Two-tiered
wage system to encourage workers to work harder
By Apipa P. Bagumbaran
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, March 5 (PIA) -- The Regional
Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Northern Mindanao said the
implementation of the two-tiered wage system will motivate workers to work
harder and above par.
RTWPB 10 Secretary Estrella Pahalla said in a media forum Monday that the new scheme which highlights productivity and performance in wage fixing will result to improvements in workers’ productivity.
The two-tiered wage system consists of a fixed “floor or minimum wage” and a flexible wage based on the productivity of the worker and the performance of the enterprises and industry.
She said the first component is mandatory to protect vulnerable workers from undue low wages. It will be issued as a wage order and is set higher than the family poverty threshold to ensure that it meets the basic needs of workers and their families.
However, it should not exceed the average wage or the capacity of employers to pay.
The second component, which is voluntary, is an enterprise productivity incentive scheme over and above the mandatory floor or minimum wage. The RTWPBs will issue advisories as reference of workers and enterprises in the implementation of productivity incentives scheme.
Pahalla said the two-tiered wage system is the product of studies, observations and a series of consultations led by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC).
She added that it is in response to the President’s 22-point labor and employment agenda to protect workers, and strengthen tripartite cooperation.
Pahalla also clarified that the two-tiered wage scheme is just a shift in the approach of wage fixing and is still under Republic Act 6727 or the Wage Rationalization Act. (APB-PIA10)
RTWPB 10 Secretary Estrella Pahalla said in a media forum Monday that the new scheme which highlights productivity and performance in wage fixing will result to improvements in workers’ productivity.
The two-tiered wage system consists of a fixed “floor or minimum wage” and a flexible wage based on the productivity of the worker and the performance of the enterprises and industry.
She said the first component is mandatory to protect vulnerable workers from undue low wages. It will be issued as a wage order and is set higher than the family poverty threshold to ensure that it meets the basic needs of workers and their families.
However, it should not exceed the average wage or the capacity of employers to pay.
The second component, which is voluntary, is an enterprise productivity incentive scheme over and above the mandatory floor or minimum wage. The RTWPBs will issue advisories as reference of workers and enterprises in the implementation of productivity incentives scheme.
Pahalla said the two-tiered wage system is the product of studies, observations and a series of consultations led by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC).
She added that it is in response to the President’s 22-point labor and employment agenda to protect workers, and strengthen tripartite cooperation.
Pahalla also clarified that the two-tiered wage scheme is just a shift in the approach of wage fixing and is still under Republic Act 6727 or the Wage Rationalization Act. (APB-PIA10)
New hawk-owls specie sighted in Camiguin
By Jorie C. Valcorza
MAMBAJAO, Camiguin, March 5 (PIA) -- Big, fluffy,
blue-gray eyed hawk-owls were sighted by researchers in this volcanic island
paradise at the northern tip of Mindanao.
It is the only one of its kind. At night, it gives a long solo hoot that builds in intensity, with a distinctive low growling tone to attract mates or defend their territory.
Pairs of these owls often do short barking duets (rapid yapping) that always starts with a growl.
Recordings and observations made by scientists from the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation confirm the uniqueness of its attributes when compared to other hawk-owl population, not even those found in other parts Mindanao.
Researchers noted a consistent disparity in plumage and measurements, but despite this confusing physical resemblance, variability, and vocal differences, they said these only confirm that this is a new specie.
In some published interviews with the authors, they conveyed their amazement on the differences in vocalization. Experts said the owls do not learn their song; it is genetically wired in their DNA.
As such, this bird now finds its place in the global avian diversity levels, now named as Ninox leventisi Camiguin or the Camiguin Hawk-Owl, together with new owl specie also found in Cebu.
Other owl species unveiled by a team of local and international experts includes the Luzon hawk-owl (scientific name Ninox philippensis), Mindor hawk-owl (Ninox mindorensis), the Romblon hawk-owl (Ninox spilonata), the Mindanao hawk-owl (Ninox spilocephala), the Sulo hawk-owl (Ninox reyi), Cebu hawk-owl (Ninox rumseyi) and new sub- specie of Romblon hawk-owl named (Ninox spilonata fisheri).
The lead author of this taxonomy review of the Philippine Hawk-Owls is Pamela Rasmussen, together with other co-authors of this scientific initiative with a team of American, British and Filipino scientists-Desmond Allen, Nigel Collar, Bram Demeulemeseester, Robert Hutchinson, Robert Kennedy, Frank Lambert, Liza Marie Paguntalan, and Philip Godfrey Jakosalem.
Camiguin Protected Area Superintendent and Forest Management Services Chief, Roberto S. Rufino on the other hand said, further studies on the owl’s habitat and conservation is now on-going.
These owls have been sighted in Sitio Pamahawan, Barangay Pandan, a site covered under the Mt. Timpoong Protected Area and often frequented by researchers who want to explore the richness of the mountain’s biological biodiversity.
Other scientific research conducted here also found new species of moss mouse (smallest rat) and hanging-parrots (split).
Meanwhile, the province is set to launch the discovery of the Camiguin Hawk-Owl to the public on March 9, in time for the Mt. Timpoong-Hibok-Hibok Protected Area 9th Anniversary celebration.
