Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental - About 86 Grade V and VI pupils from Dansolihon Elementary School of a remote barangay in Cagayan de Oro received free computer literacy training as Mindanao University of Science and Technology celebrated its MUST Days 2011.
At MUST’s ICT Computer laboratory, the children’s faces lit with amazement as some of them may have just seen or touched a computer for the first time.
The free training was an off-shoot to a new memorandum-of-agreement signed by MUST, Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro City Centerpoint, and STI College at the MUST AVR on Feb. 10.
The activity aimed to equip the young with computer literacy and if possible also make donations of computer units for Dansolihon Elementary School.
Through expert facilitators, the pupils learned to encode, make and save files, and do internet browsing.
They were also delighted by the educational games played.
As they expressed gratitude, their excitement and capacity to learn were manifested by their incessant questions and perseverance in doing all the activities, and by their patience to hear out the explanations of facilitators.
Dr. Ricardo E. Rotoras, president of MUST, encouraged the pupils to pursue their studies and aim for success despite humble beginnings.
He emphasized that he was able to use a computer only when he was already a fifth year engineering student. He added that like them, he was also a product of the public schools, but he became an engineer and later a university president.
Rotoras called this endeavor an investment for the future. For him, education is a tool for peace and progress; if there are employments and ways of providing for the needs of each family, a peaceful and progressive society can be ensured.
Possibly, he also said, that another future engineer or president could evolve from among those children present, for each child has indeed a chance for a brighter future.
Similarly, Claro Celso Alcordo, president of Rotary Club Centerpoint, told the students that computer was introduced to him only when he graduated college, and his offspring were often the ones teaching him how to use it. He is very glad today that the Rotary can do projects that help elementary students learn how to use the computer properly.
Also present in the MOA signing were: CEO Colbert Rabaya, STI; Dr. Nenita D. Palmes, MUST Vice-President for REDEAS; Dr. Victoria O. Sumanpan, MUST Extension Director; Engr. Alex Maureal, MUST ICT Director; Dr. Consorcio S. Namoco Jr, MUST Dean of CIIT; Advisers Richel B. Magsalay and Melanie S. Ysolan and pupils from Dansolihon Elementary schools, and other Rotarians, guests and MUST personnel.
Meanwhile, training facilitators were Dr. Alenogines San Diego, Jay Noel Rojo and Maricel Exclamado of CIIT; Prosibeth G. Bacarrisas and Engr. Maria Teresa M. Fajardo of CPSEM; and Jhoanna R. Duray and Noralyn R. Robles. A total of 15 students from CIIT and CPSEM were also present to assist the pupils during the computer training.
The training ended with an hour tour to the Science Centrum and Science Complex to cap the Science and Technology experience, and enjoy with the MUST Days celebration. (Maria Teresa M. Fajardo and Cathy Yamut, MUST)
Rufus pushes for a bill to transform MUST to USTP
Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental - Just a few minutes before Mindanao University of Science and Technology could bless its newly built five-storey Science Complex, and perform groundbreaking rites for the construction of four more buildings this year, Cong. Rufus Rodriguez, BOR member alluded as the Father of MUST, made another resounding pronouncement.
In his forceful speech, Congressman Rodriguez said that a bill will be drafted to transform MUST into the University of Science and Technology in the Philippines (USTP).
He referred to the 292 hectares of land area owned by MUST in Lourdes, Alubijid as a strategic location for USTP since it is where an international airport would soon operate, thus make it accessible to others from all parts of the country and the world.
Cong. Rodriguez justified further that unlike other Asian countries such as Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Singapore, the Philippines has yet to come up with a national university that caters solely to science and technology.
He mentioned that there must be a university that will receive the many graduates of science high schools nationwide for them to continue with higher studies in Science and Technology.
Building it in Mindanao will likewise aid in the decentralization of students still flocking to Manila for better higher education.
With Cong. Rodriguez as guests to MUST Days 2011 blessing and groundbreaking ceremonies were Patricia Benitez-Licuanan, national chair of the Commission on Higher Education and Congressman Juan Edgrado M. Angara who is also chair of the Committee on Higher and Technical Education.
Dr. Ricardo E. Rotoras, president of MUST, was just so glad to welcome them all. With them were also other presidents of member schools of Mindanao Association of State Colleges and Universities Foundation (MASCUF), and heads of government agencies in Cagayan de Oro.
