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)

Spa owners want House probe into DOH training

CEBU, Philippines - Some spa and wellness operators in Cebu are calling for a congressional inquiry into the controversial massage therapy training required by the Department of Health.

The request was coursed through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-7, said Art Barrit, spokesman of the Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP), who sits as TESDA board member representing the labor sector.

“I received a lot of requests from different operators of spa calling for a meeting and they requested us to bring this matter to our partylist representative of TUCP, Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza, to conduct congressional inquiry regarding the implementation of this program,” said Barrit during the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza yesterday.

Barrit was reacting to the report of Consul Robert Lim Joseph that non-accredited masseurs in Boracay Island were already apprehended and made to pay P2,500 fine.

“They are criminalizing these masseurs and they would have to pay P2,500. What will happen to the cost of massage in the wellness program for the Philippines? This will happen here in Cebu and in Manila,” Joseph said.

Operator of Ton Ton Thai Massage chain, Joseph is the secretary general of the Philippine Organization of Wellness Establishments and Resources.

“Kulang na nga ng trabaho, nabigyan na ng TESDA, here is another agency which says they cannot work. It is against the poor,” said Joseph.

Barrit pointed out that TESDA, rather than DOH, even has a stringent rule regarding the operationalization of “hilot” wellness massage.

Prior to the conduct of congressional inquiry, Barrit said he will ask TESDA to have a forum for massage operators to register their opposition to the directive of DOH.

Joseph already has filed a complaint before the House of Representatives over DOH’s inaction to calls to lower exorbitant fees for the said training, which is not in compliance with the international standard for massage therapy training.

He said they sent letters to DOH asking for a meeting to settle the matter but they were ignored by the government agency.

Joseph further said DOH and its 16 accredited training centers all over the country should be investigated over an alleged money-making scheme.

He said those who took the exams had to attend the seminar and each paid P10,000 aside from the examination fee. — By Gregg M. Rubio/NSA (The Freeman)

TUCP supports more women in male-dominated jobs

MANILA, Philippines - Labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Thursday welcomed the employment of more Filipina women in jobs that used to be dominated by men.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) reported that last year, 53 percent of the 1,765,757 technical-vocational graduates were women — many of them are trained as welders and automotive mechanics.

“More Filipina women nowadays are breaking barriers by taking on jobs that once identified only with men. There are now many women employed as welders. Women working as jeepney, taxi, tricycle or bus drivers are also growing.

“I think our traditional frame of mind should begin to accepting changes such as these as we continue to honor our Filipina women for their invaluable contribution to the family and for their positive impacts they have made in our society,” Gerard Seno, executive vice president of the Associated Labor Unions-TUCP said.

Seno said there is a need to craft or improve existing workplace and training policies in government and in private sectors in anticipation of the influx of more women into the construction sector and other male dominated jobs including heavy equipment operators.

He lauded the recent effort of TESDA director general Joel Villanueva and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano for facilitating the training of 4,200 skilled female workers and possible hiring for Dubai until 2016 with specialization in electrical installation and maintenance, plumbing, refrigeration, air-conditioning and automotive mechanic.

Based on the Labor Force Survey of the National Statistics Office in October last year, 14.8-million women are employed out of the total 15.7 million female labor force.

In the same period in 2011, of the 15.6-million women labor force, 14.6 million of them are employed. There are more than an estimated 400,000 female entrants every year.

Most women workers are found traditionally employed in wholesale and retail trade, agriculture, hunting and forestry, manufacturing. They are also into service sector such as health and social work, education, hotels and restaurants, and financial remediation. - Dennis Carcamo / PhilStar