Day: April 24, 2024

BAGUIO CITY: The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday said the region has a 96.7 percent employment rate, with 1.3 million people in the labor force.

Citing January 2024 data, Aldrin Bahit, regional statistical specialist at Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), in a press conference, said 64.43 percent of the region’s people are part of the labor force.

‘This places the unemployment rate in our region at 3.3 percent, lower than the national rate at 4.5 percent,’ he said.

The services sector has surpassed agriculture as the top job generator, while the other job generator is the industry sector, he added.

Under the services sector, the top generators are the business process outsourcing (BPO), construction, and retail and wholesale, Emerito Narag, Department of Labor and Employment-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOLE-CAR) assistant regional director, said.

‘Tumataas na rin ang tourism at marami na ang nakaka recover sa pandemic (tourism
is increasing, and more establishments are recovering from the pandemic),’ he said.

Meanwhile, Narag said they barely receive labor-related complaints, and these are settled at the second or third conference between the parties.

‘We do not wait for the 30 days to finish the problem,’ he said.

Narag said DOLE continues to conduct ‘unannounced and unscheduled inspections in workplaces to see the condition of the workers and the employers’ compliance to the standards.’

He said they are also focusing on the booming construction industry which poses high risk to the safety of workers.

Safety violations have a fine of PHP40,000 while absence of personal protective equipment has a penalty of PHP20,000, which should be paid immediately, otherwise the fine increases daily.

‘We cannot compromise health and safety,’ Narag added.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil on Wednesday said he has received the recommendation of the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) to revoke the firearms registration and license to own and possess firearms (LTOPF) of fugitive Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

‘They (Office of the Chief PNP) are checking the legal provisions. I have it reviewed before I sign it,’ Marbil said in a message to reporters.

In a separate message, Maj. Lady Lou Gondales, FEO-Public Information Office head, said also included in the recommendation for revocation of gun permits is Ingrid Canada, Quiboloy’s co-accused in child sexual abuse charges.

The FEO’s recommendation was signed by PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Lt. Gen. Michael John Dubria.

Quiboloy has three standing arrest warrants for child and sexual abuse issued by the Davao City Regional Trial Court and human trafficking issued by a Pasig City Court.

No bail was recommended in the human trafficking
case against the preacher.

Senator Risa Hontiveros earlier called on the PNP to immediately revoke Quiboloy’s firearms, stressing that he is already a fugitive and is operating a private army.

Meanwhile, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said they are sparing no effort in finding Quiboloy.

‘The NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) being the lead agency ay nakasuporta palagi yung PNP. Kagaya ng sinabi natin, hindi na lamang limitado sa Davao Region yung ating paghahanap. Yung ating mga tracker teams ay bina-validate yung information na nare-receive natin sa mga (The PNP is supporting the NBI, being the lead agency in this matter. As what we have said, our search is not just limited to the Davao Region. Our trackers teams are also validating the information that we receive regarding the) possible location not only of Pastor Quiboloy, but as well as with other suspects,’ Fajardo told reporters in a forum in Manila.

Based on records from the Bureau of Immigration, Fajardo said Quiboloy and other suspects a
re still in the country.

Fajardo, meanwhile, said the FEO’s recommendation is based on the grounds for LTOPF revocation stipulated in Republic Act (RA) 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

‘Alam natin yung isinampang kaso sa mga akusado (We know that the cases filed against the accused) carry a lifetime imprisonment for capital offense. So dito siya mag-fall (it would fall here). Henceforth, ang (the) FEO ay nag-rekomenda para i-revoke at i-cancel yung (recommended to revoke and cancel the) LTOPF and registration of firearms para kay (for) Pastor Quiboloy at isa po niyang akusado at yan ay hinihintay na lang natin na pirmahan ng ating Chief PNP (who is now an accused, and now we are just waiting for our PNP chief to sign it),’ sge said.

She hoped that the PNP chief’s decision would be out within the week.

Source: Philippines News Agency

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY: A waste-to-energy conversion plant worth PHP25 million is being considered for construction in the city.

In a statement on Wednesday, 1st District Councilor Jay Pascual said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is offering the amount to build the facility in the landfill site in Barangay Pagalungan.

“The DTI said the waste-to-energy plant is similar to that used in Singapore, where they burn garbage for energy,” he said.

Pascual, however, said the thick smoke that the facility produces raised some concerns to the local government.

“I asked DTI what happens to the smoke, and they said it would pass through water (and it can be converted to energy). They’re only asking for the city’s support since other cities are also doing it,” he said.