Rodriguez said he already got the support of Patricia Benitez-Licuanan in the plan to convert MUST into a USTP.
However, the CHED chair likewise said that amidst this grand plan must also be the help from all people, especially powerful ones, to rationalize CHED and bring improvement to the systems and standards of higher education that assure students of quality education.
Licuanan specified that problems abound in CHED.
It has been a free market – chaotic and wild, where schools of all kinds sprout from all directions.
As mother of CHED, she appeals for help in the rationalization of Philippine education. One way is to amalgamate schools so they work together towards common ends.
She further said that the dream of a Science and Technology university can likewise bring together the strengths of other Philippines universities.
While competition is good, she appeals for cooperation and harmony to also prevail as they are equally important in achieving the concerns of CHED. (Marisa Molina-Manlapig, MUST)
Cebuano News: Pagpangdawat og aplikasyon sa SPES nagsugod na; deadline gitakda sa Marso 4
ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte - Gisugdan na sa kagamhanang lokal sa Iligan ang pagpangdawat sa mga aplikasyon alang sa Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES).
Kini subay kasayuran nga nakutlo gikan ni Salome Timajo, Labor and Employment Officer sa Public Employment Services Office (PESO). Mipahibalo si Timajo nga kutob lamang sa Marso 4 ang ilang pagpangdawat sa mga aplikasyon.
Gi-awhagan ang mga aplikante sa paghikay ug pagsumiter ning mosunod: duha ka photocopy sa birth certificate nga adunay registration number, latest income tax return sa ginikanan (kinahanglan nga dili kini molapas sa Php36,000 matag tuig), duha ka 2 x 2 ID picture, usa ka 1 x 1 ID picture, kamatuoran nga na-enroll sama sa school ID o kaha Certificate of Registration ug long brown folder.
Unang gitin-aw sa PESO nga ang aplikante kinahanglang nag-edad og 15 ngadto sa 24 anyos ug residente sa Iligan.
Ang SPES mao ang mas naila nga summer job nga gipatuman sa Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) ug sa pamuno-an ni Mayor Lawrence Lluch Cruz.
Sa pagsulat ning balita, gipinalisar pa kung pila ka SPES beneficiaries ang mamahimong quota sa Iligan ning tuig 2011. (mta-CIO Iligan)
Cebuano News: Kagamhanang lokal motunol sa ayudang panginabuhi-an ngadto sa pundok sa kababayen-an, mangingisda ug market laborer
ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte -Natakdang ipahigayon sa adlaw’ng Lunes, Pebrero 14, atol sa flag raising program sa city hall ang pag-turn-over sa nagkalain-laing matang sa ayuda nga gipaha-um sa panginahanglanon sa pundok sa mga kababayen-an, mangingisda ug market laborers ning siyudad.
Sa nasayran gikan ni City Councilor Roy Openiano, itunol ang tag-26 ka sako sa premium rice ngadto sa mga sakop sa Women Seasiders Association of Barangay Santiago ug sa Women Association sa Barangay Saray alang sa ilang “Bigasan Livelihood Project” ug programang “Panaghiusa sa Kababayen-an Abag sa Panginabuhi-an.”
Madawat usab sa Saray Fishermen Association ang usa ka bag-ong welding machine samtang ang Pala-o Market Labor Association kon PAMALA ayudahan sa lima ka mga kariton.
Dugang nasayran kang Konsehal Openiano, Chairman sa Committee on Cooperative and Livelihood sa konseho, nga kabahin kini nga mga ayuda sa gipatuman ni Mayor Lawrence Lluch Cruz nga City Livelihood Assistance Program alang ning tuiga. (mta-CIO/fe tomas)
Cebuano News: Klase-klaseng herbal plants gitinguha nga mamahimong kabahin sa landscape sa GTLMH
ILIGAN CITY, LANAO DEL Norte - Gisugyot ni Mayor Lawrence Lluch Cruz ngadto kang Dr. Eustiquio Oliverio, Jr., Chief of Hospital, nga himoong kabahin sa landscape sa Gregorio T. Lluch Memorial Hospital (GTLMH) ang nagkalain-laing klase sa mga herbal plants.
Tuyo niini ang pagtanyag og alternatibong medisina ngadto sa mga kabus nga pasyente nga maglisod pagpalit sa mga mahalon nga synthetic medicines.
