Thursday, May 16, 2019

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Friday, May 17, 2019

Pag-IBIG Fund reminds employers on penalty condonation programs

Manila, May 17 -- In a move to improve the plight of more Filipino workers, the top executives of Pag-IBIG Fund have recently reminded employers to settle their obligations before its penalty condonation programs expire by mid-year.

“Pag-IBIG Fund continues to heed the call of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to provide social benefits to more Filipinos. Pag-IBIG savings is one of the workers’ benefits so this is why we are going after unregistered and delinquent employers who are not giving what is due to their employees. We are offering penalty condonation programs to employers to improve compliance. This way the employees get to enjoy their Pag-IBIG membership while we offer payment plans under our penalty condonation programs to ease the burden on employers. It’s a win-win situation for all parties involved,” said Secretary Eduardo D. del Rosario, chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees.

The Fund is currently offering two penalty condonation programs - one under Circular No. 416 for employers who did not deduct Pag-IBIG monthly savings from employees and another under Circular No. 411 for those who deducted monthly savings but did not remit these to Pag-IBIG Fund.

Under the two circulars, unregistered and delinquent employers will be given two payment options and terms that best suit their capacity.

Employers covered by Circular No. 411 only have until June 26, 2019 to settle while employers covered by Circular No. 416 only have until August 13, 2019 to do so.

So far, more than 6,100 unregistered and delinquent employers availed of the penalty condonation programs. They have collectively remitted P260 million in monthly savings for over 194,000 employees who were previously deprived of the benefit. With the employers’ compliance, these employees now have an updated membership and can fully enjoy the benefits and services of Pag-IBIG Fund.

“Pag-IBIG Fund is offering the penalty condonation program to help employers comply with the law. Since 2017, we already helped delinquent employers save a total of P200 million in penalties. As we work to allow more workers to become members of the Fund, we want to make sure that their monthly savings are remitted properly and on time by their employers because it is their right. We would like to remind them that under RA 9679, saving for the future is a joint effort of employees and employers,” said Pag-IBIG Fund chief executive officer Acmad Rizaldy P. Moti. (Pag-IBIG Fund/PIA-Caraga)

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

                                                         

RDC Caraga Prepares for Reorganization, Calls for PSR Nominees

           The Caraga Regional Development Council (RDC) is currently preparing to reorganize the Council in view of the 2019 national and local elections. One of the main steps in the reorganization process is the selection of Private Sector Representatives (PSRs), which shall constitute 25 percent of the total membership of the Council pursuant to Executive Order No. 325, Series of 1996.

          The RDC PSRs shall serve as champions in pursuing the development of the Region’s comparative advantages and will help address the challenges of the sector that he/she will represent in the Council.

          The RDC is now calling for nominations of PSRs with the following qualifications:

a.     Citizenship. PSR nominees must be Filipino citizens of legal age, not otherwise disqualified by law, with proven track record in socio-economic development in the region, and must be willing and able to participate in all RDC activities.

b.     Occupation. A PSR nominee must not hold any government position, whether appointive or elective, and must not receive any remuneration (i.e. salary) from the government while serving as private sector representative to the RDC.

c.     Track record. Must have a proven track record in socioeconomic development in the region especially in the sector represented or in his/her respective area for at least three (3) years and must be able to execute the functions and responsibilities of RDC PSR.

d.     Nomination. The nominee must be formally nominated, by a qualified PSO, which is duly registered/ accredited with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or accrediting national government agencies (NGA) and local government units (LGUs).

PSR SECTORAL REPRESENTATION

	Sector	Areas of Interest
1	Fishery	Fishery production, productivity, trade, and artisanal fisherfolk per RA 8425 or the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act
2	Agriculture	Agriculture production, productivity, trade, and farmer-peasant per RA 8425 or the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act

