Zambales Rep. Cheryl Deloso-Montalla, Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan, Sorsogon Rep. Deogracias Ramos Jr., Camarines Sur Rep. Maria Leonor Gerona Robredo, AMIN party-list Rep. Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman, TUCP party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza, and Lanao del Sur Rep. Pangalian Balindong.

The lawmakers cited that civil society groups, peace movements and communites across the country have started to unify in a gathering of peace advocates calling for “All-Out-Peace, All-Out-Justice,” which will culminate on the 40th day of the tragic Mamasapano anti-terror raid last Jan. 25.

“In order to maintain calm and sobriety in these tension-filled times and arrive at an objective and impartial result to the ongoing investigation on the Mamasapano incident, there is an imperative and urgent need to pause and re-assess our common aspirations to bring peaceful solutions to our nation’s problems,” the group said. -by Genalyn D. Kabiling & Charissa M. Luci , Manila Bulletin

BBL won’t benefit MILF alone

I have read the draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), or House Bill No. 4994 in the House of Representatives and Senate Bill No. 2408 in the Senate. The bills were filed in both chambers of Congress in September last year after the draft was submitted by Malacañang.

The bill filed in the House was authored by pro-administration lawmakers. Among the Cebuano members of Congress, only TUCP party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza signed as author. I don’t know if any of the Cebuano solons belatedly inserted their names as the bill’s sponsors. The Senate version didn’t have Sen. Sergio Osmeña III’s signature.

The bill was introduced in September or around four months before the Mamasapano, Maguindanao clash that killed 44 elements of the Special Action Force, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters and five civilians.

The emotional reaction to the deaths was pounced upon by the formerly moribund movement calling for the resignation of President Noynoy Aquino. It also led to some lawmakers withdrawing their support for the measure and demonizing the MILF in an obvious attempt to scuttle efforts to pass the BBL and jeopardize the peace talks between the Philippine government and the Moro rebel group.

I do not pretend to be an expert in the law so I will have to rely on the opinion of the members of Congress as to the constitutionality of some of the provisions of the BBL or the entire BBL itself. My actual impression while reading the BBL draft was that it can be used as model by those pushing for a federal government setup.

The passage of the BBL would demolish the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The change of the name of the new Moro entity already gives away the BBL’s intention, which is to expand the territories currently encompassed by the ARMM and make the entity more autonomous. The entity will be known as Bangsamoro, which actually sounds like a state within the Philippine state.

In this sense, I was more interested on how much authority the “central government” is ceding to the Bangsamoro, especially in the maintenance of peace and order. I don’t see a problem with the creation of a Bangsamoro police force because it will still be under the Philippine National Police (PNP). National defense and security will still be provided mainly by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

In sum, I expected government giving in to some of the demands of the MILF, after all that is what a peace negotiation is about. You win some, you lose some. I don’t think, however, that the draft BBL would be passed without revisions. That’s why it is a draft because it is not perfect. Its main test, of course, is constitutionality.

And here’s one point that the people should remember: the BBL is not about the MILF. It is wrong to assume that the BBL’s provisions are intended to benefit a particular group. The BBL is for the Bangsamoro people, or those who want to be part of a Bangsamoro entity. In a way, it is a gift of the Philippine state to the Moro people.

Mohagher Iqbal, the head of the MILF panel to the peace talks, mentioned this during the Senate hearing on the Mamasapano clash. Once the Bangsamoro entity is established, the MILF will transform itself into a political party. In a way, it will have the inside track in the elections that will follow, but other Muslim groups can form their own political parties to steal the initiative from the MILF.

When asked what MILF will do if it loses in the elections, Iqbal said, “e, di talo.” But that does not mean MILF would be able to take up arms again because by then its armed force will already be disbanded. - Bong O. Wenceslao / SunStar