THE Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) expressed alarm over the plight of squatter families still living in so-called danger zones in Metro Manila with the onset of the rainy season.
Alan Tanjusay, TUCP spokesman, said concerned government agencies should immediately work together to relocate them to safer grounds before the onset of the rainy season.
Tanjusay noted the announcement of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) last week about the “deep convection” or low-pressure area that will develop on May 21, which signals the start of the southwest monsoon.
He said the onset of rainy season, associated with the southwest monsoon, is expected between the last week of May to early June.
He said there are 7,000 priority families who need to be relocated, but the program is hounded by government bureaucratic layers in releasing public funds, approval of people’s plan, availability of transfer sites and local- government politics.
“There is an adequate window period between now and the rainy season for government agencies to harmonize their approach in relocating informal family settlers earlier identified as living in dangerous areas in the metropolis. We encourage the various government [agencies] involved to put their acts together and evade committing again the same blunder of failing to make preemptive action way before big floods hit Metro Manila and claim more innocent lives,” Gerard Seno, executive vice president of Associated Labor Unions-TUCP (ALU-TUCP), said for his part.
ALU is the biggest affiliate of TUCP and the largest labor federation in the country today. It represents the labor center TUCP in various tripartite focused and technical working group discussions on various critical and strategic national policy issues.
President Aquino earmarked in July 2013 P50 billion for the adequate, decent and affordable on-site, in-city and near-city relocation of squatter families.
He ordered the Department of the Interior and Local Government to spearhead the effort in coordination with local governments, the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, National Anti-Poverty Commission, National Housing Authority, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Social Housing Finance Corp., Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Public Works and Highways, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and other government agencies.
These government agencies are tasked to consult with the various non-governmental organizations and civil-society groups, and convene as the national technical working group (NTWG) in implementing the program. Last week the NTWG approved the relocation of particular 8,000 squatter families in waterways, riverbanks and esteros by July 2014, who may be affected by flooding during the rainy season.
In July 2011 the MMDA identified 104,219 families who are living in dangerous and high-risk areas located in 17 cities and towns. These families are living in waterways, riverbanks, creeks, shorelines, transmission lines, railroad tracks, garbage dumps, landfill and sidewalks in Metro Manila.
Quezon City has the most number of families, with 31,274, followed by Manila, with 26,129; and Navotas and Taguig Cities, with 6,652 and 5,439 families, respectively. Other areas with informal-settler families include Caloocan, with 2,129; Malabon, 1,849; Mandaluyong, 1,081; Valenzuela, 4,261; Marikina, 386; Pasig, 4,173; Las Piñas, 2,161; Makati City, 671; Muntinlupa, 3,428; Parañaque, 3,320; Pasay, 4,200; Pateros, 1,977; and San Juan, with 5,238 families, the group said. - BusinessMirror
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Catholic bishop backs mandatory HIV testing
A CATHOLIC prelate has supported the Department of Health's (DOH) proposal to Congress to pass a law on mandatory HIV testing amid the rising number of infections in the Philippines.
"Yes, I am in favor, on the condition that proper care in handling of patients and cases proper to the human dignity will be exercised by the government," said Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo in a text message.
However, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) said that the compulsory HIV tests are violative of a person's rights and heightens stigma and discrimination.
"Instead of a reactive measure like this, paramount is a more comprehensive and effective HIV awareness program," the group said in a statement.
At the same time, the group called on the churches and other organizations to intensify the campaign on HIV and Aids awareness.
"None is more essential than a united effort to promote an informed public, breaking myths and upholding the truth about HIV and Aids," the NCCP said.
The NCCP noted that it encourages young people to go for HIV tests for them to protect themselves and their future.
The Philippine Aids Prevention and Control Act of 1998 disallows compulsory HIV testing.
The law only encourages voluntary testing for individuals with a high risk of contracting HIV such female sex workers (FSWs), males having sex with males (MSMs) and injecting drug users (IDUs).
Also, compulsory HIV testing as a precondition to employment, admission to educational institutions, the exercise of freedom of abode, entry or continued stay in the country, or the right to travel, the provision of medical service or any other kind of service is deemed illegal.
"The mandatory testing approach is taboo to stakeholders and PNAC (Philippine National Aids Council) is not even consulted with the idea,” said Gerard Seno, executive vice president of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP).