	Sector	Areas of Interest
3	Forestry	Lumber/timber production, productivity and trade
4	Mineral	Mining production and processing, productivity, and trade
5	Ecotourism	Eco-tourism and heritage tourism
6	Business	Real estate, trade, investment, commerce, manufacturing
7	Environment	Environment and natural resources, watershed management, solid waste and sanitation
8	Labor	Labor organizations per EO 384, Series of 1996
9	Basic Sector	Disadvantaged sectors of Caraga region such as farmer-peasant, artisanal fisher folk, women, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, youth and students, children, urban poor, and cooperatives
10	Indigenous People	Indigenous people and cultural communities
11	Education	Basic and higher education, vocational and technical education, human resource development
12	Health	Health and sanitation, nutrition, family planning
13	Development Administration	Peace and development, governance, disaster risk management and development planning
14	Logistics	Transportation, energy, water and utilities, telecommunications, information technology, irrigation, flood control, construction, other infrastructure activities

  WHO MAY NOMINATE

           The PSR nominee must be formally nominated by qualified Private Sector Organization (PSO), Civil Society Organization (CSO), and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) duly accredited by the RDC. The PSO must have the following qualifications to be able to participate in the PSR selection process:

1. Legal Personality – The PSO/CSO/NGO must be registered with the SEC or accredited by any government agency and LGU, which registers/accredits organizations and association for the purpose of bestowing legal personality;

b.     Performance – The PSO/CSO/NGO must have conducted pertinent sector/subsector activities for at least three (3) years from date of registration in the region;

3. Nationality – The PSO/CSO/NGO must be a Filipino organization. PSO/CSO/NGO managed by foreigners, whose officers and members are primarily composed of foreign nationals, or are considered branches or affiliates of foreign organizations are disqualified;
4. Scope of Operation – The PSO/CSO/NGO must operate or cover at least two (2) provinces/cities in the region or region-wide; and

e.     Others. An organization that has government officials and employees as ex-officio members of the Governing Board or whose operations are funded by the government are disqualified.  Financial support by the government to specific projects will not be considered as funding support to operations.

SELECTION PROCESS

           The RDC-PSR nomination and confirmation process is guided by the following steps:

I.    Prequalification

1.     The RDC Secretariat shall generate the list of accredited PSO/CSO/NGO from government agencies and LGUs and invitation to prospective PSOs will be sent out.

2.     Interested PSOs shall submit a filled-out PSO Profile Sheet (Annex A) and certified true copies of supporting documents such as certificate of registration from SEC or accreditation from any government agencies and LGU and proof of project engagement/s on the sector that the organization is interested to represent.

3.     The RDC Secretariat shall conduct desk validation on the submissions of the interested PSO/CSO/NGO.

4.     The RDC Secretariat shall prepare a validated list of qualified PSO/CSO/NGO.

5.     The RDC Secretariat shall send-out letters to qualified PSO/CSO/NGO to participate in the PSR nomination process.

II.   Nomination of PSRs

1.     The qualified PSO/CSO/NGO shall submit a filled-out PSR and Voter’s Nomination Form (Annex B) and PSR Nominee Information Sheet (Annex C).

2.     A PSO/CSO/NGO can only have a maximum of one nominee per sector. If a PSO is qualified for two sectors, the said PSO can have a maximum of two PSR nominees, one in each sector.

3.     A qualified PSO/CSO/NGO and its subsidiaries and affiliates shall be counted as one PSO/CSO/NGO only, except in cases where such affiliates or subsidiaries have distinct and separate legal personalities

4.     The nominee may at the same time be the voter unless the PSO/CSO/NGO so designates an authorized voter during the selection process.

5.     From the submissions of interested PSOs, the RDC Secretariat shall prepare the list of nominees and voters per sector.

III.   Voting and Proclamation

1.    From the submissions of interested PSOs, the Secretariat shall prepare the list of nominees and voters per sector.

2.     The RDC Secretariat shall prepare and send-out letters inviting the PSR nominees and voters to attend the PSR Selection Convention at least two weeks prior to the event.

3.     The RDC Secretariat shall convene the official nominees and the official voters representing the qualified PSOs for the purpose of selecting the 14 PSRs to the Council.

4.     During the PSR selection convention, the RDC Secretariat shall orient the official nominees and voters about the RDC and the qualifications and duties of the PSR nominees.

5.     Participants shall then be divided into four breakout groups per Sectoral Committee. The PSR nominees shall present the platform/development agenda that they want to pursue during their term if included as among the PSRs.