Councilor Roger Abaday, also the first district and chair of the council’s environment committee, said the Department of Science and Technology is ready to provide part of the funding.

This developed after a special report by 2nd District Counc
ilor Malvern Esparcia, who recently questioned whether the city has a waste-to-energy conversion facility or a recycling plant that can accommodate recyclable household waste.

Under the city government’s “no segregation, no collection” policy, recyclable household waste is dumped in a barangay’s material recovery facility (MRF).

Esparcia said some barangays like Pagatpat have their MRFs operated by a cooperative without funding from the barangay.

While Pagatpat is fully implementing its waste segregation, Esparcia said its MRF is now filled with sacks of fertilizer, used glass and plastic bottles, and used tires.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has revoked a provision in a Metro Manila Council (MMC) resolution seeking to increase the fine for illegal parking in the metropolis from PHP1,000 up to PHP4,000.

In a short video message posted on social media Wednesday, Marcos said his decision stemmed from his confidence in Filipinos’ discipline in obeying traffic rules.

‘Para patuloy ang magandang serbisyo ng ating pamahalaan ay hindi ko pinayagan ang Joint Traffic Circular No. 01 ng Metro Manila Council tungkol sa probisyon na tataasan ang multa para sa mga illegal parking mula sa isang libong piso na hanggang apat na libong piso. Maiiwan na sa isang libong piso lamang [ang multa] (In order to continue efficient government service, I rescinded Joint Traffic Circular No. 01 of the Metro Manila Council regarding the provision that will increase the fine for illegal parking from PHP1,000 to PHP4,000. The fine will stay at PHP1,000 only),’ Marcos said.

‘While I understand the intention behind the proposal, I’ve d
ecided to prioritize discipline over penalties. Ang Bagong Pilipino ay disiplinado (The New Filipinos are disciplined). By focusing on individual responsibility, we can create long-lasting solutions to our traffic challenge,’ he added.

Composed of Metro Manila mayors, the MMC is the governing board and policy-making body of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

Source: Philippines News Agency

SORSOGON CITY: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), along with its National Advisory Council and National Technical Working Group, is assessing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to enhance its features and implementation to benefit its members.

In an interview on Wednesday, DSWD 5 (Bicol) Director Norman Laurio said more than 350 delegates from 17 regions have converged here for a four-day field visit to study the best practices and address challenges encountered in carrying out the 4Ps program in the province and the region as a whole.

“Personnel, officials from our central office, and other national government agencies will go around the towns of Sorsogon province to see the implementation of the 4Ps so that they can see the challenges being encountered by the recipients, what are the interventions that need to be done to improve the level of well-being of our beneficiaries. The purpose of 4Ps is to break the inter-generational cycle of poverty,” he said.

Laurio said part
of the activities on Wednesday was to visit five towns to learn about their best practices in implementing the 4Ps.

“We are proud to showcase the exemplary practices and initiatives that have contributed to the success of the 4Ps program. The positive responses of our local government units in support of anti-cash card pawning ordinances. Effective workforce caseload assessments, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at enhancing program operations and case management supervision. The over 80,000 children graduates, inspiring stories of former beneficiaries now serving as program staff, and instances where beneficiaries voluntarily waived their participation, signaling their improved socio-economic status,” he said.

He added that part of the activities is to conduct home visitations and interviews, with focus on education, health, compliance with program conditions, livelihood, and family development sessions.

“After the field visit, the council will have a focus group discussion addressing program issue
s, concerns, and gaps that are consolidated during the visit. The results and outputs will be an integral part of the recommendations for more effective implementation of the program,” Laurio said.

DSWD-5 data shows 405,588 active 4Ps household beneficiaries in the region as of March 2024.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: About 10 to 13 tropical cyclones are forecast to enter the country from May to October this year, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Wednesday.

One or two tropical cyclones are expected in May and June, while two to three are likely to develop per month from July to October, according to PAGASA senior weather specialist Rusy Abastillas.

“Based on analysis on the tropical cyclones the country had from 1948 to 2023 when the cyclone enters the Visayas in May or June, it usually recurves towards Luzon,” she said in an online climate forum.

In June, the cyclone could cross southern or central Luzon and recurve towards northern Luzon.

Abastillas said more rains are expected in July, with the cyclone’s forecast track usually in Luzon.

The cyclones in October usually affect Luzon and the Visayas and make landfall, she said.

Meanwhile, PAGASA senior weather specialist Remedios Ciervo said there is a 60 percent chance that La Niña would develop b
etween June and August.

Ciervo, however, said rainfall could still be low in June and July, especially in the western part of the country.

Source: Philippines News Agency