To date, the Camiguin Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) has entered into a partnership agreement with the Mindanao State University (MSU) Iligan Institute of Technology for the conduct of another research project the seeks to collect information on the population and ecology of Camiguin endemic species, such as, the Camiguin Hawk-Owl, Camiguin Narrow-Mouthed Frog, and other species.
The team will likewise investigate the diversity and abundance of canopy and understory birds and bats and identify existing and potential threats to these species and to their habitat. (JCV-PIA 10)
It is the only one of its kind. At night, it gives a long solo hoot that builds in intensity, with a distinctive low growling tone to attract mates or defend their territory.
Pairs of these owls often do short barking duets (rapid yapping) that always starts with a growl.
Recordings and observations made by scientists from the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation confirm the uniqueness of its attributes when compared to other hawk-owl population, not even those found in other parts Mindanao.
Researchers noted a consistent disparity in plumage and measurements, but despite this confusing physical resemblance, variability, and vocal differences, they said these only confirm that this is a new specie.
In some published interviews with the authors, they conveyed their amazement on the differences in vocalization. Experts said the owls do not learn their song; it is genetically wired in their DNA.
As such, this bird now finds its place in the global avian diversity levels, now named as Ninox leventisi Camiguin or the Camiguin Hawk-Owl, together with new owl specie also found in Cebu.
Other owl species unveiled by a team of local and international experts includes the Luzon hawk-owl (scientific name Ninox philippensis), Mindor hawk-owl (Ninox mindorensis), the Romblon hawk-owl (Ninox spilonata), the Mindanao hawk-owl (Ninox spilocephala), the Sulo hawk-owl (Ninox reyi), Cebu hawk-owl (Ninox rumseyi) and new sub- specie of Romblon hawk-owl named (Ninox spilonata fisheri).
The lead author of this taxonomy review of the Philippine Hawk-Owls is Pamela Rasmussen, together with other co-authors of this scientific initiative with a team of American, British and Filipino scientists-Desmond Allen, Nigel Collar, Bram Demeulemeseester, Robert Hutchinson, Robert Kennedy, Frank Lambert, Liza Marie Paguntalan, and Philip Godfrey Jakosalem.
Camiguin Protected Area Superintendent and Forest Management Services Chief, Roberto S. Rufino on the other hand said, further studies on the owl’s habitat and conservation is now on-going.
These owls have been sighted in Sitio Pamahawan, Barangay Pandan, a site covered under the Mt. Timpoong Protected Area and often frequented by researchers who want to explore the richness of the mountain’s biological biodiversity.
Other scientific research conducted here also found new species of moss mouse (smallest rat) and hanging-parrots (split).
Meanwhile, the province is set to launch the discovery of the Camiguin Hawk-Owl to the public on March 9, in time for the Mt. Timpoong-Hibok-Hibok Protected Area 9th Anniversary celebration.
To date, the Camiguin Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) has entered into a partnership agreement with the Mindanao State University (MSU) Iligan Institute of Technology for the conduct of another research project the seeks to collect information on the population and ecology of Camiguin endemic species, such as, the Camiguin Hawk-Owl, Camiguin Narrow-Mouthed Frog, and other species.
The team will likewise investigate the diversity and abundance of canopy and understory birds and bats and identify existing and potential threats to these species and to their habitat. (JCV-PIA 10)
Patunob Festival: A way to renew vows, celebrate good health
By Recthie T. Paculba
To honor their patron saint - Our Lady of Lourdes, people from Binuangan hold several activities which include a parade, cultural show, trade fair, fluvial float and boat race.
Binuangan Municipal Planning Officer Manuel L. Saligumba, over-all chairman of the 2013 festivity, said for this year, eight barangays participated in the cultural show and fluvial float. These are Poblacion, Mosangot, Mabini, Dampias, Valdeconcha, Kitamban, Kitambis and Nabataan.
“We traditionally celebrate the Patunob Festival on February 10 to 12. On the third day of celebration, our parish priest Rev. Ricardo A. Dancela, SSJV, leads the fluvial float accompanied by Binuangan fisher folks and devotees,” Saligumba said.
During the fluvial float, devotees say their prayers and sing songs of love to their patron saint. The parish priest also gives his prayers for the safety, good health and bountiful blessings of the fishermen.
The boats, which are part of the fluvial float contest, accompany the Our Lady of Lourdes float and are decorated with flowers and colorful streamers. The criteria in choosing the winners of the said contest depends on the creativity, relevance to the celebration and visual effect to the viewers.
After the fluvial float, Rev. Dancela puts on the Our Lady of Lourdes apparition on the head and shoulders of the devotees.
“Such act is a way to show that we are seeking for good health from the Birhen sa Lourdes and it is also a manifestation of faith renewal, and submission to the Blessed Virgin Mary,” Saligumba explained.
Saligumba said about 5,000 visitors arrive annually for the festival and to seek healing from illnesses. He said the water that flows out from the feet of the Birhen sa Lourdes apparition situated beside the church is said to be miraculous and many residents and even visitors attest to its healing power.
Our Lady of Lourdes is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary which was invoked by the Roman Catholics to honor the Marian apparitions which are said to have taken place before various individuals on separate occasions around Lourdes, France. (RTP/PIA10)
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