6.     The selection shall be administered/ facilitated by the respective Sectoral Committee Secretariat and shall be done simultaneously through secret balloting.

a)     Every PSO voter shall be entitled with one (1) vote.

b)     In cases where an occurrence of a tie among PSR nominees takes place in the first round of voting, the nominees will decide among themselves on who will assume the slot via consensus. Otherwise, the nominees may opt to draw by lots or to toss coin.

                                     

c)     In cases wherein there are only two PSR nominees vying for a slot in one sector, the nominees will decide among themselves on who will assume the slot via consensus or may opt to draw by lots or to toss coin.

7.    The RDC Secretariat shall tally the votes garnered and proclaim the nominees with the highest number of votes as the representative for that sector.

8.    The selected PSRs shall then sign the Pledge of Commitment prepared by the RDC Secretariat.

IV.             Confirmation

1.     The RDC Ex-Officio members shall confirm the selected PSRs during the RDC Reorganizational Meeting that will be held after the selection of the new set of PSRs.

2.     Upon confirmation by the RDC, the PSRs shall read before the Council the Pledge of Commitment during the RDC Full Council Meeting                   

DEADLINE AND CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES

Activity	Date and Time
I.      Pre-Qualification a)  Submission of filled-out PSO Profile Sheet and certified true copies of supporting documents	May 29, 2019; 5:00 P.M.
II.     Nomination of PSRs a)  Submission of filled-out PSR and Voter’s Nomination Form (Annex B) and PSR Nominee Information Sheet (Annex C)	June 12, 2019; 5:00 P.M
III.   Voting and Proclamation a)  PSR Selection Convention	1st week of July 2019
IV.  Confirmation a)  Caraga RDC Reorganizational Meeting	2nd week of July 2019.

Please submit the filled-out forms (Annex A, B, and C) to the NEDA Caraga Regional Office, J. Rosales Avenue, Butuan City. The forms are available at the RDC Secretariat’s Office (NEDA Caraga) and can also be downloaded from the NEDA Caraga website (caraga.neda.gov.ph).

The active involvement of the private sector in the RDC is means of encouraging people’s participation in governance and ensuring that their issues and concerns are mainstreamed in the development process. The Regional Development Council encourages the private sector to actively participate in the PSR selection process.

     For more information, please contact us at (085)-342 5774 or caraga.neda@gmail.com.

Thursday, May 16, 2019

Pag-IBIG Fund posts P9-B net income in Q1 2019

BUTUAN CITY, May 16 -- Pag-IBIG Fund recorded higher earnings in the first three months of the year as demand for its loan products surge and collections continue to improve.

For the first quarter of 2019, the Fund’s gross income amounted to P12.69 billion while net income reached P8.96 billion, up by 17 percent and 11 percent, respectively, from its earnings in the same quarter last year.

“In January, we reported that Pag-IBIG Fund recorded its highest ever income of P33.17 billion in 2018, which is 10 percent better than the previous year. The double-digit growth of our income continues in the first quarter of 2019. Because Pag-IBIG Fund stands as one of the most profitable government corporations, we remain in a strong position to provide social services to more Filipino workers. This is in line with President Duterte’s directive of providing social benefits to Filipinos, especially the low-wage earners,” said secretary Eduardo del Rosario, who heads both the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and the Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees.

From January to March this year, demand for Pag-IBIG Fund’s loan programs spiked. The amount of home loans released surged 22 percent year-on-year to P17.21 billion, while the number of borrowers increased 13 percent to 19,696.

Short-term loans (STL) or cash releases rose eight percent to P12.05 billion as the number of borrowers grew to 593,269, which is 12 percent higher compared to the same period last year.

Collections, on the other hand, amounted to P40.24 billion, an overall increase of 13 percent year-on-year. Collected members’ monthly savings jumped 16 percent to P11.15 billion.

Meanwhile, payments for home loans amounted to P15.25 billion and STL payments totaled P13.67 billion, growing 15 percent and eight percent, respectively.  