Gitahasan ni Mayor Cruz si City Agriculturist Octavius Molo nga moabag kang Dr. Oliverio nga mapahimutang ang usa ka herbal garden sa city hospital.
Misugyot ang amahan sa siyudad nga matanom niini ang kalamunggay, tawa-tawa, mayanâ ug uban pa.
Giabi-abi usab sa pamuno-dakbayan ang sugyot ni City Engineer Franklin Maata nga dasigon ang tanang kabaranggayan sa pagbaton og ilang kaugalingon nga communal herbal garden.
Naglaraw si Mayor Cruz nga mo-hire og usa ka botanist aron motabang pag-mintenar sa herbal garden sa siyudad. (mta-CIO Iligan)
Cebuano News: Bag-ong talaan sa mga purok presidents, gipangayo sa ZOPP; ang dili na aktibo sa serbisyo, gisugyot nga hulipan pinaagi sa eleksiyon
ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte - Nag-awhag si Engr. Simeon Clerigo sa tanang federation presidents sa mga kapurokan o zona sa Iligan sa pagsumiter og bag-ong talaan sa mga purok ug zone presidents sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka barangay.
Tumong sa confedetarion president sa Zones of Peace and Prosperity kon ZOPP nga matinô ang angayan gayud nga magdawat sa mobility allowance nga gihatag sa kagamhanan sa siyudad ngadto kanila matag bulan.
Subay niini, nag-awhag usab si Clerigo sa mga federation presidents nga magpahigayon og eleksiyon sa mga kapurokan kansang mga presidente dili na aktibo o kaha atua na magtrabaho sa layong dapit.
Gihimo sa ZOPP president ang maong panawagan atol sa natigayong katiguman sa maong hugpong kagahapong adlawa didto sa SP Session Hall sa city hall.
Ang ZOPP mao’y kahugpongan sa 996 ka mga purok ug zone presidents sa dakbayan nga gimugna ni Mayor Lawrence Lluch Cruz pinaagi sa usa ka executive order aron mamahimong kaabag sa pagmintenar sa kalinaw ug paghatod og kalambo-an sa atong dakbayan. (boy decena-CIO Iligan)
Oro Press Club’s Goking team gets fresh mandates
Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental - Lawyer Santiago “Bobby” Goking Jr. got reelected as Cagayan de Oro Press Club president after he and his team received fresh mandates during the annual election of officers and directors at the COPC Building, Cagayan de Oro City on Saturday, February 12, this year.
Goking, who is also a certified public accountant and an opinion writer of a local daily, topped the balloting by mustering 87 out of possible 94 votes and eventually was uncontested for his second term as COPC president.
Other COPC officers who got reelected to the board and to their respective posts are Bingo Alcordo (78 votes), executive vice president; Jonas Bustamante (73 votes), vice president for broadcast; Uriel Quilinguing (77 votes), corporate secretary; and Maricel C. Rivera (77 votes), treasurer.
Also elected COPC officers on their first term are Herbie Gomez (73 votes), vice-president for print, and Joey Nacalaban (72 votes), auditor. Both Gomez, who took the post vacated by Susan Palmes, and Nacalaban in lieu of Mike Baños, were directors in the old board.
Baños (67 votes)was reelected as director of the board, together with Msgr. Elmer Abacahin (85 votes), Tony Albania (67 votes), and Raul Moldez (54 votes). New members of the board who ran and won under the Goking team were Terry Betonio (62 votes), Art Bonjoc (68 votes), Vic Cabanag (61 votes), and Edgar Navarro (52 votes). There were 27 COPC members who filed their certificates of candidacy.
All the 15 members of the board and officials were proclaimed winners by Atty. Gregorio B. “Greg” Borja, assistant city prosecutor and past president of COPC, who chaired the committee on elections (Comelec). The other two members of the Comelec were Atty. Augusto “Titot” Neri Jr., also a COPC past president, and former COPC director Custodio “Don” Sanoria.
The elections were held after President Goking presided and subsequently adjourned the Annual General Membership Assembly of the COPC. COPC, which has some 133 members, is now on its 60th year after it was founded on November 11, 1951. (Uriel Quilinguing/COPC)
PhilHealth marks 16th anniversary
Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental - PhilHealth Regional Office 10 (PhRO X) will join in the nationwide celebration of the agency’s 16th anniversary with a host of activities that will kick off in the morning of Feb. 14, Monday.
