Monthly Archives: September 2009

The jury is still out on office romance. A Workplace Romance Survey, conducted in the United States in 2006 and covering 493 human resource professionals and 409 employees (for whatever worth it may have, this is like the surveys on who is the leading presidentiable as of a certain date chosen with the result in…

Through the years, the advocacy to enact a Magna Carta for informal sector workers has gained ground and strength. PATAMABA’s Josephine Parilla says “Broad based policy advocacy for a rights-based legislation for informal workers . . . took a significant leap with the formation of MAGCAISA [Magna Carta for the Informal Sector Alliance] in October…

According to a presentation by Josephine Parilla, one of our country’s staunchest advocates of the rights, dignity and equitable treatment of workers in the informal sector and a moving spirit of PATAMABA (the Pambansang Kalipunan ng mga Manggagawang Impormal sa Pilipinas),these are what House Bill 1955 can offer to workers in the informal economy:

IF luring the informal sector entrepreneurs and workers to join the formal economy will add up to P100 billion to government revenues annually, why doesn’t the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) do something about it?

Dr. Victor Abola of the economics department of the University of Asia & the Pacific (UA&P), which has done an indepth study on the informal sector, has told The Manila Times that every year the government loses up to P100 billion in revenues from the informal sector.

The informal sector expands as more Filipinos become jobless and companies close down or downsize and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) sees more of this happening.

The survey on Sept. 5 and 6 conducted by the Social Weather Station (SWS) commissioned by businessmen led by Ramon “Boy Blue” del Rosario, chairman of the Makati Business Club, and former Sen. Serge Osmeña, a fellow political detainee of the late Eugenio Geny Lopez, founder of the then newly revived ABS-CBN after the Edsa…

Thirty-two distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were repatriated yesterday through the efforts of former President Joseph Estrada and Senate Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will don the role of observer during the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) review of the Philippines’ implementation of the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention No. 87.

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The World Bank Wednesday urged the Group of 20 nations to step up aid to the poorest countries, saying they lack 11.6 billion dollars for critical spending to weather the global economic crisis.

A 25-year old construction worker died instantly while nine others were injured Monday after the flooring of a building undergoing construction collapsed in Quezon City. Initial investigation showed that the incident happended at around 1:45pm at a two-storey commerical building undergoing construction along Mauban Street in Barangay San Jose.

Economic growth in the Philippines is expected to pick up in the second half of 2009 on the back of higher consumer spending, an official of the National Economic and Development Authority said.

MANILA, Philippines – State-run health insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is getting P5 billion in fresh funds from the proposed P1.541trillion national budget for 2010, Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas announced yesterday.

(First of three parts) In 2006, the endorsement by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to the Secretary of Finance for his approval of the draft revenue regulations (RR) on transfer pricing (TP), was announced to the public. Since then tax practitioners around the world have been expecting the formal issuance of the first Philippine…

AVARICE: The way the association of private hospitals has been insisting on raising their already exorbitant fees, one shudders at the thought that it seems even the government cannot stop the gouging of the sick and the dying.

It’s now or never for controversial bill—solons MANILA, Philippines—The leadership of the House of Representatives will meet on Tuesday to finalize the rules and procedures for the debates on the reproductive health bill in order to bring the controversial measure to a vote before the 14th Congress adjourns next year.

A BUS group on the Edsa route is adopting the global positioning system to track its rolling stocks. Madelene Guillermo, Mega Manila Operators and Drivers Alliance president, said the upgrade would enable them to maximize fuel efficiency, help prevent traffic accidents and make the transport business viable.

VICE President Noli de Castro has rejected the request of subdivision developers and condominium builders for an easing of a circular, which sets a minimum level of development before they can start selling.

HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque III has assured drug makers that increased sales volume will offset the P7-billion losses they incurred from the price cut in medicines since Sept. 15.

In the wake of continuing debates between pro-lifers and advocates of the controversial Lagman bill (what is euphemistically called Reproductive Health and Population Management Act, a coverup of the promotion of the use of artificial contraceptives by the State), there’s need to clarify certain points. Real issues have been beclouded.

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The global economy is clawing its way back from synchronized recession, led by growth in Asia and a tepid rebound in other regions, Group of 20 leaders will likely affirm at their upcoming summit. The G-20 leaders will consider unwinding the unprecedented support to help recovery, but are expected to be cautious in…

The TUCP also cautioned the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund) against raising its mandatory contribution rates, saying this would unduly burden its 7.4 million member-workers.

CEBU, Philippines – The Central Visayas Regional Development Council encourages all regional line agencies to put up breastfeeding facilities for the convenience of working lactating mothers.

CEBU, Philippines – At least 11 workers groups and unions, which compose the Cebu Labor Coalition, will be filing today a petition seeking for a P126.60 across the board increase in the daily minimum wages of workers in Central Visayas before the regional office of the Regional Tripartite Wage Productivity Board.

THE Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) is getting behind the high-level mission sent by the International Labor Organization (ILO) to Manila to investigate widespread complaints of violations of the rights of Filipino workers to freely organize themselves. We are absolutely supportive of the mission. We are hopeful that their findings and recommendations will…

This is shoe disturbing: An investigation on toxins in flip-flops, sandals, clogs, and other plastic shoes in seven countries, including the Philippines, has unearthed scary concentrations of harmful chemicals that are injurious to human health and the environment.

MANILA, Philippines – The combined net earnings of companies listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange jumped 46.3 percent in the first half this year to P193.43 billion, indicating that major firms have recovered from the global financial crisis.

MANILA, Philippines – Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, the largest labor group in the country, rejected yesterday the proposal of the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) to increase its membership contribution rate, saying the move would be an additional burden to the housing fund’s 7.4 million members.

MANILA, PHilippines – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will revive a technical working group (TWG) to review and regulate the advertisements of food supplements now flooding the Philippine market.

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang said yesterday private hospitals that will raise fees to cope with the cost of the implementation of the Cheaper Medicines Law could face sanctions.