Category: General

MANILA: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is traveling to Germany and the Czech Republic next week to bolster labor and economic relations with the two European states.

He will hold a working trip to Germany from March 11 to 13 and embark on a state visit to the Czech Republic from March 14 to 15 upon the invitation of the leaders of the two countries.

On both trips, Marcos will meet with his counterparts and prominent German and Czech business firms interested in renewable energy, manufacturing, health care, and innovation, among others.

In Germany, Marcos will witness the signing of various deals, including a joint declaration of intent (JDI) on strengthening cooperation in the maritime sector.

The said JDI will facilitate maritime trade and the mobility of Philippine and Germans on commercial vessels.

Manila and Berlin will also formalize a cooperation program between the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and Germany’s Federal Institute for Vocational and Training.

In the Czech Rep
ublic, the two governments will come out with a joint communique on the establishment of a labor consultations mechanism, which aims to enhance cooperation for the safe and orderly migration of Filipino workers and the protection of their rights and welfare.

In a Palace briefing on Friday, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Maria Elena Algabre said that the Czech Republic had announced its interest in employing more Filipino workers.

By May 2024, Algabre said Prague will increase the yearly quota for Filipinos allowed to work in the country from 5,000 to 10,000.

At present, about 7,000 Filipinos are working in the Czech Republic in skilled and professional work.

The same also goes for Germany, which is keen to hire Filipinos in other professions other than health care.

Algabre believes this demand is driven mainly by the Filipino nationals’ good work ethics and skills.

‘Whenever we talk, especially from our counterparts in Europe, they really appreciate the work ethic of our countr
ymen and their talent and skills. So they do get a premium in terms of recruitment and benefits,’ she said.

Like-minded countries

Algabre underscored the importance of the two trips in advancing the country’s development agenda and improving ties with like-minded countries in the region.

‘The president’s international engagements is of course in support of his development agenda– security, economic– and that will redound to the benefits of our countrymen,’ she said.

‘For Germany and the Czech Republic, the visit will focus in strengthening partnerships with like-minded countries in Europe, especially the promotion of a rules-based international order,’ she added.

Algabre said the two European stops also stemmed from the fact that these countries share values for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

On top of economic and labor ties, Algabre said the Philippines would convey interest in expanding cooperation in other areas, including defense.

Marcos’ upcoming Europe visit comes following the
productive Manila trips of Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Fiala and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

Joining his delegation are First Lady Marie Louise Araneta-Marcos, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and his key Cabinet officials, including Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Department of Migrant Workers officer in charge Undersecretary Hans Cacdac and Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil.

Source: Philippines News Agency

BAGUIO: The city government sees more men helping promote women’s welfare and rights with the creation of the group Men Opposed to Violence Against Women Everywhere (MOVE).

Councilor Elmer Datuin, chair of the Committee on Social Services, Senior Citizens and Women, said MOVE organizations will be present at the city level as well as in 128 villages.

“We will have the greater participation of men as far as violence against women is concerned. We are promoting the suppression of violence against women through the participation of men,’ he said in an interview on the sidelines of the International Women’s Day celebration at People’s Park here on Friday.

“The men will be more aware that no violence against women must be committed because men and women are partners in violence against women,” he added.

Amelita Cabrera, assistant director for operations of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Cordillera Administrative Region (DSWD-CAR), said in a separate interview that they helped pushed for the c
reation of MOVE organizations in different national line agencies.

“Men and women should be partners. It is no longer in every man’s success there is a woman behind, but a woman beside, ” Cabrera said.

She also said that with equality in the workplace, women can show their true potentials and be at their best.

She said that in rural areas, some women are unaware of or refuse to acknowledge their rights due to obsolete practices and beliefs that men are superior.

This situation is, however, slowly being addressed by various DSWD programs that tap families to ensure gender equality.

“Slowly we are getting to the time when rural women will speak up when their rights are violated, ”

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Department of Finance (DOF) on Friday cited the government strategies that will boost the quantity and quality of employment.

In a statement, the DOF said the Growth-Enhancing Actions and Resolutions (GEARs) plan will ensure that the country is on track to achieve a growth-enhancing fiscal consolidation, which will in turn foster an environment that is conducive to employment-generating investments.

Under the GEARS plan, the DOF will act fast on investments through the swift implementation of pro-business reforms, improvements in the regulatory regime, reduction in the cost of doing business, and addressing constraints.

These include pushing for amendments to the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act to further address investor concerns, tailor-fit incentives, and attract more strategic investments into the country.

‘The ease of doing business is what builds investment-led growth that creates more quality jobs in a land whose talents far outstrip opportunities that
could harness them,’ Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said.

The government will also implement the “Build Better More” program to generate more employment and investments.