“While the first three months of the year are usually slow for most companies, we have once again bucked the trend as we continue to achieve double digit growth. The demand for our home and cash loan programs exceeded our projections by a considerable margin and marked increases from the same period last year. As of March, our total assets have reached P552 billion, which is about 12 percent higher than last year’s figures. Our Q1 financials prove once again how robust the workers’ fund really is. We achieved our best year yet in 2018. If the upward trend continues in the next three quarters, we may well be on the way to achieve another best year in 2019,” said Pag-IBIG Fund chief executive officer Acmad Rizaldy Moti. (Pag-IBIG Fund/PIA-Caraga)

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Ex-NPAs urge Caraga rebels to rejoin gov't

By Venus L. Garcia

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, May 15 (PIA) -- The former members of the new people’s army (NPA) terrorist group are urging their former allies who are still active in the resistance against the government to find their way back to the mainstream society.

Edward Gultia, a teacher who previously served the Tribal Filipino Program in Surigao del Sur (TRIFPSS) for 19 years, revealed that the school is not accredited by the Department of Education and is run by New People’s Army (NPA).

“What were inculcated to us during exclusive gatherings in a secluded and mountainous part in Surigao del Sur where these NPA rebels inhabit are plainly the same with what were being taught to the students of TRIFPSS,” revealed Gultia, adding that the learners would grow up hating the government.

Sonny Boy Acebedo, a former student of the TRIFPSS, also shared how the NPA rebels had indoctrinated the students by influencing them to adopt radically different beliefs against the government, and by teaching them on how to manipulate and use firearms at a very young age.

According also to Datu Jomar “Nahikyad” Bocales, municipal tribal chieftain of Lianga, Surigao del Sur, the ideas and principles taught in the TRIFPSS and Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development, Inc. (ALCADEV) schools are contrary to the democratic system of government, wherein the Lumad students were motivated for rebellion.

This, according to him, was confirmed by his contacts within the circle of the NPA movement.

Rico Maca, indigenous peoples mandatory representative (IPMR) of San Miguel municipality in Surigao del Sur, also said that the NPA operators of the TRIFPSS and ALCADEV schools barred the implementation of DepEd’s Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd) curriculum framework in the area.

“It’s very obvious to see how these TRIFPSS and NPA are closely related. In fact, they are even into killing of the Lumad leaders who support the imposition of IPEd in the communities," he said.

The former NPAs hope for the active rebels to return and profess their loyalty anew to government so they could live a more meaningful and peaceful life. (VLG/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

Workers trained on new communication techniques 

BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte, May 15 -- About a hundred of population workers and volunteers from different areas of Caraga were trained on effective Interpersonal Communication and Counseling (IPC/C), as a core strategy for facilitating behavior change among clients leading to the attainment of desired healthy behaviors.

In the IPCC on Family Planning (FP) training workshop conducted by the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM)-Caraga, Director Alexander A. Makinano disclosed that the three batches of non-health service providers including population workers were equipped with practical information, skills, techniques, and resources to improve the quality and assess the effectiveness of interpersonal communication, counseling, and group communication to strengthen the delivery of health services at their respective area.

POPCOM emphasized that the training workshop helped the frontline non-health service providers maximize the one-on-one provider-client interactions to accurately assess the health concern of the client that caused to visit to the facility and offer a viable solution.

The agency, on the other hand, stressed that most provider-group interactions are organized for health education, and the conduct of various family planning demand generation activities like Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning class, and Usapan sessions.

The training workshop also helped enhance the effectiveness of non-health service providers in conducting these sessions to enable their clients or the couples, particularly those with unmet need on modern FP, to practice modern FP method of their choice and eliminate unintended pregnancies among social-economically poor women. (POPCOM Caraga/PIA Caraga)

PPA remits record-breaking P9.4-B in dividend, taxes for 2018

MANILA, May 15 -- The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) continued its strong fiscal performance in 2018 as it remits P3.5 billion in dividends to the national coffers for 2018.

On top of this, the state-owned agency likewise paid P5.9 billion in taxes for 2018, more than half of total taxes paid in the last 10 years.

Overall, the PPA is contributing a record-breaking amount of P9.4 billion in terms of dividends and taxes to the national government for the past year, which can be used for the government’s various social welfare, health and other projects.

Latest data from the PPA showed that total dividends for 2018 amounts to P3.5 billion, setting another all-time record for the PPA. Last year, PPA remitted some P3.1 billion, its highest recorded dividend in the last 30 years. Dividend payment for 2018 overshadowed last year’s dividend and marks PPA’s highest dividend payment in its history.