The anniversary, with the theme “Tapat na Serbisyo, Sapat na Benepisyo, Lahat Panalo,” will formally open with a simultaneous flag raising ceremony and religious services for both Roman Catholics and Muslims in all its service offices located in Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, Iligan, Ozamiz and Gingoog, on said date.
In the afternoon of the same day, PhilHealth employees all over the country will conduct hospital visits and gift giving to poor patients in selected hospitals.
For their part, PhRO X staff members will go to the Northern Mindanao Medical Center and JR Borja Memorial City Hospital to give out gifts to some 200 indigent patients there.
PhilHealth-10 employees will undergo ECG, FBS and Bone Scanning on Feb. 16. Two days after that, they will take part in a bloodletting activity.
On Feb. 22, the spotlight will be on the accredited collecting banks, hospitals and employers as PhilHealth-10 will hand them awards for their outstanding contributions to PhilHealth’s goals and objectives.
In addition, around a thousand residents of Barangay Baybay, Alubijid town, Misamis Oriental, will benefit from the Medical Mission that PhRO X will conduct on Feb. 24.
On Feb. 25, PhRO X employees will head to Tibasak, Barangay Macasandig to plant some 300 seedlings as part of their environmental consciousness program.
Likewise, an information booth will be put up in Limketkai Center for a week, starting on Feb. 14.
Also, for the whole month of February, streamers will be hung by stakeholders in strategic locations. (Merlyn H. Ybañez/PhilHealth 10)
House pledges to enact a customs modernization law this year
A law seeking to modernize customs administration and reform the country’s tariff structure will be passed before Congress goes on final recess this year.
This was the public statement made by subcommittee chairman Rodolfo Farinas towards the end of his committee’s public consultation early this week.
Farinas tasked the principal author of one of two bills submitted to his committee, Reynaldo Umali, to head a technical working group that will consolidate the best features of his bill and that of Rufus Rodriguez in a unified version of the new law.
Umali, before he joined Congress, was a deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Customs.
Farinas further told Umali to align the House version of the proposed law to the country’s international trade commitments that include the World Trade Organization, AFTA and our accession to the Revised Kyoto Convention.
The Philippines made commitments to abide by a harmonized and simplified global customs administration system last year when it submitted its accession papers to the World Customs Organization, Farinas said.
He explained that aligning our customs administration laws, regulations and practices to those commitments was suggested by the business community during a dialogue with Speaker Feliciano Belmonte last week.
Aligning the proposed law may take some time for the technical working group. Farinas said that his committee will try to report out the semi-final draft for floor debate before its June recess.
He expressed confidence it will be approved in third and final reading before the final recess in December. (Abe P. Belena, PHILEXPORT)
Policies to regulate or stem migration of skills, talent and professionals pushed
The Philippines is advised to map out policies to regulate or stem the migration of critical skills, talents and professionals (STP) that pose a threat to the growth and sustainability of local industries.
This recommendation was made by Dr. Rene Ofreneo of University of the Philippines (UP) School of Labor and Industrial Relations, along with Joy Hernandez and Isabelo Samonte, in a newly-released study on “Migration of Skills, Talents and Expertise: Development Challenges for the Philippines.”
“The STP and MCS (mission-critical skills) can literally kill local industry by eroding the competitiveness of local industry resulting from the high cost of turnover, training and lack of immediate replacement,” the study said.
MCS refer to skills possessed by personnel in charge of making production or business literally run like doctors/nurses for the health sector, information technology (IT) engineers/programmers for the IT industry, and pilots for the aviation industry.
If poorly managed or handled, a severe STP outflow can wipe out whatever remaining industries the Philippines has, particularly those that are critical to national development, it added.
The study emphasized that the STP exodus has remained problematic and threatening to certain economic sectors such as the aviation industry, IT/ICT and business process outsourcing/knowledge process outsourcing industries, mining industry, construction industry, among others.
While developed countries have a clear program of linking the liberalization of STP exodus and the hunt for global talents with their own development priorities, it noted, such policy response to the challenge is not clear in the case of the Philippines and other labor-sending countries.
To squarely address this problem, the study underscored the need for the Philippines to pass the National Service Act which requires a minimum and reasonable number of years STP MCS personnel or graduates must render in the country before they are able to go overseas.