The annual infrastructure spending is targeted to hit 5 to 6 percent of the gross domestic product.

The government will, likewise, leverage private sector capital and expertise through the recently enacted Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code to cut the infrastructure backlog, free up fiscal space for social services, and generate jobs that boost domestic consumption.

Recto said the DOF aims to achieve its revenue collection targets by further enhancing tax administration efficiency to provide more funds for education, upskilling and worker training, health care, and other human capital development programs that will improve the preparedness of Filipinos for quality job opportunities.

‘Our greatest asset is our people. This is something even countries worldwide recognize. Thus, we will prioritize empowering them further by investing heav
ily in human capital development to prime and prepare them for the best and the brightest opportunities ahead,’ Recto said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

LAOAG: A PHP30-million cold storage facility will rise in this Ilocos Norte capital, eyed to reduce the fish spoilage rate.

Vanessa Abegail Dagdagan, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Ilocos Region (BFAR-1) senior aquaculturist, told the Philippine News Agency on Friday that the two-tonnage facility funded by the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) will benefit some 8,500 fisherfolk, farmers, and traders.

Construction at the Ilocos Norte Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Center will start this week and is expected to be completed in three months.

‘The cold storage facility hopes to address post-harvest losses, thereby increasing the income of those in the agricultural sector,’ Dagdagan said.

She said the facility will cater not just to fisherfolk from Ilocos Norte but also to other perishable goods and value-adding products in the agriculture and livestock industry.

According to BFAR, the level of spoilage rate (25 to 40 percent) in the province is relatively high because of lack
of post-harvest equipment like blast freezers, ice-making machines, and facilities like cold storage warehouses and fish landing sites.

Thus, the provincial government is also encouraging fishers to process their products into value-adding items, not just fresh catch.

Aside from Laoag, another cold storage facility will also be erected in Pagudpud town.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: More than 60 percent of Pag-IBIG Fund members in Negros Oriental now engage in virtual transactions, an official said Thursday.

Members of the Pag-IBIG Fund in Negros Oriental were urged to sign up for its virtual services for seamless and faster transactions, such as the so-called 3-7-20 working days program.

Felix A. Garan, Pag-IBIG Fund-Negros Oriental branch head, said in an interview that online transactions with their office have breached the 60 percent mark as many members have embraced transacting through its website and other digital platforms.

‘The virtual version is to ensure that Pag-IBIG can cater to its members and clients at the earliest time possible as the agency supports the Bagong Pilipinas program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,’ he said in mixed English and Cebuano.

Certain transactions are now made and completed within three, seven, and 20 working days at the maximum, depending on the type of service availed of and the simplicity or complexity of a member’s record of contr
ibutions and other concerns, he said.

There are cases wherein transactions were addressed or completed on the same day, he added.

Garan admitted that Pag-IBIG still receives complaints or faces challenges, particularly in the updating or reconciliation of members’ records.

However, he said, with the aid of technology, Pag-IBIG hopes to address or eliminate these problems soon.

The Pag-IBIG office in this capital city still has long queues of people transacting with the agency because many people have no access to the Internet.

Garan expressed hope that this could be minimized soon or once the majority of its members are already enrolled in the Virtual Pag-IBIG website.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The provinces of Siquijor, Camiguin and other popular and underrated Philippine destinations were featured in the world’s largest travel trade show, the Internationale Tourismus-Börse (ITB) 2024 Convention in Berlin, Germany.

The Philippine pavilion at the three-day show hosted business-to-business (B2B) meetings of the participating sellers from 28 private companies and booth visitors from different regions of the world, with spotlight also placed on Bohol, Cebu and Ilocos Sur.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Thursday said Manila’s participation ensures that the presence of the Philippines is sustained for its international visitor source markets.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco led the Philippine delegation with 60 other co-exhibitors from the public and the private sector.

Among those who flew for ITB Berlin were Tourism Promotions Board Chief Operating Officer Margarita Nograles, representatives from hotel and resort enterprises, destination management companies, travel and tour agencies
, and government agencies such as the Philippine Retirement Authority and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority.

Representatives from the local government units of Bohol, Camiguin, Siquijor, and Sipalay, Negros Occidental were also present.

‘Our presence at ITB Berlin underscores our shared commitment to elevating and expanding the demand for Philippine tourism,” Frasco said.

“As one united Philippines delegation, we will showcase to the world the very best qualities of the Philippines — our distinct culture, our unique product offerings, and of course, our greatest asset — the warmth and love of the Filipino people,” she added.

ITB Berlin runs from March 5 to 7 at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds and is expected to welcome 24,000 attendees from across the globe. (PNA)

Source: Philippines News Agency