While growth percentage slowed down for the period covered, the increase in dividend remains high as the 2018 figure is 13 percent higher than the 2017 dividend.

PPA is mandated to remit at least 50 percent of its annual net income to the national government after it was granted fiscal autonomy during the term of President Corazon C. Aquino.

Meanwhile, total revenues for 2018 reached P17.49 billion or 8.13 percent higher than the target for the year. The amount is also higher by P14 percent compared to the total revenues recorded a year earlier.

According to PPA general manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago, the agency’s performance in the past two years has placed the PPA on stable financial ground which will enable it to continue sustaining port services of the highest standards.

“This was achieved amid the agency’s massive infrastructure spending in port repair, modernization and development in support of the government’s Build, Build, Build program for the Philippines to achieve the ‘golden age’ of infrastructure,” Santiago said.

Santiago added that the streamlining of port processes and aligning it with global standards coupled with strategic port development and modernization have greatly contributed to this strong performance.

“This is also a testament to the resiliency of the Philippine economy as it continues to thrive despite external pressures from different foreign economies,” Santiago said.

With this, the PPA is expected to once again land in the higher echelon of the ‘Billionaires Club’ of Government Owned and Controlled Corporations contributing billions of pesos in dividends to the National Government. PPA is a consistent member of this club in the last decade but belonging only to the bottom half of the club. It only upped the ante when the new administration took over in 2016. (Philippine Ports Authority/PIA-Caraga)

POPCOM eyes to end spousal violence

BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte, May 15 -- Mainstreaming gender equality as part of its continuing advocacy to address issues in population management, Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) Caraga heightens its implementation of various Gender Responsive Population Strategies (GRPops) at the local level, in close coordination with program partners and stakeholders.

POPCOM emphasized that the interrelationship between gender and population matters have been continuously taken into account in the implementation of the Philippine Population Management Program activities through its three major program components, namely Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning (RPFP), Adolescent Health and Development (AHD), and Population and Development (POPDEV) Integration.

POPCOM hopes that everyone in the community shall actively support the various programs of the government.

The Commission also believes that through concerted efforts of the various sectors in the society and when there is equality, Filipinos can build stronger, healthier families, strengthen communities, and create a safe environment for their children.

To further intensify its advocacy, POPCOM Caraga facilitated Gender Sensitivity Training among personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-Butuan City Jail and the local government employees of San Agustin Municipality, Surigao del Sur.

The activity oriented the participants on Gender Concepts including gender issues that exist in the organization and households.

Director Alexander A. Makinano of POPCOM Caraga reiterated that population issues cut across gender issues such that human sexuality, gender roles and expectations, and gender socialization ultimately affect values, attitudes, and emotions manifested by the individual.

To recall, in the preliminary results of the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Caraga has the highest percentage (15%) of ever-married women age 15-49 who ever experienced sexual violence committed by their husband/partner among other regions.

On the 2013 NDHS, Caraga Region was previously placed third with 7.6 percent.

Violence against women and children (VAWC) is one common type of gender-based violence that exists in the society and it is one of the barriers to women empowerment and development. (POPCOM Caraga/PIA Caraga)

POPCOM, DOLE boost family planning in private firms

BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte, May 15 -- Various private companies with 200 workers or more in the region were trained on Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning (RPFP), organized by the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) Caraga in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Caraga.

As agency members of the POPCOM Board of Commissioners (BOC), POPCOM underscored that the activity aimed to assimilate the RPFP program in their respective workplace, incorporate in the HR budget, and extend the program to people’s organizations under their agency. 

Provision of RPFP information and services in the workplace both in the public and private sectors is one of the priority strategies under the said program.

The RPFP priority strategies are geared towards assisting couples to achieve their desired number, timing and spacing of children within the demand of responsible parenthood through effective family planning.

To further heighten its advocacy, POPCOM Caraga has recently conducted another RPFP in the Workplace Seminar-Workshop in Butuan City and Surigao del Norte, targeted the private companies with 200 employees and above. (POPCOM Caraga/PIA Caraga)