“The point is to have a law that recognizes an individual’s right to mobility and yet, at the same time, also protects the interests of the struggling local industries (guaranteed returns on investment on training) and the national economy,” it stressed.
The study said the proposals for the comprehensive program of intervention and assistance to facilitate the fuller absorption and utilization of the skills and knowledge of returning STP workers are also important.
It said the overseas employment program could be transformed into a program of mobilizing not only savings of the overseas Filipino workers (OFW) for private investments but also a means for the upgrading of the country’s manpower and industrial base, including the acquisition of accumulation of technologies.
“The challenge is how to provide or create the enabling conditions that will maximize the skills gains of returning OFWs such as the development of specialized agro-industrial parks and programs for these OFWs, which can also serve as magnets for OF/OFW investments,” it pointed out.
The study said the Philippines likewise should have serious efforts to upgrade the quality of education and develop educational programs to meet the STP requirements of local industry.
This, as the burden of equipping the workers with the necessary competencies for a job is left totally on the shoulders of the firms through company-developed training programs.
Moreover, policymakers are asked to develop the national agro-industrial roadmap and how local talent development can contribute to the achievement of such agro-industrial plans.
The study said concerned government agencies need to flesh out priorities and the corresponding manpower and skills requirements such priorities entail.
“This exercise requires a re-thinking of the narrow EOI (export-oriented industrialization) program that has been in place in the country in the last three to four decades in favor of a more balanced program of agro-industrial development focused on both the domestic and export markets and focused on value-adding and upgrading,” it added. (Danielle Venz, PHILEXPORT)
Knowledge of ROO crucial in self-certification system
Exporters and manufacturers need to become more aware of the rules of origin (ROO) and whether or not their goods meet those rules once the Philippines shifts to self-certification system already implemented by some Asean members.
This was emphasized by Roger Weston, senior analyst (trade) policy of New Zealand Customs Service, in a workshop on APEC Self-Certification Pathfinder Phase 2, held here.
“A shift to self-certification places the burden on exporters/manufacturers to now take direct responsibility for declaring preference qualification, retaining records to substantiate preference and being available for audit,” he said.
Weston said it is thus imperative for them to be knowledgeable on ROO. It sets the criteria for determining "originating goods" hence, qualify for preferential tariff treatment.
He said a shift to self-certification may not be too demanding for traders who already have the familiarity and have simply been using the certificate issuing body as formal confirmation of the goods eligibility for preference.
“However, for exporters/manufacturers who have relied heavily on the certificate issuing body to research and identify qualification, transition assistance may be needed,” he added.
Weston said removing the role of the issuing body will also require traders to be more thorough in retaining records.
Should the importing Customs undertake an audit of any claim of preference, the trader will need to be able to prove that their goods meet the ROO, he said.
Weston said any such an audit could be done from a distance like by email or through an actual visit with or without the exporting Customs depending on the free trade agreements (FTA).
This maybe a variation from existing practice where an intermediate step may have been first approaching the third-party certifier, he noted.
Weston said shifting to self-certification, however, will not dramatically affect Customs role in the border administration of ROO.
“Using a risk managed approach (to identify high-risk trade), self-certified qualification is seen as presenting a higher integrity than third-party certification. After all, the manufacturer/exporter is best placed to know its products and their qualification to the relevant origin rule,” he added.
Already three Asean members Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia and Singapore-have participated on the pilot project for the implementation of a regional self-certification system meant to streamline ROO procedures to facilitate trade of Asean originating goods.
Atty. Louis C. Adviento, chief operations officer of the Bureau of Customs' (BoC) export division, in an earlier interview said the Philippines is not yet ready to undertake the self-certification system.
Adviento reasoned there is a specific legislation, Presidential Decree (PD) No. 930 on exports, which mandated the BoC to issue the CO. The law thus needs to be amended to enable self-certified invoice be accepted to claim for a preferential tariff rate.He said the country should also establish first the procedures on verification of self-certified invoices. (Danielle Venz, PHILEXPORT)
Gov’t eyes more sectors to spur PHL exports growth
The government is considering other sectors, such as coconut products, engineered bamboo and garments, to fuel Philippine exports which is expected to grow by 13 percent in the next three years.
Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, in a year-end Philippine economic briefing, said export growth comes from the electronic sector accounting for about 60 percent of total exports as well as services exports which is growing very rapidly at about 20 percent per year.