TUCP is a member of the PNAC, which oversees an integrated and comprehensive approach to HIV/Aids prevention and control program in the country. -Sunstar (FP/Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)
"Yes, I am in favor, on the condition that proper care in handling of patients and cases proper to the human dignity will be exercised by the government," said Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo in a text message.
However, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) said that the compulsory HIV tests are violative of a person's rights and heightens stigma and discrimination.
"Instead of a reactive measure like this, paramount is a more comprehensive and effective HIV awareness program," the group said in a statement.
At the same time, the group called on the churches and other organizations to intensify the campaign on HIV and Aids awareness.
"None is more essential than a united effort to promote an informed public, breaking myths and upholding the truth about HIV and Aids," the NCCP said.
The NCCP noted that it encourages young people to go for HIV tests for them to protect themselves and their future.
The Philippine Aids Prevention and Control Act of 1998 disallows compulsory HIV testing.
The law only encourages voluntary testing for individuals with a high risk of contracting HIV such female sex workers (FSWs), males having sex with males (MSMs) and injecting drug users (IDUs).
Also, compulsory HIV testing as a precondition to employment, admission to educational institutions, the exercise of freedom of abode, entry or continued stay in the country, or the right to travel, the provision of medical service or any other kind of service is deemed illegal.
"The mandatory testing approach is taboo to stakeholders and PNAC (Philippine National Aids Council) is not even consulted with the idea,” said Gerard Seno, executive vice president of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP).
TUCP is a member of the PNAC, which oversees an integrated and comprehensive approach to HIV/Aids prevention and control program in the country. -Sunstar (FP/Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)
Thursday, May 15, 2014
TUCP to BSP : Probe credit card firms' schemes
MANILA, Philippines - Labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines on Thursday called on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to go after unscrupulous credit card companies that impose involuntary membership, charging exorbitant interest rates, hidden surcharges and for violation of privacy.
"We urge the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to step in, use its teeth in enforcing the law and government regulations against abusive credit card companies who are now operating as if there is no rule of law. We want the BSP to weigh in and protect the public from oppressive credit card players," Gerard Seno, executive vice president of the Associated Labor Unions-TUCP, said.
Seno said they received reports that credit card companies automatically send pre-approved credit card membership to many people with the names of the recipients on the card without even applying for it.
"We don’t know at what extent these people have been accessing our personal data but it’s very obvious there is an invisible but organized web of syndicated operators manipulating, sharing among themselves our privacy. We want the executive government to intervene and put a stop to this," Seno added.
He said the TUCP supports House Bill 2551, which seeks to protect credit card holders by setting a ceiling on interest rates and surcharges and prohibiting hidden penalties or costs imposed by credit card companies, banks and similar institutions on purchases and cash advance made through such facility.
The bill aims to lower credit card interest rates on purchases and cash advance to 1 percent and set the surcharges or penalties limited to not more than 1 percent amid the 3 to 3.5 percent currently imposed by credit card companies on both charges. - Philippine Star
"We urge the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to step in, use its teeth in enforcing the law and government regulations against abusive credit card companies who are now operating as if there is no rule of law. We want the BSP to weigh in and protect the public from oppressive credit card players," Gerard Seno, executive vice president of the Associated Labor Unions-TUCP, said.
Seno said they received reports that credit card companies automatically send pre-approved credit card membership to many people with the names of the recipients on the card without even applying for it.
"We don’t know at what extent these people have been accessing our personal data but it’s very obvious there is an invisible but organized web of syndicated operators manipulating, sharing among themselves our privacy. We want the executive government to intervene and put a stop to this," Seno added.
He said the TUCP supports House Bill 2551, which seeks to protect credit card holders by setting a ceiling on interest rates and surcharges and prohibiting hidden penalties or costs imposed by credit card companies, banks and similar institutions on purchases and cash advance made through such facility.
The bill aims to lower credit card interest rates on purchases and cash advance to 1 percent and set the surcharges or penalties limited to not more than 1 percent amid the 3 to 3.5 percent currently imposed by credit card companies on both charges. - Philippine Star
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Kilusan - TUCP joins the observance of Labor Day 2014
Manila- Pambansang Kilusan ng Paggawa (Kilusan - TUCP), Kilusan sa JFC and BOIE Employess Union participated in the broadest labor coalition, NAGKAISA! in the observance of International Labor Day.
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