Engineered bamboo products, which include laminated and glued bamboo pieces, are already transformed into high-value furniture and handicraft items that provide good economic revenues for the country, according to a government report.
Among the coconut products, coconut oil including crude and refined is also among the country’s top dollar earners. It ranked fourth according to December 2010 exports figure.
This followed electronics products, cathodes and sections of cathodes of refined copper, and apparel and clothing.
“With the increase in infrastructure investments as well as reduction in costs, we hope that exports (this year) will go higher than before,” said Socio-economic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga Jr.
Philippine export sales rose by 33.7 percent to $51.39 billion in 2010 from previous year’s $38.44 billion.
Apart from stronger exports this year, economic managers are banking on investments to spur growth, which are expected to get a boost from construction, agro-industry, electronics, electronics and semiconductors, tourism and business process outsourcing (BPO).
On the supply side, services are seen to continually improve driven by retail trade, finance and private services.
“It is the services that we can depend on but we hope that investments will increase,” Paderanga said. “We hope that infrastructure investments will already come in and actually there will be complementary private investments…These are the types of stimuli that we hope to be able to raise the whole trade.”
The expected expansion in mining and acceleration in construction and full recovery of housing, biofuels and the Halal food market could likewise boost this year’s economic growth.
The government is confident of achieving a 7 to 8-percent gross domestic product (GDP) in 2011 from last year’s 7.3 percent. (Danielle Venz, PHILEXPORT)
Gov’t unveils measures to make PHL more investor-friendly
With consumption, government spending, and exports already making significant contribution to growth, the government sees it imperative to spur investment in a bid to move the country to a higher, broad-based and sustainable growth path.
Finance chief Caesar Purisima noted that the government will be taking aim at increasing the level of investments in the country to expand its growth potential.
“The focus now is on the investment component of the growth equation,” said Purisima during the recently held Year-End Philippine Economic Briefing.
To boost investor confidence, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President Francis Chua pointed to the urgency of making the regulatory system less burdensome, further streamlining business procedures, and making labor laws attuned to the developments in the global economy.
Chua also brought to bear the need for a consistent application of policies, rules and laws at the local government level.
Minister of Trade Gregory Domingo noted that the DTI is pushing for a magna carta for investors to better safeguard the interest of the same mainly by setting clear-cut guidelines that will preclude inconsistent application of rules and policies at the local government level and resolve disagreements between national and local government, adding that they are also considering the establishment of economic zones for domestic-oriented firms.
According to Socio-economic planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga, the government will enter into partnership with the private sector to boost investment on human capital, particularly in sectors that have strong spread effects, such as the business process outsourcing, tourism and agro-industry.
Paderanga likewise mentioned that the government will be establishing more investment infrastructure to facilitate greater investments for these priority sectors.
The country’s competitiveness ranking has been chronically low, making it among the least attractive investment destinations.
Without denying the palpable need to make the country more investor-friendly, economic managers argued that the country is not as bad an investment destination as its competitiveness rankings suggests, citing that the methodology used in competitiveness surveys only looks at one city, which is Manila for the Philippines, excluding export processing zones. (Ritchelle Alburo, PHILEXPORT)
Proposed competition measure seeks to protect small enterprises
A recent proposed legislative measure on competition responds to a glaring need to address unfair competitive practices to the disadvantage of micro, small and medium-scale enterprises.
While protection of consumers from unreasonable pricing has been the rationale for the enactment of many of the country’s competition-related laws, Senate Resolution No. 123 of Senator Manny Villar seeks to operationalize fair market principles and discourage monopolies to allow MSMEs to participate in the growth of the economy.
Atty. Lorna Patajo-Kapunan of Capunan Lotilla Garcia & Castillo Law Offices was very pleased with said bill.
I would like to thank Senator Villar for recognizing the need to protect the MSMEs, said Kapunan, during a forum on Understanding Anti-trust held yesterday at the Philippine Senate, mentioning that many of the country’s small enterprises are disadvantaged by the restrictive agreements and arrangements of giant companies.
These restrictive agreements, as cited by Anthony Abad of Trade Advisory Services during said forum, include price-fixing, collusive tendering, market or customer allocation, sales or production restraints, concerted refusal to purchase or to supply and collective denial of access to an arrangement or association that is crucial to competition.
Aside from SB No. 123, there are four other proposed measures on competition in the Senate. These are SB No. 1 authored by Senator Ponce Enrile, SB No. 175 of Senator Anthony Trillanes IV, SB No. 123 of Senator Sergio Osmena III, and SB No. 1838 of Senator Mirriam Santiago.
Many of these bills seek to respond to the need to codify existing competition laws and come up with a comprehensive competition law that is workable and effectively deters anti-competitive practices.
Kapunan noted that Senate Bill No.1 of Senator Ponce “defines with particularity prohibited acts constituting monopolization and cartelization”.
By increasing the penalty for violation of Article 186 of the Revised Penal Code, Kapunan likewise intimated that SB No. 1838 will serve to deter the anti-competitive measures.
SB No. 1838 seeks to increase the number of years of imprisonment from the current six months to six years and the fine from P200 to 1,000,000.
To effectively enforce a competition law and achieve its desired outcome, Atty. Geronimo Sy of the Department of Justice laid emphasis on the need to fine-tune the evidentiary architecture of competition bills, citing that despite sectoral regulation of basic commodities, such as sugar, tobacco and rice, prices of the same remain prohibitively high, due mainly to the difficulty in providing sufficient evidence demonstrating violation of competition-related laws. (Ritchelle Alburo, PHILEXPORT)
Iligan dad supports law on anti-crime cash reward system
Iligan City, Lanao del Norte – Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz expressed support to the law authored by City Councilor Moises Dalisay, Jr. that suggests the establishment of an Anti-Crime Cash Reward System.
It was learned from Councilor Dalisay who is Chairman of the Committee on Police, Public Safety and Order of the city council that Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz has made available an initial appropriation of P500,000.
A cash reward will be given to anyone who can give information that would result in the arrest to persons with grave offenses such as attempted, frustrated and consummated bombing, violators of anti-terrorism law, murder or homicide, robbery with homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, rape, illegal drug trafficking and others.
This will also be effective to those who can give information for less grave offenses such as robbery hold-up, snatching, physical injuries and reckless imprudence resulting to death or less physical injuries.
Councilor Dalisay believes that this will encourage public assistance in crime solving by way of giving information to police authorities.
The ordinance endorsed by Councilor Dalisay has passed second reading in the city council. (CIO)
Councilor urges LTFRB to issue new fare rates matrix
Iligan City, Lanao del Norte – City Councilor Providencio “Bong” Abragan, Jr. urged the regional office of the Land Transportation and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to issue a matrix on new fare rates of public utility vehicles and buses.
Councilor Abragan who is Chairman on the Committee on Laws, Transportation and Traffic Management will endorse a resolution in this regard in the next regular session of the city council.
It was learned from representatives of different drives associations of the city in the public hearing of the city council recently of several complaints from commuters that only a photocopy of the new fare rates are posted in vehicles.
Abragan informed LTFRB that operators complained of the high increase in fare rates.
The councilor requested drivers of public utility vehicles their understanding and patience in dealing with commuters who refuse to recognize the new fare rates while waiting for the LTFRB matrix. (CIO)
Councilor to prevent NBI transfer
Iligan City, Lanao del Norte – City Councilor Moises Dalisay, Jr. is exerting efforts to prevent the transfer of the National Bureau of Investigation office from Iligan to Ozamiz city.
Dalisay is trying to find out the reason of the transfer. The councilor will confer with NBI Iligan District Chief Atty. Mandaue to find a way to resolve the issue.
Further, Dalisay will endorse a resolution to the city council to follow-up the request of the NBI for a site where their office will be located. He will also seek the assistance and permission of Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz to find a suitable site.
As of this writing, the result of the talk between Dalisay and Mandaue is not yet known.
The Committee on Transportation and Traffic Management of the city council under Councilor Providencio “Bong” Abragan, Jr. expressed the desire that offices involved in traffic would pool their resources for the efficient management of traffic in the city. (CIO)
Iligan exec directs city officials to prepare GTLMH improvement plan
Iligan City, Lanao del Norte – Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz directed former councilor Orlando Maglinao and City Engineer Franklin Maata to visit the Gregorio T. Lluch Memorial Hospital and check on the different needs of the health facility.
Mayor Cruz cited the status of existing structures, to check on the materials needed that will house the dialysis machines, to indicate the portion of the hospital for the construction of two rooms for barangay officials and other improvements.
The mayor directed the officials concerned to submit a report of the tasks in the next department heads’ meeting on Monday, Feb. 14.
Maglinao said the plan of the mayor is timely because there is a foreign investor interested to support the improvements of the city hospital. (CIO)
PDEA to establish satellite office in Iligan
Iligan City, Lanao del Norte – The city is looking for a suitable site where the satellite office of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) will be set up here in Iligan.
Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz has given the task to Atty. Santiago Hortelano of the City Legal Office to look for a building that is vacated by a national government agency.
The PDEA Regional Office 10 assured the city that they will set up a satellite office with functional personnel in its campaign against drugs and to regulate substances used in the making of illegal drugs.
This plan is being supported by Congressman Vicente “Varf” Belmonte, Jr. who is Chairman of the Oversight Committee on Dangerous Drugs in Congress and the city council through a resolution endorsed by City Councilor Bayani Areola. (CIO)
Hospitalization, death benefits law for Barangay Tanod, BNS, BHW and CVO now on 1st Reading
Iligan City, Lanao del Norte – Under first reading is the ordinance passed by City Councilor Frederick Siao that will give hospitalization and death benefits in recognition of the services rendered by barangay tanods, day care workers, barangay nutrition scholars, barangay health workers and civilian volunteers organization.
The ordinance aims to give assistance to people who offer their services to the people even on Saturdays and Sundays.
Councilor Siao said these people deserve this assistance since they are not receiving salaries from the city government but only honoraria which is not considered salary. (CIO)
Last public hearing on law giving priority seats to pregnant, nursing women conducted
Iligan City, Lanao del Norte – The last public hearing of the law that would give priority seats to pregnant and nursing women in public utility vehicles was held recently at the Sangguniang Panlungsod session hall, this city.
In the public hearing, the penalties and fines for violators were finalized, the specific seats were the stickers will be placed and the strategy of the information drive was discussed.
Violators of the ordinance will receive a warning for the first offense, Php500 fine for the second offense and Php1,000 plus a citation ticket for the third offense.
Considered priority seats for pregnant women are seats that are near the entrance and exit for buses and seats near the rear for commuter jeeps.
Councilor Marlene Young said the city will shoulder the printing of sticker
markers that will be distributed to passenger vehicles.
Councilor Michelle Sweete, co-author of the ordinance said information drive and advocacy will be done through media outlets. The education campaign will be taken care of the Land Transportation Office.
The public hearing was attended drivers and operators of public utility vehicles and buses, Michael Macarambon, head of the Enforcement Division of Land Transportation Office and representatives of women’s organization and others.
City Councilors Young and Sweet plan to endorse the ordinance to its second and last reading in the next regular session of the city council. (CIO)
Feb. 15 is Muslim Legal Non-Working Holiday
Iligan City, Lanao del Norte –Feb. 15, Tuesday, has been declared a Muslim Legal Non-Working Holiday under Presidential Decree No. 1083 also know as Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines.
The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) said the day falls on a date observed by Muslims called Maulidin Nabi or the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad.
There will be no classes and no work for both private and public offices in the provinces of Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat and the cities of Cotabato, Marawi, Kidapawan, Tacurong and Iligan.
These are the places that once belong to Region 12. (CIO)
SP recommends setting up Tourism satellite office at a mall
Iligan City, Lanao del Norte – The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Iligan recommended the setting up of a satellite office of the City Tourism Office at Gaisano Super Mall.
A resolution was passed in the regular session of the city council giving authority to Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz to put up such an office. The resolution was authored by City Councilor Marlene Young.
Councilor Young said this is one way to expose tourists to beautiful sights in the city. (CIO)
Food handling, environment protection for parolees, probationeers
Iligan City, Lanao del Norte – The Parole and Probation Office No. 2 in Iligan City announced a Food Handlers and Environment Protection Seminar for 71 parolees and probationers the other day.
The seminar will be held at the assembly hall at the second floor of the Ubaldo D. Laya Barangay Hall.
The seminar will be handled by Julius Cabili and Claudia de Gracia of the City Health Office in cooperation with Ms. Ma. Estella Bramida, who is a volunteer probation officer from the Office of Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz.
The seminar aims to train participants in the proper way of food handling to impart a skill that would be a source of employment and instill in them awareness in environmental protection. (CIO)
No comments:
Post a Comment